Rank the Most Important Positions

[Tharvot]

1 QB
2 OL
3 DL

 

[jarntt]

While I see the merit behind it, I'm not a fan of comparing draft position to how important a position is to an NFL team. It's just oversimplifying a complicated matter

I think part of picking a player in the first round is looking for a superstar and centers in College don't jump off the page because they are seldom isolated or highlighted. The beauty of a good center is you really don't hear their name very often. T's are highlighted because they are going against the top pass rushers so they are always shown. Guards too to some extent. These players are allowed to show more of how good or bad they are. Centers are always in the middle of the muck and are more of the "you don't know what you had until they were gone" variety. When you have a good center everyone on the line knows their assignments and looks better.

But that is kind of secondary to why they may be drafted later. There are half as many of them starting in College Football and half as many needed to start at the Pro level as compared to Tackle and Guard. So it's mostly just Math, right? Plus teams are always making sure they have a talented backup T and G because they cover at least two positions. The Cowboys backup center for example is often a guy that plays multiple positions. Plus when teams like Dallas have a good Center they simply will not draft a center early. So if you assume half or more of the teams are solid or better at C then right off the bat half the teams won't even look at a great center in the first round, let alone a good one. I also wonder in today's age of stop watches and arm lengths and the such if centers in general perform poorer in these types of drills and lose some draft spots because of it. i also wonder if since it is seen as a more cerebral position if teams are less interested in going with a rookie and lean towards more experienced players. You can time a guy in the 40, but it's a little harder to tell if he can make all the calls on an NFL field.

Either way it's kind of a pointless argument. It's not like all centers are built the same. Travis Frederick is a lot more important than some other guys. Just like Julio Jones is a lot more important to his team than some other WRs. There is no one way to build an NFL team or rank NFL players by position. Some teams have a FB on the field a lot. Some barely need one on the roster.

 

[Clayton]

While I see the merit behind it, I'm not a fan of comparing draft position to how important a position is to an NFL team. It's just oversimplifying a complicated matter

I think part of picking a player in the first round is looking for a superstar and centers in College don't jump off the page because they are seldom isolated or highlighted. The beauty of a good center is you really don't hear their name very often. T's are highlighted because they are going against the top pass rushers so they are always shown. Guards too to some extent. These players are allowed to show more of how good or bad they are. Centers are always in the middle of the muck and are more of the "you don't know what you had until they were gone" variety. When you have a good center everyone on the line knows their assignments and looks better.

But that is kind of secondary to why they may be drafted later. There are half as many of them starting in College Football and half as many needed to start at the Pro level as compared to Tackle and Guard. So it's mostly just Math, right? Plus teams are always making sure they have a talented backup T and G because they cover at least two positions. The Cowboys backup center for example is often a guy that plays multiple positions. Plus when teams like Dallas have a good Center they simply will not draft a center early. So if you assume half or more of the teams are solid or better at C then right off the bat half the teams won't even look at a great center in the first round, let alone a good one. I also wonder in today's age of stop watches and arm lengths and the such if centers in general perform poorer in these types of drills and lose some draft spots because of it. i also wonder if since it is seen as a more cerebral position if teams are less interested in going with a rookie and lean towards more experienced players. You can time a guy in the 40, but it's a little harder to tell if he can make all the calls on an NFL field.

Either way it's kind of a pointless argument. It's not like all centers are built the same. Travis Frederick is a lot more important than some other guys. Just like Julio Jones is a lot more important to his team than some other WRs. There is no one way to build an NFL team or rank NFL players by position. Some teams have a FB on the field a lot. Some barely need one on the roster.

As a Mizzou fan, I believe the past 3 Guard/Tackle prospects that have come out of college all eventually found their way to being the Center for the Rams, Chiefs and Seahawks. The guy who played Center in college Evan Boehm is likely going to play RG for the Cardinals (given that division...thats actually a pretty tough position). Tim Barnes was always a Center at the NFL level but he is pretty much replacement level. Morse is a good Center who makes some minor mistakes every once in awhile but will likely be locked in to Kansas City for awhile. Justin Britt got high marks at tackle with his run blocking but was awful in every way in pass blocking and has basically been demoted every year and found his way to Center.

So maybe my homer glasses should be happy that Mizzou is a Center factory but I dont think thats intentional in any way. I just think they are falling short of the mark of Tackle in many regards.

 

[BallsOfFurry]

Imo

#1. QB

Spoiler

(#2. Head Coach #3. GM....okay these don't actually count)

#2. 3 down Edge rusher that can drop back into coverage if needed
#3. Left Tackle

The rest is kind of scheme specific (generally I would have shutdown CB at 4 and WR at 5) and based on how many other players of their caliber are in the market at any given time. Obviously the trench players are super important on both sides but there is a little bit of relativity based on availability.

I agree, but any great defensive front 7 player can dominate with a DC smart enough to build around him, and a truly great CB is a game changer.

 

[SteelersPride]

I agree, but any great defensive front 7 player can dominate with a DC smart enough to build around him, and a truly great CB is a game changer.

so center

 

[BallsOfFurry]

Not even remotely close. The early 1st round picks are LT and Centers RARELY get drafted even in the late 1st. Center is probably the least important position in NFL

Well partly true.
Great centers are hard to identify, it's so much about makeup.
The Pats' David Andrews wasn't drafted, but I happen to know Bullychek asked our staff who had great character and acumen, they all pointed to ''Boss'' as he was called at Georgia. BB took David aside for an hour of one on one discussion, afterwards he told DA he was going to get him to Foxburo.
Billychuk knew there wouldn't be a rush to pick an undersized C, but as events played out only Brady was more important to this year's SB win than Andrews.

 

[BallsOfFurry]

so center

Oddly, I was typing an answer to this when you posted this.

 

[PhoenixEagles1]

ahhhh captain grammar, if im half awake, laying in bed arguing, i could care less

I don't care about the grammar but notice how everyone is agreeing with me that C isn't a highly ranked position. You noticed that... right.

 

[BallsOfFurry]

I don't care about the grammar but notice how everyone is agreeing with me that C isn't a highly ranked position. You noticed that... right.

''WINNING''
Sorry, I can't say what came over me, or is it over came me ?

 

[jerseyhawksfan79]

Center is one of the most important positions on the team but the fact teams usually draft them mid to late is cause they only need two guys for that spot. The other positions like CB, LB O/D Lines etc require much more depth which is why they go off the board early and often.

 

[BallsOfFurry]

Center is one of the most important positions on the team but the fact teams usually draft them mid to late is cause they only need two guys for that spot. The other positions like CB, LB O/D Lines etc require much more depth which is why they go off the board early and often.

Yep, plus center doesn't require the rare physical gifts most ''premium positions'' do.
David Andrews is a perfect example, he weighs under 300lb, he is 6'2'' and he has short arms.
Every Georgia player and coach called him ''Boss'' though and no player we've had I Athens has had better makeup, or had a better understanding of the game or his responsibilities than David. He uses his compact build and quick mind to win most battles against more gifted opponents.
It's no accident his 4 years at UGA were our best overall offensive and rushing seasons ever.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

1. QB
2.LT
3. DE (Pass Rusher)
4. CB
5. DT
6. C
7. RB
8. CB
9. MLB
10. FS
11.WR
12.SS

im a little diff

Seein as how the Steelers have gotten by with rarely paying big money to the LT position, I'd devalue it in my list. But I think we have been very spoiled by Ben in that area. His mobility, pocket presence, etc has made it easier to get by with a relatively rag-tag group for so many years. Last 2-3 years have been the best O-line that he has ever worked with. And even then they have had a 6th Rd pick & a UDFA at LT. Also helps that they have a HOF O-lineman as their O-line coach

 

[jerseyhawksfan79]

Yep, plus center doesn't require the rare physical gifts most ''premium positions'' do.
David Andrews is a perfect example, he weighs under 300lb, he is 6'2'' and he has short arms.
Every Georgia player and coach called him ''Boss'' though and no player we've had I Athens has had better makeup, or had a better understanding of the game or his responsibilities than David. He uses his compact build and quick mind to win most battles against more gifted opponents.
It's no accident his 4 years at UGA were our best overall offensive and rushing seasons ever.

Once you find a good C, there really isn't any reason to draft one. Seattle may have gotten lucky with Britt who couldn't do squat at the other positions on the line but did rather well at C. So no need to draft a C.

 

[SteelersPride]

I don't care about the grammar but notice how everyone is agreeing with me that C isn't a highly ranked position. You noticed that... right.

are we in the same planet???? last night u were told repeatedly u were wrong

 

[SteelersPride]

Seein as how the Steelers have gotten by with rarely paying big money to the LT position, I'd devalue it in my list. But I think we have been very spoiled by Ben in that area. His mobility, pocket presence, etc has made it easier to get by with a relatively rag-tag group for so many years. Last 2-3 years have been the best O-line that he has ever worked with. Also helps that they have a HOF O-lineman as their O-line coach

sure agree with this

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

sure agree with this

And even with a great O-line they have only had a 6th Rd Pick (Beachum) & a UDFA (Villanueva) at the LT position... Neither are world-beaters that command top dollar. Beachum got paid for his success here, and he was rated as one of the worst LT in the NFL last season in JAX. Got released and is now in NYJ. Villanueva is a big-bodied, physical blocker. Still relatively raw considering this is what, his 2nd or 3rd season ever as an O-lineman? Played D-line all his years prior to the NFL.

 

[SteelersPride]

Wow!
Saying finding a center is easier than a left tackle might be accurate, but as far as the importance of the position, you are truly lost.
Now if you debated which is more important position Center or Left tackle might be a decent debate, but to say it is the least important position on the team is straight crazy.

The Cowboys have a good line right now & I dont think anyone is gonna argue that Smith is better OLineman than Fredericks. Hell Fredericks probably ranks 3rd as a Cowboys Olineman.
However I think he is the most important position on the line. Wasnt till we drafted him, that the line started becoming something. you have a weak center you have a weak line.

They had an former all pro center for most of his time coaching the Pats. He has spent over half of his first round picks on offensive and defensive lineman. He has drafted DT more than any other position in the first 2 rounds (4-1st,2-2nd) maybe you should move that to the top of your rankings

You know he actually has a point. However it's not that centers are unimportant, they are a key cog of the OL. It's that they are in fact easier to find in the draft. How many tackles in college get converted to center? How about guards getting converted to centers. Now reverse that, how many college centers get converted to guard or tackles? So it's a supply and demand question. If your building a expansion team, you are much more likely to use a high pick on a tackle ( or even guard ) then center. You'll try to find a center later in the draft as a rule, because the pool is larger. Doesn't actually mean they are less important per say, because they are a key cog in the OL, yet there is less urgency to obtain one due to a larger pool to choice from, thus in a way less important.

Saying teams don't draft Center hi us incoheren?t

Coolio- I disagree, but that's a semantic argument nobody really cares about.

Now here is where I disagree. A great OL is extremely important to striving to win a championship, it can possibly be over come, but most everyone would like their odds better with one then without and a center is maybe the key cog to a good OL. However since the center position is so reliant on intelligence and not as taxing physically, you just have the option of waiting to draft one due to a bigger pool.
It's like saying water isn't important, because you can just turn on the tap, but be stuck somewhere that doesn't have tap water, then see how important it is.

S-T-R-A-W-M-A-N

I think its hilarious you guys are arguing over the most minor of details.

Every position matters in the NFL but if we're talking value then almost no one is breaking the bank on a center. Center is not a valuable position. It just isnt.

Center is an important position. You have a bad center then you aren't running the ball. Full stop. No run game. Additionally, you might have some issues in the passing game if someone has a DT (or DE in a nascar situation) that is a sub 4.9 40 with leverage type of player.

Also for the love if god if you're trying to make fun of someone, don't post 8 grammatical errors from your cellphone and act like you're dissing someone.

just at a quick glance, all the agreements

 

[PhoenixEagles1]

just at a quick glance, all the agreements

Want me to quadruple that in favor?

 

[PhoenixEagles1]

Center is one of the most important positions on the team but the fact teams usually draft them mid to late is cause they only need two guys for that spot. The other positions like CB, LB O/D Lines etc require much more depth which is why they go off the board early and often.

Teams don't draft rhem mid to late. 3 teams in the last half decade have. 29 haven't so I wouldn't say teams draft C their
The vast majority don't touch them in the first two rounds at all. On rare occasions 3 teams out of 32 decided to pick a C late first round. Big difference.

 

[SteelersPride]

Want me to quadruple that in favor?

yes