Recommended *** NFL Draft 2021 Thread ***

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Aerolithe_Lion

Aerolithe_Lion

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So many people clamoring for Pitts....

TE is a position that has little bearing on the development and success of a rebuilding roster, it is purely a luxury pick. We won 4 games last year not because of terrible luck, but because of an awful cap situation and a legitimate 4-win talent roster.

Some have said he is only technically listed as TE, implying he has a WR makeup. WR's are also a luxury pick. You never draft them with a high selection in the draft, with the only exception if you are a playoff team that has acquired a top 10 pick via trade. Maybe Pitts becomes a great TE, maybe he puts up alltime numbers... but that wont help you build a winning football team, like at all.



Who are the best WR's taken in the top half of the first round over the last 20 years?

Larry Fitzgerald - 1 SB, 2 NFCCG, 0 Rings

Calvin Johnson - 0 SB, 0, NFCCG, 0 Rings

Andre Johnson - O SB, 0 NFCCG, 0 Rings

AJ Green - 0 SB, 0 NFCCG, 0 Rings

Julio Jones - 1 SB, 2 NFCCG, 0 Rings

Braylon Edwards - 0 SB, 0 NFCCG, 0 Rings

Michael Crabtree - 1 SB, 1 NFCCG, 0 Rings

There are a couple dozen busts in that timeframe too, but they just fuel the point. What does this list have in common? Every single team was bad when they drafted these WRs, teams with holes up and down the roster. The only exception maybe Atlanta, who went 10-6, traded a TON to move up and get Julio, and then went 13-3. But then they felt the brunt of the lost picks and proceeded to go 18-30 over the next 3 years. Who cares if he makes the hall of fame? His selection crippled his team. The rest of the teams on the list were the same, they needed foundation players and they picked only for luxury.



Now let's look at TE's taken in the top half of the NFL draft first round last 18 years:

2019 TJ Hockenson 8th overall Lions - Still Young, but 0 playoff appearances, and trading Stafford for Goff isn't indicative that he'll have his heyday anytime soon.

2014 Eric Ebron 10th overall lions - He's had a nice career, but once again, drafted by a bad team who had holes everywhere, didnt contribute whatsoever to them winning.

2006 Vernon Davis 6th Overall 49ers - They had just taken Alex Smith the year before after having the worst record in football, and it’s not a stretch to say it was a terrible decision. Even though Davis developed well over the second half of his career, he did absolutely nothing to improve the team’s stock over his rookie contract. (Ended up winning a SB in Denver after being a mid season trade to a Broncos team already super bowl bound.)

2004 Kellen Winslow 6th Overall Browns - They needed Oline and Dline help BADLY. Kellen Winslow developed into a pro bowl player for Cleveland and had a nice career, spanning 5 700+ yard seasons. The team ended up actually worse after they picked him.



That's literally it. There's no more. Teams don't do that, except for the 2 worst teams in NFL history. Everyone else knows it's a bad idea, they know they'd be stunting their rebuild. You'll find some OJ Howards and Hayden Hursts at the bottom of the first, otherwise Good teams know not to take TE's that high. Here's another example: Lane Johnson. Lane Johnson was a huge boost to our Chip Kelly years, he was a pivotal piece in Nick's 27-2 season, as well as the back-to-back 10-6 years. When we drafted Carson Wentz, his rookie year ebbed and flowed by what Lane was able to do for him. Lane was instrumental in us winning the SB in 2017. Why would I bring up Lane in a TE thread? Because he's the guy we chose to spend our last top 10 pick on. He's the guy we went to in the top 10 the year we drafted Ertz. Ertz had value in the second round. Despite Zach's great career here, even he would have been a wasted pick in the top 10.

Oline, Dline, Quarterback, fix the second and third levels of the defense, then start thinking about offensive weapons. What if Pitts turns out to be great? What if he has a Jason Witten or Tony Gonzalez type career? Wouldn't that be amazing? A similar career to 2 guys who never even sniffed a super bowl. Kellen Winslow Sr, also never even made one. You can just go down the list of alltime TE's, It's the same story: If you were on a team that had an extraordinary Oline, Dline, alltime QB, you probably won. Gronk, Kelce, Sharpe. But does John Elway win 2 super bowls if he never had Shannon Sharpe? Probably. Shannon wasn't instrumental in either victory. Does Tom Brady still win Superbowls without Gronk? Bucs yes. 2018 Yes. 2014 maybe, 2016 if you remember Gronk didnt even play against the falcons. Gronk had a big day in 2017 agains us, they lost anyway. We don't have the Oline KC does, the Dline KC does, the defense KC does, especially the QB KC does to make Travis Kelce a SB champion.

And the teams that did win with prolific TE's did it the right way. As we mentioned, SB champion Ertz was a second round pick, when we went Lane Johnson in the first. SB champion Kelce was a third round pick, when his team when Eric Fisher with their top 10 pick. Even the great Rob Gronkowski was a second round pick, when NE smartly took Devin Mccourty in the first. Being diligent in their rebuilds paid off in the long run.

Would it be fun to have an alltime receiving yards TE this draft? TE's are good, but theyre good for built teams that can take advantage of them to win. if you're not on that level, they pale in impact to a better Oline, a better Dline. Who are your best Olineman? Frederick is gone. Smith is doing well but not who he once was. Is Collins going to be like this for the next 5 years? Are will assuming Connor Williams will magically get dramatically better? We may be looking at a complete overhaul of the line within the next 3 years. Who are your best Dlineman? Have you been proclaiming every season that all you need was a TE, and not a top run stuffing/pass rushing DT? What if Lawrence misses some time, how much trust do you have that the othe DE’s can hobble together an NFL level pass rush without him?

TE's are frosting, they make the cake that much better, but only after its done. You don't ever consider frosting when you're still mixing the batter. 10th overall? Trade up for him? Welcome to the Browns. Maybe whoever picks Pitts with their top pick won't regret taking him, but he wont make a whole lot of difference in their roster building, one way or the other.

Pitts would be a quintessential glitz and glamor pick by Jerry.
 
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Floatyworm

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ColeBeasley11 said:
Bengals have to and will select Sewell or Slater. Obviously most likely Sewell. Burrow got killed last year.
Click to expand...

No they don't.....I don't see them passing on Chase. There will be a tackle in the 2nd round for them.

Who would you rather want????/

Sewell
Bateman

or

Chase
Leatherwood or Radunz
 
Bizwah

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Floatyworm said:
No they don't.....I don't see them passing on Chase. There will be a tackle in the 2nd round for them.

Who would you rather want????/

Sewell
Bateman

or

Chase
Leatherwood or Radunz
Click to expand...
The Bengals have Jonah Williams and signed Reilly Reiff (I can't remember how to spell it and I'm too lazy to Google). They may feel it's ok to wait for an OT. I can see them going for a WR or TE.
 
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