Weak first round or not, that's the first round that every team is dealing with...Originally Posted by JUST-PLAIN-NASTY
Would Eifert, for example, be a #17 in last year's draft? Perhaps...perhaps not...who can say?
Would Eifert be a #17 in next year's draft? Again, perhaps...perhaps not...
Neither of those is relevant to the 2013 draft...
No offense Slap but only irrelevant to you. That analysis is used by many in draft discussions including X scouts and GMs. Kirwan actually used that analysis on Sirius last week when discussing the quality of players in the 1st round.
Huh?
The Steelers have to spend that #17 pick on someone if they can't find a trading partner...
If no players are "worthy" of that #17 pick, what do you propose that they do?
I'm sure you are more inteligent than what this posts insinuates and it is all sarcasm. It is obvious they have to select at #17. You are not insulting my inteligence by asking that question.
What I said above is that the 1st round is weak. There is a big talent drop off. You can argue there are less than 20 players that are true 1st round talents in this class. They wouldn't be considered in the 1st in other drafts with talent added to their positions. There is true value for some players to be selected at #17. Meaning, That is where they grade out in this draft and they would still stack up there if top talent was added to their position. They aren't there because lack of prospects...They are there because the deserve to be. In my list of Patterson, Rhodes, & Austin...They are players who grade out at the end of the drop off they may be available. Then my trade down line exists because the next group excluding Cooper represents lower grades. Cooper is on that side of the line because the Steelers really don't need to spend a 1st on a OG this year. They do need depth. Foster's contract is very cap friendly and back-up numbers. Cooper would be a signficant upgrade over Foster. The whole "1st round OL" in future contracts could be an issue. But if the Steelers have to pick at #17 and Cooper is there...There is just too much drop off to not select him. He is ligit 1st round talent. I don't want an OL in the 1st but if you stick to your board for BPA...He would be it.
That is a dilemma that teams face in some drafts 1st round in a negative way. But it goes both ways in a positive draft where there is alot of talent at the top and 1st round talents gets pushed to the 2nd. This isn't one of those drafts early. This draft is rich through the middle...Rounds 2-4. You are going to get talent pushed into a later round because of it. That is where the value is if you could get there. In my list above...Eifert, Vacarro, Trufant, & Jones are not #17 talent IMO. However, I would take any of them in the 1st if you add a 3rd round pick to their value. Of course you need a trade partner & that is a given anytime someone mentions it. If they don't have a partner...They are the next best players available. They aren't great value at #17....But the Steelers have no choice if they can't get out.
This isn't a unique situation to this draft. It has happened before. I will explain the thought process. Usually the target becomes a "premium" position when the grades are close and a team is stuck or the Top guy at a position. Many teams also consider "depth" of the position in following rounds. I will start on the offensive side. Since it seems high for (WR) Woods, Hopkins, & Allen they aren't there. WR is deep and after the TOP tier is gone, there is a large group graded together. This could be the time where a LT needy team reaches a bit for a Watson but the Steelers aren't in that catergory. That would be the same scenario for a QB when it comes to the Steelers. Those 2 positions are "premium" so you see reaches there. No RB worthy as 1st round consideration IMO. So the highest rated TE is still on the board. Now, Like I said, Eifert IMO is border line 1st-2nd round talent if I peg 1st round TEs in from prvious drafts or other TEs drafted in the 2nd. In a weak draft at the top, he gets pushed up higher than he should be. In this draft, he could be BPA at that time. HE wouldn't be a great value pick at #17 but he may be BPA so that has to be the pick if stuck.
On the defenside side, the #1 S and highest rated defensive prospect would be Vacarro. Again, not great value IMO if you have to take him at #17 but if they are stuck...He may be the pick. I would rather have Elam if they could trade down or Cyprien in the 2nd. CB is one of those "premium" positions. Not a 2013 immediate need at CB but next year is in question. Trufant would be the next best value. DTs & 4-3 DEs are a premium. Since the Steelers seem to be set at DL I eliminated them. ILBs seem to be graded lower that Vacarro & Trufant IMO so none listed. OLBs are great value to a 3-4 team but seem to be "project" players in the DL system. I am tempted to List Arthur Brown ahead of Jones on that list. The more and more tape I watch on Jones he falls & the more and more tape I watch on Brown & Collins they rise. It is all about the "transition" to the next level. So I will change it here. I would remove Jones from that list in favor of Arthur Brown. I would much rather have Collins than Jones. Jones's floor might be set higher but Collins ceiling far surpasses Jones's.
Last edited by JUST-PLAIN-NASTY; 04-22-2013 at 09:58 AM.
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