Quote:I will always defer to Green Bay and Aaron Rodgers. That was nothing but a value pick and look where it got them. The fans never had the foresight to realize that pick would set them up for another decade.

 

You can play that game until you are blue in the face.  I remember that many thought we should take the BAP in 1996 -- Lawrence Phillips.  I also remember listening to the radio on draft day in 1997.  They thought we should take the BAP -- Rae Carruth.  Wasn't he out of the league three years later?  I remember us not needing a defensive tackle in 1998, but Coughlin took one in fourth round because he thought he was BAP.  Harry Deligianis may be one of the worst picks in Jaguars history.  He didn't even make the first round of cuts.  In 1999, we didn't need a defensive tackle, but how could Coughlin resist the BAP -- Larry Smith?  Again, arguably one of our worst second round picks in our history.  At the same time, the Jaguars were considered reaching for a need when they took Brad Meester in the second round.  He started for us for how many years?  Akin Ayodele was considered a major reach too, but turned out to be one of our best third rounders.  Donovin Darius was considered a reach.  Gene Smith was laughed at for taking Cecil Shorts in the fourth, but it's arguably his best pick.  Again, you can play that game all day.  Some needs turn out to be busts, but some BAP's turn out to be busts too.  Some BAPs turn out to be the real deal, but some so-called reaches on draft day at need positions turn out to be great picks too.  It's all over the place.  It comes down to good scouting.  There's no denying that good player evaluations make or break teams in the draft, but that has nothing to do with a BAP drafting philosophy.  As I stated before, you can mis-project the value of a non-need just as easily as a need position.  Let me be clear.  I don't support reaching for a player.  If talent is close, you take the need.  If the talent isn't close and it isn't a need, you should trade the pick.  If no one wants to trade with you (including teams with a huge need at that position), doesn't that say something?  

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