MHS831

3 hours ago, firefox1234 said:

Not just top 30 visits. There have been no reports/evidence we have met with Sadiq in any capacity. Him being the pick would be extremely unusual at this point.

when I see his video highlights, I see him hurdling defensive players.  Nice, but the NFL will put a stop to that-I see fluff, not top 20.

On 4/14/2026 at 9:28 AM, Growl said:

I think the rams mainly just wanna try and show everyone how smart they are by not “doing it the old way.”

there's nothing particularly remarkable about their drafting and yet we’re forced to endure the We Do Things A Bit Differently Around Here schlock from their minions in the media 

 

Like their draft room on draft day being some mountainside resort, etc.  

This may be of interest to some of you and it may be reliable--fwiw

3 minutes ago, Cam's New Arm said:

Gin was also older by the time he got here. I remember him routing quite a few defenders, still.

Then he went to New Orleans, I believe, and it seemed he caught everything.

I am going from memory, but I think XL had 14 drops his rookie year.  TMAC had 8 in 2025.  Often, these drops are drive killers. They have 1 job.  Coker, the most physically-limited WR we have, ha never dropped a pass. 22 games, 65 catches, 5 TDs, zero drops.  

32 minutes ago, Verge said:

I'd personally rather have Branch or Fields in later rounds 

This reminds me of when we started hearing that XL would be the pick--I did not want it to be true--, and he told the media that the Panthers told him he would be their pick....Horn (SC), Ickey (NCSU), XL (SC), Concepcion (NCSU)---we do have our fishing holes. 

I like day 3 guy Kendrick Law, Kentucky.

I see XL this way---great athlete.  Good person.  When we drafted him, we knew he was raw.  One year of WR in college (starting) and in HS, he was a QB, I believe. We knew we would need patience with him.  I think year 3 will be make or break.  He is older, and I think that people with his athletic ability have always been better than those with less---but those with less can become more successful.  Why is that?  in my view, it is mental. XL can learn the mechanics and nuances of playing WR if he becomes focused on it and works at it.  I had the opportunity to talk to Armanti Edwards one day after OTAs (great guy) and he discussed how overwhelming it was.  He seemed shocked.  At that time, I knew that Fox hated the pick (I heard him mock Armanti to another coach when he saw Edwards drop a punt from a jugs machine--then I saw Armanti look back at Fox as if to suggest that he was feeling the pressure to please the coach. We forget that these are kids in their early 20s.  At the time, Fox was a lame duck.  Remember when he had Clausen as the #3 QB and was forced to move him up the ladder?  I liked Fox, but I think the climate and culture was influenced by the politics.  Currently, I see another Wr from SC who is struggling, but he is ina  very nurturing, positive culture. Let's see what happens with XL.  I am frustrated too---but XL was a second round talent who was raw and we traded up to get him.  He had 500 yards as a rookie--lets call 2025 a sophomore slump and see if we can't get at least 50 yards per game out of him.  If not, cut bait.

2 hours ago, frankw said:

If you draft a guy who is healthy and has no concerns about that whatsoever and he goes out and tears his ACL in his first few games in the regular season on a physical play that's a freak accident. But when you trade up to draft an RB who is already rehabbing from a recent ACL tear and he spends the next several months continuing his rehab only to tear the same ACL again after less than a handful of regular season carries in a non contact circumstance that is no freak accident. That is a textbook example of why you do not do what we did. Particularly for what is now a plug and play position. And when you have the highest paid OL in the league over the next two years. None of that makes any logical sense. Legitimately it is and was some Scott Fitterer type foolishness.

Now as for XL. The guy has not been committed to his craft. I think anyone with eyes on the situation can and would recognize that. However the warning signs were there. One season of legit production raw prospect that we knew would take time to develop etc. But Morgan and Bryce Young's own father were very high on him. I think in some capacity the reality of our limitation at QB is entering into the equation. Even TMac got a lot of flak over the course of his rookie season for not being able to haul in all of Bryce's passes. At the end of the day our fourth year QB also needs to do his part to maximize the talent we have available.

As far as this year. Again. WR round 1 boils down to where are we going to get the touches for the rookie? That would require eating into not only our 8th overall picks touches but also our #2 WR whom oh yeah by the way was UNDRAFTED. I am happy to discuss WR prospects here. I was thrilled we invested what we did last year in TMac because it needed to be done and it made sense from all angles. But nowhere is it written in stone that you cannot draft a good or great WR outside of the first round. Except in the Panthers building apparently. That is not a good reflection on our scouts and front office let me tell ya. Because there's no way on this earth we are going to get back to relevancy and legitimate contender status if we can't pick some gems in the later rounds. Simple and plain.

I love the bottom feeding approach.  Not to say I was the only one, but I was screaming to draft Coker and then screaming to get him in here as an UDFA.  There were criticisms about him, etc.  As a Gamecock baby (Dad was a Tight End for them when I was born) I was against Legette.  I wanted the kid from Georgia.   All that to say this:  I am afraid of drafting a WR (I spent some time today researching) a few of the top names:

1. Jordan Tyson.  MCL, ACL, NHL---he has injured everything he could that ends in "L" and some things not related to his body.  He will drop, and everyone will start getting excited around 15.   NO! take him off the board.

2. KC Concepcion.  I want to like him, but is he not John Metchie III II?  I can't stand drops. To me, the most important characteristic for a receiver is hands.  I do not buy the "He can be taught."  I disagree to a degree.  Catching a football at a high level when you are being hit by someone behind you as you run full speed across the field is more about concentration and focus than anything else. You gotta trust your eyes, your instincts, and your QB.  Hard to teach someone not to fear something that hits you that you cannot see.  Dropping passes gets into your head--that makes you second guess yourself.  if it doesn't, it should.  Either way, it is a mental issue.  

3. Omar Cooper.  I like him enough, but at 19? No.  He is a good YAC guy with solid hands.  However, he had a good WR across from him, the best QB in the country, a pretty easy schedule (He had his best games against FCS schools) and I wonder how much of the route tree he ran.  I am torn, not sold.  Of the three just mentioned, he has the worst skillset but I would like him the best as our Z.

Who then, do I want, you ask?

If it has to be WR, trade back.  If you can't, draft the slow guy who can't get a good release. 

1.  Denzel Boston.   If it has to be a WR at 19, I think I would take Denzel Boston.  His biggest criticism is the release (and 40 speed) but he had great hands and runs good routes. as the Z, which is what we need, he would be perfect because he could motion toward the LOS and even when on the LOS, he is off the ball. 

Lets do some bottom fishing in Coker Lake:

Round 2: Ted Hurst.  He is a model Z WR for this offense.  Drops too many balls to my liking, but as a second rounder, I can tolerate that a bit more than a first rounder. 

Round 5: Kendrick Law (UK):  This is the guy I am most comfortable drafting.  His average route at KY was under 4 yards.  He is great at running after the catch.  Stats? don't look at the game stats--look at the measurables. A 42-inch vertical, a 10-foot-8 broad jump, and a 9.60 Relative Athletic Score place him among the most explosive receivers in this class. That kind of lower-body power, paired with his balance through contact and proven ability to generate yards after the catch, gives him a real foundation to develop beyond what Kentucky asked of him.

I think they were considering drafting a WR in the first round.  I get it, but as with the tackles in round 1, "Buyer Beware."  I have not given up on XL but I am very concerned that his mind is not right for the NFL. 

2 hours ago, TD alt said:

Great! You're above gossip.

Yet there was enough interest to read the thread and post his interest in expressing his disinterest.  

36 minutes ago, mrcompletely11 said:

Then Dan should be quietly shown the door if this happens

They addressed D in free agency in a big way (Edge, ILB) and they signed a starting OT and a player they think could be a swing OT in reserve.  They have claimed to be adding "Weapons" to the offense.  I think that will be their focus.  I agree 100% that we need a T, but a reserve, developmental OT in a weak (at the top) draft does little to address that weakness in 2026.  If they are telling the truth, a reserve developmental OT is not a weapon.  The will draft a WR if that statement and their actions in free agency are accurate.  That does not mean we ignore OT--I just dont see where he takes a T if he is filling holes. As a coach, I am concerned about OT, but when I look at the roster, I see bigger immediate problems.

S: We are OK if you want Scott for another season. Not ideal.  There is also talk of Smith-Wade being moved to S.  If so, we need a CBN.

DT: Who took Robinson's job?  He played a lot.  All DTs (NT-DE) were average to below average, (except Derrick Brown) including 280 lb wharton.  We need a DT (my preference for the first pick, to be honest)  I am guessing a DT will be our third rounder?

ILB:  Unless we want Wallace out there in coverage, we need a compliment to Lloyd.  I think Lloyd's starting mate is the second rounder. (speculating)  This pick is likely to occur in the second round because it is for a starting position.

WR:  Some are fine with what we have.  sIn 2025, Coker had 3  TDs on 394 yards.  Legette had 3 TDs and 363 yards--and only 1 drop.  I love Coker, but neither should make us feel secure about WR with those numbers.  A lot depends on both stepping up in 2026, but Canales has been screaming weapons.  Could he mean Tight end?  That depends on how good they feel about Coker and XL.

Center:  You can get a player ready to start relatively early in the middle rounds.  Very similar to the OT situation but I think C may be more of a priority right now than OT.  

Tight End:  They seem to like Delp from Georgia who projects round 4.

CB:  There was some talk of moving Smith-Wade to S (to learn for a season with Scott, maybe?) and that might require adding CB depth inside.

Tackle?:  I agree that we need one, but this draft is simply not strong at the top at T.  The ONLY way to get a quality OT that is still developmental is to take one in round 1.  Canales has all but said we are not doing that.  But after the first 40 picks or so, they pretty much level out for a good while.  The fifth rounders and the third rounders are about the same.  For that Reason, I am guessing (It is all guesses) that they take someone like the OT from Boston College or Memphis.  Work with the OL coach (OT specialist) for a season.  I dunno

13 hours ago, flagfootballcoach28 said:

Some of you fail to listen to what the coaches and GM say. They’ve been saying we need more explosion on offense for months now. It’ll be Omar Cooper Jr or KC Concepcion at 19. My money is on KC. Esp after how bad our PR game was last year.. 

If you throw Boston into that mix, I think that is what they do if I were forced to bet.  

I think they have Delp (TE UGa) on their list; if he is there, watch him in round 4.  Rodriguez (going at the end of round 1) and Hill and maybe Golday as the second pick.   I think they would like to trade back a bit in the first round and add a third.  With those picks, a G/C, DT, or maybe a S makes sense.  I don't see OT until the fifth round or so.  There are some projects with upside there. 

22 minutes ago, mrcompletely11 said:

Yep, in this draft tier 2 opens up around pick 9/10.   And that tier is probably 30 players that are all ranked pretty tightly together.  Good problem for us to have for once

It allows us to trade back without compromising quality.  If a team wants a player or has a huge need, we are open for business. 

We pick just ahead of Pittsburgh, and I am confident that a team like the Jets or Cardinals or even the Rams will want to move ahead of them for Ty Simpson.  A lot of people are down on him, and I get it, and next year is a QB draft--so they say (I think they said that about this year--but the QBs from South Carolina, Miami, Penn State, LSU, etc. fell off the map.)  Simpson could use a year behind Rodgers or Smith or Stafford or even Brissett.  I see the Cardinals being the team to watch.  Some say, "They will take Simpson in Round 2..." Not if they want the fifth year AND not if they think others might be interested.  I know this is a reach, but I see it happening.  

8 hours ago, csx said:

Yet you want a WR of which only Tate is projected as a year 1 starter. The WR in our range are depth. 

 

  I never said "I want a WR"  I said that it is time to consider the possibility.  Keep up.  But your premise is based on the fact that you think a WR would be sitting on the bench and not part of a rotation or certain sets.  Would Cooper be better than XL?  The only way a T plays in 2026 is in the event of injury, for the  most part.  We have 2 starting tackles right now--2 is how many we need.  We have 2 starting WRs right now. We need 3 or 4.

5 hours ago, Basbear said:

me too, last year I wanted Tmac, but I also took the walker cheese. 

I still "think" the odds fav is WR, but I don't have a name. 4-5 WRs, no idea who.

I mean Dave could be pulling a ruse with his " I don't draft depth in the 1st " stuff. I don't know, the teams drafting around the Panthers, I don't like the group....they are good drafting teams and a couple have similar needs. 

I think trade is the way, but again no clue on up or down. The feeling right now there only 13-15 players with 1st round grades......so why would they want a 2nd and 3rd for a 1st round player?>

the 9000 IQ play maybe to trade back into early 2nd and getting a 2027 first to do so....

ugh.... too much and no firm clues.....

I appreciate the honesty in your posts--I am not sure Canales is rusing(?) because I don't think we are good enough yet to draft players for depth on day 1.  I do think we are in limbo, fwiw.  At 19, I think you are drafting second rounders in the first.

Rodriguez will not only be a first rounder, he might be the second or third LB taken.

Here is how I see it--he is good--but do we not already have 2 safeties in that mold?   Rodriguez could be late first early second.

50 minutes ago, Captain Morgan said:

best write up I've read across any platform this draft season, thanks

Thanks Bro.  

2 minutes ago, OldhamA said:

You're clearly high on your own supply. 

STOP HURTING MY FEELINGS!!!  

16 minutes ago, TD alt said:

We needed this. Many Huddlers are going to disagree to varied extents, but the 2026 OT class has more question marks than exclamation points. There is a higher than normal chance that someone is going to overdrafted. But, if you have conviction that the guy will be a starter this year at the position you are drafting him for, you have to pull the trigger. 

It's possible, but I wouldn't necessarily say it's likely. It's going to depend upon the guy. Canales basically said that we're not going to draft for depth in the first round (and he said it with what I consider was low-key disdain).

Yeah, I just really enjoy this time of year and all the tea leaf reading, etc.  Some attack any idea that is not consistent with their own--I knew the critics would emerge because that is what they do--much easier to critique than create, but this really is based on what I was able to round up--I tried to take it from the angle that if we are going to draft a T, and we probably all agree that is a need, these are the items on the shelf and here are the "buyer beware" warnings.  These are good players, no doubt.

14 minutes ago, csx said:

I feel like you approach this as if the decision on what position to draft is made in stone before draft day. They decide based on their assessments and who is actually available in real time, not whats predicted to happen. 

Understood.  Based on information I have been reading.  Not really my thoughts--but a synthesis of comments--some may be poker comments and some may be a result of over analysis, but it is what it is. 

1 hour ago, OldhamA said:

Stopped reading at Mauigoa being a Guard.

Tell that to all of the DEs he buried in College. 

You would have stopped reading anyway.  It was long and the lexile level was up there (way high).  They will give him a shot at T, but many project him to guard.  

To be clear, I am not advocating for drafting a WR.  As for the OTs we have met with--I am not sure how or when or where and whether or not that even matters.

I can say this about OL:  Those tackles would not play much (unless there is an injury and Fano is probably going to be a guard.  Lomu seems to have slipped a bit (based on the perspectives of crackheads who publish on the interweb or broadcast from their pods.) I like Lomu.  I like Proctor--I think he is the #1 OT but the weight (he was 390) scares me.  Imagine him with $10m in his bank account at the gas station when the 16-pack of Reeses Peanut Butter Cup is right below his fingertips at the counter.  NOOOO!

Blake Miller might be the most practical option, to be honest. I watched his vidoes for several minutes (not to exceed 10 because my father played for the Gamecocks when I was born) and I was impressed.   At 19?  A bit rich, but we don't know what the GMs know.  

Bryce's contract is another issue.  If they decide to give him a bag of money (suicide hotline 1-800-JUMP), they are going to have to part ways with some vet contracts.  Moton, Hunt, and Lewis come to mind.  Ickey could be gone too.  So....I assume we will have a starting center by next year...

52 minutes ago, tukafan21 said:

Drafting a WR in the 1st only guarantees one of T-Mac, Coker, or the new draft pick has zero chance of still being on the roster 4 years from now because they can’t all be paid at the same time.

Which is why a WR in the 1st makes no sense, if we do that, I’d be pissed if we don’t also trade Coker this offseason, and I have zero interest in trading him, so………

We know T-Mac is that dude, so unless the team has serious concerns about Coker taking the next step, WR makes so sense to me in the 1st

It is hard to say--if you look back at our roster from 4 years ago...In addition, we have a ton of money going into our OL right now (which might strengthen the argument to draft a tackle now)  The average NFL career is under 4 years, but the average NFL career for first rounders is 9.3 years, so most get 2 contracts.  

So having said that, I look at it as capital--if your concern (legit) becomes an issue, then you should have the same vision and trade that player and draft his replacement.  However, TMAC, Coker, and a rookie is not likely to be a problem for another 4 years--2030.  

But to your point, we have a situation right now that the OL has 2 guards and a RT around or over 30.  The make about $70m per year.   I like the perspective of reality you bring, however.  Is that a factor to morgan in 2026?