Summation/Long-story-made-short: Overall, the change in my thinking is an even stronger desire for new safeties, and more d-back depth. I also feel better about the team's core players, from a talent perspective.
If you want play along, here was the train of thought -
(Because I have some time and I didn't want to clog the draft thread or the "how many players" thread) Here's a mock I did on First Pick where the algorithm was throwing out a lot of rather favorable trade offers. This exercise requires a few big assumptions, but it's something I found interesting to think about.
Assumption 1: Every player "drafted" will make the final 53. With this many "picks" no rookie free agents want to sign.
Assumption 2: Three spots are taken by the current specialists, so no hassle with kicker, punter and long snapper.
Assumption 3: You can sign one "big name" free agent and one "mid-tier" free agent.
Assumption 4: You can re-sign any of the team's current free agents. You can cut any player currently under contract, but not restructure them.
There are 29 players in this mock. That means you get to keep/build a veteran core of 21 players (it was going to be 22, ostensibly a starting offense and defense, but added the extra free agent)
Once you have the 21-player core (assuming the "big name" free agent will also be part of it) how do you feel about "your' roster even if you could purge the chum. Would it be "dang, this team has a great core to build around!" or "I replaced over half the roster and there are still guys that suck around"?
Positions are slightly skewed due to numbers, ie: only one whatever was drafted, but it's establishing a common baseline. Offensive players in bold, defensive in italics.
Round 1 Pick 19 (TENN): Polite, Jachai, EDGE, Florida
Round 2 Pick 6 (JAX): Metcalf, DK, WR, Mississippi
Round 2 Pick 32 (N.E.): Hockenson, T.J., TE, Iowa
Round 3 Pick 2 (OAK): Adderley, Nassir, CB/FS, Delaware
Round 3 Pick 4 (NYJ): Gardner-Johnson, Chauncey, FS, Florida
Round 3 Pick 5 (JAX): Dillard, Andre, OT/OT, Washington State
Round 3 Pick 9 (N.E.): Johnson, Jaquan, SS, Miami (FL)
Round 3 Pick 16 (CLE): Keke, Kingsley, DT, Texas AM
Round 3 Pick 18 (TENN): McGary, Kaleb, OT, Washington
Round 3 Pick 29 (NYJ): Samuel, Deebo, WR, South Carolina
Round 3 Pick 33 (N.E.): Deiter, Michael, OG, Wisconsin
Round 4 Pick 3 (NYJ): Jackson, Tyree, QB, Buffalo
Round 4 Pick 12: Jelks, Jalen, EDGE, Oregon
Round 4 Pick 17 (CLE): Conrad, CJ, TE, Kentucky
Round 4 Pick 26 (DAL): Joseph, Vosean, ILB/OLB, Florida
Round 5 Pick 6 (CLE): Samia, Dru, OG, Oklahoma
Round 5 Pick 24 (CHI): Gant, Malik, FS/SS, Marshall
Round 5 Pick 27 (DAL): Sagapolu, Olive, DT, Wisconsin
Round 6 Pick 3 (S.F.): Robinson, Rashad, CB, James Madison
Round 6 Pick 12: Pollard, Tony, WR/RB, Memphis
Round 6 Pick 16 (CLE): Renfrow, Hunter, WR, Clemson
Round 6 Pick 17 (MINN): Johnson, Isaiah, CB, Houston
Round 6 Pick 21: Anderson, Rodney, RB, Oklahoma
Round 6 Pick 22 (HOU): Joseph, Kendall, ILB, Clemson
Round 6 Pick 39 (S.F.): Dortch, Greg, WR, Wake Forest
Round 7 Pick 6 (DEN): Powers, Ben, OG, Oklahoma
Round 7 Pick 11 (BUF): Daniels, Darrion, DT, Oklahoma State
Round 7 Pick 12: Sapp, Quart'e, ILB/OLB, Tennessee
Round 7 Pick 29 (S.F.): Brailford, Jordan, EDGE, Oklahoma State
