MHS831

Unless we trade back with Cleveland or the Giants, for example. I seriously doubt it, but if they want back in to grab Sanders, there is still a chance. I see one or both trying to move back into the first to grab a QB---if the Giants, for example, could get Hunter or Carter, and move back into the draft and get Sanders---that would be a full draft in terms of value. Guys on the hot seat who need to win NOW could do it. Cleveland too. You could argue that they have Wilson and Winston--I would argue that is a reason to do it. I just think desperate men do desperate things, and Daboll and Schoen are desperate. The Giants and Panthers have a front-office relationship evidenced in the Hard Knocks Burns deal. It could happen.... But yeah, you are right. I don't look forward to anything more than the Draft. Something is bad wrong with me.

Thanks Bear Hands, if that is your real name, for putting this thread together and sharing resources--so much better when we are talking about facts and supported opinions.

I see him as a high risk pick. I get it. Been saying all along--Evero better use him correctly--

Maybe Evero can use Walker better than Georgia did. Nobody knows.

Simms is wrong a lot.

....And with the seventh pick, the New York Jets select Jalon Walker.... Awkward.

a while back, I read that they really liked TMac. It has been at least a month since then...

The four J's of Jeanious.

It is possibly a process of elimination as much as it is a term of endearment. And they also like to bring in guys they think might not get drafted and will feel a connection with them and sign an UDFA contract.

When I was at the track meet I mentioned, it was at Thomasville. The Tennessee Scout was someone I knew because he was at UNC before that. He was there to meet with/scout Thomasville player(s). He did not even look at TA. Never will forget, when I asked him how he likes Knoxville (one of my favorite cities), he said, "The first thing you do is find a good barber and an honest mechanic. If you have those two things, you can live anywhere." I never forgot it-it is my code now.

So when Morgan said he was only interested in players with a lot of production in college, do you think that did not exclude Mykel? I guess the term "production" is somewhat ambiguous.

Some have said that they do not like this draft after the first rounder--I personally do--just wonder where the OT and edge are. Based on Morgan's comments, I am not seeing WR that early, but I like Bech.

You all make some great points. I love the OT Trapilo pick but it is a round too soon. Tells me someone is doing their homework. He is a solid pass blocking RT and we need pass blockers to keep Bryce nice. About S--I want an early S too, but Richardson was not bad when he played. Most players improve the most between years 1 and 2. There are some decent safeties in this draft later, so maybe I have been looking at the Corvettes in the showroom when I should have been kicking tires in the used SUV lot. Regardless, with Moton's knee concerns, age, contract, etc. I really would like to see us draft a legit starting-caliber, second tier OT now. I watched Trapoli at the Sr Bowl and he has really strong pass pro form. 33" arms (OK) and he is 6'8". There are others I like as well: Cam Williams, Texas Donovan Jackson, Ohio St. Charles Grant, W&M Anthony Belton, NC State Emory Jones, LSU Our coaching staff just showed us how they can develop young players. Wait until the third or fourth and get one of these guys. Take a year to prepare them. Sign BC to another 1-year contract for insurance. If our OL coaches are an asset and they have a year to work with one of these OTs above, let them do their jobs. In that second round pick slot, maybe we can get that Safety--might have to move up a bit--I would not be surprised to see a draft day trade of Zavala. If other teams were scouting us properly, they should have seen a potential starter buried on the depth chart.

People forget that a lot of the first round OTs struggled as rookies--Sewell is a top 5 OT and he struggled, for example. It takes time.

and sometimes rightly so--but there are two sides to the Moton coin and I see both. I agree with you and Linville that OT is a bigger need than we are letting on--(I realize this is off topic) however, I also wonder if they think BC and Nijman (who I think will be cut) can hold down the fort. I would rather have a third round OT developed for a year than a first rounder rookie OT starting at RT. I hate to see us committing to addressing a need in the 2026 draft with the first round pick. As for your selection of GIFs, not sure you make a strong case.

I used to coach OL back in the days of leather helmets, but I can tell you that I was so impressed by the development of Ekwonu, Mays, and Zavala. Not a coincidence.

Some Huddlers call him average at best, but his trajectory has been going up. Recognize the job this OL coaching crew did this year--they were not kissing footballs--they were improving young players--Zavala is probably a starting RG on another roster; Mays outplayed Corbett; and Ekwonu is in the top half of the league as a LT.

I will say this: The Steelers used to be notorious for letting players go in what seemed to be their primes and that player would often begin their downward trajectory. Barry Foster, for example, came to the Panthers from Pittsburgh and was a dud. Kevin Greene shows the other side. If Moton's knees are not as bad as thought, he could play another 4 seasons. If deteriorating knees leads to deteriorating performance, then we held the hot potato too long. This is true with every player, and I have read articles about players on third contracts compared to first and second contracts and most NFL players seem to be overpaid--but OL tend to earn their money and hold up the best, based on my memory. I do not care about how a player retires or how a player might feel if traded--that is part of the business and they are compensated very well. I do, however, worry about the locker room; if players see vets getting sent to the slaughter house, it may impact their psyche. So it is a delicate situation. Moton is one of the high character, dependable, quality players on the roster. We have not worried about RT for nearly a decade (Flashback: Super Bowl 50). We have him under contract for another season and his knees are questionable, based on rumor. If you trade him based on his knees, you will not get value for him--the trade could get vetoed. With his age, health, and contract situation, you are not getting more than a fourth rounder for him--not enough to replace his productivity. There is a time when you try to squeeze a few more brushings out of the tooth paste tube and there is a time to throw it away. Is there toothpaste left in the tube? Yep. Is it possible that the time to throw the tube away happens during the season? Yep. I understand the logic behind the OP's point and it is nothing that should solicit personal criticisms and rude reactions that are offensive. Learn how to disagree. However, if you see the problems other teams have at OT for years, etc. those of you wanting Moton to stay are also endorsing the idea of having a rookie OT on the right side in 2026, when this team should be competitive. The coin has 2 sides. I think you draft that RT this season (day 2) and you leave Moton there--but I get it if Morgan trades Moton for more picks to help us meet our needs. We need an edge, a S, and an OT right now--with Moton on the roster--in my view. That player would develop and serve as depth (knees). You don't draft for 2025 needs only. These are 4-year contracts.

This reminded me of a Bear player in the 80s Dan Hampton who had 5 surgeries on EACH knee. He claimed that science and medicine would be so advanced by the time he got old, he was not worried about knee problems when he got old. He is 67 now. I could not find anything that suggested his knee issues were still a problem (probably both were replaced), but I did learn that he (around 2002) received his third DUI conviction in six years. (Self medicating?) Ironically, Hampton is part of a Miller Lite and Gridiron Greats promotion to raise funds for retired NFL players in need. Why Miller beer company would allow someone with knee issues and multiple DUIs to be part of something they sponsor is interesting.

Thanks Ice and Juan. I appreciate people who produce and bring content to the table. Without further ado, my reactions, and I will try to be "laconic" (word of the day): 8- Edge/LB Jalon Walker: A great football player. He must be used properly. Does not eliminate the need for an edge--and we do not draft an edge here. 57- DT T.J. Sanders: I really liked him at SC--a beast. A DE. I am not sure how we will rotate in at NT--and I see NT as our biggest DL need IF we play Wharton at DE. 74- WR Jack Bech: Love this guy. a Dawg. Eric Decker II. 111- S Billy Bowman Jr. Good value here, but I was hoping for a S earlier. I want one of the top 2 because if both S have position versatility, and we have Walker and DL with position versatility, we'd be hard to play. 114- CB Dorian Strong: Fine. A depth piece behind Horn and Jackson (he he). However, I think CB is a bigger need than people are projecting. 140- LB Demetrius Knight Jr.: Another Gamecock--love him. Morgan will love him. A dawg. A steal here. 146- G Caleb Rogers: Don't we have enough guards? Moton is in his final year and we don't draft a T? 163- RB Jarquez Hunter: Not sure I have ever heard of him--probably suing his parents for naming him Jarquez--but the name does mean "Strong and valiant" if spelled correctly. Do his friends call him Jar Jar? I would. 230- S Maxen Hook The great grand son of Peter Pan's nemesis. He has both hands--for now, but that is because Toledo did not play the Florida Gators.

Moose Muhammed had suspect hands early in his career and seemed to improve--but my experience is this--some QBs throw a ball that some WRs struggle to catch vs. others. A tighter spin, more velocity, timing in route--I can't put my finger on it specifically, but in college we had 5 or so qbs and one or two were harder to catch than the others. In fact, I climbed the depth chart because I could catch the starter (threw it hard) better than others-but the second team QB gave me fits. Maybe that has something to do with it?

he was a good one in his prime

Most are depth--

Strong side or weak? Just kidding.

I do this so I can see it--but it is possible that we address every position group on the defense in this draft--: OLB Edge: Clowney, Wonnum, Jones, DRAFT PICK. ILBs: Jewell, Rozeboom, Wallace DRAFT PICK DE: Derrick Brown, Robinson, Wharton, DRAFT PICK DT: Brown III, Crumedy, Tuttle DAY DRAFT PICK CB: Horn, Jackson (he he), Smith-Wade (nickel) DRAFT PICK S: Moehrig, Richardson, Scott, DRAFT PICK