the philosophy that WR should not be off of the table, depending on who is available when they pick.
I doubt anyone here disagrees. No team is that rigid.
The Godfather of BPA drafting is Bill Polian and Bill Polian's favorite story of BPA drafting is Reggie Wayne . . .a. WR taken when everyone in the world had Indy taking defense. In fact, almost a direct parallel to the Bucs.
Polian uses the Reggie Wayne pick to discuss what he calls the meeting of the need axis and the talent axis. They "needed" Wayne "just enough" as Polian says
The key thing in the Reggie wayne selection was no agreement in their draft room on a defensive player and they had already traded down, so they took Wayne who had a 1st round grade but concerns about his speed. The draft the year beforwe and the draft pick after Wayne are heavily defensive picks, so its not like they strayed from the NEED, they just strayed with that one premium pick.
I think (may be off by a year) that the Colts defense that year of the Wayne pick was the worst scoring defense in the league. Historically bad. May have even been what led to the "playoffs?" quote with Mora and then his firing.
Either way though the Wayne pick was obviously a great one adn a calssic example that its not either/or. Teams dont draft for need or draft BPA, the two apporaches balance against each other
Almost all need related picks. Doesnt mean they weren't BPA or great, but he definitely was plugging holes
this is really how every team drafts. Most teams are ranking their players by position and other factors.
Here's an exercise for you
Get learnt, people!
as much as I appreciate your view that the NFL is wrong about everything I will have pass on learning the JC way…
You might have learned something. I did a draft in hindsight, with no trades. If I did trades there would be a trade up for Urlacher.
#13- DE John Abraham
#27- LB Keith Bullock
#57- C Brad Meester
#90- P Shane Lechler
#120- QB Marc Bulger
#157- QB Tom Brady
#193- OLB Adalius Thomas
#234- DE Adewale Ogunleye
If, after the 1999 season, the Bucs drafted two defensive players in the 1st round (or a trade up for Urlacher) and a punter in the 3rd round, there would have been a riot and the draft grades would have been an F.
Point of the exercise was to expand the thinking of the iT hAs tO Be DeFeNsE crowd.
Here's an exercise for you
Get learnt, people!
as much as I appreciate your view that the NFL is wrong about everything I will have pass on learning the JC way…
You might have learned something. I did a draft in hindsight, with no trades. If I did trades there would be a trade up for Urlacher.
#13- DE John Abraham
#27- LB Keith Bullock
#57- C Brad Meester
#90- P Shane Lechler
#120- QB Marc Bulger
#157- QB Tom Brady
#193- OLB Adalius Thomas
#234- DE Adewale Ogunleye
If, after the 1999 season, the Bucs drafted two defensive players in the 1st round (or a trade up for Urlacher) and a punter in the 3rd round, there would have been a riot and the draft grades would have been an F.
Point of the exercise was to expand the thinking of the iT hAs tO Be DeFeNsE crowd.
Well it will be defense
we had a top 5 offense and got bounced in first round. Where can we get better on offense? OG? TE? I can see guard in the first 4 rounds or maybe tight end but my guess is 3 of the 4 picks go defense.
just seems to be that Licht's MO as of last has to go based off of need.
I don't disagree. That's how you end up taking Devin White, JTS, & Logan Hall as first picks. He may want to adjust some things.
but in 2025, borderline terrible football acumen if Licht goes that route
Let’s say you have the following 2 options at #19, what would you pick:
1. A WR who ends up playing multiple contracts for the team and is a perennial Pro Bowl/AP player. But, not a “need” position.
2. ILB who plays out his rookie deal, no 5th year option picked up, and has one (maybe 2) flash years. And, an absolute “need” position.
Bump
but in 2025, borderline terrible football acumen if Licht goes that route
Let’s say you have the following 2 options at #19, what would you pick:
1. A WR who ends up playing multiple contracts for the team and is a perennial Pro Bowl/AP player. But, not a “need” position.
2. ILB who plays out his rookie deal, no 5th year option picked up, and has one (maybe 2) flash years. And, an absolute “need” position.
Bump
in this make belief scenario you take 1
But in the real world as is stated above, let’s keep the receipts
Calling my shot in the first 4 rounds:
first 2 picks defense, round 3 or 4 may have a guard or TE with the other pick being defense
Here's an exercise for you
Get learnt, people!
as much as I appreciate your view that the NFL is wrong about everything I will have pass on learning the JC way…
You might have learned something. I did a draft in hindsight, with no trades. If I did trades there would be a trade up for Urlacher.
#13- DE John Abraham
#27- LB Keith Bullock
#57- C Brad Meester
#90- P Shane Lechler
#120- QB Marc Bulger
#157- QB Tom Brady
#193- OLB Adalius Thomas
#234- DE Adewale Ogunleye
If, after the 1999 season, the Bucs drafted two defensive players in the 1st round (or a trade up for Urlacher) and a punter in the 3rd round, there would have been a riot and the draft grades would have been an F.
Point of the exercise was to expand the thinking of the iT hAs tO Be DeFeNsE crowd.
Well it will be defense
we had a top 5 offense and got bounced in first round. Where can we get better on offense? OG? TE? I can see guard in the first 4 rounds or maybe tight end but my guess is 3 of the 4 picks go defense.
You're looking at the draft through a 2025 lense. There are players in this draft that will be quality starters in 2033+. Using the 1999 Bucs and 2000 draft was a perfect example of not drafting on current need. The difference in talent between the 1999 offense and 1999 defense is definately the widest margin in Bucs history and has to be up there in league history and still the first round picks should have been defense.
But in the real world as is stated above
FWIW, these “make belief” scenarios happen nearly every draft.
Meaning, you see teams absolutely reach on need versus taking the best player/prospect.
And, as pointed out earlier, that’s why you get the Devin White’s instead of the Josh Allen’s.
that’s why you get the Devin White’s instead of the Josh Allen’s.
Bruce Arians describes that pick as the BPA pick and Josh Allen as a the need pick
POINT: all picks are sort of balancing the two and people often use the descriptors "BPA" and "need" as a way to promote or deride the pick depending on the outcome. Tristan Wirfs was a NEED pick but he would be described as a need who was also BPA
Bruce Arians describes that pick as the BPA pick and Josh Allen as a the need pick
“The tape speaks for itself,” Arians said of White. “People say we need a pass rusher? He’s pretty good at that. And we do like to blitz up the middle, and quarterbacks don’t like pressure up the middle. He fits everything we want as a human being and a football player. I couldn’t be more excited. I probably said six weeks ago, ‘This is our guy.’”
LATER ON you can findArians addressing the "need" pick head on so he knows lol
Good GMs help get the players their coach wants. Coaches fall in love with players . . . or maybe its something about pick #5
"Gruden walked up to Williams right before he was about to run the 40-yard dash and said, `Hey Cadillac, come here. I don't really care what you run in this 40. If you're there at the fifth pick, I'm taking you.'