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Originally Posted by WhiteWhale

Your logic is sound, but I don't entirely agree.

This idea that you have to do one or the other is bad, and the average 'youth movement' is a stupid garbage philosophy that rarely bears fruit. Look at what Herm did. He got talented players and built entirely with youth and the result was a team that simply could not figure out how to win.

To build a good team, good franchises use all avenues available to them. I don't feel that losing two 2nd round picks is a back breaker moving forward. I cannot look at the guys who were available and think we're be further along with Geno Smith or Matt Barkley.

Alex Smith brought a stabilizing presence to a team that has been in total flux at QB since Trent Green left. Now I'd much prefer to find that guy who can start for us until 2030, but I don't really want to sit through 3-4 more 2-14 seasons waiting for us to get him. I don't like playing for draft position. That's what perpetually shitty teams do (except the Colts, who tanked in the right season). Mediocrity is better than being a gutter team, like the Lions or modern Raiders. The chances of making a leap are much better.

It doesn't take a decade to improve.