The Purpose of "Building Through the Draft"...

For some odd reason, Ninerbrass (along with fans) are under the impression that you build, and therefore win, through the draft. What they fail to acknowledge is that the draft serves 2 purposes....


1) It gives you a foundation to work with. In essence, after the DErik and TDon era, we did well trying to shore up additional draft picks and adding young talent to the team. Since we had gutted the roster for salary cap purposes, we had no option but to start from square one. Therefore, the draft is the prime opportunity to build from the bottom up, and set a foundation on which to build upon.

2) It gives you young players that you can develop to replace older worn out players. Key example: Aaron Rodgers replacing Brett Favre in GB. The draft is a wonderful way of keeping your team "young" and "fresh". For one, you can rotate your new players with the old ones without losing a step. The team still stays competitive, and it allows the young players to get on field experience. Two, it allows the veteran players to mentor the young ones, and teach them techniques that may or may not be taught through training camps and coaching schemes.

It irks me when Niner fans use the "we'll build through the draft" excuse on a team that is on the brink of becoming competitive. For one, we've already set the foundation on which this team can excel. Probowl players fill key roster spots (RB, TE, CB, LB, etc.) The majority of these players are young, yet developed. They're ready to take it to the next step; all we lack are a few key roster additions to bump us over the edge.

A lot of ya talk about drafting olineman in the first round, etc. etc. As if those guys are going to come in and make us an instant top 10 o-line in 2010. Sorry folks not gonna happen. So why bother ? Why not go out and pick up the FA we need to get us over the top. You dont have to necessarily overpay. No one's asking for JPeppers. But there are options available, yet our front office wont bite.

Why not ?

Cause we build through the draft. Keep that up, and we'll be building for a very LONG time.

Trade our pick for Jared Gaither (even though you were in a thread saying not to?). WTF?

Originally posted by Method:
Trade our pick for Jared Gaither (even though you were in a thread saying not to?). WTF?

It would be a good move dude. The guy is a very good T who is huge and can play both spots and he's YOUNG. We aren't going to draft a RT better than that. 24 year old starter who can pass protect and be a road grader is pretty much everything you're asking for and more from a rookie mid 1st.

I know good teams DO build through the draft but then when they get to where we are now, they take a next leap by signing good players. Look at the 94 9ers, we couldn't get past the cowboys, we had drafted a bunch of our guys(Rice, Eric Davis, Watters, OLine guys, etc.), so then we used FA to bring in guys like Deion and Norton. Not only did it help us it also made our competition(the cows) weaker by taking one of their guys. Or look at the saints, they had an explosive offense, good coaching, but they needed help on D. So what do they do? They got out and pick up Sharper, they used FA to get their franchise QB 4 years earlier, they used FA to pick up Jabari Greer, they used trade for Shockey to give Brees another playmaker, and they used FA for Vilma. Multiple significant defensive players for them were FAs they picked up. Or the Ravens, they already had Ray Lewis, but they used FA to get 2 more guys who wound up helping them win the superbowl in Rod Woodson and Sterling Sharpe. Or the NY Giants when they won it with Plax, Pierce, Fred Robbins, etc.

I mean we already have guys we've built through the draft with. Willis, Davis, Crabtree, Staley, etc. If we got 2-3 more really good players, we could be a playoff team for sure. Then you get depth in the draft. Heck we could have a really dominant D if we went and picked up Sharper, then we drafted one of the corners in the 2nd or if we got Joe Haden. Our running game would be sick if we got Gaither and our QB would have a lot more time on some of these plays. It would help everyone on our team. And we would still have a pick in every flippin round to build through the draft with.

Originally posted by ZRF80:
For some odd reason, Ninerbrass (along with fans) are under the impression that you build, and therefore win, through the draft. What they fail to acknowledge is that the draft serves 2 purposes....


1) It gives you a foundation to work with. In essence, after the DErik and TDon era, we did well trying to shore up additional draft picks and adding young talent to the team. Since we had gutted the roster for salary cap purposes, we had no option but to start from square one. Therefore, the draft is the prime opportunity to build from the bottom up, and set a foundation on which to build upon.

2) It gives you young players that you can develop to replace older worn out players. Key example: Aaron Rodgers replacing Brett Favre in GB. The draft is a wonderful way of keeping your team "young" and "fresh". For one, you can rotate your new players with the old ones without losing a step. The team still stays competitive, and it allows the young players to get on field experience. Two, it allows the veteran players to mentor the young ones, and teach them techniques that may or may not be taught through training camps and coaching schemes.

It irks me when Niner fans use the "we'll build through the draft" excuse on a team that is on the brink of becoming competitive. For one, we've already set the foundation on which this team can excel. Probowl players fill key roster spots (RB, TE, CB, LB, etc.) The majority of these players are young, yet developed. They're ready to take it to the next step; all we lack are a few key roster additions to bump us over the edge.

A lot of ya talk about drafting olineman in the first round, etc. etc. As if those guys are going to come in and make us an instant top 10 o-line in 2010. Sorry folks not gonna happen. So why bother ? Why not go out and pick up the FA we need to get us over the top. You dont have to necessarily overpay. No one's asking for JPeppers. But there are options available, yet our front office wont bite.

Why not ?

Cause we build through the draft. Keep that up, and we'll be building for a very LONG time.

So you're saying Michael Oher didn't help the ravens immediately? So you're saying Ryan Clady didn't help the Broncos immediately? So you're saying Joe Thomas didn't make an impact on the Browns immediately? Because Im' saying our line is basically a RT away from taking us into the playoffs. And if its looking mighty good that we get a tackle in the draft why go get one in FA? Do you think Ozzie Newsome is just going to let Gaither go? If he does im going to guess there is a mighty good reason for it

Building through the draft sucks. It takes forever and I ain't getting no younger.

Originally posted by redmanc07:

Originally posted by ZRF80:
For some odd reason, Ninerbrass (along with fans) are under the impression that you build, and therefore win, through the draft. What they fail to acknowledge is that the draft serves 2 purposes....


1) It gives you a foundation to work with. In essence, after the DErik and TDon era, we did well trying to shore up additional draft picks and adding young talent to the team. Since we had gutted the roster for salary cap purposes, we had no option but to start from square one. Therefore, the draft is the prime opportunity to build from the bottom up, and set a foundation on which to build upon.

2) It gives you young players that you can develop to replace older worn out players. Key example: Aaron Rodgers replacing Brett Favre in GB. The draft is a wonderful way of keeping your team "young" and "fresh". For one, you can rotate your new players with the old ones without losing a step. The team still stays competitive, and it allows the young players to get on field experience. Two, it allows the veteran players to mentor the young ones, and teach them techniques that may or may not be taught through training camps and coaching schemes.

It irks me when Niner fans use the "we'll build through the draft" excuse on a team that is on the brink of becoming competitive. For one, we've already set the foundation on which this team can excel. Probowl players fill key roster spots (RB, TE, CB, LB, etc.) The majority of these players are young, yet developed. They're ready to take it to the next step; all we lack are a few key roster additions to bump us over the edge.

A lot of ya talk about drafting olineman in the first round, etc. etc. As if those guys are going to come in and make us an instant top 10 o-line in 2010. Sorry folks not gonna happen. So why bother ? Why not go out and pick up the FA we need to get us over the top. You dont have to necessarily overpay. No one's asking for JPeppers. But there are options available, yet our front office wont bite.

Why not ?

Cause we build through the draft. Keep that up, and we'll be building for a very LONG time.

So you're saying Michael Oher didn't help the ravens immediately? So you're saying Ryan Clady didn't help the Broncos immediately? So you're saying Joe Thomas didn't make an impact on the Browns immediately? Because Im' saying our line is basically a RT away from taking us into the playoffs. And if its looking mighty good that we get a tackle in the draft why go get one in FA? Do you think Ozzie Newsome is just going to let Gaither go? If he does im going to guess there is a mighty good reason for it

I think the reason I've heard (which makes a lot of sense to me) is that Gaither and Oher are both Pro-Bowl caliber LT's but they'll only be able to pay top-tier LT money for one of them. So they're dangling Gaither while his value is high and before he becomes a UFA.

You build through the draft.

But you WIN by adding players through free agency as well. Just look at our last Super Bowl win, we drafted Stubblefield, Floyd, and Woodall; and picked up Sanders, Norton, T. Cook, Dent, R. Jackson....all IMPACT players. The old school 49er way.

Originally posted by WillistheWall:

Originally posted by Method:
Trade our pick for Jared Gaither (even though you were in a thread saying not to?). WTF?

It would be a good move dude. The guy is a very good T who is huge and can play both spots and he's YOUNG. We aren't going to draft a RT better than that. 24 year old starter who can pass protect and be a road grader is pretty much everything you're asking for and more from a rookie mid 1st.

I know good teams DO build through the draft but then when they get to where we are now, they take a next leap by signing good players. Look at the 94 9ers, we couldn't get past the cowboys, we had drafted a bunch of our guys(Rice, Eric Davis, Watters, OLine guys, etc.), so then we used FA to bring in guys like Deion and Norton. Not only did it help us it also made our competition(the cows) weaker by taking one of their guys. Or look at the saints, they had an explosive offense, good coaching, but they needed help on D. So what do they do? They got out and pick up Sharper, they used FA to get their franchise QB 4 years earlier, they used FA to pick up Jabari Greer, they used trade for Shockey to give Brees another playmaker, and they used FA for Vilma. Multiple significant defensive players for them were FAs they picked up. Or the Ravens, they already had Ray Lewis, but they used FA to get 2 more guys who wound up helping them win the superbowl in Rod Woodson and Sterling Sharpe. Or the NY Giants when they won it with Plax, Pierce, Fred Robbins, etc.

I mean we already have guys we've built through the draft with. Willis, Davis, Crabtree, Staley, etc. If we got 2-3 more really good players, we could be a playoff team for sure. Then you get depth in the draft. Heck we could have a really dominant D if we went and picked up Sharper, then we drafted one of the corners in the 2nd or if we got Joe Haden. Our running game would be sick if we got Gaither and our QB would have a lot more time on some of these plays. It would help everyone on our team. And we would still have a pick in every flippin round to build through the draft with.

Well said. To take the next step most teams find players from sources other than the draft.

Originally posted by Ronnie49Lott:

Originally posted by WillistheWall:

Originally posted by Method:
Trade our pick for Jared Gaither (even though you were in a thread saying not to?). WTF?

It would be a good move dude. The guy is a very good T who is huge and can play both spots and he's YOUNG. We aren't going to draft a RT better than that. 24 year old starter who can pass protect and be a road grader is pretty much everything you're asking for and more from a rookie mid 1st.

I know good teams DO build through the draft but then when they get to where we are now, they take a next leap by signing good players. Look at the 94 9ers, we couldn't get past the cowboys, we had drafted a bunch of our guys(Rice, Eric Davis, Watters, OLine guys, etc.), so then we used FA to bring in guys like Deion and Norton. Not only did it help us it also made our competition(the cows) weaker by taking one of their guys. Or look at the saints, they had an explosive offense, good coaching, but they needed help on D. So what do they do? They got out and pick up Sharper, they used FA to get their franchise QB 4 years earlier, they used FA to pick up Jabari Greer, they used trade for Shockey to give Brees another playmaker, and they used FA for Vilma. Multiple significant defensive players for them were FAs they picked up. Or the Ravens, they already had Ray Lewis, but they used FA to get 2 more guys who wound up helping them win the superbowl in Rod Woodson and Sterling Sharpe. Or the NY Giants when they won it with Plax, Pierce, Fred Robbins, etc.

I mean we already have guys we've built through the draft with. Willis, Davis, Crabtree, Staley, etc. If we got 2-3 more really good players, we could be a playoff team for sure. Then you get depth in the draft. Heck we could have a really dominant D if we went and picked up Sharper, then we drafted one of the corners in the 2nd or if we got Joe Haden. Our running game would be sick if we got Gaither and our QB would have a lot more time on some of these plays. It would help everyone on our team. And we would still have a pick in every flippin round to build through the draft with.

Well said. To take the next step most teams find players from sources other than the draft.

You make a lot of sense!!!

so you want to be the raiders/redskins? Not the Colts?

Sunoco, we could have had Oher last yr but we take a guy who sits out half a yr unsigned, and then fans and coaches wonder why the QB doesn't have time to pass...Sheesh. Oh, yeah, our OL doesn't run block very well either.

Sus, building thru the draft DOES suck, especially if you do it poorly(see above)

If Redman is right, and Oher / Gaither combo is too expensive, well that be good for us. If Gaither is a lame(as in kwame), then, hell no, it's a bad idea. Hope someone
(CLOWN) is doing his homework.

the Wall, I agree with your thesis, but we seem to be run by a guy who may be out of his league at GM, a HC w/ no upper echelon experience, and an owner named Bubba.
If you are right, do you really think our un-enlightened 3 some are capable of doing what you propose? We have to have talent to draft talent...we don't.

I have been drum beating for 2 seasons for 2 starting OLs in draft , and one all pro OL in FA. Now , if Gaither is not damaged goods, why not take him with a 1st rd pick trade? Doesn't matter to me how we get true starting OL.

Wall, I agree with your statement that we are only 2-3 players away from respectability, BUT...HEitmann=Baas=Snyder=Wragge. I see staley, 1/2 of Rachal, and sims(unless he is just a half season wonder) as starters. That means we need 3 new true starters(bonafide) on the OL . The fact we have 4 backup OLs starting is not good enough. We need to draft/ FA/ trade for serious OLs. How we get them? I could care less. My bet? We get one starting OL and end up with 2.5 starters for OL, instead of the five we need. That won't cut it.

My one hope is that we have 4 backup OLs, all underperforming, because our coaching , both HC, OC, and ESPECIALLY OL coach, were all inexperienced or poor, and foerster(who bigmike wanted to keep) was a dumbstruck loser(imo).
Maybe, just maybe, our new OL coach, along with Ray, can tease one, maybe 1.5 starters out of heitman, wrags, snyder, baas...Then , i agree with you re: personnel.

this thread makes no sense

Originally posted by WillistheWall:

Originally posted by Method:
Trade our pick for Jared Gaither (even though you were in a thread saying not to?). WTF?

It would be a good move dude. The guy is a very good T who is huge and can play both spots and he's YOUNG. We aren't going to draft a RT better than that. 24 year old starter who can pass protect and be a road grader is pretty much everything you're asking for and more from a rookie mid 1st.

I know good teams DO build through the draft but then when they get to where we are now, they take a next leap by signing good players. Look at the 94 9ers, we couldn't get past the cowboys, we had drafted a bunch of our guys(Rice, Eric Davis, Watters, OLine guys, etc.), so then we used FA to bring in guys like Deion and Norton. Not only did it help us it also made our competition(the cows) weaker by taking one of their guys. Or look at the saints, they had an explosive offense, good coaching, but they needed help on D. So what do they do? They got out and pick up Sharper, they used FA to get their franchise QB 4 years earlier, they used FA to pick up Jabari Greer, they used trade for Shockey to give Brees another playmaker, and they used FA for Vilma. Multiple significant defensive players for them were FAs they picked up. Or the Ravens, they already had Ray Lewis, but they used FA to get 2 more guys who wound up helping them win the superbowl in Rod Woodson and Sterling Sharpe. Or the NY Giants when they won it with Plax, Pierce, Fred Robbins, etc.

I mean we already have guys we've built through the draft with. Willis, Davis, Crabtree, Staley, etc. If we got 2-3 more really good players, we could be a playoff team for sure. Then you get depth in the draft. Heck we could have a really dominant D if we went and picked up Sharper, then we drafted one of the corners in the 2nd or if we got Joe Haden. Our running game would be sick if we got Gaither and our QB would have a lot more time on some of these plays. It would help everyone on our team. And we would still have a pick in every flippin round to build through the draft with.

You're talking apples and oranges. Yes, the 1994 49ers went out and got the final pieces needed to get past the Cowboys but that team was a LOT closer than this one is. The Cowboys likely were the only team better than the 49ers leading up to the 1994 season and had a HOF QB at his peak. This team hasn't been to the playoffs in 7 years and remains unsure of its longterm QB situation.

In terms of the Saints, they were very good on offense but needed help on defense.They did sign Sharper but it wasn't to a huge deal. There were no other big ticket FA's signed on defense. Their biggest addition was getting Greg Williams as their DC. But, again, the Saints had an elite QB playing at his peak and had recently at least been to the playoffs.

Originally posted by Mister49:

Originally posted by Ronnie49Lott:

Originally posted by WillistheWall:

Originally posted by Method:
Trade our pick for Jared Gaither (even though you were in a thread saying not to?). WTF?

It would be a good move dude. The guy is a very good T who is huge and can play both spots and he's YOUNG. We aren't going to draft a RT better than that. 24 year old starter who can pass protect and be a road grader is pretty much everything you're asking for and more from a rookie mid 1st.

I know good teams DO build through the draft but then when they get to where we are now, they take a next leap by signing good players. Look at the 94 9ers, we couldn't get past the cowboys, we had drafted a bunch of our guys(Rice, Eric Davis, Watters, OLine guys, etc.), so then we used FA to bring in guys like Deion and Norton. Not only did it help us it also made our competition(the cows) weaker by taking one of their guys. Or look at the saints, they had an explosive offense, good coaching, but they needed help on D. So what do they do? They got out and pick up Sharper, they used FA to get their franchise QB 4 years earlier, they used FA to pick up Jabari Greer, they used trade for Shockey to give Brees another playmaker, and they used FA for Vilma. Multiple significant defensive players for them were FAs they picked up. Or the Ravens, they already had Ray Lewis, but they used FA to get 2 more guys who wound up helping them win the superbowl in Rod Woodson and Sterling Sharpe. Or the NY Giants when they won it with Plax, Pierce, Fred Robbins, etc.

I mean we already have guys we've built through the draft with. Willis, Davis, Crabtree, Staley, etc. If we got 2-3 more really good players, we could be a playoff team for sure. Then you get depth in the draft. Heck we could have a really dominant D if we went and picked up Sharper, then we drafted one of the corners in the 2nd or if we got Joe Haden. Our running game would be sick if we got Gaither and our QB would have a lot more time on some of these plays. It would help everyone on our team. And we would still have a pick in every flippin round to build through the draft with.

Well said. To take the next step most teams find players from sources other than the draft.

You make a lot of sense!!!

I know. What I meant was, ZRF is making this post about trying to make moves in FA not through the draft; in another post he said that he doesn't want to trade our #1 for Jared Gaither. I should have re-worded what I said.