Let's just say that having a great RB is much more important than a great WR. Trading away your best player on offense would be a foolishly stupid thing to do right now.
Who's talking about a WR? Do we believe that RBs can fungible or not? If we do, then trading Howard shouldn't be staggering, especially if in a draft full of good prospects Pace can acquire draft capital and find a replacement. If we don't believe they are fungible than Pace should have taken a RB higher in the draft.
I also don't believe that best player on OFF = untradeable.
Howard isn't going anywhere, so its just a thought exercise anyway. But for a 3rd I'd trade Howard in a heart beat. I think his true value is maybe a 4th, which for the value he brings right now, itsn't worth the trade.
True value is always hard to establish any longer if only because how cheap mid round picks like Howard are vs how productive some become. IF and I say IF we were shopping him I'd be looking for at least a late 2nd from someone like the Pats who also seem to like power back.
I wouldn't accept much less because I agree. He's worth more to us now than we're likely to be offered.
Typically starters and other core players are gonna come in the first three rounds. One current exception might be interior OL but even that's changing as teams have drafted All Pro interior DL who aren't just run stoppers. As a result top OGs and OCs are in greater demand and drafted earlier.
In addition to Nelson whom I believe is a generational talent there are several more who'll likely go in rounds 1-3.
IMHO it's actually Edge Rushers who may be sliding a bit. There seem to be fewer 3 down types now than ever. Some of these guy are great pass rushers but can't set and edge or play the run. Others can't cover so if all you'll get is a guy with some limitations is he worth a top ten pick or is he even worth a 1st round pick at all?
In fact is it better to have one nearly unstoppable edge guy teams can game plan around than a half dozen guys who can rotate and rush from different spots and instead be stronger in the middle penetrating and/or pushing the pocket. Pressures have now become as important as sacks so needs seem to be changing. Size and power can be as useful as raw speed.
Also according to that PFF analysis the best predictor of any pass rushers success in the NFL is his success with it in college. On that basis alone Landry may be the best pick for someone who wants a pure edge rusher and there are several more who for various reasons rank anywhere from low 1st round picks to 3rd and 4th rounders. I think if your scouting is good you can find pass rushers later but they won't be as dominant or complete as the best ones.
(1) despite all the arguments we had about elite RBs not being any more valuable than a very good RB when it comes to team building and (2) that according to many very good RBs can be found in the draft every single year, (3) and that Howard is a very good RB who has had issues in the passing game
everyone freaks out about trading Howard. If we truly believed what we say we do about RBs, team building, and the draft, trading Howard shouldn't raise so much angst. Would I trade Howard? Not this season, maybe after next season before he's due an extension. I wouldn't trade him for anything less than a 3rd. (I also don't think the Bears will give him a second contract.) But I won't panic when teams ask about Howard. The only reason we are freaking out that we still deep down somewhere inside believe that all the Bears need is a RB and a DEF to win Super Bowls. Personally, I think Nagy can use Howard in a way that plays to Howard's strengths and covers any weaknesses.
Let's just say that having a great RB is much more important than a great WR. Trading away your best player on offense would be a foolishly stupid thing to do right now.
I agree 100%. I keep hearing about how he doesn't fit or flipping him for a more valuable pick than we spent on him and it's all lost on me. A great back is a great back, and an offensive genius, like Nagy is supposed to be, well find a way to utilize you. I'm sick of the Martz system fallout ideas. Keep talent and work with it.
I've read a couple of followups on this and whoever wrote them is being ridiculously assumptive about both Howard and his value to the Bears. Someone needed some chatter to write about with a click bait header. That's it.
Btw greatest myth going in the nfl is that rbs are easily found anywhere in the draft. Langford and carey should be examples of how hard it is to find quality starting rbs in any round. There are a lot of rbs taken in the middle to late rounds that amount to nothing. BUT if you are looking for a non lead role, a rbbc type ya you can get a guy like that just as easily in the mid rds as you can early.
And herein lies the problem Ric, which is why I think so many people seem to be okay w/ trading Howard. High quality RBs are hard to find in late rounds, Pace was just lucky to draft Howard. And unlike others, I think that RB is definitely a position you can draft high.