I want to be critical of a potential problem with our draft for the moment. I want to be on record as saying that we had a very good draft in my opinion. But there is a problem from an overview:
You can only keep 53. And only dress 47.
I have never been a huge fan of "large" drafts meaning lots of picks. I think for every late round gem, there are a half a dozen that end up cut in 2 years or less from your draft.
Even if these later rounders make it, they are almost always little more than backups or special teamers. Thats fine except that to keep them, you need to cut players already here, that already know our systems, and have usually already played in real NFL games.
Draft them for potential? OK, I agree. But, how much real playing time will they see at their normal positions? For example, is Alvin Bowen going to beat out say Ellison for playing time this year? DiGiorgio? Both of those vets played a ton last year. Do you think Jauron will go with a rookie instead of guys with lots of experience as backups? I dont see that. Heres a few more:
Cox or Youbouty? Corner or Youbouty?
Johnson or Reed?
Fine or Schouman?
Out of Greer, James, McGee, Cox, Corner, Youbouty some one is getting cut most likely. If its Youbouty, Cox now has a real role on the team, is that a good thing? this year?
Whats my point? Well, we might have been able to trade some of these picks for proven players or to move up for guys with better potential. Instead, if we keep all of these guys, we would have to cut guys that have been here, and we lose even more experience on a very young team.
Backups are fine, drafting for potential is fine, but when you draft alot of players in one draft, you are faced with cutting some of your draftees, or cutting backups with experience. You just cant keep them all.
Thoughts?
You can only keep 53. And only dress 47.
I have never been a huge fan of "large" drafts meaning lots of picks. I think for every late round gem, there are a half a dozen that end up cut in 2 years or less from your draft.
Even if these later rounders make it, they are almost always little more than backups or special teamers. Thats fine except that to keep them, you need to cut players already here, that already know our systems, and have usually already played in real NFL games.
Draft them for potential? OK, I agree. But, how much real playing time will they see at their normal positions? For example, is Alvin Bowen going to beat out say Ellison for playing time this year? DiGiorgio? Both of those vets played a ton last year. Do you think Jauron will go with a rookie instead of guys with lots of experience as backups? I dont see that. Heres a few more:
Cox or Youbouty? Corner or Youbouty?
Johnson or Reed?
Fine or Schouman?
Out of Greer, James, McGee, Cox, Corner, Youbouty some one is getting cut most likely. If its Youbouty, Cox now has a real role on the team, is that a good thing? this year?
Whats my point? Well, we might have been able to trade some of these picks for proven players or to move up for guys with better potential. Instead, if we keep all of these guys, we would have to cut guys that have been here, and we lose even more experience on a very young team.
Backups are fine, drafting for potential is fine, but when you draft alot of players in one draft, you are faced with cutting some of your draftees, or cutting backups with experience. You just cant keep them all.
Thoughts?
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