Drafting a guard in the first round.

[Alvin Walton]

I've been thinking about guards quite a bit leading leading up to this draft.
Lance Zuerlien has us taking Brandon Scherff with our first round pick.
Some have said "you dont draft guards in the first round".
I did some checking and went back five years to see how guards went in the first round.

2014 - 0

2013 - 3

2012 - 2

2011 - 2

2010 - 2 (one of which was Mike Iupati at #17)

A couple were top half round. Most were middle and back half.

So they do go in the first round to some degree.
The question is do we want to pay #5 money if we do take one?

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by Alvin Walton

I've been thinking about guards quite a bit leading leading up to this draft.
Lance Zuerlien has us taking Brandon Scherff with our first round pick.
Some have said "you dont draft guards in the first round".
I did some checking and went back five years to see how guards went in the first round.

2014 - 0

2013 - 3

2012 - 2

2011 - 2

2010 - 2 (one of which was Mike Iupati at #17)

A couple were top half round. Most were middle and back half.

So they do go in the first round to some degree.
The question is do we want to pay #5 money if we do take one?

IMO No, because there are no superstud guards this year worthy of the #5 pick. IMO the best guard value spot this year is late first/early second.

[Alvin Walton]

These guys have Scherff as the 5th best talent in the draft.
2015 NFL Draft Rankings - DraftCountdown.com

6th best here.
NFL Draft - 2015 NFL Draft Prospects - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

8 here.
2015 NFL Draft Player Rankings - National Football League - ESPN

[Meks]

I think we may end up trading back a few spaces, I worry if doing so will make us miss out on a game changer to line up opposite of Kerrigan, I say no to guard at #5 as well.

[SirLK26]

Drafting a guard later in the first is fine, but not high. Regardless of how talented Scherff is, taking him at #5 over a guy who could potentially be an elite pass rusher would be stupid.

[Chico23231]

Top 10 player needs to be a high impact player, give me a front 7 guy with this pick. U should be able to get a solid Oline player with our second pick

[NYCskinfan82]

5 or 6 years from now would you be OK with giving this OG top dollar, top OT $$$ to resign him. If you say yes then do it. I'm saying NO trade back maybe then yes.

[KI Skins Fan]

If we stay at #5 I think it will be to draft an exceptional player at a high impact position. In our case, that would probably be an OLB to play opposite Kerrigan. I'm not OK with picking an OG at #5 but what do I know?

If there isn't a player on the board that SM thinks is worthy of a Top 5 pick, then I hope he'll try to trade down to the 10-15 range and draft his highest rated player on the board, regardless of position. I'm fine with an OG in the 10-15 range. We need to get better everywhere.

There will probably be OL's available who are worthy of being picked in the second round.

[NC_Skins]

Originally Posted by Alvin Walton

2014 - 1

Correction. There was a guard drafted in the 1st in 2014 and it was the Dallas Cowboys when they drafted Zack Martin.

[Defensewins]

If Mariota slips to us at #5, trading down at that point could be very rewarding. QB desperate teams with a lot of picks like Cleveland two picks in the top 20 could make interesting trade partner.
Then we pick schref.

[FRPLG]

We suck all over the place. Draft the BPA. Plain and simple.

[sevier2]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

We suck all over the place. Draft the BPA. Plain and simple.

This. We have too many holes to focus on one position. Start piling up as many talented young men as you can and sift through the poor ones. In my opinion every position could use a talent infusion so whatever position they draft I just want quality players who will be here long term.

[Alvin Walton]

Originally Posted by NC_Skins

Correction. There was a guard drafted in the 1st in 2014 and it was the Dallas Cowboys when they drafted Zack Martin.

He was listed as a tackle when he was drafted.

2014 NFL Draft Tracker – NFL.com

[KI Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by Alvin Walton

He was listed as a tackle when he was drafted.

2014 NFL Draft Tracker – NFL.com

True. He also made the Pro Bowl as a guard. If the Skins were to draft an OG at #5 who then made the Pro Bowl, would that be good pick? Just asking.

[KI Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by Defensewins

If Mariota slips to us at #5, trading down at that point could be very rewarding. QB desperate teams with a lot of picks like Cleveland two picks in the top 20 could make interesting trade partner.
Then we pick schref.

That would be awesome! If that were to happen, I think SM would take full advantage of a trade partner.

Here's a thought: What if Mariota is on the board at #5 and we take him?

One more thought: I saw a recent photo of Jameis Winston with his shirt off. He has gained bad weight and looks soft in the middle. Will teams fear that he'll go "Jamarcus Russell" on them, causing Mariota to be drafted before Winston?