But if Gregory & Smith come back & are impactful, the rookie edge rusher isn't going to do much for you this year where a CB taken at this point should be a contributor. I know its an "IF" but i think they have plugged the holes with what's available in FA and are looking for CB help in the draft.
The "if" scenario there sounds a lot to me like saying "if Awuzie and Lewis and Brown play at their best, a 2nd round corner isn't gonna beat them out for playing time anyway."
There's a good chance a 2nd rounder, whether they're a pass-rusher or a CB, won't be able to beat out our veterans for playing time on the merits (on the merits, as opposed to us handing it to them because we factor in that we just spent a high pick on them).
Either way it might happen.
Gregory and Aldon feel like less reliable options to me than our corners. But that's just me.
Maybe you love the odds of them being reinstated, staying eligible, staying out of legal trouble, being in good shape, and playing well after extended absences. And think that our corners outplaying a 2nd round rookie corner is more of a longshot than those other guys. I'd disagree.
But I'm not opposed to the team counting on Gregory, at least, to be a contributor (since he's the least likely of the two to have his reinstatement denied, and he's also shown he can come back from a long suspension and contribute).