MHS831

By the way--I did not remember typing this--reread my post--I meant to say Rodgers.

I am not a big fan of Shaq. He makes plays in spurts, but I do not see him as a Ray Lewis-type hole plugger. With Luvu coming on, I think we can find a rookie to go with Littleton (if he is still on the roster-he was not bad in limited play) I am guessing Shaq will be extended for 2 years.

To me, there is no shame being a backup in the NFL. He is so young, it could allow him to develop and he could be starting somewhere at age 27 or so. His issue is mental--whether that be processing or confidence, I dunno. But you make a great point-he is humble and will work team first.

It bothers me too. In my head I was thinking 204 (Brees was 209 I think) but he was in perfect place to gain weight before the combine. at 190, yikes.

TY. Frankly, that is probably a smart move. He is young and could still develop. At worst, he is a bridge. I would say that the team learned how to use him last year with Wilks. Not the way that makes you a super bowl team, but in a way that you don't beat yourselves against similar opponents.

Another addendum to my excellent points about short QBs: Escapabilty matters--can the QB break out of a collapsing pocket and make a play? Young has proven to be excellent at this, as is Russell Wilson. Brees was 6 feet tall at best, and not really that good at breaking away from the pocket and making plays--although he did it to us it seems. He was very good at avoiding pressure within the pocket. Young has shown that ability as well. Here is a good article about it: https://www.pff.com/news/draft-pff-qb1-why-bryce-youngs-size-shouldnt-scare-away-nfl-suitors If you remember, the Saints are part of the reason Guard and Center salaries skyrocketed in free agency--they started paying them. Brees was not getting out of the pocket much, and facial pressure was his Achilles' heel--he was excellent at stepping up into the pocket to avoid edge rushers. Their tackles, as a result, would protect inside out. Their RBs pass protected the same way--inside out, not as worried about the edge as most. Our OL seems better (but not as good as the Saints was in Brees reign).

They are shopping for a QB, and if they all agree on one, they will go get him and the price will be what they will pay. So I agree. I think there is already a sign that we like a QB in this draft because we did not really pursue Carr and we have not shown Darnold interest. I think they have a guy---or two---or three that they feel comfortable with. And to all of you who have dismissed Young because he is small--Doug Flutie was this size. Kyler Murray is this size. Russell Wilson is 5'11. Sonny Jurgeson was 5'11. Not many to choose from, but the new NFL may not depend on height as much as we are conditioned to think. While they may not be the most successful QBs in the league, I guess the point is, it has been done, but the population size is rather small (pun intended). FWIW, Reich and McCown are 6' 4".

but they are using a fake name to begin with---pussies.

If I am not mistaken, they met with hooker twice. That could mean that he is a fallback, or he is a sleeper hidden behind his age and injury. You have to look at it this way: Hooker plus this year's second and a first in 2024 and 2025 or Stroud? (for example)

If the Ravens got 2 first for Lamar, why would they trade down? Would they not want to get AR-15 for that offense? I am confused why a team at #8 with no QB would trade down.

I was hard on him--but my focus has been on Stroud and AR-15--when the quiet ones have not had the attention they deserve. Young and Levis.

Remember, a long time ago, we thought Malik Willis was a first rounder? Member? He was an athlete who could sling it. Member that? I do.

Exactly, and the Raiders are in the mix if they do not sign Jimmy G.

Thought that was Matt Damon? I get the impression that we are going to leave this draft with a QB and we are going to be aggressive. I mean, San Francisco seems to have traded up from 12 to 3 in 2021 and they drafted what seems to be a bust--and they were nearly in the Super Bowl. It does not have to be devastating. Our biggest handicap has been our dead cap. We need to be aggressive but smart in every aspect of team building. Contracts to Ian Thomas and Rob Anderson were dumb, in my opinion. Gotta be smart.

exactly my point. I mean, I don't think the Mona Lisa was a good choice for Da Vinci--I would have told him, "Bulldogs playing Poker" is your best bet.

I think the Huddle is his inside source.

I imagine Atlanta and Vegas are going to be going after a top 3 pick as well as Carolina, so I am not sure you can say, "Move up to #6 and take the QB that falls to you." This is so risky and bold-- but I have no doubt that Tepper is now pushing the panic button and they will make a very bold move. In fact, I saw an interview (I think it was Good morning football--I am off this week--leave me alone about my life) and they said that everyone at the combine came away with the impression that the Panthers would be the most aggressive team. I fully expect us to lose three firsts, a second to move up.

https://www.sportsmockery.com/chicago-bears/peter-king-reveals-likely-trade-package-bears-get-for-1-pick/ I could not open it, for some reason, so I found this and provided a different link

Realistically, I am looking at day 2 names, not first rounders. Campbell, LB Downs or Njigba, WR

This is an emotion vs. logic conflict-one side using logic that does not reinforce the emotional side--I think Jeremiah during the combine compared it to buying a lottery ticket. Karl Marx wrote, "Religion is the opiate of the masses," meaning that people who are not happy with the here and now will find happiness and motivation through hope, whether or not it is practical or fantastical. We are basically saying, "there is a 25 to 30 percent chance this works out, and if we are wrong, we are stuck in purgatory for another half decade trying to figure it out again.

Round 1, Pick 29 (from DEN via MIA and SF) Round 2, Pick 40 overall Round 3, Pick 71 overall Round 4, Pick 115 overall Round 5, Pick 148 overall Round 5, Pick 167 overall Round 7, Pick 229 overall Round 7, Pick 260 overall (projected compensatory pick)

The Saints were in a bad place--with only a late first rounder--this is desperation, and it will cost them.

I sense that the pressure is coming from Tepper and we are predicting what they might do and adding our opinions. I see your point, and that is what makes this agonizing. When you say, there is no generational talent in this draft, you see this draft as others saw Wilson, Lance, and maybe Fields in 2021? I see that. On the other hand, I see a player like Justin Herbert getting drafted at #8 (2020) and we sat there, when moving up would have cost us a first rounder at best. I did not think Josh Allen was a generational talent. I thought Goff was going to be generational talent. I cannot gauge QB talent.

If you take away the size issue (and that is a significant issue) then Bryce Young is (in my opinion) the best QB in the draft. He can improvise, throw WRs open, and he is very intelligent. Stroud is not far behind if behind at all. The other two? Risky as hell.

Personally, I think everyone is right--just on different sides of the same coin. It is a huge gamble and it is not always the best move. Desperate men do desperate things--just watch them at any bar after last call. We probably fit into the desperate category at worst, the urgent category at best. I have read an article about former GM Rick Spielman who compares these top QBs to known commodities. He compares Young to Mahomes-- I see the Mahomes comparison. Spielman said.\, "He does a great job for a small quarterback with his vision down the field. His anticipation and the way he throws the ball and he throws receivers open." Young is very smart and analytical--and I wonder if he is not headed for a stellar career based on his football acumen and willingness to prepare. His size is his only concern. AR-15 is a Cam Newton clone-with more athleticism and maybe even a better arm. However, Spielman points out, "Both possess rare size and athleticism. Have great running ability as well. However, Newton won a lot more games in college, and was much more consistent." Do we have the coaches to develop him? Who does? The article compares Stroud to Jared Goff, which may seem like a negative if you think they will have identical careers. "Both prospects were accurate, and possess the necessary arm talent to make all of the throws." Levis is the college version of Josh Allen. "Big, strong-armed kids with athletic ability, but have questionable touch and accuracy. Spielman noted that he's comparing Levis to Allen coming out, not the superstar Allen has developed into. If this were my perspective, I would trade everything I could with the Bears to get Young. But I understand the GMs are about as divided over this crop of top QBs than ever. Me? I would give a lot of thought into trading back, drafting a TE and WR, and drafting Herndon Hooker. Is he an example of "out of sight, out of mind?" I need to know more about him, but his numbers were second to none--and maybe he did not read much-that is what they said about Cam.