(11-11-2023, 10:44 PM)jaglou53 Wrote:

(11-11-2023, 01:07 PM)flgatorsandjags Wrote: Why do say this?  I didn't like some of the picks but why are they the only 2 that can have good careers?  These players aren't even half way through their rookie year yet.  Lol

Just my opinion based on what I have seen thus far from the draft class. Rounds 2-4 are an opportunity to select players who can immediately improve the team as well as become important parts of the team's nucleus moving forward. Despite being a Penn State fan, I felt that taking him in round 2 was a big reach. He will likely be a very good blocker who can be utilized in the short passing game; he'll never be a difference maker like Engram or the rookies taken before him like LaPorta, Musgrave and Mayer. The Bigsby pick didn't make sense since the running back room was already strong and Bigsby is nothing special. Miller is likely to never be more than a special teams player who fills in at linebacker due to injuries. 

It's certainly easy for fans to use 20-20 hindsight to criticize certain draft picks. I hope that several players taken in the 2021 draft eventually prove me wrong. Passing on O'Cyrus Torrence in round 2 and waiting until round 5 to take a pass rusher (an undersized one, at that) were the biggest mistakes, in my opinion. Tyler Lacy has shown some promise as did Cooper Hodges prior to his injury. If these two continue to improve and eventually become starters, I'll gladly admit that I underestimated this draft class.

Very fair assessment and this is where most fans stand in my opinion. With 13 selections overall at this team's disposal back in April? It sure feels underwhelming thus far. Now, I know it's easy to say that maybe they did try and trade up, etc. We'll never know the exact extent on how much effort or emphasis was put into those attempts if indeed true, but, again, pretty underwhelming at best so far at the midway point of the season. 

I think they did get it right with Harrison. I think Strange will eventually find his place in the passing game but it does appear he's been an adequate blocker and asset in the running game. Bigsby is still overwhelmingly concerning as he was the day we took him with the ball security issues. Which has carried over immediately into his early NFL career. The hidden gem of this class could very well end up being maybe Antonio Johnson in the long run. 

Time will tell as always. Baalke has shown an eye for free agency at the minimum so I'll give him that. It's hard to be overly critical when the team is on a winning streak and showing competency now for two years in a row. Something we haven't seen here in over a decade. Well, in truth, probably since the 1990's right? I know Jack Del Rio had, what? Maybe two or three play-off runs here during his career but I don't think it was ever back-to-back right off the top of my head without looking it up.

Pretty wild. This could be the first time our team has had a back-to-back play off run since 1998 and 1999. WOW.

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