Yeah sensible, I had mentioned that what made the 2019 draft in particular so egregious was that had those players panned out most specifically N'Keal we'd have some pieces in place post brady.
Only if we had paid him more than we've ever paid for a WR - just under $20 million to franchise a WR in 2023.
Titans traded AJ, who got 4/100 with 57 guaranteed (and includes dead money after that to the tune of 13.5m in the void years).
Metcalf's on for 3/72 with 58 guaranteed.
Deebo's on for pretty much the same - 3/71.5 with 58 guaranteed.
Now the 2020 draft and afterwards we are headed in the right direction. On this year's draft I really feel like gonzo is a future ALL-PRO, he says he wants to learn and soak up everything from the veterans and work hard. I hope I'm right!
People keep acting like the draft is a long-term, team-building solution. It's NOT nearly as big as it's being made out to be. After 4 years, you're going to have to pay market value for your picks.
If we had drafted Lamar Jackson, would we have a SB? Doubt it - he didn't get there with the Ravens' team that had more talent the last few years than the Pats. To keep him, we'd be paying him huge money now, which we could have done this off-season, right?
Other than the rare find who has an immediate impact, a good pick gives your 2 or 3 years on his rookie deal, then to keep him (Joe Thuney), you have to open the bank up.
Team control ain't what it used to be. The draft is important to find guys to keep things churning, but team-building in the salary cap era, particularly now with players catching up on how to play the system, requires lots of pieces from lots of places.
Which is also, by the way, why what BB and the Pats did was all the more incredible. Look at the old dynasties like Pittsburgh, San Fran and Dallas and you'll find pretty much the same corps of players front to back on the run.
