Draft: Need vs. Best Player

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Oakland Red

I always would draft for the best available player.

If each player has a certain amount of wattage in terms of their ability to positively effect their teams performance, would you pick a 10 watt player over a 1000 watt player, just because the 10 watt player is where you have a "need?"

The best thing is in my view to accumulate the most overall wattage for your team. Then, with the most wattage possible, you are in the best position to trade other players and so forth to bring your team into balance.

Wattage. Interesting.

Well, if my choices are 1000 "watts" vs 10 "watts", what you're really telling me is one guy is 100 times better than the other. Well yeah, duh, I'll take the 1000 watt guy. But there are no prospects on the board who are 100 times better than the others. Not even close. Calvin Johnson included. Of course, Calvin is a moot point for us, he'll be gone by the time we pick.

With that in mind, I'd stick to need. Our biggest need is depth at multiple spots, DT being the biggest need IMO. I'd trade down if possible. Otherwise, stick at 6 and pick DT.

[Oakland Red]

The point I wanted to make is that I think you want to draft for the most value - then you have the most value to work with, and can adjust your roster through free agency and trades later. To draft for need, you miss the much higher wattage player available when you make your pick if he isn't at your position of "need."

So, yes, last year the Texans could have drafted Reggie Bush. Most would say Reggie Bush was the higher wattage player than Mario Williams, who got 4 and a half sacks last year. The Texans would have had more overall team wattage if they had. They could have then engaged in trades and used free agency to balance their roster.

No, I am not saying that Reggie Bush had 100 times more talent wattage than M. Williams - I wasn't being specific about any players, and was using a metaphor to make a point.

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Wattage. Interesting.

Well, if my choices are 1000 "watts" vs 10 "watts", what you're really telling me is one guy is 100 times better than the other. Well yeah, duh, I'll take the 1000 watt guy. But there are no prospects on the board who are 100 times better than the others. Not even close. Calvin Johnson included. Of course, Calvin is a moot point for us, he'll be gone by the time we pick.

With that in mind, I'd stick to need. Our biggest need is depth at multiple spots, DT being the biggest need IMO. I'd trade down if possible. Otherwise, stick at 6 and pick DT.