I think a first round CB would be competitive and could win the starting job opposite Samuel as a rookie-- assuming Poole doesn't return. Richard Marshall would start.
A junior coming out early might work into the line-up over the course of a season, starting the season would be throwing them to the wolves.
Also, move Vrabel back outside and pair a rookie at ILB with Bruschi. Greenway would start.
Greenway may be smart enough, but not strong enough and certainly not ready as a rookie to equal the production of Vrabel, Colvin, or McGinest.
Or play the rookie in the OLB rotation with Willie and Colvin. I think Manny Lawson would start the season on the bench, but I'll bet he gets more than a few starts before Week 16.
Lawson will need a year of Woicik's workouts to build strength and weight. He'll also need a lot of repetitions before he can go toe-to-toe with a T, let alone the TE's kicking his butt at the point of attack in Senior Bowl practices. He's at least ten pounds lighter than Colvin, who was drawing double teams on run plays.
At S, Rodney is a big question mark. Starting Wilson and a rookie in the deep secondary is not impossible. Huff would look good.
Geno wasn't ready to carry the leadership role this year. Safety isn't the best value for round 1, your one of the value guys, do you spend 1st round money at S or do you re-sign Hawkins?
At OG, if Neal signs elsewhere, a first round rookie is almost certain to start. But not OT. Light and Kaczur and Gorin all have good claims on a starting role.
LT - Light, LG-Mankins, C-Koppen, RG-Gorin or Hochstein, RT-Kaczur. G is not a first round value, OT is.
Rookie first round WR would start in place of Givens, but I dont see one in this draft who could do it.
We agree.
And a RB like Lendale White would probably spell Dillon this year as a backup, and get his real shot next year.
Dillon is a second round pick, there are a number of other examples, a first round RB isn't that great a value.