Bear Hands

Daniel Jeremiah with more on him...(linked to the right time) DJ echoes common concerns but also echoes high 2nd round being likely (It really seems like our liking of him isn't smoke). Tough eval - muscled up and fast but two big concerns: 1-too tight to be able to run a full route tree 2-blended in at the Senior Bowl, didn't jump out down there around other guys with NFL talent He's not coming into the league to just plug in outside. Needs plays in an environment tailored to him.

Brugler reported this morning on the AFS that some, not all, but some teams have medicals flagged for Brian Thomas Jr. There's a chance he's not WR4. Could he be in striking range mid-20s? I know some here hate the idea of any trade, but if he drops, our name could pop on the TV tomorrow night.

He's mer fave. Would love it somehow.

Long shot here because we're talking the Panthers... I wonder if the FO is actually trying some misdirection and overselling our neediness for WR to get a guy like Frazier or Barton to fall. Highly doubtful though lol

@Leaky_Faucet Nice draft. I'm not in tune with Renardo Green but love the direction. Frazier seems like an awesome guy and fantastic C prospect. Franklin and Rice compliment each other well and make a lot of sense. And I'm a big fan of Stover - Sinnett is the popular choice for many but I think Stover is maybe a notch above. Schroeder is an underrated prospect. Physical, best pass-protecting RB in the country, can catch (not a huge pass catcher, but can be effective), would be great for Bryce.

News Flash: Panthers sent what became the 1st Overall to Chicago. Bears are on the clock. Locking/holding until the draft begins tomorrow Notable Times: ROUND 1: Thursday, April 25: 8 p.m. ET ROUND 2-3: Friday, April 26: 7 p.m. ET ROUND 4-7: Saturday, April 27: Noon ET

If inevitable, meaning, Bozeman played awful, it was questionable if it was just a down year or no -- regardless, they go ahead and get rid of him and then sign 2 guards long term in FA, and now have a glaring hole at center with Mays the only other candidate rostered, then yes, inevitable.

With current trends & the type of consultants that would be hired--they likely take the silver out, reduce the shoulder stripe, and it would have this over-simplified bland look to it. I think our all blacks with the classic helmet is the best look and is sharp as hell. Those are great--and then I associate the team w/ the all-white as those are the most worn and look fine. It's fairly timeless. The longer we hold, the more trends will come back around to our styling and we can pass over the current fads. I do wonder if they'd ever explore an alternative logo but meh.

We’ve stayed so close to our original with only one real restyling that it adds a nice level of consistency to the maddening inconsistency everywhere else in this org. Just some minor tweaks every 5ish years is fine but we don’t need an overhaul…or else this is what happens.

Broncos just did as well - been rumored for a bit:

I’m fine holding at 33. Same with 39 unless the Raiders or Rams are calling with a juicy offer for a QB. Otherwise, I think we should monitor the guys falling in R2 and if there’s a real for sure impact dude we want, use one of our fifths to do a 3+5 swap for a late 2nd+6th. An up-down package to assure an impact talent, where you don’t lose capital, is what I prefer.

There’s always “that” guy in drafts that creates the starkest divide—this year, it’s far and away XL for this fanbase.

Player aside— To have this type of tunnel vision again is concerning from the GM.

We need instant contributors, not developmental types so he better be ready if he’s the pick. No more TMJ or Mingo jamokes. Come in and produce day 1 like most WRs these days taken within the first 3-4 rounds.

What even are you getting at? I asked a question my man... I think you need to stop wasting time trying to do whatever you're doing right meow.

That takes the fun out of a fresh thread on Friday my dude. No trouble, writing a few names down takes a nanosecond

I can see your perspective there - you look at Max Melton at Rutgers or Dru Phillips out of Kentucky; they could be targets at 65 - so there’s merit in asking- what is Mike bringing that they don’t/and vice versa. If we’re comparing talent and likelihood at BPA, you’re gaining more out of a Frazier/Barton, Tampa, or some of the WRs in the low thirties.

Wont act like he’s perfect. That PI was his first of the entire season FYI

Thanks - fair enough. He’s grown on me but I’m always open to hear it out on the opposing end. For me- I see some really strong traits you don’t commonly find in prospects. To your point though, I can see the RM Jr comp because he is intense physically/at the point of attack, but he has really good zone awareness that you need in that Rams/Fangio tree hybrid spot. Not to mention he graded out super high against the run. Communicates well on field, student of the game, and hearing how he took it up a notch between 2022 and 2023 speaks volumes to what he can do at the next level. I mean, the dude was voted MVP by his peers on that team, made countless big time plays at the biggest moments…I don’t see the shade for him. I can see the dislike for the position but said my take on that front. My spidey sense just tells me there’s something with him but I’ve been wrong before. Seems people want this stout outside shut down corner but I love these versatile tweeners that operate in the box and become this dynamic centerpiece. McDuffie was a revelation this past year.

He played boundary, in the box and NB. He would be out there a huge snap percentage-likely bulk. I just dispute that he’s just a NB, especially given the modern trends with nickel and dime and how the hybrid developed in Fangio’s scheme. I also just think this dude brings it and has the extra Kuechly-esque gene. You just don’t get that IQ and leadership out of any prospects. I’m not even a big Michigan fan or anything but he’s an easy sell IMO if you dive into it. https://www.thedraftnetwork.com/2024/04/10/mike-sainristil-nfl-draft-interview Great insight in here.

Curious to the “not good” bit. Open to hear what you think his deficiencies are. Best defender on the best defense in the nation, started more at CB at Michigan than Arnold did at Bama and is arguably (and statistically) the best ballhawk in the draft. What makes him a work in progress? I get if people don’t want to invest high in a primary slot corner (although I think it’s flawed if you look at any currently successful team)…but would love to hear more.

Thanks for the effort - Maybe my post is being misinterpreted-I'm just saying list of names.. Who do you think we end up with vs. who you want us to get Although do appreciate you typing all that up - good stuff

Wanted to bump this thread bc there is definitely a misperception with corners going on around these parts, especially a modern slot defender. --so here's my attempt to sell it-- The Texans, who we're all slobbering over building how we should have, started their rebuild around Stingley (3rd overall) and a certain sub-6' Baylor slot DB in Jalen Pitre (at 37) who's been awesome. SEA has w/DROY finalist Devon Witherspoon who is rotating in and out of slot (monster year), the Lions just took Brian Branch high, CJ Gardner Johnson has been rolling the past few years... Most notably, Trent McDuffie is the best in the game and a big reason why KC won the SB, the taller Jalen Ramsay popularized the refined roles for a versatile slot defender role, but the crop of these guys are all 6'0 and under, playing all over the field and heavily in the box. They are also super important in the 2-high shell defense we run. With lighter boxes, run support is critical. They need to cover the middle of the field, man up against larger slot receivers and TEs, and not to mention get mixed in as a blitzer. Just go check out Sainristil's HUGE game saving play against OSU's 6'4 250 Cade Stover and some of his monster run stops over the season. It is also a critical position for Evero's defense bc this guy is communicating just like a LB and it's why I sense why Chinn wasn't quite a fit--he just didn't have the presnap mentality we needed in this regard. You need to be a coach on the field in a Kuechly-esque sense. I think it 10000% makes sense why we're considering Sainristil. Ok, table pound over.

With that evolution, it's a big reason why nickel or dime is 80%+ of many-to-most team's defensive looks. And who is on that guy most of the time? The slot defender, in the box, that has a multitude of responsibilities communicating presnap and sticking to the powerful RBs AND the slipperiest guys in the game at WR. You gotta be versatile, excel in man-to-man, zone, play strong against the run and blitz...all in the box. They're communicating with the DBs, LBs, they're responsible for filling the B gap, C gap. They're basically a coach on the field and have hybrid LB responsibilities. Which I find interesting people don't hold that role in higher regard. The league does. Trent McDuffie was basically the Chiefs defensive MVP this past season and a huge reason they won the SB. I'm looking at Kenny Moore, Jalen Ramsey, Gardner-Johnson, Marlon Humphrey, K'Waun Williams...these are some of the best in the game. [insert my paragraph hyping Sainristil again] Michigan's defensive captain, team MVP, excellent tackler, ballhawk, & could be right there for us R2. Just saying... This is also why Chinn may have not worked out for Evero. He was a monster athlete and a Kam prototype, but he wasn't a do-it-all in the box type of slot guy. Which is the Ramsay/Mr. everything slot role I sense we're seeking.

Being a handful of days out, I was interested to see where everyone's guts vs. wants are. Time to get both predictive and give a shout to your top prospects...no novels here, just interested to see where fans' heads are at. What I think we'll do: (I'd be nervous but still somewhat excited) Nate Wiggins CB Clemson Xavier Legette WR South Carolina Jonathan Brooks RB Texas Brenden Rice WR USC Austin Booker EDGE Kansas Who I want: Zach Frazier C WVU Ja'Lynn Polk WR Washington Malik Washington WR Virginia Ben Sinnott TE Kansas State Caelen Carson CB Wake Forest Blake Watson RB Memphis *Shoutout to Sainristil, Kneeland, & CO State's Kamara. Some additional targets I like.