hawksfan515":3g9a8a6g said:
I do not want to keep relying on FA to solve our D-line problems, honestly.
My problem with that is this, when I look at what needs to be done to fix this defensive line, I'm not seeing anyone in the draft that I feel great about (that is also realistic). By contrast, this is an unusually strong year in FA for DL, and there could also potentially be some trade options available (Jared Allen, etc).
Seattle has money to spend, and they've found more success on the D-line with veterans than draft picks (Clemons, Brock, Hargrove, Branch, Jones, etc). Irvin is the only active member of this D-line that was drafted by Seattle (I'm counting Howard as inactive). EDIT: Forgot Scruggs, who I like a lot.
But mostly, it's more about not liking this draft. My favorite LEO option is Alex Okafor, and he'd probably produce less next season than Cliff Avril or Osi Umenyiora. He'd also cost a 1st round pick. I'm not seeing any DTs that scream monster pass rushers. There's also the fact that drafted pass rushers are notoriously slow to start. It's not uncommon at all for a pass rusher to take his lumps for years before clicking in his late 20s.
I think the best course of action is to at least form a short term fix in free agency for DL while adding DL draft picks that make sense throughout the draft. If Seattle goes into the draft being forced to take pass rushers with their first two picks, I wouldn't feel very good about their offseason.
chris98251":3g9a8a6g said:
You don't need high picks, Porter, Sinclair, Danials, just a couple examples
Agreed. I think if Seattle is going to strike it rich in this draft at pass rusher, it will probably be with players we've never heard of and who won't have videos on youtube. Quanterus Smith is kind of an example of that. Nobody is talking about him nationally, but he'd have real potential in our scheme.
If we do find ace pass rushers, it will probably like how we found Richard Sherman. Out of the blue in the mid to late rounds. Because I'm not seeing it early. I think the best plan would be to fix the DL in free agency if possible then grab bag pass rushers after the early rounds with a shotgun approach and hope to get a hit or two.