I disagree with you on the basis that your comparison is not apples to apples... And a few other things. I wouldn't say that I trust our drafting, at all. I'd love to have proven commodities. But I have a couple of problems with Butler. He does not play a position of need for us. As I said earlier, I realize that we have to count on Williams and Breaux to stay healthy, but when they're out there, they are pretty good. They aren't perfect, but they are also young. Injuries can happen to anyone. It's not like they blew out their knees. Williams is coming off a significant concussion which becomes problematic if he has too many of those, but as of now he should be a full go.

Do we really need to shell out a high draft pick for another corner? Here's another problem I have with Butler: He comes from a system that is known to make players look better than they are. What makes us so sure that he is a "proven" commodity? And others have mentioned, accurately, that Butler also hasn't matched up very much with the other team's number 1, and plays in a weak division for QB's. Again, is he really THAT proven? Sure, the draft is a crap shoot. How much better have we fared with free agents and trades? Remember guys like Tebucky Jones and Dwight Smith? Those were "can't miss" guys, as was Jairus Byrd, whom most of us thought was a star at the time. Jason David? Aubrayo Franklin, Sean Rogers, David Hawthorne and on it goes.

I would certainly say that Loomis and company doesn't have the greatest track record in identifying "stars" but despite that, it is nevertheless necessary to take calculated risks from time to time. You mentioned the Vilma deal, and that was a great trade. For two reasons: One was that we didn't give up all that much. The other was that we desperately needed a middle linebacker and a leader for a defense that was just atrocious. And, thankfully, he was one who lived up to expectations.

Butler, in my opinion, is not worth that kind of risk. For one, we're not talking about a second rounder, we're talking about the number 11 pick. I'm all for commodities over unknowns, but if we're not getting a pass rusher as that "proven commodity" then I'd rather keep my pick and take my chances with that. Because, as I illustrated with the failed signings, you never really know 100% what you are going to get from any player, anyway. But in any instance you should not sell out for something that isn't of great need.

When we traded for Mike McKenzie all those years ago, that was a great deal. We needed a corner desperately, and he was a really good player. Unfortunately the rest of the defense sucked for a couple of years, but he was a huge upgrade. We are thin as crap at DE right now. Selling our top pick for a corner seems like a bad idea at the moment.