DG talked about the Gold Jacket angle before taking Barkley. Looking at this years highly rated players, which ones “could” hit that mark.? Saquon was kind of a slam dunk, usually there’s a bit of projection involved. Skipping QBs, I see guys like Young, Simmons and maybe Brown getting to that level Both lineman have been extremely disruptive at the college level and project that way in the pros. Simmons is harder to project, but he was just as disruptive in college because of ELITE speed and quickness. If put in the proper system, he could also reach that level.
The O lineman. This is really meant to be the focus of this thread. When I look at the common top 4, only two seem to me to be able to get to the Gold Jacket level. Wirfs and Becton. Wirfs because of his age and athleticism and Becton because of his size/ athletic combo. If DG is picking at 4 or 6 and wants to draft OL, I hope it’s one of these two. The other two are relatively ordinary. Discuss
You mean Becton?
But I guarantee he is our best DB if drafted as a rookie. Yes, better than all the players we have now including Baker, Bradlee, Beal, Ballantine, etc.
I'd go with Thompson on a trade down.
As stated by many we need upgrades on the OL, not necessarily all pros or even above average. At this point if you told me we could add an average/slightly better than avg OT and C to man those positions adequately for the next 10 years I'd do cartwheels!
My ideal scenario would be a trade back to 6 and get Young/Okudah/Simmons?Brown and then the best OT and C with the next two picks.
Then still plenty of picks to add flyers at WR, FS etc.
I really like Wirfs and Wills is growing on me, thats why I said "W". Thomas for sure will be good also, but since this is all personal opinion I put him 3rd. Really out of those 3 you can't go wrong. At #4 we should have our choice.
What I don't want to do is go into next season with a starting line of Gates-Zeitler-Pio-Hernandez-Solder. That would be a disaster, but this will happen if we ignore the OL in the draft (as some want to do). We can get a starting OT at #4 and then a starting C in the 2nd round. Now we will have 3 young talented OL starters, Barkley, DJ, and Slayton to build around.
Oops, I forgot that. So then Pulley, just as bad. What's the point of spending top picks on DJ and Barkley if you have Gates and Pulley in front of them.
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strikes me as special. Solid yes special no. Not Gold Jacket material to me. Thomas “should” be better than he is. Don’t see Gold Jacket there either. Now if we are picking 9 or later after a trade down, any of them is fine. But that’s not the point of this discussion.
I really like Wirfs and Wills is growing on me, thats why I said "W". Thomas for sure will be good also, but since this is all personal opinion I put him 3rd. Really out of those 3 you can't go wrong. At #4 we should have our choice.
What I don't want to do is go into next season with a starting line of Gates-Zeitler-Pio-Hernandez-Solder. That would be a disaster, but this will happen if we ignore the OL in the draft (as some want to do). We can get a starting OT at #4 and then a starting C in the 2nd round. Now we will have 3 young talented OL starters, Barkley, DJ, and Slayton to build around.
It won't happen because Pio is not on the roster. Also if we choose an OT it should not be with the 4th pick. They should try and trade down to 6th or 7th. I do not think any one of the OTs really stand out ahead of the other as you even inferred so one of them will be available with any pick between 6-10 IMO. Taking one of these OTs is an over reach at 4.
"Gold Jacket", but from a strict definition, point-of-view it mostly doesn't apply. Out of the 23,204 men that have played in the NFL, only 326 are in the HOF, only 1.4%.
Elite is probably a better term; intelligence, speed, agility and consistent proven on-the-field performance - that's what sets these players apart.
Okudah is an impact player, as is Simmons if the coaching staff uses him correctly.
Any of the tackles that keep Jones standing up make an impact.
That's my criteria in the Top 6.
Becton, Wills ,Simmons (because of versatility), Okudah fit this bill . Wirfs risk is just too high for LT.
Obviously marrying need plays a role for all players within the same tier.
The only generational guy in his own tier is Young. But with him likely gone...Becton Wills Simmons Okudah all in same row (i.e grade range) . Take the OT as it is bigger team impact for current team make-up/ personnel .
Much depends on how much of a drop off you think there is between the top 4 and next several OL available later on.
I believe you. I’d be on board with Brown as I think he’s one of the very few true blue chips in this draft. I just don’t get how he’d fit along a crowded DL. Now, if they were to rescind the tag on LW and get Clowney then draft Brown? Now we’re talking.