As for the draft itself, I think we’re in agreement that this team has more holes than we can reasonably hope to fill in one year. That being said, I think we need to take the best available talent at whatever spot we draft. Simply put, no QB that is definitely coming out (Stafford, Painter, Boeckman) impresses me much so I think we need to look elsewhere with our early pick. If McCoy, Bradford or to a lesser extent, Sanchez come out then I’ll reevaluate. MLB is more interesting but I think Maualuga and Laurinaitis will be mid first rounders and would be better targeted if we could trade back into the first round like we managed to do last year to pick up Albert. Hali and Dorsey are a good start on the D line and I’ve been satisfied if not thrilled with Mcbride.

So in my mind, the only real option for that first pick (presumably top 5 again) is an elite O lineman like Andre Smith or Michael Oher or a WR. I wouldn’t hate taking an OL but I think we need to at least consider both options.

How do you know that Tony is leaving after this season? You are correct that we could use a second receiver to emerge. Perhaps Franklin could be that guy. You are also correct that keeping hyour opponent off balance is a key part of winning. However, you can not stretch the field without a QB that can get the ball downfield. Now that Brodie is gone, we no longer have that QB. Even with that QB, we can not stretch the field if our QB is on his butt because our line could not protect him. What yuo are looking at is step 3 or 4 in the offense rebuild, not step 1. Let’s worry about building the O-line, D front 7 and QB before we worry about the second WR. You bring in a Crabtree with our current O-line and it will not make much of a difference. We need at least 5 players before we get to the second WR. Some of those 5 better already be on this roster or be vet FA pickups. If not, we could be looking at another long year next year.

Bowe: 34
Tony G: 27
Darling: 5
Webb: 4
Franklin: 1

I’m sure you all realize that we don’t have good options after those two, but the way it is we don’t even have bad options, we have nothing. Guys we have a STARTING WIDE RECEIVER who averaging less than ONE CATCH PER GAME!!!

Merlin mentioned that football is won in the trenches… well after Tony leaves this offseason, we’ll have exactly 1 player to throw the ball too. Even if I’m generous and assume that he’ll be double covered for the rest of life, I still see no reason why every opponent we face wouldn’t stack 8 in the box all day. Merlin, I counter, the way you win football games is by stretching the field and keeping your opponents off balance. Not only will Crabtree step in as a true #1 (Don’t try to tell me Bowe’s a #1, I saw the New England game) but having those two together will open up running lanes for whoever we have back there next season.

I think New England would be a wonderful destination for LJ. The powers that be in NE traded for the disgruntled Cory Dillon some years back.

Plus, much like Brodie Croyle, Lawrence Maroney is made of glass.