ECHornet

That’s seems a reasonable possibility too. I just know they always match up teams Week 1 to maximize off season beef drama. I can’t think of anything better than Reich facing the team that fired him in the first game.

Something will change April 27

Who knows. Good for them trying to go for it with Watson over the next year or two. Very glad it’s them and not us.

True. It does help them now. Are they ready to contend for a Super Bowl in 2023?

Assuming we truly don't favor Young or Stroud, this would be a great move. I find it hard to believe we won't have a favorite though. Should we make that trade, I'd like to see us move back in late 1st and maybe get a 2024 1st back. Preferably from the Saints at #29 bc I think they'll still be mid at best next year. I would give Tampa #12 for their 2024 1st, 2023 2nd, and 2023 3rd. I'm that confident they'll be picking top 5ish next year. Bring on Harrison Jr, Bowers, or maybe still Williams/Maye.

They do matter. It's just harder to see the effects if Watson does end up playing well and into his mid 30s. $35,000,000 in 2027 could snag a couple top end starters to help Watson. That will be much more difficult if they keep pushing money out. His contract is not something we've seen a ton of with all the guarantees.

We can still trade Thomas if we find a rookie TE we like. Much easier to move his contract now and teams do value TEs who can block well.

Those of you saying no big deal because they'll just restructure every year are missing the long term ramifications of that. Hypothetically, if the Browns restructure every year of Watson's contract down to the vet min for his accrued seasons, in.... 2025: Cap Hit minimum ~ $37,000,000 2026: Cap Hit minimum ~ $46,000,000 Not terrible, right? Well, by then Browns would have pushed ~$90,000,000 into 2027 and beyond. That won't just disappear. Sure, they can extend him to keep that dead money from accelerating into 2027/2028, but those restructure bonuses will still have to be accounted for. If they extended him until he's 35 years old in 2030, the new money would be added on top of an estimated.... 2027: $35,814,000 2028: $26,847,000 2029: $17,899,000 2030: $8,940,000 In other words, they can't avoid those hits forever.

This suggests our floor for the TE room through 2024 is Hurst/Thomas/Tremble. Probably good for middle of the pack in the league. Thomas or Tremble would be easy to move on from next offseason if we find better options. I still want to keep Tremble around since he's so young. He's only 22 years old.

Week 1 - we’re definitely playing the Colts, right?

I loved the Prime games last year. They gave them a terrible selection of games, but I preferred their production.

Trade back from #39 and select AT Perry with a late 2nd or early 3rd. I don’t think he’ll be there for our current 3rd, and I’m pretty sold on him providing about what Quentin Johnston would. We can use the other pick for acquired for BPA with a heavy look at OL or CB.

Just saw that. I’ll take it!

How far beyond? 2024? Panthers - Young/Stroud Saints - Carr Falcons - Ridder/Levis or Richardson Bucs - Maye or Williams Bucs are going to be terrible in 2023, and I think that’s what they want. Falcons are in a nice position to snag whichever of Levis or Richardson that drops.

Agree that’s a good video. First time I’ve heard someone mention him possibly in the 3rd. As I feared, he’ll likely be gone by our 4th round picks.

4th probably. Someone will gamble on his size & athleticism combo.

I think that description fits Musgrave and many have him going early day 2.

He weighed 10lbs less but benched two more reps than Washington. I don’t think he’s far from Washington in strength and his explosiveness if already better, and you can get him in a later round as opposed to top 2nd. He can be TE3 for two years and then be ready to take over when we move on from Hurst. Tremble is in the same boat.

Hurst will be our TE1 next year with Thomas or Tremble TE2/3, unless we draft a TE. If we do, Tremble can take Ricci’s role or we can release/trade Thomas. I like Kuntz late because of his size and athleticism, and that playing behind Hurst will allow him and Tremble time to develop. His measurables are crazy. People are freaking out over Washington, but Kuntz is the same height, 10lbs less, ran the forty a tenth second faster than Washington and out jumped him by 9” in the vertical and 6” in broad jump. He also benched more reps. He could be a huge steal in the 4th or later, but I suspect front offices paid attention at the combine and he’ll rise.

Better option than 2023 version of Theilen imo.

No trades and post Hurst signing: Of any trade idea now, I’m thinking trading back from 39 to late second round and adding additional day 2 picks. The Bears and Lions are two teams with options to do that.

I hope so! That ranking wasn’t my opinion since I haven’t seen enough of him to say. I just perused a few TE ranking lists of last year and that’s the ranges I saw.

Probably in the 15-25 range of TEs in the league which is much better than what we had in 2022.

Ian Thomas release/trade info:

LaPorta in Rd 3 would be a steal. He’s TE3 imo, but I don’t think he and Kincaid/Mayer are too far apart. We save money on the cap no matter how we part with Thomas, ranging from ~$1.5 to $5mil in 2023 depending on if released or traded and whether it’s pre or post June 1st.