[HopHead Ram]

But that is the point isn't it. Once you build up your team, if you manage it the right way, you are only reloading never rebuilding. The draft becomes more on building quality depth rather than finding that transformative player.

[PARAM]

But that is the point isn't it. Once you build up your team, if you manage it the right way, you are only reloading never rebuilding. The draft becomes more on building quality depth rather than finding that transformative player.

Yes. And again you don't have to pay first round prices. Or more to the point, two 2nd rounders are cheaper than a 1st and a 2nd. Also when you trade a first round pick for an established guy and you can't get a deal done, you get a comp pick back when he leaves, if he's any good. And they usually are when they cost a 1st round pick! So a first for a third (or 4th) and the use of that player. Pretty good. Or in Fowlers case, a second and a fifth for a third and 24 good games out of Fowler. Dumb like a fox these guys with an apparent aversion to first round selections. One thing that'll never happen.......a 1st round bust.

[Lancer]

Said another way:

How you choose to build your team, influences how one might approach a particular draft, subject to whatever management's inclinations happen to be. Think of the constant BPA vs. NEED chatter on boards, including this one, and how teams rationalize in public that, "they got the players they really wanted" afterwards.

But did they really.

I will add that the advent of arbitrary rating systems (stars) for incoming college athletes, marketing of individual potential ability in celebrity fashion (how many 7 v. 7 camp invitations did you attend, which coaches happened to visit you at home, whose hat/jersey are you wearing today, both Signing Days now being hype, social media presence, one's entourage, etc) coupled with less emphasis on the student-athlete model, has led to significant weight now assigned to those first rounds in the NFL and honestly, other sports.

While this opens up more opportunities for players in general to be discovered? I think in that environment one has to be more discerning than before. And there will be a need to be more so in the future too.

[Hacksaw]

Every team would like the top choice, , , or at least the one before theirs.