It is apparent we plan to fill some glaring needs through free agency. Drew Brees, I believe, will be our next QB, and it looks like Mawae may be our center this year. Both signings would make sense because our offense needs the stability and leadership of proven veterans, particularly at center and QB. There are plenty of young skill players to go around, so bringing in these guys to show the kids how to win makes sense.
In the draft, Bunkley or Ngata could drop to us, but it looks like they'll be taken before we pick. I like Watson, but there are many questions about his consistency and with the possibility of bringing in a cheap vet like Sam Adams and giving more playing time to Vickerson and Wright, DT is starting to fade as a first round possiblity.
That leaves the defensive secondary and offensive tackle as the two most glaring needs. Both positions are deep in this draft, thankfully. I guess a lot depends on how Houck feels about Alabi and Carey. If there is a comfort level there, and I think there might be, a veteran tackle through free agency, to back them up, makes more sense. Besides Houck has such a history of taking low round draft picks and turning them into stars.
I think secondary is the way we go in the first, especially with Sam being cut. To me, Cromartie is the logical choice. He comes from a great program, FSU, that has produced a few decent DB's (Deion Sanders comes to mind). He is tall at 6'3", just the way Saban likes them. Boomer reported that Cromartie recently ran a 4.39 - Cromartie has been a track star since High School, so speed is not an issue with him. He, of course, had the torn ACL almost a year ago, but that has apparently healed or he wouldn't have run a 4.39.
He has fluid hips, great hands (he played WR for FSU in practices), and is a major ball hawk - has great feel for the ball and closes the deal with interceptions. These are qualities you just can't teach. He is simply the most gifted, pure cover corner in the draft. Tye Hill is awesome, but he's 5'9" and doesn't have the hands that Cromartie has.
Cromartie is also a gifted returner (both punt and kickoff), which makes him even more valuable to us. We need to give Wes some help, particularly with punt returns. Besides, Cromartie has the speed to hit the home run.
The ONLY reason I could see passing on this guy is concerns about his knee. If that checks out, we should draft him in a heartbeat. To read more on him, here's a decent write up from NFL DraftBlitz
http://www.nfldraftblitz.com/Profiles/antoniocromartieprofile.htm
In the draft, Bunkley or Ngata could drop to us, but it looks like they'll be taken before we pick. I like Watson, but there are many questions about his consistency and with the possibility of bringing in a cheap vet like Sam Adams and giving more playing time to Vickerson and Wright, DT is starting to fade as a first round possiblity.
That leaves the defensive secondary and offensive tackle as the two most glaring needs. Both positions are deep in this draft, thankfully. I guess a lot depends on how Houck feels about Alabi and Carey. If there is a comfort level there, and I think there might be, a veteran tackle through free agency, to back them up, makes more sense. Besides Houck has such a history of taking low round draft picks and turning them into stars.
I think secondary is the way we go in the first, especially with Sam being cut. To me, Cromartie is the logical choice. He comes from a great program, FSU, that has produced a few decent DB's (Deion Sanders comes to mind). He is tall at 6'3", just the way Saban likes them. Boomer reported that Cromartie recently ran a 4.39 - Cromartie has been a track star since High School, so speed is not an issue with him. He, of course, had the torn ACL almost a year ago, but that has apparently healed or he wouldn't have run a 4.39.
He has fluid hips, great hands (he played WR for FSU in practices), and is a major ball hawk - has great feel for the ball and closes the deal with interceptions. These are qualities you just can't teach. He is simply the most gifted, pure cover corner in the draft. Tye Hill is awesome, but he's 5'9" and doesn't have the hands that Cromartie has.
Cromartie is also a gifted returner (both punt and kickoff), which makes him even more valuable to us. We need to give Wes some help, particularly with punt returns. Besides, Cromartie has the speed to hit the home run.
The ONLY reason I could see passing on this guy is concerns about his knee. If that checks out, we should draft him in a heartbeat. To read more on him, here's a decent write up from NFL DraftBlitz
http://www.nfldraftblitz.com/Profiles/antoniocromartieprofile.htm
