(02-07-2024, 04:15 PM)rpr52121 Wrote:

(02-07-2024, 03:48 PM)Caldrac Wrote: This is debatable. Name a prominent receiver this franchise has ever drafted in the 2nd RD of Ridley's caliber. Because if your answer is Chark, Lee or Robinson you would be incorrect.

Also, even some of the recent decisions Baalke has made are questionable. Walker Little has not found a long term starting job on this roster going into year four. Tyson Campbell has had one good year out of three so far. He regressed significantly last year. Strange looks like, well, a strange selection considering how deep the TE class was. 

I am not sold nor convinced that you can depend on Baalke to make the best decision for this football team when it comes to the draft. In particular, on the offensive side of the football. 

You're not just going to plug and play another receiver into Ridley's position in 2024 and get that type of production. The odds are heavily stacked against us in that regard. We can play the "name the price" game all we want.

The reality is that, we're compounding a team that barely managed a .500 record two years in a row with further holes to backfill while also running the risk of Ridley running off to a direct competitor in this conference. It can and will inevitably come back to bite this team on the [BLEEP].

I understand your position, and it very reasonable. I just don't think the team can put $50-60 million into 3-4 pass catchers and expect to thrive, especially when none of them are All-Pro caliber.

Either direction you take Baalke would have to hit some home runs on cheap/young acquisitions in the trenches or for pass catchers; honestly both over the next few years. If that is the thing you completely cannot trust, neither plan is going to look good or optimal right now. But you have to take one of them on faith.

I also think the whole comparing the "history of the franchise" is a bit of straw man. If you just mean Baalke & Pederon's history, sure that tracks. But who this franchise failed to draft/develop 10, 15, or 20 years ago shouldn't be used as a basis for roster construction now.

I cited both historically and recently. Baalke's historical drafts dating back to San Francisco do not exude very much skill in regards to finding and selecting talented football players on offense. Especially in the receiving department. 

I think most of Baalke's boom-or-bust decisions will make-or-break him in 2024. As he had ample opportunities in last year's draft to backfill the bottom half of the roster with the intention of pushing away and moving on from some of his contracts he landed in free agency back in 2022.

It'll be interesting to see what happens here soon with Free Agency about a month away. Tons of work to do.

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