Picking 8th vs 21st

[Happy Panther]

For all the folks who want to tank the season to secure a high draft pick I thought I would look at the difference between 8th where we are now and 21st where we could pick if we somehow win the division. I was surprised at the results:

 

2007

8th - DE Jamaal Anderson (out of the league)

21st - S Reggie Nelson (still in league may have shot someone)

 

2008

8th - DE Derrick Harvey (out of the league)

21st - OT Sam Baker (often injured still active)

 

2009

8th - OT Eugene Monroe (solid OT)

21st - C Alex Mack (pro bowler)

 

2010

8th - LB Rolando McCain (released by the Raiders for being to crazy, retired edit: unretired and playing well)

21st - TE Jermaine Gresham (pro bowler)

 

2011

8th - QB Jake Locker (above average QB watching Mettenberger play)

21st - DE Phil Taylor (rookie standout declined from there)

 

2012

8th - QB Ryan Tannehill (good QB with further potential)

21st - DE Chandler Jones (starting DE/LB for New England with 22 career sacks)

 

2013

8th - WR Tavon Austin (600 yards in 2 seasons; he's no Lafell)

21st - TE Tyler Eifert (Ok rookie season now on IR)

 

2014

8th - CB Justin Gilbert (currently sitting the bench but future potential)

21st - S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (starting S in Green Bay)

[Jesse]

Just a heads up, Rolando McClain has been playing pretty well for the Cowboys this year.

[Car123]

Teams like the Raiders, Jags, Bills have been getting top picks for nearly a decade. What have they done with them?

Nothing is guaranteed.

[TN05]

The draft is a crapshoot. We have a very long history of great first-round picks, regardless of round. I trust our scouts know what they are doing.

[Lemory]

If they do their homework, they can find a stud at the 21 spot.

[car5nc]

2003- 8th pick Jordan Gross. I'll take that again

[TN05]

2003- 8th pick Jordan Gross. I'll take that again

We actually were supposed to have the 9th pick that year, so that one really doesn't count.

[Mol3m4n]

Anyone saying that picking 21st is better than picking 8th is just ignorant. I'm not saying I want to miss the playoffs, but there is no dispute that in the draft 8 is better than 21.

The only thing better than 1 is 32. Unless you traded for 32.

[ThPantherFan]

So, you can find a jewel at the bottom of the barrel.

[Carolina Cajun]

I said it befor, I'll say it again, the Seattle Seahawks were NOT hurt by winning their division at 7-9. If anything it helped them create a culture of winning and got players used in their Super Bowl run playoff experience. The Seahawks drafted a tackle they converted to guard who's still starting, a starting linebacker, and the Richard Sherman in the draft following that. The biggest key is that we have a front office that DOES THEIR JOB and finds the players we need in the draft and secures some atleast average free agents to shore things up.

[Happy Panther]

Anyone saying that picking 21st is better than picking 8th is just ignorant. I'm not saying I want to miss the playoffs, but there is no dispute that in the draft 8 is better than 21.

Not the point.

[t96]

Gettleman will have a list of guys he wants ranked. Picking 8 would give us a way better chance to get our top guy than picking 21. Nothing that you posted matters at all.

[Lemory]

I'd rather win some fuging games this year than get excited over the off season again.

[London Loves Luke]

How are people arguing with the clear facts that draft position in the first has very little bearing on a player's ability to perform in the NFL? 

 

Yes Gman will have a couple of tackles in his wishlist, but if we have to pick up the best safety/WR at 21 because the best tackles are gone then we have to find our 2015 tackles someplace else. We might have a tackle fall to us in the second that outperforms the tackles drafted in the first.

 

Stop wanting our team to take a losing attitude into these last few games because the attitude we carry into next year is more important than any first rounder we could pick up.