Quote:No, it's really not. I'd be willing to wager that no team in the NFL looks at its big board and drafts solely based on that. That would be 100% pure BAP, and it doesn't happen anymore. While the big board certainly exists, I'd bet that it's more groups of players than individual rankings that are looked at. Say, for example, C.J. Mosley is your top-graded MLB, and he's your 22nd-best prospect. Let's also assume that Dakota Dozier is on the board. He's your third-best guard, and 75th-best prospect on your board. There's almost certainly a very large gap there in perceived talent and career arc. Do you pass on Mosley for Dozier? God, I hope not.

 

Now let's say that David Yankey is your 26th-best prospect and your top-ranked guard, and he's on the board with Mosley instead of Dozier. The perceived difference in talent and career arc is probably a lot less, and the question then would be more difficult. Do you take a linebacker who might sit behind Poz for two years before sniffing the field, but could ultimately be great for a few years once he's there? Or do you take a guard who fills and immediate need and projects as a starter right away, even though his perceived ceiling may be more of a very good player for a very long time instead of a repeat Pro Bowler?

 

My view on BAP is that drafting Yankey over Mosley would make sense, because Yankey makes up for any talent gap with his ability to win a starting job on day one. Dozier over Mosley would be a huge reach based on feeling like they had to add a body, and they had to add it there now. I hope, for Gene's sake, that he was not a BAP drafter. That said, a draft board which featured Tyson Alualu, Chris Prosinski, Derek Cox, Pot Roast and a freaking punter at the top where he took them would explain why he hasn't landed anywhere.

 

I'd bring R. Jay Soward up, but I guess he was more of a reach for need than a luxury pick, looking back.