(04-27-2021, 10:23 AM)TheO-LineMatters Wrote:

(04-27-2021, 10:12 AM)Bullseye Wrote: Admittedly, this is not a strong DL class by any measure.

Depending upon who is left on the board at 25, Barmore may not be a reach.

That said, I would be okay with passing up Barmore at 25 if we got Alim McNeil or Tyler Shelvin later.

Where would you play McNeil or Shelvin? They are NT's and don't really factor into the pass rush. Both are really great players, but they are pure run stuffers. We just traded for Malcolm Brown who is exactly the same. You can only play one NT. I just don't know how they fit?

Whether they provide pass rush is besides the point.  To me, even though they are first and foremost run defenders, they can win on run downs.  They can occupy blocks to make the LBs more effective.  That is what I look for mostly in a 3-4 DL.  Any pass rush they can offer besides the occasional pocket push is gravy. 

As a general rule, since we are switching to a 3-4, I believe the NT is the key position to fill.  Marcus Brown can play NT, and you and I both believe Hamilton can too.  But I'd rather overdraft that position to ensure we get it right than to neglect the position and not have anyone who can get the job done.  Without the stud NT, the 3-4 is ineffective. 

Hamilton could move to 3-4 DE and still be effective, and can provide more pass rush than one might think.  A double digit sack guy?  Probably not.  But I think he could get in a guy's face and move him off his spot.

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