calumnus;842118242 said:
I think it is more "Moneyball" rationality finally making to most of the NFL--the Patriots were ahead of the curve on this--linemen are the nucleus of your team and far less of a gamble. There are lots of good skill position players out there but somewhat paradoxically you are far more likely to have an expensive bust at a skill position. Better to pick solid linemen with your top picks and then get skill position players in later rounds and as free agents and then let them fight it out.
It is also a herd mentality thing in any draft (including fantasy drafts), if there is a run on a position early, everyone else who needs that position picks one to avoid getting shut out rather than pick another position where there are still a lot of guys they like.
+1
Most mock drafts expected a run on DLs, but the run was on OLs, once 3 OTs went off the board in the first 4 picks, the run was on. Pugh, who went to the Giants at #19 was not expected to go until round #3. He was the 3rd OG taken in the 1st round and there were 8 OLs overall in rd. #1.
The NFL combine has become more of a factor as it is seen by NFL teams as a way to avoid drafting busts and many "skilled" players proved to be somewhat less than spectacular in the combine.
The problems with relying on the college career is that it is not objective. There are differences in quality of opposition, quality of teammates and quality of media exposure. The combine is supposed to be the great equalizer.
But smart executives do not over-emphasize the combine either. They balance all the factors because some players are just better on the football field on game day than they are in shorts in front of guys with clipboards.
