Who Should Gutey Draft At #29?

[wist43]

You mean having a team talented enough to win the Super Bowl, but whose best players let them down? Except Jaire and Bakh (who was injured).

Personally, I'll take that every year. Maybe Rodgers can finally have another playoff game like in 2010.

Even with our deficiencies I think we should have won it last year... so I agree.

Also, with our deficiencies... we should win it this year!!!

That said, Berry is a huge gamble with all kinds of red flags; and, Rodgers is prone to choking. That is, we need to drive the ball down the field making efficient, smart football plays - and Rodgers goes into full panic mode and starts heaving the ball downfield with a very low percentage chance of success. He isn't cool under pressure.

Will Lefluer learn from what he's seen these first 2 years, and truly get Rodgers under control?? If he doesn't we won't win another championship with Rodgers under center.

As for the draft, Gute won't do anything out of necessity... so we're pretty much assured of not getting any on-field help this year from the draft.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I still think my guy could be the surprise pick. He's tailor made for the MLF offense.

https://primetimesportstalk.com/2021/03/07/2021-nfl-draft-scouting-report-dillon-radunz/

Don’t be surprised when there are two names from North Dakota State called on Thursday, April 29. Radunz is in the conversation as a top-five tackle in the class, along with Jalen Mayfield, Samuel Cosmi, Alex Leatherwood, and many others. He can play in any scheme, but if he gets in a power or zone-run scheme, watch out. Radunz will plow through defenders and run them into the ground. Whoever gets him in the back-end of the first round or early second round will have a tackle they can rely on for years to come.

https://steelersdepot.com/2021/03/2021-nfl-draft-player-profiles-north-dakota-state-ot-dillon-radunz/

He looks like Bakh on Aaron Jones TD run on the video from the Senior Bowl from that page.

[RashanGary]

I still think my guy could be the surprise pick. He's tailor made for the MLF offense.

https://primetimesportstalk.com/2021/03/07/2021-nfl-draft-scouting-report-dillon-radunz/

https://steelersdepot.com/2021/03/2021-nfl-draft-player-profiles-north-dakota-state-ot-dillon-radunz/

He looks like Bakh on Aaron Jones TD run on the video from the Senior Bowl from that page.

OL tend to come from OL factories in the early rounds. There is always big risk in taking a smaller school guy. Plenty of them pan out, but usually in rounds 2-4. Bakh should have been a first round pick in 2014 but there are reasons the small school guys slip.

He's definitely and obviously a high upside small school guy. He has a shot. I won't he shocked. I still like Mayfield this year, but I see the athletic testing and other points too.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Plenty of good small school OL:

Guys that have gone to the Pro Bowl in the last few years:

David Bakhtiari (Colorado)
Eric Fisher (Central Michigan)
Ali Marpet (Hobart College)
Joel Bitonio (Nevada)
Jason Kelce (Cincinnati)
Terron Armstead (Arkansas Pine-Bluff)
Brandon Brooks (Miami OH)
Alejandro Villanueva (Army)
Charles Leno (Boise State)
Kelechi Osemele (Iowa State)
Donald Penn (Utah State)
Joe Staley (Central Michigan)
Larry Warford (Kentucky)

Radunz is quite a bit better than Billy Turner coming out. More athletic, nastier, a beast in the running game. Turner had good athleticism, but he's not nasty.

[RashanGary]

Plenty of good small school OL:

Guys that have gone to the Pro Bowl in the last few years:

David Bakhtiari (Colorado)
Eric Fisher (Central Michigan)
Ali Marpet (Hobart College)
Joel Bitonio (Nevada)
Jason Kelce (Cincinnati)
Terron Armstead (Arkansas Pine-Bluff)
Brandon Brooks (Miami OH)
Alejandro Villanueva (Army)
Charles Leno (Boise State)
Kelechi Osemele (Iowa State)
Donald Penn (Utah State)
Joe Staley (Central Michigan)
Larry Warford (Kentucky)

Radunz is quite a bit better than Billy Turner coming out. More athletic, nastier, a beast in the running game. Turner had good athleticism, but he's not nasty.

Mostly guards. A couple small school guys taken high but mostly not.

Small school OL don't usually go in round 1

[HarveyWallbangers]

Mostly guards. A couple small school guys taken high but mostly not.

Small school OL don't usually go in round 1

You can say that about every position. How do they do when they are drafted in round 1?

Same thing could be said about QBs, but the ones from FCS that have gone in round 1 have been pretty solid: Phil Simms, Steve McNair, Joe Flacco, Carson Wentz, Ken O'Brien, Doug Williams, Chad Pennington (Marshall was FCS the first two years he went there). That's actually a pretty solid list--without any real bust. Doug Williams wasn't great, but he took over an expansion team that went 2-26 and help lead them to three playoff appearances in five years. Simms and Flacco won Super Bowls, McNair was a yard short, Wentz carried the Eagles to the playoffs the year they won, Pennington was solid, and I think O'Brien went to a couple of Pro Bowls.

[RashanGary]

You can say that about every position. How do they do when they are drafted in round 1?

Same thing could be said about QBs, but the ones from FCS that have gone in round 1 have been pretty solid: Phil Simms, Steve McNair, Joe Flacco, Carson Wentz, Ken O'Brien, Doug Williams, Chad Pennington (Marshall was FCS the first two years he went there). That's actually a pretty solid list--without any real bust. Doug Williams wasn't great, but he took over an expansion team that went 2-26 and help lead them to three playoff appearances in five years. Simms and Flacco won Super Bowls, McNair was a yard short, Wentz carried the Eagles to the playoffs the year they won, Pennington was solid, and I think O'Brien went to a couple of Pro Bowls.

For sure. Small school guys do seem to do well when drafted high. The Senior Bowl helps OL see better competition and go high and often times they perform well in the league. I'm just talking about the odds a small school guy gets drafted high at offensive tackle. I don't see a lot of it, so I.thibk it's less likely to happen this time. Of course, if it does happen, he'd have a good shot to succeed.

[RashanGary]

There are a bunch of late 1 / early 2 offensive tackles this year. It's a good year to be picking late if you need OL.

[Fritz]

There are a bunch of late 1 / early 2 offensive tackles this year. It's a good year to be picking late if you need OL.

Perhaps a good year to trade back and get an extra fourth...as long as you're not passing on a star at a position of need and picking up Vince Biegel with your extra pick...

[bobblehead]

I have looked at Radunz and I think he will be an excellent guard. I just don't see a frame that can add weight and stay athletic. Elgton is already the size and movement of an elite tackle. I have no problem with Dillon in the first with Jenkiins moving to tackle. In my humble opinion we have 2 very good NFL tackles on the roster, but one has been playing guard.

We will survive on the OL even if we don't draft anyone (but that would be foolish). The real problem is that we will be without Bak for a bit and that will create some issues. But you can't draft around a 5-8 game problem. Bak is locked up for 4? years so we just have to work around it. When he is back an OL of Bak, Runyan, Patrick, Wagner, Jenkins suits me ok. But plain and simple, I would like another elite OL to lean on. Thanks to Jenkins adaptability that could come at any position other than LT.

[bobblehead]

Perhaps a good year to trade back and get an extra fourth...as long as you're not passing on a star at a position of need and picking up Vince Biegel with your extra pick...

Trade back to get a 4th, then use the 4th to move up in the 2nd. That would net us 2 better players than drafting in both current spots.

[texaspackerbacker]

I'd go along with that idea if you could get Gutekunst to do it. There still should be a suitable Corner in the early to mid second round, and an offensive tackle like so many are clamoring for should still be there with our own second round pick. I'd still prioritize an ILB or D Lineman or a second Corner over drafting an O Lineman, but whatever.

[RashanGary]

I have looked at Radunz and I think he will be an excellent guard. I just don't see a frame that can add weight and stay athletic. Elgton is already the size and movement of an elite tackle. I have no problem with Dillon in the first with Jenkiins moving to tackle. In my humble opinion we have 2 very good NFL tackles on the roster, but one has been playing guard.

We will survive on the OL even if we don't draft anyone (but that would be foolish). The real problem is that we will be without Bak for a bit and that will create some issues. But you can't draft around a 5-8 game problem. Bak is locked up for 4? years so we just have to work around it. When he is back an OL of Bak, Runyan, Patrick, Wagner, Jenkins suits me ok. But plain and simple, I would like another elite OL to lean on. Thanks to Jenkins adaptability that could come at any position other than LT.

I don't know if we've seen enough to assume Jenkins is a good tackle. He sure hasn't shown enough to disprove it either.

We also could be fine right now if runyan and one of Stepaniak/Hansen pan out. Plus Jenkins is a legit tackle

We might not be fine at all if Jenkins struggles at tackle and Stepaniak/Hansen flop



It's one big question mark that could fall incredibly in our favor even without the draft or in our favor with the draft or a total cluster fuck with or without injuries. No clue is my stance on the OL right now. I'm guessing gute wants a tackle in the draft and we're sitting right where they are supposed to fall. 3 weeks from now we’ll have a much better idea.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I have looked at Radunz and I think he will be an excellent guard. I just don't see a frame that can add weight and stay athletic.

This is where we disagree. This is what I like about Radunz over some of the other guys (some who I project to be an OG or RT). I think he can play OT and I think he can play LT. He's slightly bigger than Bakh coming out. Athletically, he's tested quite a bit better in every category--except Bakh had him slightly in the 40 and bench press. (Note: Bakh's measurements came at the combine and Radunz's came at a Pro Day.) Bakh's arm were a little longer, but Radunz exceeds the OT threshold. So, he has enough size, athletic ability, and arm length to play OT. Radunz is one of the best zone run blockers in the draft. In the run game he can move, he finds people, and he looks to finish people. The question is his ability to handle power. He's light on the top end. However, the Senior Bowl answered some questions. He showed an ability to mirror. The biggest thing he showed was that he may be able to handle power. A lot of guys tried to use power moves on him and some were able to knock him back a bit, but he stalemated them because he has a strong base.

The other OTs projected to go late 1st or 2nd round also have some question marks. Jenkins might be a better fit in a power run game, Eichenberg's arm length didn't meet the LT threshold. Mayfield may not be athletic enough for MLF's scheme. Cosmi has some really good and really bad tape. Brown is raw. One guy that I want to look at more is Alex Leatherwood. He played LT for Alabama. Some project him to be an OG in the NFL, but my initial thought was that he could play OT.

[Joemailman]

I left Caleb Farley out of the poll because I was pretty certain he would be drafted before the Packers pick. I'm starting to be less certain. We're talking about a guy who is arguably a top-10 talent, but who tore his ACL in 2017, opted out of the 2020 season, and had back surgery in March 2021. I wonder if Gute is inclined to roll the dice on a guy like this. The potential is there to have a pretty impenetrable pair of corners if you draft him.