Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome made his last draft picks in 2018, as he will soon retire. He had that role since 2002, a period which includes a Super Bowl victory and just four losing seasons.
NFL commentator and former executive Mike Lombardi, who had worked with both Newsome and Bill Belichick, said that they both had the same philosophy toward the NFL draft. For each position where the team had a need, they wouldn't pin their hopes on any one player. Instead, they would spot several players they would be happy with for a position. This would give them flexibility to wheel and deal, confident that they would get players they would be satisfied in getting.
I heard Lombardi say this on a couple of different shows, including his on GM Street. It reminds something I believe I should credit Fox Sports Radio host Colin Cowherd: don't fall in love with a prospect, fall in "like." Which goes to another thing Cowherd often says: take the emotion out of it.
In contrast, Browns GM John Dorsey and Giants GM Dave Gettleman, holding the #1 and #2 overall picks in the 2018 draft, seemed to fall in love with Baker Mayfield and Saquon Barkley, respectively. Mayfield's relatively undersized and unathletic for a qb, and Barkley's college career did not suggest he'd be an effective every-down NFL back. Both teams could have traded down in the draft and still acquired their man. Or they could have traded down and ended up with their 2nd-favorite qb or 2nd favorite rb while also addressing other needs.
But when you're in love, you're locked in. You don't want to risk losing the one you love. And therefore the Browns and Giants selected players most GMs would not have selected in those spots.
For the sake of both organizations, I hope the head coach and staff were in total agreement with these choices. A General Manager's job is to help his coaches succeed by giving them players that fit their schemes and that they want to coach.
I'm reminded of a question Tony Dungy was asked about his years as head coach of the Buccaneers: Who had the final say on the draft picks, Dungy or General Manager Rich McKay? Dungy paused, and said, "I don't know." In other words, it didn't matter because they were in agreement.
If the General Manager and coaching staff agree on the kinds of players they want, without falling in love with particular players, they will get more players filling more needs, and the winning will come sooner and last longer.
NFL commentator and former executive Mike Lombardi, who had worked with both Newsome and Bill Belichick, said that they both had the same philosophy toward the NFL draft. For each position where the team had a need, they wouldn't pin their hopes on any one player. Instead, they would spot several players they would be happy with for a position. This would give them flexibility to wheel and deal, confident that they would get players they would be satisfied in getting.
I heard Lombardi say this on a couple of different shows, including his on GM Street. It reminds something I believe I should credit Fox Sports Radio host Colin Cowherd: don't fall in love with a prospect, fall in "like." Which goes to another thing Cowherd often says: take the emotion out of it.
In contrast, Browns GM John Dorsey and Giants GM Dave Gettleman, holding the #1 and #2 overall picks in the 2018 draft, seemed to fall in love with Baker Mayfield and Saquon Barkley, respectively. Mayfield's relatively undersized and unathletic for a qb, and Barkley's college career did not suggest he'd be an effective every-down NFL back. Both teams could have traded down in the draft and still acquired their man. Or they could have traded down and ended up with their 2nd-favorite qb or 2nd favorite rb while also addressing other needs.
But when you're in love, you're locked in. You don't want to risk losing the one you love. And therefore the Browns and Giants selected players most GMs would not have selected in those spots.
For the sake of both organizations, I hope the head coach and staff were in total agreement with these choices. A General Manager's job is to help his coaches succeed by giving them players that fit their schemes and that they want to coach.
I'm reminded of a question Tony Dungy was asked about his years as head coach of the Buccaneers: Who had the final say on the draft picks, Dungy or General Manager Rich McKay? Dungy paused, and said, "I don't know." In other words, it didn't matter because they were in agreement.
If the General Manager and coaching staff agree on the kinds of players they want, without falling in love with particular players, they will get more players filling more needs, and the winning will come sooner and last longer.
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