MHS831

I honestly believe the best teams have the best front office--GM. Forget the coach, forget the owner (unless he meddles or is the GM), forget the schedule or injury history.

keaton is a former Catamount. The list I saw had only 2--Sanker and Emmanwori. But I do recall hearing about Bowman. The theory that we are looking for specific hybrid safeties is upheld by this. Keaton fits the "type" who can play zone or deep and in the box. "He's a physical player with a high motor and a nose for the football. He has a good understanding of zone coverage and can play in the box as a force defender. Keaton is a leader and has earned a single-digit jersey number at Temple, a tradition reserved for team leaders." At WCU, he averaged 6.5 tackles per game, leading the team before transferring. Sanker has special teams abilities and a high football IQ. He can cover TEs and RBs and keeps the play in front. He would be a nice fit as a depth player. I did not know they met with Bowman at the SR bowl. He is more of a free safety who struggles in tackling/run support, but that is not to say he is not versatile within his capabilities. Stark is a SS who is a brutal hitter, but I don't see his hybrid qualities--they met with him at the Combine when everyone was in the building, but that was nearly 2 months ago and I don't think there has been contact since. Emmanwori is who they would love to have in my opinion. NFL Draft Buzz: "His ability to play in the box, handle man coverage responsibilities, and deliver bone-crushing hits makes him an ideal fit for defenses that ask their safeties to wear multiple hats." So it seems they are looking for a type. The Keaton pick is intriguing to me because he is a sleeper who would clearly be there in round 5 or later. They seem attracted to his characteristics, and he is a thumper who can play deep. To me, the fact that they want 2 hybrid safeties of a certain type is rather obvious. Maybe I am forcing a round peg into a square hole, but I love trying to see what skillsets teams value to guess draft picks.

Unfortunately, Ice, there are some blueprints of hybrid LB/edge players who were busts too--Everette Brown is one, but he was forced into a 4-3 DE role here. I would say that the 3-4 defense has a lot of wiggle room for hybrids at the OLB/Edge position--I am just not seeing Walker as an elite player at any one role. Coverage? Rushing the passer from the 9? And at his size... If we take him, I hope that I am wrong because there are some personalities I really would love to be on this roster. Jihaad Campell is one. Bech is another.

But Luvu was a bargain free agent. Would you draft him, knowing what you know now, at #8 overall?

The question, once you agree how he might be used, (the same dilemma applies to Hunter with the CB/WR critics) is he a top 10 pick at the role you drafted him to play? Is Jalon Walker a top 10 edge? LB? For example, if Hunter was the third best CB and the third best WR, would you draft him in the top 10? He goes #2 or 3 because he is the best WR and the Best CB in the draft. No risk. Walker? He is not the second best edge in the draft. Risky. Love the kid--hope it works out wherever he goes.

I have no idea what is going to happen. Walker scares me--although he is not the most overrated player in the draft, I do not see him at his size as an every down edge either. Mykel? I need to more about his role at UGA, but I am starting to like him over Walker--if I had to choose. Emmanwori (S) might just help the team more than any defender on the board. I think Morgan's comments about WR were either scary or just a smokescreen: I think we do feel good about our receiver room. We're looking forward to seeing them compete and just get better and better. That's not to say that we're not gonna invest in a receiver at some point during the draft. So we're just gonna draft really good football players and if it's a wideout, then so be it. ---Dan Morgan, GM 2024--?? First of all, there are teams with 2 WRs better than our best. How can they compete if they have no competition? I dunno. What is the plan at S? They only met with Emmanwori. I think they are going with 2 hybrid safeties, and his function here is more important than his value to the league. They talked to Blackmon and he did not sign. They have 2 depth players-and nothing else. Do not be surprised if Emmanwori is the pick. TMac, Golden or Emmanwori would not shock me.

With the new DL, we should be better at edge by simple addition. What player would have the biggest impact on the Panthers? I still see the plan to trade back and take Emmanwori if we can find a trade partner. Why, you ask? S is a huge need and they have really only looked at 1 visits/meetings. We will try to trade up for Princely in the second. A WR in the third (Bech or Noel).

Back to the thread topic: Jalon Walker. I am not a Simms fan, but I get what he is saying. I am starting to see the signs that he could be dropping. Mocks having him going in the second round. Walker is a risky pick--and my view is this: If he becomes a pure edge as some have said, it seems to me that role would be as a situational pass rusher. I want to like him-I love his character, but Simms says what I have been thinking and cannot dismiss. I think he exaggerates unnecessarily, but there is reason for caution. Quite simply stated, "Jalon Walker is not a top 10 player as an edge." The roster just seems to be right for the addition of a safety. Only 1 of the two S positions has been adequately addressed, and I am guessing there is something they want to do with them that might require similar skill sets, which limits who we can sign or draft there. I think there are 2 in this draft who can do what I think they want--and that is, hybrid, interchangeable safeties who can play center field or in the box. I am just guessing, but that seems consistent with their attention to certain players. Sanker, for example, would be solid depth on a team that values specific types at S, showing an ability to play deep and tenacious in run support (and a good special team ace). There is no indication that I have seen that Carolina is interested in Malaki Starks--a run-support specialist who has issues in coverage. It just seems that Evero wants hybrids--hybrid DL, hybrid LBs, Hybrid safeties. Not sure if they have peaked at Barron, but that would make sense.

I wonder if Dan would take a 2026 first, second and third for the first this year, however. All hypotheticals, but I imagine he is considering how he might respond now--he could even be arranging some tentative, conditional deals now. It is finally Draft week. Happy Easter

They say a 2026 first has the same value as a 2025 second--so it is not unreasonable--

Here is a side question: Would you trade back for a 2026 first rounder? For example, Let's say Atlanta wants to move up to 8. (forget the conference rivalry crap--just an example). They have pick 15, 46, and then a fourth and seventh. The need a line of credit. We could trade with them, move back to 15, and take their 2026 first rounder. It would not help this year, obviously. Me? I would do it. having 2 firsts in the 2026 draft with about 7 first round qbs means if Bryce fails, the Panthers would have the pick of the litter.

I am going to trust them. I see why they might have drafted XL (I did not want him) but he had 1 season of production and we all knew he was raw. Brooks was in rehab---in my view, first year GMs do not need to roll the dice like that---take the sure bets in round 1-gamble later.

Has she told us WHY she thinks this? She may have, but I dont recall or didnt see it I would like for her to react to Morgan's comments about drafting productive college players. Does she she Mykel as "productive?"

That is an interesting survey question as well. If Jax does not like their spot, they could move up with Cleveland for Hunter. calling it now--then Cleveland might feel better about taking a QB at 5--but they could trade back again and still get Sanders--just a hunch.

The jags have been rumored to be interested as well. I still think they go Graham.

He does--no offers out of high school--has really developed in a short time.

That is it--and you and I both know that some star emerges from these ranks every year--I see Bech as a guy who can have an AT-type career.

I like Noel a lot--and the other Iowa St WR-- another Jaylin/Jalen--Jalen "KC*" Royals from Utah State. *I made up the nickname. It just came to me, and it has a ring to it. I might get it copyrighted.

I have been on the Bech bandwagon since well before the SR Bowl. Hoping that he would stay a hidden gem and we'd be smart enough to grab him late. I just don't think Morgan cares as much about WR as we do

Here is how this draft could get mind-blowingly complicated--Interesting comment about Jags floating the Jeanty idea to lure Chicago into a trade. I have to think Ben Johnson is going to duplicate in many ways the success he had in Detroit, and I have to think their free agency was following the blueprint Carolina designed last year (one that the Saints designed before them with Brees) and they upgraded all of their interior linemen. RT in Chicago is set; Johnson loves RT Darnell Wright. However, at LT, Braxton Jones is coming off a December injury and is considered to be in a competition for the position this year by at least a few fans on the Bears Wire. His PFF score, however, was solid, posting an 80+ score in pass protection and 70+ score in run blocking. He is in his prime. However, in some of their fan mocks, the Bears are taking a LT. I thought they needed an Edge to play 4-3 strong side across from Sweat, but they signed Odeyingbo to a pretty big contract in March. For the Bears, in my view, it comes down to TE or Running Back. Kmet is their #1 TE and he had 474 yards in that role, which was 25th in the NFL last season for TEs. Adding Warren would help upgrade the TE spot and give them the ability to add around an estimated 80 yards of production per game. The Bears have D'Andre Swift at RB, but could use a RB to pair with him for a desired 2 RB attack. So if I am Da Bears, I stay at 10 and take Warren. If the Jags want to move on from Etienne, then they will take Jeanty. I think, if I were the Jags (with 10 picks this year) I would take Mason Graham and not try to get an 11th pick. It is a need position, and it seems to me the only reason they are toying with the idea of moving on from Etienne is because Jeanty is on the board. That, to me, would be a luxury pick. New GM, I think he does not get cute--they take Graham if they stay at 5. I might say the Jags' biggest need is Corner. #5 is too rich for Will Johnson, but remember, they have 10 picks. could they move up with Cleveland and take Hunter, giving them a CB and WR threat? To me, with the draft capital they have, that is the move they should make. Cleveland then could move back to #5. Remember, Nick Chubb is an aging (29) free agent coming off an injury--so he is gone. With an additional second rounder, the Browns move back and take Jeanty to give Flacco a running game. The Jags pick is very interesting, but I would not be surprised to see them move up.

I don't think so. Watson really screwed them up. I see something happening, but do not know what. Cousins could be had in a trade--but they liked Flacco when he played there. If it were me, I would not spend the #2 pick on Sanders. I would go after a tier 2 qb because I think Will Howard is going to start in the NFL soon, and I think Ewers was rated very high at the beginning of the year--he knows adversity and he beat out a Manning while taking Texas to 2 playoff appearances. I am not good at picking QBs, but I think Howard's run pass option and his accuracy is going to help someone. Stay in Ohio and play for the Browns behind Flacco--

After Cam at #1, there are three or four elite players and there could be a trade--If I am the Giants and I am needed a winning season badly and I have several needs, I might trade out and pick up mid first and an extra second rounder, including a QB--while nobody is going to move up to #3 for Sanders, they might for Carter or Hunter. If the Giants then move back, Sanders could still be in play. That could be the trade in the top 3. New England wants Campbell and I get that; Jacksonville at #5 could move back if someone wants Graham or Jeanty. But barring some trade, the top 4 are probably locked in. So it could be 2 hours into the draft before we get any surprises. Nice list, by the way--you nailed it.

Thanks but there are a lot of people on here who teach me football. Juan keeps us current, but there are some really good posters who know how to discuss and disagree if necessary. And yes, we have a few scrotum chiggers as well...

thats growth.

Remember Greg hardy? He had some character red flags and he turned out fine, amIright? On the other hand, Honeybadger was almost undraftable--he has turned it around. I would stay away from the players who abuse women or drugs, however. Felony littering, Speeding, fighting, kidnapping kittens and ransoming them back to their owners--those crimes can be overlooked. Of course, I think that would be catnapping.