Sigh....I *do* believe in the draft-and-develop idea.
I just don't like:
1. Putting as many eggs in that basket as Ted Thompson does; and
2. The failure (more on my fellow fans part than on TT's) to recognize that the amount of weight put on draft-and-develop can change how important a particular draft can sometimes be to short run improvement.
As, IMO, it does this year.
I don't give a damn right now whether this year's drafts turn out to be all pro in 2016 or 2017 or 2099. I care about whether this *TEAM* this *YEAR* improves enough over last year. For example, I want a team that scares Seattle or at least gives them a lot more to worry about; I don't want a team that depends on finessing Seattle to beat them.
Ted has been GM for a decade now. There is no way he should be acting as if last year's roster is going to improve enough to get that improvement. And I'd like to believe that he doesn't. I do, however, think that some of his fans here do, and that they think that is okay.
And that, sir, bugs the crap out of me.
I agree with everyone that Ted knows light years more than I do. And I hope like hell he got this draft right and proved me wrong as he has done multiple times before.
But until I see a Bahktiari give what I think a LT should give to the team, until I see a Barrington or a Bradford or a Hayward or a Hyde or a Quarless or a (Richard) Rodgers give what I think the team ought to be getting at their respective positions, I'm going to bitch when I don't see Ted bringing in more competition for those positions on the current depth chart.
Maybe they have what it takes. Hope so. Maybe some of the draftees /UDFAs will provide real competition. Hope so on that as well.
Because, right now, that's all the team's got to choose from to get that competition. Last years roster, rookies, and UDFAs.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)