The risk of high defensive draft picks

[ABQCOWBOY]

The same thing is true if they had picked ramsey or another def player.
Hopefully elliot will be as good as some people think, and he should be with our run blocking,
and if so he will have a major impact.
How long will it last? you never know with any player.

That may be true, but I am not claiming that Ramsey or any other player is an Elite player, a sure thing. However, statistically speaking, the longevity of the RB position is much shorter then other player position on the whole. Can a player sustain a career ending injury at any time? Of course they can but RBs are at higher risk. All the more reason, teams avoid taking them high.

 

[Frosty]

This team needs defensive help! Zeke was a wasted pick! How is this team going to win if they don't address the defense! Defense, defense, defense!

OK, let's put this to bed. DEFENSIVE DRAFT PICKS TAKE A LOOOOOONG TIME TO MAKE IMPACTS. Period. That is, if they make an impact at all, which many do not.

Drafting them now is an investment in three years from now. You know, when Romo, Witten, Dez, Lee, and half these starters will be gone or too old to be meaningful anymore. About the time the offense will have to be rebuilt with guys, that will also take 3-4 years to develop!

Let's look back at all the incredible defensive talent drafted in recent years.

Top 10 defensive picks in 2015
Dante Fowler, Jr.
Leonard Williams
Vic Beasley
Trae Waynes
Kevin Johnson
Arik Armstead
Marcus Peters
Bud Dupree
Shane Rae
Shaq Thompson

Can a get a huge "MEH"?

Top 10 defensive picks in 2014
Jadaveon Clowney
Kalil Mack
Justin Gilbert
Anthony Barr
Aaron Donald
Kyle Fuller
Ryan Shazier
CJ Mosely
Calvin Pryor
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

Mack, Donald, and a bunch of dudes. (Jaylon Smith could be another Mack.)

Top 10 defensive picks in 2013
Dion Jordan
Ezekiel Ansah
Barkevious Mingo
Dee Milliner
DJ Hayden
Sheldon Richardson
Star Lotulelei
Kenny Vaccaro
Jarvis Jones
Eric Reid

Would you trade an immediate top 3 running back for any of these guys straight up?

The point remains, defensive players usually take years to make an impact, if they ever do at all. This team has a window of opportunity before it, and very few players can step in and make an immediate impact while the veteran stars are still here.

Win now. Always, if you can in the free-agency, injury-laden NFL.

The title Top 10 Defensive picks is misleading....most of the players your have on that list are mid to late round 1st picks not Top 10.

Mack, Richardson, Star, Williams are better choices....when it comes to long term play makers...Zeke will have to be AP type RB and not another version of Lamar Miller.

 

[DFWJC]

I don't agree with the entire premis of this thread.
I'm not even sure that there are stats to back these claims up.
But stats that are used are misleading or full of opinion vs actual facts.

 

[BlindFaith]

It's a great start, but how much does a pro bowl corner change a defense? Not much. He can only cover one of the five receivers anyway, and you can completely take him out of the game by not going his way.

This is just nonsense and I've heard it before. So you match up your pro bowl corner on the best WR. His job is to force QBs to NOT throw his way. lol So you are basically bagging on a Corner for doing his job extremely well.

 

[erod]

This is just nonsense and I've heard it before. So you match up your pro bowl corner on the best WR. His job is to force QBs to NOT throw his way. lol So you are basically bagging on a Corner for doing his job extremely well.

No, I'm reducing the value of it to winning and losing the next 2-3 seasons.

 

[CowboyChris]

1. So all you guys arguing that we wasted a pick on Elliott, who the heck did you want that was available at #4? (and don't give me some trade down BS either)

2. Explain to me, why we should've took Ramsey instead of Zeke? (when we took the same player last year in Byron Jones)

let's see after countless threads and posts on this matter, who can actually answer those 2 questions, and maybe i'll change my mind.