Reed on the line

I think we can get a quality RT without moving up. I would rather leave Gross at RT and Wharton at LT and just get some better guards.

 

Is that you, Pep?

He looked terrible in all phases of the combine. I don't want him. Of course, knowing our FO, he'll be a Panther.

 

HEY!!! That's my line.

 

If we have a chance to get a real franchise type LT we should do it. We wrongly thought Gross was going to be that guy, he's not, we don't need to pay him like he is.

I'm sure I've said this before but I'm in favor of getting a T and putting that guy or Wharton at G and keeping Gross at RT with the thought of letting Gross walk after this year.

Hell I'd even be okay with taking two OTs this year, we'd not have to worry about the OL for a while.

edit: PS, I like that Hartwig is going to have to earn his playing time, or roster spot.

 

All of these presume our picks this year are going to be solid - the fact is they most likely won't all be solid. Several - maybe most - of the tackles taken in the top of the first are likely going to be no better than Wharton and Gross, some will suck ass. That's just a fact.

And when you get into the top 10 ( trading up ), the contracts are pretty fucking large for someone who is unknown. And they are unknown.

At least with Gross and Wharton, we know what we have. They cost alot - but we know what we have.

That said, I'm all for drafting OT, I'm leary about trading up for one dude and then paying out the ass for him before he plays. I'd rather trade down and get 2 dudes - juice up our odds, and pay less for both of them than for one top 10 guy.

 

I didn't specifically say Clady and honestly am not that high on him (though I only paid attention to him in one game where he wasn't that impressive to me). But, if they did a trade up to get him I don't think I'd want to lead a revolt.

Personally I'd be cool with Williams and the Benedict kid from Newberry if he lasts until the original 3rd pick we have, and depending on what's there maybe even the higher 3rd.

About the top ten slotted salaries, how would that compare to paying Gross 7.5 or so for four-five years to be a decent RT or an average LT? Granted, we do know what we have in Gross.

 

I'm in favor, if a LT is there, that we do that, sure; and I like that we could use Wharton next to him as opposed to putting our two bigger money vets together; it's also better value to get a LT up high than RT.

But, if we get a very good RT, I'm cool with that.

 

It's the known, to me, that's key. We know Gross can play.

Again - I'm for drafting a tackle, or even tackles. I just think it may be better managed to draft them lower, without the huge expectations, and without the huge rookie contract.

I don't think the odds of drafting a quality tackle in 2 or 3 go down that much compared to the top of round one if you factor in the contract risk.

 

I'd be more happy trading down and picking up 2-3 OLmen than I would trading up as well. The draft's a crapshoot in a lot of ways (Robert Gallery anyone?) so you never know how things are going to turn out. I'd like Fox/Hurney's odds better with more chances rather than less. That said, if they go this route than they need to be looking for DE in free agency with a little more urgency than they've shown so far. Having Tyler Brayton visit probably isn't the answer I'm thinking....

 

Our original third plus our second gets us up to around 27-29 overall, and we still have a very early third rounder left. Both of our thirds would get us about where we're picking in round two, we have some nice options even without trading out of 13.