Quote:3rd Down DE Ngakoue DT Jackson DT Marks DE Fowler


That's what I'm waiting to see.

 

Sheldon Day may end up taking Marks' spot, depending on Marks' health and Day's development.  They sure seem to be adding guys who can play the 3-technique.  But it's an important piece of the defense.  They do seem to value interior push just as much as pressure from the edge. 

 

As for the 3 DEs we just drafted, I look at it as insurance.  Pass rushers are traditionally boom-or-bust type players, and some of the most promising ones don't pan out in the pros.  I don't mind using multiple draft picks for this type of player - good edge rushers are hard to find in any round, and you can never have too many of them.  If one of the DEs taken this weekend is a 8-10 sack type player, it's a win.  If the other 2 are busts, still a win.  

 

We're also looking at a scenario I wrote about a few months ago when I felt offering Branch a modest contract might be wise.  We now head into the season with 4 rookies (I am including Fowler) getting the most snaps at DE.  I don't see Chris Smith taking reps from the rookies and Ryan Davis typically plays inside on passing downs. 

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