RB's in RD 1? yes please

[J-man]

I think teams would be better off drafting a top RB in rd 1, after 5 years, letting them walk and then drafting another one, regardless of how good there were or even still are.
Ya'll saying never take a RB in rd1 are looking at this the wrong way. You're argument is that it isn't worth it because you're afraid of resigning him after he's been the bell cow for several years and is now wearing down or already worn out, which is exactly right.

But IMHO, that's exactly why drafting a RB in rd 1 maybe the best thing a team can do in these days of the salary cap. Why you ask?

We all know the RB position takes a terrible toll on a player and the shelf life for most is only 4 years. Good ones make it closer to 7 years, with a huge decline coming between years 5 and 6.

1. Drafting a RB in rd 1 gives you a 5 year option on the player, who is still on a rookie contract, so he's relatively cheap, even in his 5th year.
2. You should also be able to get one of the best RB's available. Can a decent RB be taken in mid-late rds? Of course, diamonds in the rough are always found late in every draft. But they are also very hard to find. Because just like all positions, the talent does drop off quickly and the % of success falls off just as fast. Not only that, but his deal will only be for 4 years, so you are forced to make a decision a year sooner.
3. Taking a RB in rd1 gets him for his probable 5 best years, of his approximately 4-7 year shelf life and you get to do so for pennies on the dollar compared to signing or re-signing a veteran that probably won't be able to produce for too many more seasons.

Change my mind.

 

[My3Sons]

You make an intriguing point, but the converse to that is using a later round pick every 3 or 4 years is cheaper draft capital on the position.

 

[cnuball21]

Your point number 1 is the exact reason you don’t draft a RB in the 1st round.

You can get a good FA RB for 5 mil or less. It costs almost triple that to get a good FA WR / DE / OT etc…

 

[John813]

IMO it really just comes down to BPA, and if that 1st round rated RB is truly better than a DT/DE/etc that typically can be harder to find in the later rounds.

There are dropoffs from 1st round RBs to day 2 to day 3 guys, but in this day and age and the usage of running backs is that difference bigger than a day 1 DE/DT vs a day 2/3 DT/DE?

Hindsight can show a completely different view but on draft day if Robinson is the clear cut best player at 26, and the remaining positions we need players at like DT don't have any one worthy that high, sure, pull the trigger.
But, if a DT fell that could be an impact player or starter, that round 1 RB isn't worth taking.

 

[Hardline]

If Bijan Robinson is there at 26 he's the pick.

 

[J-man]

Your point number 1 is the exact reason you don’t draft a RB in the 1st round.

You can get a good FA RB for 5 mil or less. It costs almost triple that to get a good FA WR / DE / OT etc…

Curious
How is having the guy for 5 years on a rookie deal a deterrent?
What "good" FA RB are you getting for 5 mil or less? My point is most FA RB's are already used up and not worth the investment in a second contract.

 

[J-man]

You make an intriguing point, but the converse to that is using a later round pick every 3 or 4 years is cheaper draft capital on the position.

this is true, but you are most likely getting an inferior talent that may not be "good enough"

 

[cnuball21]

Curious
How is having the guy for 5 years on a rookie deal a deterrent?
What "good" FA RB are you getting for 5 mil or less? My point is most FA RB's are already used up and not worth the investment in a second contract.

Because you could have a much more expensive position on the rookie deal for 5 years.

Rashaad Penny, Jamaal Williams and Donta Foreman are a few cheap options. RB play is heavily defendant on OL play and scheme. We don’t need a workhorse. We need someone that can give you 10-15 quality touches a game and then give the other half to a rookie.

Using a 1st round pick on a RB is such a terrible waste of draft capital and a bad way to build the roster.

 

[J-man]

Because you could have a much more expensive position on the rookie deal for 5 years.

Rashaad Penny, Jamaal Williams and Donta Foreman are a few cheap options. RB play is heavily defendant on OL play and scheme. We don’t need a workhorse. We need someone that can give you 10-15 quality touches a game and then give the other half to a rookie.

Using a 1st round pick on a RB is such a terrible waste of draft capital and a bad way to build the roster.

Sorry but I disagree, who the hell wants Penny? That guy is injured more than everybody I can think of.

Williams or Foreman would be a good options but I highly doubt they are aloud to walk. Both are quality, still fairly young, but also still very much needed where they are.

 

[Nova]

It's not a terrible strategy; especially if your team identity is to run the offense through an RB playmaker.

But the value still isn't great. You can reliably get quality starters and even explosive playmakers in the 2nd-4th round at the position.

 

[Nova]

If Bijan Robinson is there at 26 he's the pick.

depends on how the draft is falling.

He will be the best player if he's still there at 26, but as always, it's not only value, but value relative to position as well.

 

[cnuball21]

Sorry but I disagree, who the hell wants Penny? That guy is injured more than everybody I can think of.

Williams or Foreman would be a good options but I highly doubt they are aloud to walk. Both are quality, still fairly young, but also still very much needed where they are.

If the Panthers have a clue on roster management they let Foreman walk. They’re rebuilding.

His YPC difference from CMac was .1 last year…Cmac was one of the highest paid RBs in football and was border line irrelevant in helping the Panthers get over the hump last few years.

Use the pick on a position that isn’t highly dependent on OL / scheme and that is more valuable.

 

[J-man]

If the Panthers have a clue on roster management they let Foreman walk. They’re rebuilding.???

His YPC difference from CMac was .1 last year…Cmac was one of the highest paid RBs in football and was border line irrelevant in helping the Panthers get over the hump last few years.

Use the pick on a position that isn’t highly dependent on OL / scheme and that is more valuable.

I don't follow your logic. You're right they are rebuilding and in the middle of their rebuild they can substitute CMac's production for pennies on the $. So why would they let that guy walk? To me that's what teams are hoping to do with every player on their roster. Get equal production for a speck of the cost.

 

[cnuball21]

I don't follow your logic. You're right they are rebuilding and in the middle of their rebuild they can substitute CMac's production for pennies on the $. So why would they let that guy walk? To me that's what teams are hoping to do with every player on their roster. Get equal production for a speck of the cost.

That example is the exact reason we shouldn’t draft a 1st round RB. Why do that when it’s the easiest position on the roster to replace?

They replaced CMacs production with a backup who I believe was a mid rounder.

 

[rambo2]

Because you could have a much more expensive position on the rookie deal for 5 years.

Rashaad Penny, Jamaal Williams and Donta Foreman are a few cheap options. RB play is heavily defendant on OL play and scheme. We don’t need a workhorse. We need someone that can give you 10-15 quality touches a game and then give the other half to a rookie.

Using a 1st round pick on a RB is such a terrible waste of draft capital and a bad way to build the roster.

It isn't a waste if you get a top 10 talent at 26.

 

[cnuball21]

It isn't a waste if you get a top 10 talent at 26.

Yea it is.

Say Zeke, Saquon, Fournette etc we’re all drafted at 26 does it make a difference? None of them elevated their team to the Super Bowl or big playoffs runs.

 

[JBS]

If you guys think you can just plug any rb in and they’re going to be as good as Tony Pollard, y’all are drunk. Can you get close to his production for cheaper? Sure. But his explosiveness isn’t easily found. And he’s a threat out of the backfield as a receiver and he can run between the tackles. He’s not easily replaceable in my opinion. Is it better to pay half the price and get more than half of the production? That’s a different argument.

 

[rambo2]

Yea it is.

Say Zeke, Saquon, Fournette etc we’re all drafted at 26 does it make a difference? None of them elevated their team to the Super Bowl or big playoffs runs.

That has nothing to do with what happens to Robinson and didn't Fournette play on a Super Bowl winner.

 

[cnuball21]

That has nothing to do with what happens to Robinson and didn't Fournette play on a Super Bowl winner.

But it does…they were all elite RB prospects and none have been the reason their teams have gotten over the hump.

Leo might’ve gotten a ring in TB but it surely wasn’t bc of him. Heck the Jags let him walk.

 

[xwalker]

I think teams would be better off drafting a top RB in rd 1, after 5 years, letting them walk and then drafting another one, regardless of how good there were or even still are.
Ya'll saying never take a RB in rd1 are looking at this the wrong way. You're argument is that it isn't worth it because you're afraid of resigning him after he's been the bell cow for several years and is now wearing down or already worn out, which is exactly right.

But IMHO, that's exactly why drafting a RB in rd 1 maybe the best thing a team can do in these days of the salary cap. Why you ask?

We all know the RB position takes a terrible toll on a player and the shelf life for most is only 4 years. Good ones make it closer to 7 years, with a huge decline coming between years 5 and 6.

1. Drafting a RB in rd 1 gives you a 5 year option on the player, who is still on a rookie contract, so he's relatively cheap, even in his 5th year.
2. You should also be able to get one of the best RB's available. Can a decent RB be taken in mid-late rds? Of course, diamonds in the rough are always found late in every draft. But they are also very hard to find. Because just like all positions, the talent does drop off quickly and the % of success falls off just as fast. Not only that, but his deal will only be for 4 years, so you are forced to make a decision a year sooner.
3. Taking a RB in rd1 gets him for his probable 5 best years, of his approximately 4-7 year shelf life and you get to do so for pennies on the dollar compared to signing or re-signing a veteran that probably won't be able to produce for too many more seasons.

Change my mind.

Can always extend with the franchise tag up to 2x.