Why is Bubba Franks still here?

[Comet]

Ever since he signed that fat contract, he has been terrible. I would've cut him and drafted Greg Olson. Instead, Ted Thompson created a logjam on the DL and reached for a player who has a scary injury history while making sure tight end was still a disaster.

He's gotten enough chances. It's time for a change. Thompson better get a good player or I'll continue my campaign to get him fired.

[Ayt]

I'm sure he's worried about your campaign.

Bubba is overpaid. There is no doubt about that. But at this point, cutting him is pointless; maybe next year.

How exactly is there a logjam on the DL?

[ReasonablySober]

Ever since he signed that fat contract, he has been terrible. I would've cut him and drafted Greg Olson. Instead, Ted Thompson created a logjam on the DL and reached for a player who has a scary injury history while making sure tight end was still a disaster.

He's gotten enough chances. It's time for a change. Thompson better get a good player or I'll continue my campaign to get him fired.

So he reached for a guy that would have been gone by the time the Broncos got around to pick at #21. But Greg Olson wouldn't have been a reach despite the fact that he fell all the way to #31.

Is that what you're saying, Comet?

[crkone]

If bubba doesn't perform then he won't play. It's not like he is taking a roster spot from another TE. But we will soon have one of the best DL in football (1 or 2 years). We will also be able to trade a backup for talent for other areas (Secondary).

[mnstinks]

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So he reached for a guy that would have been gone by the time the Broncos got around to pick at #21. But Greg Olson wouldn't have been a reach despite the fact that he fell all the way to #31.

Is that what you're saying, Comet?

He's saying that he doesn't understand the draft...

[eagle13]

Not sure what he is saying but it might be what I promoted before draft.

TRADE DOWN - get an EXTRA 2nd - AND take Olson. That extra 2nd could have been used to select DL Turk McBride or DT Tank Tyler.

Harrell is potentially a very good pick.
Trading down was just another option that would have been OK and even great if both picks Olson & DL proved to be solid. Then we'd still have talent at DT and at least have a real possiblity at TE.

I'm fine with Harrell - the player and potential.
Just hope he can stay healthy.

[deep throat]

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So he reached for a guy that would have been gone by the time the Broncos got around to pick at #21. But Greg Olson wouldn't have been a reach despite the fact that he fell all the way to #31.

Is that what you're saying, Comet?

There's no way to know what the Broncos would have done. That is speculation. They said they also had interest, but would they have actually have pulled the trigger? We don't know FOR SURE. WITHOUT ANY question the need was far greater at TE-I see you didn't address that at all. I think the problem was that TE was a very weak position in the draft-Olsen is a no show as a blocker and has some attitude to boot. That said, he is probably faster then the WR we drafted.

[Comet]

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So he reached for a guy that would have been gone by the time the Broncos got around to pick at #21. But Greg Olson wouldn't have been a reach despite the fact that he fell all the way to #31.

Is that what you're saying, Comet?

Unfortunately, it would've been a reach. I had Olsen going from #20-25.

But honestly, if you have to reach, at least fill a need. I do think the DL will be very good, but there were other needs, such as SS, WR, RB, and TE. Ted Thompson tried to address those needs, but I felt Thompson reached for Jackson, Rouse, and Jones. They could've taken better players, who were available, to fill holes.

Instead of Jackson, I would've picked Antonio Pittman. Instead of Jones, I would've picked Paul Williams. Rouse was the best safety available at the time, but he should've been in the 4th round.

But I still hate Buffalo for picking Lynch though. If he was available then I definitely would've taken him. He would've filled a need and he would've been at a fair draft position.

[Ayt]

They could've taken better players, who were available, to fill holes.

I love the NFL draft. Everyone is Mel Kiper Jr. now.

[schweig]

Bubba is supposedly coming in in great shape, I think it was the JS where I saw that.

I'd be glad they didn't draft Olsen even if there were no other tight ends on the roster.

[Thunder Muscle]

You keep Bubba due to lack of better alternatives at this point. Just gotta hope he maybe has a little left in the tank and bounces back. I also read that he showed up in great shape, so who knows? Also gotta hope Donald Lee does a better job catching the ball. He seems to have a knack to get open. If those two guys step up a bit, the TE situation doesn't look quite as dire. At least Bubba can block a little. I also realize that if they don't step up, its a horrible core of TE's. We'll see...?

[El Duderino]

All that really matters with first round picks isn't whether a guy was a reach or whether it filled a big need/didn't fill a need,what matters is if the guy drafted pans out.Busts or mediocrity at best in the first round are killers,a guy who proves he can play is never a bad choice.

What will determine if TT was wise to draft Harrell over a guy like Olsen will be which one becomes the better pro.Based on Olsen going very late first,Thompson taking him at 16 would have been a "reach",but if Olsen had become a stud TE for us, then who cares if he was drafted a bit to soon?

Same with Harrell.If he becomes a very good DT,i can't see any reason the fault the choice,he'll make our team better and you can never have to many quality defensive lineman.If instead he's very mediocre and Olsen becomes a great TE,then obviously Thompson made a poor evaluation of the two talents.

We'll find out on the field which GM's made good talent evaluations in this draft,not by where mock drafts said players should be picked or by drafting for need.

[deep throat]

All things equal you take the player that fits a need-no one who understands the draft will argue that. Ted obviously felt that this DT was a notch up from everyone else because it was not a top pressing need.

What I think is getting lost is that you have a player that has a pretty extensive injury history dating back to his High School days. When you add that variable into the uquation it is a cause of concern. It's that much of a concern because you are using the #16 overall pick on a player that carries a decent degree of risk. On top of that it's not like the Packers had the luxury to roll the wheel because they were already pretty much set (like the Pats/Colts/Chargers), they had (still have) pressing needs to fill. That's what differentiates GMs-many would not have taken a player that high, carrying that much risk, when they had many needs to fill. It's a move that could come back and really haunt TT in time.

There's no real reason to not bring Franks back. His salary is not an issue. Ted signed him to the extension so he is going to give him every opportunity to bounce back. As someone mentioned there is no one else of consequence currently battling him for a roster spot. If he contines to suck he will be used primarily as a blocker for another year. I wasn't sold on Olsen because of his terrible blocking. The trade with Cleveland (that they confirmed was offered) made the most sense to me.

[ReasonablySober]

I would have been on-board with that deal. Cleveland is going to be awful this year, IMO. That pick would have looked outstanding next April.

But they seemed to really love Harrell. Looking at him on film it's not hard to see why; he's an athletic wonder.