top dawg

Sounds like you've already made up your mind about Bryce...

I mean, five wins doesn't mean that we didn't have a good off-season. It's all relative. I'm paying attention to what Bryce does for sure, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to be looking at the team as a whole. Bryce is the captain of the ship for now, so we kinda have to focus on what he does or doesn't do, while simultaneously trying to compartmentalize and grade what the other players are doing as well. I think that's pretty much true every year, because teams need QBs at best to lift the team on their shoulders and win, or at worst not to be the reason the team doesn't win. That being said, you still have to build a team, irrespective of the QB. I feel that the Rams showed that building a team that a franchise QB can be dropped into and immediately win is possible, and I feel that San Fran has followed that same model, the Jets are trying to do the same, and that the Bears are doing something similar as well. We're so new and not yet established that it's going to take some time to construct and cement a culture. Within that same vein, I don't think there's one way to go about winning championships, but I do believe that the FOs that do it best have the finger on the pulse of its personnel at all times and develops a dynamic plan in order to put pieces together that will make winning championships more possible on a consistent basis. I'm kinda rambling now, but suffice it to say that all the pieces of the team are important, but some pieces are more important than others. You have to be able to project what the team can and can't do based upon the pieces that you do and don't have, and you must be able to see where some are limiting the team towards its goal, and others are pulling the team closer to its goal.

Round 2 is the problem. Powers-Johnson is going to be gone. There is no other center worth drafting so high.

This would be an excellent draft, and one that is representative of prioritizing guys that have high ceilings with that dawg in them.

I'm with you on most accounts regarding Legette. But---and I could be wrong, mind you---I don't get the "I just don't want him at 33," thing, or the "not at 33" thing. I think that most Huddlers are simply not understanding that this draft is extraordinary in regards to receiver talent, and it all begins at the top with Harrison who is the alpha dog of this draft. Odunze and Nabers are great prospects. But for those three (and I realize it's a little contrived to say that), Legette would be a lock first round talent in this draft, and he honestly may still go in the first because all it takes is one team to value him that highly. People are dinging Legette for the lack of total production throughout his college career, but not truly looking at the reasons why. If we take him at 33, I won't have any problem with it. Sure, I'd love to get him later, but he simply may not be available due to his upside.

Corley may be a good receiver for us. I certainly don't believe that we'll pick him at 33 though, and 39 is even a reach. He may be a decent consolation prize. He's not as big, not as physical at the catch point as Legette, and not as fast or athletic, but he can still make plays with his running. He'll likely need more development than Legette, but I can see us trading down and trying to get him. With him, and let's say a Malik Washington, we'd have something to work with. I just want a physical guy who's an obvious X that has WR1 upside.

PFF's Monson thinks Legette is a good option for the Panthers. "Teams often look to trade back up to the first picks of the second round after they get a chance to gauge the players who fell. Last year, Tennesse jumped into Pick 33 to select quarterback Will Levis, and the true best-case scenario for Carolina is that a trade partner gives them a reason to move back. Last year, Arizona moved back eight spots and picked up an extra third-round selection to do so. "If Carolina got the same deal, they could still grab their favorite receiver, only with an extra draft pick along the way. South Carolina’s Xavier Legette would add size and speed to this group, as well as a contested-catch skill set not currently on the roster." https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2024/04/06/nfl-draft-2024-panthers-pff-xavier-legette/

Don't get me wrong, their draft profiles have some similarities in their rawness and speed, and perhaps relying on athleticism a little too much, but several analysts have said that Legette shows evidence of the ability to learn nuanced route running. Moreover, you won't see anything like this in Legette's draft profiles: "Redirected in his routes more than expected for receiver his size. Disappointing hands that might always haunt him. Slow catch readiness, allowing too many throws to beat him up. Too much double catching and his focus drops over second half of the season were maddening to watch."

Even if I believe that, the problem is that there are maybe a couple of corners projected in that range that would be a good value: Kool-Aid McInstry and maybe T.J. Tampa. But they aren't locks to be graded higher than a receiver that may fall, and the way things seem to be presently going, I'd say that we're putting a premium on receiver.

That's some funny sh¡t right there, Panthro.

"Mightily" is a bit hyperbolic. He was inconsistent which realistically made him average. He has some very good games in his rookie season and a couple of clunkers.

No brainer. It's well deserved.

My bad, I should've used the technically correct term "Top 30 visit." It was in the linked article.

I'm with you. As much as I love wide receivers, If a higher graded person is available at another position of importance, then it is what it is. We must remember that it's about grades though, and raw talent is only a part of the equation---probably a big part, but positional value as well as injury history is in there somewhere also. That being said, If he can stay healthy, he just may end up being the best LB in this class. The deep class at WR could possibly play an impact as well (and may end up as a blessing or a curse).

OK, in order to not be accused of being a lap dog, I'll gladly block your ass. There are plenty of posters, even ones that I disagree with, that are more interesting than you.

First round talent, so yeah.

We should give Mingo more time to develop. It just makes sense. One thing that I will say is that (regardless of what some people may be trying to sell now) Mingo was widely projected to go in the 3rd or 4th round. Some Steelers fans had him mocked as a third rounder, and also the Steelers were looking for a slot receiver to replace Juju (so keep that in mind as well).

The Steelers have known how to pick some damned good receivers over the years. I don't think anyone will argue with that. So I thought I'd take a look at their pre-draft visits. I'm only listing names, and it's only food for thought. But perhaps it will make you actually think. https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/lists/steelers-2024-nfl-draft-malachi-corley-xavier-legette/ Xavier Legette Ricky Pearsall Malachi Corley Tahj Wasington Luke McCaffrey (visiting today) That's all, folks.

I mean, I won't be mad if we draft McConkey, but I just personally ain't drafting a receiver at 33 that doesn't have WR X upside. I'm also not crazy about picking receivers who are feather weights (Worthy), can't get open (Coleman), and can be easily redirected (several). I'm picking the guy with the potential to be a beast. Y'all know it's Legette. If I can't get him, then I'm probably picking Corley. I know that the OP said this isn't about 33, but if not what's the point? Hell if I just had to pick whom I consider the best, it would probably be Nabers, but Harrison and Odunze would be easy picks to make.

Well...we certainly know where you both stand. Canales is saying the right things, I'll give him that. I'm not prepared to say he's a great hire yet, but I certainly can't fathom why anyone would say he was a bad hire without really having ANY type of evidence to support that assertion (and I'd ask for enlightenment, but I don't feel that it would be well-supported). He was the man that took the job, so I think we gotta kinda let things play out before we crown him or decapitate him by the guillotine. I think that he's kinda tied to Morgan, and today that's a good thing from where I'm sitting. I hope that it continues to be.

Well, from what I read Hurst say, the FO did essentially say that there was no point in Hurst returning. I mean I kinda skimmed it, but I could've sworn I read that.

Don't flatter yourself. I go through the threads just like you do and comment on things that I find interesting. It appeared to me that you said basically the same thing that he did is all. Don't be a jerk. It's really not befitting of a mod. As a matter of fact, just tell me if you want me to block you, and that'll be fine.

Neither one might be available if this prognostication is correct. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.yardbarker.com/general_sports/articles/amp/2024_nfl_draft_predicting_this_years_surprise_first_round_picks/s1_17304_40190111 Some people are worried about Diggs. Well, in theory, that trade could have implications for us during the draft.

And this is why comps are largely useless, and arguing over comps is even more useless.

We've been in a bad cycle, for sure---a vortex of suck. But there are signs that it will finally break apart. Cheers to distancing ourselves from yesterday's issues in 2024 and changing the narrative by 2025.