Is what you're saying here that if we'd picked 2 spots earlier in the 09 draft when Lucas was still available we might have taken him, rather than Talia?
And if so, doesn't that just demonstrate that it's not necessarily the case that having a pick 1-2 spots higher will bet you a better player than one a bit lower?
The difference between Smith and Ben Jacobs was not the difference between picks 13 and 15. It was the difference between a good pick and a shit pick.
Wherever we pick there will be plenty of good players available. We just need to make sure we pick one of them.
Who knew the secret to good drafting was picking good players?
At every earlier pick there are more good players to choose from.