If I had to bet, which I wouldn't do given how little I currently know about this draft, I would say 3T in the first. This team probably needs a 3T more than anything else. And I sorta believe that's a position where you either need a stud or don't bother. Is a 2nd or 3rd rounder going to give us any more than we've already got in Stephen, Watts, Holmes, etc? That said, the value at CB is ridiculous between 20 and 40. Gonna have to tie up Zimmer and shove him into a closet if we let that cluster go by. I like the o-linemen through the 3rd.
I am not a fan of guys like Burrow who have one big year in college. I also am not a fan of his I am going to go who ever pays me while he chomps on a big cigar attitude. There are plenty of guys who had one good year and a huge ego who flamed out in the NFL. There is one about to do just that in Cleveland right now. If the medicals on Tua were good, I wouldn't hesitate to take him over Burrow. When drafting a QB that high, character and leadership are things you really need to evaluate and Tua is leaps and bounds over Burrow in that area. He reminds me of a Russell Wilson.
Quote: @MaroonBells said:
If I had to bet, which I wouldn't do given how little I currently know about this draft, I would say 3T in the first. This team probably needs a 3T more than anything else. And I sorta believe that's a position where you either need a stud or don't bother. Is a 2nd or 3rd rounder going to give us any more than we've already got in Stephen, Watts, Holmes, etc? That said, the value at CB is ridiculous between 20 and 40. Gonna have to tie up Zimmer and shove him into a closet if we let that cluster go by. I like the o-linemen through the 3rd.
Gotta say I don't agree on 3T. At least from the perspective that's where the 1st pick goes. Brown and Kinlaw will be long gone. The next Tier of guys is Elliott, Madubuike, Blacklock, etc. I'm not spending my First Round pick on one of them when a Day 1 Starter at CB is sitting there.
But I agree with your other point. Day 1 Starting 3Ts are almost as rare as QBs. That's why the Blue Chip prospects always go so high. You can make a very strong argument that Chris Jones is the 2nd best 3T in the League right now and he went in the 2nd. Took some time for him to develop, though.
That's where I'm counting on this Coaching Staff. Sure, they haven't developed any DTs so far. But they've been stuck with 4th Round kids with low ceilings. The 2nd Tier of 3Ts is loaded with high ceiling guys. Some have low floors too, but it's time to take that risk.
The only way Minnesota gets a Day 1 difference maker is if they trade up for Brown or Kinlaw. But they can't roll into next year with Shamar again. At least not as the full-time Starter. Let him play on the early downs. Or even Johnson if Joseph comes back cheap. And the Rookie can play on the passing downs. They can also go NASCAR and move All Vowels inside next to the Rookie with Weatherly at RDE.
I think a PSA is required, though. Minnesota is going either Corner or Safety in the 1st. The OTs will likely all be gone. There are no OGs with a First Round grade on my board. None of the second Tier of 3Ts rate high enough either. That means the value is Secondary and while we won't like it I prefer that to a reach.
The only reason we don't go CB is that neither Zimmer or Spielman is under contract the following year. They need immediate impact, and CB under Zimmer is not it.
Tier 2 cornerback class is loaded this year.
Kristian Fulton (LSU), Jeff Gladney (TCU), Jaylon Johnson (Utah), A.J. Terrell (Clemson), Stanford Samuels III (FSU), Trevon Diggs (Alabama), Noah Igbinoghene (Auburn) and Cameron Dantzler (Miss. State) all ranked between 32-60
Quote: @"BarrNone55" said:
The only reason we don't go CB is that neither Zimmer or Spielman is under contract the following year. They need immediate impact, and CB under Zimmer is not it.
Let's put the notion of needing years to develop at CB to rest once and for all.
First, Hughes played a lot of snaps his Rookie season. Significantly more than Trae did. With better results.
Second, Minnesota played more Zone than ever before under Zimmer last season. And it wasn't solely due to Rhodes. Zone has been a League-wide response to misdirection and pick plays. And historically great Defenses have played Cover 3. I think Mike is continuing to tinker with Man/Zone hybrids, much like Cover 3 is.
There's also the Capers factor. Mike mentioned learning different pressures from Dom. Sounds like he's focused on getting after the QB more consistently. Could signal that he's resigned himself to staying in more Zone and looking to offset with a better pass rush.
But let's say he wants to go back to his scheme from a few years ago that is allegedly so hard to learn. He'll need a sticky Man CB to do it. Can't afford one in FA. Best place to find one would be at 25.
I certainly agree that it's a deep CB class. But if I'm right and all the Tackles are gone, which I've seen in a lot of the most recent mocks and tend to agree with, then who would you take at 25 instead of say, CJ Henderson, BN?
Well, Hughes was the exception...you'll recall the praise Zim heaped upon him...he picked up the system faster than anyone before. Those CBs on the roster when Zim started needed to be re-taught the position.
Second, if we are going more zone, we don't need to spend premium draft capital on the position. All we would need is guys who can keep a receiver in front of them and be sound tacklers.
I'm not sold that all the Tackles will be gone by #25. The primary, secondary, and tertiary goals of the draft should be to keep Cousins pocket clean and get opponents QB off their spot. If we are drafting BPA at position of highest need, there should be a tackle or 3T there. I think/hope that Jones is there at #25 and Gallimore in the second.
My biggest hope is Jones as well. But if he's gone Henderson & Diggs et al are at least 10 spots higher on my board than the Tier 2 3Ts.
Honestly? If all the Tackles are gone I trade out. Get an extra 2nd and get 3T and OG in that Round. CB in the 3rd.
Rick's got his work cut out. Awkward spot in the 1st vs what the needs are.
I was going to mention trading out as well. Maybe land a guy like Cushenberry, who immediately makes the Dark Elf ™ expendable, and a guy like Winfield Jr, or Prince Tego Wanogho...
Picking 25 is tough. Remember the draft after the NFCCG a few years ago? We were near the bottom of the first again, and watched all the offensive linemen we wanted get snatched up. Spielman called it a surprising run on O lineman. Then we didn’t trade up in the second while more O lineman were taken, and then took a “project” in O’Neill. It’s great that he turned into our best lineman. I think there will be another run on OLine this year, and we will be stuck in a similar bind. Hopefully there will be an impact player there, either at CB, S, or DT. May make sense to trade down a handful of spots and pick up an extra 3rd rounder or something.
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