Bear Hands

The size thing doesn't get to me. I feel many still are looking through the 3-down 4-3 lens. This basically IS the prototypical modern EDGE size minus the outliers who can play all schemes and are 6'4+, 260+. Miller, Parsons & Mack examples aside, just look at the younger blooming guys right now: Anderson Jr. 6'4 243, Bonitto 6'3 240, Tuli is 6'3 265, Byron Young 6'2 250, Highsmith 6'4 242, Huff 6'3 255, Verse is 6'4 260, Herbig 6'2 240.... Even TJ Watt's playing weight is in the 250s. It's about playing strength. Taking from that list above- PIT has 3 main rotation pieces at the edge that are 255, 242, & 240. That being said, I'm still really lukewarm about this kid.

Solely to anger the Wolfpack contingent lol

Responding to some - I'd say it's less about classifying a player as a boom/bust and more understanding the level at which rookies are thought of and trusted by organizations around the league. These are the best teams in the league and they're putting decent trust in the big moments with less experienced guys, whether due to an injury or genuinely earning their playing time. We've had a tendency to look a bit longer term with a lot of picks in hopes the upside can be hit. Which is fine I guess, but our track record is getting really bad so maybe we should stop lol. Thing is, you have a guy that fell who could be a great boost (Ladd, Newton, DeJean, Lassiter, etc.) and we stick with the guy we love and have a bit of tunnel-vision for. It seems to be a trend here...getting too locked in on "our guy" and not seeing how the chips fall. I often wonder if the Fit/Morgan era years would have taken Star when he fell to us in his draft. The funny thing with this last draft is that I feel like we struck a good pick with Trevin & Sanders. But XL and Brooks really did feel forced. Morgan was predetermined to get both by whatever means. My hope for 2025: we fall in love a bit less with prospects and are able to assess in-the-moment a bit better.

The Eagles are a confusing team for me. Barkley has been awesome, but Moore's offense tends to go through some self-inflicted lulls. Very beatable. The Lions are a bit injury bitten. The Commanders & the winner of tonight have decent shots. Now being mostly healthy, the Rams may be the ones positioned for a run. If I'm going off purely momentum right now, Rams - Ravens could be an interesting SB that not many saw coming.

Considering our needs and our R2-3 draft history, I think you gotta call about Wilson. He would be a prized get, a tier above the other potential trade targets. See what the deal is and what we could swing. Why tf not. Regarding those other targets, with our FO's obsession with a certain type, it wouldn't surprise me if we call SEA about Metcalf. Maybe send a feeler out for Deebo too. Elsewhere, I think Michael Pittman could be a very interesting guy to call about. He shines any time there's consistent QB play (which has been few and far between in IND) FA wise, Higgins will obviously be a target, but I just don't see us being the winning bid. Godwin, I'd actually like to see us pursue. Outside of that, I don't see anyone jumping out that would want me to push aside Coker & XL's playing time for. Some of the other proven vets are kind of past the cliff and the young talent is very mid. Would rather draft competition.

The short version: We need to draft better The long: "You can't expect day 2 or 3 guys to make an impact". Well, beyond the 1st rounders (Daniels, Quinyon, Barton, etc.), these are dudes with significant playing time or starters in the playoffs for solid squads. I'm probably not even hitting them all. This tells me you absolutely can and should target impact guys in R2-3 at a variety of spots. We absolutely need to break this round 2-3 torment we put ourselves in. Just check this out..post-R1 rookies WITH SIGNIFICANT PLAYING TIME this weekend: Keon Coleman WR - BUF R2 Ladd McConkey WR - LAC R2 Johnny Newton DL - WAS R2 Mike Sainristil DB - WAS R2 Cooper DeJean DB - PHI - R2 Braden Fiske DL - LAR - R2 Kamari Lassiter DB - HOU - R2 Zach Frazier C - PIT - R2 Blake Fisher OT - HOU - R2 Edgerin Cooper LB - GB R2 Javon Bullard DB - GB - R2 Jalen McMillan WR - TB R3 Jalyx Hunt DE - PHI R3 Kamren Kitchens DB - LAR R3 Calen Bullock DB - HOU R3 Troy Franklin WR - DEN R4 Beaux Limmer C - LAR R6

Love to see it for Chinn & Luvu

lol that's hilarious

Nix took some time to get comfortable, and has had the benefit of a good system, but he's grown so much. The confidence and decision making has been great. I've seen people rag on him due to benefiting to environment and being a glorified manager, but he's by all means looked great this year.

Flowers out is pretty big. For the one about to start - I gotta think Stingley and Lassiter against McConkey and QJ are the matchups that is a big factor in deciding the outcome.

That would put KC against PIT and then BUF against LAC. Interesting matchups, although I think LAC is the team KC doesn't want to see next week. Never bet against Mahomes, but that matchup could be difficult for them. KC's DL would have a hard time getting any pressure on Herbert. My weekend guesses: LAC over HOU - Chargers have some big momentum BAL over PIT - Lamar is playoff shaky, but they get it done. Russ has a dud BUF over DEN - Allen takes care of business, but this may start closer than expected. TB over WAS - High scoring, Baker beats the rook. LAR over MIN - Rams are healthy and reset for the playoffs. I think they're going to be a problem. GB over PHI - I think GB's defense could be a lot for a cold Hurts coming off his concussion. - Rams/Lions NFCC, Chiefs/Bills AFCC Allen finally beats Mahomes. Detroit's injuries catch up to them. BUF-LAR SB, Bills take it

We may be bad with contracts at times, but so are quite a few other teams haha

I think there's more than a few EDGEs that can play 5-tech which is what I'd like to think we target as our base is only deployed so much of the time. You need the types that can stand or go hands-in-the-dirt package dependent. A lot of drafts are more packed with the speedy athletic ones, but I'm seeing guys like Sawyer, his teammate JT (who I find possibly even more intriguing), Gillote, Ivey, Ezeiruaku, Swinson ain't too bad either. All with solid power & athleticism to their games. There's some that are the high upside sub-package only types like Princely, Pearce, etc. but it's a deeper crew that offers a wide range of talent. Not a fan of the top, but I would be miffed if we don't land one in Round 2-4.

Yeah I believe so. I like a few things about his game: -Great run defender, good awareness to break off engagement and quickly move laterally. His twitch and quickness is legit. -Moveset: has a nice swim, power rush (against guards and tackles). Good bend but he just thrives in the trenches. His power seems to be a top strength which I like for us. -Good size and provides versatility. He's 6'3 275, and a quick dude. Evero tends to flex in guys like Clowney in nickel packages which we could do with someone like Gillote. -Combining the high motor, strength, size, quickness, he easily has 3-down ability. Overall, he's the type that will get a us pushing OLs backwards quicker. Need that type of EDGE who isn't afraid to go at it in the trenches.

Jack Sawyer, Donovan Ez, Ashton Gillotte, & Mike Green are names to know. Sawyer had himself a game.

Ricky White is one to look at IMO. Could fit well for what we need.

Got a slap on the wrist for pot possession but that’s a non factor IMO. The assault and resulting diversionary program and service he did were what could be flagged by scouts - I’m sure they’ll ask about it in interviews.

The assault story sounds kinda wild. He basically beat up the towing guy who was, well, towing his car.

He actually does. Has been arrested twice in college.

Well this was fun

I don’t quite get the gaming culture (and the reaction videos to others playing thing) but to each their own. That sh*t is so big for the younger gens.

Fake it until you make it.

I mean google search doesn’t even work effectively anymore. The internet is generally broken these days.

So the Titans fired one of the better coaches in Vrabel to side with & keep Carthon during an in-house civil war. Give him a 4-year extension, and then turn around and fire Carthon the next season. The Raiders indicate they were keeping Pierce, let him do a presser with offseason chatter, and then fire him. Pretty humiliating. The Jags are keeping their in-house HC deterrent in Baalke. We're suddenly not looking like the crazy burning house.

Jarrett Stidham or Cooper Rush (rumored) are possibilities.