Quote:Ummm... What pro bowlers are currently on the colts roster? And which pro bowlers on the pats' roster were actually drafted by the team?


Not that the pro bowl means anything honestly.


The point is that the "build through the draft" crap means literally nothing if bortles doesnt pan out

 

Andrew Luck and Robert Mathis made the Pro Bowl last year, and both were drafted by the Colts.

 

But your argument assumes that not making the pro bowl means you aren't an effective player.  T.Y. Hilton has put up huge games for the Colts despite not making the Pro Bowl yet.

 

The fact that the long term success of the team hinges on Bortles' development does not negate or invalidate the build through the draft philosophy.  It strengthens it and highlights the importance of the draft.

 

The contending teams are replete with drafted talent.

 

Arizona currently has the best record in football with a 8-1 record.  Among their drafted players are Larry Fitzgerald, Patrick Peterson, Darnell Dockett, Calais Campbell,  Michael Floyd, and Tyrann Matthew.

 

Denver has among their drafted players LT Ryan Clady, WR Demaryius Thomas, TE Julius Thomas, LB Von Miller and FS Rahim Moore.

 

New England has Brady, Nate Solder, Sebastian Vollmer, TE Rob Gronkowski, DT Vince Wilfork,  DE Chandler Jones, LBs Jerod Mayo and Donte Hightower among their drafted contributors.

 

Detroit leads the NFC North with a 7-2 record.  Their drafted contributors include Qb Matthew Stafford, WR Calvin Johnson, DT Ndamukong Suh, TE Eric Ebron, LT Riley Reiff, RG Larry Warford, DE Ezekiel Ansah, LB Deandre Levy

 

Even if Bortles doesn't work out, the draft is still important if the team is to be competitive.   The Cardinals missed on numerous drafted QBs, but because they drafted so well aside from QB, they are leading the division.

 

I'm not sure why you are minimizing the draft's importance here, because the evidence overwhelmingly shows it is vital to contention.

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