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I...I think this is the more mature version. Sadly.

Caldwell is a classic workout warrior. Hell, at least XL actually had one year of good college production. Caldwell has 478 receiving yards in his D1 career. And this was with the #2 ranked QB in this year's transfer portal. I doubt I'd even have him on my draft board.

I think they are locked in on Bradley Chubb and Devin Lloyd as FA priorities. Just from the stuff I have heard.

Heavy risk involved all around. For all the talk of left tackle. The middle of our oline and center specifically was horrific just a few years ago. Led to much whailing and hand wringing. People are quick to forget.

This would be close to ideal imo. After the combine I think only 1 of those guys sits at our current picks and that's Thieneman. I'd argue Anthony Hill Jr in the 1st and hope you can float Sutton at 51 as a better start, but even Sutton at 51 seams remote. I'd almost rather trade down and go after Rodriguez and gather another 2nd rounder to bundle to go after Sutton and another safety (VJ Payne possibly?) as the top 3 picks. I'm in on Rodriguez, and willing to except the small size risks.

Good start. Bet down a .5 goal in Arsenal game, for moderate juice.

Caldwell, like Legette, made money at the combine. I doubt it's as much (production for legette the 5th year) but Caldwell crushed it. If you ask me he's that boom or bust pick of the draft. Could be like DK Metcalf or Legette. Total wildcard. I would not trust more than a 4th but the potential alone warrants a 4th round look. He did produce in the end zone but a lot of the knocks are raw craft based, which is completely different than poor athleticism. He sounds like a good and willing blocker (plus in my book) and could be really useful outside of pass plays. Not saying he will boom or bust but interesting guy to track. Hell Legette was 24th overall a few years ago Caldwell is #2. He went Megatron at the combine. Again who knows what's in store for him, but that was all time performance at the combine for a WR.

Fowler and Graziano: Some teams anticipate Panthers center Cade Mays could make $8 million per year on a new deal. https://x.com/panthersontap/status/2028100785439981936?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

Jeremy Fowler: Don’t be surprised if Carolina makes some big moves on defense. Mentions Devin Lloyd as an ideal fit in the middle. https://x.com/panthersontap/status/2028101193394713026?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

Styles had 100 tackles a year ago. His production was a little less the past year, but OSUs defense is so darn good that they are not on the field a lot. There are a couple of LBs the have high tackle totals on good defenses, but generally, not only do LBs that rack up tackles have to individually good, but typically are on bad defenses. Look at the Pack's Caden Fordam, he's an average/above average LB, but was #2 nationally in tackles. Why? State's defense was bad--couldn't get off the field and RBs routinely got to the second level, thus a ton of tackles.

Any time we get a 3-0 lead, watch out.

If anything he's overrated. Production does not match the hype.

Production is more important than measurements. The combine is for interviews and get official measurements. Thats all it's good for for the teams. But fans fall in love with measurements.

He doesn’t have elite linebacker instincts or production. Former safety. Super athletic. This is Thomas Davis/Navarro Bowman not Willis/Kuechly. They ain’t tricking me out my spot with this hype.

I would be willing to go so far as saying he will not be the best LB in this draft. We shall see in a couple of years.

My Monroe Freeling pipedream is going to be over after today. You don’t get the best LT in the draft at pick 19. Fano’s measurements aren’t there and I don’t think the power is either. Maui and Freeling are the first two tackles off the board and it will be before 19.

Sure it does, maybe not every position and not every draft. You have to admit the hit rate goes down the further in the draft you get. Would you more readily find a generational talent at the #2 pick or #19 pick? High picks are considered "busts" if they doesn't pan out, whereas guys drafted later don't have that level of scrutiny upon them. Different expectation levels. If Styles does indeed go #2, I already listed the rarefied air that he would be in. Maybe he doesn't set the League on fire, but my gut feeling is he does. Again, you don't take an off-ball LB #2 if he is just a 'really good' player.

To illustrate my point, I watched (and commented on the Huddle) that Rozeboom would often wait a full second (or close to it) before taking his first step. I assume that he probably had issues with false steps, a faulty practice that can take an ILB out of the gap completely. Watch Luke and you see a step with the snap, and rarely was it a false step. Rozeboom may have had 100 tackles (speculating) but initial contact was 2-3 yards on the defensive side of the ball. Luke's 100 tackles were made 1-2 yards from the LOS. Over the course of a year, Luke was much more productive (more fumbles, fewer long gainers, more OL penalties, fewer first downs, etc) that Rozeboom, but on the stat sheet, they both had 100 tackles. In fact, Rozeboom's inefficiency kept him on the field more (more first downs, fewer OL penalties, turnovers, and punts) so he should have MORE tackles. I would like to see stats that break down those things. For example again, Josh Norman was slow--4.68 or so at CB. However, his anticipation speed was incredible. He made as many plays as a 4.4 CB. I had one coach (college--later became the head coach at WCU) tell me that slower players have to use their brains more to still be around. Elite athletes can just get by on their physical superiority. He added, "Rarely does a football player run full speed. Most of the time, they are not, so the 40 time is misleading stat. Smart players overcome shortcomings--when the elite athlete becomes average (slows with age, advances in level of competition) they struggle against smarter (football IQ) competition.

Obviously tongue in cheek hyperbole. But we do not need a first round RB to compete for a championship. We need intelligent roster building. That to me is the complete opposite of intelligent roster building because it is a prime resource at a devalued plug and play position when we have needs across the defense.

AI says teams can use it privately if they want, but the combine dropped it in 2022. I did not know that--just figured, as you say, they quit publicizing it. It seems it was always in the form of a leak or rumor--

Ok--I have seen some sample items, and I would like to see something (if possible) measures on field intelligence--maybe how quickly you can grasp a playbook or absorb film session adjustments...Back when we had Morrison as team president and Hurney as GM, I offered to assess (as part of my research in education requirement at a University) emotional intelligence and learning styles of players to help coaches teach more effectively. Morrison loved it and contacted me about it. Hurney was not interested, and it fell through the cracks. My pitch? If only 50% of first-rounders become successful NFL players and that number drops significantly, can you tell me that you are effectively measuring talent? Morrison thought it was a good point and wanted to do something that might improve long-term success rates--that would impact the cap management, etc. Marty, according to Morrison, said he was not interested at this time and if so, he would want a football guy to do it. (I told Morrison that I played in college and Hurney, a sports reporter at one time, did not. He told me that Hurney played as a Guard in college--who knew?) Any way, about that time, Morrison left (2017) and the idea was dropped. I reached back out a year later or so to Marty was still not interested. A few days later, his wife accused him of assault or something, so I dropped it.

Pretty sure they still do the Wonderlic they just don't publicly release the scores.