I think you bring up a good point. I've read several times that the best quarterbacks weren't taken with the #1 overall pick. They throw out Watson, Rodgers, Wilson, Brady, Brees, Matt Ryan, Mahomes, etc.
The point is, nobody liked them as much either, which is why they lasted as long as they did on draft day. But if teams could know what they know now - they'd be taken #1 overall.
The lesson to be learned, at least in my opinion - is that how much anybody likes a quarterback has nothing to do with anything. But you better get one. Because what's going to happen is, the guy that's being criticized for being too short, arm too weak, too injury prone, bad mechanics, propped up by the system, couldn't even win a starting job, threw too many interceptions, etc.....is going to end up causing everybody who passed on him a lot of heartburn. That's what's going to happen. Just like it has everytime before.
The DE you passed on just isn't going to have that impact when you look back. No matter how good he is.
Agreed. Brady and Wilson immediately come to mind. Brady couldn't win the starting job in college for any length of time and didn't wow at the combine. Wilson was too short. among other things.
However, they are outliers. The problem is when they take a QB and don't get the right one. That's when you wish they'd selected the pass rusher.
I just don't want to see the Dolphins take a QB they aren't completely 100% enamored with simply because they need one. IMO that's what they did with Tannehill. And look how long the 1st round investment set them back. Missing on a non-QB in the 1st round hurts a lot too. But not as much as missing on a QB IMO. Because franchises tend to ride that ship longer.
That's what I'm worried about with a guy like Justin Herbert. If they end up #2 or #3 and really love Tua but here's not there, I don't want them settling for the next best dude with that high pick. Like they did with Tannehill, who IIRC was the 3rd QB off the board.
I'd rather have the top pass rusher than the 2nd or 3rd QB in the 1st round (in this particular draft). I'd rather them take a lower round flier on a QB and hope to get the guy people really missed out on. Perhaps like a Gardner Minshew from last draft, who has flashed some nice potential so far.
But I agree with the premise that they have to get a QB. But they don't have to do it in round 1 of this draft if what they consider to be a home run type player isn't there.