Ask the Bengals if DJ Reader isn't a needle mover.

Reader is the reason Anurumo can be the weirdo he is on defense. He can cheat with linebackers, he can drop 8 without a ton of fear against the run, he can blitz in unorthodox ways, opening up A gaps you wouldn't normally want to, because Reader has the ability to clog it all up. He's fantastic.

I think Mazi Smith is DJ Reader.

Selected in the 5th round DJ Reader?

I think if you want mostly a 2-down run stopper with enough to occasionally get home on the QB like Mazi, then why wouldn't Cameron Young from Miss St make just as much sense in round 4?

Elite defensive tackle DJ Reader.

Your best chance to replicate him is earlier in the draft, so the theory goes.

Otherwise we'd all be able to get Tyreek Hill clones in the 5th.

/thread.

Two things.

1. I think you're overrating Reader. Just a tad.
2. Doesn't matter. There are elite kickers but doesn't mean we should be drafting them in the first round. The draft value in a 2 down defender in this era is low when you're discussing the first round. Even if its a hit, you still blew the pick.

While this team is loaded they need more of an impact player in Round 1.

So you’re saying a guy who’s going to be off the field for mike danna to rush on third down isn’t worth the 31? Crazy.

For me, I'm happy to make teams one-dimensional on offense.

If they cannot run on us because our two-down run stuffer cannot be moved, and they have to engage Mahomes in a passing duel, that's worth a 1st rounder to me.

Teams can beat us with elite QBs (duh), but they can also beat us by running us over and keeping Mahomes off the field.

I want to make offenses one-dimensional, like the Bengals consistently have done against us with Reader.

Cameron Young is a run stuffer.

Mazi Smith is a run stopper. And he's going to be a force multiplier for Nick Bolton.

I think Smith has the ability to become more than jsut a 2 down player though.

Great...so now you've made the offense one dimensional and Mahomes has staked us to an early lead. Your first round pick is relegated to the bench because said offense is forced to throw.

Grab that guy later in the draft and get a guy who can help you in more than just one way.

I actually don't think Smith can't run the passer, but to each their own.

That's great but it still doesn't make any sense to take Mazi Smith in the first round for this scheme.

Because we've played terrible DTs next to Jones doesn't mean we should just keep doing that.

That doesn't mean overdrafting a 2 down defender is the move you should make.