"Is Willis the most productive draft pick ever?"

Originally posted by captveg:
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7849206/how-tell-which-draft-picks-truly-valuable

Linebackers
Best: Patrick Willis (93.6 points above expected return)
Worst: Andy Katzenmoyer (-50.2 points)

"Is Willis the most productive draft pick ever? He just finished up his fifth season in the league, and during those five years, he's missed a total of four games while making the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams in each season. No other player over this time frame was able to match that accomplishment, and the last player we were able to find who matched that mark was Lawrence Taylor, who made the Pro Bowl team for the first 10 seasons of his career and got onto the All-Pro team for eight of those years. Sure, middle linebacker might not be the most important position on the field, but what more could the Niners ask for from their defensive captain? Katzenmoyer, on the other hand, was a legend at Ohio State, but his NFL career was brief; after suffering a neck injury during his rookie season, Katzenmoyer struggled to stay healthy and left Patriots training camp after breakfast one morning in 2001, never to return. He only played 24 games at the professional level, leaving the game just months before the Patriots won their first Super Bowl."

Originally posted by Wubbie:
The math involved in figuring out a player's value as a draft pick sucks, but cool that Patrick Willis gets kudos.

Originally posted by ads_2006:
Jerry Rice and Joe Montana say lulz

Originally posted by JimA49ers:

Originally posted by captveg:
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7849206/how-tell-which-draft-picks-truly-valuable

Linebackers
Best: Patrick Willis (93.6 points above expected return)
Worst: Andy Katzenmoyer (-50.2 points)

"Is Willis the most productive draft pick ever? He just finished up his fifth season in the league, and during those five years, he's missed a total of four games while making the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams in each season. No other player over this time frame was able to match that accomplishment, and the last player we were able to find who matched that mark was Lawrence Taylor, who made the Pro Bowl team for the first 10 seasons of his career and got onto the All-Pro team for eight of those years. Sure, middle linebacker might not be the most important position on the field, but what more could the Niners ask for from their defensive captain? Katzenmoyer, on the other hand, was a legend at Ohio State, but his NFL career was brief; after suffering a neck injury during his rookie season, Katzenmoyer struggled to stay healthy and left Patriots training camp after breakfast one morning in 2001, never to return. He only played 24 games at the professional level, leaving the game just months before the Patriots won their first Super Bowl."

Let's just hope that is the ONLY comparison of Willis and Taylor. Today, Taylor is a broke has-been, and often arrested. Most of his fans are in better financial shape than he is.