I said that before they got Boldin....... Nobody knew they were going to get him. And there still is a WR out there who isn't a reach in the 20's.
The reason it is important to have the discipline to take the best available player instead of focusing on "needs" is that those needs can be filled in free agency, future drafts, or trades. Even if there was a WR out there that would be a good value at pick 25, Trent Williams shouldn't have even been available. Left tackles are extremely valuable and there was no WR with as much value as Wiliams. Just because the Ravens hadn't acquired Boldin yet didn't mean that you were right.
Hasty, quit bitching. Trent Williams to the Ravens made no sense. Even after his great workouts, he still would be a horrible pick for Balitmore. They don't need offensive lineman at all. Edit: They don't need offensive tackles at all, having spent multiple picks on the position over the past few years. Also, all of what you quoted was said before the Ravens traded for Anquan Boldin.
Hey, you guys all wanted the Ravens to burn a first rounder on a WR instead of picking BAP. Clearly there were better options available at WR (including Boldin). Instead of making excuses maybe you guys should think a little bit about what happened and maybe you will learn something. One reason that Parcells was great at what he did for the Jets was the 2000 draft. We really needed a WR badly after trading Keyshawn away. We had a dominant QB that had a huge multi-year contract and had already taken us to the AFC Championship game. Did Parcells take a WR in round one? No, he took a QB named Pennington that slid to us and waited until round three to take some guy named Coles that get kicked off Florida State. Looking back I would say that Penny and Coles got us into some playoff games that we would have missed out on if Parcells had gone WR in round one.
Parcells had 4 1st round picks that year unlike the 1 1st round pick you had in the mock draft held 2-3 months ago. There's a huge difference there.
But the Ravens don't need an OT so from a perspective of "Realism", it is still questionable that you didn't get a WR in at least round 3. Heap is still old, and Mason could leave the game very soon and Clayton isn't anything to write home about. Boldin has had plenty of health concerns too. I still feel WR/TE is big to the Ravens.
The Ravens had multiple offensive linemen that were either restricted or unrestricted free agents. Having lost Adam Terry, they really do need depth at OT. If one of their starting OTs were to get injured they can kiss the playoffs goodbye. Targeting the OT position and reaching for one wouldn't make much sense for the Ravens. Taking a top 10 talent at OT with pick 25 is another story. Also, there was a mixup with the top TE in that draft, our commissioner selected him for the Bengals in error and reversed the pick after I made my selection. Even so Trent Williams was the best player available. The point you are missing is that no position, no area of need is so important that a good GM would pass up a more talented player to fill that hole. I would have liked to get a WR or TE lter but passing up Odrick in round two or Jackson in round three would have been ridiculous.
The Ravens offensive line is one of their strengths. You would up getting a great value in that draft but I think there were probably better options then Williams. If Bradford or Claussen dropped would you have taken him for Baltimore because it'd be great value?
Sorry GH, but a skilled pass rusher who carries a 1st RD Grade needs to have more than 7.5 Sacks over the past two years. IMO Sapp is the ultimate workout warrior who looks like Tarzan but plays like Jane. Jerry Hughes, OTOH, had 26.5 Sacks over the same two year span, more than any player in all of D1A and nearly 20 more than Ricky Sapp hmy: That too me is an elite edge rusher, not someone with 7.5 in two years I like you personally and respect the heck out of you as a draftnik, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I think your dislike for Jerry Hughes was taken to an absurd extreme in this instance ... to take Sapp over Hughes just doesn't make any sense. JMO but I could be wrong ... certainly wouldn't be the first time
Now that he's been taken, I'd actually have thought about Brian Price in that spot. He's not an ideal 3-4 fit as a DE but in nickel pass rush situations he would provide something we currently don't have and that's an interior pass rush.
I felt like in that spot Brian Price was the best defensive player available and filled a huge need for the Saints(4-3 DT)...it should help their awful run defense...and he is only 21 years old. Brian Price is a great talent.
Yeah if I were the Saints and I had Price available I wouldnt think twice, what a great pick. I know LB is another need, but I couldnt see them passing on Price
I would have no problem with that pick. Excellent value at 29 and I would trust Rex Ryan's ability to get the most out of Price despite his being a less than ideal fit from a measurbles POV. I Just think Rex, like his old man, would never struggle to find a role for an elite defensive talent.
Thanks...after Odrick was picked at 25 I was kind of nervous about him dropping to me, I was shocked when he did.
I wouldn't know, rhodes, cause I didn't even reach that stage with Sapp, where his injury history was of any interest too me. With all due respect to my friend GH, I think he's one of the most overrated players in the draft and I wouldn't even draft him with our late 2 much less our 1. What can I say, I Just think actually "Hitting the Quarterback" is an essential element for a blue chip edge rusher
Jabba & TCCF, Mambo (Rams) should be here soon. I Pmed him early this morning and he said he would be around to make his pick...no need for a board sent to me. Hopefully you guys can make your picks shortly.