kungfoodude

I think we made a huge upgrade in our two deep but basically no upgrade in our starting OL. This is, of course, all theoretical. They have taken no actual snaps as a unit yet.

We added basically nothing and lost little if you don't include Okung. So, I suppose if you don't include him it is a push. And it was a much, much worse line than some of the stats even indicate because of Teddy.

Well, I have functioning eyeballs and a brain. It does help. Similarly, I actually watched our games.

I can't make you be smarter.

On paper is is probably worse. Okung, despite being missing for most of the year was leaps and bounds better than whatever we are considering for LT(assuming Moton stays at RT). The OG's guards are either a push or worse. IMO, there is a very high probability we are worse than last year along the starting line but better at the backup slots.

Well he is likely to be behind one if the worst OL's he has ever had, so I don't know how exciting that stat is.

Agreed. I am glad to have him back but his playcalling left a lot to be desired last season. He wasn't bad but far, far from perfect. Hopefully he keeps improving like our young players do.

Think about how bad it would be if he wasn't our QB1.

I understand the thought process but still would caution that he is a rookie and this is the NFL. Traditionally rookie WR's tend to struggle. I just don't like to see runaway expectations for young players that lead to unwarranted fan disappointment. Glad to see him making some plays in TC but I am not going to get too excited or upset until he has a few games under his belt.

The easiest work he will get all season is against our non-Moton OT's.

We'd have to give up a 1st for them to take Greg Little.

I thought that was who it was. Makes it that much more impressive for Marshall.

Let's let them get some actual games under their belt first. I don't like saddling a bunch of rookies with unfair expectations. Remember it took Samuel a few seasons to really hit his stride.

Who was that Marshall roasted?

Oh poo.....here we go....

Maybe he is just an M. Night Shyamalan superfan.

You can twist it anyway you want but we have a bust first round QB currently. So what would the difference really be?

I came here to say this. IMO this is really probably the worst scenario. Because now we likely have a top 5 draft pick, are in position to draft a franchise QB but have no idea what to do with Darnold. That is an easy choice for me, I draft a QB but I don't know that our staff and FO would feel similarly. Especially if they thought he looked good in camp. So, then you are looking at the potential of maybe passing on a franchise QB(twice) for a guy that ends up flaming out in 2022. To me that is the true nightmare scenario.

Gotta be DJ Moore at the top of that list.

Yep, just an accounting trick make it easier to stomach that big lump sum.

I don't really envision a scenario where we are trading for him if there is question as to his status. We are not describing similar scenarios at all.

This is a no-brainer, really. I liked Samuel but his situation is the textbook "don't pay this guy" scenario. Moton, on the other hand, is a top tier OT in the NFL. We simply couldn't afford to let him get away.

I don't have an issue with us continuing to kick the tires as the situation develops. It isn't like we may not have a chance that a QB is a big need during the season. Darnold has an injury history, he is a bust and his backups are not dependable.

It would be a surprise(injuries aside) if he doesn't make the leap to being a 12+ sack guy in 2021. On paper, the DL and secondary took big leaps forward. This should start making these pressures become sacks. Every metric/stat you pointed out and others all seem to indicate elite sack production is imminent.

Yeah, aside from the QB, that OL is just such a glaring roster weakness. It's stark. And this is under the assumption that the rest of our offseason moves were mostly successful. It is entirely possible that we might not be a successful team even with Watson just yet. Ideally, we know a LOT more about our overall direction after 2021. As bad as it seemed in 2020, we left that season being pretty positive overall. I want that to continue in 2021, regardless of the win totals. Although a big jump there would go a long way towards getting the fanbase much more excited.