Is double-dipping okay?In PFF’s most recent mock draft, Senior Analyst Steve Palazzolo had the Tennessee Titans taking two cornerbacks in the first round. Of course, this begs the question: As a draft strategy, is it wise to double-dip at one position?
The answer is yes, and for multiple reasons. First, as Palazzolo mentioned, getting two players at the same defensive position can really reshape a team’s defense in a hurry. There are so many talented cornerbacks in this draft class that a team could completely overhaul their secondary with two draft picks.
Second, double-dipping at the same position in the draft can also be used as a type of draft insurance in case the player taken early doesn’t pan out for the team. This is clearly evidenced by the Washington Redskins drafting Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins in the same draft.
Third, double-dipping at one position in a draft can also be a strategy to get a good return on the invested pick. If both players hit, then a team has completely reshaped one side of the ball and will have the opportunity to re-sign one player long-term and allow the other player to walk and receive a compensatory pick in return. This is what happened with the Broncos when they drafted Derek Wolfe and Malik Jackson in the same class. Both Wolfe and Jackson performed well enough to earn new contracts, but the Broncos extended Wolfe and let Jackson leave for Jacksonville, receiving a compensatory pick in return. By double-dipping, the Broncos invested a fifth-round pick in Jackson, but received four years of production and a fifth-round draft pick as the return on their investment.
