If you had the top overall pick, would you take....? (Tony Boselli)
 

Okay, same rules as before. You can take Tony Boselli with the top overall pick or you can take a random top rated guy, your choice. No traing down or anything.

Now, if you could get a guy with Tony Boselli's ability but without the career ending injuries, I think we'd all do it and we'd go home. So, the interesting thing will be to see if his shortened career, though great, is enough to warrant you picking him?

If I'm picking 1(1) and still think I have solid pieces in place, then taking Boselli for 6 years is pretty much a no-brainer. If I have to develop a QB still, and have very few playmakers on defense, then I think I pass. I'd lean towards taking him, although you only have 6 years of value from him. I'm probably rolling the dice.

Stud LT is important enough to use 1(1) so it seems like a no-brainer. Boselli always played with left-handed quarterbacks though and seemed like more of a run blocker so he was actually more of a RT than a LT I guess. I still go for it though and hope he works as well with right handed quarterbacks.

I'll roll the dice again. If Im taking an OL first pick I'd like to think he will be a 10 year starter.

+1

do you realize the average career of an nfl player is about 3 years

I would certainly expect more than an average career out of the first overall pick. Its actually about 3.5 years

http://www.nflpa.org/Faqs/NFL_HopefulsFaq.aspx

# 1 pick or not I think it's alot to expect a 10 year career from anyone you draft.

And you got me on the half year :rolleyes:

+2

Well if you are going to make a point referencing details, accuracy is pretty important. Ten years out of a running back might be asking quite a lot, I dont think finding a 10 year starter on the offensive line should be extremely tough. I was unsuccessfully looking for average careers of offensive linemen, I am assuming it is much higher than that of other positions.

yawn

I'm glad you agree

Looking at the production of #1 picks over the years, I think 6 years of Tony Boselli level production at tackle is an absolute no brainer.

jbergey - I understand you would like 10 years of this kind of productivity, but looking at the history, I'd say your chances of getting 10 years of all-pro play are roughly 20% (I count 5 out of the past 25 years at that level with the #1 overall pick) That doesn't seem like a smart play to me.

Most o-linemen seem to hold up, surprisingly. Look at the careers of guys like Larry Allen, Dermontii Dawson, Willie Anderson, Willie Roaf, Orlando Pace, etc

This is a really tough one. I think I'd go with Boselli because even tho he had a short career, when he was healthy and in, he was extremely dominant.

Good player selection on this one, Anxiety

SI

There wasn't anyone else all that great in the 1995 draft... maybe Ty Law or Derrick Brooks. So I'd take Boselli.

rkmsuf you can't analyze the draft the players came out of, that's not the point or the idea