2025 Draft

[DurbanPoison2121]

Technically "I don't know that" and yes its based on Talking Heads and national mocks. But the odds were high you could've gotten Martin 25 picks later and I certainly would've taken that chance.

Anyway, for the like the 3rd draft in a row, next year we'll be sweating OT but we'll end up signing scraps like Dillard and Petit-Frere. The difference will be TW one year closer to retirement/big injury; and one of these scraps will start. Too bad our newly signed QB won't have more consistent protection to execute the offense.

You would have taken a chance...so you would potentially give up on a player the coaching staff has drafted to start and be an impact player to be able to draft a developmental pick who would be sitting for the year anyways. The plug and play OT guys were gone after the early 2nd round and the OT picks available at 75 were largely seen as long-developmental or low ceiling players.

If Saleh and co. think that Martin is good enough to start and make an impact in a position where we had holes, then that was def the smart play. We currently have two starting OT. Nobody we drafted would have started in 2025. However, Martin is a high impact player with a coach known to start young LBs early (see Warner, F., Greenlaw, D., Sherwood, J, etc.) when we have at best one GLARING hole at LB prior to the draft, two if Winters doesn't develop the way the staff hopes he does.

Yes, I would agree that this is not the strongest plan for the future for our OL. This organization has not drafted any OL outside of G over the past 3 years. Their run defense couldn't stop the run game at all and it took a Herculian effort in the draft to fix the problem at the expense of an aging OL. Enter Williams, West, Martin, Collins, and even Stout, who is a solid and willing tackler. For whatever reason, Shanny believes he can scheme out of problems on the OL and he has proven to do so in the times that TW has been out. Hopefully, they make the same efforts to revamp the OL in next year's draft that they did to improve the run defense in this year's draft.

 

[DurbanPoison2121]

IMO Mykel Williams is a solid start, we certainly need a DE who can set the edge and hence stop the run. Priority one is stopping the run else little opportunity to pass rush. But Williams DOES have the ability to at very least pressure when needed. Even if he doesn't record a lot of sacks, a high amount of pressures will be disruptive.

The temptation today (Round 2) is to go DT or OT, but draft a prospect who is worth #43. First look at 'solid' 1st round talent that fell to #43, if any.

I didn't like this pick initially but the more time has passed, the more I look into him myself, and the more is reported about his presence and demeanor, the more I REALLY like the pick. Especially considering that all the top OT were off the board by 11 and we had a HUGE hole at DE opposite Bosa...rookie mini camps report Mychel Williams was THE man amongst impressive young men and stood out in leading drills and overall leadership among the rookie class. High praise and the kid is only 20!