Top five positions of need

[brimsalabim]

And Unger was hurt an awful lot last season. LJP is a great back up but he would be starting now if he was better than Unger right?

 

[EverydayImRusselin]

And Unger was hurt an awful lot last season. LJP is a great back up but he would be starting now if he was better than Unger right?

Yes/no. Unger was an All-Pro in 2012. Theoretically that means he's better. There are plenty of examples though of players who are better sitting behind the established players. Sherman behind Trufant/Thurmond. Maxwell behind Browner last year. Smith behind Irvin last year (maybe debatable).

 

[brimsalabim]

Ok. You convinced me. Let's focus on WR and RT. Maybe use four picks to get the right two players?

 

[EverydayImRusselin]

Ok. You convinced me. Let's focus on WR and RT. Maybe use four picks to get the right two players?

In my mind, I see us grabbing 1 WR and 2 OL maybe. In spite of the weakness of the WR position, I don't know that we have the roster spots for grabbing 2 WR unless we plan on just dumping one. Losing Breno and possibly Mcquistan frees up 2 spots by default.

 

[hawknation2014]

I know Schneider likes to say it's all about taking the best available player, but which positions do you personally see as the greatest needs in this draft?

1. Offensive tackle
2. Wide receiver, preferably a SE
3. Five-technique DE
4. Guard
5. LEO

Nine months later . . . I would argue these remain the Top 5 positions of need for the team.

We badly need an OT, who excels in pass pro, to develop behind Okung and push Britt. If Bailey moves to LG to replace Carpenter, that leaves Garry Gilliam as the lone backup OT on the roster.

We also badly need a WR with some length to serve as a safety valve for Wilson . . . someone who can reliably go up to get the football on 3rd downs and in the red zone.

"Five-technique DE" and "three technique DT" can be pretty much interchangeable because the kind of players I hope we target will be versatile enough to play both positions depending on the situation.

Adding depth to the interior of the line is also important if Carpenter is not re-signed.

LEO would be the No. 1 priority if Avril is not re-signed. However, I think we do find a way to re-sign Avril, which makes the need here more about depth and improving the rotation.

I liked what I saw from KPL this year before he went on IR, but OLB also becomes a priority if Smith and Wright are no re-signed.

Drafting a running back is important if they feel there is someone on the board who is capable of growing into the role of feature back.

They may also need a tight end, who can block and catch the football consistently.

 

[CPHawk]

We need OT and OG who can count to 3.

 

[endzorn]

I think we're a RT and RG away from a very good offense. I think our WR situation will be much improved with Richardson and Norwood in their second years. We I'd like to see a big DT and another pass rusher too.

 

[Maelstrom787]

1. Versatile offensive linemen. We need a starting caliber left tackle (if Bailey can't cut it) and an interior lineman.
2. Mike Evans/Keenan Allen type WR. Big target. It's been beaten to death, but I think it would push our passing game to a new level.
2b. An every down back. We need a young guy that can smash the ball between the tackles. A YAC monster. You can't replace Beast Mode, but maybe you can get someone who can put up similar numbers. That would be ideal.
3. A near-every down defensive tackle. Mebane is getting old and is sometimes injured. We need another guy in the interior rotation.
4. Effective pass rushing specialists from the LEO position.
5. A pass catching tight end that is decent enough at blocking to stay in and hold his own.

 

[CPHawk]

1. Versatile offensive linemen. We need a starting caliber left tackle (if Bailey can't cut it) and an interior lineman.
2. Mike Evans/Keenan Allen type WR. Big target. It's been beaten to death, but I think it would push our passing game to a new level.
2b. An every down back. We need a young guy that can smash the ball between the tackles. A YAC monster. You can't replace Beast Mode, but maybe you can get someone who can put up similar numbers. That would be ideal.
3. A near-every down defensive tackle. Mebane is getting old and is sometimes injured. We need another guy in the interior rotation.
4. Effective pass rushing specialists from the LEO position.
5. A pass catching tight end that is decent enough at blocking to stay in and hold his own.

You can't get all that in one draft. And honestly, you listed pretty much everything but Qb, if this team needs that much how are they winning?

 

[drdiags]

DB Successor to Maxwell ('15) or contingency if we can't resign both Maxwell and Sherman ('15)...

Did I miss something? I thought Sherman signed for 5 yrs or 4 with his recent extension. How is Sherman a FA after 2015? Or is the point that already paying Sherman top corner money (14m/yr) the team cannot afford Maxwell? This phrasing had me confused.

 

[Bigbadhawk]

DB Successor to Maxwell ('15) or contingency if we can't resign both Maxwell and Sherman ('15)...

Did I miss something? I thought Sherman signed for 5 yrs or 4 with his recent extension. How is Sherman a FA after 2015? Or is the point that already paying Sherman top corner money (14m/yr) the team cannot afford Maxwell? This phrasing had me confused.

May want to check the time/date of the post your quoting. "THU MAR 13, 2014 10:34 AM" The post your quoting was made before we signed Sherman to his extension which took place in May of this year.

 

[hawksfansinceday1]

Hate to say this, but a young C that can stay healthy may well be a need. Max is good when healthy, but..........Perhaps a LG that can play C when Unger goes down and is smart enough to make the blocking scheme calls? That way we keep Bailey as the utility guy.

 

[Maelstrom787]

1. Versatile offensive linemen. We need a starting caliber left tackle (if Bailey can't cut it) and an interior lineman.
2. Mike Evans/Keenan Allen type WR. Big target. It's been beaten to death, but I think it would push our passing game to a new level.
2b. An every down back. We need a young guy that can smash the ball between the tackles. A YAC monster. You can't replace Beast Mode, but maybe you can get someone who can put up similar numbers. That would be ideal.
3. A near-every down defensive tackle. Mebane is getting old and is sometimes injured. We need another guy in the interior rotation.
4. Effective pass rushing specialists from the LEO position.
5. A pass catching tight end that is decent enough at blocking to stay in and hold his own.

You can't get all that in one draft. And honestly, you listed pretty much everything but Qb, if this team needs that much how are they winning?

I just listed what I believe are the 5 places most in need of improvement. Not saying we can get it all in one draft, not saying all of these are even "needs." You can find a lot of spaces that could stand to be improved on any team. Also remember that a lot of this is about drafting depth for the future, not immediate gain. Like a running back for life after Lynch and a DT to bolster the rotation and possibly take Mebane's spot in a few years.

Number 4 is no longer a need. We locked up Avril. He and Irvin can be our rush specialists.

Mebane is getting older and we need depth for when he's injured. Right now we have a recent rotation and Hill has stepped up big. We could stand to draft a young guy to replace the role Kevin Williams is filling though.

I think TE is a place to go in the draft if Zach Miller isn't going to be back. A nice, big, possession target at WR would also be wonderful.

If C-Mike can't rough it well enough between the tackles, I think we should to draft a power guy who can shoulder the load and go RBBC. Kinda like Cincy.