I'm assuming that there won't be a trade into the 7th round...so I am going to opine.
What I like:
1. Jake Ryan.
2. Picking two DBs.
3. Picking a hammerhead FB.
What I don't like:
1,2,3,4,5: Not picking players who will push for starting reps this year.
Going in to the draft, GB needed to find people to push the current(or pencilled-in) starters at some of these:
CB, ILB#1, ILB#2, NT, TE, OT.
Now that the draft has happened, they have people who push the current or pencilled-in starters at:
ILB.
Thats it. Barring injuries, the only draftee with a serious shot at starting this year is Jake Ryan. And that primarily because the current ILB roster is either someone who ought not to be starting at ILB because he should be starting at OLB (CM3) or players who are at best serviceable with unproven potential to improve (Barrington) or just unproven (everyone else).
Originally Posted by: Wade
I feel like you have to make a choice in the draft. After pick 1-15, you're usually out of guys who have both a high ceiling and can start for your team immediatly. There are some exceptions, of course, often having to do with character issues or positions with lesser value.
I don't think you would've gotten a guy who could've pushed for the starting CB role at 30. The best pure CB left was Jalen Strong, a guy who's seen as a project with just 10 starts under his belt in college.
Randall will have a chance to contribute, though, rather than start. I feel like he's the perfect player to move around on defense. He's versatile, athletic, smart and just a football player. He has everything but his size going for him.
What I think is that, in his first season, you can use him as a S/CB hybrid, let him play zone coverages, get him on TEs and spy on running QBs (two positions that have destroyed us in the past) and get the most out of him that way. That'd be one heck of a contribution to the team.
Then with pick 62, you just have to go with potential if you want to keep competing in the future. And we did. I love that pick and feel like we got ourselves our starter for next year. It's a shame that he won't step in right away, but he has a ridiculous skill set, with his speed being the only legitimate question in my eyes.
Then the guy we did get who could be an instant starter has little room to grow. I don't mind that much, with him being a 4th round pick and all, but what you see is what you get. A hard working and studying linebacker, with average athletic ability.
I bet you were hoping for at least 5 o-linemen, knowing you. š
8. Having Chicago (Goldman for first), Minnesota (Kendricks for first), and Detroit (Wright for third) all take someone I considered much better for one or more picks GB took in the top 100.
Goldman's an immovable object, but brings very little in terms of a pass rush. Kendricks is a good LBer and a steal at 45, but apart from being more of a need, nothing gave me the impression that he'd be the better pick. Wright would've been good value for us. He's a developmental prospect, but he could be great down the line. We'll just have to see how Montgomery works out.
9. It looking like the freaking Vikings tromped Ted in this draft. Throwing out Waynes (who woulda taken a Lawrence Welk trade to get), the Vikings got Kendricks (no more of a reach than Randall in the first), Hunter, Clemmings (available in 2nd and 3rd, higher on board and mighta pushed Bahktiari instead of a project CB/S and at best a fourth WR and a possible PR/KR.), Pruitt (not only substantially more than Backman, but better than that project CB/S and fourth WR picked in 2nd and 3rd), Thompson (would have been competition for needed depth on the OL, something not drafted at all by Ted), andShepherd (who definitely would have been competition for backup on the OL).
The Vikings had a great draft. So had the Bears. Thing is, after every draft I get the feeling that we botched it just a bit. Ted's like the student who gets a solid B every year, while everyone else is wildly inconsistent, picking up A's and D's, eventually averaging a C.
He never goes for the big names, but follows his own scouts and scouting reports. I can appreciate that. He's proven that they get it right more than other teams.
10. NOT DRAFTING ANYONE TO PUSH RAJI AND GUION!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nose tackles have such ridiculously high positional value, that it's rather hard to get a servicable one later on. Next to that, they should be pushing eachother.If that's not enough, Pennel's still there. Don't know if you could've drafted anyone better than that in the later rounds.
When in doubt, I generally look to what Porky has to say. He seems to be rather happy with the draft, so that's a big comfort.
Lastly... The Hundley pick was pure genius. To get a QB with such physical tools that late in the draft is an absolute steal.