The only reason you ever take a offensive tackle in the top 10 is if you expect him to be on the same level with Orlando Pace and Walter Jones. That is not what Ferguson is and thats now what he's going to be. He's a finesse pass blocker not a mauler. Offensive line is one position where you can take a player in the mid to late rounds and turn him into a solid starter, you don't need the best player on your line but you need guys with great technique. Look at the Patriots and Steelers offensive lines, how many of their lineman were taking in the top 25 picks of any draft? Taking a Quaterback with the 4th pick is way to risky. It's certainly possible to find the future qb with this pick but we'd be paying a player whose never taken a snap in the nfl 20 million up front and everyone knows that the chance of that guy being great or being the next Ryan Leaf/Heath Shuler is about 50/50. If we were to spend that 4th pick on on a QB and he's a bust it would be a huge setback. We would have a huge contract to get rid off and then we would have to start looking for another QB. A defensive lineman like Mario Williams does not come around to often. He's 6-6 295 and he has plenty of room on his frame to put on more weight. He ran a 4.6 forty which is borderline freakish. If you look at how Parcells and BB have built their teams they've always put so much emphasis into defensive lineman and guys who can get to the qb (OLB, ends). BB first pick with the Patriots was Seymour and Mangini's first pick with the Jets will be Mario Williams.
I'd love to get the Lions #9 pick... Take Young or Leinart with 4, then Vernon Davis with 9 if he's still around... use second/ third rounders on O-line... there will still be plenty of good ones left at that time... I'd personally rather have 3 SOLID Olinemen for the future than just ONE great one like D Brick...
Absolutely. But if Pace was not there, the line would not have been as good. A franchise LT is a security blanket for a QB. If you can get one to build your line around for years to come, you do it.
Yeah i'm sure the Lions are racing to give us the 9th pick in the draft. And i'm pretty sure if we got the 9th pick we would not be taking a TE. Having two top 10 picks would be a disaster for the salary cap. Hopefully when we start winning the fan base will realize that depth is more important then superstars to win in the nfl.
DO you have any idea what you are talking about. the media doesnt put anyone where they are projected. projections come from scouts evaluating talent, and cutler is by far the most talented qb is this draft. Cutler Put himself where he is by a strong season is the brutal sec. Big arm, leadership, intangibles. we would be fools to trade for ramsey, sign kitna, and pass up the future of this organization when its staring us right in the mother f&*^%$ face!
I guess that is the question. Do you believe Brick, will be a Pace or Jones? You do not. I do. So it is not ok to take a O-Lineman that high, but ok to take a D-Linemen? Personally I would more of a premium on O-Linemen since they protect the QB, and if your O-line sucks your franchise QB will not last long. You put more of a premium on defense and do not rate Brick high. I have the opposite position. What we think does not matter though. It is what the FO thinks. And with the shape of O-Line and offense, I think they go Brick. Just because they see the need. BB took a D-Lineman in his first draft because when he got there D-Line was in bad shape. Same can be said for the Jets and O-Line this year.
DROB, do you remeber a certain player named Blair Thomas...Ryan Leaf??? Don't be so foolish and naive when making crazy statements like this.
You have a point by mentioning those players but just look at the draft this year. Do you really think these top 5 guys could be busts in this league.
I think Young has 'bust' written all over him. I don't think Cutler is anywhere near a sure thing. No one is a sure thing.
If we get Ramsey or Kitna as QB, I would want either D'Brick or Mario Williams at number 4 or trade down the pick and still take Williams and or Hawk.
The folks on this board are persuading me. I've now gone back and forth several times with this pick. I agree with this assessment as to the top prospects. I don't know that Vernon Davis or Vince Young are in the same category as the five mentioend here. I've decided that we should not draft a QB. One of these five would make a significant and immediate impact. I think we sign Kitna, and see what he and Chad can do. If they both fail to pan out, deal with QB next year. Only Leinert seems to be to be a can't miss of the QB class.
I think Leinart will be a bust in the NFL. He is a QB made great by his surrounding players but I just think he will be another dump off mid range QB in the NFL. The Jets should trade out of 4 pick up a second and take Vernon Davis, Mangold and either Gilles or best OT in the first 2 rounds. Jets desparately need a playmaker on offense. I also do not think Mario Williams is BPA I think it is Bush, followed by Davis. Side observation: this draft is getting very complicated and we will see a number of big surprises in the first 15 picks.
This is arguable the worst post I have ever seen. The top 4 prospects in terms of pure skill I would say are: Reggie Bush, D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Mario Williams, and Vernon Davis (not in any particular order). Matt Leinart would be the 5th. This draft has a bunch of good guys at the top including the five above in addition to Vince Young, Jay Cutler, Haloti Ngata, DeAngelo Williams and AJ Hawk rounding out 10 blue chip prospects. If we get any we should be pretty set.
Butler is certainly more risky than D'Brickashaw Ferguson. If you read about those top 5 guys, Cutler is always the guy they say is a bit of a gun slinger and not always accurate. I think Ferguson is as sure of a bet a Bush as far as being able to be successful at the next level....