Assumptions for the sake of this exercise:
-RD1 = QB pick
-Andrew Norwell via FA
-No trade down
I think the consensus is that the most likely need/talent "intersection" for the RD2 pick is interior OL i.e. Hernandez, Wynn, Price, Daniels, Smith (perhaps in that order). Corbett is a guy that is very intriguing to me as well.
OT:
I suppose there is a chance that a late RD1 OT like McGlinchey could slip, but I doubt it.
I think Connor Williams will likely be there at 34 and think he would be an excellent choice to throw into the mix at LT but has enough skill and versatility to play elsewhere as a rookie if he isn't a year 1 LT.
I would prefer choices listed above over Kolton Miller or Tyrell Crosby.
Other candidates that a) are reasonably there at 34 and b) could sway us away from OL at pick 34.
1) LB Leighton Vander Esch - just love this kid from every standpoint. While OL is the wish, if he were available at 34, he's awfully tempting.
2) RBs - Guice/Jones - Good backs, no doubt but I'd resist the urge.
3) Arden Key - $ talent, $0.10 brain - pass.
I don't see any other QB, RB, WR, TE, OL, DL, LB that fit the criteria of a) are reasonably there at 34 and b) could sway us away from OL at pick 34. I have not done a thorough job reviewing DBs yet to form an educated opinion re: pick 34.
Thoughts (sticking to the assumptions listed at the top)?
Indeed - and he is listed in the interior OL part of the post.
2nd round.. best offensive lineman available.
I might get aggressive and move back up for McGlinchey but I'm trying to follow the directions lol so I take the best OL available, Pep.
McGlinchey
Hernandez
C. Williams
B. Price
I. Wynn
In that order although I don't think the top 3 will be there. Just my opinion.
Ronald Jones would be tempting.
CBs are tough to get a gage on. So many differing opinions on where they'll go. Its a lot like the WRs although I think this is a very strong CB class. I like Josh Jackson, Donte Jackson, Mike Hughes.
I love Nelson but like you said, if we go QB in round 1, Hernandez seems like Nelson, and I would plug him at RG with Norwell at LG. I doubt Williams slides to round 2. I like Crosby but I think that unless we trade back with Cleveland to pick 4 and pick up picks 33 and 35, there will be better players at 34. If we had all 3 picks I would use one on a tackle.
Then either trade down again or grab Nelson or Chubb.
No 1st round QB for me.
If we start with Norwell, Jones, Flowers, Greco, and add Hernandez with our 2nd and steal Price at the bottom of the 2nd, it will go a long way to infusing some talent into the OL.
Some good players there, but TE Goedert...just given the position he plays and our holes elsewhere would be tough to understand.
1 If Rosen (who is very polished), he'd be a better option than Eli right away. Cannot say the same re: any other QB.
2 Identifying the next QB is the most critical task right now. That is not to say other ares will be ignored, but we cannot squander the opportunity to land a top flight QB.
Nelson is very good pass blocker. Was originally a tackle. But at 335 lbs, he is better suited inside.
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If not then maybe one of C.Sutton, D.Goedert, D.Guice, R.Evans, H.Landry, T.Bryan, W.Hernandez, M.Hughes
Some good players there, but TE Goedert...just given the position he plays and our holes elsewhere would be tough to understand.
I think he is better blocker than Engram, bigger, no where near the same athlete BUT his ball skills are probably the best I’ve seen in a tight end in a long time, not the greatest hands ever but he makes the incredibly difficult catches routinely, not sold on him but I am definitely intrigued
But if they don't have that conviction about Webb, they cannot ignore the QB spot at the 2 slot. We've seen enough of the what Manning is capable of these days (inacurrate, immmobile, declining skills etc.).
Obviously the odds on favorite position to draft in round 2 is OL, but I think you could make a good case DL would be just as big of a need as any other, if the OL situation is addressed heavily in FA or with the first round pick.
If we start with Norwell, Jones, Flowers, Greco, and add Hernandez with our 2nd and steal Price at the bottom of the 2nd, it will go a long way to infusing some talent into the OL.
That's something definitely worth considering. How far does Billy Price fall? If he gets with-in striking distance of our 3rd, do we have the capital to move up?
Obviously the odds on favorite position to draft in round 2 is OL, but I think you could make a good case DL would be just as big of a need as any other, if the OL situation is addressed heavily in FA or with the first round pick.
If Payne is there at 34 that would, IMO, be a shocker
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Guys like Harrison Phillips and Maurice Hurst qualify as big uglies too and they are both super productive, tough, interior players that could fit multiple schemes. Even someone like Daron Payne could fall as has happened with numerous Bama guys in the past. It would not shock me at all if they decide the value is there and want to fortify the defensive front, especially if it's one of those guys since they're all also capable of rushing the passer.
Obviously the odds on favorite position to draft in round 2 is OL, but I think you could make a good case DL would be just as big of a need as any other, if the OL situation is addressed heavily in FA or with the first round pick.
If Payne is there at 34 that would, IMO, be a shocker
I agree. But we would have said the same thing about Jonathan Allen at 20 last year, and probably Ashawn Robinson/Jarran Reed being in the early 30's two years ago.
Isaiah Wynn
Will Hernandez
Brian O'Neill
Harold Landry
Billy Price