How Good is TT at Draft Decisions?

[HarveyWallbangers]

Having now given this some thought, I'm not sure if draft picks really do see significantly more playing time in GB because of the perceived free agency thing or not. A lot of lower level FAs, street FAs and URFA's compete with the draftees for playing time. Guys like Tramon Williams, Shields, Walden, Kuhn, Crabtree, Zombo, EDS, Howard Green (for half a year), Peprah, Bigby, Chiller, Crabtree, all come to mind as free agents of one sort or another who played a lot, took time away from draftees, etc. It's not just the big name guys like Pickett and Woodson who compete with the draft picks for playing time. After all, if not for FAs like Williams and Shields, the likes of Lee and Underwood might have played more, or still been around. Would it have been any different if the Packers signed a couple big name corners instead of Williams and Shields?

I expect there is some impact from it, but perhaps not as much as first appears.

This is a good point. The article analyzed the Packers draft picks, but did it take into account guys like Williams, Shields, etc.? If not, you can say that the Packers draft picks have a better opportunity for PT, but you also have to admit they have to uncommonly compete against good street FAs for that playing time. For example, Davon House may not have to compete against an Asomugha for PT but he does have to compete against Williams and Shields. Those are the guys that have offered much more value than most teams. Let's hope TT can keep it up with a revamped scouting department.

[wist43]

time to stir some shit

some of those draft picks have gained playing time when maybe they wouldn't have on other teams because of the lack of options TT leaves us by not using free agency

some of those late rounders HAVE TO play, just because there is no other option on the team

guys like will whitiker not only play, but get thrust into starting roles

add to that the fact that we draft special teamers, guys that have no business being on the field for the offense or defense but gets drafted and makes the team because they're a good gunner.........

jarrett bush

and like what was already said. how good will TT and M3 be with all the grunt work guys moved on to other teams?

I agree... our young draft picks have to play.

Beyond that, you have to consider players on other teams acquired thru FA. If TT's only avenue of player procurement is the draft, then yes, just about every starting position is going to be filled by a draft pick.

On the other hand, last time I checked, Jared Allen is one hell of a player, and Julius Peppers is a future Hall of Famer. The Bears just signed Jermon Bushrod... problem at LT?? solved. TT will likely be taking swings at our LT spot every draft for the forseeable future, and Rodgers will continue to run and duck for his life.

Those things said, we're kind of stuck with draft only. Rodgers is going to chew up a huge amount of the cap; Matthews just signed an extension... we don't have the money to throw around.

[Patler]

I agree... our young draft picks have to play.

Beyond that, you have to consider players on other teams acquired thru FA. If TT's only avenue of player procurement is the draft, then yes, just about every starting position is going to be filled by a draft pick.

On the other hand, last time I checked, Jared Allen is one hell of a player, and Julius Peppers is a future Hall of Famer. The Bears just signed Jermon Bushrod... problem at LT?? solved. TT will likely be taking swings at our LT spot every draft for the forseeable future, and Rodgers will continue to run and duck for his life.

Those things said, we're kind of stuck with draft only. Rodgers is going to chew up a huge amount of the cap; Matthews just signed an extension... we don't have the money to throw around.

..Yet, for all those FA signings, the Vikings and Bears seem to be left on the outside looking in when all is said and done. It's the same old story year after year with the Bears. Cutler will make the difference. Peppers will make the difference. Marshall will make the difference. Now Bushrod will make the difference. For every hole they patch, another seems to open, probably due to this from the article:

...nearly a quarter of Chicago’s picks since 2005 haven’t played a down in the NFL.

[wist43]

The teams are built differently... in the end, the only thing that matters is Chamionships. We snuck in and stole one - yay for us

More than one way to skin a cat... think back to our SB win in '97 - our entire starting DL were signed as FA's. Sean Jones, Gilbert Brown, Santana Dotson, Reggie White.

[rbaloha1]

The teams are built differently... in the end, the only thing that matters is Chamionships. We snuck in and stole one - yay for us

More than one way to skin a cat... think back to our SB win in '97 - our entire starting DL were signed as FA's. Sean Jones, Gilbert Brown, Santana Dotson, Reggie White.

You need both since no organization is perfect selecting draft picks. FA can sometimes quickly fix draft screwups.

[smuggler]

The game has changed slightly in FA, as players are consuming larger and larger percentages of the cap when exposed to a full free market.

[red]

The game has changed slightly in FA, as players are consuming larger and larger percentages of the cap when exposed to a full free market.

as opposed to our own resignings that don't hit the market

clay just became the highest paid 3-4 OLB in history, a-rod is about to become the highest paid player ever in the NFL

good players cost money, the key is, not paying the mediocre free agents like elite players

[Bretsky]

To answer the thread question, TT is elite at draft day decsisions. To me, elite is top 5 in the game. There may be a couple GM's I'd rather have....one could argue either way with a few. But IMO TT is elite. Doesn't mean I won't call things into debate, but he's hands down in the upper tier of GM's in the NFL.

[rbaloha1]

To answer the thread question, TT is elite at draft day decsisions. To me, elite is top 5 in the game. There may be a couple GM's I'd rather have....one could argue either way with a few. But IMO TT is elite. Doesn't mean I won't call things into debate, but he's hands down in the upper tier of GM's in the NFL.

Bow wow!

[smuggler]

Bow wow!

Bloo bloo!

[Pugger]

I agree... our young draft picks have to play.

Beyond that, you have to consider players on other teams acquired thru FA. If TT's only avenue of player procurement is the draft, then yes, just about every starting position is going to be filled by a draft pick.

On the other hand, last time I checked, Jared Allen is one hell of a player, and Julius Peppers is a future Hall of Famer. The Bears just signed Jermon Bushrod... problem at LT?? solved. TT will likely be taking swings at our LT spot every draft for the forseeable future, and Rodgers will continue to run and duck for his life.

Those things said, we're kind of stuck with draft only. Rodgers is going to chew up a huge amount of the cap; Matthews just signed an extension... we don't have the money to throw around.

I don't think Allen was a FA. Didn't MN have to make a trade to get him?

[HarveyWallbangers]

I don't think Allen was a FA. Didn't MN have to make a trade to get him?

Yes, they traded a 1st round and two 3rd round picks for him. Two of those picks turned into OG Branden Albert and RB Jamaal Charles. The Chiefs got two really good players for cheap (for 4 years anyways). Allen has been a good pickup for the Vikings. Additional risk was taken on by the Vikings because of Allen's alcohol problems, but Allen has stayed out of trouble and is a good locker room guy (kudos to him). Good trade for both teams.

[woodbuck27]

Ya, I don't worry too much about teams that are "thumping the crap out of us in this off season." The off season isn't done, no one has won a game yet in 2013. Every year it seems a different team or two wins the off season hype, and more often than not they fail miserably the next season. That said, I expect the 49ers to be tough, I'm not yet convinced about what is going on in Seattle for the long haul.

Which rounds do you consider to be the later rounds? 6th & 7th? 5th too? What do you expect from the later rounds? I have some theories about TT's approach in the 6th & 7th rounds in view of what he does with URFA signings, but I haven't thought it through completely.

Good Day Patler.

Later rounds this year are the 5th Picks #159 and Compensatory #167; 6th Rd. #193 and 7th Rd. #232.

Early picks this year are Rd.1 #26; Rd. 2 #55; Rd. 3 #88 and in Rd. 4 #122.

In other years I might have deemed the Pick in Rd. 4 as a later round pick.

PACKERS !