The case against picking an offensive tackle

[cmichd]

1 hour ago, MHS831 said:

You are absolutely right on all major points, in my opinion.  When you say "I think we should go for a G...."

Here is why I would take Thomas if he is on the board.  While there are no guarantees, he would be an upgrade over Little.  Little has the concussion issues, but he was never put into a position to succeed.  He showed flashes and flash floods.  He was picked on, and without a strong G or C, it simply was not fair.  He showed little growth in his mechanics, but he was out for a bunch of the preseason and season.  Give him a chance?  Yes you do.  But there are other options to utilize his talents.

1. Little vs Thomas:  Who wins the LT job if they were competing?  Thomas is the more polished player with the most upside. His college career was solid, where Little had inconsistencies.   So if you could upgrade LT, move Little to G (where he may get fewer concussions), is that the same as drafting a G?  I think Little would make a great G.  Suddenly, the left side of the line has a first rounder and early second rounder--developing, yes, but they have the coaches now to make them better.  Should you have an injury at LT, Little has the skill set to move out---so you have depth.  If you just draft a G and Little has another concussion or can't play LT---you have a bunch of Guards and no tackle.  Just my 2 cents--your thinking is right on the money, however.  We have nothing at DT--a developmental LT--why go LT and neglect DT?   I have read that Little might be a better G than T, but you can say that for a lot of players.

My sentiments also.  With Turner and Morton on the right side and Thomas (Georgia) or Jackson (USC) and Little inside at guard you have both sides fix for years to come and only need a center which you can get in the 2nd or 3rd round.  Paradis is not the long term answer at center and allowed too many speed rush sacks up the middle last year.  Maybe he will recover and be the center everyone thought he would be last year if not getting an young center will allow you to get rid of him after his contract is done.  If Roten stays we have depth at guard if an injury happens and along with Daley you can develop him slowly and have a right guard or tackle in the wings. 

[MHS831]

3 hours ago, stirs said:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001098476/article/daniel-jeremiahs-top-50-prospect-rankings-for-2020-nfl-draft-10?campaign=tw-cf-sf228701221-sf228701221&sf228701221=1

 

If this indeed was the Panther board, we'd almost have to take a DT like Brown, but the value on our board with be all defense as we know the QB's will be gone

Wow.  He has LOT Thomas as the 25th player.  Sure makes Brown look good. 9 WRs in top 50.

[MHS831]

2 hours ago, cmichd said:

My sentiments also.  With Turner and Morton on the right side and Thomas (Georgia) or Jackson (USC) and Little inside at guard you have both sides fix for years to come and only need a center which you can get in the 2nd or 3rd round.  Paradis is not the long term answer at center and allowed too many speed rush sacks up the middle last year.  Maybe he will recover and be the center everyone thought he would be last year if not getting an young center will allow you to get rid of him after his contract is done.  If Roten stays we have depth at guard if an injury happens and along with Daley you can develop him slowly and have a right guard or tackle in the wings. 

Yes--so if you add a C later in the draft (it is a good draft for C as well) later (say, 4th round or so), you have the core in place--and you describe the depth well.  These days, you can't have much dropoff if a player goes down.  Daley, VR, and a rookie C could hold it down---at T, you would have Moton and Thomas, backed by Little (shift from G) and Daley.  At G, you would have Daley and VR--but I think they will move on from GVR---loved the motor, however.  and a C behind Paradis to compete ASAP.   (I read something that said Paradis was victimized by bad scheming and he improved later in the season.  It is one thing to heal from surgery, it is another to get that strength you need.  It is like not working out when everyone else does for a year.  So maybe he has a good 2020--we will see.