Or we could get lucky and have Durant or Rankin develop into the starter there. Thats best case scenario.

The only problem is that Fisher's contract only had 1 year left on it.

They could easily go with a stop gap if Fisher were back in 2022 but as of right now, that's only happening if he signs an extension, during an injury year.

With Fisher tearing an achilles, I'd think it's time to start looking for the next long term LT just in case.

75% of the LT's in the league come from the first so you'll have to probably start there. I dunno what I'd do. I haven't paid much attention to the current LT crop.

Hell, call up the Texans and see what they'd take for Tunsil

Did I say reach for one? NO.

Did I say it's now an area of need? YES.

There are a few guys that might very well be best player available at #32 that happen to be OT's. And we have Niang returning, and we have TWO offensive tackle spots to fill. Certainly there are a few OT's that are being mocked right around there. That's not dumb. It's just that it's not what YOU want to do, so you're arguing against it, which is fine, but there's nothing dumb about it.

In your previous OT list, by the way, are some RT's. I don't think it's a wild stretch to say that most quality LT's are first rounders. It's just not.

Maybe we can fill the spots in FA, or one in FA, and one from within with a young guy moving up, and only Veach and Reid know what we have there.

But to say it's DUMB to take a guy that would be taken right around where we'll draft at a position that is now of dire need is ridiculous.

so which is it? am I DUMB for saying take one late in the first/early second or not? I'm confused.

I literally posted a mock in which I moved down into the upper second and took Mayfield. So both of my thoughts on the matter you indicate here are total possibilities; yet you previously called me stupid for saying we probably need to look at OT with our first pick.

Sorry man, I shouldn't have said "dumb". You know full well what I think of you and your opinions. Much respect here and you know that.

OT is the same position it was before the injury. Most of the guys that could replace Eric Fisher right away are going top 10-15. We have no realistic or practical shot at those guys.

So we're sitting at #32, just like we always were, and there's guys available that were available before the injury. They're either worth #32 or they're not. Fisher's injury doesn't change our draft board at all.

Unless you're going to panic and take an OT at #32 that wasn't on the list prior to Fisher's injury. That would be a bad move, period.

I didn't see your mock until after I posted that - obviously, we agree.

See my previous post.

I think you can forget about getting a legit blue chip type LT for sure. Those go way early, can't get that high.

Look at the developmental type

So we need to come out of this draft with a center and a tackle. I think guard is good for the most part. Allegretti is probably your LG and barring something drastic happening....LDT is your RG.

I have to wonder what Taylor Moton is going to cost.

Lots of ways to skin the cat. It still all comes down to me to who they feel is the best value in that spot.

If it's a T like Jaylen Mayfield or Teven Jenkins, or a WR like our boy Marshall, or a DE like Azeez or Phillips or Odeyingbo, OK. All work for me.

This is, fortunately, a really good T draft.

I had heard the same on Mitchell Schwartz, actually.

Makes the Niang pick even more interesting. I assume Veach is aware both are mulling retirement rather than extension.

Fisher has been so good for them and so critical to the team's success... I have a feeling they'll try to take care of him in some way. Maybe that means they extend him to reduce this year's cap hit and spread out the cost of cutting him over two years or something like that (or give him the option to see how rehab goes and come back in 2022 for one more year).

I think they'll have to get creative. I like the idea of drafting and developing one, but we'll just have to see.

I don't see them going into next season with a rookie on one side and Niang, who will essentially be a rookie, on the other side.

They need two tackles and at least one of them needs to be a vet, IMO.

I guess we will see.

Yeah, you gotta figure Niang slots in there somewhere. He was good at LT at TCU, so if he can do it, you put him there IMO.