I know it’s highly unlikely because he’s one of the Blue Chip players in this draft with a low amount of them. But with off ball LB, there is always a possibility even an elite one will fall when people are logically targeting OT and Pass Rushers. I think teams will be trading up to snag an OT before they drop off. I think a couple will go higher than expected and same with EDGE.
So I know we have Barnes on a big money contract. We also have glaring holes at OT and DE. But Styles just may be too good to pass on. Yes that makes Barnes expendable in the longer term, but maybe he just ends up being an expensive rotational player while the superior player in Styles roams the middle with Jack. Having those two dudes would be awesome while we move from hybrid package to hybrid package with our LB’s/DE’s and Nickles. Styles isn’t an “ideal” fit/need. But would you take him, or use the opportunity to get a strong return on a trade down? I think I’d have to take him and view the Barnes contract as a mistake that will eventually rectify itself.
For the record, Jaden Dugger is a poor-man’s Sonny Styles if we miss out on him. 6’5, 242, 35 inch arms (!). He’s much rawer than Styles (and newer to the position) and the level of competition pales in comparison, but he really flashed at the Shrine Bowl.
Sorry but the chance is not 0 for an off ball LB. Jack’s traits, leadership etc. were off the charts. Tremaine Edmunds fell to 16 and was an insane MLB prospect. I do agree he is one of the cleanest prospects in the draft. I also put the chance he falls to us as extremely low. But position matters and that “may” be a factor in him going lower than expected. Perhaps exceedingly so.
I do think he could be one of our surprise “reaches.” That said I don’t buy for a second that he’s rated by the league as lowly as he is in the sims, fairly certain he’ll end up a day 2 guy. Guys like him don’t come around very often.
If he dropped to 17?
Yeah, no brainer.
We could do with Barnes what we did with Swift after we drafted Gibbs. Trade him to the Eagles. Eat some of his salary if necessary.
Respectfully that is a horrible idea. Why do we get rid of an All-Pro just now entering his prime? Yes, we are going to have to make him the highest paid LB or close to it, but as @Samsalt1 said, this is 100% why were aren’t chasing people in FA….now I’d like them to be aggressive if we are one player away sooner rather then later….but you let Barnes go, You let Anzalone go, you don’t let Campbell go.
