Bear Hands

Well then tonight got interesting again for this squad

I put $7 in at Levis +4000 at Pick #8. Let's go.

The only guy that has just not been sold to me by his play (or) by his hypers is Levis. I would have been stoked to come out of this with Young, Richardson or Stroud. For Will: No matter the arm, upper body mechanics, JA comps, or "potential"--His decision making, general lack of mechanical discipline, & 3 years as Penn State's battering ram just irks me the wrong way. He's barely a year younger than Hooker and doesn't have the liberty to have so much to work on. Turns 24 in June, almost 4 years AR's senior.

And honest, the top defenders are nothing special in my book compared to the next tier. No joke--I think more of the star potential lies in the Kancey, Nolan Smith, Van Ness, Porter Jr., etc. range, who SEA will be in play for at 20. SEA is just set up perfectly this draft & Denver looks more idiotic by the day. Both SEA & DET are setup to have huge splashes in this draft.

Carroll even admitted during the process that he hates picking this high (even though it's because of a trade). And if you're this high, you go for the moonshot. They've got 20, 37, 52, 83. Plenty of picks to build a team. If you're a playoff team sitting at 5, with an emerging opening for a QB, and you can essentially redshirt the guy, you go for it. Perfect situation for both team & player.

I think SEA is all in on Richardson

Pete Schraeger's usually accurate last minute intel/drips below. Addison I had a long shot wish for a trade up... (grabbing from reddit)

I'm on as needed lol. I at least get the Bryce pick uninterrupted. Likely in and out picks 3-12 Happy wife=good life.

I somehow have a joint wedding planner+photographer+caterer call at 8:30-9:30 ET that my fiance will be running. I'm like c'mon! Apparently I had a chance to change it and forgot it was on the calendar. Draft will be behind the laptop zoom on the TV muted and I'll have the Athletic live pod in one ear with a beer lol

You're right! It had been a while haha, had to have some of them years back. One of the stranger feelings out there.

Trades happen, so pick # regardless—we land a combo of: Derick Hall OLB Tucker Kraft TE Marvin Mims WR Cory Trice CB Kendre Miller RB

Texans are about to take this draft into crazy mode

We'll get a Bryce segment but they'll no doubt avoid talking about the actual team/fit/etc. Suggest listening to The Athletic FS live stream on the side.

Ending with one of my faves I've done:

Have been doing some hard digging and re-evals of what I'll call the "big 5 classes" needs wise - WR, TE, RB, EDGE, & CB. Gotta say, I've got some new favorites in each (after the obvious top few): WR: Marvin Mims - Blazer, hands-catcher, aggressive with ball-in-hand, strong route runner. Coming from Oklahoma, just needs to acclimate to NFL zone concepts. Teams are VERY high on him. Totally under the radar and a perfect fit. Can play inside and outside. Punt returner. He's my top fitting WR to compliment the group. EXCELLENT kid, really high character, super well-spoken and sharp. TE: Tucker Kraft - This guy is a nightmare for any non-ILB once he catches the ball. He's an agile freight train of a man. Reich has had strong TEs on his squads, I think we need one to take over in the next year or so w Hurst tutelage. RB: Kendre Miller - A well-rounded, hard running, workhorse that would be a really nice blend with Sanders. EDGE: Derick Hall - 6'3 255 kid with great length, bend and burst. That's all you can ask for a 3-4 EDGE with his type of upside. Another high-character, great teammate type per league sources. CB: Darius Rush - Another big, long physical type who can play in the Fangio style coverages. Would be great to reunite him with Jaycee.

It's the contrast kicking in at the start of an MRI.

PFF NFL Show echoed a rumor there is apparently a Patriots-Texans framework in place for the #2 overall selection that includes Mac Jones to Houston. Sounds insane but, you never know amiright??

I've noticed the same thing. If we play our cards right, we could load up by getting a later 2nd, higher 3rd, and a 2024 3rd (or maybe even 2nd) Could land just as valuable talent as we would get at 39.

Kincaid & JSN are the obvious 2 that will be gone that we shouldn't even bother wishing for in a trade up. JSN is the clear cut WR1 and Kincaid is arguably the best pure receiving threat in the draft (TE and WRs combined) After those two though, it's anyone's guess.. For me, Addison is the only one after them that has the worthiness as a prospect to trade up for. This may be unpopular, but I just don't see some astronomical difference between Zay Flowers and Josh Downs or even Tank Dell. Addison at his best is an absolute game changer, can play slot, outside, is very Diggs-esque with a smoothness and just enough speed to break huge 50+ yard plays consistently. Can catch every type of ball with ease. He had a strange senior year (which I believe is more due to Caleb William's shortcomings that will be microscoped later this year) but he was an absolute madman for Pickett in 2021 and looked like he was cruising to that G Wilson/OBJ sure-thing type pick. He's the one that if we somehow land, that would be something to get excited about.

haha, he's a beheamoth. But won't lie, I was really surprised at how closely Schoonmaker and Kuntz tested to him. Schoon has some injury concerns though. Darnell is an absolute tank but needs some polishing. Is more of a project than is let on. My personal faves: Tucker Kraft is a monster to try and take down. I've grown quite fond of in late R2 if we wheel and deal. He's just an animal once the ball is in his hands, no CB wants to come near him. And then there's LaPorta who can just do it all and then some, Pete Schraeger was reporting he's TE2 for some teams and could go R1. Love this TE class.

This is one of the worst OL classes in maybe a decade. Maybe Daniels or Bradford but they're prob 4th-5th rounders. Mauch & Avila are the only options IMO. Can't force it IMO.

I agree. There's A LOT of very high upside R2-3 talent that just doesn't have the complete college career to make teams confident enough they'll blossom. But the potential is undeniable. EDGE: Will McDonald, Ade Adebawore, Derick Hall, Tuli Tuipulotu CB: Julius Brents, DJ Turner, Darius Rush, Emmanuel Forbes, Cory Trice TE: Darnell Washington, Luke Musgrave, Sam LaPorta, Tucker Kraft (They would have all have been TE1 if they were in last year's class) RB: Tyjae Spears, Kendre Miller, Zach Charbonnet WR: Jonathan Mingo, Josh Downs, Tyler Scott, Marvin Mims

The possibilities are endless and fun to run through scenarios...I am actually in favor of the combo trade up/down scenario where we package 39 and 93 (or 114). There's teams just a tad behind us in R2, but ahead of us in R3. Potential Partners: PIT: 32, 49, 80, 120 (notable picks) GB: 42, 45, 78, 114 DET: 48, 55, 81, 151 (note there big gap is where we have picks 93, 114, 132, 145) We have connections, DET has needs that align with who could be available at 39. LAC: 21, 54, 85, 125 - They need impact guys to hit on with Herbert's peak. I can see them trading up. 54 & 85 for 39 fits value. Could even land a 2024 3rd included. SEA: 20, 37, 52, 83, 123, 151, 154 - They could turn around after picking 37 and give us 52, 83 and more for 39. They have so many picks. CHI (again): 53, 61, 64, 103, 133 - Lets keep wheeling and dealing. 39 & 93 for 53, 64 & 133? If we're talking a straight up trade up - THE Potential Partner: Buffalo - notable picks: 27, 59, 91, 130 - They need a RT, WR could be a luxury pick..if Addison slips past NYG & DAL, this is where I'd pounce if I'm Fitt. We've got tight office connections, we can also jump NO so screw them. BUF can land OTs like Mauch or Harrison at 39 (or even Hyatt or Downs) Idea: 39, 114, 2024 4/5 for 27 & 130 Could then use a combo of 93, 130, 132, 145 for more wheeling into the top-100. I prefer 4-5 impact players > quantity in this draft class.

How about Gibbs and Mingo muahahaha

It sounds like we could have some specific targets in the 55-70ish range. If he can wheel and deal and get some type of Turner/Brents CB, Scott/Mims WR, Miller RB combo, I’d be beyond thrilled Also low key feeling we really like Addison in a trade up