SetfreexX

This isn't to say ignore it, it's to say the OL group is deep, so the OBVIOUS pick, may not be THE pick in the first. Moton / Trai / Norwell -- some of our best OL in recent times were 2nd, 3rd, and UDFA. I'm not against upgrading the OL. BUT we don't have to, that's what this is about -- SeWell is the only LT I want at #8 -- Slater does not seem to be heads and shoulders above the rest. At #8 I'd want a little more than that, if we traded back and got him that would be easier to digest.

A lot of talk of ''If SeWell falls, or Rashawn Slaters the pick'' indulge me for a few...it goes without saying that if you watched the Panthers last season the weak points of the OL were -- LT (Due to Okung being out half the games), and LG -- Chris Reed (UDFA), and Schofield. For the most part C - Paradis, RG - John Miller, and RT - Taylor Moton were above average and in Moton's case FT worthy. Enter - Cam Erving (2 yrs / 10M / 8M Guarateed), and Pat Elflein (3 yrs / 13.5M / 6M Guaranteed) These are not break the bank values but they are amounts that suggest the team at least can ''see'' them as starters, especially as quickly as we acted on the acquisitions. When you look at LT depth currently - Greg Little / Trent Scott -- Cam Erving should be viewed as an upgrade When you look at LG depth currently - Dennis Daley / Guys you likely never heard of -- In this case Elflein is an upgrade over the depth and Chris Reed as a starter last year. ----------------------------------------------------------------- With these items in mind and the OL depth in this years class at the top of 2nd and 3rd where we will be, and maybe even into the 4th for IOL help, I really think we are in for a bit of a surprise in the 1st round as we don't HAVE to take a LT in the 1st. A few things to think about: QB - Sam Darnold is likely not the answer, we're also likely going to be good enough with Sam to play our way out of the top 10, which means if we need to make a move on a future QB, we'll have to pull a SF / PHI type of deal to move up down the road. Smart money takes Fields, or Lance if they fall with a year to develop. WR - After DJ Moore, and Robbie (more on him in a dew) name a starting caliber receiver...David Moore is nice, but he's a piece to the puzzle, he's a good 3rd guy. Robbie is 30 after this season and is in the final year of his 2y / 20M deal, and is making 12M this season. DJ is coming up on his 5th year option. We will probably be staring guys like - JaMarr Chase / Jaylen Waddle / DeVonta Smith in the face. I could see the argument to select one of these guys as well if a QB is gone. TE - Darnold to Arnold sounds fun, and the depth after him is Ian Thomas, and a TE/DE/UDFA in Stephen Sullivan. If Pitts is there, you take Pitts if a QB is gone. CB - I'm pretty happy with what we've done here and if we see growth from Pride this could be a solid group - Jackson / Bouye / Pride / Melvin -- we have a nice representation of size / speed / experience, but in a trade back scenario where none of the above are available, we could turn our corner depth into a true strength. ------------------------------------------------------------------- So while a lot of the media talk / mock drafts are dialing in on OL, there are some other options available that may surprise a lot of people if called upon on draft night.

Smokescreen

People are dumb, I don't see how soooo many are sold on Darnold, was Gase an issue, sure....but Sam MADE the throws / made the decisions once the ball was snapped. To me he's an upgrade in arm talent / willingness to pass past the sticks over TB. Teddy B. is the better QB between the two TODAY. This could change, but I wouldn't bet that on Sam, and I do think our team overall will be better which means we likely play ourselves into a .500 ish record which means we're likely out of any QB race in 2022 unless we pull a 49ers which no one was willing to do this year. Fields, or Lance to me should definitely be in play at #8 if there, this is a deep OL class, you take the QB first.

That would be less than and replace Robbie's expiring 12M this season, I think it's a real likely hood we see a receiver come in earlier than some may expect via the draft. Robbie will be 30 after this season, so it will be interesting to see what the team decides to do.

In Fitts' original presser he said once you clear the top half of the first round or so a lot of the prospects have less that separate them. If I'm basing a hypothesis off that logic it would make more sense to stay at 8 and make the pick, then use the 2nd and 3rd rounders as ammunition to cultivate additional picks for the rest of the draft. I would also not be surprised though unlikely to see us trade up.

If Fields falls which I doubt take him, all the signs seem to point to him going at #3 to SF, some of the Mac Jones talk has cooled off. We'll know for sure what's what in 10 days. Quite honestly the roster is better now than when the season ended, the only key departure IMO is Curtis, who's role is the easiest to replace. Mike Davis played well, but so long as CMC is healthy it's not even close. QB (Fields / Lance) / OL (SeWell / Slater) / trade back for a top corner -- that is my line of thinking based on how the board may fall. If ATL cannot trade out of #4 I think they take Pitts, they have Matt locked in for two years, makes a lot of sense for them to add Pitts alongside Julio, and Ridley -- if that happens it's easily top 5 skill personnel.

Got to a Superbowl, and had an OROY at the position, the issues were the fact that the management under that time frame was Hurney / Gettleman -- which was overseen by an owner that was forced to sell the team because he was a sexual predator. They WASTED Cam's and Luke's prime, and Gettleman's ego blew up a team that went to the playoffs in 2013, and again after a 2015 SB appearance. Ron and them trotted out Byron Bell, and DG drafted the likes of Vernon Butler, Kelvin Benjamin, etc while other options were available to stabilize the OL. For all the ''Hog Molly'' talk we didn't really do poo on the OL outside Turner, and Moton. Edmund Kugbila, Amini Silatolu, I can't even think of one LT drafted during Cam's time aside from Little, and we see how that's gone. This team was mismanaged top to bottom, EVEN when they had at least 2 HOF'ers on the roster, arguably three if you include Olsen, it was the biggest piece of inept work I've ever seen. And that is the only reason Ron has a job, Cam / Luke got him those COTY awards, we didn't develop anyone behind the starters so when injuries hit we failed. That was the achilles heel beyond shitty roster management, the blind favoritism to vets.

So the RPO heavy offense of Clemson and stationary targets is a better metric for QB success. Or losing to Coastal Carolina in the case of WIlson....? You're drafting the talent, not the school, or the scheme, if that's the case Alabama QB's don't do well in the NFL yet there are plenty here that are all over Jones. I like Fields and Lance as they possess all the traditional QB tools + they add elite NFL athleticism at that position. Playing 11 v 11 is better than 11 v 10.

If Darnold WAS a franchise QB he wouldn't have been available for what boils down to a future 2nd. If he was this sure thing NYJ is the perfect position have cashed in that pick for a kings ransom. I covered this already. QB is the single most important position to get right on a team, OL is a UNIT, having a good LT is great BUT it is not the end all be all. This day and age you NEED a legit star caliber QB. There were several teams that make the playoffs year in and out with middle of the pack OL's -- BUT they have a QB. Aside from protecting your QB being able to get after one is also just as important. If a top QB prospect and SeWell or Slater are the choice you take the QB. Good OL are available at the top of Day 2, and guess where we pick....the top of Day 2. When you get the QB right, you're in a better position to get everything else right, then it will come down to competent roster management, we will ALSO have the money to BUY a LT if that's the case 2022 forward. Plenty of options to solidify the OL, less options to solidify QB with a top 10 prospect.

That's why you trade down top of the 2nd and 3rd where the gap between players is larger, or really in the mid to late 1st. There's less busts at the top, and QB is a 50/50 proposition. However; QB is such an important spot to get right that IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE, when you're in position to take one, you do so if you believe in him. Fields has the resume', and to me Lance is worth it knowing you have a starter in Darnold that you're not committed to long term.

WR - DJ Moore (Emerging Elite WR) / Robby Anderson (One of the best vertical threats in the league - has rapport with Sam) / David Moore is capable, and we're like to add a rooki HB - CMC (Best all around back in the NFL), depth can be added Day 2 / 3 of the draft TE - Dan Arnold is an emerging vertical threat, and Ian was surprisingly good when CAM was throwing to him OL was middle of the pack last year even with all the injuries, stands to reason we will improve even if slightly -- people gotta stop acting like quality OL is only available in the 1st. Some of our best OL have come on day 2 (Trai / Moton / Norwell UDFA) -------------------------------------------------------------- There is plenty around Sam to succeed while still making the best move for this team moving forward IF a top QB prospect falls. Very little need to worry about that, plus our cap space moving forward is JAX Jaguars'esque

No need for a smoke screen they have the #3 pick, and for all accounts #1 and #2 are locked in. Fields isn't going #2. The Wilson love / hype is too real, right now Fields is being drug through the mud similar to how Cam was, and Lance coming from a smaller school / less competition you're not really hearing too much about him.

Common sense does exist, this ^^^^ this right here ^^^^. There is NO REASON to be sold on Darnold as OUR and here is the simple logic -- New York LET HIM GO!!! Common Reasons Why: 1) Well Adam Gase held him back, ok well Adam Gase is gone so what's the excuse in NY now? 2) Well we get Zach Wilson on a rookie deal, ok well Darnold only costs 4M in 2021, and has an option at just 18.5M IF you activate the option. So you could sell the pick and have a ton of cap to BUILD around Darnold IF they thought he was the guy even at the 5th year option price which would put him in the bottom two thirds or half of QB salaries. All I'm saying is IF he was worth believing in as a franchise guy NYJ wouldn't have let him go so cheaply, I'm not sorry it is what it is. To me he's an ARM talent upgrade over TB who's willing to throw down field. But I am nowhere near sold on him as answer. He's a bandaid until proven otherwise. It's why you take the QB if they're there, Darnold can start and play knowing in order to get paid here or elsewhere he has to ball out. That keeps us off of the hook for his salary while a Fields or Lance gets to learn the NFL ropes -- odds are we're around .500 ish with Darnold which means we'll still be in position to improve the OL in the 2022 draft or in FA if we're unable to do so this year. There is no reason to think at the 8th spot in Rd 2 we won't be able to upgrade the LT position, and I don't hate -- Erving / Little / Scott, but would like to see it improved none the less, Okung is out there as well as Eric Fisher as well. We have plenty of options at LT via the draft and after. To me it's one of these guys if they fall then SeWell if available, if all three are gone I'm looking at the board and I'm willing to trade back at that point.

Two gloves will be traded or released, he won't be around. We're not done at QB, we have the cap to take the hit on a June 1st designation if we can't find a partner.

Whether it's on social media or in comments spread out through other posts there seems to be many who are OKAY with rolling forward with Darnold as ''THE'' guy on the roster. I have no issue with the trade for Darnold as IMO it was a relatively cheap deal, a 6th this year and a future 2nd & 4th can all be recovered one way or another, he only costs about 4M this year and we have until AFTER the draft to pick up the 5th year option. (Many sports news outlets still don't realize we haven't picked it up yet, and I don't think it's for a smokescreen, I think it's smart to wait and know what the draft brings) Given the current draft / QB climate I understand the move, it allows them to not have to force the issue by reaching on a prospect that's not considered a top 4 QB later on in the draft, as bringing in a Mond or Newman or whoever while you have Darnold doesn't make a ton of sense. But Fields & Lance have a different level of potential compared to Darnold IMO. Darnold has ''all the tools'' but there's nothing about his game that could make him ''special''. I think if one of these guys falls, or potentially is in range between the 5th and our 8th, I would not be surprised at all to see us move up. (KC traded the 27th, their 3rd in that same class and a future 1st to jump from 27 to 10 -- Compensation wise to jump 17 spots, that is not a lot -- moving from 8 to 5 or 6 if they decided to IMO is not out of the question. Swap 1sts, add a day 2 or 3 pick and a future 1st.) I did not get any ''he's our guy'' vibes from the pressers from Fitt, and Rhule. They were both complimentary of his talent, but they do that for all acquisitions Coach / GM speak. So what are your thoughts...?

I'd like to think we look similar to this heading into the season - Moore / Anderson / Moore #2 / Rookie with similar skill set to Curtis Guys like Kirkwood, Bayless, and even this guy I don't buy as ''sure ins'' to make it. More so than anything Kirkwood knew the offense as he was in NO, Bayless & Bryant are slow UDFA's with what seem to be good hands & ball skills. Biggest question for them is can they separate consistently and not have to always catch in traffic even though they seem to possess that ability. Micah Simon and the 4.3s speed also has me intrigued.

Just happened across this, just a guy to keep an eye on likely for culture / camp body, may be an interesting guy to keep up with -- 6'3'' / 205

Confirmed -- Rhule said the 5th year option has NOT been picked up yet, May 3rd is the deadline, that is BIG news!! Allows them to take a QB, and only have Sam at his cost of 4M ish for just this season if the draft falls our way.

Gentlemen, are me looking at the makings of a playoff roster....share your thoughts below. Offense - QB - Darnold / Walker / Grier / Stevens / TB to TBD HB - CMC / Bonnafon / Smith / Cannon / Clark the UDFA from the workout FB - N/A (Maybe the TE Colin Thompson as needed) WR - DJ Moore / Anderson / David Moore / Kirkwood / Zylstra / Young projects TE - Arnold / Thomas / Sullivan OL - Erving / Elflein / Paradis / Miller / Moton -- Key Depth - Little / Daley / Scott --------------------------------------------- Defense - DL - Brown / Gross-Matos / Fox / Roy -- Could see KK return, or a rookie addition Offball LB - Shaq / Perryman / Carter Jr -- Luvu / Orr / Johnston as depth currently EDGE - Burns / Reddick / Haynes / Miller CB - Jackson / Bouye / Melvin / Pride / ST Oliver III S - Chinn / Burris / Franklin / Robinson - We have some unknown depth atm (Would not be surprised to see Boston back if the draft doesn't fall our way)

1) Fields or Lance falls to #8 -- take them, Sam is still a huge ''?'' adding a LT doesn't resolve the ''?'' that he is, don't pass on the talent that Fields / Lance possess + up to 5 years of QB play at that low of a cost, even if we exercise / have exercised Darnold's 5th year option, for a future QB needy team he'd be cheap if we had to deal. Then use the 2nd, and possibly the 3rd to trade back and add additional Day 2 & 3 picks. (We're in a great position to do that since we are at the top of each round) 2) If Fields or Lance fall to #5 or #6 -- Swap 1sts, and offer the third, and a future late pick; our 2nd is high enough to trade back this year and add a 3rd or early 4th back to keep our pick count at the same for 2021(7 picks) 3) No top tier QB's available -- Take BPA at #8, I'd be fine with using the 2nd round pick as bait to trade back to add an additional Day 2 pick and would use that to draft Mond / Newman, guys we know could use 1-2 seasons to develop. I'm not too big a fan of other options, though there are more, these are simply my preference.

Will, and HAVE aren't the same. From all I've read its not. They have until after the draft. MAY 3rd Is the deadline.

I think the EXPECTATION to pick up the 5th year was floated out there by the media, but I haven't seen it made official, would be in the team's best interest to wait until the deadline May 3rd which is the Monday after the draft. This way if we draft a QB we can forgo his option, and if we don't we still have the option to not commit to it. I personally wouldn't commit either way because he's not getting market value money, and if he's gone in FA we sign or look to the draft. I'd rather keep that QB money low until we draft a guy, and just build the best total roster. (See SF / MIA, as recent examples of this) we can be bad until we're in position to get ''OUR" guy. Doesn't matter how much you want to win if you don't have the pieces, we had #3 locked up, we could have rested starters Weeks 16 & 17 -- the team did this to themselves. I understand the morale, but we saw PHI secure #6 Week 17 pulling Hurts. We see examples every year, and we also see it not work out so no matter what you do there's opportunity to fail. A lot of it is just getting lucky, see JAX as NYJ fell into enough wins to lose the #1 overall pick.

TB IMO set up his own exit after the MIN game and blaming a call coming in late as the reason he missed a wide open receiver directly in front of his face. Then trying to dive over the pile in GB only to fumble, and the 4th and 9 in the final moments of a game where he just checks it down to a 2 yard drag. There's several examples, IMO they bought into the Saints hype, he looked better on a better team, I dunno who was responsible for the money, but if you're paying a guy that much they need to at times be the reason you win; especially at QB. He's a game manager with below avg arm talent -- Darnold has the potential to be more with + arm talent, this is a step in the right direction, but I don't think it's viewed as the answer long term either.

Just watch the presser, TLDR 1) We can draft a QB if one falls that we like 2) We can move up, down, or stay put This is what Fitterer said yesterday, also OL / DL / CB are points of interest in the draft in general.