Open Mic: Being a General Manager on Draft Day

The NBA draft beckons fans to have a bowl of popcorn, snuggle up in their favorite chair and sit in front of the television set, awaiting to see who will add to their already great franchise or possibly help save their fledgling one.

 

Rest assured, some will head to bed pleased, others befuddled, a few optimistic and the rest completely miffed.

 

Even if it is the off-season, something is always happening in your favorite sport, especially around draft time.

 

When any draft of a sport beckons, those who show their loyalty always become arm chair, General Managers, engaging in their own analysis of players, making their own judgments about who their favorite should pick and believing they could do the job better than the big guns.

 

Fans may even ruthlessly insult the actual GM if he or she picks what, in the minds of them, is an obvious bust.

 

So, what would a fan do if he or she could, in fact, be the GM for his or her favorite team during a draft?

 

What sport and team should I choose?

 

Even though this idea was spurred on by the impending NBA draft, my futile knowledge of basketball makes me want to stay away from it. I think I’ll play it safe and head for the draft that gets far and away the most attention in this country, as well as the one I’m most knowledgeable of: the NFL Draft.

 

With that settled, which team should I, momentarily, take over?

 

I think I’ll give Bill Parcells and his crew a chance to enjoy South Beach a little and take over the reigns of the Miami Dolphins, especially, because I think even I could have done a better job with some of their personnel decisions.

 

All right, so I have the reigns of my favorite team for the upcoming NFL Draft.

 

Now what?

 

Based on last season, my team’s needs are: quarterback, wide receiver, offensive and defensive line, and linebacker.

 

After deliberating with my coaching staff, I come to the conclusion that, based on the talent we have, which isn’t much, the talent pool of this draft and the fact that no one would be interested in trading picks, it would be smart if we addressed the defensive or offensive line first.

 

Choosing to abide by the traditional belief that defense wins championships, I’ll go defense and fill a need there, rather than make a bid for the best player available.

 

I could have gone for an offensive lineman, but I could probably find a pretty good one in the later rounds.

 

I pick a defensive lineman.

 

At any rate, here comes the second round, with a new need to focus on: quarter back.

 

Fortunately, some quality ones has slid into my hands, and I take one of them in the second round.

 

Third round, here we come.

 

Again, I look to fill another need, this one on the offensive line.

 

Another hole filled…hopefully.

 

 I think you can figure out how I think teams should approach a draft in their respective league.

 

In my world, General Managers should focus on their team’s needs, listen to coaches’ input regarding the best available players that would fill those needs, and work their draft from there.

 

Of course, there are always exceptions.

 

If the best player available doesn’t fill a need, but is far and away the most talented one up for grabs and has to be taken, pick him and then go about filling needs.

 

However, unless it’s clear that one is miles ahead of the rest, put the focus on filling needs in the team, not taking the best player available.