MHS831

Do I sense a "call out?" DAAAAAAAMMMN.

Interesting comments. Made me think. See bold under your statements for my views on each.

I prefer Stroud, but I also hate the idea of passing on Young and his intellect. Can we go wrong with either? I think it is like asking would you like a Jaguar or a Porche. (To put this into terms that Huddlers can understand, it is like choosing between a 74 AMC Gremlin and a 75 Chevy Vega---too tough to call)

The DJ Moore trade may have crushed his chances---if they can move Cade Mays to compete with Elf at C and spend the $10m on a WR, they may have to do that. I even remember someone at the combine, when asked about Bozeman, say something like "we are trying, but you can't sign everyone...." (That is a gross paraphrase, but I was a bit discouraged when I heard it, and it was before we lost Moore)

There are quite a few Centers in free agency and C is pretty deep in the draft. I think he will be signed for about $9m per by Friday.

Who was it that said, "Watch the combine, then go back and look at the tape." ?

Yes. The man is hard to watch without being impressed. However, at the QB spot, you really need precision, accuracy, processing, and leadership--things we don't see a the combine as much as we see 3 cone drills and vertical leaps. Running a 40 may be impressive--and he is an impressive athlete--but as you say, he is a project. Workout warriors have always been fool's gold at the combine-so you can't get all smitten with a player by being overwhelmed by things that are not the essential tools required for success at the position. For example, I may be impressed that an OT can do 37 reps on the bench, but if he has not feet, upper body strength is not important. Did this recent Lamar Jackson snubbing hurt AR-15's stock? They are fairly similar.

2023 NFL DRAFT - FIRST OVERALL PICK ODDS (Thought I would post this so we can see how it changes as we approach the draft) CJ Stroud (Ohio State, QB) -300 Bryce Young (Alabama, QB) +300 Anthony Richardson (Florida, QB) +450 Will Levis (Kentucky, QB) +3000 Will Anderson (Alabama, LB) +10000 Jalen Carter (Georgia, DL) +10000 https://www.vegasinsider.com/nfl/odds/draft/ From another source: Though there are still nearly seven weeks until the NFL Draft, Griffe and Cipollini agree that Carolina is trending toward taking Stroud. "Stroud makes the most sense here, given both his performance at the combine and his overall makeup as a QB, going into Frank Reich and Josh McCown’s system," Griffe said. "Richardson is the wild card here, though. I could see a scenario where the Panthers fall in love with his athletic ability and rely on their experienced staff to coach him up." https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/c-j-stroud-new-betting-favorite-to-be-no-1-pick-in-2023-nfl-draft

I see Washington as a player who could do both--he was emerging as a route runner and he has hands. I dunno if he will be the player he was at Ga in the NFL--I think he has AR-15ish upside as a TE--we shall see. I agree that a TE might fall to the third, but not one that would be better than what we have---but there are literally dozens of ways to approach our needs---I am sure they will do the right thing--but I would rather have an A list TE than a B list WR--we need to think beyond 2023 as much as possible.

Stole this from the Eagles when they were sobbing about losing the Super Bowl. https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/eagles/nfl-free-agency-2023-tracking-which-players-have-been-cut

why are we still seeing this on the huddle? Make us look so 2021.

Let us not forget the Chosen one. I gotta go

I think we are going to have to sign a free agent WR or make a trade. Still early

We still need to find a #1 WR, but we are making room for free agency--we will need 2.

Absolutely. A veteran with knowledge of the system would help the other WRs play faster sooner--and he still has a few plays left in the tank.

In fact, Washington was ranked 4th on PFF's big board (I disagree--he is the second or third best TE in this draft--nasty man) and there is another TE who could be considered in the second round: 50. TE Sam LaPorta, Iowa LaPorta put on a show that will give GMs a lot to think about early on Day 2. He ran a 4.59-second 40 and put up a 6.91 three cone to hit the receiver daily double. Big, fast, and able to change directions is kind of the definition of tight end play.

Get the WR in free agency--we are sitting pretty to get a top TE in the second round. "Since 2000, NFL franchises have drafted 24 tight ends in the first round." (PFF) That comes to just over 1 TE per year goes in the first round. While the TE position is more valued now than it has been recently, I still see other positions getting pinned on boards ahead of TE. If you take the view that any of the top 3 TEs is acceptable, Kincaid (#17), Mayer (#28), and Washington (#70) are the top 3 TEs on PFF's big board--I think Washington should be around #32--so one could drop. I think we need a veteran WR to go with the young ones.

the thing about Washington, is he can be a two-dimensional TE and he can block an edge rusher. He solo blocked Will Anderson--the best player in this draft. He is a bit raw--his upside is tremendous. Don't expect three TEs to go in round 1. They tend to fall. I think a TE will be there in the second.

We are going to take a hard look at all of them. If we said, "We like Stroud, but please, come fly to Charlotte for a visit and private workout," they would decline. A lot could change in six weeks, but if the draft were tomorrow, we'd take Stroud. I would say the percent chance that we draft Stroud is about 80%. Unless some bad news comes out, like he has women chained in his dorm's basement or he is friends with the Brown's QB, he should be OK. I like Young (the person and player) a lot. I would not be disappointed to see us take him. However, as soon as we did, I would start worrying about his durability. And there is this: My late father (a former Gamecock starter who caught 35 passes his sophomore year -the year I was born--so he knows his football) told me once, "The great QBs are those with the skill to take the team on their backs and drive the field when it is needed the most. If they can't play from behind, they are not going to make in the NFL. You have to be able to play the position when everyone in the stadium knows what you are going to do, but nobody can stop you." I see Stroud as that QB more than I see Young. Watch the Georgia game--he showed us all we needed to know about him.

Yeah--he lost his job to Kerry Collins, after all.

Wasn't it Cleveland where that dude had three women chained up in his basement for years? Some guy named Castro. Big Browns fan. Member of the Dawg Pound. I made some of that up.

For those who think Bryce Young is in the picture, this may be common knowledge but it is the first I have seen it in writing. From the San Diego Newspaper: GM Scott Fitterer is swinging for the fences after missing on reclamation projects San Darnold and Baker Mayfield. Fitterer paid the premium for the pick, now he has to get it right. I’m thinking the decision comes down to Ohio State’s Stroud or Florida’s Anthony Richardson — both were exceptional at the combine in Indianapolis. New head coach Frank Reich has almost exclusively worked with prototypical sized quarterbacks in his career and made a point to declare Alabama’s Bryce Young’s size “is a concern” when he was asked in Indy. Despite dealing with several injuries at wide receiver, Stroud didn’t miss a beat last season — he was second in touchdown passes (41) and QBR (88.9) in 2022 — and nearly beat the two-time national champion Georgia Bulldogs in the semifinals with 348 yards and four touchdowns, while showcasing his scrambling ability (he’s a traditional pocket passer). https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/story/2023-03-11/2023-nfl-mock-draft-three-round-projections

Awesome to hear--I think character and integrity matter. Some on this board would want Jack the Ripper if he could throw it 80 yards. I was watching some you tube film on him, and I would love more end zone angles, but he seems to process very quickly. Ball placement is everything. first, it increases the likelihood the ball will be caught and decreases the likelihood it will be intercepted. More importantly, it leads to runs after the catch--and I know the Buckeye WRs are the best, but they are on their horses a lot.

I hope you continue to chime in-my wife is from Ashland Ohio and her brother and family live in Columbus--I go there every year. He is a chiropractor in "Lewis Center" (I think) and an OSU alumnus. Good people up there-

Sounds like a completely unbiased perspective (kidding--Buckeye Homer) I have been afraid of OSU qbs because they always seem to struggle in the NFL--but this one seems different. I am all in on him--no homo-poker reference--damn, that does not sound right either.