Defensive End - How Big is Our Need?

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I've read about Carriker he sounds like a guy who plays with a high motor and is stout against the run, but his pass rushing abilities are lacking a bit. That concerns me. Plus I've read that he might be a better fit in a 3-4.

Yeah, that's generally the vibe.

Pass rushing skills tend to develop later in a guy's career than any other skills, so while he may never be a dominant pass rusher, theres a chance he gets better at it than scouts ever think he will be.

He's got the blend of size and atleticism we will need to compliment a speed rusher. The fact that he is stout vs. the run peaks my interest in him even more. He seems like the kind of guy that you could stick at LE, and he will keep your line from being weak vs the run for the next 12 years.

My point is that I'd rather take Okoye now, and reevaluate the DE situation later. Strange stuff can happen like Demetric Evans develops mad pass rushing skillz and earns the starting role at LE. Our DT situation has little youth beyond the pair of 6th rounders we took last year (well, 5th in Montgomery's case). If we can grow a starter out of Golston, that'd be fantastic, but 3-4 years down the road, we could have our hands on the most dominating force at DT in the league, and he'd only be 23.