While they're effectively starting over, what the team did 5 years ago means nothing to the new regime... But picking up a RT with the 1st pick, would be the opposite of what they've been doing this offseason, which is essentially "buying" draft picks. In this case they would "buy" James cap hit with a 1st round pick... Makes no sense in the current situation.
However, I would've had no problem with the Fins picking up OL in the first had they kept James, its the replacing him with a 1st that would be shortsighted IMO...