DawgTalkers.net Forums The Archives 2017 NFL Season 2017 NFL Draft What are our biggest needs from the draft? minus QB.

So what will be our biggest need in this years draft? Excluding the QB position, we all know we need to find our franchise QB so that's a given. Plus I want to talk about some of the other positions in this draft. Little QB'd out. How will we address our needs? Free agency? Draft?

I think we need to look at safety, corner, center, right tackle, and add a three technique. These would be priority #2 for me,behind QB. Then maybe add some depth at LB, and get ourselves a legit return man. While still drafting BPA.

Difference makers.

DE, CB, FS, 3T, CB, C, RT, WR, MLB.

Examples?

Pass rusher, Center and SS.

We could literally draft a player at any position and it would make sense.

It's less critical that we fill holes than it is we get players that the other team has to change what they do in order to account for the players on our team. Myles Garrett for example. He is an elite pass rusher. Teams would have to adjust their blocking schemes to account for him. It would make Ogbah's productivity go up. It would make whatever 3-technique is playing next to him's productivity go up... whether it be Xavier Cooper or Des Bryant if he's back (which I doubt) or Solomon Thomas or someone else.

Let's say we trade down and get a bunch of picks. we get a decent RT and C and MLB and a couple corners and a safety and another WR and a TE and they're all NFL-roster-worthy. So what? So we're still spinning our wheels and letting other teams dictate the strategy of the game.

Look at the Julio Jones trade. We got two firsts, a second, and two fourths for the trade. They got the best WR in the NFL. How did that work out? Even if we had made decent picks at each of those spots they STILL would have won the trade.

My point is, for *our* team it's less important what position they play, and more important that we get a guy or two who the other team actually has to come up with some way to stop... on offense AND on defense.

I mostly agree with clevesteve on this, we need playmakers, difference makers.

This being said, I'd put it as Edge, FS, CB, C, Edge, CB, 3T, MLB, SS - mostly but not necessarily in that order if we needed to go in order.

Biggest needs:

Offense: OC, RT, TE
Defense: DE, FS, CB, MLB, DT, SS

OC - While Reiter showed some promise in the game he played we need someone who can at least compete with him for the starting job.

RT - Again we need some who can at least compete with Shonn Coleman for the starting position.

TE - While Barnidge is pretty decent he is getting up their in age and Telfer and DeValve are not the answer.

DE - We have to get someone who can get constant pressure on the QB. Someone opposite Ogbah would make Ogbah that much better/effectvie.

FS - since Gibson left we lack that ballhawk in the secondary who can get us INTs.

CB - We need at least one starter as Haden hasn't played well the last couple of years (injuries?) and Taylor is best suited as depth.

MLB - We really have no one at the position. I would imagine that Davis gets it by default.

DT - If D. Bryant can come back healthy and still perform we will be OK here, if not we need to find someone.

SS - Again we really have no one at this position who should start.

C/RT
FS
EDGE
CB

Nrtu

I think it's too early to write off DeValve just yet - dude showed some promise last few games. Saying that, this TE class is ridiculously deep.

I want a safety, pass rusher or 2, corner and interior OL. If Takk McKinley is still there end of round 1 I'd love to get him. Not sure he can be a full time end but he could pair with Garrett and move ogbah inside on passing downs, blitz him, he'd be a demon just rushing the passer and he's athletic enough to drop into coverage. He will likely go to a 3-4 team mid to late 1st. Keep an eye out for Jordan Willis (Kansas) and Trey Hendrickson (Florida Atlantic).

I think we need another linebacker for certain rare situations, but I think we've got the linebacker situation covered (for 2017 at least) with Kirksey and Collins. I'm surprised people think that is a big need.

You're asking a question that is impossible to answer at this time. The only way to answer your question is after we see what is done in the FA market. People may list positions now that we will address in the free agent market that will totally change that list.

While it may sound vague to you at this time, cleve gave you the best answer there is.

[quote=clevestev... it's less important what position they play, and more important that we get a guy or two who the other team actually has to come up with some way to stop... on offense AND on defense. [/quote]0

I completely agree with this, but my initial emphasis would be towards the defensive side. I'd address what I believe to be our #1 issue which is lack of a pass rush. Therefore I'm looking at a DE (Garret) and a 3-tech (Brantley, McDowell) with our first two picks, followed by a SS (I believe ER II may prove to be a good FS), then CB's. I realize this doesn't address the offense but that must wait (and we're talking 'elite' here) for another day. Of course we need to see what FA brings us...

Pass rush, DE - Garrett
Safety help - Adams, Hooker, Baker
Corner - Lattimore, Tabor, Humphrey, Jones
Tackle - BTA
OLB - BLBA
Center if a good one can be had without reaching.
Chance to pick up WRs, RB, DT in the later rounds

QB - If Trubisky is there at 12, I'd take him. If JG can be had with a combination of #33 and something else, I take him. If Trubisky is gone and the price on JG is too high, I go for Kizer in the 2nd round. If I can't get any of them, I take Kaaya or Mahomes.

I don't know why some think that our FS position is a bigger need than SS. We have some players who are at least serviceable, but our SS position was non existent (pittiful at it's best).

We need an impact player at all 3 levels of the D.
Front 4 (3) we don't have a single player that could be considered impactful.
LB's maybe Collins,but I wouldn't proclaim him to be anything but average at the moment.
Secondary well let's just say there isn't an impact player there.
On O,
we have decent linemen,(they have to figure out the center position)other than that,a bunch of dime a dozen players.
I guess what I'm saying is the biggest need is everywhere.

I'd take Adams if he's at 12 and Trubisky & Hooker are gone.

I understand and agree we need difference makers or play makers, however you want to say it, but what I was looking for was who everyone thought those play makers might be, and where or how we might address some of our needs. Ether through free agency or the draft. I see center being brought up a lot, for good reason, but instead of using a pick for an unproven center maybe try signing JC Tretter. Just as an example.

And to address what clevesteve said about Garrett being that type of player that changes how the offense plans, and how he can make everyone a little better. Just to play devil's advocate, wouldn't Johnathan Allen have the same affect as a Donald-like 3-technique? Allen looked tp be just as dominate a player as Garrett did.

I might take him anyway, especially over Mitch.

Allen will have a higher grade by 34 teams, than as a 3T in a 43.

Why? What makes you have that opinion?

He'll have a high grade regardless because he is scheme diverse.

But Allen is the prototype 3-tech.

I agree.

Based on PFF Allen's productivity as a pass rusher was on par with Garrett.

If I'm building a 43 defense in this draft I want to add a 3-tech and edge rusher.

I think net-net a Allen + Barnett/ Micinkey/Lawson is better then a Garrett + Watkins...M.Adams.

The point I so poorly conveyed is that a 34 Defence might see higher value in him as a DE as opposed to Garrett as an OLB.

Either way Allen will grade high on any board.

For every team that passes on Allen, after we take Garrett, I would like to call the next team and see how much it'll cost to move up for Allen...

Garrett
Shelton
Allen
Ogbah

With a couple of QB needy teams right after us there is the possibility he could fall to 4 and Jacksonville will probably get a lot of offers to weigh. Personaly I don't think that he will fall out of the top three.

Pass rush has been non existent for 15 years.

I'm liking the discussion on Garrett vs. Allen.

I personally would take the risk and grab Allen at #1 and look at an edge guy, safety, or corner at #12 whoever is BPA. I don't see edge player as big a need as some. I'm also not as high on Garrett as everyone else seems to be. I think he has everything you want from an edge player but, to me there seems to be something missing that I just can't put my finger on. And I'm probably nit-picking but, It's almost like at times one guy gets him blocked. I don't see that with Allen. He doesn't ever get blocked by one man.

This draft is loaded at edge rushers who could contribute for us, and with Ogbah, Nassib, and Nate Orchard(who should return to DE where he played a wide 9 technique, I see Williams using him very similarly) all expected to be improved, maybe we don't need to take Garrett. Allen could have the same impact Donald does on the Rams.

But at the same time I wouldn't be disgusted if we indeed did take Garrett. Like I said he does have all the tools.

Both guys are clearly top prospects. Rare talents at there respective positions. But I think there is less depth and greater talent disparity at 3-tech in this draft compared to the depth and quality at edge rusher.

Not to debate names. Just going with the needs, in my order.

1. Pass Rusher

2. Safety

3. OT

4. Corner

5. Another corner or safety.

I think that center is a priority. I just feel you can get a good center outside of the first 5 picks. That is the first 3 rounds of the draft this year.

As it stands today, we don't have a 4th rounder. However, we will gain some comp picks in the 4th round minimim. Possibly even a 3rd rounder.


IMO you can get a good center and guard in the 4th/5th round.

You can say there is more depth at one position.

But that ignores how much better Garrett may be than that depth.

I wouldn't pass on Garrett just because we can get "another pass rusher" later.

2017 NFL Draft: Exploring Historically Deep Pass-Rushing Class
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/26863...s-rushing-class

Actually, part of my point is that I think the quality difference between Garrett and Barnett isn't very large. And the quality difference between say...Garrett and Tak or Carl Lawson isn't as large as the difference between Allen and whomever the 5th rated 3-tech would be.

Let's say they draft Garrett (which I wouldn't have any problem with) how likely are they to (a) find a 3-tech that is any good?

vs

Drafting Allen and finding a good edge rusher in a draft by all accounts considered to be deep at edge rusher?

I will gladly admit I don't know this draft very well.

If I was going to take Garrett or Allen. I would take Allen. I think of those two, Garret makes the bigger impact to our defense.

I'd add I don't necessarily like the idea of drafting one position over an other because you "might" be able to get someone else later. I think you compare the two prospects to each other.

And I'd take Garrett. But I would understand if they took Allen.

Jmho

I consider Garrett and Allen equal prospects with the potential for equal impact.

I think every draft is different. In order to maximize the draft I don't think it should be viewed in a vacuum. Value has to be [censored].

I disagree.

Beyond trading away or acquiring picks from future drafts, I think each draft does have to be in a vacuum mostly.

If not, People say things like "We can't draft a QB at #1 because they aren't as good as Andrew Luck" every year.

And people say Luck is great.