top dawg

Because they wanted to get this done before free agency so they could know exactly what they were dealing with in terms of compensation. Plus, Moore was a great selling point.

Deadly accurate?

Joe Banner believes that we got a bargain. Anthony Rizzuti of Panthers Wire referenced a Joe Banner interview by The 33rd Team in which Banner says "Carolina did what they needed to do. I actually think they underpaid and solved their QB problem. I applaud Carolina." D.J. Moore is a central part of Banner's argument, and he honestly has said some of the same things that some of us here have said for years. “So Moore is an important part of the trade,” he said via The 33rd Team on Friday night. “They [the Bears] got a quality player and a favorable contract—there’s no doubt about that. But we shouldn’t now start exaggerating what he is. “Teams that have true No. 1 elite difference-making [wide receivers] have something that—I’m not even somebody who puts as much weight as people do in the value of wide receivers. But a true difference-making A.J. Brown, [DeAndre] Hopkins in his prime, [Justin] Jefferson today—those guys can make a big, big difference in games. That is not what Moore is. “Now, I’m not bad-mouthing him. He’s a good player. Everything I hear, he’s a quality person. He is something they definitely need if they’re gonna have a chance to prove that [Justin] Fields is the guy. But let’s keep in perspective what he is—he’s a quality starter as opposed to a difference-making elite wide receiver.” https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2023/03/11/nfl-executive-joe-banner-panthers-bears-trade-dj-moore-2023-draft-no-1-pick/ I do acknowledge that there are others who think that we got fleeced because of Moore, but even most of those believe that if we hit on our franchise QB that we won't care what we gave up, nor should we.

Yes, sir, and I don't think that all these experienced football minds are stupid. I could agree in the sense that we don't know the guys personally, but, as I've said in other drafts, these guys are scouted in some instances from high school. The scouting process begins early, and as a lot of attention is paid to the very top QB prospects, it's not like the guys are a mystery. Things have gotten interesting because Stroud seems to be peaking at exactly the right time---the Georgia game on to the Combine, and that's impressive, but I'm pretty sure that we've researched him and the other two for a while. Let me remind everyone of what Fitterer actually said at the Combine "You go get the guy you want. If you have conviction, you go get him. It's pretty simple that way. If you don't know and you're going to give all these resources to go up and get it, you're hurting your team in the long run. You better be right. You better have conviction if you do move up." I just don't believe that we just moved up willy-nilly to do research and due diligence. That really is kind of odds at what Fitterer said. Sure, I guess that you could have conviction on all these guys, but what are the chances? To me, you go get the one that you actually want. Yep, the poker game isn't over.

Yeah, we'll invite them all in to keep up appearances, because after all smoke screens and strategy are a real thing, but like I said in the other thread, "most of us know the deal."

I'm thinking that Tee Higgins will definitely want to test the market. Jeudy, depending upon how his year goes with the new regime may want to try his luck and get paid elsewhere. It hasn't gone too well in Denver. Honestly, all these guys except for Lamb, Jefferson and maybe Pittman may become available because they're not necessarily even considered ones. As such I don't think they'll likely be tagged. I mean, who wants to pay a two or three, or someone aging (like Evans) top tier money? I guess that Higgins could get tagged because he really could be a one masquerading as a two. But I don't think that the market will be as dry as you think. Some of these guys (maybe even Pittman) are probably going to have a helluva season to get tagged. Otherwise, I see them testing the market.

Not the question. You won't answer because you don't even believe we'll draft him. Just sit on the fence and parrot what amounts to nothingness.

This is your chance to put it down! Since I'm debating with Scot as to whether or not we'll draft Levis. I say no way in hell, and I'm confident that most others will say the same.

Believe what you want, Scot. Most everyone else knows what the deal is.

This must be something new. Us mortals can't get away Scot free with the insults lest we get warning points. We have to play nice.

Really, Scot, what do you expect our people to say? They aren't going to confirm anything with anyone. We do in fact know that Schefter heard some things because if he hadn't he wouldn't have made the call in the first place.

OK, so he heard some things and gave his opinion, much like the "sources" you referred to. One thing you didn't mention is that he feels that it's between Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud (as does Damien Woody). Listen to the whole thing.

Keep in mind that it's one thing to say something when a team is at nine, and it's entirely another thing to say something when a team is at one. Granted, Rappaport said that we could get any QB we want in this vid, but he expressly mentioned Young and Stroud in this vid. It's not because he said that he had any kind of info like Schefter did, it's likely because deep down in his heart that he knows that they're really the only legitimate options. I mean, sure, someone may have said something in the past, but don't confuse opinion with inside info, and don't confuse things said within the context of nine with things said within the context of one. People have said a lot about Tepper and it seems to me that a whole lot of it has been wrong. In any event, I doubt that this comes down to who Tepper likes (if the past is an indication), and you already know who Reich likes---hell, it wasn't too long ago that you were saying that he only mentioned Carr and Bryce Young during his initial presser at the Combine. Well, there are reports of him (and McCown among others) being pretty much enthralled with Stroud as well last week. Also, a few national sources are pretty much spot-on (Schefter being one of them, as well as Rappaport).

Also, Scot, I'd say that Adam Schefter is a pretty good inside source...better than yours.

When did I ever say that we'd actually trade for Jackson? I'll wait. See that's the thing with you, you obviously don't like discussing options or giving counter points. If you're going to attribute something to me, at least try to get it right as opposed to just saying stuff that's untrue. Let me give you this for future reference though: we did not trade up to draft Levis. There. Now you actually have something I did say without compunction that you can refer to. You don't have to make that up to try and clown.

Don't believe the hype. Mentally, I've put that to bed. We did not move to one to take Levis. Young and Stroud are simply superior QBs. At the Combine, Reich mentioned leaderership, the ability to process, and throwing the ball accurately. No way Levis makes the cut.

I wouldn't bet the farm on it. I don't know the sources, but what I will say is that I listened to a fair amount of analysis tonight (including Schefter, Jones, Eisen, Miller and a host of others, and literally nobody mentioned Levis or AR as being legit options for us.

Not Levis either.

I mean you say that, but Bryce was great in the SEC. He isn't far off from getting the football to the receivers, if he's off at all. I am an SEC believer, but that's only because it's true: the SEC is simply the best conference in football (with the best players and the best competition).

OK. I've been listening to Sports Center, Adam Schefter indeed has said that David Tepper likes Bryce Young and Frank Reich likes C.J. Stroud. Schefter also is talking like the final decision isn't set in stone. Of course we could try and "play" the Texans to see if we can recoup some draft picks if we indeed figure out who they want, but I digress. If Schefter is right, I would think that Reich has to win out, right? Tepper will give in to the football guys (Frank and presumably Josh McCown), don't you think? Or, does Tepper feel so strongly about it that he overrules his guys? I can't see that happening. Well, we could be playing a game of smoke and mirrors. I think we will have both come in for visits, and if it is truly up in the air, private workouts and pro days will take on some importance. This is very compelling stuff. I was pretty sure that it would be Bryce, but after listening to the back-and-forth all evening, I don't know if the Stroud stuff is real or just hype. Intellectually, I'd still bet Young is the guy based upon the ****** picture, including his processing, character and collegiate career, but you never know how the size thing plays out, and Stroud's display of what I'll call raising-the-ceiling talent that began versus Georgia and carried over to the NFL Combine could be the tipping point. We gave up a lot, and whether it's Stroud or Young, they better get it right. Scott Fitterer said that if you move up, you better have some conviction. Well, if we are to believe Schefter, then we have some conviction in two guys. Intellectually, it makes sense, but in a practical sense, I'd think that you'd go with the HC. But, it's Tepper's team. But, it's also advantageous to keep it all close to the vest. I'm genuinely confused. Oh well. I can see both of the QBs working out, so...

Give me Parris Campbell & D.J. Chark

I don't know, but we could piece together a working corps from FAs alone. Keep an eye on Parris Campbell.

Don't worry! Only a Huddler would take Levis or Richardson with the first pick.