I admit it, FAITHFUL READER. In the end I got caught up in the draft hype. Like everyone else I had myself convinced that we needed to draft a receiver. The first four picks of the draft played out exactly like everyone figured they would. In the end, however, Jim Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz had no intention of drafting Malik Nabers. I don't think they would have drafted Marvin Harrison, Jr. if they had the opportunity. Every time someone mentioned Joe Alt, I was reminded of Jerry Tillery and every Tom Telesco Notre Dame pick. I had no idea if he was any good or not. Then again, Robert Gallery was a can't miss offensive lineman.
It's clear now that Tennessee wanted Joe Alt as well. The only way trading out of the #5 pick makes sense is it you can still get the guy you want after the trade. If there is someone you can live with letting go in exchange for the return, then it's ok. Clearly they see Alt as Orlando Pace or Penei Sewell good. We saw first hand how good Detroit's line was this year. When everyone, myself included, thought we "Chargered" the pick we were wrong. We "Harbaughed" the pick.
"Chargering" has come to define making an unforced error to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. I don't know if Joe Alt will be what Harbaugh and Hortiz believe he will, but I know that they didn't make the pick based on stubbornness or refusal to pick the obvious talent in front of them.
Once they traded up in the second round, we all breathed a sigh of relief. Even if they hadn't drafted McConkey, at least they took a receiver. I know this team will be built from the inside out, but I also don't think Justin Herbert's talents will be ignored while he hands off the ball on every play.
I even got scared that maybe there was something to all the Antonio Brown-fueled rumors that Harbaugh might not want Hebert. In the end, New England and Minnesota hit Hortiz up and he laughed them off. I wrote after the Harbaugh hire that it was so great that HE picked US. We were wanted. I lost sight of why we all wanted Harbaugh so badly to begin with. He wins and builds a culture of winning. We have been screaming from the rooftops that Dean Spanos doesn't hold people accountable and hires yes men to run the team. With this move, he proved us wrong. It doesn't guarantee success, but he did what we all asked for and what we all privately thought he'd never do. We have to trust enough to see it work.
As I have said time and time again, I don't get into mock drafts and having a board of prospects. But I did get swept up by those that do. The schedule will be released either this week or next. When it does we can look at how we think the year might play out. Of course, none of us has any idea about it. One of the reasons I don't write as much in the offseason is that I don't profess to have an eye for talent. I don't have an idea about who will emerge from the competition within a position group. I just observe and comment on what I see and what I've experienced. Hopefully, there will be some unexpected surprises this year. We didn't hire Harbaugh for the RV or the draft-day fight songs. We hired him to win and to take us (and him) to the one place we've never been.
I'll be back after the schedule release.
JIC,
RLW
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