Chances need to be taken...hopefully Hickey has the presence do pull the trigger on someone who could be special even if he has a somewhat checkered past (obviously within reason)
I'm all for best talent available. We would have Patrick Willis right now, Nicks, Gronkowski, etc. All of which were probably BPA when we picked and were probably on top of the board but we went for need.
I don't necessarily agree with drafting the best player available, regardless of position, which is what I'm assuming is Hickey's viewpoint. If we NEED an OL and the "best" player available is a position we are strong in, why would you draft that best player and not for the position you need? That would be like going grocery shopping, needing eggs and buying a carton of milk instead, because it was the best deal. You STILL need eggs! I would say that in drafting, you draft for your needs. It's not building a team from scratch and you don't already have a team. You have a team and the team may be weak in certain areas that need to be filled or upgraded. When we're up, take a look at the position that we need and what players at that position are available. Now I also agree in not "reaching" for a player either. If the best position player "available" is mediocre at best, then you certainly wouldn't want to waste a draft pick on a mediocre player just because you need that position filled. Fill that position in free agency or trade, either player for player or draft position for player. For years Detroit drafted "world class" receivers (three years in a row I believe) and that formula of drafting the best player available didn't work. If you need eggs, shop for eggs. Don't buy that carton of milk just because it's the best milk on the market. Just my opinion
I guess it's a matter of degree. Is the BPA just a knockout, or just the BPA at that time? I wonder what his thoughts are on trading down as well. If the draft is as much of a crap shoot as data seems to show than the more picks you have the better, right? Seems to have worked well for Belicheat.
It kind of did, because on the 4th try the really nailed it with Megatron. What would we think of Detroit now if they passed on him simply because they'd drafted Charles Rogers, Roy and Mike Williams in 3 seasons earlier with LB Ernie Sims one season in between? The Mike Williams pick, the 3rd of 4, was not taking the BPA and of all 4 of the WRs the one that really didn't make much sense as I recall.
BPA will always increase the talent of the team overall and insire the lesser players to improve or be left on the sideline, which no professional player wants.
But how many years did Detroit draft in the top 10 or even top 5 of the drafts? What, 8 out of 10 years or something along those lines? That draft strategy of theirs didn't produce a winning team, not until the drafting of Johnson did it start to come together. By then it was a number of wasted years.
Others have alluded to it, but I think it's worth noting that some of the size constraints on players will be falling by the wayside when it comes to drafting players. Shorter and lighter guys won't be taken off the draft board for that specific reason.
The problem is that you're assuming "best player" available is universal. It's not. It comes down to your scouting department classifying the players correctly. If a team picks 3 players in 3 consecutive years based on BPA and they fail....then the problem is their evaluation not with the concept of BPA.
Trade up for best 3-4 OLB pass rush prospect. Sign FA OLB groomed in 3-4. Try to find ways to get them enough playing time somewhere slightly out of position in a 4-3 at DE/OLB behind Vernon, Wake, Misi, Jordan, Wheeler, Ellerbe, etc. Count your profits.
What if the BPA is a punter when our pick comes around…. Hey, it's not impossible. See Todd Sauerbrun, P, 56th overall - Chicago Bears.
First opportunity for Hickey to leave an indelible mark on this franchise. First impression to this fanbase. A roster with plenty of blemishes, it's time to start over.
I assume he means best player available according to their draft board which would most likely not have a QB on it.
