Quenton Nelson (G-ND) Rd #1 Pick #6

[Racehorse]

Originally Posted by Chaka

Can somebody explain in detail, rather than just stating it as a conclusion, why they think picking an exceptional guard prospect like Nelson at #6 is too high? Virtually every projection had him going in the 5-8 range. This isn't a situation where the Colts picked someone way before they were expected to be picked. Yet it seems to be a working assumption here that taking any guard, even one of Nelson's apparent caliber, at #6 was some sort of reach. I don't get it.

I read GoBigBlue's criticism at the outset of this thread, and Chromeburn's explanation of why an OT is usually considered more valuable than a guard, but neither have really answered my question about why it is impossible for an exceptional guard prospect like Nelson to merit being picked at #6, or why GBB's belief that an opposing team can simply avoid a guard would not also apply to an OT picked at the top of the draft.

People keep calling for nasty big uglies, but when we draft one, they whine.