coffee

Crazy that we lose a player that we want AND that wants to be here because he's too valuable for the Bears to agree to the trade without it. (I still agree with the trade, but hate that this was a must for it to happen) Hopefully he will follow the path of Moose and Pep. I'd love for him to end up back here sometime.

Thank you! That video was extremely helpful (if the info is correct-varying opinions, I'm sure). My concern is the "what if we're wrong?" issue. If we choose Stroud and we're wrong, we end up with a QB that's not as good as hoped so we have to focus on building a better team around him. If we choose Bryce and we're wrong, We have another situation like Corral; a QB who can't even be on the field. If we go this route, I'll be happy to have him, but It'll feel like watching Alex Smith's return.

"So we're gonna get the top pick AND a ham sandwich?"

No need to get huffy and puffy about it.

I feel for you! A few years ago, I did an "Ain't likely and you may not want it, but what would you do" thread. I got the same as you; a million replies saying 'it ain't likely' and 'I don't want it.'

1 and 39 for 2 and 12

I did some math for the heckuvit. According to the overthecap.com chart, our original 7 picks would've been worth 5515 points. The 6 we have now are worth 6450. That means we go into this draft with the equivalent of our original 7 picks plus one late round 2nd. If this means anything to you, you are a nerd. (But at least you're not the one who did the math.) BTW, everything I find says we have pick 145, not 147.

You may be right, but I feel they DO know who they want. But they are being smart enough not to say because that leaves open the possibility of still getting him with a trade down.

Here are my ignorant thoughts: I feel that AR's hype was "real" but only enough that teams felt they could hype him up as a smokescreen. He helped his draft spot, but not all the way to the top. Levis? I don't have a great reason but I just don't think so. I mean, only a star would mayo their java but a it it takes a bust to eat banana peels. So. I'll average it out and just say no. Young sounds like the most ready to go and the best of the bunch, but his downside puts him too close to one play destroying the whole project. With the investment made, I don't think they'll take that gamble. My challenge with Stroud is that I'm a Georgia fan and that's really the only college ball I watch. That means the only time I saw him was apparently his best showing ever. Still, watching him there, I really thought Georgia was going to lose solely because of him. I felt then and there that Stroud would make the transition to the NFL well and have a long career. So I'm saying he's my best guess.

Well, I'm headed off to bed, so I'll leave you with this: The Carolina Panthers are on the clock." Sweet dreams!

I'm actually more concerned about getting a catching TE and RB. I think the best help we give our new QB is not one star receiver but rather the ability to spread it around.

Ironically, the last time we went to the Super Bowl was the year we lost our #1 receiver and the rest of the receiving crew were considered "no-names."

So, now, if we're following the "Draft Day" pattern, we actually use the first pick on Tyree Wilson?

Didn't listen to it, but NONE of the things OP shared sound correct considering the things we've heard. Lombardi may have better sources than everyone else but, unless I hear otherwise, I'm just wondering what he's drinking along with his ham sandwich.

It's actually "Dom" Capers. But I think Damn may've been Rhule's first name.

Only way I could actually see tanking would be if we were out of the playoff picture and the last couple games determined whether we'd get the #1 pick (and that there was a "can't miss" #1 pick hero that would be there.) Outside of that, I'd think it would do more damage than good. For example, I can only imagine what a player would think about a team that's willing to trash that player's rep and future employment. For many of them, it's their only chance in the NFL. Doesn't seem like that would draw many quality free agents either.

Right now, this team is Brad and I'm yelling "HOOOOOOOVE!!!"

I hate the guy on the field because I'm a Panther fan. But I'm very sorry they are going through this. I seriously doubt it has anywhere near as much to do with football as we think and as the reporters report.

Can you even imagine the fan reaction if we signed yet another retread QB expecting him to do better here?

I thoroughly enjoyed that article. Thank you for posting it! Of the "factions" we have in this thread, I'll go with those that are not sold on Fields yet and that the article paints a bad picture of Rhule but not of Fitterer. Unpopular view: Although Darnold's 5th year option was a bad decision in hindsight, it seems like simple math to me. Fitterer couldn't see the future, so he had to go with the math. Here were the possibilities if he waits: (1) SD is the answer at QB but we either lose him to FA or have to bid against a host of other teams to keep him at a huge price. LOSE (2) We don't see enough in one-year to know if he's the answer, so we either lose him or pay too much to see him for another year. LOSE (3) He sucks and I look brilliant for not exercising the 5th year option. WIN If he exercises the option: (1) SD's the answer and I look brilliant. WIN (2) We don't know yet, but I've given us the 2nd year we need to make the call. WIN (3) He sucks and I cost us an average of $11 million on the attempt and use him as #2 in year 2, or possibly as a mentor and stopgap for a drafted rookie's 1st year. LOSE Again, we NOW know. But the risk of losing your answer at QB vs. paying a bit too much for a backup/mentor seems like an easy decision. I think he took the correct risk even though it didn't turn out the way we wanted.

Oops. Shoulda said cut instead of traded.

I appreciate that Fitterer was upfront with CMC. One of the many things I disliked about Gettleman was that he didn't even tell Smitty he'd been traded. You can make the tough decisions without being a jerk.

You absolutely could be right. But the other way to look at it is: If we win the division, we suddenly become very appealing to a new coach and/or the next great QB dissatisfied with his current team. Especially considering we basically have two sets of draft picks to work with. This is certainly a glass-half-full/wishful thinking view when I'm not remotely convinced we can win the division yet. But, at least for me, that'll give me the reason to root for our guys to win. And to the OP, yes, it's shocking to be one game out of 1st in nfcs. Even more shocking to add to it that we are one game out of draft pick #1 AT THE SAME TIME. And undefeated in our division to boot. Screwy times.

I hope so. I'm not quite there with you, but I will say this: Baker has fans from Cleveland. If this was his normal play, he would not have had ANY fans. It would've been a universal "He's gotta go!" attitude. Obviously, he's not looking like our answer at QB right now but I do expect that we'll see a better version of him. Whether enough to move us to contender? Like I say, I hope so but I'm not quite there yet.