MackStrongIsMyHero wrote:I'm reluctant to get ahead of myself over Smith-Njigba and Bobo until they both actually emerge. I like what I'm seeing, but a few games of production from them doesn't make Metcalf expendable. He's also not untouchable either. I'm more concerned about his propensity for penalties than I am paying for his production. The dime a dozen argument suggests, in my opinion, that there are enough adequately talented WRs available in later rounds to get enough production the field. This a true to an extent; it depends a lot on the OC and the QB, but there's still top tier prospects who have attributes that just can't be taught. I say that to convey that I don't have a problem avoiding using high-round picks for WRs, but I fine with drafting a guy that looks like a top-tier talent in the early rounds. And, yes, there's some late round success stories like Kupp that over perform, but that is hardly representative of what a team can expect drafting all their WRs in the later rounds. Seattle has churned through a lot of late round guys. Baldwin and Lockett are the two late round success stories to their name. Bobo could be the next one. That's potentially 3 since 2011.
To answer the original question, I can go either way on it. If someone wants to give up the farm for him then jump on it. If the price isn't right, let him play out his contract and reassess at the end of it.
Kupp was drafted high in the 3rd round, the 69th overall, so I wouldn't call that a late round selection.
But there are lots of gems at the WR position in the late rounds, more, it seems, than other positions. The Rams got Puka Nacua in the 5th round this season, and he's already the 3rd leading receiver in the league with 58 receptions and over 750 yards. FYI neither Baldwin nor Kearse were drafted. Both were UFDA's.
Just for fun, here are the current top 5 receivers and their draft position:
1. Tyreek Hill, 5th round
2. AJ Brown, 2nd round
3. Puka Nacua, 5th round
4. Stefon Diggs, 5th round
5. DJ Moore, 2nd round
3 of the top 4 are 5th round selections. I wonder how that compares to other positions.