Speaking strictly draft, trust me that's a bit off a myth. The 2006(and now 2013) drafts help propel it.

LINK

Guys that have played significant roles for at least 2 years with us with 2013 added in anyway(quality can be questioned):

1-3
Bush(1st)
Harper(2nd)
Meachem(1st)
Ellis(1st)
Porter(2nd)
Jenkins(1st)
Robinson(1st)
Graham(3rd)
Jordan(1st)
Ingram(1st)
Hicks(3rd)
Vaccaro(1st)
Armstead(3rd)
Jenkins(3rd)

4-7
Evans(4th)
Strief(7th)
Colston(7th)
Bushrod(4th)
Nicks(5th w/1st round talent)
Morstead(5th and punters always go late)
White(5th)
Stills(5th)

That's 14-8. Adding the 3rd rounders to the later rounds makes it 10-12. Keeping in mind that Morstead is a punter and Nicks was a 1st round talent, that's basically a wash if you split 1-2 and 3-7. If you keep it 1-3 and 4-7 it's a clear advantage for the top half.

Now add in the fact that we only used 3 out of 8 2nd rounders(down 5 2nd rounders) to actually pick someone at that spot and that's pretty good for the top 3 rounds considering.

So yes we do hit later, but not as much as earlier especially given the number of picks in 1-3 vs. 4-7, and damn sure not as much as people think we do.

Now if you want to talk UDFAs, hell yeah we do great with those.

This post was edited on 4/13/14 at 12:11 am

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Posted by bonethug0108

Avondale

Member since Mar 2013

12690 posts

Posted on 4/13/14 at 12:28 am to bonethug0108

I also want to dispel the myth we always hit on late round Olinemen.

2+ year starters
Evans(4th)
Strief(7th)
Bushrod(4th)
Nicks(5th)

Busts or have yet to see (meaningful)playing time
Alleman(3rd)
Brown(2nd)
Tennant(5th)
Tiller(6th)
Jones(7th)

I'm inclined to put Armstead(3rd) in the 2+ year starter category.

But realistically when you look at this, we had a good run between 06-08 with linemen. Evans and Strief are legit gems. Bushrod was serviceable. Nicks was a 1st round talent steal because of character issues.

Then we had a terrible run between 09-12 until Armstead in 13. Alleman, Brown, Tennant, and Tiller were all busts. Jones may be headed to that list if he doesn't show something this year(but I'm pulling for him).

So you have 2 legit late round gems, 1 potential early round good starter, 1 serviceable late round player, 1 late round steal, 2 early round busts, and 2(maybe 3) late round busts.

This was my main issue with everyone blowing off taking a tackle early last year(though the Saints hit on Armstead). It's a 50/50 proposition. And I feel people are doing that again with center this year. The one center we drafted was a bust. Maybe this one works, maybe he doesn't. 50/50.

This post was edited on 4/13/14 at 12:30 am

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Posted by adono

River Ridge

Member since Sep 2003

7307 posts

Posted on 4/13/14 at 1:03 am to bonethug0108

Bush(1st) Underperformed for 2nd pick in draft
Harper(2nd) Average player
Meachem(1st) Underperformed for 1st round pick
Ellis(1st) A disaster.
Porter(2nd) Worth the pick.
Jenkins(1st) Average at best and not worth a 1st
Robinson(1st) Average at best and not worth a 1st
Graham(3rd) A gamble that paid off big
Jordan(1st) Solid pick
Ingram(1st) Average player at best; not worth a 1st and 2nd
Hicks(3rd) Nice player
Vaccaro(1st) Looks like a solid pick
Armstead(3rd) Looks like a solid pick
Jenkins(3rd) Looks solid

It's not a "myth". Your list proves the point. There are more solid players picked in the 3rd than 1st and 2nd. If you go further down the food chain, you'll see that the team under Payton has as many contributors from the 5-7th (and UFAs) as 1 & 2.

2006 7th Zach Strief
2006 7th Marques Colston

2008 5th Carl Nicks

2009 5th Thomas Morsted

2012 5th Corey White

2013 5th Kenny Stills
2013 6th Rufus Johnson