I think by now everyone understands it. However, what people don't understand or can't comprehend, is that sometimes there is a player who teams consider to be "special" and that player transcends the typical positional value pick, whether that comes from a product of that player being viewed as substantially better than the majority at his position or in relationship to the other players perceived talent of that specific draft.

Winslow and Davis as tight ends. Landry as a safety last season. Peterson at RB. Willis at the ILB.

It's not like it doesn't happen. It depends on the team, it's needs and the player in question.

People around here need to stop thinking that it doesn't happen or shouldn't happen and if it does, the world and all it's occupants will implode into the Chinese Hell of Drafniks where Mel Kiper and Todd McShay and Jamie Dukes are going to gang rape you for the rest of eternity. It does happen. Apparently more than most people around here realize.

I watched Mel Kiper compare Aaron Curry to Keith Bulluck today, that's nice Keith Bulluck is not a game changing cornerstone.

We won't know for sure but he probably won't be our highest paid player for very long. Like maybe one year.


PhilFree:arrow:

Because he combines superb athleticism with solid fundamentals and excellent natural instincts. As such, he presents a more "complete" package with less negatives than other players in the draft. As such, he is a safer pick than someone such as say Raji, Maybin, or the like, where there are question marks about intelligence, or experience or the like.

Seems easy enough to figure out. Why is everyone struggling with this?

So now that we've taken a look at the MLB/ILB on the Superbowl winning teams....let's take a look at DT, DE and OLB for those teams.....

2008 - Steelers
NT - Casey Hampton - 1st round

2007 - Giants
LE - Michael Strahan - 2nd round
RE - Osi Umeniyora - 2nd round

2006 - Colts
RE - Dwight Freeney - 1st round
LE - Robert Mathis - 5th round

2005 - Patriots
NT - Vince Wilfork - 1st round

2004 - Patriots
NT - Vince Wilfork - 1st round

2003 - Buccaneers
DT - Warren Sapp - 1st round
RE - Simeon Rice - 1st round
OLB - Derrick Brooks - 1st round

2002 - Patriots
DT - Richard Seymour - 1st round

2001 - Ravens
OLB - Peter Boulware - 1st round

2000 - Rams
LE - Grant Wistrom - 1st round

1999 - Broncos
DT - Trevor Pryce - 1st round
OLB - John Mobley - 1st round

1998 - Broncos
OLB - John Mobley - 1st round
LE - Neil Smith - 1st round

You understand if he's taken 3rd Curry is going to be one of if not the highest paid LB in the entire league?

You can't say that the draft is a crapshoot and then say that someone is a safe pick.

Why are you struggling with this?

What? That the Steelers, who just won the Super Bowl, had two first round picks at ILB/MLB?

Nope. Doesn't change a thing for me, nor my argument about their importance.

Larry Foote and Lawrence Timmons

Larry Foote and James Farrior.

Looks like a 4th round pick and a 1st round pick both ways to me.

That settles it.

MLB is WAY more important than OLB, DE and DT.

LMAO

"Safer than" does not equate to the absolute of the word "safe."

I'm not struggling with it. I know that there is no sure thing in the draft. I've said it's a crap shoot. However, Curry seems to be "safer than" that most of the guys on the board, even the top tackles IMHO.

And Mecca, we all know what the #3 pick is going to get paid. That's just a function of the current NFL draft. Instead of bitching about a player getting paid too high because he's at a position that doesn't typically demand such salary, why don't you write the NFL or the Players Union and see if you can get them to change up the pay scale for the draft. Maybe something like the NBA, eh? Because of right now, somebody, anybody is going to get insane money even though they've never played a down in the NFL. Personally, I think it completely bogus, but it is what it is. So either we pick a QB or LT so you can be happy about paying them the money, or we just draft down every single year until we need another LT or QB?

So they felt it was an important enough position to have a first round pick as a back up. An even better example of the importance of the position.

they drafted him to play olb

LMAO.

Beat me to it.

The hole gets deeper.

Damn....you beat me too it. If Harrison hadn't turned into a really good player.....then Timmons would be playing the OLB role in their 3-4.