Untouchable

I've been mentioning and hoping for this move since the trade deadline last season. The ideal draft target now would be Adonai Mitchell.

In theory yes. With offenses taking more and more underneath passes and not going deep as much a stronger investment in LBs, especially one strong at coverage, as opposed to safeties could make sense.

Upgrades on offense needed to be made and we are at the point where it was going to be coming at the expense of the defense unfortunately.

Bozeman is a fine center just not a fit in the new offense (nor was he last season). Need players that fit the system so this could be seen coming from a mile away.

If you're shipping Burns out you need 2 rushers now, so you're probably spending a healthy sum on one in free agency at the very least. You should look to bring back YGM as well as EDGE3 too after a solid stint when healthy last year. Haynes is likely gone if he's not calling it a career after his back injury last season so you're looking at an almost completely empty edge rushing room without resigning anyone.

....No effect on the comp picks and a history with the offensive coaching staff

Those are serious health concerns when it comes to the concussion so not a surprising move at all though I thought they would spread the dead cap hit with a post June 1st designation. Ian will go next and Tremble will take his spot. Sullivan was resigned already and they might bring back Ricci if there is no competition. TE is going to get some investments this offseason.

I looked back at how the Bills revamped their WR core after drafting Josh Allen because Dan Morgan was a director of player personnel at that time. See if there might be some clues how the team could address specifically that position here since draft capital is currently limited. Here's what they did: 2018 - Draft QB but no other real help arrived though they took a couple flyers on slot options late in the draft. Allen's season was rough but his work with his legs kind of salvaged it a little 2019 - Two key investments on the first day of free agency. Cole Beasley to man the slot and the speedy John Brown for the flanker. Beasley was a known commodity and solid slot option in Dallas while Brown was underrated coming from Arizona. 2020 - Big splash in the trade for a true #1 in Stefon Diggs to primarily man the split end position. The move seemingly turned Allen into one of the premier QBs overnight, though looking at the film from the year before Allen was consistently making the correct reads but wasn't getting consistent help. They also drafted Gabe Davis on Day 3 of the draft which came in handy as Brown would start getting hit by the injury bug and would be released after the season. For the Panthers, their year 1 included the QB and slot option (if they dont move AT). The team also took a swing at a WR who definitely looks like he needs more time to develop if he develops at all. This year could lead to the team not making a big splash for a true #1 and finding a strong speedy option instead as there are a few good ones to grab in free agency or potentially develop out of the draft.

Yeah I'm thinking he is going to go early to mid 20s when all is said and done

My biggest frustration with this situation is Burns should have been locked up after his 3rd year as an ascending top pass rusher much like the raiders did with Crosby (who's now a steal). By the 3rd year if you don't know what you have then you don't know what you're doing. Without a contract, Burns essentially ended up betting on himself and shot his price tag up with a monster 4th season and a reset pass rusher market. Both sides have been playing chicken ever since.

Baker has a couple season working with Bryce at Alabama before moving over to UCF. I don't know that I see traits that jump out as how he'll win at the next level though outside of just winning at the catch point if he knocks down the drops. That said I'd take a chance on him on Day 3, maybe as a power slot type if Mingo is still viewed as a developmental X.

Huge Aiyuk fan and would love the fit here but I can't imagine 33 is going to do it. AJ Brown went for 18 and 101 at a similar age and production 2 years ago. I'd look for a smaller move for a trade/sign like a Diontae Johnson

There is a trend in the NFL of pairing college WRs and QBs back up in the NFL (Borrow/Chase, Murray/Brown, Tua/Waddle, Hurts/Smith, Carr/Adams, etc...) so do the Panthers target Jermaine Burton. Speed, hands and quickness are his calling cards and he does track the deep ball well but he does pick up a bunch of unnecessary taunting penalties (dog or liability?) and I don't see consistent YAC ability at least on tape. Probably a late Day 2 early Day 3 guy right now depending on how those on-field character issues are viewed.

Water is wet. Texans had three top 3 draft picks the last 2 years and hit on at least 8 players in the draft off the top of my head in the last 3 years, all while the Panthers have shipped some of there best players off to other teams with arguably 1 or 2 draft hits the last 3 years. Stroud is of course in a better situation.

https://youtu.be/_C3Tbl8ozVE?si=rtrFXcytwzcFPEG- The prospects from the Shrine Bowl highlighted here are: Malik Washington, WR, Virginia (5081, 192 lbs, 30" arm, 9.125" hand, 73.25" wing) - Slot prospect mainly due to size that was unguardable at the Shrine Bowl. Day 2 prospect, probably round 3 currently. Renardo Green, CB, FSU (5114, 187 lbs, 31" arm, 8.625" hand, 74.25" wing) - Press man corner with good tape against a bunch of draft prospects, but length might be a sticking point with analytics. Probably will go the highest in the draft of this group, potentially round 2. Mohamed Kamara, EDGE, Colorado State (6013, 252 lbs, 32.5" arm, 8.375" hand, 78" wing) - Tape is good, length again isn't there. Seen as high as a 4th rounder, could go later due to length concerns. Isaac Guerendo, RB, Louisville (5116, 220 lbs, 30.75" arm, 9" hand, 75.5" wing) - Low mileage, fast and powerful who can help in the pass game also as a converted WR. One of my favorite prospects coming out of the Shrine Bowl. Day 3 prospect currently. Garret Greenfield, OT, South Dakota State (6057, 310 lbs, 33.5" arm, 9.75" hand, 83.5" wing) - Enough length to stick outside maybe even as a solid swing tackle option but also being looked at on inside at OG. Looks like he's graded later in Day 3 currently maybe about the 6th round.

Dylan Laube out of New Hampshire just showed out as one of the standouts in the senior bowl practices. He has great hands and tons of production in both the passing and running games the last 2 years. Kentucky's Ray Davis is an older prospect but he showed off his hands at the senior bowl too to back up what he's done in the SEC the last 2 years too. ...Both could likely be had day 3.

We're getting an entirely new WR core

With the Shrine Bowl and Senior Bowl running this week. Figured I'd start a place to talk about all the prospects. I'll put the weigh-ins here too because I can't imagine analytics suddenly wont matter to the new staff: https://steelersdepot.com/2024/01/2024-east-west-shrine-bowl-rosters-measurement-results-official-heights-weights/ https://www.the33rdteam.com/2024-senior-bowl-weigh-in-measurement-results-for-nfl-prospects/ As stated in other topics I've seen very good reports following WRs Malik Washington, Roman Wilson, Ladd McConkey and now Tahj Washington and Jamari Thrash. DLs Brandon Dorlus and Mike Hall, CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr. and Quinton Mitchell and iOL Jackson Powers-Johnson also drawing heavy praise so far.

Roman Wilson got high praise on day 1, like him alot as a slot/Z receiver on day 2 (maybe round 3). Ben Sinnott and Theo Johnson (particularly Johnson) I'm a fan of as players to target to potentially revamp our TE room at the Senior Bowl.

I've seen reports so far that Malik Washington has been dominant at the Shrine Bowl as well as positive reports for Roman Wilson and Ladd McConkey at the fist practice at the Senior Bowl. Tez Walker clocked as the fastest player at Senior Bowl too.

Big fan of Jacob Cowing to inject youth and speed in the slot. 3 years of solid production at Arizona. Probably a 3rd rounder right now.

AT did well in that slot/chain mover roll but he was also eating up all the targets in the MOF to the point the TEs couldn't get involved and I think long term you can replace that with proper investments a say a mid-round rookie WR and TEs. I don't think his value will ever be higher and the team needs some injection of youth and speed to open up the field so to me its a "take a step back to leap forward" type of move. Higgins or a Pittman are probably the best targets to be #1 WRs on the free agent market. I'd target Marquis Brown as the #2/speedster but Samuels can get open and would be a good option too. Big fan of Diontae Johnson if he were to come available for trade too.

Alot of work needs to be done in that room. Chark and Viska should walk, TMJ most certainly a cut, probably should trade Theilen because of the value/ target share in the MOF. It might not all happen in one year but we need to inject speed and a #1 into the WR core and will probably need to find some kind of TE to affect the passing game especially considering Hurst's serious concussion issues. At WR at least there is alot of solid options in free agency and as potential trade candidates.

Its promising....need to see how the offensive weapons issue is addressed this offseason though. And I hope we can hold onto Evero too.

Michigan must be getting some sanctions coming their way.