MHS831

Fair point. I looked for the list and it is hard to compare, but I am not sure we should overpay. In the past few years, there have been some bargains in free agency. With this cap raise, I have no idea how the market will react. I would not overpay for Burns, but I am not dismissing him either. He is what, 24 or 25? Lotta upside. I'd pay $25m. Why would I make Brown one of the highest paid DTs in the NFL? He is good, and he never comes off the field. That is a roster spot he is saving, salary wise. Luvu? Everyone loves his story, but in the NFL, he is not elite. I would love to keep him. So I do not see how resigning all three "rights the ship." It will be interesting to see what they do.

Either way, we have to have a pass rush. He is a high character guy. This reminds me of Peppers before he left, only Peppers was better.

I am thinking that his agent threw the $30 m out there to begin talks. I am sure he knows that Burns will not get that on the open market. I think he will sign (here or somewhere else) for about $24-26m

Well, I am not sure that paying our best players from a 2-15 team is going to right the ship. However, we have a bad roster with some very good players at the top. That cap money spends in free agency as well. In my opinion, Luvu could walk to chase that big payday. He is good, but he was good at his salary. Is he elite? Not in my opinion. If he is cheap, pay him. Burns is more likely to be tagged or traded. Brown needs top DT dollars.

I was going to suggest this guy, but he just signed with the Hurricanes as the newest goalie.

Neither is Moton, but his cap figure will be $30m for the next two years. I wonder if Burns isn't looking at the guy he probably beats in practice quite often who plays a position (RT) that is not as valued as a premier OLB Edge Rusher. Regardless, neither is worth 30m

I said after the Morgan-Canales presser that I was impressed with Canales, not Morgan. That comment scared me, frankly. I keep referencing a comment I heard a defensive backs coach say to the team when I played in college--(paraphrasing) when we (offense, I was a tight end) were eating their lunch at practice: "I don't care if you run a 4.4 40 if it takes you a fifth of a second longer to process the play than some guy who runs a 4.6. I want smart football players." He later explained the comment to a friend of mine who was a GA coach at the time. "Rarely are you running 4.4 40s on a football field, but you should always be thinking. Most of the better athletes never really had to compete with anyone when they were younger--success came easy. The kid who has to use his mind is prepared, and frankly, makes fewer mental mistakes. Eventually the good athletes rise to a point where they are not more physically gifted, and they have been flat lining for some time. Meanwhile the kid who studies the game becomes more cunning, and soon he knows what the good athletes are going to do before they do." I expected Morgan to take off his shirt barking. On the other hand, I used to teach in the high school where Brandon Beane was the QB back in the day. He and I used to get our cars inspected at the same station on the last day of the month. It was when he was working under Marty H. I was not that impressed--nice guy, but I never saw him as a "football mind." I'd take him back in a minute.

Newsworthy?

Preacher -- choir Fully agree I think we have GMs that see a player that they feel dropped and think they are grabbing a bargain. No, they drop because their scouting departments and GMs saw something. I recall Clausen--Minnesota and KC needed QBs that year, and some crackheads had Clausen as a top 15 pick. I remember Hurney taking Clausen after KC and Minnesota passed on him---in the second round. In fact, he tried to trade up to #33 to get JC, offering a first rounder the following year plus other picks. This franchise is only as good as its front office. Mr Brass Balls needs to get another desk ornament, maybe this time a brain paper weight.

Not that I disagree, but when I see a nobody making bold statements at this time of year, he is just trying for clicks. Nothing here to talk about.

I think so However, and I hate to use an isolated situation as evidence for all others, but Thomas Davis had three pretty early in his career, and was pretty healthy after that.

On a side note, Brown was a 7th round selection. We should have a team of scouts focused the bottom feeders. We need to start thinking about 2025 and beyond on day 3....

I agree with him about Corley---we NEED a YAC guy. I agree with Verge about Washington from UVA, but I would want him around the late third early fourth. Do not go to sleep on CMC's little brother at Rice--the type of guy who gets better with age and stays in the NFL for 40 years. Not sure about his skill set, but his hands look good. Bloodlines alone worth a flyer on him.

Good thought, I have never liked him, but probably for the wrong reasons. Something to keep an eye on

It all depends on the sites you visit and mocks you study, but I have seen Corley in round 2 and Washington around round 5--but who knows. I have frequently mocked these WRs to us when playing with my cyber GM machine.

I admit that I have not watched his film at all. I can say that he seems to be a one trick pony. He has been hyped up quite a bit--that is for sure. So are you saying that he should walk or we should shop him? Still mad about the Rams offer and our response.

No prob. Thought I was losing my mind--the rest of it.

Burns did not put up the numbers but he did not have a lot of heat on the other side, allowing offensive blocking schemes to focus on him. However, he has not earned elite money. I just worry that if he leaves, our CBs suddenly get worse and our D becomes a problem while fixing the offense. He is a player, but you have to think of the players you won't get if you pay him. If you transition tag him and lose him, do you still get a comp pick for him?

I did not see the last two options for some reason--I would trade him for draft capital if I could get a first for him

good question. I am torn.

If we intend to keep him and feel the open market will determine his value and not his agent, then the transiton tag might be the best move, if you are willing to wave "bye bye." I am confident some team with cap room and 1 or 2 needs might overpay. However, free agency has been rather subdued recently. I am not sure if that impacts conditional draft picks, I do not think it does, so we know we'd probably get a third for him if we play free agency right. If we want to trade him, the franchise tag is the way to go, and the way I think we go. In my opinion, he would be overpaid on the franchise tag. My answer: Franchise tag and try to trade him and get some future picks. ""

If we focus on one need, such as oline, sure, we could use an upgrade, but I do not see that happening except at G or C, and we are decent there right now. However, and this is why you and I are on the same page, you have to look at the big picture. Realistically, with picks at 33 and 65, we are lucky if we upgrade one position. With, in my view, multiple needs at WR and a draft that is as deep at WR as I have ever seen, sitting at 33 is likely that we take a WR if he falls--yes, 33 is a prime trade down spot if that does not happen. If we get an upgrade player at 65 and 33, we won the draft. But finding rookies to replace established starters on the OL in the draft (or even free agency) is probably not a wise investment this year. Do we need 3 players? I think we grab a developmental OL late, but they really drop off after the top 100 players are gone. That would be nice, but I also think we could develop Mays and Zavala, as bad as they seemed at times. I am totally down on Campen and did not see growth from any OL during his time here. Nada.

I am very concerned about the A gaps and not as concerned about Ickey as everyone else is. I think it is possible that BC and Ickey flip positions--if they do and it works out, then you have Bozeman and Corbett--can we upgrade that by next year? I do not see it happening in the draft beyond pick #33. As for depth, we have Mays, Zavala, and could use a G/C for depth. .... I think we trade back too, but if a first round talent falls to us, that could be when BPA kicks in and we can't afford not to take him. I see that happening at WR or OL, so we are in a good spot.

meant at 33. Course, we could trade up

If we take OL WR CB or Edge in the first, I will understand. If we take a long snapper, K, P, TE, or RB in the first, I will be sending Morgan an angry letter--that you can be sure of.