LinvilleGorge

This was a really dumb trade by the Bengals. Lawrence is knocking the door of 30 and is coming off of a very down year. When you're closing in on 30 it's fair to wonder if it was a down year or are the wheels falling off? Huge explosive guys often age like dairy products (Kris Jenkins comes to mind). Meanwhile, their OL is still a disaster and Burrow is getting the hell beat out of him every year and is already starting to openly talk about potentially retiring. Given their massive investment in him and WRs, I would've gone all in on OL this offseason. They had a decent chance to have their pick of the OL litter with that pick. If he's not washed, Lawrence should help their anemic defense, but it won't help their superstar QB from rising off into the sunset because he's tired of getting beat to hell every Sunday and that would've been my priority.

To be clear, I'm not in love with him as a prospect. I'd greatly prefer his teammate Thieneman on the other side of the ball of we're drafting Oregon in the 1st. But I get why a lot of people are high on him as a prospect. Personally, I think he's boom or bust and I'd prefer a guy who is at least theoretically a "safer" pick. We can't afford a bust in the 1st three rounds. We don't have to draft All-Pros but we need some solid contributors with those picks and should probably shy away from boom/bust guys. Our roster needs just don't allow for the risk. It's a different story if you're a contender with a glaring need or two and you think a boom/bust guy might put you over the top if he hits. That's a different story.

He had significantly more production this year than Ian Thomas had in his entire college career and they're not even in the same universe athletically. I mean, anyone in the draft can end up busting for a variety of reasons but not gonna sugarcoat it, that's a really dumb player comp.

Don't get fooled. Oregon's offense is all about spreading the ball around. Sadiq was their leader in catches and TD receptions, and #2 in receiving yardage. They've only had two 1000 yard receivers since 2020 and both of them were in 2023 so they still didn't have that one clear cur #1 go to guy. Receivers don't go to Oregon to put up gaudy stats, they go there because they know there not gonna get buried and they'll get opportunities to have balls come their direction.

A QB that could threaten downfield to keep the D from sitting on all the underneath stuff would help a lot more than another WR.

Yeah, honestly view Conception as a early to mid-2nd round type pick. #19 feels like a significant reach. If he's indeed the target I'd be working the phones hard trying to slide back and pick up some additional picks.

They did a great job last year of having everyone expecting pass rusher at #9 when they were keying on T-Mac all along. I believe them on that because every edge rusher who could've conceivably been available at #9 was still on the board and we drafted T-Mac. Being further down the draft hoard this year with needs all over the roster we can leave bread crumbs all over the place. And in reality, we have to be flexible with our wish list. The further down the board you get the more unpredictable it is who'll be available. I'll be honest though, Conception at #19 just isn't very exciting.

What I'm saying is that he wouldn't be on my board to be drafted. He'd be on the "if these guys go undrafted, give them a call" board.

We have to admit there's a problem first. Signing Kenny Pickett isn't a good sign that we're getting there. Evidently we're allergic to QBs with NFL arms.

Yeah, it's fool's gold. Darnold always had the tools. He just needed a tram with an elite D, a top 5 WR, and a Super Bowl MVP RB to carry him so he wouldn't be asked to press where he becomes a turnover machine. Darnold settled in once he was in a situation where he could just be a very talented game manager. People try to tell themselves Bryce can do that without realizing that Darnold still forces the D to respect the throws he can make that the coaches would rather he not attempt where as Bryce simply doesn't have the physical ability to force that respect opening up other opportunities. Like Parcells said leading up to the draft that based on his physical tool set "he better walk on water". What he was politely trying to say is that Bryce simply doesn't have an NFL physical tool set.

As long as the Panthers kept pretending that Bryce is a franchise QB I guess the media is just going to play along. If a major media market team had made that move Bryce and that team would be getting absolutely cooked but a small market team and a nice guy? They're just willing to keep playing along. Especially when they were all probably hyping Bryce coming put of Bama. Just a way for the entire football media apparatus to keep kicking the can on this gigantic miss that everybody should've seen coming.

As a UDFA? Sure. I'd give him a chance to come in and compete but I probably wouldn't spend a draft pick on him. Physical prerequisites exist for a reason. Bryce was supposed to be the "super processor" football savant who could overcome the lack of physical tools and we all see how that's going.

Listen, I don't want to green light this forum turning into a dumping ground for Go Fund Mes, but I just saw this posted in the Lounge. I rarely ever click on that subforum these days and I suspect that's the case for most visitors. This is a long-time Huddler and he could use some help. Just wanted to get some more eyes on it. We'll leave it here through the draft and then send it back to the Lounge.

Even if it's not 1st round, get ne a guy with legit FS type skills. Last year, Xavier Watts was the mid-round safety I was pounding the table for. This year, if it's not Thieneman in the 1st, give me Bud Clark in the mid-rounds. I'm surprised he hasn't climbed boards. He has good size and is an absolute ball hawk. The concern was athleticism but then he ran a 4.41 at the Combine with a 38" vertical. He's an athlete. I figured there would start to be some potential 2nd rounder whispers but nothing. Still tracking as a mid-rounder. Like Watts last year, I think this guy is being overlooked and undervalued and I don't know why.

If nothing else, I just hope there's some fire behind this smoke that the Panthers are finally serious about trying to bring a true FS type safety into the fold. For the majority of our franchise history we've essentially played with two strong safeties. Honestly, Deon Grant might be the only real true FS we've ever had.