SkinsFreak wrote:PulpExposure wrote:funbuncher wrote:[While I agree with your point in general, the Vikings example only proves we should do something OTHER than draft a DE
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Or...maybe it says we should draft a DE who can actually rush the passer (unlike Udeze who started 16 games and had ZERO sacks)?
Are you serious?
Are we back to criticizing their inability to predict the future??? Is there a crystal ball down at Redskins Park or something, you know, so we can avoid the same mistake? Come on...
***I think you just proved the point as to why some in the NFL are now leery about giving a potentially over-rated DE or DT huge amounts of guaranteed money.***
Cause it ain't about the fact that the Skins need d-line help, and it ain't about whether or not one of these guys could turn out to be good, but it's ALL about the guaranteed money, the size of the contract associated with the #6 pick, and the inherent risks involved. You gave us a perfect example of how you can get screwed.
If you take one of those guys, like Udeze, as you pointed out, and they fail to perform, as you pointed out, you are now screwed for the next few years. It's all about the risk / reward factor.
Well, you're comparing apples and oranges. Udeze and Erasmus James were both late 1st round picks (Udeze was the 20th pick, James was the 18th pick). At that range, when you pick a D-end, your chance of getting a passrushing monster is fairly low (I can think of both Renaldo Wynn and Kendard Lang went around that point).
DE's drafted in the Top 12 since 2000 (with pick # in () afterwards):
2006: Mario Williams (1)
2003: Terrell Suggs (10)
2002: Julius Peppers (2), Dwight Freeney (11)
2001: Justin Smith (4), Richard Seymour (6), Andre Carter (7)
2000: Courtney Brown (1), Shaun Ellis (12)
Yeah, there are a few busts (I guess don't pick a DE first overall?), but that's a pretty good list. Everyone except for the two first pick guys and Justin Smith has had at least 1 double digit sack season. Even better, excepting Mario Williams (and the jury really is out on him still), Courtney Brown (who was crippled by injuries), Justin Smith and Andre Carter, every one on that list has made at least one Pro Bowl. And Justin Smith hasn't been the passrushing monster people expected, but has been quite a solid defensive lineman. There's really not busts there (if you acknowledge Brown's career was wrecked by injuries). That's a very good return on value.
I think you're getting a bit tied up in the argument without seeing the big picture. I like Landry. I think that would be a really sick safety tandem. But...as it stands, we have a decent secondary. We have a stinky defensive line. No one, no matter how good they are, can cover someone forever....and that's where we're left if we don't get someone who can rush the passer. Or be a run stuffer....we can't depend on someone who plays 8 yards behind the line of scrimmage to improve our run game that much.
You made the point that no one had DE ranked 6th...well they have D-line ranked 6-10 pretty consistently. I think we can get decent value drafting someone at 6 who may be ranked 6th, 7th or 8th...if it's a position of need. And I can't imagine (imho) a greater need than defensive line.
It's a crapshoot and it will be interesting to see what we do on draft day. My two cents....