The number one rule of first-round picks?

[Bob In PA]

How would you state your personal "Number One Rule Of First Round Picks"?

Mine would be as follows:  "Above all, get a guy who's as close to a 'sure thing' (in your view) as possible under the circumstances."

The rule does not apply when you must take a QB.  In that case, the rule is similar:  "Get a QB who's as close to a sure thing as possible."

Bob

[MightyGiants]

I think you want to draft a player in round one that you feel really good about in terms of the prospect succeeding.  I think you want to avoid reaches and "hopes."  By "hopes," I mean prospects that you "hope" will be good rather than you believe will be good.

[beaugestus]

IMO, the league is not paying too much emphasis on the Combine as in years past. Their performance on the field is primary in projecting their future importance. Taking to account how they are used and the talent around them, assuring they are not a product of the systems they have played in.

[Bob In PA]

IMO, the league is not paying too much emphasis on the Combine as in years past. Their performance on the field is primary in projecting their future importance. Taking to account how they are used and the talent around them, assuring they are not a product of the systems they have played in.

John: Good point. 

I think actual production is really important, over combine results, in most cases.

As you noted, however, if you believe a player was not used correctly in college, or poorly coached, or his body type and skills are changing as he matures, then IMO you might want to put more weight on combine performance.

Bob

[Painter]

How would you state your personal "Number One Rule Of First Round Picks"?

Mine would be as follows:  "Above all, get a guy who's as close to a 'sure thing' (in your view) as possible under the circumstances."

The rule does not apply when you must take a QB.  In that case, the rule is similar:  "Get a QB who's as close to a sure thing as possible."

Bob

"Above all, get a guy who's as close to a 'sure thing' (in your view) as possible under the circumstances." seems to be just another way of saying, or more particularly telling Schoen & Co." Do not take someone of whom I disapprove" so as to require a lot of time and energy trying to prove such misadventure or, even worse, lying in the weeds hoping for it to become clear and present at some point.

That is not to suggest that anyone here would be so petulant. But rather that such "rule" is a universally obvious one no matter how stated, phrased, and rephrased to suit our conceits in the matter, wouldn't you agree upon further thought?

Cheers!

[Bob In PA]

"Above all, get a guy who's as close to a 'sure thing' (in your view) as possible under the circumstances." seems to be just another way of saying, or more particularly telling Schoen & Co." Do not take someone of whom I disapprove" so as to require a lot of time and energy trying to prove such misadventure or, even worse, lying in the weeds hoping for it to become clear and present at some point.

That is not to suggest that anyone here would be so petulant. But rather that such "rule" is a universally obvious one no matter how stated, phrased, and rephrased to suit our conceits in the matter, wouldn't you agree upon further thought?

Larry: The phrase "(in your view)" was meant to mean "in the view of the person to whom I'm speaking." Otherwise I'd have said "(in my view)."  Bob

PS.  I agree with you to the extent that, if I were Schoen, I would give myself the same advice. LOL

[Jolly Blue Giant]

How would you state your personal "Number One Rule Of First Round Picks"?

Mine would be as follows:  "Above all, get a guy who's as close to a 'sure thing' (in your view) as possible under the circumstances."

The rule does not apply when you must take a QB.  In that case, the rule is similar:  "Get a QB who's as close to a sure thing as possible."

Bob

I would agree with that. I guess a "sure thing" would cover health, college production against top competition, high character, and that impossible to measure "it" factor

And I also agree about QBs - that's a crap shoot at best. Lucky is the team that has a franchise QB...hapless is the team in search of one

[ViewFromSection129]

Don't reach for a position.  Take the best player you can.

[DaveBrown74]

Don't reach for a position.  Take the best player you can.

Pretty much this for me.

When you very much need a QB though and you're picking in the top 2 or 3 or in striking distance of it, that can change the calculus a bit sometimes.