Smittymoose

Yep. We’re fuged. Just twisting the knife that he’ll end up in the NFCS.

If Saints are actually serious, then Watson ends up there. Poverty franchise stays poverty. Maybe Kenny “Andy Dalton” Pickett will lead the Panthers to the promised land though. lul.

You said "Super Bowl contender or even playoffs contender." What's the difference between a Super Bowl contender and a "playoffs contender" in your mind, if it doesn't mean a contender to make the playoffs?

You said "playoff contender" as in, contender to make the playoffs. Carolina would EASILY be the favorite in the South. Easily.

Not really. More than two years out, increased risk of re-injury is minimal to zero.

I hear what you’re getting at, but not sure there is a simple answer to this question. If Carolina doesn’t make the playoffs in 2022 or 2023 in a weak division with Watson, I’d have to question whether he’s a franchise QB (but he is, and that wouldn’t happen). If you’re asking whether I’d want to be positioned in 2024 with 28 year old Watson or a hypothetical second-year first round QB, the choice is Watson, and it is not a close question.

So what was the "patience" option then? Cam was and is broken physically. There wasn't a QB worth taking at 7. What were they supposed to do at QB? Darnold was a panic move when they didn't get Stafford. No doubt. But I am fine with passing on Fields and Jones. Fields did not look good this year. Jones was efficient when asked not to do a whole lot to win games on his arm. It's about quality. Fields and Jones are a long, long shot from Watson. Not even close to him. I don't think either the Bucs or Broncos were necessarily "stocked." Don't forget a bunch of guys followed Brady to come to Tampa. They were 7-9. The Broncos were 8-8. Actually, I think the Chiefs were easily in the best shape. But it doesn't change the fact that all three of these moves were "impatient," in your estimation.

Aren't you the guy who wasn't a fan until Carolina traded for Darnold? lol. clueless.

By drafting well and making high-quality FA signings. 40% of NFL starters are drafted after the 3rd round.

Put aside being an overly-emotional fan for a second and understand that Carolina was never going to go into 2020 with Kyle Allen or some similar scrub as its starting QB. Signing a guy who'd proven to be a capable backup QB who could come in and competently start, had first round pedigree, and was still reasonably young made plenty of sense. There was plenty of objective praise for that move at that time, because it was a solid move. It didn't work out. You move on. Not as though his contract crippled the franchise or anything.

How many franchise QBs have not signed extensions in their prime, Watson included, actually? It's not a particularly large risk that you will lose a franchise QB in his prime. They never hit the open FA market. If you can provide legitimate counter-examples, I'd be happy to consider them. But you can't because there aren't any.

Because rookie QBs are total wildcards, and you basically never have a proven franchise QB hit the market in the middle of his prime. Even IF Carolina is in a position to draft a guy they really like in 2023, which is no certainty, then they have to hope he develops or they're right back at square one three years later. This is the same spin cycle that has cursed numerous franchises for years: see Dolphins, Jets, Bills (prior to Allen), Broncos (prior to PM), Browns, etc.

Seems clear to me.

I don't think Bridgewater was a product of impatience. That move made plenty of sense at the time. He just didn't work out. And I fail to see how one bad trade for Darnold is proof that urgency never pays off. Bucs weren't "patient" with Winston. They went out and got Brady. Chiefs weren't "patient" with Alex Smith. They went out and got a QB they thought could be an upgrade when they didn't necessarily need one. The Broncos weren't "patient" with The Golden Calf of Bristol. They went and got Manning and won a Super Bowl.

No, I don't. It's a much longer-term move than Stafford or Brady. Watson is 26 years old. He's probably got 10 really good, elite or near-elite level years left. Are you really holding it against Watson that he didn't win a Super Bowl at age 23-24 with good rosters? It's not as if the Texans were bad those years. They were contenders. Aaron Rodgers has been the best QB in the NFL or close to it for 15 years and has one Super Bowl to show for it. Only one guy can win it every year.

You don't think a Watson-led Carolina in 2022's iteration of the NFC South is a "playoff contender?" Please.

That sounds nice, if you totally misunderstand how the NFL works. And you apparently do.

And then they traded three first rounders for Trey Lance. lol.

Right, only QBs who have already won Super Bowls can win Super Bowls. Good point. You win. I give up.

yeah, no poo the price tag will be lower, because no rookie QB is anywhere near the surefire talent of Watson. there's also substantial risk that the guy you trade up for ends up stinking up the joint, and you've then you've set yourself back years.

And if we rebuild the team and Willis sucks, where does that leave us? Giving up multiple firsts to get a legitimate QB three years from now?

I was told we should patiently rebuild for 4-5 years. Still waiting on that example.

Ahhh okay. Now the truth comes out. This is all about not wanting Rhule around. I couldn't give a poo whether Rhule sticks around or not as long as Carolina wins games. I don't think he's very good, but worse coaches have won Super Bowls.

Well, no you didn't, because both are bad examples. And again, as you admitted, the Bengals did not rebuild 4-5 years.

You told me 4-5 year rebuild. Who spent 4-5 years rebuilding? By the way, Chiefs traded two firsts and a mid-round pick for Mahomes. They were picking 27th in that draft. There was no rebuild. The Bills had to trade up to get Allen too. They had to give up two present seconds and a first to get him. You always pay for a QB. We can wait a year, hope that a legitimate franchise QB develops, hope that we can get into position to draft him, and still probably will end up giving up multiple picks over multiple years to get him in the 2023 Draft. Those are your own examples, by the way.