MHS831

The Patriots definitely have a type.

If I had the #3 pick in the draft and there were 3 QBs who could reasonably be expected to be starters in the NFL, I would never take a WR instead under any circumstance. NE sorta settled a bit when they went with Jones, and I think that was BB's ego at work. Humbled, if they trade back or don't take a QB, I would be totally shocked. I can tell you that this first round, even though the Panthers are out, is going to be highly entertaining. Popcorn will be flowing. 45 makes some good points about sleepers who will move up or could take a QB---JJ McCarthy is going to be an interesting pick. He will be overdrafted, imo.

What pisses me off? For the past few years, mocking season has been the best part of my year. It is so messed up now, I can't mock draft with any degree of personal enjoyment. You took that from me Fitterer!! You bastard.

I once liked Hurney. I once liked Gettlemen. I once liked Fitterer. It takes time to know what you have at GM.

Did we not recently (over the past few years) reduce a contract and then cut the player later? I know we did, I just can't recall who it was. I was thinking WR? Point: You can reduce the contract's overall amount, including guaranteed money. If you make the team, you earn the next contract. If you do not, the team has less dead cap. It only works if the player has a "bird in the hand" situation.

what was Fitterer doing, besides drugs? I also do not think Burn's market value goes up because the cap did. The problem with the cap is that it makes only a few players very wealthy. I would listen to offers, play him on the cap figure. He will lose 3 million doing that. If he tanks again and protects his investment, he then has 2 seasons of underperforming--costing him much more $$. If he plays well, tag him again. So we have Burns at a deal LOWER than what is proposed here for 2 years. Throwing money at him is not the solution when we have so many other needs.

yup

He is very strong but not real agile. In a wide zone, I would doubt it. The kid from Georgia with 4 last names in mid round 3 or so is a better option, but I am not the expert here. I liked Frazier because I saw Bozeman getting bull rushed last year, but in the Wide Zone, less of an issue.

I know it was only 4 games,but this is what Corbett did before getting injured (PFF): averaging about 0.75 sacks per game---at right guard. Some of this is on Campen, who sucked. The OL looked very confused early on, but this is unacceptable. Some Guards had 3 sacks all year.

Jimmy, I am not an expert on this, but the only potential starting center I see that would fit us is Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, Georgia. He would probably be an upgrade. I do not think Jackson Powers-Johnson, oregon is there at #33 and I do not think Zach Frazier , WVU has the mobility this offense might need. So much depends on their feelings about Christensen at LG--I think he serves us better if he works in practice at LT and RT (Swing) and is prepared to possibly step into Moton's spot in 2025. 'I think the G market in this draft is very solid. I think the T market is very strong. So, I dunno, but I noticed something interesting in the limited players list and that involves Maryland OL Glaze, who played at West Meck. He played LT and RT at MD and over a 2.5 year period as a starter, surrendered 4 sacks. They might take him to groom behind Moton, but he should be there at pick 101. I am beginning to think that if Powers-johnson is there at #33, you take him. The draft is deep at WR, and if we could sign a player like Ridley, we could take a C or G at #33, if one were to fall into round 2. I still think we trade the #33 pick after round 1 for a lower second and a third.

My position in life is this---a lack of hope is more tied to a lack of confidence than an awareness of reality. Letting that sink in. Deeper. Deeper. There.

I get the feeling that the new front office is being very tight lipped.

We were there the week after Spring ball ended, and the coaches were tired, relaxed,and tying up recruiting. We spent most of our time watching film with the position coaches, listening to them break down a player's technique or so. Beamer was about special teams, as you know, and said that is a factor when he recruits.

Sorta off topic, but free agency basically starts Monday. Why did I expect a LOT more cuts and restructures etc? It has been very quiet.

The Panthers and wide receiver/punt returner Ihmir Smith-Marsette may be parting ways. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that the Panthers are not expected to tender Smith-Marsette a contract as a restricted free agent. Fowler adds that the two sides could still agree on a contract, but Smith-Marsette is currently set to hit the open market. Smith-Marsette joined the Panthers in a preseason trade with the Chiefs last summer. He averaged 8.7 yards per punt return and had a 79-yard touchdown return in a Week 10 loss to the Bears. Smith-Marsette, who entered the league as a 2021 Vikings fifth-round pick, also caught eight passes for 51 yards and ran eight times for 74 yards last season

In fact, I used to coach HS football and we once stayed at Va Tech for a week and observed coaches there--Beamer might have been the first person I heard say it. That was back in 1995

As much as you want to draft a shiny, glittery WR, the teams that successfully build dynasties use the following rule (and this is not my opinion, I heard somebody say it who knew what they were talking about--forgot who): Build from the inside out, front to back. That formula says the OL--and the IOL are the starting points. You plug up that middle of the LOS and I promise you, Bryce gets better, the RBs get better, and the WRs get open. Why? The facial pressure on a 5-10 QB takes him off his mark and the second that WRs are open before the DB adjusts closes. you cannot win if your OL is giving up the A gaps.

I'd take a third this year and a first next year.

Go for a 2025 first rounder--gives you cap room now and you get a player next season. Teams are much more willing to trade a first 13 months before the draft than 1 month. I know we need it now, but do we?

This confirms what I was thinking. I tried to ignore it, but he was not good--I blamed the reserve guards on each side of him. He led the NFL centers in the sacks allowed category. Our guards were just as bad. He lacks the ability to slide, I saw him late to pick up stunts and LBs. I saw him getting bull rushed. He is a good person and wanted to raise his family here-

Our roster is really bad.

Yes, I mean, if you think of the tags, and you pay him $24 this time and let's say it goes up to $29m next season, that is an average of $26.5m per season (fully guaranteed) for 2 years. That is basically the contract they offered him that he refused. Think of it as a 2-year contract, and move on when he is 27. But I am not sure I would trade him for a 2nd and 4th. I would trade him for a future first rounder with a bad team and maybe a 3rd or 4th this year. The bad thing is you have no tag for Brown if needed.

Yeah, I had Nix too high, but Here is what I was going by (77.4 Completion percentage):

Just saw this....I see it

He is a good player, and I pointed that out in another post. Shedding some disinfectant on the theory that he cannot hold up against the run, comparing him to Charles Johnson and Peppers. Now, understand that an OLB has slightly different responsibilities and opportunities than a 4-3 DE, so there is that. Burns is no Crosby, Bosa, or Watt. His salary should be lower than that. As for the additional DL, I am of the opinion that we are going to have to see what YGM can bring-he has improved, and like Charles Johnson, Greg Hardy, and Mike Rucker, sometimes it takes a few years before you step up. I am also high on Barno. I have only Prayers for Johnson at this point. My point--maybe someone will step up. We cannot fix all problems. If we trade Burns, we get cap space back but we have a huge need. So I dunno. If he does not take the contract offer, shop him and take a 2025 first rounder and a third in 2024 if that is what it takes. No, he is not worth Bosa money or Watt money. He should get maybe 75% of it. I would use his comment against him during negotiations, however, asking his agent, "What if Bryan gets to year four of this year and decides he needs to protect himself for his third contract. Can you tell me that he will not play safe then? So why should we pay top dollar for a player who doesn't feel he is to give his all for every day of every contract he signs?" I understand why he said it, but it was an ego comment, not a brain comment.