Is this why I'm not a general manager?

[Auggie]

Six receivers taken in the first 18:

Atlanta #8, Jets #10, Saints #11, Lions #12, Commanders #16, Titans #18.

Games are won in the trenches and with defense.

[MiHale]

1. Well the Detroit Lions went for defense first...

then plugged a big hole on the offensive side with their choice. 2 needs fulfilled in first round.
I’ll admit to being a fan…sometimes good judgement waits 40-50 years.

[gibraltar72]

2. I think the Loins did both actually.

[Best_man23]

3. Part of this is the "Business of Football"

The Titans made the business decision to trade A.J. Brown rather than pay him the going price for a Top 10 WR or losing him outright in free agency when his contract ended. Look at the contracts that Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill signed last month, along with the new contract Brown received when the trade to the Eagles was announced.

The other part of this was need. Atlanta, Jets, and Lions all had need to upgrade the WR position. That said, the WR the Lions drafted did not look very happy that he was selected by Detroit. Hopefully Dan Campbell can finally get the Lions turned around.

[Auggie]

5. In a cap situation, do WRs provide the best ROI?

First round picks get first round money

[Best_man23]

7. Rookies since 2012 are paid on a scale

Which is far less than what a veteran player in the top 10 at his position commands.

Let's look at one of the WRs taken last year and one that received a massive contract this season and the cap implication for 2023, as most teams backload the cap hit on veteran contracts. The first WR taken by the Bengals in last year's draft (Ja'Marr Chase) has a cap number around $8M in 2023 which includes guranteed salary and pro-rated signing bonus. Tyreek Hill's new contract with the Dolphins signed in March has a cap number of $31.2M in 2023.

Source: https://overthecap.com/

The ROI is based on performance, and if you're comparing the two WRs and had to take one, the wise choice would be to go with Chase. Both receivers had productive seasons with their respective teams in 2021. Because Chase is on a rookie contract, the Bengals got the better ROI (more bang for dollars spent).

[Auggie]

8. Better ROI than a first round DE? OT? SS? LB?

[Ferrets are Cool]

4. Yes, yes it is

[AZProgressive]

6. Cardinals traded their #23 for Marquise Brown

It was a good trade since there wasn’t much top talent in this years draft.