Bear Hands

Call me crazy but I’m taking Heinicke over Darnold or Minshew If we’re talking a backup to Stroud or Young, think he’d make a lot of sense in Reich’s offense. We can rally and win with him if he needs to come in. Minshew may be fun and all with the stash but he only flashed a few times and it was in that stretch for JAX where they still mostly lost. His whole fun uncle Rico type vibe is what people coat over his actual performance. I’m also quite past Darnold at this point. Wouldn’t be mad if he’s back but it’s not the only option.

In a perfect world, the Bears stay put, HOU takes Young/Levis, and we trade with AZ to land Stroud. But...I just don't see the Bears staying put. They don't have pick 32 (Claypool) and there's so many needs on defense and on offense around Fields. I also don't see some huge tier difference between Anderson/Carter and the other DLs. If we want our guy, we almost HAVE to trade with Chicago to land him given their likelihood of moving down. The big wildcard I don't see mentioned much is the Raiders at 7. If they don't land Rodgers, which is plausible, I don't see them wanting one of these FAs after enduring Carr for a decade. So let's say the Raiders trade to 1, the draft goes Stroud/Young 1/2, then what? I'm definitely not trading with AZ for Levis or AR. This is going to be a really fun season of chess with who actually likes who QB wise.

The Athletic may be a bit shortsighted on the Eagles staff front. They've got Kevin Patullo & Jason Michael who could both be OC candidates. Both have strong connections to our new staff, mainly Reich and our passing game guys. Jason Michael had a few years of OC experience at age 28 in TEN for Wiz (I still find that crazy), direct ties with Reich in SD and IND. I'm a fan of his.

I’ve got a feeling our OC is coaching this Sunday. Gut tells me it’s Jason Michael

Those used to be multi-year ones that effected a guy's playing career. There's better recovery methods these days for lisfrancs. You'd expect him to be near 100% come training camp.

Thx. I'm just trying to take the line of staying optimistic but not bank on him working out. I think that's a fair approach as a fan. I'm just a bit lukewarm on him as a prospect. Has nothing to do with the bs off the field stuff mentioned either, and I think a lot of teams saw ON field stuff that made him past most teams 3 times over. There's REALLY nice things to like if you look at him from the waist up--arm strength, release, general on-field command and leadership. But I'm a sucker for footwork, it's so critical at a pro-level and he just has this flippant, finicky nature to his pocket presence that I can't unsee. Reminds me a tad of Jimmy G under duress. You want these guys to feel grounded and secure in the pocket, standing tall and strong. On the run, he's great though. Can really get into good rhythm's at times, can roll left and throw a nice deep ball. But back to feet--there's just an inconsistency with how he plants his feet to combine with the jumpiness. Just undisciplined and you can tell the system he got used to in college. It makes his lower legs super susceptible to injury and will hurt his touch. And funny enough, he did deal w/ankle injuries. Now, more of a freak-incident being stepped on here (lisfranc injury), so that I don't put against him. I'm hopeful he comes back full strength. That offense conditioned him to make quick throws and when he had to read the field, he's not reading the defense/secondary how you want. Just very back-yardy/sling-it style ball. I blame Kiffin's offense though, a lot of that is correctable. His style play in that offense still allowed for some awesome moments at times, he's got skills. If he can make strides in lower body mechanics, pocket awareness and reading defenses, that will be key.

You know it's possible to discuss them as prospects and not claim any are busts. It's not people going after him or saying he sucks. We're comparing and contrasting ranks over a 2 year span. Good grief.

Some follow up notes: -Purdy (as a prospect) is still down there for me. That would be part of O'Connell, Thompson, etc. -Not a huge McKee fan but I get it--I get why he could be as high as a R2 pick. What is notable is the overall package: Has the 6'6 230 size, a strong enough arm (above avg/avg), sneaky agility (he's a pocket passer but by no means immobile, he ran a 4.68 40. He's also young. But turn on the games and, well, yeah is it just a Davis Mills-plus? -As a prospect, Corral is in that loose range of R2-4. A fit dependent developmental pick. I actually like him to just keep around, keep molding, keep learning. If he ever has to come in as relief eventually, maybe he flashes and we gain some value. But I'm also holding my breath that he may be battling Eason for a spot in a new offense. Just looking back at his reports and vids/highlights, he just strikes me as that 'fun-on-the-field', quick wrist flicking, college gunslinger that gets dwarfed in the big leagues. Had some nice deep balls but compare his work to what Hendon just did, and I'm sorry, taking Hooker all day.

There's an argument to be made with McKee but Hooker is easily ahead of Willis, Ridder & Corral for me. People will ding his age and system played in but his size (6'4 220), athleticism, deep ball placement, surprisingly sound mechanics, and footwork are far better than that crew. If Hooker was 22/23 & TEN used a bit more pro-level concepts, he'd be way more hyped.

These would be my tiers, no particular Oder within each T1: Young, Stroud T2: AR, Levis, Pickett T3: Hooker, McKee T4: Willis, Ridder, Corral, Hall, Haener, Howell, Tune T5: Purdy & the rest

If we want a vet to backup and/or take on the dreaded "bridge" label, I prefer Taylor Heinicke. He may be interested in coming back as well. Reich will have a preference, could be Brissett. I hope we don't have to see these guys play anyways and we land Stroud, Young or AR.

There's no need to go out of our way to keep him. At this point in his career, he pretty evenly blends with the rest of the FA crop. Compared to the rest of the FA (minus Jones & Geno), Reich may want someone else. I don't quite care either way, our future isn't in the batch of: Sam Darnold Jacoby Brissett Mike White Gardner Minshew Taylor Heinicke Jimmy G Jarrett Stidham Andy Dalton

I thought he played well when Armstead was in next to him. Like I mentioned though he definitely had downs. It was worst when the line got banged up he really fell apart. Given they have a new OL coach coming in and an offseason to condition, he could still be good. Mixed bag with him so far.

McKee will go Day-2 along with Hooker. McKee doesn't excite me and even though Davis Mills is an easy comparison, it is a bit true. He can move better than you think, but he doesn't have the arm you'd want with his size. It's good but it should be a lot better. And he just doesn't push downfield well. Not a creator. Re: Hooker -- I don't think he is getting the credit he deserves; he could be a good QB. His Bama game was off the charts and he's got the skills. Age and offense be damned. That being said, those are big factors to consider. His ability to adapt to NFL offenses will be huge. Haener & Hall are the only other two worth a damn IMO. Haener would've been a much higher pick if he wasn't a twig. I love his game and leadership. He's a baller. Could have a Taylor Heinicke type trajectory. I was originally high on Tune, Duggan, and some others, but I just don't see Sunday level play from them. You can scratch Bagent, Cunningham, & Bonner, they are UDFA.

A lot of their ages are a knock. Hall, Hooker, & Levis all super seniors.

I am so ready for a competent offense again. It is amazing, this day & age, our yearly QB output has been around ~3200 yards, 15tds, and 15ints since Cam's exit. Really shows how awful and out of his league Rhule was. Kyle Allen slinging Kevin Kolb-level-ball for 15 games was the best we've got in years.

I don't think we as fans have truly realized just how bad our offensive coaching has been since Henning, given the handicap they received with Smitty and then later w/Cam. We had 2 guys that had the rare ability to take over a football game no matter the talent around them. Henning, Davidson, Chud, Shula a bunch of lucky bastards.

Zierlein made one just for clickbait, probably one of the weirdest things ever. Highlights: We draft EDGE Keion White (Has been a 2nd-3rd projection) at 9 Hyatt is WR1 3 TEs in RD1, the first being Musgrave Drew Sanders LB1 at 8 to ATL lol https://www.nfl.com/news/lance-zierlein-2023-nfl-mock-draft-1-0-buccaneers-select-tom-brady-s-successor What the freak?

That Denver situation is just laughable. Wilson's contract doesn't have an out until 2026 & the guaranteed money is obscene. If Payton doesn't like him, they may just have to roll with him until they start some scrub or mid round rookie. This may turn into the NFL equivalent of a Mozgov contract. Good for them.

I'm trying to question myself on where I got with my QB preferences this week. Take a sober look back at the season and ignoring all the hype circles and mocks: -I'm still really trying to like Levis but still having a very difficult time. I want to like him and get hyped but just can't. -I bought into McKee's story and potential a bit too much wanting someone to rise from that second tier ranks. At the end of the day, he simply should have produced more. He just doesn't give me the feel of a guy who can score at will. Closer to Davis Mills 2.0 than a 1st Rounder. -I've been a bit hard on Jaren Hall and Hendon Hooker--Looking back, they have some great qualities and had some really nice stretches. They're rising again for me in the non-top tier. If you can get past their age (similar to Levis), I think there's great reasons to take them. -I still am a bit weary with Duggan even if he looked like one of the better guys at the Senior Bowl. Just doesn't do enough as a passer to warrant anything more than a 4th. -Jake Haener is the only one after the top-4 that I've remained high on outside of Young & Stroud. I was following him last year, was so bummed he had to miss some weeks, but I just see him playing on Sundays. If a guy like Bailey Zappe does, Haener sure as hell does and more. He could be a 3rd rounder come draft time. Seems to have beefed up a tad as well which was needed (really his biggest knock, he's got so much to like outside of being a pencil). -Still really wish four guys declared: Jayden Daniels, Cameron Ward, Michael Penix, & Michael Pratt. They could've made money and climbed up this QB board easily. Penix specifically. He could get lost in the shuffle next year. -Bagent, T-R, O'Connell & Cuninngham are all kind of off my radar/UDFAs

I'll do my best to be excited if Levis is our guy & trust the decision made by the new regime. My biggest overall issue--he needs to hit the ground running yet correct more than a few things quickly. That's simply an unsavory combination. You can only stress/teach poise, field vision, and smart decision-making so much. Given Levis' tendencies already, he will be a turnover machine if he doesn't correct his pocket awareness and feel as a passer. It would be one thing if had high-end accuracy & great deep placement to compliment the release & arm--That would make some of his risky throws worth it, but he just seems reckless just for the sake of being aggressive at times. Those same traits even come through on his running style with taking too many hits. Now, I like a QB that's aggressive, but you have to make the most of it. Because, the next flag is he doesn't necessarily have touch on his long throws when he could feasibly show off the tools he has. One minute he's skittish, then a long bomb attempt without the best placement, the next he's cool as a cucumber and makes a nice intermediate throw. It is just ALL coaching dependent with him. I can see Daboll, our own Reich, or even Arthur Smith wanting to work with him. Looking past the tendencies he's developed and want to work with him. But if he goes to Indy (Coach TBD), HOU, or a spot without a hands-on, QB coachable environment, that could be a disaster. He has tendencies he needs to be coached out of and other things he needs to have become second-nature. He's kind of like Tannehill meets Darnold for me. In the right environment, could be a totally viable dude, but he needs some big things coached out of him and other things coached up.

I liked Tune a lot at first but his deeper balls and throwing motion are big knocks. He's close with most else. Size - check, Enough speed - check, led comebacks/good poise - check, good awareness/pressure sensitive - check, he's tough as nails too. Issues: He throws like a baseball, he has almost a wind up. Also loses accuracy beyond 20-yarders. Would love him R4-6. Originally thought he was a riser and was liking him, but he's got some limitations. Just doesn't quite have the arm talent and accuracy on deeper routes.

Good for the man. Wish him well minus when we're on the opposing sideline.

He's a riser. Could end up in the top 5 WRs taken, R2 range. Maybe R3.