It is concerning the lack of day 1 and 2 picks especially when you talk about building a roster with balance and managing the cap.
In 7 NFL drafts, Pace has had a total of 3 third round picks due to all the various trades. He has had 5 first round picks so far obviously with the 2 firsts used to get Mack and that will stay the same next year due to the trade up this year. On that front, I don't have nearly as much of an issue because the two times he has used first round picks to trade, they have at least been for premium positions and talented players.
He has actually had 8 second round picks to use between all the various trades. The Shaheen pick was brutal and then the other one that really stands out as hurting has been Anthony Miller. The Miller pick especially to me highlights the issues of the trade-up and lack of patience mind-set at times with Pace. It meant you had no 2nd rounder the following year, cost a 4th rounder - where Pace has made some really good finds, and then if/when it doesn't pan out, it just feels worse because that one player costs you two chances. On top of that, if I remember right, Miller was a bit older than the 'normal' prospects and yet he has had more maturity issues.
Anyway, in general, I agree that I like the picks made this year. If Fields ends up being that franchise guy, then a lot of other things become easier. And if Jenkins pans out at left tackles, then it will be a truly great, franchise altering draft.
However, in the mean time, Pace also has to hope those 6th rounders perform minor miracles to get him quality depth as he has had a lot less 2nd day and 4th round picks recently to give himself better chances at building the depth. He has only had 5 picks on days 1 and 2 in the last three drafts and only 16 day 1 and 2 picks in 7 years. Those are the guys that should have the traits to legitimately be your starters and future starters. With so few picks in that area, it just magnifies the misses more. He has made it work by finding some gems in the 4th and 5th rounds, but he has to do that to make up the ground of having those fewer picks.