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Lets balance this out.Main reason we are where we are? None other than our top picks the last decade. Not including 2023 as it’s not fair to grade yet, although Gonzalez looks like he’ll be good.
Grading: Bust, JAG, Good Starter, All Pro
2013
Rd 1 - no pick
Rd 2 - J. Collins: Good starter - kinda in between JAG and good starter as he was only good for a few years
Rd 2 - A. Dobson: BUST
2014
Rd 1 - D. Easley: BUST
Rd 2 - Jimmy G: JAG - close to good starter but not quite
2015
Rd 1 - M. Brown: BUST
Rd 2 - J. Richards: BUST
2016
Rd 1 - No pick
Rd 2 - C. Jones: BUST
2017
No Rd 1 or 2 picks
2018
Rd 1 - I. Wynn: JAG
Rd 1 - S. Michael: JAG
Rd 2 - D. Dawson: BUST
2019
Rd 1 - N. Harry: BUST
Rd 2 - J. Williams: BUST
2020
Rd 1 - No pick
Rd 2 - K.Dugger: Good player
Rd 2 - J. Uche: JAG
2021
Rd 1 - M.Jones: JAG
Rd 2 - C. Barmore: Good player
2022
Rd 1 - C.Strange: JAG
Rd 2 - T. Thornton: BUST
So for a decade at the top of the draft we have no All Pros, a few good players, and a bunch of JAGS and BUSTS. Bill’s drafting is the main reason we suck.
Too much emphasis on drafts as it's 1/4rd of how teams acquire talent with trades, FA and UFAs the other but that is another disussion. With that said that is the pool in which the most players are acquired.
The NEP always picked at the bottom of drafts which history tells us 70% or more do not become starters and pro careers are less than 5 years.
The rule of thumb is a good draft is when a team lands two starters and two reserves.
I disagree on some of your assessments like Collins and others. Collins was damn good in his prime.
2013- Harmon, Collins, Ryan
2014- Jimmy, Sweet Feet, Fleming (Malcolm UFA)
2015-Brown, Flowers, Mason, Cardona (shoulda kept Roberts)
2016- Thuney, Brissett, Mitchell, KGH, Roberts, Karras
2017-Wise
2018- Wynn, Sony, Bentley, Berrios (JC UFA)
2019- Harris, Bailey
2020- Dugger, Jennings, Onwenu
2021- Mac, Barmore, Rham
2022- Strange, Jack Jones, Marcus Jones
2023- TBD but a handful of contributors.....such as Sow, Pop, Baringer, Gonzo..
Looking at this objectively they've drafted some decent players who have had key roles on Super Bowl teams but clearly have not hit on elite talent because they haven't been in the position to draft it.
To your point the 1st and 2nd rounders have to at least be solid, above-average players who become long-term players. That has not happened.