Drj820 wrote: ↑24 Apr 2020 11:45
Here is some context:
other contenders: had fewer needs than the packers, reloaded, got better.
Packers: had large needs, drafted a player we hope doesn’t play for three seasons.
Why do you think other contenders had fewer needs?
As I mentioned, after trading away Buckner and letting Sanders walk, the 49ers had needs there. The Saints need a #2 WR just as badly, if not more so, than we do; and their defense has more holes than ours. The Cowboys and Eagles have plenty of needs and t's kind of you to even call them contenders. The Vikings have, thus far, only replaced the players they lost. Further, not every draft pick works.
I don't like the pick, either. I think it is a year or two too early to draft the heir apparent. I think trading up and losing a 4th in a deep draft at need positions was a mistake. I, in fact, called it "unforgiveable."
But acting as if all the other teams are getting loads better while we aren't is an overreaction. Like, I'm sorry, but a rookie C is not putting the Saints over the top; that's just ridiculous. Justin Jefferson is in no way assured to be able to replace Diggs' production--he's probably a downgrade at least in the short term. Brandon Ayiuk, as we all mentioned here, is a great fit for the offenses we and the 49ers run, but is also a very raw route runner despite being a senior rather than an early-entrant.
At 26, Queen was the only player left on my board that I wanted in the first round. It was a very bad board for us after the early-mid twenties. Had we stayed put, Queen would have been gone, too. And Gutey said the trade down options were not very appealing. To evidence that, we got a bargain on the trade to move up; trade charts that were accurate on other first-round trades had us needing to give a 3 and take back a 5, or to give a 4 and a 5. Teams moving down struggled to find partners.
So we were sitting at the end of round one with fairly few options. Let's see if we get a starting WR and a starting-caliber developmental OT, and a guy who can compete for time at ILB by the end of the next couple rounds. I've been saying all offseason the rookie impact from this class was going to be very limited by the fact that we really only have an opening at WR and MLF tends to prefer rookies to develop on the bench or in part time roles.