Think I’m getting to Harrison/McGuire/Tuli/Benton as ideal pick if any are there with their first 3rd rounder—
I like all of those players.
If Benton is there, I'll eat my shorts.
I'm not sure any of those guys make it to 74--and I think McGuire is the most likely to do so.
My ideal, semi-realistic pick at 74 is Andre Carter. I know there's no way he makes it there... but this edge class is so loaded that there's a chance. Watching him be able to attack from the wide 9 and just destroy opposing tackles in this Schwartz scheme would be a blast for me.
The thing that excites me the most about Tuli is how well he pairs with 007. Tuli can play DE on first and second down if we want, and then shift him inside on third down to rush the passer while we bring in a pass rush specialist like 007.
With our deficiency at 3-tech, this probably doesn't happen this year--but that sort of flexibility is sexy to me.
I'm all for any opportunity to trade down (or to shed dead weight like Schwartz) in order to accumulate more picks. I want us to come out of this draft with 4 new defensive linemen.
The late (200+ on PFF) guys I still fucking love:
Redmond- Ok, PFF moved him up to 171 on their big board. He's still someone I want in this draft. Redmond was at one time the #1 recruit in the country. He's since put on 60 pounds. He's no longer the light, athletic DE. He's now a bull in a china shop on the interior. He's had injury issues and his technique isn't great. He still likes to out-athlete guys, but there isn't a better ball of clay to mold in this class. His athletic gifts are first-round, and he is being mocked at the end of day 3. Give me that every day.
Desjuan Johnson- A monster with positional flexibility to play outside or inside. Local kid (Toledo) as well. More of a pass rusher than a stop the run guy.
Dylan Horton- He's only graded so low because he didn't really get an opportunity to rush the passer that often at TCU. They rushed 3 and dropped 8 regularly. I'm not sure why people who have McDonald in the first round have Horton as a late day 3 pick. To me, Horton can be a defensive end who holds up against the run, can rush the passer with power, and can build more pass rush technique off that initial power rush.
Nesta Jade Silvera- You want a penetrating 3-tech? You got one. Nesta is a bowling ball that just gets after the QB.
Ali Gaye and DJ Johnson are edges that I'm okay with. Neither impresses me, but they can be depth filler.
BJ Thompson is fun. He's only 210 pounds (at 6'6"!) so you can't expect him to hold up against the run... but he can rush the passer. And at 231 on the big board, that's worth a 7th round pick or a priority UDFA signing