First round alternatives

[fortdick]

Most draft sights and folks posting here have to opinion that DeCastro, Jenkins and Kirkpatrick are the three logical picks for us in round one. Looking at the rankings and the issues I see some alternatives that intrigue me.

First, I think DeCastro will be long gone before we pick. Jenkins and Kirkpatrick are both viable picks, even though they have baggage that makes me shy away.

Two players I am intrigued with are SS Mark Barron and Center Peter Konz. Both are reaches at 14, but there should be teams wanting to move up as coveted players slip. Konz fixes maybe the biggest hole we have in the oline and Barron can fix a hole we have had since Woody left. Both are as close to sure thing solid starters as you can get, although Konz has potential to be an all pro. Barron is a solid character guy that is slipping due to injury.

I believe trading down for either of these two would be very smart if DeCastro is gone.

Another player I am really interested in is FB Joe Halahuni from Oregon. A big back that can catch. Fiametta showed us how important a good FB is to our running game, but his ability to stay healthy has been a question with him. Seeing that he is a FA this year and may walk, Halahuni may be a great late round pick up.

[Garland powerplay]

This team needs to draft defense . The offense was good enough to make playoffs w/ an avg. defense. This defense was below avg. and offense tanked the final month $ 4 sure

[robert70x7]

So you want to draft a player that just had a double sports hernia, will be out until August and is not a ballhawk? Pass.

You want to draft a center with a severe blood disorder who is one bad spell away from missing serious playing time? Pass.

[RS12]

Jonathan Martin or Kuechly are a couple names for you.

[fortdick]

So you want to draft a player that just had a double sports hernia, will be out until August and is not a ballhawk? Pass.

You want to draft a center with a severe blood disorder who is one bad spell away from missing serious playing time? Pass.

I don't see a double sports hernia as career threatening. Not like he is having brain surgery!

Although he is ocnsidered the best center in the draft, you would dismiss Konz because of a condition from 2009? I guess two seasons at Div I level isn't a test to see if he is able to play?

Maybe we should rely on guys that take dope for recreational purposes, they are always more dependable.

[fortdick]

Jonathan Martin or Kuechly are a couple names for you.

I like the Kuechly idea, if for no other reason than to keep him away from the Eagles, but ILB in the first round would be a luxury I am not sure we could afford. Kinda the same with Martin. Both solid picks, but in areas we have other options.

One thing: I am sick of taking CB's in the first that don't play to the hype.

[Teague31]

Barron or kOnz are huge reaches at 14

[MichaelWinicki]

If DeCastro of one of the two corners were not there, then I'm trading down.

If I can't trade down I'm taking the highest rated player on my board, whoever it is.

[fortdick]

Barron or kOnz are huge reaches at 14

I acknowledge this, however, I don't think either is a huge reach...just a reach.

[overseas]

HighTower

[SDogo]

HighTower

I'm warming to the idea

[Canadian BoyzFan]

Brockers, Poe and Konz in a trade down scenario.

[Zaxor]

I am not thrilled with the talent in this draft...if I could trade down I would but so many other teams would like to trade down too they aren't stupid...so I would trust my board and hope for the best

[realtick]

So you want to draft a player that just had a double sports hernia, will be out until August and is not a ballhawk? Pass.

You want to draft a center with a severe blood disorder who is one bad spell away from missing serious playing time? Pass.

Sports hernias are not serious injuries. The only reason this even seems dramatic is because it will likely keep Barron from participating at the Combine. The pro day at Alabama is still a possibility for him.

I would also say 12 interceptions while at 'Bama would constitute being a "ballhawk." Not to mention, 13 TFL and 5.0 sacks would indicate he's a playmaker.

If he was healthy, I think he'd be a perfect bottom end of the 1st round type of pick. If he can be had in the 2nd round I'd seriously consider.

Barron also has leadership intangibles that are appealing.

[realtick]

If DeCastro of one of the two corners were not there, then I'm trading down.

If I can't trade down I'm taking the highest rated player on my board, whoever it is.

Word.

[tm1119]

There's no way DeCastro is "long gone" by the time we pick. No team is going to pay the price tag of a rookie guard that is a top 10 pick. CBA or no CBA. If he goes before us its more than likely going go be right before us to the Cardinals at 13.

Given that scenario that he does go 13 and we don't pick a CB I think we would have to strongly consider Devon Still provided he's still there. I'm not crazy about a 3-4 DE at #14, but he's a consensus top prospect in this draft and he would fit our scheme. I would be all for a trade down if possible though.

[realtick]

There's no way DeCastro is "long gone" by the time we pick. No team is going to pay the price tag of a rookie guard that is a top 10 pick. CBA or no CBA. If he goes before us its more than likely going go be right before us to the Cardinals at 13.

Given that scenario that he does go 13 and we don't pick a CB I think we would have to strongly consider Devon Still provided he's still there. I'm not crazy about a 3-4 DE at #14, but he's a consensus top prospect in this draft and he would fit our scheme. I would be all for a trade down if possible though.

I like Devon Still, but I don't view him as any more talented a prospect than guys like Jared O'drick, Cameron Heyward, or Mohammed Wilkerson. I also think the back end of the 1st round is where he should go too, which is where all those guys went.

[burmafrd]

There's no way DeCastro is "long gone" by the time we pick. No team is going to pay the price tag of a rookie guard that is a top 10 pick. CBA or no CBA. If he goes before us its more than likely going go be right before us to the Cardinals at 13.

Given that scenario that he does go 13 and we don't pick a CB I think we would have to strongly consider Devon Still provided he's still there. I'm not crazy about a 3-4 DE at #14, but he's a consensus top prospect in this draft and he would fit our scheme. I would be all for a trade down if possible though.

Just because he is supposedly the best 3-4 DE in the draft does not mean much. I do not see him as any real improvement over what we have now. No way do I use a 1st for someone like that.

[Eskimo]

My preferences (roughly in order) amongst players who may be available:


Coples
DeCastro
Jenkins
Ingram
Brockers
Glenn
Hightower

[MichaelWinicki]

Not a Still fan.

I don't see a guy who's as productive as his athleticism.

[fortdick]

There's no way DeCastro is "long gone" by the time we pick. No team is going to pay the price tag of a rookie guard that is a top 10 pick. CBA or no CBA. If he goes before us its more than likely going go be right before us to the Cardinals at 13.

Given that scenario that he does go 13 and we don't pick a CB I think we would have to strongly consider Devon Still provided he's still there. I'm not crazy about a 3-4 DE at #14, but he's a consensus top prospect in this draft and he would fit our scheme. I would be all for a trade down if possible though.

Almost every mock draft I have seen has DeCstro going between 8 and 13. Course, the mocks I have read are from guys that evaluate talent and such for a living. I didn't canvass the opinions here. My bad.

[Eskimo]

Almost every mock draft I have seen has DeCstro going between 8 and 13. Course, the mocks I have read are from guys that evaluate talent and such for a living. I didn't canvass the opinions here. My bad.

There are a couple of ways to look at this: by talent and ability or by where the player is likely to be drafted.

Interior OL usually go far later than their projection because it is a non-premium position. Safeties and Tight Ends are often treated similarly in that they rarely go in the top 10. Recently there have been a few safeties and TEs go in the top half of the draft but it is still not the norm and many of those picks did not work out well in the end.

DeCastro may be gone but I wouldn't say it is a foregone conclusion that he is off the board when we pick. I also don't think it will be a disaster because I think you can find players almost as good in the second round and you could get an extra second in a trade-down scenario.

I still think that given the strengths of this draft and our needs we are best served in a trade down scenario if we can find a willing trade partner. We are going to find better values for our needs from the late first round to the third round and we should try to get four or five picks in that range to upgrade all the chaff on this roster.

[tm1119]

Almost every mock draft I have seen has DeCstro going between 8 and 13. Course, the mocks I have read are from guys that evaluate talent and such for a living. I didn't canvass the opinions here. My bad.

Please provide these mocks that have DeCastro going before pick 12. Im sure if we took the time to look through the 10 most reliable sources for mocks you would find DeCastro's average draft position at or below 14.

Thats just the nature of the position. Guards simply dont go early.

[realtick]

Please provide these mocks that have DeCastro going before pick 12. Im sure if we took the time to look through the 10 most reliable sources for mocks you would find DeCastro's average draft position at or below 14.

Thats just the nature of the position. Guards simply dont go early.

He might be confusing player ranking with where they're projected to be taken.

[tm1119]

He might be confusing player ranking with where they're projected to be taken.

I would think so as well. I'll agree that DeCastro is ranked as a top 10 overall prospect in the draft, but the fact that hes limited to playing only OG drops him in the draft. Hell, Pouncey was rated just as high as DeCastro is and he didnt go until pick 15. Plus he had the flexibility of playing guard or center. Id be shocked if DeCastro goes before pick 12. And i think thats even unlikely.

[jterrell]

DeCastro is going to drop.

There aren't any prospect rankings out now of people who get paid to evaluate talent for NFL teams. What we get are media member rankings.

But Kiper has him 14th or did last Big Board I had access to from January.
CBSSports has him 11th. He probably ranked in that range. And being a Guard will drop him a few spots for sure. As will many teams feeling Gordy is as is good.

Until we see where Goose has him on the night before the draft we won't really know what scouts think as a group. Most other media guys may have one or two scout buddies but do not have contacts for most teams.

[HoosierCowboy]

I'd get a veteran Center in FA and draft young DL or DB

[fortdick]

Please provide these mocks that have DeCastro going before pick 12. Im sure if we took the time to look through the 10 most reliable sources for mocks you would find DeCastro's average draft position at or below 14.

Thats just the nature of the position. Guards simply dont go early.

:thumbup:
getting right on that

[realtick]

DeCastro is going to drop.

There aren't any prospect rankings out now of people who get paid to evaluate talent for NFL teams. What we get are media member rankings.

But Kiper has him 14th or did last Big Board I had access to from January.
CBSSports has him 11th. He probably ranked in that range. And being a Guard will drop him a few spots for sure. As will many teams feeling Gordy is as is good.

Until we see where Goose has him on the night before the draft we won't really know what scouts think as a group. Most other media guys may have one or two scout buddies but do not have contacts for most teams.

Looooool.

I see now after asking "what sites have DeCastro rated that high" and having it blow up in your face, you've now moved the goalposts again to only value rankings from "people who get paid to evaluate talent for NFL teams."

[tm1119]

Looooool.

I see now after asking "what sites have DeCastro rated that high" and having it blow up in your face, you've now moved the goalposts again to only value rankings from "people who get paid to evaluate talent for NFL teams."


You got the wrong guy...he was just agreeing.

[realtick]

You got the wrong guy...he was just agreeing.

No, trust me, I got the right guy. No reflection on you.

[jterrell]

You got the wrong guy...he was just agreeing.

It's easy for him to go schizoid when he claims a guy is a top of the draft prospect but then swears he will last past 12.

It's ok, it is what is called a fixation. As is his every response to me since he knows full well he is on ignore. I wouldn't see any of his posts if it werent from others quotes.

[realtick]

It's easy for him to go schizoid when he claims a guy is a top of the draft prospect but then swears he will last past 12.

It's ok, it is what is called a fixation. As is his every response to me since he knows full well he is on ignore. I wouldn't see any of his posts if it werent from others quotes.

Lol, it's easy to feel justified when you simply make up stories and false claims to warp reality. I never said, claimed or insinuated anything you just asserted.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7fyG2TcUNUg/TiVuGtyggsI/AAAAAAAAGNQ/uDbKNivUPGU/s1600/goalposts.jpg (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7fyG2TcUNUg/TiVuGtyggsI/AAAAAAAAGNQ/uDbKNivUPGU/s1600/goalposts.jpg)

[fanfromvirginia]

Almost every mock draft I have seen has DeCstro going between 8 and 13. Course, the mocks I have read are from guys that evaluate talent and such for a living. I didn't canvass the opinions here. My bad.

Links please. I have seen some, but very few drafts with DeCastro going above us.

I could definitely see either Arizona grabbing him or someone jumping up to 12 to get him before the Cardinals. But 'long gone' is a bit of a stretch.

On edit: I see others have jumped on this before me.

[fanfromvirginia]

The possibility that DeCastro will be gone is still pretty intriguing (and personally frustrating). It is in fact a very real possibility that he will be taken at 12 or 13. Ironically, the less we do about OG in FA, the greater the chances he will be gone as it would signal to anyone with their eyes on DeCastro that if they want him, they damn sure better grab him before 14.

So, in theory, giving OG a pass in FA because the front office is in love with DeCastro could backfire.

[jnday]

Links please. I have seen some, but very few drafts with DeCastro going above us.

I could definitely see either Arizona grabbing him or someone jumping up to 12 to get him before the Cardinals. But 'long gone' is a bit of a stretch.

On edit: I see others have jumped on this before me.

The Chiefs are rumored to like him as much as the Cards .

[fanfromvirginia]

The Chiefs are rumored to like him as much as the Cards .


Then I suppose 10 would be the highest I would ever expect DeCastro to go. If someone really coveted him and thought KC would take him. Who knows, though, maybe the whole league will catch DeCastro fever and everybody will be beating down everybody else's door for a shot at the guy.

DeCastro Fever: Catch It.