Skinsfan69 presents The Draft Philosophy Poll

Always draft best available. If anything, you can trade him (or who he replaces) for what you need...

Last can't miss WR was Mike Williams right? I was livid when the Skins didn't take him, choosing to address a need created by Smoot's departure rather than draft the "best player," but am a little more forgiving now (although if Rogers continues the way he is headed it will be pretty much a wash).

The problem with Williams is that he is big and slow. Plus he was coming off a season where he didn't play football. Slow receivers will always have difficulty getting separation in the NFL. Consider this - 6'5", 235 lbs, 4.4 speed, and a 41" vertical - getting separation WILL NOT be a problem for Calvin Johnson.

Even though WR doesn't seem to be our most pressing need, some people are convinced that we should draft Calvin Johnson if he falls to us at #6 because he's a can't miss.

So, assuming we stay at #6 (and don't trade the pick) do we draft

A. For Need?
B. Best Player Available?

Vote or Matty will take his fan site and go home

I am shocked that people would not want to take the best player on the board. I guess a lot of you did not watch this guy play. Here is how I look at it. All players taken in the 1st round are risks! Adams looks kind of small to me. We already have a small DE who can't hold up against the run. And the guy on Mich looks like a stud. But IMO d tackles can't impact a game like CJ can. A lot of playing good defense is getting a bunch of players and having them play well together. You may not need the most talent, just guys that play well together and communicate. On offense I tend to think you need more pure talent, particularly at the skill positions. This guy will make things better for our running game and passing game. His presence is going to make things better for everyone on offense. And people are comparing Mike Williams to CJ? Cmon. MW had to sit out a year. He sat on his ass and never got in shape. Bad comparison!

Up until the last week or so I was in the "Draft for Need" camp. But looking back, the last time we had a top-10 pick, we went for need (Carlos Rogers) and passed on two better available players (Shawne Merriman and DeMarcus Ware). Merriman looks like the second coming of Lawerence Taylor, and Rogers is still finding his way. It sickens me when I see Merriman with 17 sacks in 12 games while our ENTIRE TEAM can only muster 19 in a full season.

If Calvin Johnson falls to #6, I don't see how you can pass on him. The guy has T.O.'s body, Randy Moss's hands, speed, and leaping ability, and none of the attitude baggage. Quite simply, he may be the best player in this draft (he is #1 on Mel Kiper's board). I don't see anyone saying that about Alan Branch. We've already invested heavily in Jason Campbell - adding a freak like Johnson will only accelerate Campbell's development. He will give opposing safeties another reason to think twice about playing in the box, further openning the running game, not to mention that he's also a physical downfield blocker. Lastly, Johnson will give Campbell a true red-zone threat for corner fade patterns, something the Skins have lacked for years.

THANK U!!!!!

I went with Best Available. By that I'm assuming the player is an immediate starter who's "NFL ready". If this player, regardless of position, can step in due to unforeseen circumstances (injury, suspension, etc) then we would have made the right decision.

Having said that, I really hope Calvin Johnson does not fall to us, not because I don't think he's the best available but becaus that's the one position where we are really top loaded.

See IMO we are not loaded becasue we have a bunch of guys who are number three WR's. ARE, Patton Thrash and LLoyd are not number two NFL WR's. Just becasue some are getting big paychecks does not mean they are qualified. I would even say that Santana is not a pure number one. I think Santana is between a 1 and a 2 or a real solid 2.

I agree that CJ is a stud, but I feel like our offense is already where it needs to be. We can be just like the Rams this year, great offense, no defense. There has to be a happy medium. I AM for taking a player that's the best available for defense however. Even though we might not need a MLB that bad, if a stud was available, I'd take him. Right now, I'm happy if we take a CB, DT or DE as long as they were studs (as close to a sure thing as you can get in a draft).

if there is an assumed can't miss player that somehow falls to the skins, they should first field any trade offers brought before them, but if there r no good trades offered, they have to take the best player that isn't a qb. there's no sense in over paying for a player that was taken just because he plays a need area. Other than rb and qb, until Campbell proves otherwise, I don't see any position on the team that isn't above being strengthened and improved.

For all those that think you have to draft the best available, would we draft the best running back with Clinton Portis, Ladell Betts, T.J. Duckett, and Rock Cartwright on the roster? ...while our defensive line gets trampled game after game?