To those claiming I cherry picked, I am sorry I didn't.
I literally did an objective, mini-write up on every defensive player that was drafted in the first 3 rounds since 2019. And every player currently on defense that was making $5M APY or more. I kept the good like, Nwosu. There just isn't much good to be found. I even gave Pete credit for being a DB whisperer.
I did him a favor because if I went back further you run into. Malik McDowell, Lano Hill, Naz Jones, and Rasheem Green in '17 and '18.
The last good defensive players they drafted in the first 3 rounds were Frank Clark in '15, and J.Reed & Shaq Griffin in '16.
Defensive Draft Picks:
'17 swing and a miss.
'18 swing and a miss.
'19 swing and a miss.
'20 swing and a miss.
'21 Didn't have any picks traded them away for Adams (1st & 3rd) took Eskridge a WR w/2nd.
'22 is too early to tell, but all you have is Mafe in the first 3 rounds.
So how is Pete going to start magically drafting well on defense with higher picks when they've all been flops for going on 6 drafts?
Woolen, the 5th rounder, is looking like the only Blue Chip defensive player drafted since Frank Clark in 2015, when you include all rounds. 7 years between those drafts.
I'm not a harsh grader in the draft when you're talking day 3 (4th-7th). Those guys making the team and being contributors, filling out the roster, having one pop everyone once in a while is enough. But rounds 1-3, I expect a Defensive Guru HC to be right most of the time. He can't seem to get anything right at this juncture.
How and why would you want this to continue? Why defend this? Change is needed.