re: Bigger need: NT or OLB?

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I do not see Galette as a OLB though, at least not to where I'd be confident with it.

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dude has developed into a very good pass rusher. the OLB's in a 3-4 are primarily pass rushers with their pass coverage assignments being more about taking away throwing lanes than man coverage. I see him thriving in this type of system, and I am confident if he's our guy. I would have no issue with drafting a guy in the first and using Juniah as speller though.

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Hawthorne and Lofton should be more than fine at ILB.

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Lofton yes. Hawthorne? I don't really know. I haven't seen anything from him to say he's worthy starting for us in either a 3-4 or 4-3. The ILB is in 3-4 is similar to a SLB in a 4-3 in that it's more about taking on and shedding blocks to manage the run game, and Hawthorne himself has said he didn't feel right in the SLB this last season. LINK

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"It's usually a certain body type, a bigger, longer taller kinda guy," the 6-foot, 246-pound Hawthorne said of the prototypical strong-side linebacker. "It's a different style of play. It's a different vantage point, you just see the game from a different angle and that takes some getting used to. You play blocks differently. You are on the line of scrimmage so everything happens a little quicker. It just takes some learning and adjusting."

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Maybe he can play the coverage/speed role in the 3-4, but I see Lofton being that guy. We need the big plugger at ILB, and I don't see him on this squad. Hawthorne's stats, in limited play, were not very impressive at the position. Also, this little nugget leads me to believe he won't even be with the team this coming year.

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the front office could decide to re-evaluate Hawthorne's contract. He is due a $3 million roster bonus this offseason and his cap number for next season is $4.7 million in 2013.

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