Which need can/can't be overlooked during the draft?

[panthers55]

As far as what positioned is overlooked, it will likely be safety unless you consider a late rounder or UDFA covering the position. Gettleman said he was going to protect Newton and unless he plans to address it in the FA market after the draft as has been suggested, he will likely pull the trigger on an OT if one of the top picks is available. But honestly we have all seen mock drafts where there are already three OTs and perhaps a OG gone by 14. One prospect that would be interesting is Fluker at RT. He is massive and a very good run blocker. Some folks have questioned his footwork in pass defense but this would address the issue of losing Otah. Either he or Bell would move inside and the line is fixed. Then in the second you could go WR or corner and solve another major issues.

Obviously we will go BPA at a position of need like we have in the past and it really depends on who is there when we pick and who falls or moves up boards. it also depends on how we have evaluated our own players. For example if Joe Adams is considered somewhat of a bust, then it puts Austin in play at 14. If we think Austin is only a slight upgrade over Adams, then we likely go elsewhere.

We will address many of the needs on paper, but the question is whether spending a 4th or 5th rounder on a position is addressing it or not. Sometimes those picks turn out great but other times those players don't end up ever being starters.

[Lumps]

While the team seems to not be banking on any one position if I had to pick one that we have to fill it would be WR.

If you want to talk cap, the new WR will simply (and hopefully) demand and deserve SS money or more in a few years and simply replace SS. It's a need. It looks at our future. And it isn't readily available. Smitty won't last much longer, he says so himself. A new WR to grow with Cam. We most likley will be able to pick the first one off the board as well, so while there is no solid #1 we have the pick of the litter. A young #1 WR to grow with Cam most likley won't be a FA.

Oline will make me happiest, with Cam, Stew, Tolbert and Dwill or ever just two of those guys, beefing up the Oline I think will do wonders. But I would not be sad with a WR....and can see the upsides.

[MHS831]

We will address many of the needs on paper, but the question is whether spending a 4th or 5th rounder on a position is addressing it or not. Sometimes those picks turn out great but other times those players don't end up ever being starters.

I think Gettlemen will try to trade down and get into the second wave of big men (Fluker, Jesse and Sly Williams, etc). I also find it amusing that there is always a G slated to go high (DeCastro last year) and they drop.

To your point about Fluker--I too have made the Otah comparision, and we took him at 19 by trading up. 14 is very high for a RT, but not in this draft. However, the point you made about Bell is one of those moves that looks good on paper--I am not sure he is worth a crap at RG. He played RG vs. the Cowboys, I think, and it was ugly.

SO, if we take Fluker, have we addressed our RG situation? (What the heck is up with RTs not being able to play RG? Campbell, Bell, etc. It used to be a safe move.)

I think they like the depth in this draft at OL. I do too, ON PAPER. Winters, Quessenberry, Faulk, Thornton, Bailey, etc. There are some players who can step up down the road.

[catnip]

If Lane Johnson falls to #14, we will go OT. If not, we go BPA with an eye toward need. It could be, dt,S, or WR. Either way, I think we improve this team with the FA pickups the G-man has made. Go Cats

[Lumps]

I think a top 3 pick qualifies as seriously addressing it. That is what I thought anyways as a personal scale.

Unfortunatley, this year that means the first two.

[rayzor]

I wouldn't object at all to us picking up a DE early and either just not re-signing hardy (which i wouldn't prefer) or cutting CJ loose once it becomes feasible to do it without hurting the cap (because that contract is insane) or just letting CJ finish his contract out and not re-signing him afterward.

if hardy is expecting a CJ type contract we're going to have to cut bait and let him walk. in that scenario it would be good to have another big DE waiting in the wings.

[rayzor]

We will address many of the needs on paper, but the question is whether spending a 4th or 5th rounder on a position is addressing it or not. Sometimes those picks turn out great but other times those players don't end up ever being starters.

this is why, once the cap is straightened out, i would like for us to use some 4th round and later picks on trades for established vets with reasonable contracts. it would be more expensive for sure than paying draft picks but we'd have a much more talented roster and it would be a better use of our picks, imo.

[firstdayfan]

I like what people are saying about the offensive line. I really feel like the right side is as big a weakness on this team as interior defensive line. That said, I don't think we HAVE to take one early. Funny thing about offensive line is that they can be taken late in the draft, I also agree with other comments about Gettlemen getting a few vets in later in the year.

It would be great to find someone for Cam to grow with but it's not like we are lacking in weapons, that's something the Rams failed to do with Bradford. But other young QB's around the league aren't really any better off than Cam...Kaepernick has crabtree and davis, Russell only has harvin really, Luck has Wayne, RG3 has Garcon?. Cam has Smith, Olsen, and all the running backs you could ever want. However, a plethora of receivers doesn't always translate to success and you don't have to have someone to "grow" with. Any talent is good and I think we have a decent amount right now. But I wouldn't be upset if we took a guy like Hopkins, Allen, or my personal favorite, Da'rick Rodgers, in the first or second round.

[panthers55]

I think Gettlemen will try to trade down and get into the second wave of big men (Fluker, Jesse and Sly Williams, etc). I also find it amusing that there is always a G slated to go high (DeCastro last year) and they drop.

To your point about Fluker--I too have made the Otah comparision, and we took him at 19 by trading up. 14 is very high for a RT, but not in this draft. However, the point you made about Bell is one of those moves that looks good on paper--I am not sure he is worth a crap at RG. He played RG vs. the Cowboys, I think, and it was ugly.

SO, if we take Fluker, have we addressed our RG situation? (What the heck is up with RTs not being able to play RG? Campbell, Bell, etc. It used to be a safe move.)

I think they like the depth in this draft at OL. I do too, ON PAPER. Winters, Quessenberry, Faulk, Thornton, Bailey, etc. There are some players who can step up down the road.

I don't know that saying that Bell cant play RG is fair based on one game where you are shuffling players around. Didn't Williams play RT that game as well. But if you made the move and gave them time to develop chemistry it could be a great move.

[top dawg]

Bottom line is we have to address something, so I'd be unhappy to not come out of the draft with two starters. This is my expectation. Now which positions these starters are is up to debate. The thing is though, is that the draft and free agency are two of the three tools used to build teams, so no one can say with any surety what needs can or can't be overlooked during the draft. The draft has little more of an element of opportunism than FA and trades, and since you never know who is going to fall in your lap during the draft, you must be more open to pulling the trigger when what you perceive as gold falls into your lap. Basically, you say "fug it" and worry about the particulars later (and that's where FA and trading comes into play (after the draft).

All that being said, in my opinion there is no specific position that we can overlook in the draft, but we obviously have to have a safety. We also need to be looking for a WR who is a legitimate playmaker who is a threat to take it to the house on every down. We need to find Smitty's genuine help after all these years---at the very least---if not his heir apparent.

Now I am not one to believe that it's necessary, or even realistic, to fill all your holes in one year to maximize the team's efficiency at each position, but it would be nice to get close. Being that luck plays a certain part in the grand scheme of things, that's about all we can ask for.

[Jackofalltrades]

RG

DT

WR

[SCP]

I still think we need to come out of this draft with two solid big guys, one at NT and one at RG. We have to address those two spots with big, young talent.

[ThatNiggaManny]

Two Words. Offensive Line.

[The Golden Child]

O-line position must be addressed within the first 3 picks.