Draft picks overvalued? or still important as ever

[usmccharles]

Heard this on mike and mike awhile back, forgot to post, so while im here at work i figured i will.

 

The seahawks traded their first round pick (31) for TE Jimmy Graham, the second best TE in the league.  Instead of hoping they hit on a player that they would have drafted at that spot, they took a known dominant player at his position.  Now the drawback is obviously the amount of money it takes to do trades like this, but is it worth it? 

 

Now obviously you cant do this with your entire roster because of the salary cap, this isnt Madden, but at certain positions it seems worth it to me assuming your under the cap and can afford it.  Clearly hitting on players in the draft is preferred since you would have that player on their rookie deal for 5 years. 

 

I was trying to think of an example for our team and was having issues, so just for example: instead of drafting BP in the first round with all the unknowns, trading a first rounder for say...Emanuel Sanders, keena Allen, etc...doesnt seem all that bad, like i said, i just used them as examples.  I know everything comes down to the caproom, but if your telling me could a Fitgerald for 3-4 years, it doesnt sound too bad.  (bad examples)

 

Since we are extremely lucky to have Ozzie, we have always drafted in better grades, but im bored so give me some slack...

 

 

[hawkprey]

All the most underpaid players are on their rookie salaries. The only other way to acquire that kind of value is to pay a proven vet a disproportionate amount of money from year to year, but you'll still have to pay more later. Unless you think you have a 1-year window, I would take the draft pick. Just make sure it's someone good.

[JoeyFlex5]

drafting as many stud players as possible to form your core, finding bargains on the FA market to fill holes, and the (rare)occasional blockbuster signing to bolster your team with a pro bowl level veteran presence, but never going too gung-ho in free agnecy and trades, i think thats the way to build a long term contender, and that just so happens to be what we do. 

 

seattle doesnt quite operate in the same realm as many teams lol

[Clmraven]

Drafting and developing your own talent will always be the most effective way to win, just look at the perennially good teams, the packer and the Ravens Rarely make big FA acquisitions, Ozzie only gives up draft picks for a solid player usually only when it's a serious need and I don't think he'd ever give up a first rounder. You also have to remember these blockbuster trades can most times be as risky as drafting a player, sometimes even worse, look at the Percy harvin trade.

[Ravenseconbeast]

drafting as many stud players as possible to form your core, finding bargains on the FA market to fill holes, and the (rare)occasional blockbuster signing to bolster your team with a pro bowl level veteran presence, but never going too gung-ho in free agnecy and trades, i think thats the way to build a long term contender, and that just so happens to be what we do.

seattle doesnt quite operate in the same realm as many teams lol

They are now dealing with salary cap issues. Half of their roster have to leave Seattle pretty soon.

They had their SB though.

[1/28/01]

You choose one of two ways and the subsequent results:

1. Buy your players and get a shot or two to grab a SB (Seattle way and they almost went 2 for 2 if not for the worst offensive play call in the history of the SB).

2. Consistently draft well and have a shot at the SB just about every year.

I prefer method #2.

[Purple_City39]

It's cheaper to draft and develop players.  Trading for known players also equals trading for older players or higher contracts.  The Seattle trade seems good on paper but you never know how things good turn out.  Lee Evans looked like a good trade for us, for example

[Clmraven]

You choose one of two ways and the subsequent results:

1. Buy your players and get a shot or two to grab a SB (Seattle way and they almost went 2 for 2 if not for the worst offensive play call in the history of the SB).

2. Consistently draft well and have a shot at the SB just about every year.

I prefer method #2.

I don't think Seattle bought their SBs they traded for Harvin and Lynch and had a few FA like Avril but other than that they had a ton of home grown talent, they had arguably one of the best 3-4 year runs in the last 2 decades where they found talent in every round of the draft, it's no easy task finding a franchise QB in the third round or one of the games top corners in the fifth.

[usmccharles]

Just to clarify, I prefer the way we do it as well. But it as an interesting topic that Greenberg brought up, sadly I can't find the brocast

[rmw10]

Draft picks are still the way to build a team, but I absolutely don't see any harm in making a big trade for a proven player once in awhile.  If you have the cap space now and for the foreseeable future, then it makes sense to get a player where you know what you're getting rather than the risk of a draft pick.  It's heavily dependent on the team, what the team looks like, and many other factors.  It's not too farfetched, but the best teams still draft well.  Supplementing quality drafting with a proven talent can help as well.

[Gordo52]

Look at all the recent champs & runner ups

Patriots, Seahawks, Ravens, Giants, Packers, Steelers, 49ers, Broncos.

It's really a combination of both, but the foundations of these great franchises undoubtably starts and continues with drafting & developing.

Keeping continuity in place as well as team chemistry is something I think is severely overlooked. Stars can leave but as long as the system stays in place, teams like us, GB, NE, always compete... Drafting great players is the common theme among winners. Finding value in free agency is of course instrumental as well, but no where near drafting where the majority of your players on the roster come from.

[1/28/01]

I don't think Seattle bought their SBs they traded for Harvin and Lynch and had a few FA like Avril but other than that they had a ton of home grown talent, they had arguably one of the best 3-4 year runs in the last 2 decades where they found talent in every round of the draft, it's no easy task finding a franchise QB in the third round or one of the games top corners in the fifth.

Yeah, wrong choice of words I guess. More trying to compare consistently drafting well to where you can allow a few to walk and just simply replace as we seem to do often, to drafting well for a stretch and then when they leave, you're sorta stuck.

[izvoodoo]

They also traded Max Unger to be fair.  

[RaineV1]

When you look at the worst teams in the league they usually have an awful draft record, like the Browns. Meanwhile the best teams have been pretty good at drafting starters. I don't think this is a coincidence.

[JoeyFlex5]

They are now dealing with salary cap issues. Half of their roster have to leave Seattle pretty soon.

They had their SB though.

and im sure they would consider it worth it, but they also didnt buy their way to the SB. they had marshawn lynch for years, and they stacked some really good draft classes, with a few key singings. seattle did a very good job at managing the team for a while, it culminated in a super bowl and nearly a repeat, as of now it looks like they may be headed downhill, with wilsons fat contract, trading their top G, trading a first for a nearly-over-the-hill TE.. but it could very well work out well for them, we'll have to wait and see if their FO is as good as they appear or if they just got lucky with a few homerun draft picks

[redlobster]

The thing that I don't understand for seattle is trading for Graham, who can't block to save his life, yet Seattle's offense thrives (and survives) on the ability to run the ball and losing a quality center in Unger.

Edited September 9, 2015 by redlobster

[Purple_City39]

The thing that I don't understand for seattle is trading for Graham, who can't block to save his life, yet Seattle's offense thrives (and survives) on the ability to run the ball and losing a quality center in Unger.

It was more important, to them, to get weapons for the QB they just gave a guaranteed $60M.  Can't say I blame them

[sflegend89]

Late round picks are getting overvalued imo. I would be very open to trading more late round picks either for players or to move up in early rounds and get the players you really want (Like we did to move up and get Maxx). Anything after the 3rd round becomes a bit of a dice roll. For instance Myers was a total waste of a pick, we could've traded that 5th for a guy who makes our roster and contributes. 

[JoeyFlex5]

The thing that I don't understand for seattle is trading for Graham, who can't block to save his life, yet Seattle's offense thrives (and survives) on the ability to run the ball and losing a quality center in Unger.

a run first offense needs a vertical threat and a stud TE to make the play action as effective as possible, but getting both of those in one player makes the play action very feared. when facing run formations, they will always know the play action is a threat, and they will always be on their toes about jimmy grahams. 

 

i think they definitely gave up WAY too much for graham, but i do like his potential in an extremely effective run game with a play action based passing game.

[JoeyFlex5]

When you look at the worst teams in the league they usually have an awful draft record, like the Browns. Meanwhile the best teams have been pretty good at drafting starters. I don't think this is a coincidence.

man... the browns... i just dont understand how one team can draft so badly...

[Tru11]

53% of the hawks roster consist of 7th round picks and UFA.

 

let that sink in lol.

 

i dont think they are in trouble at all.

 

its pretty admiring on how they do things.

[GrimCoconut]

53% of the hawks roster consist of 7th round picks and UFA.

 

let that sink in lol.

 

i dont think they are in trouble at all.

 

its pretty admiring on how they do things.

Graham is a trade acquisition & so is Lynch. Jackson came from Buffalo as well. Williams, their starting CB across from Sherman, came from here & before that Tennessee & Philly after. Wagner was a high 2nd round pick. They only have 4 first round picks still on the team, 4 second round picks still on the team, & 6 3rd round picks still on the team. You can say they have a good team with 25-24 players being UDFA they acquired themselves or got from other teams, but the reality is that they may not be great at drafting & just cut bait quicker than other teams. 

[usmccharles]

It was more important, to them, to get weapons for the QB they just gave a guaranteed $60M.  Can't say I blame them

Meanwhile, after we give Joe his massive contract we trade away is go to guy in Boldin....

[Ravenseconbeast]

The thing that I don't understand for seattle is trading for Graham, who can't block to save his life, yet Seattle's offense thrives (and survives) on the ability to run the ball and losing a quality center in Unger.

 

and graham's contract might have made a small bit of sense when he was with Brees.   

 

It will not make any sense with Wilson.   

[RaineV1]

man... the browns... i just dont understand how one team can draft so badly...

Even when they're given extra picks in the top half of the draft, like with that trade with the Falcons, they still manage to miss on almost every one of them. The average fan could have done a better job than the last few Browns' GMs.

[JoeyFlex5]

Even when they're given extra picks in the top half of the draft, like with that trade with the Falcons, they still manage to miss on almost every one of them. The average fan could have done a better job than the last few Browns' GMs.

justin gilbert over odell beckham and aaron donald, then they passed on carr twice and bridgewater once for manziel and bitonio(bitonio is alright, but still) i have never seen a team squander such a crazy amount of first round picks so badly, its laughable.

[ravensdan]

justin gilbert over odell beckham and aaron donald, then they passed on carr twice and bridgewater once for manziel and bitonio(bitonio is alright, but still) i have never seen a team squander such a crazy amount of first round picks so badly, its laughable.

Bitonio is one of their few very good picks. But your right they are probably the absolute worst drafting team pretty much since their resurrection. Let's see how they can foul up one overall next year because they've somehow managed to get worse.

[JoeyFlex5]

Bitonio is one of their few very good picks. But your right they are probably the absolute worst drafting team pretty much since their resurrection. Let's see how they can foul up one overall next year because they've somehow managed to get worse.

bitonio is definitely a good player, and a good pick given the current circumstances(that they had picked a qb like 10 picks prior) but the fact that they took manziel there just ruined their shot at redemption, they coulda took teddy over manziel and still got bitonio, they couldve taken a few decent players over manziel and still gotten carr in the 2nd. i laughed so hard when they announced those first 2 picks, and giggled again when i saw that carr was still available for them in the 2nd lol

[ravensdan]

bitonio is definitely a good player, and a good pick given the current circumstances(that they had picked a qb like 10 picks prior) but the fact that they took manziel there just ruined their shot at redemption, they coulda took teddy over manziel and still got bitonio, they couldve taken a few decent players over manziel and still gotten carr in the 2nd. i laughed so hard when they announced those first 2 picks, and giggled again when i saw that carr was still available for them in the 2nd lol

The vikings most definitely got the steal if the draft. Maybe all time. I can't believe some still think Johnny could ever be a starter. Lol

[Guest]

Meanwhile, after we give Joe his massive contract we trade away is go to guy in Boldin....

 

Don't get me started on that.

 

We've got the right receivers to develop. Lets hope that development begins Sunday.