Unrestricted Free Agents Who Might Help

Why not? Is the goal to be around .500 in 2010 or to be set-up for SB contention year in/year out for 2011 & beyond. We also have Campbell this year, unless another team gives us a trade that nets us at least a second rounder (to be used on OL). A rookie QB wouldn't need to start game 1 if Campbell is here.

Here's a question for the anti-QB crowd. If Okung (or whoever is picked at LT) turns out to be as good as Chris Samuels, I think we're all happy campers. However, how many Divisional playoff games & Conference championship games have we played in with Chris Samuels at LT?

How many Divisional playoff games & Conference championships has NY been to with Eli, the Chargers with Rivers, Colts with Peyton, Eagles w/McNabb, Steelers w/Big Ben? Obviously there are several other factors to consider, but while the LT is very important it's not near the level of importance of an elite QB. If your team picks at #4 and a player the front office has rated as an elite QB prospect is there, you take the guy faster than the Orakpo pick in 2009. Period, end of story.

We have a 2nd round pick, there are UFAs out there, there will be a draft in 2011. Rome wasn't built in a day, you don't go from being 4-12 to being 12-4 on a consistent basis in a single off-season.

Good point. It is very difficult to argue that the Colts win at least 12 games every year because of their left tackles. However, it is not difficult to argue that the Colts do so because they have Peyton.

While I am tired of our being beaten up front and I truly wish to upgrade the OL, overlooking the influence of an elite QB is not helpful.

I agree. I think this draft is deep enough in tackles that we don't need to address it in the first round. I think we can safely take bradford with #4 and then focus on the line the rest of the draft (2nd rd charles brown OT, USC). You don't pick #4 overall often, and bradford is a quarterback that could conceivably evolve into a brees manning or brady. I think we have enough draft picks and carry enough weight in FA that we don't NEED to take okung at #4 to reliably reconstruct our OL (which of course is still our number 1 priority).

On the "transition to 3-4" note, the deadline for the patriots franchise tagging vince wilfork is less than a week away - if we're serious about playing the 3-4 defense I think we need to take a long hard look at him if he stays on the market as a UFA.

And I have to disagree with you on the tackles, there are at least two tackles worth picking up at #4, and one (Okung) could start right away from day one. Can't say the same thing about Bradford or Clausen.

True, but that doesn't have to be the intent of that pick. I think there's a good possibility that the organization wants to keep campbell unless we get an incredible bargain for him from some other team (tendered for 1st and 3rd pick), and let bradford develop behind him for a season or two. The value of a draft pick is not whether he can start right away, especially for quarterbacks, and especially for this team that needs an overhaul that can not be done in a single season.

True, but that doesn't have to be the intent of that pick. I think there's a good possibility that the organization wants to keep campbell unless we get an incredible bargain for him from some other team (tendered for 1st and 3rd pick), and let bradford develop behind him for a season or two. The value of a draft pick is not whether he can start right away, especially for quarterbacks, and especially for this team that needs an overhaul that can not be done in a single season.

Although I'm giving up on this, my fear is that....

Because of the uncapped year, FA talent is in the dumps right now. We're basically are going to rebuild our putrid offensive line with decent players and once again banking that low round picks are going to somehow come through.

So now we have Campbell under center, with a patched up offensive line (again). If he sucks (whether it is his fault or not), he'll be pulled, and in comes your future elite QB. And now you'll have your investment at #4 being protected by a piecemeal line.

But I'm giving up on getting that franchise tackle, hopefully we can either trade down or get a good return for Campbell.

Although I'm giving up on this, my fear is that....

Because of the uncapped year, FA talent is in the dumps right now. We're basically are going to rebuild our putrid offensive line with decent players and once again banking that low round picks are going to somehow come through.

So now we have Campbell under center, with a patched up offensive line (again). If he sucks (whether it is his fault or not), he'll be pulled, and in comes your future elite QB. And now you'll have your investment at #4 being protected by a piecemeal line.

But I'm giving up on getting that franchise tackle, hopefully we can either trade down or get a good return for Campbell.

Or he sucks, gets pulled and in comes...Colt Brennan behind Russell Okung? Is that any better?

I think they can get a very strong LT at the top of the 2nd round or even, if they feel they must, trade up into the late 1st to get one.

I wouldn't give up on the idea of them getting an LT at #4. Though I would say I've never heard the name Okung mentioned (not to this point at least)

I see your concerns, but I just think that not using the #4 pick on an OT won't condemn us to having a "patched up OL." I think there are some legitimate options in FA (not many, but there are some), and that there is better later round OT talent in this particular draft than there usually is. I'm not banking on this being the ultimate solution, but between this year's draft and next year's draft, I think this gives us the most bang for our buck (well for our draft picks), and will certainly give us a better line next year than we had.

I see your concerns, but I just think that not using the #4 pick on an OT won't condemn us to having a "patched up OL." I think there are some legitimate options in FA (not many, but there are some), and that there is better later round OT talent in this particular draft than there usually is. I'm not banking on this being the ultimate solution, but between this year's draft and next year's draft, I think this gives us the most bang for our buck (well for our draft picks), and will certainly give us a better line next year than we had.

Agreed. I know that picking up a LT at #4 doesn't automatically solve our problems with the line. I just see an LT at #4 as more of a sure thing than a QB like Bradford.

Would anyone be interested in trading C. Rodgers for SD's A. Cromartie? Cromartie might have had an off year, but could be a pro bowl caliber CB with the coaching staff we have in place.. Just an idea..

Would anyone be interested in trading C. Rodgers for SD's A. Cromartie? Cromartie might have had an off year, but could be a pro bowl caliber CB with the coaching staff we have in place.. Just an idea..that's being discussed in another thread, but no, it's not going to happen

Sorry.. I realized that after I wrote it.. As u can see I'm a rookie..