(03-30-2021, 06:04 AM)irontrooper83 Wrote: I don't really have a perfect first 5 picks in terms of players selected.

I like a lot of players that will be there especially during our first 4 picks and considering our FA wasn't as I was hoping and we are still left with lots of needs I think it should be pretty easy to make selections that both meet talent and need.

The 2 things I don't want to happen with our first 5 picks are these: us taking a RB and us drafting a TE before our 5th pick (we can trade up with that in case). Tight end is a huge need and we missed badly on FA but it is what is is. Aside from Pitts I don't think the other TEs in the draft will be the better available player at pick 45. And they also won't be at a premium position like others might be. I would look to trade up for Brevin Jordan eventually.
It they think Brevin Jordan won't last long after pick 45 then take him there but trade up for a good player/position group who is sliding (for exemple if there's a run at OLs) almost right after.

There are also lots of WRs I like in this draft but I would be hesitant to draft one before pick 45 as well. We have a good WR room and we have holes/depth/perspective depth issues  elsewhere. I wouldn't be mad if we drafted one of the Moore guys but with all the other needs I would prefer we take another route.

So to sum it up I think I'd be pretty much happy with anything that we will realistically do...unless they go with a RB/Freiermuth combo in the first 45 picks. (I also have a feeling Meyer will go after a speed/homerun threat at RB, I just hope he won't do it early).That would be seem bad value to me.

Even though Baalke has somewhat emphatically stated they would go BAP irrespective of need, I can see a scenario where the things you DON'T want to happen will be exactly what happens with RB and TE.  Regarding WR, as a general rule, I prefer teams take skill players early and stock up on OL in the mid rounds.  But I'm not sure I want a WR early in this draft.  Based on what I have seen, I can't say I'm a huge Bateman fan.  Diminutive slot WRs like Rondale or Elijah Moore are typically found 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th round.  It seems like this year's draft seems to play exactly like what I've described above.

But I can't shake the feeling that OL, specifically T should be at least one of our first five picks.  From a value perspective, T fits.  From a need perspective, T fits.  We have enough at WR to push it down the list of priorities.  Yes we could add more speed, but as I said, we could find speed at WR a little later.  A guy like Dyami Brown could go late 2nd-3rd round, while guys like Tutu Atwell and Schwartz could go as late as the 4th round.

As for Friermuth, I'd be fine with him within our top 5 picks, ideally at 33 or 45 at the latest.  I believe he fits well there.

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(03-30-2021, 12:46 PM)TheDuke007 Wrote:

(03-29-2021, 10:00 PM)Bullseye Wrote: There is a school of thought that you can build on strength to improve your team.  The 1984 Giants already had a great set of LBs in a 3-4 with Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson.  But with their top 5 draft pick, they added LB Carl Banks.  Now the Minnesota Vikings were already a playoff team (though not a dominant one) with good WRs when they added WR Randy Moss in 1998.

That said, I generally agree with your overall philosophy here, again assuming equal grades for all of the players involved.

I will say that Meyer has repeatedly expressed a desire to add more speed at WR and maybe RB, so it would not be a shock to see the team add at least one of each in the draft.  In fact, lately I'm getting the sneaky suspicion Travis Etienne is on the radar at 25-33.

I'm sure there are cases where a team building on strength worked out well for them, but I also suspect it was mostly cases where they got excellent value.  If there's a sure-fire future hall of famer at #25, I take him regardless of position (except maybe special teams).  If there's roughly equal value, I go with need.  If there's a significant difference in value and it's not a need, I also look to trade that pick.

In regards to drafting WR and maybe RB early, I agree with you.  I wouldn't take that approach, but it wouldn't surprise me if the Jaguars did.  Meyer has expressed a desire for more speed.  I also know O-zone is a tool, but he has good access to the Jaguars and sometimes has inside information.  He's clearly trying to prepare readers in advance for the possibility of the Jaguars drafting a running back early which he knows will be unpopular with some fans.  My guess is he knows that Meyer is taking a strong look at the top rated running backs in the upcoming draft.

Regarding the building on a strength, there's not much we have on the roster that really represents a strength.  I suppose WR could be considered that area, and to the extent adding a WR would help give the team matchup advantages and help with TLaw's development, I'd be for adding a WR early if I thought there was an exceptional value at 25 or 33.  But I'm not crazy about Bateman or Toney.  I don't hate either guy, but I don't think they would necessarily represent tremendous value there.  Justin Jefferson was good value at 20 last year.  I don't see either Bateman or Toney being as good as Jefferson.

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