MHS831

Mateer, Allar, etc. There are several who are interesting. I would look into these:

A contract is likely to be based on the past 2 year's production and will probably be for 3 years or so. This chart tells you why we should move on: he has peaked, in all likelihood. Rico will be 28, I believe, this summer. If you had to put a pin in thehear RBs start to decline sharply, it would be 28 or 29. It is smart to let him go and ride Chuba, Brooks, and Etienne, using the $$ to sign an edge or LB. http://www.rotopicks.com/images/nfl/ppg-of-rbs.jpg

I have not read the entire thread and I am not a very informed hockey fan, but I love watching the Canes. When I saw the score was 2-0 and there had only been 9 shots on goal, I knew who was in net. Are there no other options?

My realistic, later-round crush is Mateer. Had a bad season, but his skill set is there. I am also intrigued by the Jim McMahon of this century, the QB from Vandy. I am too lazy to look his name up, but he is a controversial, scrappy dude.

I think this is a great draft to take a developmental QB on day 3. I have not researched this guy much, but he has "a particular set of skills" (c) I am going to trademark that line.

I think (with the growth of Scourton, (hopefully) Princely, and Jones II on the roster, Tackle just became our biggest need. While I think Moton can play until he is 35 so I am not that worried about him, we have nothing behind him. We need a starter. At edge, we don't. So I am all in on an OT. If I am GM, I do not give Ekwonu a big contract. He is too big a risk now. It sounds cold, but he will make $17m this year as he rehabs. If he comes back, we have 3 tackles, 2 with question marks. We need a T.

Yeah, people need to realize that a knee injury this serious to an NFL LT is more akin to a horse in the Old West breaking its leg than anything else. It is sad. IF he comes back, he is a guard in all likelihood.

Fortunately, the top 3 or 4 OTs in the draft are probably ready to start day 1. I really like the depth at OT. As much as it hurts, there is WAY too much risk to invest in Ekwonu or pencil him in for 2027. He will be diminished and any serious knee injury to a 330 lb man who uses those legs to fend off speed rushers. If he comes back, he is likely a guard. but the business side of this will be telling--about Morgan as much as the knee.

I think his knee would make a good reason to switch to guard IF he returns. Half don't. Half of those don't last too long. The strain on a knee (320lb man) vs speed rushers is more substantial. So I would keep him if I could on a small contract (he will make $17.5 in 2026 fully guaranteed) and think of him as a possible guard for the post Lewis/Hunt era. Knee injuries in big men are not invitations to invest in them.

Here is what you did not mention (and I have not read the thread--but will--it is a needed) and that is the MAFF. He is in a contract year (2026-5th year) and we will not know (in all likelihood) how the knee is healing by the time we have to decide on a mega deal. If you consider the time it takes to fully heal is 12 months if all goes well, the injury is known to shorten careers. Of course, a man of 330 lbs who needs agility to perform at a high level makes the injury a bit more serious than it was for Jimmy Graham, for example, who recovered in a remarkable 9 months. Having said all that, I think he should be moved inside to guard. While many NFL linemen can return to play after patellar tendon surgery, studies show a significant failure rate and reduced performance, with return-to-play (RTP) rates often cited around 50-56%, meaning roughly 44-50% don't make it back, and even those who do often see reduced careers and statistics, highlighting it as a devastating injury for linemen." I think you have to go after an elite OT, and I think it should be a first rounder because you don't sign elite LTs in free agency. Ickey is already going to get paid $18m or so in 2026. However, the money you save by not locking him down long term could go to a free agent edge or ILB. It is very complicated if you start factoring in contracts, risks, cap, and the odds of recovery.

I wish I understood it better, but we focused nearly 100% of resources on offense entering 2025, and we sucked on D--worst ever. I did not expect to be above average this year. I don't think we have seen the system with the right personnel, and if Evero is given his pass rush and maybe a good LB, we might see it differently. Glass half full.

I caught it later, but I was flashing back--in the zone.

It is a negotiation and contracts are for future performance not past accolades--so you are right. It is sad, but we have to find a LT.

As impatient as we are, there is something to be said for consistency. Without good edges, a nickel/s who can cover deep, or good LBs, we improved a lot. Some of the coverages were based on personnel. Dont forget how well Jackson has played here. Thornton. Smith-Wade. I think we are a year away from seeing what it is supposed to look like--and I will judge then. Yes, I would have been much more aggressive down the stretch with the season on the line--but I don't know more than that.

And he could, depending on his development, kick inside to G. Of course, how do you negotiate that contract, if at all?