TwistedHusky":38nv65qb said:
Sounds like some are calling for a more coordinated effort to assure our draft picks are made to fill immediate holes in the roster.
That is not what made the Seahawks great.
The Seahawks don't draft Wilson when they have Flynn by that logic.
The Seahawks draft with the goal of getting the best chance at getting a very good to GREAT player. Not drafting to fill a hole or drafting to get the best chance someone sticks.
I ran the data a while ago but I think it is close, generally 1 in 3 to 1 in 4 draft picks work out and turn into high quality players. That assumes 1-2 years on-field play. Our 1st round does not hit as often as some of the better teams in the league, but our 3rd, 4th and 5th round picks do.
Last year, we actually had a substantially above the mean # of picks work out for us, so maybe that has changed - but generally even the 1st round pick isn't guarantee you get a keeper. What you do know, is the keepers tend to not just be productive but exceptional performers.
I don't see any reason to change what is working, unless you feel that the holes being created through attrition/loss are so significant we have to rely on the draft to fill them immediately. The danger is that by leaving the draft process that gave us advantages, we start focusing more on factors the typical team does (% makes a roster spot) and consequently get a more typical draft.
I don't believe the success is all due to a tremendous development program. We clearly find people that are worth the risk, take the risk on them, and when they work out we benefit. Leaving the risk off the table means walking away from a lot of that reward too.
How do you know the Flynn signing wasn't a hedge in case they missed out on Wilson whom they had already been eyeing? Flynn also had very little NFL experience, so while he was definitely viewed as a valid QB option he didn't have the job locked up or anything.
Team's don't want to miss out on a potential pro-bowler just because they don't have a "need" at the position, but at the same time you only have so many ways to fill a hole: FA (including UDFA), draft, and trades.
See the gaping holes we have on OL. The choice was between overpaying Sweezy/Okung/FA or filling 1 or 2 spots in the draft. They chose not to overpay a FA which means if they don't fix the OL in the draft then our only other chance is to sign a vet after cutdowns or trade for one.
If the Hawks don't draft OL because they were always #2 available on their big board when it's time to pick, that would be a mistake and a failure.
If a team has ZERO holes, it can afford to draft purely on BPA. When a team DOES have holes they need to incorporate that into their strategy otherwise they risk putting a terrible unit on the field.
With our cap situation we really can't afford NOT to draft for needs this year.