(08-03-2022, 09:18 AM)NYC4jags Wrote:

(08-03-2022, 08:07 AM)Mikey Wrote: ...so if Joe Burrow was available in April, take him at R1 P1? Or, for argument's sake, Dabo managed to clone TLaw. You'd say he's better than Walker, right? better than Hutch?

sometimes it not as simple as "take the best guy and sort it out later"

The BAP drafter zealots are curious creatures. 

Most GMs draft for need every year league-wide. Some reach a little and it's benign. Some reach too far and it stings. 

Others still select running backs in the first round when they could have addressed a more glaring need at a position of greater value. 

I just hope the kid outplays the poor draft strategy and makes my doubts appear foolish.

Other than the typical QB, LT, and elite defensive linemen, in today's NFL is there anything more valuable than an offensive weapon that creates big plays?  Why do people think we drafted him to be Robinsons' backup and get 10 carries up the middle each game?  He was drafted to be a guy that could get you 800 yards both rushing and receiving with double digit TDs a year.  A guy that gives you 3-5 really explosive plays a game.  Aside from QB have we had one area on this team that has lacked talent moreso than offensive gamebreakers?  MJD left nearly 10 years ago and in that time we've had one great season from Allen Robinson.  Fournette could break a run as long as he had a gaping hole.  But anything else?  In a league that now almost defined by big plays being the differentiator, we have had no one that anybody feared offensively for nearly 10 years.  I can understand if there were other offensive players in the draft that people liked more than Etienne, but thats more of a difference in opinion in scouting, not strategy.  Other than Lawrence's development, is there a more important key to this season than Etienne?  If he develops into the weapon they drafted him to be, that would be the best thing that has happened to this offense in a decade.  

If there is going to be a broader discussion around draft strategy, then why is the Devin Lloyd pick so loved?  I'm looking at a preseason depth chart of a 3-4 with allen and walker as OLBs.  And i see a free agent we signed as one of the two starting ILBs.  So then we decided to use a late first round pick to fill that other ILB spot?  If we're talking about value at the position level, how many roles are less valuable than your second ILB?  Not a lot.  Everyone seems to love the player and the person while ignoring the "strategy".  There are a lot bigger needs on this team than an another inside linebacker.  Looking at this roster, in what universe can Etienne be bad strategy but Lloyd is great value?  It's completely backwards from reality.  The truth is, if they're both impact players, the position and draft status becomes meaningless.

At the end of the day, BAP vs need is kind of irrelevant.  It's all about how well you scout.  Maybe the team didnt scout well and missed on the pick.  Maybe the people on this board scouted better and would have picked a better player that has a better career.  That happens.

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