I think our agenda can shift a little but not our strategy - which should remain stacking our board according to "best available players who can help us" (which factors in a small degree of "need" into the overall rating equation) and then picking off the top guy on our list each time we draft.
Although the need for a dominant safety has been significantly lessened, it doesn't mean we couldn't use another young potential star - or possibly a CB/S tweener like Cook or Berry.
So, yeah, the needs shift a little (and to a small extent how the players on our board will stack up) but the strategy has worked for us before and should remain the same.
Regarding Dickerson - He only weighs 220. He's more of a "big" Novacek-type wide receiver who (with 4.40 speed) could be expected to create mismatches. So yeah - I could see us drafting him as a big wideout.
Needs-wise, we need at least one (more likely 2) pass-rush freaks, a big, rumbling ILB, one or two backup QB's (at least one a veteran), 2 TE's (one all purpose if available/the other a blocker), another athletic and aggressive cover corner and quality depth and young potential at all positions across the O-line.
According to my math, that's a total of 10 - 13 new high-caliber players. We have 5 draft picks in rounds 1 - 4 (6 if we got lucky and were awarded a 3rd round supplemental - which I'll believe when I see), this would leave. Assuming we hit home runs with all 6 picks, we'd still need to land another 4 - 7 players via trades or free agency.
That's a pretty tall order, but I guess that's why they pay Rod G the big bucks.
Again, don't let the size fool you into thinking that Dickerson is a finesse player. Here is his profile:
High school career
Dickerson attended West Allegheny High School in Imperial, Pennsylvania, where he played a variety of positions, including wide receiver, running back, quarterback, defensive back and kick returner. As a senior, he rushed for 1,429 yards on 182 carries (7.9 avg.) and scored 30 touchdowns, while also having 22 receptions for 423 yards (19.2 avg.) with six touchdowns. On defense, he intercepted four passes. Dickerson was named AP Pennsylvania Class AAA Player of the Year following his senior season.
Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Dickerson was listed as the No. 5 prospect from Pennsylvania in the class of 2006.[2] He chose Pittsburgh over Iowa, Michigan, and Penn State.
[edit]College career
In his initial year at Pittsburgh, Dickerson played in eight games as a true freshman, primarily seeing time at wide receiver and on the kick return unit. As sophomore he was switched over to defense, and played in all 12 games as a reserve strongside linebacker and had 15 total tackles.
His junior year was his first season at tight end, and Dickerson played in 13 games, starting two. He had 13 catches for 174 yards (13.4 avg.) and two touchdowns. In his senior year, Dickerson had 45 receptions for 508 yards (11.3 avg.) and 10 touchdowns. He received All-American honors by the Associated Press, CBS Sports, the Football Writers Association of America, the Sporting News, and the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
