One of the best WR prospects at the catch point and winning leverage mid-route. He consistently sets up defenders to put them on his back, locates the ball, and attacks it at the highest point.
Rashee Rice was drafted with pick 55 of round 2 in the 2023 draft class. He scored a 9.53 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 145 out of 3062 WR from 1987 to 2023. https://t.co/lwD9tvVPvvpic.twitter.com/YjucxErSE1
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
We also have a weird definition of misfire.
Mecole Hardman wasn't the best pick that could've been made. It also wasn't a bad pick. It was defensible (if frustrating) at the time and in his 4 years on his rookie deal he contributed pretty well.
He's made an effort 3 times. 1 appears to have hit really well, 1 was fine, 1 is a bust (I mean we can keep slow-playing it, but he's not good).
That's a fine track record.
It seems worse than it is because the “hit” (Rice) was the last of the picks and there were a few seasons between “fine” (Hardman) and certain “bust” (Moore). [Reply]
Originally Posted by smithandrew051:
It seems worse than it is because the “hit” (Rice) was the last of the picks and there were a few seasons between “fine” (Hardman) and certain “bust” (Moore).
I just distinctly remember "man, we really suck at drafting linebackers" about 5 years ago and going over the fact that, hey - we really never TRIED.
Fast forward a few years when we've actually put effort into drafting the position and suddenly we might have the best LB corps in football.
It's all about prioritizing scarce resources. Give it time - we'll be fine.
EDIT: Found the thread
Spoiler!
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
Well you run into the same problem we run into when asking why Dorsey didn't draft more difference makers on defense - priority.
I mean...we haven't really tried.
Lets look at all the capital spent on off-ball LBs since DJ (I assume you're not including Hali, Houston or Ford in this and mean strictly off-ball guys not edge players):
2006: None
2007: None
2008: None
2009: None
So right away we have a 4 year stretch where we put literally NOTHING at the position. Not even a 7th round pick.
2010: Maybe you squint and say Cameron Sheffield at pick 142; a converted DE.
2011: Gabe Miller - pick 140
2012: None
2013: Nico Johnson - pick 99
2014: None
2015: Ramik Wilson -Pick 118 and DJ Alexander at 172
2016: None
2017: Ukeme Eligwe - pick 183
2018: DoD - Pick 100
In 14 years --- FOURTEEN YEARS -- we've drafted seven guys who might be classified as off-ball linebackers and even that includes DJ Alexander and Cam Sheffield who were always seen as some kind of hybrid/edge sort of players. But give ya all 7 just to be sporting; one every other year.
And in that lot we have a 3rd rounder (dead back of the round) two 4th rounders and four 5th rounders. I mean shit, since 2005 we've spent a 3rd and a 7th on a kicker and a punter. Even the trades are 5th rounders in 2 seasons for Ragland and stuff like that; nominal assets.
Now to some degree it's explained by the time we spent in a 3-4 over that period AND the presence of DJ. You've never felt the need to prioritize the position. But it's still worth pointing out that we've struggled there because we haven't tried - rightly or wrongly, we simply haven't made an effort at that position. We've drafted better than half that lot in the 5th round and spent a 5th rounder on Ragland. Value the position at roughly the 5th round and you probably shouldn't be surprised by a pittance of a return.
It's past time to change that thinking.
And really, we've done the same comparison a couple times when talking about WR here vs. what the Steelers have done. We had Hill - so we didn't draft a lot of WRs. Before that we had Derrick Johnson so we didn't draft a lot of linebackers. When we had to transition away from our established superstar, it took a little time but we got it taken care of.
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
I just distinctly remember "man, we really suck at drafting linebackers" about 5 years ago and going over the fact that, hey - we really never TRIED.
Fast forward a few years when we've actually put effort into drafting the position and suddenly we might have the best LB corps in football.
It's all about prioritizing scarce resources. Give it time - we'll be fine.
EDIT: Found the thread
Spoiler!
And really, we've done the same comparison a couple times when talking about WR here vs. what the Steelers have done. We had Hill - so we didn't draft a lot of WRs. Before that we had Derrick Johnson so we didn't draft a lot of linebackers. When we had to transition away from our established superstar, it took a little time but we got it taken care of.
We will this time as well.
Plus the Watson FA acquisition reduced the need to draft WRs. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
Honestly, I think it was Hardman that kept us from drafting Pickens.
Georgia receivers get a bad rap. I saw it from the talking heads even - so many of those guys threw the usual "doesn't run good routes" knock on him and that was always just silly as hell.
Pre-draft I said I thought he might be the best pure route-runner in the draft. The guy could run routes.
I wonder if Hardman's relatively graduated learning curve here didn't create a bit of a bias against Pickens, being another toolsy receiver from Georgia who's production didn't match his raw talent.
Hard to say.
I’ll forever believe that they were afraid of him developing into a TO type player and causing distractions while also adding a selfish WR to the mix that will be demanding the ball from Mahomes.
After all, they had just traded the best WR since JR80 that reportedly snd admittedly demanded the ball from Pat and it caused a rift and possibly played a major role in us losing a couple huge games.
I bet the lesson they learn from this is sometimes, the character concerns are well worth the risk when the alternative is a major talent dropoff to the next prospect that will also require a lot more development.
Another question I have about Pickens…
Man…Pickens and Rice would be a fucking NASTY set of outside WRs to pair with Kelce working the middle.
Has anyone ever directly asked Veach in an interview if he’s had second thoughts about the decision to pass on Pickens in the trade down? [Reply]
Originally Posted by BossChief:
I’ll forever believe that they were afraid of him developing into a TO type player and causing distractions while also adding a selfish WR to the mix that will be demanding the ball from Mahomes.
After all, they had just traded the best WR since JR80 that reportedly snd admittedly demanded the ball from Pat and it caused a rift and possibly played a major role in us losing a couple huge games.
I bet the lesson they learn from this is sometimes, the character concerns are well worth the risk when the alternative is a major talent dropoff to the next prospect that will also require a lot more development.
Another question I have about Pickens…
Man…Pickens and Rice would be a ****ing NASTY set of outside WRs to pair with Kelce working the middle.
Has anyone ever directly asked Veach in an interview if he’s had second thoughts about the decision to pass on Pickens in the trade down?
That would probably be the last question you ever get to ask [Reply]
Originally Posted by Hammock Parties:
the young bull
I absolutely loved that play. But I was also afraid they were going to give him a penalty for lowering his head. That dude is turning into a beast. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Bump:
Veach wanted to fix the receiver room the same way he fixed the linebackers. Missed on Skyy, it's a hit on Rice. This dude is on his way.
I don't want to muddy this thread but I'm not ready to give up on Skyye just yet. He looked decent on Sunday. Not that I think he will be a star like I think Rice will be, but I think he has some value. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Lzen:
I don't want to muddy this thread but I'm not ready to give up on Skyye just yet. He looked decent on Sunday. Not that I think he will be a star like I think Rice will be, but I think he has some value.
:-), you are telling folks this that have a vested interest in his failure now... Many of the negative posters would rather be right about Sky than see him succeed. Disgusting. He did have a good day Sunday and also had some good blocks, but the derps still say he's a bust already... [Reply]
