MHS831

My final first round prediction was difficult--thanks to the lack of expected trading early on and the Birds picking Pinix. I got 8 correct, however, in the area of matching the player with the team. That means I got 24 wrong. I did hear the hostess praising Daniel Jeremiah on NFL Network for getting 9 correct in 2023. This year, however, the first three or four picks were pretty set. Here are the correct picks from my second draft of my first round mock: Correct Player and Team: 8 1. Chicago Bears Pick: Caleb Williams QB, USC (Hit the lob over the plate out of the park. Anyone who missed this one should just stop mocking) 2. Washington Commanders Pick: Jayden Daniels QB, LSU (Another freebie. About a 90% chance this would be the pick) 3. New England Patriots Pick: Drake Maye, QB, UNC (Did not fall for the pre-draft JJ McCarthy nonsense. Those kinds of moves get you fired. I am rolling. Nothing can stop me now!!) 4. Minnesota Vikings (Trade) Pick: JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan (While the Vikings moved up to 10 and got JJ McCarthy instead of 4,, the team and the player are accurate--missed on the trade. I will take it.) 6. New York Giants Pick: Malik Nabors, WR, LSU (Correct. The Giants pass on QB and take the WR). 9. Chicago Bears Pick: Rome Odunze, WR Washington (Bingo. This was pretty easy, but I did not know about the Williams-Odunze friendship when I picked this.) 25. Green Bay Packers (9-8) Pick: Jordan Morgan, OT Arizona. (Correct!!! I am on fire again) 26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pick: Graham Barton, C, Duke (Correct!! I am blazing)

The OL is the most important unit on the team. Full Stop. They do not depend on the QB like the QB depends on them. Without the OL, the punter stays busy, the Defense stays tired, the RBs stay injured, The WRs get open too late, and the QB busts. Having said that, we need a plan to keep them stocked and not have to fill Guard positions that average $35m (together) per season in free agency. We need to build through the draft so that we have 2 players on first contracts starting on the OL at any given time.

I see it like this: Can Coker beat out Terrace Marshall Jr? Can Pinkey beat out Smith-Marsette (since Legette can return kicks) or Jonathan Mingo? I see Pinkney going to the PS for a season, but he will be pulled up if there is an injury--even if we stay healthy, in 2025, there will probably be two vacancies. Not sure what Johnson is going to want $$$$, and Thielen will probably be done or cut. Pinkney could then compete for a job, and with his height, he gives you that Tall red zone WR. Worth keeping on the PS at the least.

That was a rags to riches to rags story if I have ever seen one. He got here and played behind Pat Elflein for a while and then got the starting gig and we loved him. Then last season they had him flanked by 7 different guards on each side of him and he struggled, so they cut him loose. Musta been more to it than we know. He would have been a decent backup. Maybe not a good fit for the new offense?

In fairness, the couch belongs to Rent A Center, but if he makes thirty-one more weekly payments, it is his free and clear.

He has good hands, and something that is easily lost--this kid is 6' 1" 220. He gets in position to make contested catches--something he had to do because his QB was not accurate and his timing was off. That (to me) is what makes him a dawg. And you are exactly right--I would put him behind Thielen in the slot and let him learn. I seriously believe that a second WR was a luxury for us because we had so many other needs, but they practically promised him a roster spot (see salary) if he goes undrafted. This guy will be awesome in 2025 when Thielen is probably gone. Not only will he earn a roster spot, but he will become a familiar face for some time--based on what I am seeing on the video.

In the back of my mind I keep wondering if they are trying (not that I have heard anything) to sign Connor Williams. I mean, Hunt was his teammate--maybe there is a connection. Last I heard, Williams was a free agent. https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/connor-williams/46216

I found that to be very interesting. I know that Mays has some degree of experience/practice there--if BC can play every position on the OL, which he obviously can, he could save us a roster spot as a reserve. I think it would be great to carry 9 and keep one or two on the PS.

No disrespect intended, but you act as if we are supposed to value your opinion when it is all emotion and no fact. The roster (I assume you mean offense) is "still trash" because someone who just signed up for the Huddle has declared it to be so? Buhahaha. ha. Let me show you how FACTS work, and why emotional, unsupported opinions don't carry much weight: TE: Upgraded through the draft. Sanders is a weapon that should improve the passing game and give Bryce an outlet he did not have last year. RB: We just drafted the best RB in college football, one who can protect the passer, run the ball, and catch the ball like nobody else on the roster. His knee will be cleared July 1. OL: We just signed two of the best guards in football. that is what Payton did to protect Brees. Ekwonu has the skill and talent, he was simply missing technique. We got him a better OL coach. Center? Bozeman was ineffective last year. Corbett is an established veteran OLman. It seems we are much better up front. WR: We added a guy who gets open and has averaged about 900 yards per game as a #2 in Pittsburgh with an inferior QB there. Thielen was a 1000 yard WR last season. We have not had a #2 like XL, with his YAC capabilities and ability to catch contested passes. In other words, the X is much better; the Z will be replaced with a stud WR, and the veteran slot will probably not be the #1 WR in 2024--he should be the #2 or even #3 most effective WR. The 2023 Z WR, who had 418 yards and was showing signs of improving, will not be a starter in 2024. As much as the OL has improved, we improved the weapons. QB: All of these additions increase levels of protection for the QB that he did not have last year and they give him more powerful weapons that he did not have last year. Young will not be a rookie getting hammered trying to throw to people who are not separating. This should make him improved. How much? remains to be seen. Now keep in mind that we did this by not reworking contracts and kicking the can down the road. We did not have a first rounder in the draft. We added a second rounder to next year's draft. We also addressed needs on defense as well, adding established DL, OLBs, ILBs, and DBs. We get 2 first round pick starters who were injured most of the season back on that defense. Yes, we lost Burns, Luvu, and a few others, but while being good players, they were either asking for too much money or they were not great fits for the system. So the D should be better as well. That is not trash.

Here is what I do--you might want to put Brooks on the IR to start the season--that means he misses the first 4 to 7 games. He can use the time learning the offense better and strengthening the knee. Meanwhile, running behind the new OL, Hubbard and Sanders can hold it down. After four games, the Panthers have a 21-day window to activate Brooks. We could put Sanders on the block during that time, trying to get a trade for him. If not, after week 7, put him the bench (inactive) then cut him June 2, 2025 and the cap hit is only $1,475,000 per year. If Brooks enters the lineup on Week 8, for example, we'd get a fresh RB on a stronger knee midseason. Not the best situation, but we can take a negative situation (Sanders not working out; Brooks' rehab) and make it work to our benefit more than cutting him outright.

There is some talk about Sanders being cut. Here is how I see it playing out--if you cut him post June 1 this year, you save very little. Even though Brooks will be ready to play July 1, 2024, you might want to bring him along slowly. With Hubbard and Miles behind the revamped OL, you can get away with it. I might even put Brooks on IR for the first part of the season and allow Sanders and Hubbard to rotate. You would get a fresh RB mid season. Then you put Sanders on IR and cut him Post June 1, 2025. That would save you $6.7m. That is my theory.

They seem to be focusing on versatility.