MHS831

Just a hunch/guess, but I liked what I saw from Bartholomew and Evans (CBs from the PS) at the end of the season...limited action, but they held their own. Probably nothing, but I wonder.

I see both sides. It is a bit self-centered, but athletes are self-centered by nature. You have to be. When you are in high school, you are promoting yourself to get a scholarship, not the team. When you are in the gym, you are making yourself better, even though you know there are teammates not working a hard as you. In college--the competition on the team is intense; I was seventh on the TE depth chart in college as an incoming freshman; my thoughts were: "I have six guys I have to beat." They were not my friends; it was easier that way. Remmers and the refs (people wondered if Peyton Manning's swan song was rigged) kept Cam from winning both. Funny, but most people don't think about the athlete's rise to prominence--all the people he had to beat, all the humiliation he caused others to get where he is. Then they don't think about the end of an athlete's career. All athletes come from different places and have different stories. You enter the arena alone and you leave it alone. Very few go out on good terms. All athletes die young.

It sure seems that way at this moment, but I think XL will improve--mentally, I am not sure he grasped the situation last year. Let's hope a few months off will allow for him to reflect aboard Dollar Bill...Drafting a RB on day 2 is stupid when you are investing in the OL. Drafting a RB recovering from a severe knee injury is stupid with bonus stupid. I look at the first year of my career and cringe. I would do nearly everything differently. Maybe Morgan will reflect like XL. As for the rest of the draft, Wallace, Smith-Wade, Sanders--you can't overlook the success he had rounds 3-7. To me, that is a good sign. It means the scouts were out. With Hurney, I felt they researched the first round, drafted the safest player, and then considered the rest a crap shoot. I mean, the only draft he had without coach input? Jimmy Clausen, Brandon Lafell, Armanti Edwards, Eric Norwood. Not stellar.

I realize that it has been about 2 weeks since the last post; these things evolve. I n April we will laugh at our January comments. OK, I obtained some intelligence watching ESPN, I think. Mina said (and I was not paying attention to the reasons they were talking about this because a squirrel ran by the window) that she does not think Tennessee is interested in taking a QB at #1. To me, that means it will be Hunter. Then Dan (i think) chimed in that the Browns may not take a QB at #2. Oh my!! I would guess they would trade back, but with Watson being out in 2025, what are they going to do? I understand that they might move back, pick up an OT, and then pick someone like local hero Will Howard in the early second round. Lotta tea leaf reading there, but the point is, the teams at the top may not be in love with Ward and Sanders....

do these inquiries into CBs (I like both, by the way) suggest that we are not expected to re-sign Mike Jackson?

He could help us.

I have heard of Player/coaches before. Player/GM? I think this is a need area, but with the DL play last season, it is hard to gauge. Wallace is decent to good, Jewell is old and was never elite. I like Stutsman (??) from Oklahoma. He is third round on the sites I reference. I met Shaq when he was a rookie and he was small--not thick. I think his body has to be telling him it is time to leave. He won't be worth the money he will want to return, I assume.

Morgan is going to trade, if last year is any indication, and if you listen to his comments. I will be watching the draft with my Tylenol in hand and my Depends secured properly.

Personally, I think this is a weird draft. I think the top is overrated and there are some gems that are not highly rated right now. Finding them is the challenge, and if you trade back, you better know where they are. But, yeah, we have no definitive idea until they lace them up. Who would you select if Carter, Hunter, Graham, T-Mac, and Johnson were gone?

The TE from Miami was turning heads as well. And there is the Hback type TE from Ga Tech (Jackson Hawes) who is a "dawg" and will be a stud in the NFL.

I used that example because it describes a pretty even trade--using the Johnson Trade Chart--just for hypothetical discussion. I probably, however, would not do it--if they need a T that bad, they can bid high.

I like to look at the draft in plateaus. Where does the talent level in your areas of need drop? Aside from QBs who are not really top 10 talents if you take the position and need away, I think Hunter, Graham, Carter, Jeanty and Johnson are on that top level. Then there is a drop that goes through 20 or so. 29, in my mind, would be on the third level. Gettlemen said, "2 dimes is worth less than a quarter." So that is how I look at it--but if you have needs for 3 players.... Taking Graham with the first pick is probably the most sensible pick. However, if he is not there, and you have Jeanty, Johnson, and TMac--do you take Johnson? I think I would-but if you trade back and get a player like Kenneth Grant, Mike Green, or Shemar Stewart, is the difference between one of these players and Graham, for example, worth more than a second rounder this season and next season?

I have not researched them because I have focused on Defense and WR, but what I have seen when I peeked (I would like a swing T) is not overwhelming.

I do not think I said there would be 8 OTs taken--but there will be 11 teams picking in the first round that have OT as a prioritized need. I think there are 3 OTs with solid first round grades and maybe 4 are taken. My point was supply and demand, in relation to your point that you need a reason to move up in the draft. There will not be many if any starting-caliber OTs in free agency, and if there is one, he will be $25m or more. Some of these teams that need an OT have no cap room; they HAVE to find an OT to protect their QB and maximize his efficiency. Daniels, Mahommes, Jackson all need OTs. My point was--if they want a T, and free agency is not an option due to cap restrictions, they HAVE to find a starting T in the draft. If the Jets take one at #7, the have to know teams will start calling. The Bears, for example, at #10 need an OT badly for their QB. But if I implied that 8 OTs would be taken, it is not what I meant. 8 teams will be pushing to move up, however.

My bad. I have been using NFL Draft Buzz to mock and they do not show us with a second rounder.

I bet he goes to Dallas.

I think, at 8, there will be a player someone covets. These top teams have few needs, so they might package a first and second and maybe a future pick to move up to take a player they covet. Gonna think out loud here for a second-- Offensive tackle--I went to a site (randomly) that lists team needs in prioritized order. ELEVEN teams list OT as a priority. (Ravens, Browns, Bears, Jets, Niners, Seahawks, Bucs, Chiefs, Packers, Commanders, Patriots, Rams). IMO there are 2 elite OT prospects and probably 4 to 5 with first round grades. I see Sanders and Ward (QB), Hunter (CB), Carter (Edge) and Johnson (CB) going in the top 7--Graham or TMac are probably likely to go next. The Jets pick 7 and will not be picking a QB. They will probably take OT Will Campbell. At that time, there is one elite OT left and ELEVEN teams that need an OT. Granted, some will address this need in free agency, but how many starting OTs are available? Now, consider you are the Chiefs, Seahawks, Packers, Bucs, or Ravens. They have little to no cap space, so grabbing a stud OT in free agency is unlikely and there are not any. You also realize that 10 or so picking before you need an OT. Once the Jets take an OT---the Panther phones will be ringing--teams will target Kelvin Banks, OT Texas. If they wait, they could hope that Josh Simmons (Ohio State) falls to them, but they are unlikely to wait for the unlikely. So the Panthers will have to ask themselves, "Would I take the Commanders' first and second and the 2026 second rounder for our first rounder?" We do not have a second rounder in 2026. We'd pick 29th and 61st in 2025. That would give the Panthers 3 picks in the first 61 picks. So who might be there? Let's say that Graham (DE Michigan) is available at #8. Most say "No brainer." But the Phone rings offering you two second rounders to move back 21 spots in round 1. You have a lot of needs. What could you get? Estimates, based on Player Rankings: 27. Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon 57. (from Rams--not part of trade) Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College 61. Maxwell Hairston, CB Kentucky (assuming Mike Jackson leaves--Hairston has been eye opening at the SR Bowl practices) So basically, to give up on Graham, you get a good CB and a good DT and a future second rounder in a draft in which you had no second round.

Yeah, they seemed to quit up front--going through the motions. I think A. Robinson could have been impacted by poor Tuttle/Ray play as well--they def. need to go. But saving 5.5m and losing a DE with his experience and ability is a bit stupid. We are likely to draft a NT/DT and a DE, so rookies will need help. I also think A Rob will be better with Brown in the rotation.

The more I mock, the more I can confirm your sentiment here. Of course, we have free agency in about 6 weeks, but until we know what we have, drafting TMac early causes us to bypass the talent we need at edge and DL, especially if you are hoping to grab a starter. I think Morgan has a list of about 2-3 players he would take at 8, but if they are not there, he will trade back--he has to fee as if he needs numbers. Again, that could and will change to some degree. Carter Graham (maybe) Johnson CB (maybe) Mykel Williams (long shot maybe)

I too, am a dawg.

Yeah, and I will tell you something that bothers me a bit about this move--First, any real football guru understands that the OTs do film study on their edge opponent all week, so they know their moves. Green is a finesse player who has some sneaky power; but coming from a small school, I imagine the OT knew nothing about him. I do not think he was expecting a bull rush, and he got caught on one foot--he was not anchored at all. while it looked impressive, I was like "Meh." It says more about the OT than Green, imo. Green celebrated and it was an eye opener, but I would caution the buyer to beware. Don't get me wrong; I like Green a lot, but that is not really his game. I think they feel that they got the results they were looking for (a highlight moment that caught everyone's attention) and they wanted that to be the last taste of Green in scouts' mouths. Smart, actually, but if the OT watched film and knew who he was up against, I am not sure that Green would have surprised the OT like that. I think Green is a late first rounder/early second.

If we do not draft TMac, I am not sure our draft capital is wisely spent on WR in the first round when we need starters on defense. I have stated that I like TCU's Bech, and he has looked very good at Senior Bowl practices. Another name? Kyle Williams from Washington State. Tez Johnson is 156 pounds, but can make plays. Miami's Xavier Restrepo is an intelligent, technical route runner who will be a great pro, a slot. In my view, they all will play on Sundays, but Williams could be the sleeper we are looking for. I have not watched them all, so please add any names on this thread--SR Bowl or not--but I think we are interested in a day 2-3 gem for the most part. In my view, there are only 1 or 2 WRs worthy of first round grades.

The names are obviously indicative that we are doing some bottom-feeding--looking for gems in the gravel pile--This indicates, to me, that they are doing some intense scouting. The DT and the QB are making me research those players. Probably practice squad players, but they all are until the roster is set.

Awesome list--I think Sawyer is a SLB who can hold the edge, but his stock soared in the playoffs and he is probably a late second, early third rounder imo. Instead of Sawyer, I might wait a round or two and take Arkansas Landon Jackson. He is a bit nasty, and Morgan is there watching him. I am increasing my opinion of Donovan Ezeiruaku from BC based on watching the drills at the SR Bowl. He has some moves that are nearly unblockable. I like Mike Green, but he spins a lot. However, he had a bull rush in a drill and pancaked some OT. Now, he is less likely to do that to an NFL OT, but he also had some rip/swims to the inside that were impressive. This first round is going to be DL and LB-- around 18-20 players I would wager.

He is tiny. I should say that there are some decent WRs later in the draft--it is simply not loaded with #1 WRs. I really like Bech from TCU, for example.