Part of what makes a successful NFL draft is the on-the-clock is the feeling out process. What does that mean? Often the best teams this time of year are the ones who have a good sense of which players where and when players will likely come off the board. If this guy will still be there when we’re on the board again, then we should probably take somebody else with a similar grade.
Looking for an example? Recall how the Chicago Bears operated in the draft last year. They could’ve easily taken offensive tackle Cody Whitehair at the #41 pick and been content with it. However, GM Ryan Pace seemed to have a feel that the young lineman would probably still be on the board later. So the Bears moved down not once but twice in the second round. During which they scooped up three fourth round picks. Then they grabbed Whitehair at #56.
It was masterful manipulation of the board. Pace is going to need that same good sense again going into 2017, especially with the pressure to draft a quarterback high. Will it be in the first round? Current sense is the value might not be there. On the other hand there is a fear there won’t be any good option left by the time Chicago goes on the clock again.
Here’s why that might not be accurate.
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