BPA or Need in the draft?

[StanleySpadowski]

BPA is always the way to go but BPA will usually fit a need.

Players aren't ranked on draft boards from #1 to #32 on so on. They're ranked in groups. A team will take a player out of that grouping who fits a positon of need while still taking a BPA. The groupings usually get larger the farther down the draft board one goes.

Occasionally a player who is in a much higher grouping slips. A team's job is to then figure out who has that player grouped higher and has a need at that player's position. Dallas did this last year with Quinn.

Once in a while a team can't find a suitable trading partner and then must make the decision to either fill a need with a player they rate as a future starter or select a player they rate in the future Pro Bowler grouping for example.

I take the future Pro Bowler, personally.

 

[burmafrd]

Going blindly BPA is just as stupid as blindly picking for need.
The first way is what Detroit did and look where that got them.
THen look at the raiders and they went need with Gallery and Russell and how well has that worked out?
The best way is to group players that your scouts consider first rd, second rd, etc then pick from those groups positions of need. And if no one there is a need you try and trade down.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

BPA is always the way to go but BPA will usually fit a need.

Players aren't ranked on draft boards from #1 to #32 on so on. They're ranked in groups. A team will take a player out of that grouping who fits a positon of need while still taking a BPA. The groupings usually get larger the farther down the draft board one goes.

Occasionally a player who is in a much higher grouping slips. A team's job is to then figure out who has that player grouped higher and has a need at that player's position. Dallas did this last year with Quinn.

Once in a while a team can't find a suitable trading partner and then must make the decision to either fill a need with a player they rate as a future starter or select a player they rate in the future Pro Bowler grouping for example.

I take the future Pro Bowler, personally.

I agree Stan. I'm for BPA, expecially for us in this draft if we stay at 22. I just think that the money is better spent on a guy who can be great for you. I didn't think that Carp was the best player available to us in 05. I liked Cromartie, Addie, Mangold and I loved Devin Joseph. To me, we reached a bit with that player but it is what it is.

BTW Stan, I like King. I do wish he were a bit more physical but I like him as a DB. I would not be disappointed if we picked him up.

 

[Chuck 54]

If you have a position of need that is going to separate you from the SB trophy, then you may select a rookie by need instead of ranking, but can you really depend on a rookie to start all year and play at a high level that allows you to win the SB?

Sometimes....at some positions....it's posible.

But any team that goes into the draft believing that the upcoming season depends on whom they select is foolish and in pretty bad shape to begin with.

Certainly we have obvious areas/positions of greatest need...CB/RB/WR, along with depth at some other positions. But we're not counting on a rookie CB/WR/RB to be the difference between winning the SB or not winning the SB, not with plenty of veteran backups to be made available later in the summer and even after the draft.

Nope, you draft by BPA every time if you're smart about your team and its future....which doesn't mean you don't end up with both.

If you have a QB ranked a couple of draft slots ahead of the CB, then you'd be foolish not to take the CB of need. But if you had that QB/LB/OL ranked #12 in the draft, and suddenly he's available at #22 and the top CB on the board was ranked on your board as the #28 best player in the draft, then I think only a fool would take the CB.

The draft is about compiling great players whenever you can, especially through the draft...if you keep adding better quality players than the other teams around you do, it makes a difference that will last for years.

 

[Chuck 54]

I'm starting to think that #28 selection may very well go to CB Flowers out of VA TECH....he's an instinctive safety who was known for being extremely physical and a great tackler...but he only ran around a 4.5. I think he'd be a safe selection because he'll either pan out to be one of those CB's who plays much better than he measures, or he could easily be the answer at safety down the road due to his adequate speed, CB experience, and physicality.

I could see the draft going RB at 1a, CB at 1b, and WR at #2.

 

[Chief]

With all the talk of drafting a CB, RB or WR, I can't help but think this might not be a good strategy. Perhaps we will get lucky and there will be good value at our given draft positions, but perhaps not.

While I would love for the best player available (BPA) to also be a position of need for us when it is our turn to hand in the card, it may not be so.

So let's say something crazy happens (and it always does) that Branden Albert, the OG from Virginia, or maybe Ryan Clady, the OT from Boise State were to fall to 22.

If you did not have a decent trade partner, would you reach for a position of need or take someone who is falling at a position that isn't considered a need?

For me, I'd take a player that had fallen more often than not. I always think that every position on the team is only one injury away from being a position of need. Injuries happen every year.

Your thoughts?

If Clady or Albert slid to 22 and I had them rated quite a bit higher than the other guys available, I would take 'em.

I wouldn't normally want to pick a guard in the first round, but I've read reports that people believe Albert could be a great tackle as well.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

If Clady or Albert slid to 22 and I had them rated quite a bit higher than the other guys available, I would take 'em.

I wouldn't normally want to pick a guard in the first round, but I've read reports that people believe Albert could be a great tackle as well.

If Albert gets past NE, I'd fall out of my chair. Having said that, I'd be all over him if he fell to 22. I really like that guy.

 

[Romo2Dez4six]

For some reason, I am REALLY liking Kenny Phillips wearing the :starspin

I'm with you on that

 

[ThatsmyQB]

I'm starting to think that #28 selection may very well go to CB Flowers out of VA TECH....he's an instinctive safety

Reminds me of Fast Times at Ridgemont high, make up your mind dude, is he gonna sh## or is he gonna kill us?
Is he a C.B. or is he a safety? LOL

 

[DFWJC]

It depends on how big the separation is between the need position vs straight best player available. If it is several slots (say 9-10 slots) on your draft board, probably take the best player. If it is close, take the need player. Anything in between and it's gray area for me and depends on how big the need is , who the players are, etc.

Example and prob no chance of happening: If Gholston slid to 22, I would take him no matter what. ..especially if DRC is gone. But if a Linebacker that we had rated 23 fell to our 28 slot but there was a DB, RB, or WR that we had rated at 29...I'd go for need vs value.

 

[DFWJC]

I agree Stan. I'm for BPA, expecially for us in this draft if we stay at 22. I just think that the money is better spent on a guy who can be great for you. I didn't think that Carp was the best player available to us in 05. I liked Cromartie, Addie, Mangold and I loved Devin Joseph. To me, we reached a bit with that player but it is what it is.

BTW Stan, I like King. I do wish he were a bit more physical but I like him as a DB. I would not be disappointed if we picked him up.

Agree. As long as the sprerad between BPA and need is large, I go BPA. If it's just 2-3 slots, I go need.

 

[Scotman]

Agree. As long as the spread between BPA and need is large, I go BPA. If it's just 2-3 slots, I go need.

I guess this states my preference better than I did myself. If a player has fallen a LONG way, I'd take BPA. A few slots and I pick for need. That said, when players fall very far, it does become easier to trade that pick (our exchange last year for example).

Gee wiz I can't wait for the draft...

 

[Angus]

I don't think us getting Pacman would mean we don't draft a corner. Remember that Jerry said that Pacman would be a luxury. Now, you could chalk that up to Jerry driving down the price or whatever, but I still think that just because if/when we get Pacman, it won't stop us from drafting corner.

I agree, but it doesn't have to be in the first round.

 

[jobberone]

With all the talk of drafting a CB, RB or WR, I can't help but think this might not be a good strategy. Perhaps we will get lucky and there will be good value at our given draft positions, but perhaps not.

While I would love for the best player available (BPA) to also be a position of need for us when it is our turn to hand in the card, it may not be so.

So let's say something crazy happens (and it always does) that Branden Albert, the OG from Virginia, or maybe Ryan Clady, the OT from Boise State were to fall to 22.

If you did not have a decent trade partner, would you reach for a position of need or take someone who is falling at a position that isn't considered a need?

For me, I'd take a player that had fallen more often than not. I always think that every position on the team is only one injury away from being a position of need. Injuries happen every year.

Your thoughts?

As long as we get a CB who can eventually start and not kill us then we're ok with your scenario. And with the Pacman deal seemingly going down we would be nuts to reach with players like that on the board. I hope JJ is not that desperate. There are CBs who are capable of being starters and contributing whom are lower than the first round of this draft.

 

[Angus]

my thoughts are this is a stupid extreme.

we don't need some players. we do need others.

bpa is some fantasy people chase. but you don't built by bpa. you may as well roll the dice at that point.

that said, you do target needs vs. talent.

we need a cb, a rb and a wr.

day 1 will revolve around that. doesn't matter a top OL may slip. doesn't matter a TE screams take me - who won't. maybe not even in day 1.

we have to fill needs. we trade down if we feel it's the right move. we reach for the same reasons.

fans are the ones who get too caught up in value at spot

And there are plenty of them all through the draft.