No! Good GMs do not draft for need. There are many other options for rounding out the roster and filling in weak spots. Passing on the BPA and throwing draft selections at needs is what perennial losers do. Not only is it poor roster building from a long-term perspective, but it is also a poor way to address a need since predicting the performance of a rookie player is impossible. Therefore, relying on a rookie to address a need is foolish.Coming out of the FA signings, we have to draft for needs. The NEED to draft would be IOL, and LB, if we don't address those needs, we can't match the winning record of 2023.
Prior to the draft, we have a couple of weak spots. However, these are weak spots, not empty spots. We do have veterans who can fill the role, just not at the level we would like to see.
We have options other than drafting for need. We may be fortunate and have the BPA lineup with a need, adding a rookie to the competition at those spots. If we do have obvious weak spots, UDFAs at those positions are more likely to see the Hawks as a favorable opportunity to make a roster. We have the inevitable cuts that occur every year between the draft and the start of the season. Teams will look to trade once spring training starts and there are clear areas that they will have solid players unable to make the final roster.