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I get that, but given his college production, his actual skill set, and what he's shown in camp, he really just seems like the only way he doesn't at least play to his floor is if he can't stay healthy or he just gets a huge head and stops putting in the effort, the latter of which I don't see happening. So hopefully he stays healthy (knock on wood), but there's unfortunately no way of predicting health, you can really only predict a player not able to stay healthy if they already had problems doing so in college.

In it self no it's not a bad thing. It becomes an issue when they brought back Austin to play on IR most of the season again. That's not a knock on Mays but the situation. It's BC at LG all over. But on the flip side that's how they were forced to go out and sign a good LG the next year. All of the talk and hope of improvement comes down to guys like Mays taking that step. There is something developmentally going on that Im not impressed with going on with this team. Austin and Dalton were 2 guys they obviously can't lean on at this point and yet both are still here taking up space.

Hands on a WR? That's crazy. Next you will tell me the ability to get separation is better than size...

True, but even after drafting said WR in the 1st last year, we knew we didn't have a great WR room, particularly as we knew he was more of a project WR than someone who should be able to step into the #1 WR role from day 1 like T-Mac is already doing. Plus, our #1 going into last year was a player many were hoping we'd end up signing to an extension. WR room going into this year vs last year T-Mac >>> Johnson Renfrow >>> ISM Coker >>> Coker XL > XL Horn Jr > Mingo Thielen = Thielen With 4 of them under contract for the next few years and Renfrow a possible re-signing if he finds his old form (unless someone unexpectedly drops a bag at his feet, but I doubt he'll play THAT well for that to happen). So yes, nothing is guaranteed, but again, it would take a really bad season for us to feel the need to draft a WR next year in anything before the 5th round, which at that point would still likely only be a BPA type of situation, not out of need.

He hasn't played a snap yet, so I am not cashing any of those checks yet. It seems as if he is definitely further along than XL was in his rookie season but we will see if he can develop that chemistry adequately with Bryce. I hope so. He is the guy I wanted and we just simply need to eventually get one of these drafts right.

Hunt vs Graham

I mean, Corbett was a very good OG in the NFL prior to coming here. His biggest knock was his health, always has been. I don't find it very surprising he beat out Mays. I also wasn't surprised that BC wasn't viewed as valuable by the NFL as a whole. He is a career backup, he is a physically limited guy and he isn't exactly a spring chicken. I am glad to have guys like Mays, BC and Zavala around. It's been a very, very long time since we had depth like this.

That's an easy thing to say in the preseason but literally a year after taking a WR in the 1st, we had to do it again. Nothing is guaranteed.

Being plagued with depth problems isn't the root cause, it's problems with drafting and it unfortunately takes at least a few years to turn that around. You're really never going to be able to build much depth through Free Agency. It's years of drafting well and having solid players on rookie deals for 4 years, with their years 2-4 being that quality depth who then goes and signs bigger deals elsewhere for a chance at more playing time. And that's where you need years worth of successful drafting, because as they leave for bigger roles/contracts, they are replaced by the next batch of guys you drafted and were waiting a year or two behind the previous batch. I think we've greatly improved our drafting the last couple of years, along with seemingly hitting on some solid UDFA's at the same time. So we're on our way, but it will still take another year or two of quality drafting and coaching up the previous mid to late round picks to really build a quality stable of backup depth.

I know it's only been training camp and one preseason game, but I think T-Mac has already shown his floor to be exactly what I said about him in the pre-draft process. That his floor if he never improves his game, is as one of the best #2 WRs in the NFL, if not even still a low end #1 (i.e. a 25th-ish best WR in the league). I think it's safe to say he's already established himself as our #1, and there are only a small handful of teams in the league where I don't think he'd be their starting #2 WR in Week 1. Bengals (Higgins), Dolphins (Waddle), Eagles (Smith), Bucs (Godwin if healthy), Rams (Adams) are really the only teams where I think he'd be the #3 as a rookie in Week 1. A few others like the Lions (Williams), Bears (Odunze), Seahawks (Kupp), Commanders (Deebo), where he'd be the 2b to start the season, just because they're vets and/or already have a year or two of experience with their team/QB. And even having said that, I think by year 2, he's better than every one of those players (And no, I'm not saying he's already going to be better than a prime version of Adams, just whatever he'll be at 33 next year), and same goes for Kupp, but that's more because it seems like his body might be quitting on him in a way that hasn't happened to Adams (yet).

Well to be fair, Horn not practicing right now to let his stitches heal up from a car accident isn't something that should be concerning. Sure, you don't want him missing practice leading into the season, but it's one that once healed, won't have lingering affects or fear of re-injuring it, it was just bad luck.

Quality backups are absolutely important. This franchise has been plagued with depth problems. That said, there is a little bit of dismay that Mays can't beat out a 1-legged man, and all the talk going into the off-season was how BC would certainly be gone since he had position versatility. In the end, it doesn't matter too awfully much, as I would be shocked to no end if Corbett makes it through the season. We know what we have in reserve, and that should surely be better than trying to sign random fat guys mid season to try and take over.

The fact that XL put up solid numbers as a rookie despite his drop/focus issues and the fact that he came in as a pretty raw/weak route runner is a positive though. It shows he can do damage when he does get the ball. This is why i still have hope for him... A lot of people were comp'ing him to DK when we drafted him, but I think he is more like a bigger, faster Deebo. You just have to get the ball in his hands and let him do damage... That being said, absolutely, as a pure wide receiver, Coker without a doubt is the better receiver. But, XL is a unique, intriguing piece. He came in this year and has improved his route running tremendously, and from what I've read, seems to have less issue with drops, so if he is locked in with that stuff, best case scenario is both Coker and XL eat this year and then we still have Tet, Renfrow, and JHJ bringing different elements of their own. It's really gonna be on Canales and Bryce. I say all that to say, in summary, Coker is the better WR as of now and honestly, might remain so, but XL is a weapon in his own right - his numbers from his rookie season indicate he isn't just some washout or bust.

If we need to draft another WR next year, something went horribly wrong this year, in one season it went from our worst position group to probably 2nd best after our OL. I have zero fear about T-Mac being a true #1, Coker seems to have shown a ton of improvement and could end up as our #2 all season no matter how improved XL is, if Renfrow stays healthy, I think he re-signs a hometown friendly deal to replace Thielen as the vet slot. Even if XL and Horn Jr. struggle (and I'm not guessing they will), I'm not so sure WR is a need in the draft next year, more likely a position that would be supplemented through a cheaper FA signing.

1st thing we need to look for in a WR is can he catch the freaking ball. This is a basic fundamental we seem obsessed to ignore. We're not in position to take guys with upside over guys with fundamental football skills. Maybe once we've had a winning season or 3 in a row, we can afford those risks.

If things keep going the way they are now. IMO the WR order should be TMac, Coker, Thielen, XL, Renfrow, ?

Don't be so quick - could be this

Not the same thing.... like at all, the research is also taking into account a minimum angle trajectory to clear the lines (which you dont need to do in warm ups) shoot guys have made it through the up rights on kickoffs all the time, that FLAT trajectory is NOT possible with offensive and defensive linemen 7 yards in front of the ball. Higher trajectory = more force required

Icky-DLew-Corbett-Hunt-TMo paving the way for Chuba/Rico is gonna be pretty sweet especially when TMac/XL/Tremble are pretty good run blockers themselves.

Oh good grief. Stop it. I get it if you're a Gamecocks fan but notice how you're on an island here? There are undoubtedly plenty of Gamecocks fans here but they ain't walking the plank with you on this one.

TMac/XL/Coker is definitely the goal IMO. Right now, the biggest question mark on that equation seems like XL.

Justin Tucker hit an 87 yard in warm ups. I think half of the Cam Little situation is the Steelers special teams not doing well on that play

He played quite a bit. He started 12 games as a rookie. Was demoted for poor play in 13 and started 10 more in 14. Its not like he's didn't get opportunities

Norman got put in the dog house cause he had a tendency to go rogue and took too many unnecessary risks early in his career (2013 bills game) once he bought into the system, everything clicked

Norman did play though. He was super bad early in his career