SetfreexX

That part, if a team in a playoff / SB window wants your best player(s) by giving you essentially a lottery ticket that should tell you something. In simpler terms, you have $1,000 in hand, someone says I'll give you a ticket that could be anywhere from $0 up to $1,000 -- are you taking that ticket? That is what these draft picks are, ''chances'' to draft a bust / average / good / great player. If what you have in hand is legit, keep it, and look for a more efficient way to increase draft capitol ie: the CMC trade.

People are enamored with the ''idea'' of ''more picks'' people often forget the teams that stock piled picks and that the acquisition of picks does not equate to wins / helping a rebuild, a lot of times those picks don't pan out, especially outside the top 15, none of which we were offered. The referenced 1sts would have likely been 20s to upper 20s the talent. There's an argument LAR could be bad in 23' and 24' but that is a BIG risk to jettison the one pass rusher that we do have. It's best to keep young, performing ascending, core talent. The fact team's are interested should reassure you of their value to your current team, the ''fire sale'' concept is rarely IF ever seen or successful for that matter. I really can't recall a time in recent years. The CMC trade made sense, regarding an overpaid running back, that is a position where for years you see that the financial investment is capped, and we were paying him around 18-20M in annual average salary, you can't do that and expect to have a healthy cap. I UNDERSTAND why the extension was done as we has the face of the franchise, but it is clear a new chapter is about to start. Having the two 2nds, a 3rd, and two 4ths, and 5ths as a result of this deal will allow the team to add value and depth at positions like (HB / LB / IOL / Edge) to compliment what we already have.

In most cases you tell when it's ''real'' talk.

I think we are in prime position to draft a runner in the 3rd, or even with one of the 2nd round picks though I'd prefer a TE / Edge compliment to Burns earlier than another runner, but getting a talent back at the top of the 2nd if things trend to more losses isn't lost on me. We only have Chuba under contract into next season, I am also not against extending Foreman as I believe he is currently 25, or 26. I think people forget how young he is due to the missed time after the knee injury back in HOU. He was actually really good coming out of Texas.

Burns goes into his 5th year next season, having to pay him is not a concern, and BY THE TIME it is, dead cap hits like Robbie, and CMC will be gone. There are soooooo many examples of teams stacking picks HOPING they hit, look at the Raiders and all those picks with Gruden / Mayock (Clelin Ferrel, Henry Ruggs, Jonathan Abram), look at the picks the Jaguars stockpiled (K'Lavion Chasson, CJ Henderson who we got for a 3rd, Josh Allen, though he's better than the first two but not in Brian's category), or the Browns having high pick after high pick (The old ass QB Brandon Weeden, Johnny Manziel, Baker, Trent Richardson) all 1st round picks, all on teams that were stacking up picks all teams that are still sh!tty. You don't trade young, talented, players with a good head on their shoulders for the hope and prayer you draft someone ''as good'' as the guy you let go. It's not good business. Could the Rams be bad in 23' leading to a high pick in 24', could they also be bad in 24' leading to a high pick in 25'...possibly. Will Brain be one of the better / consistent edge rushers over that span, absolutely, he's only getting better, his run defense / back field penetration has been excellent this year. What the team needs to do is find a competent pairing on the other side. We have Derrick in the middle ascending as well. You don't weaken your team now hoping to get something good in 2, and 3 years. We have 13 - or 14 picks in 23' and 24', and fit turned 7 picks into 11 in 21', we have more than enough capitol to make moves, and navigate the draft as needed, to not only get a future QB if they elect to do so, but also add quality pieces to an established young core. Future 1st's in 24, and 25' don't do that, that is too far out to project. If you really want to die on the hill of trading Burns do so, but no team ever got better jettisoning it's best players, hoping to draft better players. And if you look at the roster a ''tear'' down is not what's needed, we see what COMPETENT coaching has done as we look like a real NFL team with our 4th string QB....add a young talented QB there, on a rookie deal you can pay our young up and comers...Burns, and Brown. No one else is going to be in position to command a premium.

Not about being on a run, you don't trade our best defensive player for picks 2 and 3 years away, that is foolish and short-sighted. If it was a 22', and 23' plus ''sweeteners'' you could consider it, but to trade one of the better young pass rushers for picks 2 and 3 years away is some Madden type non-sense.

So you want picks in 2024, and 2025 having no idea where they will be in the draft order for a guy that was a pro-bowler last year, and is ascending as one of the better edge rushers in the league WITH NO ONE else on the DL / EDGE group who has a sack this season at the halfway mark.... People get to caught up over ''having'' picks, you need good players on the roster as well, you don't sell a sub 25 pass rusher like Brian, if anything, we need to add a better compliment to him. YGM, and Haynes, haven't done ANYTHING in the pass rush dept. as it relates to sacks.

TMJ has plenty of height / athleticism for a RZ fade -- 6'2'' to 6'3'' is more than enough. What are we doing in this thread.... We used to throw them to Smith at 5'9'', the fade is about timing, and high-pointing the ball, not ''strictly'' height, height just helps.

You don't take future 1sts in 24, and 25 for a Star caliber player that is ascending. Some of ya'll make no sense at all pass rush is a PREMIUM it's why they're willing to part with the 1st's in the first place. If you are gonna even consider the trade it can't be from a team that is likely to make the playoffs both of those seasons. Then you're trading our best pass rusher for some guys in the mid 20's.... You can trade a CMC, as paying a running back 19M-21M on avg is INSANE. That money, or that caliber of money is reserved for PREMIUM positions. QB / T / EDGE / WR / DB

In my mind October 10th should be a national holiday after the firing or Rhule, at the time I told myself I don't care what happens the rest of this season; I was just happy he was finally gone. So many people here, and in other social spaces that don't casually follow the team could see he was holding us back, this was fairly obvious end of year one, and blatantly obvious by the time he started throwing Cam under the bus to prop Darnold, and in an attempt to shift blame. (This isn't a Cam thread) I think we have all seen a new ''life'' in the team since the change, and I'm even more surprised than I expected to be as Wilks has the team ''competing'' and that's something we were not doing, and that alone has made the last two games worth watching. I'll give LAR a pass as it was right after the firing; with likely little time to have an offensive plan in place; or perhaps in retro it was a CMC showcase for bidders Either way all of that has led to a new core, so let's explore who that currently is: (Core Players in my estimation in BOLD) QB - None, Matt Corrall is intersting, and PJ is slinging it, but all signs point to taking a QB in the 1st HB - None, however I'd like to see D'Onta Foreman retained, I was excited when we signed him but was frustrated at the absence under Rhule, Chuba is a nice piece, but he still can't catch WR - DJ Moore, this is obvious, I'm inclined to include Terrace Marshall, as imagine that the 3rd of the LSU trio who was a 1st round prospect outside of the knee concerns has looked legit as his snaps have increased, again Rhule...wtf was he doing!? It was also nice to see redzone fade pass attempts to a guy that's a clean 6'3''. Also, anyone notice Shi Smith (former 6th) has been featured less, he's been on the field, but the targets are down since Rhule left. TE - None, I remain intrigued by Tommy Tremble, he seems to get a little more involved downfield than Thomas, and has more TDs over the past two seasons than Thomas. I'd like to see us to commit to Tommy as the starter and let Thomas continue to be TE #2. But I sweat McAdoo gonna get Ian that one TE screen a game. OL - This is where I kind a have to pinch myself...Ickey Ekowonu has been all we thought in the run game, and even more in pass pro after getting acclimated, Brady Christensen has settled in at LG, meanwhile the C we all felt was better Bradley Bozeman has played well now that he's on the field. Austin Corbett, and Taylor Moton are my other two core OL pieces. Arguments are definitely available to add Brady, and Boze to this, but Boze is on a one year deal, and I hope we are able to keep him, while Brady has performed right around average, no egregious issues, but nothing that stands out about him. If this was our starting five next year I'd be fine with that as well. Total Offensive Core Players - 4 out of 11 (Dj, Ickey, Corbett, Moton) As you can see we still have a lot to do, but there are some promising pieces here as well (Foreman, TMJ, Tremble, Brady, Boze). I will concede that I subscribe to the belief that inserting a talented rookie into this mix could see us competing at a higher more consistent level. I like PJ and that throw last Sunday....sheesh, but we have to be honest he's not the long-term answer; and likely neither is Matt. I suspect he could have looked better in the pre-season as it should have been ''at that time at least'' Baker with the 1's, Matt with the 2's, as you don't trade for Baker to ''compete'', Sam with the 3's because we'd seen enough and PJ as the odd man out. Wasted reps all around in my opinion the way it was handled.

I think people forget how HARD playing corner is in the NFL... I also believe A LOT of our guys looked ''suspect'' with Rhule at the helm.... It seems pretty clear that even in losses, this team looks TOTALLY different, even guys some thought were underperforming. The only area that still seems a lax is a pass rusher opposite Burns.

But he's won one...

The reason = Rhules man crush on Sam

Why people act like Moton the better tackle can't also be or mentor? Erving can go, it was a fluff piece, get what you can and add some draft ammo. He's gone as a cap casualty anyway in the off-season.

I liked CMC on this team as much as the next, but the idea he's a ''receiver'' is a bit overblown, he may have receiver quality hands and ability in the short to intermediate area, but he's not splitting out wide versus the best corners in the league cooking. He played HB in college and was drafted as one for a reason, he has a hell of a tool box, with a little more power than you 'd expect. But he's not a receiver, slants, screens, option routes, texas, wheels etc. are his bread and butter, with the occasional HB seam. Now to be fair, maybe Shanahan uses him more at the LOS, we will see which I think he'll fair well at underneath. We lost out on some offensive versatility with him due to injuries, and bland coordinators the last few years.

Wilson, Shaw, Wooten, Luvu are all ahead of him...he got some ST's snaps, EDGE where Barno plays is not as deep as the off-ball LB'er position. A couple guys would need to miss time for Smith to have room to step in.

I wouldn't go that far, they're both good blockers, we need an offense in my opinion that creates more opps aside from a TE screen pass. I like the size / athleticism / traits -- Thomas had a good year with Cam, then Olsen came back, then Joe Brady ignored the TE in the offense. I'm not as low on them, ultimately because we haven't drawn up much for them, perhaps with Robbie's exit, and...I can't believe I'm typing this Sam's return, we see some utilization down field. Thomas made a hell of a catch in the Vikings game, and has had a lot of spots over his career, the offenses emphasis on using TE hasn't always been there.

Most have said this, but EDGE, IDL, and LB'er are higher on the list IMO at the moment. Other than Brandon Smith, I don't think we've drafted an off-ball LB'er the last 3 years have we...?

Honesty, with DJ, TMJ, Shenault, Higgins, and Smith we have a competent WR group, FA or depending on if we trade back in the 2nd could see someone added. QB play / OC improves this dramatically. TE - I think FA is still an option, but again QB play / OC is the primary issue. DT - Brown is proving to be ''elite'', McCall has been a good space eater (listed at 380 on some sites), adding a guy via FA is likely, I wouldn't be surprised to see an Io extension. DE - Depends on the front you want to run, 43 or 34, we won't know until we have a new coach, likely addressed via draft. Barno adding to his frame is a potential option he has the same measurables as Burns. LB - Shaq, Smith, Luvu, off ball LB'ers are relatively cheap, and also not hard to find day 2 / 3 of the draft. Again, the off-season, cap, and draft pick capital are fluid, it's silly to ''worry'' about the 2023 Off-season / Draft''. Fitterer and Morgan seem sharp, I think we will be surprised by how this off-season goes.

He's 28 currently - https://www.google.com/search?q=shaq+thompson+age&rlz=1C1SQJL_enUS803US803&oq=shaq+thompson+age&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i22i30j0i15i22i30j0i390l4.4039j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 He'll be 29.

If it's via trade I'd be ok with it, Shaq is turning 29, so he's not really in the long term plans. However, I am not adverse to keeping him ''IF"' we can make the money work. For all those that were freaking out about negative caps space, people need to remember how fluid the salary cap actually is, I think we'll be fine once we get to that time of year and begin to make adjustments, etc. I personally want to see more Brandon Smith alongside Shaq, and Luvu.

I believe so, I think the Coach switched happened yr2.

He did the same with Cam, he literally had Cam wearing Panthers gear for his presser vs how he normally dressed. His "brand" suffocated personalities that didn't fit his taste. When guys can't be themselves they typically perform at a lower level, penalizing the team in TC bc of a endzone celebration with Higgins and Baker. Fug that gerbil looking fuggity fug.

Almost like the more reps, and practice you get the better you become...another area we wasted reps with a fake competition between him and Brady.

The biggest thing with even ENTERTAINING trading either is the dead cap and having the receiving tram take on some of that as we already have a negative cap projection for 23'. People need to understand how that functions first, Robbie just signed a restructure this past off-season and we should all understand CMC's contract by now.