The draft plan s/b offensive but cannot forget about the D

[Cowboyny]

The offense really struggled down the stretch, especially the team's inability to run the football. The main draft priority is to fix this area and allow the offense to become more balanced. Let's not forget they already lost 3 starters in Connor Williams, Collins and Cooper. The focus has to be within the interior of the OL, a legitimate inline TE and a #3 receiver.

With all the needs on the offense, they still cannot forget about the defense. Believe their fa plan, was to try to bring back the band so to speak, but Gregory departed and Kearse remains unsigned. Last yr, the biggest weakness was their inconsistent rush defense and poor tackling on the back end. You can make an argument that the need is bigger at DT then it is a Edge, even with the loss of Gregory. Lve is a finesse linebacker who is at his best playing clean. Both Hooker/Wilson are far better tacklers then Kazee is.

With all this being said, here are the positions I hope the team makes it a priority to fill via the draft process, in no particular order:

Left Guard, TE, WR, DT, LB.

 

[cnuball21]

The offense really struggled down the stretch, especially the team's inability to run the football. The main draft priority is to fix this area and allow the offense to become more balanced. Let's not forget they already lost 3 starters in Connor Williams, Collins and Cooper. The focus has to be within the interior of the OL, a legitimate inline TE and a #3 receiver.

With all the needs on the offense, they still cannot forget about the defense. Believe their fa plan, was to try to bring back the band so to speak, but Gregory departed and Kearse remains unsigned. Last yr, the biggest weakness was their inconsistent rush defense and poor tackling on the back end. You can make an argument that the need is bigger at DT then it is a Edge, even with the loss of Gregory. Lve is a finesse linebacker who is at his best playing clean. Both Hooker/Wilson are far better tacklers then Kazee is.

With all this being said, here are the positions I hope the team makes it a priority to fill via the draft process, in no particular order:

Left Guard, TE, WR, DT, LB.

No DE on your list!?!?!?

 

[Cowboyny]

No DE on your list!?!?!?

I think a NT is the bigger need. We certainly need a future starting Edge, but think we could have enough next season.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

This guy......word is he's dropping like a bad habit. Hell, some mocks have dropped him out the 1st round.
As for your thread, I think you mention McClay talked about the number of inside OL that can play outside. That tells me it will be their focus at G. But I don't see them passing on one of the top 4/5 edge rushers at 24. Sure we're filling the position with free agents but more quantity than quality all one 1 year deals. Hell, we wanna go through this again next year?

 

[cnuball21]

I think a NT is the bigger need. We certainly need a future starting Edge, but think we could have enough next season.

I think Armstrong is a quality rotation player and Fowler is a JAG.

Huge need IMO .

 

[Aven8]

LB needs to be added. One year contracts for Giff and LVE. That won’t do. Rookie LB’s generally take time. Bolton took half the season to figure it out.

As for the rushing offense the running scheme needs to change. Running up the middle won’t cut it in the NFL unless you have giant all pro studs in the middle

 

[Cowboyny]

I think Armstrong is a quality rotation player and Fowler is a JAG.

Huge need IMO .

Can that combo match the 11 sacks from last season? Maybe. Unless you are using the top pick, don't see much of an immediate impact. Yes, agree with the future need, but in my opinion a high level NT makes more of a impact for this defense.

 

[Cowboyny]

This guy......word is he's dropping like a bad habit. Hell, some mocks have dropped him out the 1st round.
As for your thread, I think you mention McClay talked about the number of inside OL that can play outside. That tells me it will be their focus at G. But I don't see them passing on one of the top 4/5 edge rushers at 24. Sure we're filling the position with free agents but more quantity than quality all one 1 year deals. Hell, we wanna go through this again next year?

Dean scares the hell out of me, kind of like Linderbaum on Defense. With the news about Ojabo, I highly doubt one of the top 5 falls to 24. We will probably be taking more of a 2nd tier one. The last time the team did that, we drafted Taco. I am not a fan of using a 1st rd pick on upside, rather take a high floor impact starter. LB, WR, G are probably on that short list.

 

[cnuball21]

Can that combo match the 11 sacks from last season? Maybe. Unless you are using the top pick, don't see much of an immediate impact. Yes, agree with the future need, but in my opinion a high level NT makes more of a impact for this defense.

I think you have to look bigger picture…

I’m all for adding a NT if one is available but I think we’d be foolish not to target DEs early in a class that is loaded.

 

[Malhavoc]

It would be a shame not to get an Edge player in such a loaded class.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Dean scares the hell out of me, kind of like Linderbaum on Defense. With the news about Ojabo, I highly doubt one of the top 5 falls to 24. We will probably be taking more of a 2nd tier one. The last time the team did that, we drafted Taco. I am not a fan of using a 1st rd pick on upside, rather take a high floor impact starter. LB, WR, G are probably on that short list.

IF this happens and one falls to let say 20, then I'm going to get him. That's how strongly I think we NEED to come out of this draft with one. In other words, if I can package a 2023 pick alone with a 4th and/or a couple of the 5th rounders, I'm going for it. The time to fix this position is NOW IMO.

 

[morasp]

They lost 2 WRs and have singed one, They lost 2 starting OL and singed none, There are two safeties from last year that aren't signed, They haven't replaced Gregory, One of our starting LBs hasn't been replaced and two of our DTs haven't been replaced.

Here are this years and last years Edge rushers with starting grades sorted by their draft grade. There are a lot more this year and we should be able to replace most of or exceed Gregory's production from last year. The numbers for this years draft class are for last season.

6.83 Aidan Hutchinson 14 sacks 16.5 TFL 62 tackles
6.72 Kayvon Thibodeaux 7 sacks 12 TFL 49 tackles
6.5 David Ojabo 11 sacks 12 TFL 35 tackles
6.49 Jermaine Johnson 11.5 Sacks 17.5 TFL 37 Tackles
6.44 Jayson Oweh 5 5 Sacks 5 TFL 33 Tackles 15 QB Hits
6.44 Kwitty Paye 4 sacks 3 TFL 32 Tackles 10 QB HIts
6.39 Jaelan Phillips 8.5 Sacks 9 TFL 42 Tackles 16 QB hits
6.39 Azeez Ojulari 8 sacks 8 TFL 49 Tackles 13 QB hits
6.37 George Karlaftis 4.5 Sacks 10 TFL 39 Tackles
6.35 Boye Mafe 7 Sacks 10 TFL 34 Tackles 1 QB Hit
6.34 Arnold Ebiketie 9.5 Sacks 18 TFL 62 2 Tackles
6.33 Nik Bonitto 7 Sacks 15 TFL 39 Tackles
6.33 Travon Walker 6 sacks 7.5 TFL 33 Tackles
6.31 Sam Williams 12.5 Sacks 15 TFL 57 Tackles
6.31 Joe Tryon 4 Sack 5 TFL 29 Tackles 10 QB Hits
6.3 Dominique Robinson 4.5 Sacks 8.5 TFL 28 Tackles
6.3 Joshua Paschal 5 sacks 15 TLF 52 Tackles

 

[darthseinfeld]

I think you have to look bigger picture…

I’m all for adding a NT if one is available but I think we’d be foolish not to target DEs early in a class that is loaded.

You also have to remember they wanted Gregory here long term losing him to Denver means their long term plan went up in smoke.

I think you see more urgency at the position with them during official visits than at the combine

 

[Killerinstinct]

It's clear that the offense played it's best when the defense was creating turnovers. Ialso believe the periods of offensive ineptitude had less to do with the personnel on the field and more to do with play calling and Dak alternating between being "hot and cold". We could spend all picks on offense and it wouldn't change those facts.

 

[Cowboyny]

IF this happens and one falls to let say 20, then I'm going to get him. That's how strongly I think we NEED to come out of this draft with one. In other words, if I can package a 2023 pick alone with a 4th and/or a couple of the 5th rounders, I'm going for it. The time to fix this position is NOW IMO.

That might be needed or the team will be reaching at 24

 

[Cowboyny]

I think you have to look bigger picture…

I’m all for adding a NT if one is available but I think we’d be foolish not to target DEs early in a class that is loaded.

Have no issue if 1 of top 5, after after that I feel it will be reaching to fill a need

 

[xwalker]

I think a NT is the bigger need. We certainly need a future starting Edge, but think we could have enough next season.

'2 down' DTs don't get big contracts anymore.

Just sign a medium cost free agent if NT is a need.

 

[Cowboyny]

'2 down' DTs don't get big contracts anymore.

Just sign a medium cost free agent if NT is a need.

Problem is they just sign minimum guys every year

 

[cnuball21]

Have no issue if 1 of top 5, after after that I feel it will be reaching to fill a need

I don’t know why Ebiketie isn’t getting 1st round love…

Dude looks so explosive off the snap, has 34 inch arms and a ton of production.

Im higher on him than most but I’d consider him at the bottom of the 1st.

 

[Cowboyny]

I don’t know why Ebiketie isn’t getting 1st round love…

Dude looks so explosive off the snap, has 34 inch arms and a ton of production.

Im higher on him than most but I’d consider him at the bottom of the 1st.

There are a ton of edge prospects who will have similar grades, they will be drafted based more on fit. However, I expect them to get overdrafted and there maybe all gone by 56