There's a difference between reaching for need vs. addressing need at a the appropriate position for where you have a player graded. In other words if Ted had Rollins and a center graded the same, I don't see the issue with taking Rollins.

He still goes bpa, Hundley was.

Originally Posted by: musccy 

It is incongruous to assert the GB DL stinks and then argue that TT, who passed on Malcolm Brown [or another DLman], drafts for need.

The reality is: Ted Thompson drafts BAP! The draft savvy fans know, teams don’t rank players 1 to 300 and scratch-off each player drafted prior to their pick leaving the team to pick the guy w/ the lowest #. GMs evaluate draft talent in TIERS. When it’s time to pick, it's often the case that there are several position groups represented in the available talent TIER. Amongst equally talented players the smart GM will establish the BAP by the player's ability to contribute sooner at his position group, or what fans call a position of need.

Remember this major logic flaw: just because 1 event proximately follows another, a causal link is not necessarily established!

Originally Posted by: Barfarn 

As I've understood drafts, it's similar to what Barfarn described. Teams will rank in groupings, not necessarily strictly 1-250. Maybe a late first round group (or grade), a 10-15th pick grouping, or whatever the case may be.

You're choosing from Randall, Malcom Brown, and TJ Yeldon (obviously a hypothetical) who you all had at a similar grade. Assuming value meets the pick, you can still select at a position that benefits your team the most at that time while still adhering to a BAP philosophy. It's not some automated choice of "we had Randall ranked 28th, he's the highest remaining, so we must pick him."

With that said, I haven't been in a draft room, so just going off what I've read over the years.

Originally Posted by: musccy 

I'm sure he was a little gun shy to waste another 1st rounder on a DL after his Harrell and Jones failures.

Originally Posted by: uffda udfa 

How did you know? I was in the war room; but now that you spilled the beans I can talk about it.

When GB was on the clock, Ted Thompson was catatonic, just looking straight ahead. After 5 minutes Elliot waved his hand in front of TT's eyes and asked if he knew GB was on the clock. Ted Thompson was unresponsive, Elliot whispered, ya gotta make a pick Ted, ahhh, Kiper is suggesting Malcolm Brown. Ted's quivering voice said, I cant, I blew it with Harrell and Tone cant go DL. He then fell on the floor crying, I cant go CB, Lee; cant go safety, mcmIllian; cant go LB, Hawk sucked for a #5 and Elmore, my god I drafted Elmore...OL, Sherrod; WR Koren Robinson and that cheap Taiwan glassman Murphy; RB Green, QB Brohm; TE Williams...[sobbing uncontrollably] They all suck, i suck., i suck, i suck.

Guntkust said to Seale, i heard him say something about Randle, but he might have meant Cobb. Seale said i like Randle; Guntkust said he liked his guy Rollins; they arm wrestled for it and Seale won. Elliot jumped up and said what about my guy, Gunter. Seale won a game of pin the tail on the donkey, so the pick was Randle! We were an ass-hair away from Gunter being our #1 pick.

Now ya know why Ted looked a little tired in the press conference.

Originally Posted by: Barfarn 

Here's something I'm disappointed in Ted Thompson for not doing... He was one of the guys I had in my draft record for who I would've taken instead of who we actually took.

Why we didn't spend a 6th or 7th on him is baffling to me. For those who love PFF, he was PFF's top rated OL after the 1st preseason game.

https://vine.co/v/ed29ud9evT7 

Originally Posted by: uffda udfa