Do You Draft for Need or Best Player Available?

As is with everything these days hybrid is the way to go. I think the smarter GM's put together a draft board based on pure talent. Like how go so and so is a tackle compared to how good of a cornerback another guy is. Basically grades that translate across position. If you have a position of need and the grade is only so many points below the true best player available you draft the guy for need.

I think Bruce Allen put it best. "We're going to draft the best player for the Redskins." Is that the best player available? "Usually it's the best player available."

Punter ,,, Punter :)

Got-a-get that punter!

Exactly. For too long this organization has looked at the O-Line as a position that almost anyone can play, be it tackle, guard, or center. I think the last couple of years has proven that wrong. At least thinking you can play it well.

The last decade we have Chris Samuels, Derrick Dockery, Jim Molinaro, Reggie Coleman and Chad Rinehart to show for our efforts on the offensive line. Two consistent starters over a decade....That's just not getting it done.

I forgot about Jeff Grau and Kelly Lefotu who were both 7th rouders, which means they came very close to not being drafted at all.

This could be viewed as a positive or a negative but I think we could pick best available in almost every spot because we need just about every position.

I believe that only applies later in round one until the fourth. When prospects start to 'fall' thier value increases. Higher in the draft is moot to say a Clausen is 'better' than an Okung or a Berry

Here's what I think is a very good video of Mike Mayock discussing the risks of drafting a QB in the first round. It shows up to date records of the first QB's taken the last few years and has a small segment on Clausen.

NFL Videos: Risk of drafting a QB (http://www.nfl.com./videos/nfl-draft/09000d5d816ebbd6/Risk-of-drafting-a-QB)

First pick (assuming Suh goes) should be about need, either QB or OL. After that, we need linemen in some spots, but we are weak in a lot of other spots so best available could be a good idea as well.

It really depends. Detroit went with the best player available and picked 4 WR's with top-10 picks over a 5 year stretch (2003-2007). By that logic, if a TE is the best player available when our 2nd round pick is due, we would draft yet another TE despite having Cooley and Davis. I feel that if the best player available plays a position where depth isn't an issue, then TRADE DOWN, add picks, and draft someone to fill a greater need.

We´re the redskins. We draft neither need nor best available. We just pick a WR.

That's the Lions.