Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Meck
There aren't any 245 pound DE's kicking ass in the NFL 3-4 rushbackers maybe. In college, they can get by being a faster, better athlete than the guy across from them who will usually not be heading to the NFL. But that's not going to fly on Sundays with the best of the best.
No, I reject the notion that these guys are finished products at 21 or 22. There's just far too much evidence to the contrary.
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I don't think it's the age, though.
It's the quality of competition or just raw ability.
I don't think starting from 21 means your ceiling is any higher than starting from 23 at this level. And ultimately I think if it takes you longer to get there, you've given back whatever you may have gained by burning off utility in your rookie deal.
The idea that 21 is clearly BETTER than 23 is where I leave the argument. It isn't -- it's just different. And if 23 means you get production through 4 years of a 5 year rookie deal where 21 means you get it for 2 or 3 of those years...well I think you've lost value in the exchange.
Hard Karlaftis not had odd schooling that had him coming out younger, I just don't think his development curve would've changed a ton. And if it did and we got the 23 year old version on him in year 1 of his rookie deal vs. the 21 year old version, doesn't that have plenty of value of its own?