Quote:
Originally Posted by Direckshun
(a.) Assuming the following players are off the board:
QB Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville
QB Blake Bortles, UCF
QB Johnny Manziel. Texas A&M
QB Derek Carr, Fresno State
WR Sammy Watkins, Clemson
WR Mike Evans, Texas A&M
TE Eric Ebron, North Carolina
OT Jake Matthews, Texas A&M
OT Greg Robinson, Auburn
OT Tyler Lewan, Michigan
DT/DE Ra'Shede Hageman, Minnesota
DE Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina
DE Kony Ealy, Missouri
OLB Khalil Mack,Buffalo
OLB Anthony Barr,UCLA
CB Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State
S HaHa Clinton-Dix, Alabama
(b.) And assuming no game-changing FAs are added, and of the departing FAs, we only retain Schwartz.
Here's a comprehensive list right now of who I'd take at 23, in order, as of now:
1. WR Odell Beckham, Jr., LSU -- fantastic playmaker, great YAC guy
3. WR Brandin Cooks, Oregon State -- outstanding speed and athleticism, will stretch defenses
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Assuming all of the above, I narrowed your list down.
However, I noticed you only had like 17 players "off" the board, are we assuming C.J. Mosley is taken as well? Because if not C.J. Mosley is without a doubt the absolute best pick we can make right there in our position. With how deep this WR class is, and how limited ILB's are, assuming the above with no serious acquisitions to the ILB spot, you have to take Mosley.
Don't get me wrong, I was completely wowed by the two of these receivers in your list yesterday, and I'd probably go as far to say that I'd take Beckham over Cooks hands down at this point, just seemed a bit more polished yesterday and I can see him fitting this offense well.
But, if I'm looking forward for us, especially down the stretch last season, a big problem with our defense was stopping the run and getting burned in the secondary. Once we lost our outside rushers, it was game over. And while the argument could be made to draft a DE/OLB here as well, especially with our glaring need for depth, I think the bigger issue right now was our lack of a solid #2 ILB in this defense. It felt like we really had to lean on Berry to come into the box to get shit done last year, which really left the rest of the secondary hung out to dry down the stretch last year, especially without our edge rushers.
If I'm in the hot seat and I've got the option between the two, I'd have to coin toss this one, but I'd lean towards the safer, smarter pick with Mosley, and then bank on this DEEP WR draft with our 3rd round pick to get a guy like Robinson, who I feel is going to drop considerably after this combine. Could be wrong there, but I have ZERO concern that we'll get some solid receivers in this draft. I'm not sure where you rank a guy like Josh Brown, but what I saw from him yesterday, I'd have zero problems snagging him as early as the 4th round, possibly even with our 3rd rounder if we snagged Mosley, depending on the WR availability there. I feel like Brown could really play a solid slot position/returner here in KC. Especially so if McCluster leaves, I feel like that plays a better judgement in a few months towards what we "will" do.
For reference, I know Josh Brown's draft profile says he's a "priority free agent" on nfl.com and nobody had him ranked very high anywhere prior to the combine, but I feel like he's made a mark and name for himself and launched himself into being drafted. Further, I feel like his draft position will likely be in the 5-7 round range, but could jump up a bit for a team that is needy for a slot receiver and/or returner, IE KC. I'd like to hold off as long as we could on a guy like that to get insane value from the draft pick, but I'd be perfectly content reaching a bit on him if I'm pretty confident he's a solid fit. Only time will tell though.