(11-06-2022, 09:04 AM)NYC4jags Wrote:

(11-05-2022, 11:25 PM)TheDuke007 Wrote: This is a lesson to those who at draft time say "BAP", "BAP", "BAP".  Through 8 games, Muma has 2 solo tackles, 5 assists and obviously zero sacks, interceptions, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries, etc.  What good is value if the player sits on the bench?

Player development is a thing

I know we've been completely devoid of it around here for years, but it's OK to do some things like a winning team occasionally.

Oluokun is on a 3 year deal with a 2 year out-clause. He's probably gone in 2024. 

Whether it is injury or salary cap issues that force Oluokun to walk - Muma will be needed. You aren't going to get immediate impact from every rookie in your draft class. Judging from his preseason play, Muma could use the time to acclimate anyway IMO. 

If you think Lloyd got eaten up for a few weeks in underneath coverage, you may actually be glad it wasn't Muma out there with him in those moments. 

Whether Caldwell finally enacts this money backer position, or gets Muma involved in some sub-packages another way, or we wait until 2024 for the kid to be a full time starter, his time will come. 

Also - After watching a back-up LB corps get decimated in the run game to end each of the past three seasons - I'm good with having depth right now.

Depth is nice, but that's the purpose of Day 3 picks.  Day 1 and Day 2 picks are to find starters.  I can maybe understand if you are a Super Bowl caliber team and are already good at every position, but a losing teams' goal should be to find immediate starters with those picks.  In this specific case, Oluokun's contract prevents him from being cut in 2023.  There's no reason to believe Muma won't be sitting the bench again next year.  Barring injuries, 2024 is the first realistic year where he might get significant playing time.  Smart teams maximize the impact of their draft picks during their first four years while they are under rookie contracts.  After that, if the player is good, the team is going to have pay.  If a draft pick only plays 2 out of 4 years, he needs to have double the impact in those two years in order to just be even with a player who has played four years.  That's a very high standard and one that has a low chance of actually being achieved.  I have to remind people that "need" is short for "need to win".  The goal is to win.  If you need it to win, that's important.

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