It's pretty obvious to me objectively speaking that this was an excellent draft. I did not necessarily like the selections made and where they were taken, but Mac didn't really have a choice?
I completely support taking BPA. I think it's a wonderful draft strategy that keeps your roster going with constant young, talented bucks waiting in the wings. Mac took BPA throughout this draft.
You can't fault Mac for not taking an OL in this draft. This draft was pretty much the worst draft I can remember in regards to OL talent. Now, we could discuss his inability to at least take some depth for the OL, but once again I don't think Mac had depth in mind?
My feeling is he came into this draft identifying the secondary as an area of tremendous depth throughout the draft. To his point, Ohio St., Alabama, Washington, and Florida all had defensive backs selected in the draft. This draft was considered to be one of the all time greats in regards to defensive backs. So what better sense than to take DB's in this draft?
You could also attempt to criticize by saying, Mac already had so many holes on the roster that it was impossible for him NOT to come out of the draft with talent.
All in all, my feeling is Mac went where the talent was in this draft and stuck to BPA. Just about all of those picks in the 4th or later would have gone much higher in any normal draft? It's just that this draft was just so loaded with talent that many talented players slid to the late rounds. It happens.
So he went into the draft with what? 6 draft choices? He came out with 9 and an extra 5th rounder next year. From a value standpoint, I think that is some pretty successful wheeling and dealing.
But what excites me the most is I figured with the draft being as talented as it was that Mac MUST come away with at least 3 starters? I figure Adams and Maye are day 1 starters, barring injury of course. Jordan Leggett is more than likely a starter and you could make a case to think that the two defensive backs selected in the 6th round could be day 1 starters? All in all, you could be possibly looking at 5 new starters for the team.
And I'm not just saying starters.....I mean what's the point of starters if they suck? If they are only starters because they play on such a weak team? No. I am thinking these kids could very well be the real deal? Real live players that pop from day one for the team. Who knows? But my optimism meter is at full tilt right now.