The Difference Between Best Player Available vs. Drafting For Need (Sal Capaccio Explains...)

[BillyWhiteShows]

Brandon Beane’s comments on drafting continue to confuse me.  He had been firm in saying “we don’t draft for need” and that draft for need get in trouble.  He has said the famous cliche “best player available.”

 

But didn’t Beane draft for need and not BPA last year?  He traded up for Josh Allen and Edmunds because QB sand MLB were a giant need!  If he was drafting BPA, then he would have taken the best player available at 21 and 22.  But he said in his presser at the Senior Bowl that it was drafting for need because he traded up.  Huh?  Didn’t he trade up to....you guessed it, draft for need?

 

In fact, I’d argue that most teams draft for need.  If they didn’t, then we’d see more team draft 2 QB’s in 1 draft or draft a QB high behind an established QB.  This would be like the Jets drafting Haskins because he’s the highest ranked prospect available when they pick.  They won’t do it because they already have a young QB they drafted the year earlier.   Also when teams set up their board doesn’t need come into play with the rankings?

 

One time the Bills did draft BPA, was the selection of CJ Spiller in 2009.  The pick was lauded by nearly everyone in the media as foolish considering they already had a Pro Bowl RB in Marshawn Lynch and a solid backup in Fred Jackson.  Yet the sick was clearly a BPA.

 

I get the idea of drafting for need and best player available, however I think in most circumstances teams draft based on their needs. 

 

Can anyone explain what he means by drafting for need or drafting best player available.  Because it seems like the Bills drafted for need last year, and that it happens all of the time.  

 

UPDATE:  Sal Capaccio actually explained many of the questions that I had.  Need definitely does factor into the equation...but it’s not the only indicator:

 

https://wgr550.radio.com/articles/opinion/capaccio-brandon-beane-right-bills-shouldnt-draft-need

Edited January 28, 2019 by BillyWhiteShows

[row_33]

they have their theories and then someone calls the shots at the last second and they go with it

 

 

[WhoTom]

It's not an either/or situation. You draft the best player available who fits a need. If you're on the clock and the BPA doesn't satisfy a need, then you have the option of trading back so you can fill other positions of need. If that doesn't work, then you can draft the BPA, who's likely an upgrade at a position where you don't have a need. then you've got depth or trade value in a player.

 

On the flip side, if you need something - like a franchise QB - then you trade up so that when you are on the clock, the BPA will be a QB that you want.

 

I'm pretty sure that what Beane meant was the he wouldn't reach on a pick just because the need is there.

Edited January 23, 2019 by WhoTom

[BillyWhiteShows]

2 minutes ago, WhoTom said:

It's not an either/or situation. You draft the best player available who fits a need. If you're on the clock and the BPA doesn't satisfy a need, then you have the option of trading back. Likewise, if you need something - like a franchise QB - then you trade up so that when you are on the clock, the BPA will be a QB that you want.

 

I'm pretty sure that what Beane meant was the he wouldn't reach on a pick just because the need is there.

 

I get what you are saying, it just sounds very confusing.  Based on what you are saying, there’s really not that much difference between the two.  Unless you pull a Buddy Nix and draft EJ Manuel in the 1st round 

[ProcessAccepted]

They assign every player a value. Each pick is also assigned a value. If player available > current pick then you act. Beane valued Allen and Edmunds significantly higher than the picks we traded to go get them. It's really not that hard. He went and got the best player available for what he deemed was a bargain. Based on  how the season worked out I think he was right.

[row_33]

 

some teams have more definitely defined needs in a given year

 

reaction to what is happening ahead of your pick can cause changes

 

just dont be the Vikings and sit there going DUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH while the clock runs out on your first pick, two years in a row

 

 

[JÂy RÛßeÒ]

Donte Whitner @ 8 (1 pick after the top safety had come off the board) = drafting for need

[WhoTom]

18 minutes ago, BillyWhiteShows said:

 

I get what you are saying, it just sounds very confusing.  Based on what you are saying, there’s really not that much difference between the two.  Unless you pull a Buddy Nix and draft EJ Manuel in the 1st round 

 

Exactly. Beane would call that drafting for need, while others would call it a reach. It's pretty obvious that EJ wasn't the BPA at that point in the draft.

 

Ideally, you want the BPA to be in a position of need, so you wheel and deal to make that happen. That's what Beane did last year.

Edited January 23, 2019 by WhoTom

[Stevie Ray]

No GM will outright say they draft for need (even though they do, or more like  combination of the two - need and BPA as others have alluded to). But they wont say it as part of their strategy not to tip their hand ahead of the draft. Best to say BPA and let others guess where they will actually go.

[PurpLegacy]

or it could be drafting the best player available based on what they need. 

[Bills Oil Company]

I don't understand why this topic is discussed so often.  It's a pretty simple concept. 

[BillyWhiteShows]

4 minutes ago, Bills Oil Company said:

I don't understand why this topic is discussed so often.  It's a pretty simple concept. 

 

Not really.  I get the idea behind but I’m speaking in realistic terms. It’s been established by several people already, “best player available” can be someone different in actuality.  You are really drafting the best player available in your area of news 

[JoshAllenHasBigHands]

It boggles my mind that anyone takes these press conferences at face value. 

 

Its the off-season. We officially are completely out of the loop. Nothing said from here on out means anything at all. 

[OldTimer1960]

BPA means different things to each team.  I'm pretty certain that if you could really poll each team for their top 32 players, there would be 32 different lists.  

 

It isn't as simple as who are the best players in order.  How a team evaluates the best player is up to them.  I would imagine that a team's player rankings consider: current level of play, upside, how does a player fit what your team does, perceived work ethic, untapped potential, smarts, off-field concerns and many more things.

 

For example, is Jonah Williams better than Jawaan Taylor?  I think it depends on how a given team values pass blocking vs run blocking and whether they think Williams is "maxed out" while Taylor may have more upside.

[unbillievable]

By the time that draftee reaches their prime, the teams needs will have changed.

 

Free Agency is where you plug holes, not the draft.

[BillyWhiteShows]

3 minutes ago, JoshAllenHasBigHands said:

It boggles my mind that anyone takes these press conferences at face value. 

 

Its the off-season. We officially are completely out of the loop. Nothing said from here on out means anything at all. 

 

You mean how last season they said Tyrod was part of their plans?  LOL.  I know what you mean.

 

But his comment about drafting for need just seemed contradictory, because like I said, it seems like every pick is based off need

2 minutes ago, unbillievable said:

By the time that draftee reaches their prime, the teams needs will have changed.

 

Free Agency is where you plug holes, not the draft.

 

Ok then why don’t teams sit almost all of their rookies?  Or draft several QB’s high?  It’s because they do, in fact, draft for need 

[JoshAllenHasBigHands]

3 minutes ago, BillyWhiteShows said:

 

You mean how last season they said Tyrod was part of their plans?  LOL.  I know what you mean.

 

But his comment about drafting for need just seemed contradictory, because like I said, it seems like every pick is based off need

 

Ok then why don’t teams sit almost all of their rookies?  Or draft several QB’s high?  It’s because they do, in fact, draft for need 

 

Tyrod was part of their plans....for a trade! ha! I think you are right, there is for sure a need element to every pick.  But they can't come out and say that.  I think it would hurt their draft strategy.  Lets say they are drafting for need.  A team that has the same need would potentially jump the Bills to ensure their pick.  Now, I'm not sure the gamesmanship is fooling anyone, but still, you have to play the game. 

[row_33]

39 minutes ago, JoshAllenHasBigHands said:

It boggles my mind that anyone takes these press conferences at face value. 

 

Its the off-season. We officially are completely out of the loop. Nothing said from here on out means anything at all. 

 

yup

 

a team in dire need at many positions is hoping only that the first round pick doesn't cause every other team to go deep into their charts to find the man, then they all start to laugh

 

if was more dramatic in the days of paper when the sound of every other team's depth charts were being furiously turned over

 

[greeneblitz]

They all lie, every team drafts for need to one degree or another.

[Warcodered]

Drafting for need or BPA I think are just two commonly used oversimplifications any good GM is going to use a far more complicated and versatile system to determine who they pick and where they pick them.