UNCrules2187

While I think I lean towards trading Burns, my personal opinion is he stays put through the deadline and will be given the non-exclusive franchise tag. If someone comes in with a contract that the Panthers think meets his value to the team, they'll match, and if not, they'll get two first rounders. If no one gives him an offer sheet, will then he'll play on the tag and maybe that will show that maybe he's not worth the type of AAV salary / guaranteed money he's looking for.

This is why I'd prefer to trade for Sutton if we're going to trade for a Broncos WR. He's got no more guaranteed salary left on his contract for an acquiring team (his base salaries in 2024 and 2025 are not guaranteed and the signing bonus and roster bonus restructures stay with Denver). It'd essentially be a 10 game tryout to see how he'd fit with Bryce and the staff and if it doesn't work out, we'd just be out whatever we traded for him if he's cut in the offseason.

Just feels unlikely they'd give up two firsts when they have to pay both Hutch and Burns, will need some cheap players. I think they're more likely to wash their hands of Jameson Williams given the offense is fine without him and replace him with a cheap vet like Chark who has familiarity with the system to fill that role. For the Panthers, a good buy-low candidate, remember he would've been a top 10 pick (still went 12th) if he hadn't torn his ACL in the CFP and he's got familiarity with Bryce, perfect guy to pair Bryce with to grow and have to bank on talent/pedigree. It's a risk but a calculated one.

Burns and TMJ or Chark (they'd probably want Chark tbh) for their 2024 1st, 2024 3rd, and Jameson Williams. Get it done.

This is what I want, but it's likely to be the ham sandwich trade (TMJ + 7th for a 6th) to another team that had a high pre-draft grade on him

Per Schefter https://x.com/adamschefter/status/1714672424266936777?s=46&t=TyPNsVcMFhB651jT1wRDxA

What FA are you going for? Outside of Tee Higgins and Marquise Brown, it's slim pickings and I don't consider either of those true WR1s.

I too get upset with Burns when during gamedays when it seems more often than not he's invisible for 75% of it, but looking at it in a way that's charitable to Burns: Burns: 7 TFL, 9 QB hits, 4 sacks, 1 FF Bosa: 5 TFL, 16 QB hits, 2.5 sacks, 1 PD Bosa is hitting the QB more but Burns has more TFL and has actually brought QBs down at a more frequent pace.

A week or two ago I said it's likely that we'd be 0-6, Reich would hand over playcalling, and then anything less than 5 wins following the bye would mean the entire operation gets axed. I still believe that. Aside from Cowboys and at Jacksonville, every game on the schedule is winnable. Obviously they're not going to go 9-2, but you need to be able to scrounge up 5 wins from Houston, Indy, at Chicago, at Tennessee, at Tampa, at New Orleans, vs Atlanta, vs Green Bay, vs Tampa.

My hope is that the game management will improve at the least with Frank not focused on the down-to-down playcalling. The decision making and time management have been atrocious, and that's not even mentioning calling plays for players not on the field. Implement a vision, empower your lieutenants, then focus on the big picture managing of the game. It never made sense to me why Reich was insistent on being the playcaller.

It's common knowledge that the first ~15 offensive plays or so are scripted by coaching staffs, then the playcalling becomes a game of chess. I think once Reich went through what the offensive staff scripted together, he reverted to his playcalling which seems to lean more pass oriented.

Per Rapsheet and others https://x.com/tompelissero/status/1713957230314188899?s=46&t=TyPNsVcMFhB651jT1wRDxA

Haven’t been 0-6 since the 98 season. 25 years. Historically bad.

Why.

And 2 TDs with the lead???

I just don’t understand Reich. Fake punt at midfield on 4th and 8, but then go for a FG on 4th and 2 in/near the redzone with 3 TOs in your pocket? Please explain this decision making to me.

Way too high. Given Jackson’s injury history, contract, and subpar play, you're probably looking at a 7th at best. Maybe Jackson and a 7th for a 6th swap that’s been all the rage lately. Chinn is a FA after the season. 5th is probably the ceiling here. Marshall isn’t getting anything. Maybe a throw in in an underperforming player for player swap (e.g. Hardman for Marshall)

I think Sutton would be an attractive target if only because he's on a 2-year deal but has no more guaranteed money left on his contract following this season. Essentially just picking up his remaining salary and per game roster bonuses and then if we decide he's not worth it, can get out of it fairly easily. Maybe send Marshall offer a swap mid-round picks (4th for a 5th or something like that)?

I'd do it. If we're only going to play Chinn 25% of the defensive snaps, I'd rather trade him for a guy who will be on the field way more than that and has some pedigree as a former first round pick. He's probably never going to live up to his billing but it's worth the flyer.

Honestly I don't think Bryce has looked all that bad. As others have mentioned, truth is most rookie QBs are going to poo teams and struggle their first season - there's always exceptions (what Stroud is doing is awesome), but nothing looks out of the ordinary here. I think we were all fooled by the FO and staff not setting correct expectations coming into the season and Wilks going 4-2 with a power run heavy and defensive gameplan, but the truth is that roster turned over by half and the new scheme doesn't suit our OL's strengths. Bryce hasn't elevated the team, yes, but he's also a rookie who's played 4 career games and I'm much more upset at the FO and staff for how the roster was constructed and the scheming that's been put in place.

He's best as a 4-3 OLB. The only other position he's a decent fit at is SS near the line of scrimmage. Unfortunately he doesn't have a position in a 3-4 and he's definitely not a nickel or FS. Reminds me of when Thomas Davis was drafted and they kept trying to make him a S when it was clear he didn't have the speed to cover on the back end full time. Not sure why this staff once they decided to move to a 3-4 (and really a 3-3-5 for the vast majority of snaps) decided to hang on to him. Should've traded him this past offseason once they realized he wouldn't be a fit.

Buffalo is a SB contender, I don't think they're going to dump their star #1 WR who's on pace for 1,700+ yards and 17 TDs. SB windows don't last long, they're going to go all out for it this year.

The only thing they have in common is their build. He's actually produced in the league. He put up more yards and TDs in his rookie season alone than Shi Smith has in his entire career.

Ah yes, definitely forgot Darnold, that was a very bad one. I guess I mean more of these "margin" FA moves (a CB here, a WR there), I don't think they're that bad. Henderson has been a JAG but like I said it's not like we know who to draft in the 3rd round anyway. I don't think Fitt is a good GM but I also don't think he's going to trade a 3rd round pick to the Jets for Mecole Hardman. It'll either be a swap of underpeforming players (TMJ for Hardman) or a 7th round type deal. Marginal, re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic type move.

I don't think Fitt has overpaid when it comes to vet acquisitions. Draft trades? 100%. But his vet moves aren't that bad: Stephon Gilmore: sent a 6th round pick that was 2 years out, even though we didn't resign him didn't really send anything of value for him. CJ Henderson: a 3rd and Dan Arnold for a guy who was one-year removed from being a top 10 pick and a 5th; a gamble that didn't work but not horrendous. Looking at our prior 3rd round draft picks over the past 5 years, Henderson arguably better than all of them anyway Baker Mayfield: 2024 5th round pick which was recouped when we sent out Dennis Daley to the Titans for a 2024 5th Laviska Shenault: 2023 7th round pick, 2024 6th round pick; I actually think Shenault is worth more than that and should be used more creatively. We basically got these picks back in the Robbie Chosen trade.