But they’re definitely thinking about the impact each player will have on the roster ahead of time. Like, if we take Malaki Starks who we have graded really highly and would take regardless of our roster situation, what effect would it have on the roster then?
I think they might even take a RB if he was enough of a star. Anything can be made to work. It would have to be an all-timer so for me you don’t even consider it unless Jeanty falls (and I’m high on Hampton too - 8th overall player on my board - but he’s no Jeanty who I have 2nd). But if he was there and we thought he was the best player we could take him, flip Montgomery for a pick, then move forward with the best RB tandem in history.
I saw, and yeah I’d be fine with it. He’s more in line with the type of guy you can get most years than Jeanty which is why I wouldn’t do it personally - that ranking is as much a reflection of the weakness of the class as anything else (he certainly wouldn’t have been 8th overall last year) - but I struggle to see a world in which he fails.
But I have Starks 7th on my board, so I’m sticking to it.
That’s for sure. And I doubt the team feels the same as they did about Gibbs
I think/hope that this will be a good year to try to trade back with someone who wants to get a 5th year on Milroe or similar. Talent is pretty flat around this spot
For me it would be the athleticism, and the fact that Booker is RG only whereas Zabel has G/C versatility. Our staff is definitely gonna like Booker, but they like Zabel too (as evidenced by meeting with him at least twice). We have the insight with one of his former coaches coming in too (Roehl)
Trade down is always my favorite option, but is tricky to pull off. Takes two to tango and all that. And with the Vikings allegedly taking 30 cents on the dollar to move back (they only have 4 picks), it becomes even harder.
That said I think the whole 5th year option on a QB has become less of a concern in league circles. No one’s traded up for one in the late 1st since Lamar in 2018, and in fact some they’ve let fall to the early second (Levis, Lock). Probably too small of a sample size to say either way, but I get it. By the time you need to make that kind of decision on a QB, you should probably already know one way or the other whether he’s the guy - in which case you’ve likely already extended him (Burrow, Herbert, Lawrence) - or whether he isn’t - in which case you’ve probably already moved on (Zack Wilson, Trey Lance, Mac Jones, Fields).
If you have to wait until the 5th year you usually end up in one of those sticky binds where you make a bad decision, like the Giants with Jones or the Jags with Bortles.
The one scenario where that might be different is if you plan to sit him, but even then it can get wonky. Remember that strange two-year deal the Packers convinced Love to sign before his first year as a starter? It ended up working out for them anyway (as things are prone to do for them), but it’s just not a lot of time to make a decision unless they hit the ground running like Mahomes or Lamar.
I think he’s just way, way too slow-footed to play tackle, even though he does have the length/size.
Maybe he did play LG at Bama, now that you mention it, it’s been forever since I watched him. Actually I think you’re right. I do think he profiles as a RG for most teams in the league, but you’re right he’s got plenty of LG experience, I believe.
But the main thing is he doesn’t bring C flexibility the way Zabel does.
I saw him comped once to Cam Robinson and it’s hard to unsee it, they have the same weaknesses and it could end up being an achilles heel for Banks, just like it has Robinson. He might also get Goff killed while he’s working out the kinks. He’s a leaner who misses most often in pass pro, and they tend to be total whiffs. I still think he’s a good option and would take him over Booker too, and I like the T versatility, but honestly I prefer Donovan Jackson. I have Zabel graded higher too, but as I’ve said I like the G/T option.
I really wish we had a shot at Will Campbell. He could end up the starter long-term at any of the 5 positions.
If we’re planning on running a lot of “wide zone” plays then I don’t see how Booker would be an option. Zabel allows for scheme versatility to go along with positional versatility.
And to go along with this. If you have Jahmyr Gibbs on your team and you’re not running a healthy amount of Wide Zone then I’m questioning the scheme a little.
I love Grant as a top 15 pick, has gotten better every single year since HS & still hasn’t hit his ceiling. He’s going to continue ascending at the next level, just like he did from HS to college. Grant is on the board-give me the Lion’s sprinting to the podium in less than 15 seconds
I think he got better every year… until this year. He still popped plenty (the Ohio State game), but I thought his 2023 tape was better. Still he’d be my pick over anyone not named Malaki Starks here.