run-run-pass-punt

I'm not sure what I'd ask for, but I *AM* sure that I'm remaining completely silent and not approaching Houston or letting out any interest in trading (too late) to allow Houston to sweat over what might happen if they really are zeroed in on one guy, knowing they could miss out. If that's the case, they'll approach you in desperation sooner or later. And then, they've shown their hand and it's start the bidding time. The Panthers have time on their side, and a lot of it, relatively speaking. That period of time could do amazing things in terms of pressure on the Texans. I'd show as indifferent of a face as possible letting the world know we've got our guy. Again, I know it's too late to poker face it. I don't understand why they'd be so careless to let the possible interest in trading down get out. Ruined so much of their advantage with Houston imho.

What opportunities has Corral had?! Give him a chance to develop. He's a cheap QB option. I don't understand why we would throw him out at this early stage, even if we hit the mark with the draft.

We'll see how thirsty the teams below us are. If their gagging for it, we may end up in a really sweet position, while still getting a QB we're happy with.

I thought about this when we made the trade, that if we were happy with any of the top four that we could effectively move up from 9, deal from there and get our QB for *nothing*. Interesting to see if anything materializes in this regard.

I don't know, the loss of Butker still stings this organization. Maybe that's the plan.

It's funny. Last night I dreamed we traded for the #1 pick and drafted Stroud. Of course, you can take dreams with a grain of salt, but I was *against* trading for #1, so I thought it was a weird dream to have. If we take Stroud, I'm going to be scared, lol.

Sure that would be a partial outcome, but I think the NFLPA would step in to assist these guys (as well as the brighter players helping out the others) if it became a common trend, and they'd ultimately be keeping more of their money. But agents have always had too much power and reward for too little contribution imho.

Only if you'd be willing to also take him at #1 overall. QB is the centerpiece of your organization, and if you're drafting one in the first round, you better also have been willing to take him at the very top. If he's not worthy of that, then you're wasting a pick just to get a QB. You can't settle for also-rans at the position just to have a body on the roster. If you believe he can be your answer at the position, you take him, but that means he's also worthy of being drafted at number 1 due to the importance of the position.

I believe it. The powers that be in the NFL don't like people that don't walk in-step with the company line. Can't be having guys out there representing themselves. What would that lead to...

The age thing is overblown imho. Most QBs bust anyway, so if it's a choice between a younger bust or a slightly older draft steal, I'll take the latter. Granted we don't know how any of the QBs will play out, but if the staff thinks he's worthy AND we can get him without loss of important assets, then that's a no-brainer. I mean if you get 10 great years out of a QB you draft, you take that all day every day.

Darnold is, to me, such an enigma. He has hall-of-fame level flashes, and then looks like the shape of the football confuses him at others. The only factors that make me want to consider keeping him around are the fact that he's still so young, that with consistently good coaching maybe he can finally be "unlocked" and reach a pretty high ceiling, and if we could keep him around at a very team-friendly price. He's very frustrating to evaluate in terms of worth. A part of me thinks we should just wash our hands and let go, but there's tantalizing periods/glimpses that make you wonder what could be. I don't know, lol.

Whenever anyone says that a team is on the verge of a decade of dominance, I always shake my head and wonder if they even follow the NFL. Sure it happens where a team goes on a long run of uninterrupted high-level success, but those are anomalies. Far more common is an up and down cycle without year after year of consistent winning.

When you're trying to get to the most effective play in the sport, you've got to do what you've got to do.

It's ok, he just denied the reality of his own death...Whoops.

I have no hesitation other than the evaluation of the (potential) prospect being accurate. However, we've all watched many drafts and we KNOW how things play out. All these can't miss prospects end up busting. Given that hindsight, I'm reluctant to trade away draft chips, and so many at that. The inherent and inevitable draft risk is always mitigated via opportunities. You've got to overcome the fallibility of the evaluation process, and more chances at the pot is the most reliable way to do that.

Man do I *miss* defense and a balanced game of pigskin. Just endlessly running up and down the field. It's almost getting to the point that the punt is a real unicorn of an event. Hideous.

That's the best thing about this particular pairing for me. I've always loved Reich, but matching him up with another guy who is just genuinely interested in the best outcome, no matter who's gripping the wheel of the ship most tightly, has the potential for some nice - and much needed - synergy imho.

Peak Cam was awesome. So was peak Sid Luckman...

I'm thrilled. If we didn't retain Wilks, Reich was my first choice, but I honestly didn't expect us to hire him. I think he's terribly undervalued, and always elevates the roster/pieces he has to work with. I loved him in Indy and used to always tell my brother that I'm jealous and wished he was our coach. Dreams apparently do come true. We'll be far better than we have ever been on a consistent basis going forward. CANNOT WAIT!

I mean just look at the dramatic turnaround in a very short span. It's like two different teams. There's only one really significant difference to the overall dynamics and that is Wilks. Hire that man!

Blackshear looks like he's got some electricity in him just waiting to sizzle to me. It's hard for him to get too many snaps with Foreman and Chuba ahead of him, but I really like the small sample in terms of "eye test". I think he's got nice awareness and some juice and "want-to" that has me excited. On the flip-side, Shi Smith seems like about the least aware player on the team. I'm ready to see him jettisoned asap.

When you run the ball the way we've been running it, all QBs look better. (Not a slight on Darnold's play.) Just more evidence that it's a *team* game, with all parts impacting all other parts. QB is a big part of the overall equation, but still needs proper support from the surrounding cast in order to be their best.

Wilks deserves to be the coach going forward imho. And I have little doubt we'd already be a playoff team had it been so from the beginning of the season. An aside, and although it's not in the realm of very realistic possibility, I love to imagine the scenario where we win the Super Bowl, and all the pro-tankers have to acknowledge that they spent the whole year hoping for losses from their favorite team that ultimately wound up as champs.

Risk is mitigated via scale. If I were Fitt or any GM and needed a QB, I'd trade back (in addition to a high pick, if warranted) to accumulate extra picks and grab a handful of QBs and let the cream rise. If there is none, rinse and repeat until it does. There's no good reason not to have several rookies in competition with each other if you don't have a QB imho. Shed the chaff, keep the seed and nourish it properly.