(03-22-2023, 10:40 AM)NYC4jags Wrote:

(03-22-2023, 08:01 AM)wg171 Wrote: Completely agree that he’s done a much better job with the Jags. I guess the point I’m getting at is if you’re going to be a “draft and develop” football team then your GM has to draft well, especially in rounds 3-5.

"Going to be a draft and develop football team..."

We just spent the most money in free agency EVER SPENT - just last season. 

When you do that - the next two years are going to be "draft and develop" oriented whether you like it or not. 

So far - what we have to judge Baalke on in rounds 3-5 is hit and miss - or incomplete:

Fortner 
Muma
Conner
Cisco
Tufele
Jordan Smith
Luke Farrell

You've got 3 guys that look promising, one guy they probably cut too soon (Tufele) , one guy who is solid depth with some potential (Farrell), and Conner/Smith who are long shots to succeed. 

From this list - it would appear it is rounds 4 and 5 that are tough for Baalke. (like most GMs I imagine) 
His round 3 picks all appear on a decent trajectory for success, albeit early to be certain for 2 of them.

Fortner was a reach. The team went for "intelligence" over raw talent. His ceiling is limited. Conner is a bust. 
Cisco is talented, but to me he should be playing free safety, not hovering around the line so much. Tufele was cut too soon. Jordan Smith and Luke Farrell were Urban Meyer specials, so we can't attribute those to Baalke. 

Muma and Cisco are core defensive players and hopefully Farrell can fill Manhertz's blocking TE shoes. I give Baalke's mid-round work a B-/C+. Caldwell seemed to be better at the lower rounds, but he of course was an F 1st round drafter, which got him fired.

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