[skinster]

I looked at our situation a little closer and found that my initial assessment of what to do might not be the smartest idea.
Before I say what I am nearly convinced we are going to do (if not trades...but I assume there will be trades....) I want to say some points that lead me to my conclusion.
*Players we unsuccessfully looked to replace this offseason- Brown, Lichtensteiger
*Players that will not be back after this year-Hall, Moss, Fletcher (I know he's not signed yet)
*Players that we are not sold on to start-Merriweather, SS position, Barnes
*Our OLB depth is non-existent

-2013 free agency draft class sucks at ILB, G, T, but is decent at S at CB

I say that ILB is our number one priority in this draft, and then any offensive linemen is our number two. CB, S, and OLB are going to bring up the rear.

Our positions of need are not in that priority as we will have brown and if we want him, lichtensteiger next year, but our only corner we are confident in is Wilson, we know we don't like our SS situation, and our FS (Merriweather) is risky at best. But! we will be unable to upgrade at T/G/ILB next offseason while it seems like it should be very attainable to get fillers at DB. Because we have no picks until the 3rd round, I do not think our draft picks will have a big impact this year (with the possibility of an ILB or possibly a SS if we find good value), so this is a draft more for the future than anything.

I'd say we are certainly drafting an ILB with one of our first two picks this year, and with the other pick I'd guess a lineman but am leaving open the possibility of a Safety because although I want to draft for the future, Shanny might want Safety help now.

I'd guess that with our first 4 picks 4/5 of the positions I am going to mention will be picked. ILB, G/T, S, CB, versatile/athletic LB who we are going to switch between two positions.

There are only three ways (assuming no trades) I see me getting this wrong. Those are if we draft 2 O-linemen in the first 4 picks, if Shanny decides to draft a RB (he loves that...but I have a feeling he won't this draft), or if Fred Davis doesn't seem to want to sign an extension with us (but I think he wants to) we could very likely get a TE.

Really to sum all this up. I see the positions in free agency that we signed players to long term deals on as us crossing that position off the draft board. The positions that we looked to attain anyone but didn't land anyone long term (ILB, DB, OL) are the positions I think we will draft. Our non-existant OLB depth just means that we almost have to draft someone. I normally do not like targeting positions in the draft, but when you have as little talent and few draft picks as we do, you need to pick your picks based off of what we are not able to get in free agency.