NT

No, that wouldn't work simply for the fact that it would be much easier to draft one of them and draft a NT in round 4 like Powe or Fua.

Originally posted by GorefullBore:
Those of you who are in the know who should we be on the lookout for? Can Fairely or Dareus transision to the NT postion lik Raji did a couple of years ago? I don't think Franklin is the long term answer for us and we need to address this spot somewhere in the draft.

I am thinking Dareus or Fairley would be an instant upgrade over Soap/McDonald at left defensive end. Both guys can rush the passer and dominated in college. Both guys can hold their own and should be able to eat blockers and stop the run as well. Doubt both or either make it to us but would be a nice option to have. Still not a #1 need. Not sure if I would make either a NT though.

The last poster mentioned Powe or Fua but not sure they make it to the 4th. Maybe 2nd or 3rd if they have a good combine. Still, it's tough for rookies to come in and be the NT. I don't think Raji played NT right away, he switched this year from DE. I don't know if RJF is ready but if Franklin leaves he might be our best option.

Edit: I think just about every NT is a season vet. Very few guys can come in day one and be a NT. Ngata I think did but he was like the 12th overall pick and is a rare specimen. Vince Wilfork might have as well but he was 21st overall, so yeah there are very few guys that come along that can start from day one. Usually you have to use a real high draft pick and don't see any NT that are rare and worth more than even a mid 2nd.

You gotta get Franklin signed short term or franchise him again. Then draft 1 of the guys mentioned above. I've been advocating us getting and developing a NT for 4 yrs. running, it's about f@#&g time people on the board warm up to the idea.

I really like RJF... i'm thinking if we can get a CB/DE/OLB in the next 2 years through FA and the draft we'll be pretty good.

Originally posted by toppdogg32:
You gotta get Franklin signed short term or franchise him again. Then draft 1 of the guys mentioned above. I've been advocating us getting and developing a NT for 4 yrs. running, it's about f@#&g time people on the board warm up to the idea.

Holy s**t if we could keep Franklin around, imagine if we drafted Dareus and had a DL of:

Smith/Franklin/Dareus
with Soap and McDonald and RJF as back ups

That DLine would be so good. So good.

Originally posted by Gore_21:

Originally posted by GorefullBore:
Those of you who are in the know who should we be on the lookout for? Can Fairely or Dareus transision to the NT postion lik Raji did a couple of years ago? I don't think Franklin is the long term answer for us and we need to address this spot somewhere in the draft.

I am thinking Dareus or Fairley would be an instant upgrade over Soap/McDonald at left defensive end. Both guys can rush the passer and dominated in college. Both guys can hold their own and should be able to eat blockers and stop the run as well. Doubt both or either make it to us but would be a nice option to have. Still not a #1 need. Not sure if I would make either a NT though.

The last poster mentioned Powe or Fua but not sure they make it to the 4th. Maybe 2nd or 3rd if they have a good combine. Still, it's tough for rookies to come in and be the NT. I don't think Raji played NT right away, he switched this year from DE. I don't know if RJF is ready but if Franklin leaves he might be our best option.

Edit: I think just about every NT is a season vet. Very few guys can come in day one and be a NT. Ngata I think did but he was like the 12th overall pick and is a rare specimen. Vince Wilfork might have as well but he was 21st overall, so yeah there are very few guys that come along that can start from day one. Usually you have to use a real high draft pick and don't see any NT that are rare and worth more than even a mid 2nd.

It does take some time and even the great Vince Wilfork had the luxury of playing next to Richard Seymour for his first few seasons. In Ngata's case, they started him off at DE in Baltimore.

We can't just let Franklin walk at this point. Hopefully we get him signed short-term (2-3 years) and draft a NT later on.

Originally posted by Gore_21:

Originally posted by GorefullBore:
Those of you who are in the know who should we be on the lookout for? Can Fairely or Dareus transision to the NT postion lik Raji did a couple of years ago? I don't think Franklin is the long term answer for us and we need to address this spot somewhere in the draft.

I am thinking Dareus or Fairley would be an instant upgrade over Soap/McDonald at left defensive end. Both guys can rush the passer and dominated in college. Both guys can hold their own and should be able to eat blockers and stop the run as well. Doubt both or either make it to us but would be a nice option to have. Still not a #1 need. Not sure if I would make either a NT though.

The last poster mentioned Powe or Fua but not sure they make it to the 4th. Maybe 2nd or 3rd if they have a good combine. Still, it's tough for rookies to come in and be the NT. I don't think Raji played NT right away, he switched this year from DE. I don't know if RJF is ready but if Franklin leaves he might be our best option.

Edit: I think just about every NT is a season vet. Very few guys can come in day one and be a NT. Ngata I think did but he was like the 12th overall pick and is a rare specimen. Vince Wilfork might have as well but he was 21st overall, so yeah there are very few guys that come along that can start from day one. Usually you have to use a real high draft pick and don't see any NT that are rare and worth more than even a mid 2nd.

Ngata still plays DE alot in Balt with Kelly Gregg (and now sometimes Terrance Cody) at the nose.

But neither Dareus or Fairley are NTs. Putting either of them there would be a giant waste of their talents.