Drafting Center early is safe bet...

I know we all would love to have Mack, but knowing that his price tag is going to be north of 8mil per yr is pretty tough to swallow. Especially when you look at the history of drafting centers and their hit rate.

In the last 7 drafts here are the 1st centers taken and their draft spot ....Mack(21), Pouncey(18), Pouncey(15), Jones(99), Frederick(31), Richburg(43) and Erving(19)

Pretty solid hit rate their...Woods(28), Wisnewski (48), Hudson (55) were the 2nd centers off the board during this period. Schwenke (107) was the 2nd off the board when we drafted him.

If I were Robinson, I would go after Wisnewski or Jones in FA and if you can't get them for a decent amount then I would roll with Schwenke/Gallick and draft pick.

I really like both Ryan Kelly and Nick Martin who are the top 2 centers coming out this yr. Kelly obviously has gone up against great talent day in and day out at Bama's practices. Martin has been a great anchor for the Notre Dame line for several yrs and has the NFL pedigree with his brother being a 1st rnd pick for the Cowboys.

If we have to spend #33 on a center then history shows that most likely we will get a solid starter.

 

I would prefer a moderate priced FA center. If we don't get one then I think we certainly need to look for one in the draft. If pick #33 rolls around and both Kelly and Martin are still on the board then you could just pick another position of need and hope one makes it to the 1st pick of the 3rd or trade back from #33 for an extra pick and then grab your center.