What Do You Now Consider A Reach

[Pejorative Miscreant]

With the new CBA and rookie contracts not being extravagant or overblown does "reach" need to be redefined? I pulled an unofficial list of 1st round picks and their contracts from last year. If you look, the total money spread between the 9th and 32nd pick is 6 million spread over 4 years. Based on this, from a monetary standpoint the reach is not that significant for an NFL club. The Cowboys picked 9th last year and chose an OT. Lets say they were picking 9th and really needed a cornerback. Assuming their draft board had the players graded out like below, they would have had to reach 10 spots to take Prince Amukamara and would have essentially overpaid him by 4 million over 4 years. If this was truly a position of need and immediately plugs a hole, this is a small price to pay.

Granted this is a simplistic example and there are other considerations such as the perceived drop off in talent between the 9-19th player but if this is marginal a reach under the current structure makes less of an impact. All that said, I am thinking that this structure should minimize the best player available philosophy or at least ammend it to being the BPA at a position of need.

1. Cam Newton, QB, Panthers: 4yr/22

2. Von Miller, OLB, Broncos: 4 yr/21

3. Marcell Dareus, DT, Bills: 4yr/20.4

4. A.J. Green, WR, Bengals: 4 yr/19.6

5. Patrick Peterson, DB, Cardinals: 4yr/19.5

6. Julio Jones, WR, Falcons: 4yr/16.2

7. Aldon Smith, DE, 49ers: 4yr/14.4

8. Jake Locker, QB, Titans: 4yr/12.6

9. Tyron Smith, OT, Cowboys: 4yr/12.5

10. Blaine Gabbert, QB, Jaguars: 4yr/12

11. J.J. Watt, DE, Texans: 4yr/11.5

12. Christian Ponder, QB, Vikings: 4yr/11

13. Nick Fairley, DT, Lions: 4yr/9.9

14. Robert Quinn, DE, Rams: 4yr/9.6

15. Mike Pouncey, C, Dolphins: 4yr/9.2

16. Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Redskins: 4yr/8.7

17. Nate Solder, OT, Patriots: 4yr/8.5

18. Corey Liuget, DT, Chargers: 4yr/8.3

19. Prince Amukamara, DB, Giants: 4yr/8.2

20. Adrian Clayborn, DE, Buccaneers: 4yr/8.2

21. Phil Taylor, DT, Browns: 4yr/8

22. Anthony Castonzo, OT, Colts: 4yr/8

23. Danny Watkins, OG, Eagles: 4yr/7.9

24. Cameron Jordan, DE, Saints: 4yr/7.7

25. James Carpenter, OG, Seahawks: 4yr/7.6

26. Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Chiefs: 4yr/7.6

27. Jimmy Smith, DB, Ravens: 4yr/7.4

28. Mark Ingram, RB, Saints: 4yr/7.4

29. Gabe Carimi, OT, Bears: 4yr/7.1

30. Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Jets: 4yr/7.4

31. Cameron Heyward, DE, Steelers: 4yr/6.7

32. Derek Sherrod, OT, Packers: 4yr/6.6

[HeatCheck]

Money doesn't really come in to factor when I judge reaches. The pay scale is consistent with all teams respective of where they are drafted. So that doesn't make me redefine a reach.

A couple of things that I consider when looking at "reaches" are: can you get that same player (or someone of the same caliber) a round later, the player is drafted over someone (even of a different position) who is significantly better than they are, etc.

It's hard to define, you almost know it when you see it. But the money doesn't really effect my view and I don't see why it should.

[Ruff]

The only thing I consider a reach is said above. Can I get that same player in the next round? If the answer is a probably or a yes, then it's a reach. If the answer is no, then it's not a reach.