NOBODY has us taking a LB first

[Tass]

So why are we all so confident that that is what we are targeting? Wishful thinking on our part or what?

 

[scottsp]

None of us have the first clue. That would include those who put these mocks together. Doesn't mean an OLB is coming to us. To me, it simply goes to show there is way too much time between the end of the season and late April.

 

[junk]

This is one of those years where the team could go a bunch of different directions in 1.

I happen to think SOLB is a huge need. Other feel FS, others feel OL. Both valid. A young WR wouldn't be a terrible move. A NT isn't a crazy thought.

It'll make the day interesting anyway.

 

[Justis]

These "NOBODIES" probably don't follow the team near as closely as its overzealous fanbase. I'd say we're more entitled to make the call, than someone who's taken a cursory glance at our depth chart and pidgeon-holed us to pick at a specific position with a well-publicized need.

 

[Paniolo22]

I think we are all following the BPA theor and if ou look around 18, there should be a lot of good LB available.

 

[theogt]

I think the OLB theory is based on three things.

1. Its clearly an obvious choice given that its a big need and that there are some perfect candidates that will be available at #18.
2. Our other two biggest needs (FS, OL) have been addressed in some way that indicates we will not draft a player in the first. With FS Jerry has explicitly stated that it won't happen, and with OL we go Fabini.
3. There were some reports that came out during the Combine and around that time that had us really pursuing a LB with out top pick.

 

[Sasquatch]

2. Our other two biggest needs (FS, OL) have been addressed in some way that indicates we will not draft a player in the first. With FS Jerry has explicitly stated that it won't happen, and with OL we go Fabini.

Surely, you don't mean that keeping Davis has addressed our FS nees? Wasn't it his mediocre play that made it a need in the first place?

 

[ghst187]

I think our staff is more confident in Al Singleton than most of us here are. That said, I still think the staff recognizes the fact that we need another passrusher...and AL S isn't that guy. I don't think they have a lot of confidence in Burnett yet either. Even if Burnett turns the corner, a 3-4 needs a deep stable of talented LBs.
Lawson is a quite exciting thought lining up opposite Ware but Carpenter is a more NFL-ready LB. Wimbley is a great athlete also that will probably be similar player to Ellis. From the sound of it, NE and NYG will likely take a LB in the first so if we ARE going to take a LB in the first....I'm not sure we can trade down anymore and still get one of our top 2 LBs.
Taking a LB seems to actually make the most sense based on value at pick, team need, and draft positional strength. Someone like Carpenter, Wimbley, or Lawson would be able to come in and play right away. They would be able to provide an upgrade at the position and none of those three guys would be much of a reach at 18.
A lot of mock drafts have us taking a WR since our corps is pretty dated. However, this is one of the worst WR drafts in years. Holmes would be a good fit but wouldn't be able to contribute a whole lot in 2006 because there's TO and TG...and I doubt he's going to beat out Crayton his rookie year. He would get some occasional reps at WR but his primary contribution would probably be KR and PR. Is that worth our 1st round pick? Of course, both he and Jackson very well could be gone by 18 anyway as the Iggles will be looking hard at a WR also. If you want a WR....the 2007 draft is going to be loaded with a lot of potential #1s. Or...look in the second round this year at guys like Stovall or Moss, or third round like Jennings, Hagan, or Travis Wilson
Another third of the mock drafts have us taking an OL. Well there's Ferguson, who is well out of our reach, and Winston Justice. These are about the only two OL worth a first round pick. Fergi is gone top 5, and it sounds more and more like Justice will be taken somewhere between 8-15. Now when the season begins, Flo and Fabini will be starting, its almost a given. Justice could be a great pick for the long-term but I think its a consensus opinion that BP isn't thinking about our franchise 5 years down the road, more like 2006 and maybe 2007. So once again, a first round draft pick for a guy that may or may not contribute in 2006?
The final third of our mocks, including Kiper's, have us taking a S at 18. This is one of the deepest S drafts I've ever seen and there will be starting FSs to be had deep in the second and third rounds. JJ also said publicly a while back that we wouldn't use our first on a S. Whitner...would be a big reach at 18. Allen, Kiper's pick for us at 18, is coming off a serious injury that was almost career-ending. Furthermore, although I'm a big Allen fan, he did fail a physical recently. I wouldn't be willing to use our first on a guy so close to never even playing football again. Now Huff....would probably be worth our 18 pick....of course for him to be there would be a Witten-like fall and gem.
Outside of Huff...I don't see a S worth our 18 pick and I definitely don't see us moving up to get him when there are guys like Watkins, Griffin, Simpson, Bullocks, etc in the second and third. Now a FS would probably be able to beat out Davis and contribute right away in 2006....so it makes a little more sense. However, consider Ireland's level-headedness regarding value at selection...you have to be more inclined to think we won't look at S until the 2nd or 3rd...(unless of course Huff is somehow still on the board).
The wildcard was the recent mention by JJ that we may look at a CB. My following question was..."what CB would be a first round pick?" Only 3-4 names came to mind. Jason Allen, Huff, Jimmy Williams, and Cromartie. I already discussed Allen so I'd have to rule him out. I really can't see Huff being a full-time CB. Jimmy Williams might be someone we're considering. My opinion on him though is very negative. I think he's a crummy CB that gets roasted and has a horrible attitude. His showing at the combine and position drills confirmed what I already thought. He needs to stick to FS so I'd hope we weren't looking at him to play CB. Crom is a pretty exciting CB and could do KR/PR. He'd definitely be a first round player before the knee injury. The questions become....is he back to 100%? Will he ever be? Do you spend a first round pick on a guy that had a major knee injury, esp one that plays DB? How raw is his talent? He's only played a few games.
Obviously who we end up drafting will depend on how the picks above us play out and what trades become available when our pick is up but barring too many surprises and trade deals....based on the 1) ability to contribute and impact immediately and 2) who will be available and 3) draft positional strength....I think the obvious player for us to pick in the first would be a LB...

 

[Woods]

I think our staff is more confident in Al Singleton than most of us here are. That said, I still think the staff recognizes the fact that we need another passrusher...and AL S isn't that guy. I don't think they have a lot of confidence in Burnett yet either. Even if Burnett turns the corner, a 3-4 needs a deep stable of talented LBs.
Lawson is a quite exciting thought lining up opposite Ware but Carpenter is a more NFL-ready LB. Wimbley is a great athlete also that will probably be similar player to Ellis. From the sound of it, NE and NYG will likely take a LB in the first so if we ARE going to take a LB in the first....I'm not sure we can trade down anymore and still get one of our top 2 LBs.
Taking a LB seems to actually make the most sense based on value at pick, team need, and draft positional strength. Someone like Carpenter, Wimbley, or Lawson would be able to come in and play right away. They would be able to provide an upgrade at the position and none of those three guys would be much of a reach at 18.
A lot of mock drafts have us taking a WR since our corps is pretty dated. However, this is one of the worst WR drafts in years. Holmes would be a good fit but wouldn't be able to contribute a whole lot in 2006 because there's TO and TG...and I doubt he's going to beat out Crayton his rookie year. He would get some occasional reps at WR but his primary contribution would probably be KR and PR. Is that worth our 1st round pick? Of course, both he and Jackson very well could be gone by 18 anyway as the Iggles will be looking hard at a WR also. If you want a WR....the 2007 draft is going to be loaded with a lot of potential #1s. Or...look in the second round this year at guys like Stovall or Moss, or third round like Jennings, Hagan, or Travis Wilson
Another third of the mock drafts have us taking an OL. Well there's Ferguson, who is well out of our reach, and Winston Justice. These are about the only two OL worth a first round pick. Fergi is gone top 5, and it sounds more and more like Justice will be taken somewhere between 8-15. Now when the season begins, Flo and Fabini will be starting, its almost a given. Justice could be a great pick for the long-term but I think its a consensus opinion that BP isn't thinking about our franchise 5 years down the road, more like 2006 and maybe 2007. So once again, a first round draft pick for a guy that may or may not contribute in 2006?
The final third of our mocks, including Kiper's, have us taking a S at 18. This is one of the deepest S drafts I've ever seen and there will be starting FSs to be had deep in the second and third rounds. JJ also said publicly a while back that we wouldn't use our first on a S. Whitner...would be a big reach at 18. Allen, Kiper's pick for us at 18, is coming off a serious injury that was almost career-ending. Furthermore, although I'm a big Allen fan, he did fail a physical recently. I wouldn't be willing to use our first on a guy so close to never even playing football again. Now Huff....would probably be worth our 18 pick....of course for him to be there would be a Witten-like fall and gem.
Outside of Huff...I don't see a S worth our 18 pick and I definitely don't see us moving up to get him when there are guys like Watkins, Griffin, Simpson, Bullocks, etc in the second and third. Now a FS would probably be able to beat out Davis and contribute right away in 2006....so it makes a little more sense. However, consider Ireland's level-headedness regarding value at selection...you have to be more inclined to think we won't look at S until the 2nd or 3rd...(unless of course Huff is somehow still on the board).
The wildcard was the recent mention by JJ that we may look at a CB. My following question was..."what CB would be a first round pick?" Only 3-4 names came to mind. Jason Allen, Huff, Jimmy Williams, and Cromratie (sp?). I already discussed Allen so I'd have to rule him out. I really can't see Huff being a full-time CB. Jimmy Williams might be someone we're considering. My opinion on him though is very negative. I think he's a crummy CB that gets roasted and has a horrible attitude. His showing at the combine and position drills confirmed what I already thought. He needs to stick to FS so I'd hope we weren't looking at him to play CB. Crom is a pretty exciting CB and could do KR/PR. He'd definitely be a first round player before the knee injury. The questions become....is he back to 100%? Will he ever be? Do you spend a first round pick on a guy that had a major knee injury, esp one that plays DB?
Obviously who we end up drafting will depend on how the picks above us play out and what trades become available when our pick is up but barring too many surprises and trade deals....based on the 1) ability to contribute and impact immediately and 2) who will be available and 3) draft positional strength....I think the obvious player for us to pick in the first would be a LB.....or Crom depending on what we think his current health is. In the latter event, obviously Henry moves to FS (where he had 10 INTs his rookie year).

Very logical post, and I agree with you 100%.

The CB position could be the wild card, but again, I see more value end of the 1st round at that position with K. Jennings and J. Joseph. (And I'm not too positive on J. Williams either.)

 

[groverat]

I'd say we go for a guy who has the ability to play either corner or FS; someone like Jimmy Williams or Cedric Griffin.

 

[theogt]

edit.

 

[theogt]

Surely, you don't mean that keeping Davis has addressed our FS nees? Wasn't it his mediocre play that made it a need in the first place?

Read the post again. If you need more help let me know.

Hint: "addressed in some way" and "Jerry stated it won't happen". By addressed I don't necessarily mean filled the position.

 

[ghst187]

I'd say we go for a guy who has the ability to play either corner or FS; someone like Jimmy Williams or Cedric Griffin.

those are big differences...Jimmy Williams will probably go in round 1 while a lot of mocks have Griffin going late in the second or even third round.
I have no problem with Griffin in the second or third but not in the first.