Quote:
Originally Posted by Eckesg1
By the way....
Who came up with the rule that guards can't be drafted in the top 10 and that tackles can?
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Two things:
1) Old rookie pay scale. Paying a rookie guard $5MM/yr off the bat wasn't wise. Even if he comes in and plays at an average starting level, that's a bad cap investment. The only way it "pays off" is if the guy is a surefire Pro Bowler from Day 1. Under the new rookie scale, we're now talking about paying a guy a much more reasonable $3MM/yr for 4 years for the 9th pick. For reference, that would be slightly below what Brandon Moore made the last 4 years. I wouldn't call it a "wise" investment to take a guard at #9, but if we're talking about Warmack, then it is plenty wise.
2) The game is ever evolving and having interior pass rushers these days is growing in priority. We're seeing guys like Watt and Atkins putting up double digit sacks and guys like Justin Smith and Calais Campbell not too far behind (Wilk/Coples are entering this territory too). So in terms of cause:effect, guards are in essence more important now than in the past.