MHS831

Yeah, it is under the "2021 NFL Draft" Heading. We do appreciate the enthusiasm and sharing of your perspectives. You demonstrate a fraction of all the ways this thing could play out. I am worse about the draft than I was as a child before Christmas.

We have 4 games against the NFC east. That's 5 wins right there.

Told y'all. I dwell on the edge.

I knew this thread would get you going....

I think they are going to make sure we drastically upgrade slot or TE this draft. I think the first round pick could be TE, slot WR, LT, or CB if we trade back.,

I am going to go out on a limb here because I live on the edge. A risk taker--man on a mission, etc. My friends call me, "that guy," if that means anything to you people..........That's what I thought. Jones WILL go to SF at #3. Book it. The #4 spot, whether it is Atlanta or another team after a trade, could go to a NON QB player. Sewell or Chase, if a non QB---a trade between Denver (not WFT or NE) and Atlanta is the only way Fields goes at #4. (That is a pretty bold, specific prediction. MARK MY WORDS!!! Watch Mond and the Patriots--he could not only sneak into the first round, he could go before Lance. Everyone is expecting New England to trade up, and they might, but they could move up to Detroit or Dallas and take Mond. Washington will be aggressive and end up with Lance. Maybe with a trade with the Lions or Panthers--- So when the chips start falling and the desperate teams start moving in for a QB, the Panthers' front office is going to look pretty smart. Imagine that 5 QBs go before the Panthers? Six? Let's take a look at how that could go down--think desperate GM here-Washington, Denver, New England come to mind. 1. Jax Could they take Wilson? Nah. Lawrence QB 2. Jets Wilson QB 3. Niners--I am still convinced that Jones is their guy. Jones QB 4. Denver (trade with Atlanta) Fields, QB 5. Cincinnati Sewell or Chase--probably Sewell LT 6. Dolphins Chase WR 7. Lions (Trade with New England) SHOCKER!!! MHS HAS Cahunas! Mond, QB 8. WFT (trade with Panthers) Lance, QB 9. Atlanta (from Denver) Pitts TE 10 Cowboys Kwity Paye, DE 11. giants Surtain CB 12. Eagles Parsons LB 13. Chargers Darrisaw LT 14. Vikings Slater T/G 15. Detroit (from New England--Not sure Waddle lasts this long) Waddle WR 16. Cardinals Horn, CB 17. Raiders Smith WR 18. Dolphins Barmore DT 19. Panthers, (2021 first, 2021 second, with a 2022 first and second rounder for Pick #8) Caleb Farley, CB Just a hunch that this could go down. Marty likes to deal with people he knows, and RR and Snyder will be frothing for a QB... Panthers have 2 picks in second round. OT and DT. Tampa Bay may draft Mills, QB Stanford.

Remember, he called a fullback dive on 4th and 1 to Armah with the game on the line. (no point, just to stir things up).

That is the way I see it....You?

Of course there will be disagreement, and when some Huddlers disagree with me, it strengthens my confidence in the stability of my points. Others make me question my thinking and consider alternative ideas. I prefer these posters, but this thread welcomes all, so I color coded it. At any rate, I digress. This chart may be missing a name or two--I omitted people I did not think had a chance to make the roster, and of course, there will be draft picks etc. to knock some out, but this is where we are in my mind. Red: These are areas of concern for me, even if we addressed them in free agency. Orange: These areas scare me, and I would not be surprised to see a player added here. Blue: I think we are OK to maybe better than OK in this area, depending on who shows up. Green: Forget about needing help THIS year in this area. However, later in the draft, developmental prospects might be needed. (Players named in parentheses are depth but this may not be their primary position, so they appear beneath another position) Specific Comments: OLB vs. 3-4 rush OLB vs. DE---gets confusing so I tried to break them down as best I could. QB: I am of the mindset that you have to give Darnold a chance with coaching, blocking, and weaponry. So he is average for now. LT and LG: We signed 2 players early, and I am not sure that they are more than insurance, but we signed them for 2, 3 year deals and for $$$. Confusing, but I think they are still below average. TE: Might be average. If Arnold has a good year, Thomas is decent depth, and I think Sullivan is going to make the roster and contribute. DT (3 Tech): We have nobody to put there. CB: I am scared. Very scared. S: How is this not more of a focal point? Slot WR: I understand the Waddle love now. How awesome would we be? Once again, sticking my neck out by sharing. It just helped me see the big picture, so I thought you might like to see it as well. Enjoy.

The thing you have to consider is not only "do you want the player?" or not, but "what are you actually surrendering to take the player?" So the question is, "Do you take Lance or Fields knowing that they will take over for Darnold within a year? If so, you lose Darnold and the picks we gave up for 1 year of service. If we offer him the fifth year, then that is an expensive reserve or cut for a season. You also give up Slater or Pitts or Waddle in round 1. That means you HAVE to draft a LT or CB of lesser value in rounds 2 and 3. So taking a QB in round 1 is more of a gamble than you think. Which brings me to Mond and Mills. In 1 year's time, is it possible that either would be ready to start in the NFL? What if you have red flags with Fields and Lance--use them to trade back a few spots, and use that pick to draft Mills, for example. Less pressure to start the first round QB, still developing that QB for 2022, and you have a backup plan if Darnold suck arse. Mills was criticized for declaring for the draft--saying he would have been a top QB in the 2022 draft. So grab him now. Of course, if either QB is there and we don't take him, it will become a historically-preserved chink in Fetterer's armor. I think, personally, there is a very slim chance Fields falls to us, and odds are against Lance. There is probably a 50% chance Jones is there.

The biggest problem on the OL was horribly inconsistent play at Left........Guard. Once that position is addressed, the LT and C will improve. LT was bad, but there were times when the LG should have picked up an inside move and he was staring at a LB. He gave up A gap a bunch--golden rule of OL play--A gap is off limits for DTs. Yet Reed got beat in A gap. So on the right side, Miller, Paradis, and Moton should have solid communication and know each other. On the left side, we are going to have new faces. Frankly, the OL as a group is tough to rank because it depends on the QB and his release time. If Teddy was checking down quickly, they look better than they were.

OP makes some good points. I know Rhule has perhaps more involvement (at least he did last year) than some coaches, to a point where the ultimate decision is probably his to approve or deny, and part of coaching is psychology--part of the GM position is playing the numbers. MAKING IT SIMPLE: Is Darnold a long-term franchise QB? Is Fields or Lance? (like run-run said--if you do not think Darnold is the answer, you take the QB)--however, if you simply do not know: 1. Darnold has the tools, but he was not really their first choice--Stafford and then Watson and now the Darnold move. It was a shrewd move, because it gives the Panthers options. However, did it lock the Panthers into a commitment with Darnold? The trade value says "nope." Yet if the staff has decided to go all in to develop Darnold, do you draft another QB in round 1 (if you do, let's call a duck a duck--that QB is your starter in 2022, in 9 out of 9 situations.) So if Darnold is to start and you draft a QB in the top 10, does that motivate Darnold or does that discourage his development? Does it matter? So what I am saying is this--it is probable that if you draft a QB in the top 8 you have made a decision about Darnold before he has played a down. Is he insurance or do they think they can fix his mechanics? 2. Darnold is young (approaching 24) and needs a shot with a good coach, OL, and weapons. By signing Darnold, you get as much potential as you get in Fields and Lance, and perhaps a shorter learning curve. Accepting him as your QB gives you options in the draft, options needed if you are serious about making this a championship team. For example, if Fields is there at 8, I expect a team like New England (if they have not already moved up), or Washington, or Chicago, or maybe even Pittsburgh to move up. They will offer picks in 2021 and a few in 2022. Let's say we move back with Washington, a team probably willing to offer their first 3 picks and a second rounder in 2022 (for example). You agree to trade back, you get a T, CB, WR in the first and second rounds, and Darnold's draft cost is more than covered. Yes, you miss out on the elite player and settle for 3 very good ones, but in the end, you just got better in every area of concern and your QB is a former third overall pick who is 23 years old. Oh, and with one of the picks you acquired, trade up later and take Mond or Mills or even Trask. Develop him and in 2 years, if Darnold does not work out, he gets his chance and you have a QB with 2 years of coaching and some experience under his belt at age 24, ready to play. My answer---use the fact that Fields or Lance is there as trade bait and build your team by moving back.

I have had the same thought--even though I want a LT badly. I have stated that it seems the Panthers have addressed the T spot to some degree--$8m guaranteed to Erving on a 2-year deal, re-signed Scott, Daley is available if he is not injured, etc. But we let Curtis Sam walk out of here and have reacted by signing a WR that had half the yards and receptions last year. You have to think we are not done. I think Moore #2 is a WR #4. Maybe the slot is open. TE is also a weapon, and upgrading at TE in this draft requires that you take Pitts if he is there. Suddenly, you have a dangerous person in addition to your dangerous WRs. So here is the plan---get weapons and get more dangerous. Moore is not bad at slot if you have Pitts. If you don't get Pitts, you need one of the big playmakers, and who is the draft's biggest playmaker at slot WR? Waddle. Moore/Anderson/Moore#2/Pitts Moore/Anderson/Waddle/Arnold

This guy thinks Brown is a first rounder I stand corrected---this is the most underrated OT in the draft. Pretty sure that he was not on the Rhule side of the SR bowl--played for the other side. Hoping Rhule would have had full opportunity to get to know him. I am of the mindset--if Moton wants big money, let him go get it. Do not see much of a drop off here and we could save $80m over 4 years in cap room.

I think Jenkins could go top 15, but most have him at late first, early second. If you look at trade value, that is more underrated. You do not have to be unknown to be underrated. Untouchable, I have been spying Brown for some time now. I think he (like Jenkins) has been on the right side, but he has the athleticism to convert. He will go second round and people will be startled. Yes, startled.

There is always that one player that you remember that shows us how stupid we are about the transition from college to pros. Not just us---the GMs and scouts. I mean, they weigh them, interview them, watch hours of film, and they make them run drills, jump high and far, lift weights, take tests, and the success rate for first rounders is about 55%? Why go through that much trouble? Flip a damn coin. Waddle was the slot WR with 2 pretty good WRs on the outside. He can scat, for sure. Here, the situation will be pretty similar. So maybe there is something there. I look at positional value, and a LT is worth far more than a slot WR. So for me, it is a no brainer--I hope he is gone before we pick.

BOLD prediction. What is it you see that speaks to in such a manner that we all cannot hear it?

Which brings us back to Darnold. I agree 100%. Not that Darnold will be successful, but we can probably all agree that he will be more successful.

I sorta agree, but when the season is on the line....That is how kids bust. Herbert was supposed to ride pine and got thrown in too early. He is OK. Watson, Cam, Murray, etc. started week 1. It is a rough way to begin. Three games in preseason and 7 in regular season is not unthinkable.

I am pretty sure our board goes something like: Trevor Wilson Fields Sewell Pitts Waddle Chase Slater

Or you could move back and take Jenkins---I am high on him, not drugs though. Just say no.

Why they signed Cam. But they are not putting the entire season on his shoulders. Lance can develop and could run most of the offense designed for Cam. Nobody is suggesting that Lance start day 1, but Week 6 or 7? Maybe.

It makes no sense to do what they did in free agency and walk into the season with only a ? at QB. They are all in, and think they can contend again with a QB. I am nearly certain that you are right--anywhere from Atlanta-Detroit

If you think about it, securing Darnold was a brilliant move because it cost nothing compared to what being in a situation where we HAD to move up would have cost. We know Darnold will be better--better coaches, better weapons x 10, better OL (in theory). Better defense. So we get a better QB than he was in NY, pretty much guaranteed, a kid who flashes big time arm talent but has some lower body mechanical issues, and we get a 24 year old player. I am not sure we need to bring in a first rounder right now.