kungfoodude

Those guys, for all their faults, knew what it took to play in the NFL and were familiar with success. They could also establish and maintain culture. We haven't had that since.

Yep. As I keep saying, if our evaluation ability wasn't so terrible some of these choices wouldn't be so bad.

IIRC, he isn't exactly coming from an impoverished background in the first place. I think this is just the realization for the first time in his life that he is unable to make this next leap up to the NFL level. This isn't rare, dozens and dozens of players hit this wall every single season. Hell, think about how many guys we typically acquire in each individual draft that hit this wall, largely due to our dogshitt evaluation capabilities. Edit: I am tripping. I was talking about Bryce, not XL. I actually have zero idea about XL's background. I suppose he can't be TOO poor if he is a horse owner. That ain't a cheap hobby.

He has a heftier contract than you would think. I think the issue is that the Texans will want likely more than he is worth. They are in no great need of trading him. I am fine with Mills as a bridge attempt, no issue with that. I just don't want to be seeing top 4 round draft picks headed out the door, even considering our lack of ability to capitalize on them.

DJ Johnson just ticked too many boxes on the warning list. Unpolished/raw at his position, older guy, etc. Project players don't belong in the top 3 rounds, IMO. Not on teams completely bereft of talent. The Ravens, 49ers, etc of the world can get away with that. It's hard to justify that in the condition our roster usuallu is.

Trust me, I wasn't either. Just seemed like another TMJ, Mingo, etc. Well.....turns out it was.

Upper tier backups have good options available. Also, hitching your bandwagon to a career backup isn't likely to pan out. Mills is a possibility, but that would have to be a trade. He is under contract through 2026. Same with Lock, under contract through 2026.

Fishing around in the dumpster isn't the answer. Get better at prospect evaluation is literally the only answer. Or maybe drastically overpay some aging veteran, which seems like an unwise idea.

Yeah, unfortunately those stories aren't common.

The earliest that would be financially reasonable for them is after 2026. If they attempted that before then, it is a nine figure dead money hit. He would have to agree to massively restructure.

I think it's the other way around. He tried to get a bigger contract and did. This wouldn't make any sense for the Rams until after 2026 based on the contract.

I don't know that he is or isn't better than what we have. What I do know is that for many years now he was a PS player that anyone in the NFL could have taken.

Well it would probably cost you maybe league minimum + very little to obtain him in the offseason. I am gonna guess, unless he gets money thrown his way, he is probably going to stick there in Cincy. We have most of the rest of the season to see what he is.

Jesus....hard bargain, I see. 2 1sts, a 2nd and Horn.

I mean, he would be insanely cheap. I would caution betting the farm on a 29 year old career PS guy.

2 1sts for Jalen Milroe?

I really don't think he will develop into a starter, if I am being honest.

At somewhere near his current salary, sure. I don't think he is going to have any desire to come here unless all 31 other teams pass, however.

Stafford is dinged up constantly. Why on earth would he want to come to the worst franchise in the NFL? He is going to end his career with the Rams.

Eh....on paper that is a big upgrade but time isn't being super kind to Wilson. Not nearly as elusive as he once was. Not sure a 38 year old Russell is much more than another 1 year rental. Now, pair him with a good, young drafted QB....I am in. Let the vet take a seasons worth of bullets while we keep building.

Ya'll are something else. Stop dumpster diving for QB's.

Tepper your expectations, my son.

We seem slightly more prone as a franchise than most to the sunk cost fallacy. If you realize your mistake, pivot ASAP and recoup what assets you can. Holding onto these guys for dear life in the hopes they will eventually pan out is tying up valuable resources spent developing better assets(hopefully).

Yeah, Darnold I still believe will be a career backup and he is trending that direction. I was a Baker fan before he came here and never really bought the line about him being washed. Nor do I buy the line about him being some big turnaround. He is performing the best of his career but it isn't insanely better than with Cleveland. He was always a good NFL QB. I think it's more his progression/experience as an NFL player that is leading to the improvements. But you see why I harp so much on evaluation failures. This is the most critical flaw in our attempts to build anything cohesive here. You gotta be able to identify actual NFL caliber talent.

Name a guy we have drafted since 2018 that has had greater success elsewhere than they had here? I can tell you after looking, there aren't any. Hence why I keep saying this is an evaluation issue.