I was going more for overall team improvement, not bang for their buck. Otherwise, Detroit probably wouldn't have been so high.
Witherspoon then trade up for Gibbs was Plan A. Trading back and then taking Jahymer became Plan B, though they mulled over taking him with the 6th. Didn't necessarily have a higher grade on him over Bijan but they just thought Gibbs was a better fit.
The whole draft was a bit upside [down.] They came away with four guys who will contribute this year, probably 3 that will be starting by year end, + a 2-year project QB. Kind of hard to get around the fact they invested in the four least valuable positions, but they're trying to maximize the current window.
Not a huge fan. With the 4th most draft capital it would have been quite a feat to not come away with good players, but I would have preferred they converted that into rookie contracts at premium positions.
I get what you are saying about getting rookie contracts at value positions, but they didn't really have needs at those positions (could argue they didn't at RB, but I think they had already turned the page on Swift) other than maybe WR, if they were worried about Jameson Williams which this draft tells me they aren't. They have the best OL west of Philly, and a super deep EDGE group. CB maybe, but its likely either Branch or CJGJ plays slot CB. They clearly didn't want Jalen Carter, which I can respect, I think Branch and to a lesser extent Hooker are what really elevates this draft for me.
I do wonder if they would have taken Levis over LaPorta if he'd fallen 1 more pick to 34?
Its not the draft I would have done, but it didn't fall how I thought it would have. As a thought exercise, say they attack the same positions but in a more positional value-based order do you feel better about:
12-Calijah Kancey
18-Will Levis
34-Sam LaPorta
45-Drew Sanders
68-Ja'Ayir Brown
96-Roschon Johnson
They brought in some solid mercenaries but still don't have a true CB1. Sutton is the only CB signed for next year, so it's back to another hired gun or using your 1st rounder in 2024.
Howie never stops drafting DL. Jordan Davis barely saw the field last year. Hargrave leaves, they add Carter and Nolan Smith. But if you pay attention that's happening all over the roster. For them the draft if not for needs, it's for future proofing for when they don't want to resign guys. 49ers are the same way (most years, IDK wtf Lynch was doing this year, must have had some edibles.) You can never have too many Edge. My view is when you add to a strong positional group, you're just raising the floor of the room. That's a good thing.
They do have a nice laddered setup for the OL contracts; each of the five expires a different year. But they're a little thin at G and if they don't extend Jonah then they don't have a solution for next year on the roster. Would have loved to see a versatile guy like Avila taken in the early 2nd.
No issue with the four they took at 12, 18, 34 and 45, but I do question the impact of say Campbell over Simpson or Laporta over Kraft - could have found an equivalency 50 picks later IMO. But Holmes and Campbell are in lockstep that the film and talent are not the only factors. They want the right mix in the locker room, and the bare minimum is guys who eat, drink, sleep football and have a high football IQ. The guys they took all definitely fit the culture and play instinctually,
Just nitpicking really. I think Holmes is a good talent evaluator and while I don't agree with every decision, he's his own dog. He has a solid collaborative process and has had very few misfires to date.
Thanks for the response. I agree the Lions could have likely had an even better draft, but can't argue much with what they are building, with the locker room in mind. I would also agree that Philly is becoming the gold standard.
One thing I wanted to posit, is you mentioned the 49ers future proofing drafts, and I have this thought in my head, that John Lynch is secretly a mediocre to bad GM (or at least drafter) and Kyle Shanahan being such a great HC has really masked that. In 7 years on the job John Lynch has hit on 2 1st round picks, and I'm not sure he should get any credit at all for Bosa who was a no-brainer, but I'll give him credit for Aiyuk. Beyond that he has taken the following guys in round 1:
Soloman Thomas, 3rd overall, huge bust
Reuben Foster, 31st overall, talented, but had obvious red flags at the time
Mike McGlinchey, 9th overall, ok starter
Javon Kinlaw, 14th overall, not a difference maker
Trey Lance, 3rd overall and cost 3 1sts total, has shown nothing in 2 years, and has most likely already lost his job
Ok but surely he's finding guy on day 2 then right?
2017: Akhello Witherspoon and CJ Beathard
2018: Dante Pettis and Tarvarius Moore...and Fred Warner a very important exception
2019: Jalen Hurd and Deebo Samuel...another very important exception
2021: Trey Sermon and Ambry Thomas...jury is out on Aaron Banks
2022: Drake Jackson, Tyrion Davis-Price, and Danny Gray, hardly any played, TDP looked pretty bad when he did.
Where Lynch has shined is day 3
2017: George Kittle
2019: Dre Greenlaw
2021: Talanoa Hufanga
2022: Brock Purdy
Still in 7 years, Lynch has added maybe 10 decent or better players in the draft, its just he's hit on 4 elite guys. I'd have to sit down and weigh that against other GM's who have had that level of longevity and success, but my point is, Lynch making iffy draft calls isn't all that out of character. He's probably the most boom/bust GM in the NFL.