Quote:No higher graded defensive player until the 5th round?

 

I'm surprised that I haven't gotten more comments about the lack of defensive players.  I knew that would be a criticism, but to me, it makes sense.  There are a bunch of reasons contributing to it.  To start, I think our defense was much better than our offense last year.  We then spent the off-season primarily upgrading the defense.  When I went draft spot by draft spot and position by position, offensive positions just made the most sense.  The first four picks for me were pretty easy for me.  We need a much better passing game; hence, a quarterback and receiver in the first two rounds.  I don't think Brewster or Rackley could make a bunch of teams in the NFL, not to mention being starters.  I also like that interior offensive linemen often drop in the draft.  Combine those two facts and they are easy picks in the third and fourth round.  They had the best chance of being starters.  I'd love a star defensive end, but to do so, you pretty much have to do it in the first round and quarterback is just a far bigger priority.  Linebacker would be my alternative choice for the 3rd or 4th round, but I think our current center/right guard are worse than our outside linebackers.  Interior linemen is also a position that is more likely to drop in the draft.  I also factored in that it is considered a weak draft for linebackers.  Assuming my plan was followed, I would probably predict defensive end followed by two linebackers as my first three selections in the 2015 draft.  As for the late rounds, I looked at our depth chart.  We actually have very good depth on the defensive line.  Again, I'd love a star, but you don't expect find a star defensive lineman in the late rounds.  The same could be said for the secondary.  I would love a star, but I think we have decent depth.  The bottom player at cornerback would be Harris.  He was a rookie last year.  I'd give him another year to prove himself.  I guess Prosinski at safety would be a possible candidate to upgrade, but he's a former fourth rounder and I don't think he's terrible.  I considered it iffy whether a 5th through 7th rounder would beat him out.  If the draft pick at safety can't beat Prosinski out, he's no good to us.  I thought my other offensive selections in the late rounds were bigger needs and had a better chance of making the team.  The one defensive position that lacked depth was linebacker and I did take a linebacker -- three times.

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