Drafting a WR despite not needing one.

[PhinsPhan]

Some people are turned off by the fact that we are going to draft Braylon Edwards instead of a RB like Ronnie Brown if we are unable to trade down and the 9ers take Smith.

Last year Dennis Green drafted Larry Fitzgerald 3rd overall. They had a glaring need for QB. They passed up Rivers and Roethlisberger. They could have also used a saftey like Sean Taylor if he decided to go defense. They already had Bryant Johnson and Anquan Boldin.

Detriot picked up Roy Williams. They already had Carlos Rogers, Tai Streets and Az Hakim.

Tampa picked up Michael Clayton when they already had Keyshawn and Keenan McCardell. Even though this is a different case because they were both aging receivers. But there was still Stephen Jackson, Shawn Andrews, Losman if they wanted a QB and so on.

There are examples of teams taking wide receivers when they have more pressing needs. Now with the new point of emphasis the passing game has become even more important. WR are going to become higher commodities than in the past.

Then you factor in that Linehans system in Minnesota was 3 WR, 1 TE, and 1 RB. The RB(s) we currently have Lamar Gordon, Travis Minor, Sammy Morris actually make for a pretty good makeshift running back by committee. Just like Mwelde Moore, Onterrio Smith, Moe Williams, and Michael Bennett. The thing about Gordon, Minor, Morris is they are all good situational backs that are great at catching out of the backfield. Morris could provide the power, Gordon the balanced probably majority player and Minor the situational third and long or change of pace back. None of these guys could be a feature back in the NFL (so is said about Gordon but have yet to find out) but collectively they could make for a solid group.

Finally as one last point, if the 3 WR system is too crowded with Chambers, Edwards, Booker and finally McMichael at TE. Then we might always be able to trade Booker back to Chicago where he is still wanted depending on what they decide to do this draft. If they go RB they might still look for another threat opposite of Mush and also Mush probably only has 1 to 2 good years left. However if they go WR then the possibilty of trading him back is unlikely.

In the end Edwards would make a great asset and since he is the BPA then he should be a no brainer pick despite the "greater need" at RB.

 

[fitskin]

Well said. Great post.

 

[jbond]

also, we aren't really settled at WR as we really only have 2 solid WR and a TE. Our #3 WRs are mediocre at best and if you want to know what a season would look like if booker or CC goes down....see a couple of years ago when we were searching high and low and brought Carter out of retirement......that was the beginning of the run, run, run, punt philosiphy.

 

[Boik14]

I have no problem taking a wr; we're going to need another 1 since we're going to be running a lot of 3 wr sets out there as Linehan did in Minny. Im just vehemently against taking Braylon. Ive posted this so many times but ill say it again; the simlarities to Terrell are scary. Id honestly rather have no one at all then have Braylon Edwards. :shakeno:

 

[FinFanInMD]

Detriot picked up Roy Williams. They already had Carlos Rogers, Tai Streets and Az Hakim..

charles rogers. carlos is the corner. but anyways good points. however i dont think we need to draft a WR with the #2 pick. maybe in the 2nd round or even a late 1st if that is truely the direction they are going with. i think cambers and booker can de well as the 1 and 2 WR, and if needed we can always pick another WR up from FA. Minn's WR wasnt that great. i have never heard of nate till this past season. they just had moss and a good offense game plan, not to mention a good QB. i would prefer them to trade or get smith. However, if they stay at 2, i dont have a clue who i would like.... :confused:

 

[testtubetimmy]

I agree with you about the reciever. Primarily because of Linehans offense.

I think everyone wants us to take a running back because they think Wannstedt is still running this team.

They saw us lose a key figure who was crucial to the wanny era team and figure we can plug in a new Ricky Williams and go on from there.

Everyone forgets that this is a totally new offense. A totally new team. And that Saban might not want an every down back. A guy to run up the middle three downs, then punt and let the defense win the game. (i know for sure he doesnt)

So is Running Back that big of an issue in our new offense? I dont think so. I think the QB/Reciever combination is more of an impact. We may need a good running back to help take off the pressure from Feely/Frerrotte or whoevers in there, but as far as a star RB? Probably not neccesary.

This is only my opinion of course.

 

[jbond]

I think Braylon thus far has a personality much different then TO and wouldn't cause any of the problems he does. And if he reminds you physically of TO then that's a good thing.

 

[jbond]

Not everyone wants a RB. I don't....well at #2 I don't. My order of prefernce at #2.....Braylon, Smith, Williams, Williamson then Brown. If we trade down to #7 or lower and those guys are all gone then I'd take a look at Caddy, Barron, DJ, Spears etc. depending upon who's left on the board at the time (depending on how far we'd trade down).

 

[Boik14]

Also I should point out to the original poster that when TB picked Clayton it was because McCardell was a holdout and they knew it was going to be drawn out. So they basically picked clayton with the anticipation that McCardell wasnt coming back til at least a few weeks into the year or that he would be dealt

 

[ACE]

I just can't see paying Braylon Edwards a guaranteed zillion bucks when we can slap David Boston around a little and get him back for next to nothing.

Makes no sense to me.

 

[larfo2224]

Good Post. I am sold. Let's take him and be done with it.

 

[testtubetimmy]

Not everyone wants a RB. I don't....well at #2 I don't. My order of prefernce at #2.....Braylon, Smith, Williams, Williamson then Brown. If we trade down to #7 or lower and those guys are all gone then I'd take a look at Caddy, Barron, DJ, Spears etc. depending upon who's left on the board at the time (depending on how far we'd trade down).

Yeah, I understand not everyone. I meant all of those draft gurus who were dead set on Ronnie Brown being our pick. We fin fans know a little bit better.

 

[jbond]

lol....yeah. as far as boston....he won't be back. he's a project that might be worth it to some team out there and I still like the guy as a player....but....his time has come and gone. We're moving on and past him now.

 

[Boik14]

Yeah, I understand not everyone. I meant all of those draft gurus who were dead set on Ronnie Brown being our pick. We fin fans know a little bit better.

I honestly feel that those guru's picked him because of the fact that they just threw a need into our slot since they have no idea who we would pick if we stayed at 2. They also dont include trade downs in many mocks cause theyre simply too hard to predict and I think thats what they really wanted to put in our slot.

 

[PhinsPhan]

I think Braylon thus far has a personality much different then TO and wouldn't cause any of the problems he does. And if he reminds you physically of TO then that's a good thing.

Unfourtunatly I dont think that is the Terrell he was talking about. He is talking about David Terrell.

Also my mind wasnt working so well when i posted Carlos Rogers :wink: