We probably will have 9 picks. (7 + Comp. Jennings + Comp. Walden). In my opinion, these are the 9 biggest needs:
1. Safety - The second safety next to Burnett has been the weakest link all season long. We need a reliable starter at safety.
2. Nose Tackle - Pickett is aging, Raji isn't the answer. We need a new nose tackle for the future.
3. Outside Linebacker - For a 3/4 to be effective, you need good linebackers to rush the passer. Se we need a guy opposite to Clay. Perry might or might not be that guy. Would be nice to have another outside linebacker to compete for the starting spot.
4. Wide Receiver - This spread offense needs weapons to be effective. Ideally you have at least four guys that can catch footballs, so that we can deal with injuries at this position. James Jones a free agent and aging, so we better draft his replacement early.
5. Inside Linebacker - A.J. Hawk is decent, not great. Jones and Lattimore are weak links. Would be nice to bring in a guy to compete at this spot.
I agree with all those except your #5 HAS TO be #1.
Nobody realizes how bad these ILBs are?
Seriously.
Remember the 2010 Super Bowl season, and how much better we were in that run with Desmond Bishop?
He was good.
I get to see Sean Lee here in Dallas a lot. He got hurt this year. But before he was hurt, he was so SO much better than what we see in Green Bay. Same with the TWO guys on the 49ers. Of course there's Kuechly, etc.
Our guys are average and below-average. That equals below-average.
B Jones has no instincts at all as an ILB. He was an OLB and that's his main skillset. He is not an INSIDE linebacker.
Hawk? He's dependable. Amazing that he's the highest drafted ILB in the league. Wow.
If we simply traded ILBs with SF or Carolina, I think we're the Super Bowl favorites. That's how bad and important the 2 ILB spots are in this defense.
THEY are the guys expected to make the majority of the plays. 10-15 tackles a game, a lot at the LOS.
Capers asks for his DL guys to occupy the blockers to allow these LBers to flow to the ball and make plays. How often do we see that happen?
Ask Le'Veon Bell, who had his best NFL day ever against us.
Ask DeMarco Murray, who had his best game of the season against us.
Go back to the first Bears game where Forte killed us. He also had three TDs last week against us.
Go back to last year's playoff loss to the Niners where Gore ran for 150......
Our ILBs are horrible.
I think some folks still think Hawk is better than he is because he was the #5 overall pick back in 2006 (ahead of Vernon Davis and Haloti Ngata). He's just a guy. At least he doesn't get hurt all the time, but still, he's average at best.