So is there any doubt left as to what position our pick will be?

[doghead28]

if we are in position that a team wants Barkley we may trade down,get multiple picks we need secondary help and possibly linebacker

[koolkatluke]

Adding talent to the DT spot isn't a bad thing. Yeah, we drafted two last year buy it wasnt like they were top ten picks and I'm sure the team can see if theyre making progress and taking their lumps, or if they're just bad and need to be replaced. If the right guy is available at DT, there's no reason to pass him up, especially since this defense isn't going to be fixed overnight--not sure why having an immediate impact player is so important if they have a chance at developing into a great starter in a year or two.

And we need a good free safety, as well.

No great DT coming out this year plus having another inexperience DT we need a another vet at that position.

3 position can use and handle youth right now.

OT

OLB

CB

Position that don't anymore inexperience young players.

DT

WR

[SOJA]

cb is shooting up our needs

[kdrh5]

Define "great DT"

[Carolinaguy]

We need a Jenkins in the middle...

[Zithers]

i want morris claiborne so bad

[Miaoww]

Our rookie DTs seem to be the biggest problem. They are rookies but they've also shown absolutely no improvement whatsoever this season.

They get zero...zero push and any rb can shoot straight up the gut and consistently get 4 yards. They're skating on the field

Quiet you, we clearly need a CB. That's totally going to solve our inability to stop everyone running all over us AND provide pressure in the passing game so the QB doesn't have all day to throw the ball.

[Davidson Deac II]

Fwiw, Edwards coming back healthy next year would probably help the defensive line more than most rookies we might draft. Same with Beason and the linebackers. Although I think we still need to look at another outside linebacker.

Drafting a corner with our 1st round pick might depend on what the coaching staff thinks of Hogan. And it might depend on who is available when we draft. But if the team wants to immediately upgrade our corners, they will likely have to bring in someone via trade or free agency.

[La Pantera]

i want morris claiborne so bad

No homo........?

[unicar15]

Fwiw, Edwards coming back healthy next year would probably help the defensive line more than most rookies we might draft. Same with Beason and the linebackers. Although I think we still need to look at another outside linebacker.

Drafting a corner with our 1st round pick might depend on what the coaching staff thinks of Hogan. And it might depend on who is available when we draft. But if the team wants to immediately upgrade our corners, they will likely have to bring in someone via trade or free agency.

The thing with Hogan is that ideally he should come in and take either Captain Munnerlyn's place or RJ Sanfords place. There is no reason for those two guys to be starting. Neither one can cover and only Munnerlyn can tackle (that is IF he can catch who he is covering). Hopefully Hogan has the skills to start next year but even if he does then you still have one of those two guys in on a decent amount of packages next year.

If you bring in Claiborne and pair him with Gamble and Hogan then you instantly have a MAJORLY upgraded secondary as opposed to still having a gaping hole. Teams like to pass the ball in this league and you need at least two physical corners that can cover in order to be successful. Right now we have one...and there isn't anyone out there as a FA who is going to upgrade our secondary. Carlos Rodgers would have been the best but you can bet SF will extend him if they haven't already.

The other aspect that Claiborne adds to our team is PR. Right now Armanti Edwards can't do anything with the ball in his hands. Claiborne has had a few KO returns and PRs for long yardage/TDs this year.

I agree with the logic of trading down if we are picking in the top 3-5 picks and Claiborne is who we are targetting. But if we don't have a trade partner at that spot then IMO I'd still take him with the 3rd, 4th, 5th pick of the draft. Its not likely that we'd have to if recent history is any indication though because teams are going to want Barkley, Landry Jones, and Robert Griffin.

[bleys]

everyone does realize that if you want a DT in the draft next year, you ARE NOT expecting an NFL starting caliber tackle... you do understand FA is the only avenue to shore up DT immediately, right?

[PhillyB]

munnerlyn has played as well as can be expected - a late round undersized project guy, he's made plays and stepped up. but he isn't consistent and it's because he's so small that he can't cover receivers without being physical. physicality is all he has. and when he gets beat by a taller receiver he can't just swat - he has to tackle, and that's why he gets so many pass interference calls.

he simply is not physically built to play against starting caliber NFL wide receivers. i trust him as a nickleback and he's a damn good punt returner but we need need need an actual cornerback to play across from gamble and anchor that side of the field.

an rj stanford vs. reggie wayne approach is not going to cut it, not now, not ever.

[CPF4LIFE]

i rarely noticed Butler on the field today.

[DRSundrop]

as much as we need a DT, id rather look for a quality DT and draft secondary help with our high pick. we need so much help from everywhere, im not opposed to drafting the best available with the draft picks.