So this has come up quite a few times on the thousands of sims I’ve churned out and I wanted to sort of crowd source an answer from in here. It always leaves me with a bit of a frown on my face. This is just the latest example:
(8) Panthers: Jalon Walker
(9) Saints: Mykel Williams
(10) Bears: Shemar Stewart
(11) 49ers: Walter Nolen
(13) Dolphins: Armand Membou
(15) Falcons: Donovan Ezeiruaku
(16) Cardinals: Derrick Harmon
(17) Bengals: Mike Green
(18) Seahawks: Grey Zabel
(19) Bucs: Jihaad Campbell
(22) Chargers: Kenny Grant
(23) Packers: Nic Scourton
(25) Texans: Tyler Booker
(26) Rams: Kelvin Banks
(27) Ravens: Donovan Jackson
It’s unlikely, but believable because those are amongst the top needs for ALL of those teams. And it’s come up enough that I wanted to propose it to the board.
So pretend Brad has tried to trade up and tried to trade down, but there were no takers. What would you do?
Do you pivot to the 6 or 7th edge on the board and take JTT, Femi or Landon Jackson? (No, not Pearce. He 100% won’t be on our board. In fact he’s plummeting, just saw a mock where he went in the 3rd). The 5th or 6th DL like Tyleik?
Do you pivot to CB even if they seem like a slight reach? An imperfect scheme fit? Which one?
Do you hit the next batch of OL like Conerly, Ersery?
Do you pivot to a lesser need position and go Starks, Golden, Burden, Egbuka, or Emmanwori?
Or do you dip into the injured pool for Simmons, Morrison or Revel?
Or do you just do something wild and unpredictable like Hampton, Dart, Milroe?
No I wouldn’t force a defensive end. Take the best player left regardless of position. But I wouldn’t worry about it cause Holmes is gonna make trades, he always does.
Trade down just a touch if possible and take JTT probably the most ready to step in right away at DE. Fits everything we want. I would take him at 28 if needed
I think he would be my choice too. I’d really do a thorough deep dive on Simmons’ knee, he’s a top 5/6 overall player to me if he doesn’t get hurt, but torn patellar tendon makes me pretty nervous.
One of the reasons I chose this one specifically is because the trade-up targets went so early. Like, how far can he really get? He’s already admitted Arnold falling further than people thought he would is the main reason he was able to go up and get him. But when Stewart, Williams, Ezeiruaku, Harmon and Campbell all off the board by 19, I don’t think we’d have the ammo to get them. And I’m not sure he’d trade up for Scourton or any of the OL. Maybe Grant. He may want to trade up, but sometimes it doesn’t work out.
Now a trade down is obviously possible, but for the purposes of this exercise didn’t work out. It takes two to tango and all that.
I’d go this route, probably Emmanwori, after cursing the heavens for that roll of the draft dice. Brad has benefited from those rolls in his 4 first round drafts, IMO, and it should be his birthright.
I thought he made it work for him in 2023. After Carter and Will Anderson (and not including the QBs), it was pretty much a big drop-off. Got the trade down, added picks, drafted studs.
What I would do, bc I’m completely insane (and would love pissing off Roger), is let the clock keep expiring till I’m positioned in the first pick of round 2. At that point I’m almost certain to get offers for the pick given a whole evening of trade talk.
Yeah, Simmons’ knee would be the big question. From the outside looking in, and with absolutely zero medical knowledge other than what can be found on the internet, I would be VERY hesitant on a torn patellar tendon. I have no doubt he’ll eventually make it back to the league, but will he be the same player? There’s just very little data on the long-term effects of that injury on OL.
