Assuming MHJ is gone and we pick top 5, would you go LT or trade down? Braxton has proven himself to be a very capable tackle so I’d kind of be less enthused about spending a top pick on him. Maybe grab Kool Aid McKinstry and resign JJ would be the play.
Here’s my draft strategy. First off, I question the whole premise of this post. They have two top picks, why are we morphing 1 & 5 into 4? Let’s say they end up with 1 and 4 or 5. I’m trading #1 to 2 or 3 and taking MHJ. Then I’m trading down the 4-5 pick to about 10 where the DL make more sense. Out of the those two moves, they get back two second round picks and at least one first round pick next year. I draft a DL in the first and use the two second rounders on a safety and center.
Then it’s all about adding depth. This gives me another year with Fields but gives you two first round picks in 2025 in case it doesn’t work.
To answer the original question. No, he’s not enough of an upgrade. People forget he was the best OT taken in the draft last year, not the best outside the first round, the best, period. He’s an outstanding run blocker and has a very correctable flaw in pass protection. He has the size, athleticism, arm length and feet to be an outstanding LT. I get really tired of so called fans who think that every player is a bust who isn’t a pro bowler his first year. He played well last year and so far even better this year. And no you can’t just move him to LG, that’s where Tevin Jenkins will be playing. They also have another up and coming guard in Carter and a decent swing tackle in Borom.