t96

Ehh, does the offense really need fixing like the D did last year? I don't think so. Main pieces we're missing are LT and QB (obviously hugely important pieces) but those aren't positions you just force in the draft, especially after the Darnold trade too. I think it'll be a decent mix this year, it still makes sense to bolster the D in my view.

All depends on QBs and offensive weapons -- I'd say right around 50/50

That top 6 is a perfect scenario. Guarantees we get either Fields or Sewell which are my ideal 2 picks and other than those 2 I would want to trade down. Let's hope he's right.

Maybe, but that doesn’t mean it’s good allocation of cap space/assets.

He’s overpaid and overrated, no thanks.

I prefer Fields but Lance at 8 is still good value and we can give him a year or 2 to develop while we try out Darnold. I’d be happy with that pick, though based on reports it doesn’t even seem that we care much for Lance. Fields then Sewell then trade down is what I want.

If it’s Mac Jones at 3 which seems to be likely at this point, then 1 of Fields/Lance is there at 8 and should be the pick.

Probably but I’m not 100% sure about that... That’s a lot of cap to be taken up by what is likely to be a backup QB if we draft Fields. I think the point is moot though since Fields likely isn’t dropping to 8.

LT for sure, unless he’s not sold on Darnold, then it’d be whatever QB he likes best.

Ehh he was going to force his way out anyways, he wants to play LT and they already have a better LT...

This rule change will also make it a lot easier to retire jerseys since there’s less positional constraint now. I highly doubt a Panther ever wears 89 or 1 again, maybe even 59

Yeah, I agree. I actually wish I had a TD #47 jersey.

The thing is though, Matt Ryan is still unquestionably a franchise QB and at 35 he could easily have another 5-7+ years left in him these days... Why give that up for an unknown? Even if they’re still somewhat bad next year that doesn’t mean the issue will be QB any time soon...

Not really, just more dart throws to hopefully get a bullseye at the most important position. Plus if Darnold plays even decent as a bridge QB we could still get some of those picks back trading him once the draft pick is ready, or if Darnold really dominates we could trade the draft pick for picks back later. I wouldn't blindly take a QB there we don't like just because they're a solid prospect and we need a long term solution there, but if the team is sold on Fields or Lance and they're sitting there then by all means go for it.

If they were anywhere near as smart as they think they are, some NFL front office would give them a crap ton of money and hire them to build a team to dominate the league.

No it won’t. $11M for Moore is a steal, that’s about half what the top WRs make. There’s no chance at all that we don’t pickup his option if he’s not extended before then. Will we pay him big money after that? Maybe not and that will depend on draft picks/free agents in the next couple years, but his option being picked up is a given.

That’s a joke right...? Moore is a no brainer 5th year option, not a close call

Good, glad our players aren’t a bunch of pansies.

Is Wilson really a given at #2? Everyone assumes it but I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if it's Fields. Many still think he's the clear #2 behind Lawrence, despite Wilson being the talk of the town more recently. Jets could have their cards very close to their chest and be targeting Fields. Lawrence is the only pick that is 100% set in stone.

Fields and Lance are in two different tiers of prospects if you ask me. If Fields is there you run to the podium. If Lance is sitting there along with Sewell somehow, it's not quite as easy of a decision. I really do like Lance and would love to get him at 8 but only if the coaching staff is completely sold on him as being the guy long term (I'd sit him behind Darnold for 1-2 years and try to trade Darnold for assets if he plays well), not just because he's a top QB prospect available there. Sewell would also go a long way towards us having success here long term. LT may be the 2nd most important position behind QB...

If we take an LT at 8 and he actually pans out from day 1 I think our line would be a strength. Paradis, Miller and Moton were all great last year. Elflein is a decent flyer, may be a bit of a weakness but if we can hit on a strong LT it shouldn't be a big deal at all. Of course, that's a BIG "if." Especially considering many of the notable LT busts in recent years.

I did. Them doing initial due diligence to prepare for a potential plan C or D is a lot different than us being locked in on Darnold as a top option to solve our QB problem -- which wasn't the case. Watson/Stafford were plan A, draft plan B (which we apparently determined was a too expensive plan before the draft) and Darnold plan C. It's also been reported no other teams were seriously in on Darnold at the time we traded for him, we should've known that and just kept monitoring him while waiting to see what happens in the draft. There was no reason for a sense of urgency to get Darnold before the draft. Panthers may like Fields at 8 but right now think that we have absolutely no chance to get him there (which is probably correct). Why not let that play out first? Does the team know something for certain that we don't know about the QBs going in the top of the draft? Maybe, but it also can't be 100% certain because teams hold their cards close to their chest... If the seemingly impossible does happen and there's a QB we love sitting there at 8 (because Niners love a different QB than we want and Falcons, etc. go other positions/no trade ups), whether that's Lance or Fields or whoever, it's really not ideal to have needlessly given up fairly significant draft capital for a QB who won't have a realistic chance to be the long term starter here.

He was a fallback though, as evidenced by the 49ers' trade up spurring this decision and the notion that we may still take a QB.

My question is, why not wait to trade for Sam until after seeing what happens with the QBs in the draft first?

We need to figure out QB long term. Darnold has a small chance to be that guy, but very unlikely. A Fields or Lance at 8 has a better chance to be that guy. Added together our odds of finding that long term QB increase. I don't know why anyone would have any issues with this. Plus if we start Darnold this year and he's solid and then the rookie is ready at some point we can get our assets back for Darnold in another trade. If we like one of the top 4 QBs at 8 and he's there then that'll be a great pick. If not, then we're good looking at OT/CB/etc.