DT, T, G in 1st round a mistake?

[Hawgdriver]

In another thread someone said it would be a mistake to draft a DT, T, or G in the first round unless they were one of the best football players on the team. That made me think, 'of the elite DT/T/G in the NFL right now, when were they selected?'

The answer is that almost all of them are selected before the 20th pick of the draft. Only a handful were picked in the 2nd or 3rd round, and only two were later than the third (including DEs, too). I'm using 2007 pro bowl selections as my reference.

The immediate flaw in this thinking is that pro bowl honors to those positions are the by-product of a winning team record. The answer to that is that those players are a significant reason why they have the winning record.

My conclusion is that there is no reason not to draft a DT, T, or G in the first round. I would still base my draft selections on best player available instead of needs, so I wouldn't pick up a DT, T, or G with a question mark over him, and would rather select the best player even if it's a WR or pretty much anything except QB.

[CinnaMunMun]

I would be estatic if we drafted a DE or DT in the first round.

While OG and OT are needs, I don't think we need to draft nearly that high with the emergence of Pears and Kuper being highly regarded as the next starting OG.

1st round is usually a good place to get an instant starter at OL though. Our smaller lineman though drop into the late rounds though.

[BVP]

I think, with the return of Lepsis for next year, Pears can start on the other side. Pears was not the problem with our O-Line this year, it was definetly on the right side, where Foster was playing. So if Pears can play RT, then our O-Line will be good for next year.

[Hawgdriver]

I think, with the return of Lepsis for next year, Pears can start on the other side. Pears was not the problem with our O-Line this year, it was definetly on the right side, where Foster was playing. So if Pears can play RT, then our O-Line will be good for next year.
Maybe. Pass protection has to be foremost in our minds after witnessing our lack of it this year. I don't know that Pears will be able to thwart the league's elite pass rushers. I don't think the problem is just Foster and perhaps Pears...it may be a symptom of our 'undersized' line that is designed for Shanny's rushing scheme.

[BVP]

Maybe. Pass protection has to be foremost in our minds after witnessing our lack of it this year. I don't know that Pears will be able to thwart the league's elite pass rushers. I don't think the problem is just Foster and perhaps Pears...it may be a symptom of our 'undersized' line that is designed for Shanny's rushing scheme.

Pears is definetly not undersized, he is 6'8", 300+, and if you watched him on the majority of the games he played, he was not the problem.

[muse]

Pears played well against a lot of good ends. Yes, he gave up a few sacks too but that will be down to inexperience more than anything and he looked comfortable towards the end of the season.

We don't really draft high linemen because they're usually much too big and slow...in any case, no matter where you are drafted you will not start in Denver as a rookie unless there's a major emerency. I'd like to draft a good prospect LT though to take that spot. I've heard the name Doug Free, any other possibilities?

I'm all for two high D-Line picks and a safety pick.

[iverssson]

Perhaps there will be another Lawrence Maroney in this years draft that can fall in our laps -- I would love to have a guy like Maroney in our run scheme.

I don't think that Tatum Bell is the answer at RB, and Mike Bell is pretty good, I believe he also is not the answer.

I definately think we need to draft OL and get younger on the line, Nalen isn't getting any younger either.

Heck Big George Foster got benched this year, perhaps a re-tool of the OL is as good a place to start as any...

Brandon Marshall has come up big this year, and if Rod Smith doesn't retire this year, Smith and Marshal would battle for the number 2 WR spot.

Finding another Strong Safety might be a good idea with lynch getting up in age....

[kratos_godofwar]

The First round will most likely be Defense, either Saftey or DT. Second round Should be be whichever we didn't get. Then our third should be either a RB or OL. That's how I see it.

[muse]

I've heard Doug Free's name being bounced around a bit. Seems like he'd be a good fit (maybe a teeny bit on the heavy side but he is fast). And that he's likely to get to the second or third round. I'm not too in touch with potential draftees so you're all going to have to guide me.

I like the sound of this Okoye fellow too, if we can get him and an all round DE (draftee or FA) I'd be very happy. Which would then lead me on to third round strong safeties...who would you recommend?

[iverssson]

I like the sound of this Okoye fellow too, if we can get him and an all round DE (draftee or FA) I'd be very happy. Which would then lead me on to third round strong safeties...who would you recommend?

Its too hard to forecast now beyond round 1 (even this is a stretch), we don't even know which athletes are declaring for the NFL Draft.

No combine, no numbers to crunch, no draft rumors on trading positions....still way early....

[muse]

Cheers. I've never really taken an active interest in the draft because it's really not easy when you live here.

[HORSEPOWER 56]

In another thread someone said it would be a mistake to draft a DT, T, or G in the first round unless they were one of the best football players on the team. That made me think, 'of the elite DT/T/G in the NFL right now, when were they selected?'

The answer is that almost all of them are selected before the 20th pick of the draft. Only a handful were picked in the 2nd or 3rd round, and only two were later than the third (including DEs, too). I'm using 2007 pro bowl selections as my reference.

The immediate flaw in this thinking is that pro bowl honors to those positions are the by-product of a winning team record. The answer to that is that those players are a significant reason why they have the winning record.

My conclusion is that there is no reason not to draft a DT, T, or G in the first round. I would still base my draft selections on best player available instead of needs, so I wouldn't pick up a DT, T, or G with a question mark over him, and would rather select the best player even if it's a WR or pretty much anything except QB.


It was me that said it. I said OT was a position you should draft high (OT, QB, RB, WR, CB, and DE are more "skill positions" where a single player can make a huge impact. DT, G, C, S, TE, K, and P are the positions that I don't feel merit a first round pick unless they are the TOP guy at their position and are so dominant that you just don't see guys like them every year.

Like I said in a previous thread, DT is an important position but how many DTs in the league right now are "game changers"? You could argue that Stroud and Henderson in Jacksonville are those type of guys but when one is out with an injury, the other is no longer "dominant". I just feel if you're going to draft a guy in the first round, he should be a "playmaker" not a "support" position.

[JoRo]

In another thread someone said it would be a mistake to draft a DT, T, or G in the first round unless they were one of the best football players on the team. That made me think, 'of the elite DT/T/G in the NFL right now, when were they selected?'

The answer is that almost all of them are selected before the 20th pick of the draft. Only a handful were picked in the 2nd or 3rd round, and only two were later than the third (including DEs, too). I'm using 2007 pro bowl selections as my reference.

The immediate flaw in this thinking is that pro bowl honors to those positions are the by-product of a winning team record. The answer to that is that those players are a significant reason why they have the winning record.

My conclusion is that there is no reason not to draft a DT, T, or G in the first round. I would still base my draft selections on best player available instead of needs, so I wouldn't pick up a DT, T, or G with a question mark over him, and would rather select the best player even if it's a WR or pretty much anything except QB.


My hope is that unless we got a world beater at DT in the first (Dorsey or Branch IMO) I hope we get an end. The end prospects seem to be top heavy, there is a bigger dropoff between 1st rounders and possible 2nds than with Dts (IMO Okoye and the other DTS aren't STRONG first rounders, Okoye maybe but it seems people are just drooling cuz he is 20 and a starter, I would love him high second but at our first I hope we don't get him)


Guard and Tackle unless something really big happens in FA arent 1st round needs either, in our system we don't need a 1st rounder and even when we do they sit their first season (George in 03 Ring a bell?)

[iverssson]

Like I said in a previous thread, DT is an important position but how many DTs in the league right now are "game changers"? You could argue that Stroud and Henderson in Jacksonville are those type of guys but when one is out with an injury, the other is no longer "dominant". I just feel if you're going to draft a guy in the first round, he should be a "playmaker" not a "support" position.

You left out Tommie Harris

DT are usually not directly "game changers" per say, however, the are very very important to free up the second and third tier (LB's, DB's) Good defensive tackles that create havoc on the run and pass are hard to find.

Certainly not in picks 20-30...

[HORSEPOWER 56]

You left out Tommie Harris

DT are usually not directly "game changers" per say, however, the are very very important to free up the second and third tier (LB's, DB's) Good defensive tackles that create havoc on the run and pass are hard to find.

Certainly not in picks 20-30...

Tommie Harris has had a great season, but do you think he'd be the same if not for the rest of that line? The line is Elite as a unit but without each other, they just aren't "special" as individuals. They're kinda like the Panthers. Peppers and jenkins (when healthy) are outstanding and they raise the play of the whole line but when one struggles or is injured, their productivity as a unit drops off drastically.

If you look at any of the "top" D-lines in the league (Giants, Panthers, Bears) and then you look at what happens to them when one of their key players is lost, it's drastically different and the effectiveness of all three really hinges on their DEs, not their DTs.