Play GM: Round 1

[Finnegans Wake]

Using the DraftTek website as a model, let's say the draft rolls out like this...

Pick   Team Selection Psn School Delta
1  Detroit Aaron Curry OLB43 Wake Forest -1 Reach
2  St Louis Andre Smith OT Alabama -3 Reach
3  Kansas City Eugene Monroe OT Virginia +0 Value
4  Seattle Michael Crabtree WRF Texas Tech +3 Value
5  Cleveland Everette Brown OLB34 Florida State -4 Reach
6  Cincinnati Michael Oher OT Mississippi -4 Reach
7  Oakland Jason Smith OT Baylor -4 Reach
8  Jacksonville Jeremy Maclin WRF Missouri -6 Reach
9  Green Bay Malcolm Jenkins CB Ohio State +5 Value
10  San Francisco Brian Orakpo OLB34 Texas -2 Reach
11  Buffalo BJ Raji DT43 Boston College +4 Value
12  Denver Rey Maualuga ILB USC -3 Reach
13  Washington James Laurinaitis ILB Ohio State -10 Reach
14  New Orleans Brian Cushing OLB43 USC -2 Reach
15  Houston Aaron Maybin OLB43 Penn State -10 Reach
16  San Diego Knowshon Moreno RBF Georgia +3 Value

-->
17  NY Jets Matthew Stafford QB Georgia +11 Value
18  Chicago Tyson Jackson DE43 LSU -8 Reach
19  Tampa Bay Peria Jerry DT43 Mississippi +0 Value
20 * Detroit DJ Moore CB Vanderbilt -1 Reach
21  Philadelphia Brandon Pettigrew TE Oklahoma St +4 Value
22  Minnesota Mark Sanchez QB USC +14 Value
23  New England Vontae Davis CB Illinois +1 Value
24  Atlanta Alphonso Smith CB Wake Forest -3 Reach
25  Miami Percy Harvin WRF Florida +5 Value
26  Baltimore Darrius Heyward-Bey WRF Maryland -3 Reach
27  Indianapolis Kenny Britt WRF Rutgers -23 Reach
28 * Philadelphia Hakeem Nicks WRF North Carolina -2 Reach
29  NY Giants Larry English OLB43 Northern Illinois +1 Value
30  Tennessee Sean Smith CB Utah -1 Reach
31  Arizona Clint Sintim OLB34 Virginia -5 Reach


With those players off the board, who would you choose and why?

[dare2beme]

Jarron Gilbert, DE, SDSU

Because he can jump out of the shallow end of a swimming pool.  (No, that's not who I really voted for.)

Mack, to hopefully continue the Steeler tradition of a dominating longevity at center.

[Brinker]

I think we need to sure up the line, as many of you out there would agree.  Ben cannot simply keep playing back yard football.  Having a substandard line this year led us to our worst running rank in 20 years.  Imagine what Willie and Rashard could do behind a top ten line.  

I think we are set at the skill positions on offense...
If I had to pick the best scenario for us it would be as follows...


1.32 Eben Britton OT Arizona 6'6" 310lbs
2.64 Jairus Byrd CB Oregon - 6'0" 208lbs
3.96 Ron Brace DT Boston College 6'3" 326lbs
4.128 Sebastian Vollmer OT BYU 6'7" 318lbs
Comp Pick here for Faneca???-
5.160 Chip Vaughn S Wake Forest 6'2" 220lbs
6.192 A.Q. Shipley C Penn State 6'1" 297lbs
7.224 Eric Vandenheuvel OT Wisconsin 6'8" 328lbs

Just my thoughts...

Brinker

[Finnegans Wake]

Brinker, if you want Ron Brace, IMO you take him in R1.  No way he even lasts to 2.64, I don't think.  Shipley was a R5 before the combine, which, given where we pick would have meant R4.  Now, he's probably a R4, so for us, R3.

[vinman3]

I voted Mack. That would allow you to move Hartwig to a G, and sure up that position in the process. Just my .02

[Finnegans Wake]

I went for Gilbert.  The pool BS notwithstanding he was a productive guy at SDSU, and looks like he could be a great fit in the 3-4, especially with a year to groom and using him situationally early.  That dropoff in 3-4 DEs scares me, given A. Smith and Keisel's age and recent history of injuries.  The NT dropoff is also scary, but I don't see Brace or Moala as being as dominant at NT as Jackson or Gilbert would be at DE.  So:

R1. Gilbert
R2. Eric Wood, OG/C, Louisville; Andy Levitre, OG/RT Ore. St.; Jamon Meredith, OG/RT, SCar.; Fenuki Tupou, OT, Ore.
R3/R3C.  Trevor Canfield, OG, Cinci; Jon Luigs, C, Ark.; Shipley, C, PSU; Antoine Caldwell, C, Bama; Kraig Urbik, OG/RT, Wisc.; Asher Allen, CB, UGA; Macho Harris, CB, VT.
R4. Sammie Lee Hill, NT, Stillman.
R5. Quan Cosby, WR/KR, Tex. or Deon Butler, WR/KR, PSU.
R6, R7, R7 (Mahan).  Terance Knighton, NT, Temple;  a bunch of slot WR/KR; a bunch of developmental DEs; Don Carey, CB/S, Norfolk St.; etc.

That's not specific, but I think it gives some good options.

[jonzr]

I voted Mack. That would allow you to move Hartwig to a G, and sure up that position in the process. Just my .02

If Mack is a sure thing at C and if Hartwig can play G then that one pick fixes two spots.  Then again, the DL is another year older w/out youth behind it.  If that doesn't get addressed soon then we're looking at a huge drop off in a couple of years like what we've seen for the OL.  So, if both Gilbert and Mack are sitting there then take whoever you have rated highest.

How's that for not really saying anything we didn't already know?  Take the BAA!

[jcharding]

Mack, because we need OL help and at 1.32 he is the OL most likely to win battles at his position.  If he can control his man, that allows for double teaming at other weak spots on the line.  At this point is doesn't matter which OL position we upgrade, just as long as we upgrade somewhere (preferably at 2 or 3 spots).  Mack isn't a "reach" like Troy Edwards as well.

[LambertsFrontTeeth]

I voted Britton. It wouldn't break my heart if we drafted any other OL position, as long as the guy can play. My thought is that, while I don't know that Hartwig is dominant, he can be here for a few more years.

It's looking less likely to me that we are going to sing Max Starks to a long term deal. That, and the utter lack of depth behind the starting tackles convince me that OT is still the priority (unless we somehow resing Essex or Hills can really play).

 OTOH, it's also looking less likely that we are keeping Kemo, and I'm not sure that we have a competent replacement there, either. Kendall Simmons just doesn't seem to be healthy/dependable/good enough.

I also wouldn't mind the draft going like Finny's plan:  a dramatic focus on OL/DL, maybe helping depth at DB as well (depending on how that 3rd round shakes out). 

I really hope this draft shakes out better for us at our need positions than the last one.

[Preacherman0]

I voted Mack, but I think Mack or Unger help us the most right now. 

The draft pick plays center and moves Hartwig to guard.  He ain't great, but he's prolly better than anyone else we have there.

If you draft Unger, you can also consider putting him at guard and allowing Hartwig to stay at C for now, looking for a better option if it is presented.  Again, I'm not sure that Hartwig doesn't look infinitely better with better talent around him.