I'd much rather have a dominant OL with an average runner. Where it becomes tricky is that the NFL has mostly devalued the RB position the last few years so most RBs are not difficult to acquire. Only 5 guys in the league are making more than $10M per year at RB, only 1 is over $15M per year. I dont hate the Detroit Lions approach at all in going and getting a David Montgomery type in free agency to pair with fresh legs in the draft....although I'm not sure that route requires a 1st round RB. They've also done a nice job of locking down 2 1st round picks at Tackle. I'm fine going the developmental route for your interior guys on the OL, but I tend to want my Tackles to be earlier picks, with some obvious exclusions to that rule.
Excellent response to the OP and which I agree with.
But I will add that the team was fortunate that the 1st rounders Tyron, Zack, FredBeard and Tyler Smith all lived up to or exceeded their draft pick status.
Just because the olinemen were picked in the 1st rd doesn't mean they will always pan out.
Call it luck or whatever but the drafting and developing of the olinemen in the first round has been a well earned success story for this team.
Here's to hoping Tyler Guyton continues that positive upward trend and all the other olinemen continue on that same developmental path as well.
