Lack of DT in free agency...

[JawnyBlaze]

walterfootball lists 50 FA DTs, taking out the ones that have been franchised or recently signed to a contract. Even if there are only 29 available, as long as we get Cofield and/or Mebane it's all good. Draft one or two, get one or both of the FAs, keep Landri and we're fine at DT.

[JawnyBlaze]

I'm pretty sure these will be gone before the 65th pick: Liuget, Wilkerson, Taylor, Paea, Austin. Of the ones left, the ones I'd spend the 65th on are: Casey, Jenkins. The rest are undersized or a bit of a reach in my opinion. There's a chance Jerrell Powe is availalbe when we pick again, he would be very nice. I'd wait til our comp pick or 4th round pick for Kendrick Ellis, I think Powe is gonna be better than him.

The Jim Johnson defense needs penetrating DTs, but still needs a space eater to take up two of the blockers. One big guy, one penetrater. Landri already fills the spot of 1 penetrater, get one more and two big run stuffers and that's our DT rotation. If we get Mebane in FA, we need to draft 2 big run stuffers. If we get Cofield, we need 1 of each. Now, if we draft Dareus, I think he fits both roles pretty well and we could be a bit more flexible with who's around him. Put a biggun' with him on rushing downs, Hardy or Landri with him on passing downs.

We pick 65th. I am sure, after two rounds, several of these will be available:

Projected late first or second round by most mocks:

*Corey Liuget

*Muhammad Wilkerson

Phil Taylor

Stephen Paea

Christian Ballard

Marvin Austin

Projected 3rd round or later by most mocks

Jurrell Casey

*Lawrence Guy

Drake Nevis

Jarvis Jenkins

[JawnyBlaze]

In my IDEAL situation, we're able to pull off the trade down within the top 5, draft Green with our first pick, with our early 2nd round pick take Paea (if he drops outta the first) or Austin, then use our #65 on Jerrell Powe, then our comp pick and 4th round picks on TE and OL/QB (Stocker or Julius Thomas for TEs in my opinion, best O-lineman if there's value and if not get Stanzi or one of the other second tier QBs that doesn't have questions about his arm strength or height).

OR

With the top 5 pick we trade down to we take Dareus, with the 2nd round pick get Kyle Rudolph, with the #65 take Powe, with the comp and 4th round picks take 2 from best CB, QB or O-linemen available.

[section543]

In my IDEAL situation, we're able to pull off the trade down within the top 5, draft Green with our first pick, with our early 2nd round pick take Paea (if he drops outta the first) or Austin, then use our #65 on Jerrell Powe, then our comp pick and 4th round picks on TE and OL/QB (Stocker or Julius Thomas for TEs in my opinion, best O-lineman if there's value and if not get Stanzi or one of the other second tier QBs that doesn't have questions about his arm strength or height).

OR

With the top 5 pick we trade down to we take Dareus, with the 2nd round pick get Kyle Rudolph, with the #65 take Powe, with the comp and 4th round picks take 2 from best CB, QB or O-linemen available.

I like the way you're thinking. If we can get someone to jump at #1(Biggest if), I'd prefer we pull a "Jimmy Johnson" and trade that #5 or whatever, and move back again- maybe into the teens. We could still get quality DL, maybe one of the 2 QB's(?), maybe WR (though I don't see a dire need) in the first. Then have multiple 2nds- another DL or 2, OG, CB. multiple 3's- TE, KR/WR, ??

[monstercat]

The question is...how many FA's will actually leave their current teams in the first place? There were very few of them last year and the best one's were way overpaid, so I'm not counting on anything, aside from the Panthers making an effort to sign their own guys...assuming there is a FA period at all.

[Ravens_5_52]

What about Brandon Mebane, the DT from Seattle, I don't think the Seahawks will keep him and he'll hit the open market. Plus he is still young, so he can fill the gap at DT and allow you guys to look elsewhere for that # 1 Pick.

[bleys]

Take a DT at #1. We need a "sure thing" to be thrown into the fire immediately. I need someone to make an immediate impact on the D-Line, or it's going to be extremely hard to watch us get pounded up the gut for 5+ YPC.

there isn't a sure thing in the draft.. so even if we take a DT at #1, expect him to take 2-3 years to have a big impact..

I would venture to say Rivera and McDermott might sway some players from their current team to one with a lot of high football knowledge. It is very reasonable to assume we can make a grab at a FA... of course, it might cost some cash, but I'm good with that. Some money has to be spent somewhere..