Oregon DL Derrick Harmon

Yes, technically, that is what I am talking about. That type of player has more value because they can be the stalwart NT in the middle in base defense, but also is athletic enough to be on the field in sub package play as well. That player goes from being on the field 1/3 of the time, to potentially 100% of the time (obviously not the case, but their snap load goes up massively). You get more "value" from that player as opposed to the NT type because they are capable of being on the field a lot more often. I agree that there still is some value in a NT that only plays base snaps, but that value isn't enough to be using a day 1 or day 2 pick on.

What I am describing with the DT type is what Philly does. They can afford to be in sub package sets all game because their two top DT's are freaks. They can stop the run AND chip in on the rush. This allows Philly to deploy Cooper DeJean as that extra DB and put him all over the field. Speaking of which, I am glad we met with Xavier Watts from ND, as he is a DeJean-type chess piece that we should definitely be considering.

 

They have similar styles and big frames. I am not sure that Grant is more versatile... he is probably just a bit bigger and a bit better of an athlete. They have similar strengths and weaknesses, I just think Grant has a bit of a higher ceiling. Either would be a welcome addition to the line.

I think both are worthy of a first round pick and if Grant runs that 4.8 he says he's going to at his pro day, we might not even get a shot at drafting him. That type of player on the DL is my preference though. Big athletic run stopper that is capable of playing sub package ball.

 

That's why I like Grant the scouts think he can play in the sub packages.

 

I think Williams can too, he's just not quite the athlete Grant is... Either way, that is the type of player we need. I think Harmon is a good player (and he might be the replacement for Cam we need), but that is the only type of player that makes a true impact in the short term on our defense. Our DL is aging, but despite that we were a top ranked front 7 against the run (outside of the two Ravens away games). A specific type of player will move the needle for us, and that is they body type/athlete our defense is missing.

The only problem is, we desperately need offensive weapons too. Based off our combine visits, it looks like round 1 and 2 will consist of two of WR, RB, DL, CB.

 

I think they will make major moves in free agency to fill in WR and CB.

 

Let's hope.

 

I hope so. I've said for a while that we have a ton of money available, so we better put it to use. We can take a lot of positions of the top of the draft list (WR, CB, DL, etc.) a major move in those areas would make a first round draft pick a lot less necessary.

 

I don't get this. Do you not think Benton contributed more than Ogunjobi? I did. You seem stuck on the idea that we have to have that 325 pound NT type. I'm not against that, but following BPA philosophy to some degree, if Grant isn't there and Harmon and Williams are, I'm going Harmon.