I think that with our emphasis on adding play makers and the talent at WR in the first three rounds, it is almost a given that we'd add a WR form that group. It would also track with the double up strategy that this team has used in the past and provides flexibility if we decide to let Bess go after next season.
IMO it is a wiser move to go after a mid-level CB in FA than using your first round pick on a CB in this draft. I haven't scouted them myself, but the general consensus is that the top CBs in this draft will develop into good #2s at the next level. I don't see that as a smart use of your top pick. I also wouldn't go after Grimes as I expect he'll be looking for a huge contract. I would advocate resigning Smith, keeping Patterson and the other CBs we had like McCann and Sanford. I would look to add a mid-level guy at the position. If a S like Moore or Goldson became available, I would be tempted, but I also really like Elam in this draft. I also would be fine with drafting Thomas, but less than with Elam (and later in the draft).
Agree with everything here (though I still am not as high on Elam as anyone else I know). Keep our corners, sign a mid level to mid high CB... Sheldon Brown... Chris Carr if you are feeling cheap (Ireland, that was directed at YOU... and you get what you pay for). Milliner looks to be worthy of a pick at 12, but Banks has fallen in evals. Milliner won't be there at 12 anyways. Plus I think you once posted about how CB is not the impact position people think, and thus not worth high resources.
I did post that and that's certainly my belief. But I have no illusions that all NFL GMs would agree with me (some would). I just think they're stuck in traditional, no longer applicable thinking. I think the safety position has replaced the CB position as the impact secondary position. Most GMs still undervalue (under draft) the safety position. Years ago everybody except Bill Walsh would have left the safety position off of a list of core positions. Now I would guess it's 50/50. But I'm guessing most would still list CB as a core position. I think they get seduced by the impact a guy like Revis has. But Revis is a HOF level talent. HOF level talent at almost any position has a big impact. If you want to see how much impact a position has, you have to look at the impact a good or even very good player has on the whole D or O. Usually teams bring in good CBs as FAs and even if they have great years individually the D's overall production stays the same. But when you get a great year out of a safety (after a previously poor safety year) the D will become one of the best in the league. (I'm thinking of examples like when NO went from a crap D to a SB winner in the year that they got great safety play or Indy would go from good to bad depending on whether or not Sanders was healthy).
I happen to totally agree with you. I do not believe Jeff Ireland does though. Passing on Earl Thomas, inviesting low in Clemons and Jones (we are luck he is panning out, I think) while investing high in Sean Smith and Vontae Davis tells you a lot. So, be ready for Jonthan Banks at 12? lol.
My guess is that Ireland is one of those GMs who still over values CBs, but I'm not sure whether the drop down is all on him. My understanding was that Parcells was pushing for it (demanding/requiring?) big time due to the Marshall trade. So I don't know how much of that to put on Ireland.
I suppose we will see. The argument that could be made by GMs is that you always need more bodies at CB than at Safety, so you can always justify taking one and he'll still play... even if it's nickel or dime.
