Oh i agree - i dont think they said lets grab humphrey now bc theres going to be a run and we can profit from that.
But Decosta did say on the Lounge podcast last week -- which proved to be telling -- that if one of their top CBs was on the board, that they felt could become a lockdown player, they were going to have a very hard time passing him up... bc they felt this draft was very good at the top at CB, and while deep after the 1st tier there were very good players, but not lock down type players.
If they feel they got a lock down player, then im all for it. This secondary is now scary and deep. 3 Top 15 safeties, a Top 3-5 CB (when healthy), the top young slot CB in the league, a solid veteran #2 who functioned as a league average #1 last year, and now a rookie with HUGE upside. We've got 7 DBs that can really play now. Good luck throwing on us.... and that helps the pass rush immensely.
And if we now can leverage a run on CBs, think about it. The difference between Humphrey and say Kazee, Howard Wilson, or Shaq Griffin - who might be the tier of CBs that are available come the 3rd round -- is imo much greater than the difference between Harris, Takk, TJ Watt and Tim Williams, Carl Lawson, Willis and Bowser who at least one of should be available at 47.
And then add the fact that a Dion Dawkins, Feeney, or Elflein could be available then in the 3rd round who arent far at all behind the 1st round guys -- we could end up filling our 3 biggest needs with two 1st round talents, and a 2nd round talent.
TE too... super deep group. Howard is obviously the class of the group, but Gerald Everett, Adam Shaheen, Bucky Hodges, George Kittle, Jake Butt -- theres some serious athletes and dynamic playmakers there if we want one. Not the polish or complete package as Howard, but definitely the athleticism to be match up nightmares.
So, even if you think we didnt get the greatest prospect available at 16.... i think hes among the cleanest and safest, with maybe not quite as high upside but still serious potential; and by going that direction it puts us in position to make the draft as a whole have a much bigger impact on improving this team.