Ok . . . well I DID read the whole thread, and here is what I think (for anyone that cares). While I am excited about what Vernon Carey can bring to our line, I am disappointed in the move-up. I believe Rick knows what he is doing, and I am behind this draft 100%. However, I can understand JJ's point. There was no need to move up and give away that 4th round pick. If Carey was the BPA, he might have fallen to us anyway. If New England was going to move up and take him, I almost think you have to say "so be it." I say this because 1) Vince Wilfork was still on the board and a steal at 20 (IMO) and 2) the Pats had the ammunition and we did not. I just think we were not in a position to be competing (with draft picks) for Carey when either he or Wilfork were going to be there at 20.
Will Poole was a GREAT pick in the 4th, but I think you have to look at what we could have done in those rounds with our original 3rd and 4th. This is not meant to second guess as much as it's meant to play devil's advocate and promote discussion (and to maybe lend a little support to JJ!). Of course, we're dealing with hypotheticals . . . but I would be hard pressed to not say that Vince Wilfork in the first, a guy like Matt Ware in the third, and an OL like Kelly Butler in the fourth might benefit this team more than Carey/Poole . . . both in the short and long term.
Again, I'm in no way criticizing Rick. I am behind this draft all the way and hope to see Carey mauling people out of Rickey's way for years to come, but I do feel some of JJ's pain.