Originally posted by Scoots:
Originally posted by NYniner85:
Originally posted by genus49:
I assume his point is that once you start playing it doesn't matter.
Tom Brady is better than any QB drafted in the top 10...though Mahomes may change that in time. I'd say the same thing for Joe Montana.
You have Trent but you also have a number of guys who were worse OTs in the NFL than Colton McKivitz. You have Jordan Mailata going in the 7th round.
Obviously the so called best players go earlier in the draft. You hope the talented guys you draft early develop as well and turn into AP studs.
But guys fall for different reasons. Some simply late bloomers, some end up playing well above their talent level and some were projects who end up putting it all together.
See I disagree with this counter argument by bringing up players that aren't the norm but the exception when talking about success via draft slot
For every Brady and Mailata late rd success stories there are BY FAR more guys that turn into nothing in the later rds compared to earlier rd picks.
go look at how many QBs that are 1st rd picks that are in the playoffs most yrs. Go look at who are the premium pass rushers in the league and when they were taken. Mostly high end picks… same at OT.
Back to my OP here because it's clearly off track, I'm not saying you NEED to spend 1st rd picks on OL every yr to have a good OL. I'm saying you gotta invest there somewhat. I'm saying actually put some stock in developing there. Draft an actual center. Draft a legit OT to develop.
This shouldn't be some controversial take imo
Nobody is saying draft position has nothing to do with the pre-draft perception of those players or what they are more or less likely to become. But that is entirely about the draft. Once they are drafted it no longer matters. Then the only thing that matters is what happens going forward.
Correct. I agree with NY that going in with a strategy to improve a position group by drafting late round developmental guys is asking for trouble.
However once the draft is done none of it matters. Yes the athletic and physical traits that tend to push guys to be drafted earlier are still in play but if guys aren't technically sound or have the mental part of the game down but a less athletic guy drafted later cuz he didn't meet the cutoffs does all the technical and mental parts to the highest of levels...that player is likely to have more success.
Obviously we always hope the high end trait guys have it click for them since they make the best players but it's rare for those guys that it finally clicks down the road.
