The Replacements: A glance at needs by position

[MHS831]

I am proposing that we call this team "The Replacements."  Never been thought of or done before.  (C) I will bold all the returning players at each position.  Sometimes, I have to do this kind of thing to see the big picture, so this is nothing more than sharing that process so it is not a complete waste of time:

OFFENSE

• Quarterback:  Bridgewater, Walker, Grier (Gone: Newton, Allen)
• Running Back: McCaffrey, Bonnefon, Scarlett, Davis (Davis is a decent back but $3m unguaranteed salary?)
• Fullback: Armah (To be honest, why is he taking up a roster spot?)
• Tight End:  Thomas, DeValve, Manhertz (Gone: Olsen)
• Right Tackle:  Moton
• Right Guard: Miller (Gone:  Turner)
• Center:  Paradis, Larsen
• Left Guard: Daley.  Reed (Had to guess Daley here--If someone goes down, Daley gets moved out and Larsen in-as it stands right now:  Gone: Williams, Van Roten.  Did not bold because he is new to the position)
• Left Tackle: Okung, Little  (expect an OL or two to be added to this to screw up these projections)'
• Wide Receiver:  Moore, Samuel, Zylstra, Cooper, Kirkwood, Roberts (Gone:  Wright, Hogan--it is possible that we have only 2 returning WRs from 2019)

So Basically, we have 9 new faces on the offense, 5 new faces projected to start; 6 new faces (if you include Daley at LG, as I am projecting now)  starting at the 11 starting positions--so far.

DEFENSE  (Thinking 4-3)

• Free Safety:  Boston, Luke (Not sure what to call Luke-CB or S-or if he is even on the expected roster)
• Strong Safety: Burris (Gone: Reid, Jones)
• Cornerback:  Jackson, Elder (Gone: Bradberry, Cockrell, Elliot)
• Outside Linebacker: Thompson, Carter, Smith
• Inside LB:  Whitehead, Kunaszyk (Gone: Keuchley)
• Defensive End:  Burns, Weatherly, Obada, Miller, Haynes, Smith (Gone: Irvin)
• Defensive Tackle:  Short   (Gone: Butler, Poe, McCoy)

Analysis: Bunch of pieces that do not fit.  6 new starters.  Haynes and Miller should probably be depth on a 3-4 defense. DT--are we sure that we can win with only 1?  We should have brought in a free agent.  Still might.   I can see Carter and Thompson at OLB, but MLB is weak.  DE--should be decent.  I doubt we do much more.  However, we need 2 CBs, at least 2 DTs.  I have a feeling they are waiting until the end of free agency and will bring back Cockrell or Elliot when they are cheap.  Hopefully, they will sign a DT as well.

OVERALL

Could this draft be almost pure defense? Multiple needs at CB and DT.  The offensive line has changed, but has it improved? Tackle should be better, but G and C?    I think we need to add a C/G and WR--but with 8 picks, we could find a C/G depth player to develop later and maybe a WR earlier.  However, if we do not trade back--and that has to be the plan with so many needs--we still won't have enough picks in the draft to fill all the need areas.

I think we will look to trade back for picks--I do not see one player that will make the difference enough to stay at #7--unless Simmons or Okudah drop to us.  Simmons is the most likely.  However, moving back for a team wanting a Simmons might be the best move. We simply need to fill too many holes.  Ideally, you want to enter the draft with one or two holes to fill and other positions that need depth or possible upgrading.  As it stands right now, we have no choice but to draft for need at the following positions:

Must have:

• CB
• DT (1 tech)
• DT (3 tech)

Should have:

• MLB (Whitehead is not the answer, but he and Kunaszyk will have to do for this year-Smith can also play MLB)
• OLB  (Carter and Smith can hold down one side)
• G/C  (Draft a C that can play G)
• WR (Not sure what we have, to be honest)
• DT (1 tech)

Just the way I see it today.  We could see a CB or WR on day 1, as well as a DT or LB.  I think if Okudah is not there, we move back. Simmons is a great player, and I have been predicting that he would be the pick, but we might have to draft pure need this year.  I think our first three picks will be DT, CB, and WR--in some variation of that order.

[kungfoodude]

That is such an atrocious looking roster. Holy poo. 

There are legit only 7-8 NFL starting caliber players on that roster.

[MHS831]

1 minute ago, kungfoodude said:

That is such an atrocious looking roster. Holy poo. 

Ha.  I had the same thought---did I miss something?  We have way too much work to do to get a team together that will be competitive.

[kungfoodude]

3 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

Ha.  I had the same thought---did I miss something?  We have way too much work to do to get a team together that will be competitive.

I have to assume we are going to be much more active in free agency. If we attempt to fill the rest of those holes with draft picks and UDFA's, it is going to be a complete mess. I'd be kind of shocked to see some of our upper end talent really want to be here once their rookie contracts are up(CMC,  Moore, Moton). 

[section543]

Agree with trade down, though it’s always dependent on trade partners. I’d be ok with multiple trade downs tbh. By doing so we could add multiple top five candidates at CB, OT, C/G, DT.

for example:

OT- Josh Jones or Ezra Cleveland 

DT- Blacklock or Gallimore

CB Dantzler, Jaylon Johnson, or Gladney

C/G . Cushenberry, Biadasz, or Ruiz

[Shotgun]

That's a roster only Hurney's mother could love.

[Sgt Schultz]

Good thread.  Except for the fact that seeing Elder as a starting CB scares the bejeezuz out of me. 

It's 8:35am here and I need a drink.

[musicman]

If we act like we don't care about 2020 and we're all willing to support the team and let things develop, then don't worry. Let's get some picks, sign a few guys and see what the coaches do with them. They probably want to see what they got just as bad as the rest of us. We probably don't really know and can't see the future plans (as to players and scheme) just yet. 

I would bet Cam, RB Davis and a few others are still there for trades after the draft. Also, the longer this ban on activities stays in place, the harder it's gonna be for a team to trust a rookie to be their QB with no practice, if Cam passes a physical, he becomes more valuable to a team that maybe gives him a small extension (like adding a 2nd year). 

Things are so fluid, how can we even think to see or know how its gonna play out. 

[SOJA]

I see our needs in no particular order as CB, NB, NT, UT, OG, TE, EDGE, MLB/OLB depending on how they view Shaq, S

[ncsfinest21]

We are looking for players who are trying to prove themselves with no names. Rhule is trying to make something out of nothing. Look at what he did in college. Never had any stand out recruits. Granted he turned the programs around but this is the NFL. Not college. Rhule is acting as if he is Belichick already. Honestly with the inexperience of this roster I dont see us winning more than 3 games. But what I do see is us next year having alot of cap space and going after everyone.

[My Goodness My Guinness]

Good lord cornerback.....

Honestly, after looking at this, I still think Hurney is going after Simmons. Like it's been said many times before, Hurney is a puppet for the owner and coaches to manipulate. And Rhule says that he likes to play with fast versatile players. No player fits that better than Simmons. 

[kungfoodude]

27 minutes ago, section543 said:

Agree with trade down, though it’s always dependent on trade partners. I’d be ok with multiple trade downs tbh. By doing so we could add multiple top five candidates at CB, OT, C/G, DT.

for example:

OT- Josh Jones or Ezra Cleveland 

DT- Blacklock or Gallimore

CB Dantzler, Jaylon Johnson, or Gladney

C/G . Cushenberry, Biadasz, or Ruiz

Hard no on the trading down. Hurney is running this draft and you are immediately cutting one of his best qualities, grabbing high level talent with "can't miss" draft position. 

For a normal situation, I'd be all about it. But this guy is probably going to whiff on almost every round after the first.

[run-run-pass-punt]

I've mentioned it before, but I'm really excited about the roster (& coaching) overhaul. It will be really interesting to see what is essentially a new team on the field and watch them develop - whenever that eventually happens.

[MHS831]

1 hour ago, section543 said:

Agree with trade down, though it’s always dependent on trade partners. I’d be ok with multiple trade downs tbh. By doing so we could add multiple top five candidates at CB, OT, C/G, DT.

for example:

OT- Josh Jones or Ezra Cleveland 

DT- Blacklock or Gallimore

CB Dantzler, Jaylon Johnson, or Gladney

C/G . Cushenberry, Biadasz, or Ruiz

We seem to have been eying the same people in the draft.  You are looking for a late first trade with these names, getting an extra second or two in the process.  By trading back we can get 2-3 of these players.