Teddy may have another suitor...

[kungfoodude]

1 minute ago, SCO96 said:

I'd take the 2003 WR corp (Muhammed, Smith, and Proehl) over the 2020 squad any day of the week. 

I can see an argument to that although the overall numbers significantly favor the 2020 squad. 

2003: 169 rec, 2336 yds, 14 TD (13.8 ypc)

2020: 238 rec, 3140 yds, 10 TD (13.2 ypc)

I think if we had 2003 Jake Delhomme throwing to these guys, it might be a clear win for the 2020 guys. We'll never know because we had 'ol checkdown. I probably like Smitty and Moose a little over Moore and Anderson but I like Samuels WAY more than Proehl. That is a good matchup, though. One thing I can say, never doubt Smitty.

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I've actually agree that Teddy isn't a "franchise QB".   I just think placing most of the blame for the 11 losses on him without acknowledging the other role the other weaknesses played is a bit unfair. I also don't believe mortgaging our future draft choices and legit starters for one QB (FA or draft choice) is they way to build a solid contender with all of our roster holes. We are more than a QB away from competing for a NFC title.

He was the predominant factor in most of those late season losses when the defense was playing so much better and he simply couldn't make plays to get in the end zone. It was telling during that stretch that we were able to win with Walker as QB with how well our defense was performing. 

As I said, the big problem was that he didn't prove to be a starting caliber NFL QB. He was the same journeyman backup that finished 3rd at the Jets and wasn't asked to return in New Orleans(who appear to want Jameis Winston instead). I didn't expect him to be this clearly unsuited to a starting role.

The problem with the "building the team first" road is that you never know when you will have another shot at a franchise QB. In the Watson scenario, it's unlikely you will see that in the next 20 years, since it hasn't happened in the past 40. Guys like that just don't become available at 25 years old. For the draft, well, that just comes down to who your guy is. In one of the biggest ironies of all, had Hurney actually traded up last season, none of these discussions are happening and we'd be looking at one of the bright young stars in the NFL playing for us in Justin Herbert. So if our evaluations say that one or more of these young guys is the one, by all means spend an extra first rounder and some extra picks to go get them. 

I would never argue against building our OL(our second biggest priority, by a wide margin) or filling out all the multitudes of roster holes which are so painfully obvious. But we can build, build, build but unless we build a truly elite defense(once in a decade caliber) and pair it with a hell of a surrounding cast, we aren't going to win without a very good QB. The instances of that happening recently have been twice with the Ravens and once with Denver. All of those teams were exceptional defensively.