A hopeful non-Watson scenario that doesn't mortgage the future

[davos]

The title really says it all.  I'd like to think that in title is what we all want right?  And we see it all, there's a Baker thread, Jimmy G one, Willis, etc. and then you'll get the "Stick with Darnold" option.  Let's not forget the faction of people convincing themselves to want Pickett, Corral, etc.  

Well, I really see one scenario that fits the bill for me.  If/when Watson doesn't happen and completely change things up:

• You have a miffed Tepper and Rhule needing to answer to the media and fans after pawning over this guy for 22 months. It's likely blinded them from making other practical moves.  I could actually see Rhule just getting fired in the coming weeks if so (wishful thinking but it's going to be a bad look if they come out of this with nothing)
• We are paying Darnold in 2022 no matter what.  $18ish mil.  There's no trade to be had with him.  So, you either ride him, sit him, or release him.  Doesn't really matter if he plays or not.
• Draft wise--regardless, you pick BPA w/need weighed at Pick 6.  I'm talking Neal, Thibodaux, Cross, Ekwonu, or Wilson, it's simply not a QB with this draft.

So now my question, what is the pickup? Is it a cheap FA or a mid-rounder?

It's clearly a mid-rounder. What good does Mariota, Fitz, etc. really do for us?  If anything, they may cause us to win some games against the bottom half of the league.  So yep, draft...even if it requires a slight Round 3 trade up.  They don't always hit, but they CAN hit.  Whether it be Howell, Ridder, Strong, Glass, or Coan (whoever).  Someone is going to fall, there may only be 1 or 2 QBs going in the 1st.  If one we like lasts to the third, that's worth a minor trade up (using a 5th) at the most, just roll the dice.  Not much risk, big reward. 

So, if the Watson saga fails: Staring at a top 2023 pick, grab the best boost possible at 6, and take a random mid-round gamble. Take your top QB in 2023 and not some mid-career vet that's semi-capable.

If it succeeds: You've found one of the rare 3-4th round QB success stories a la Russ, Tark, Cousins.   

I wouldn't be mad about this.  Would be a rare scenario where I'd retain minimal interest until we're chatting about Young, Stroud, Haeder, Slovis, McCall, Levis, etc.  

 

[mc52beast]

Don’t quite understand why people want to throw more money at a vet who obviously won’t be playing for us in 1-2 years. The focus of our up-coming draft and FA should be fixing an o-line that has been broke for a long time. Get that right, plug some other holes and if a qb does drop and we don’t have to use much draft capital to get him then do that. 

[SazmoRanger]

Yeah, I like that situation a lot better than most. At this point for me, I’d rather not entertain any QB this year. I’m exhausted with  Cam, Teddy, Darnold, and now Watson. 
 

They should take a breath and take BPA at 6, make Rhule play Darnold and then next year let the new coach/staff pick their QB via trade/free agency/draft. I have absolutely no faith in this regime to pick a QB and neither should anybody. Mid-late rounds, whatever. 
 

 

[Toker Smurf]

I've been saying this for years. You should always draft a high upside QB and try and develop them. Even if you have a top QB you can trade them or have them in reserve in case of injury.

[davos]

Just now, SazmoRanger said:

Yeah, I like that situation a lot better than most. At this point for me, I’d rather not entertain any QB this year. I’m exhausted with  Cam, Teddy, Darnold, and now Watson. 
 

They should take a breath and take BPA at 6, make Rhule play Darnold and then next year let the new coach/staff pick their QB via trade/free agency/draft. I have absolutely no faith in this regime to pick a QB and neither should anybody. Mid-late rounds, whatever. 
 

 

I hate the "broken clock is right twice a day" motto but maybe these sh*tbrains could back themselves into a decent QB by accident.  

[panfanman]

I like it. . .

Only thing I'd like different is trade back out of 6 to say mid 1st round if we can and pick up more picks.  

[PNW_PantherMan]

I agree with your line of thinking, but we don't really have the picks this year for a lottery ticket at QB.  Assuming we don't trade down, we won't have a 2nd or 3rd round pick this year unless we get comp picks in the 3rd.

[davos]

Just now, Toker Smurf said:

I've been saying this for years. You should always draft a high upside QB and try and develop them. Even if you have a top QB you can trade them or have them in reserve in case of injury.

Yup.  And I'm not promoting the overdone idea that you can easily find a franchise QB in the third or 4th, but we need to clearly upgrade this team as much as possible.  So do that at pick 6, and then gamble with that next pick (however we get it or wait until round 4).  Just see what happens.  Could very well not work out, oh well.  We've tried that with Lefors and Grier.  A team can hit every once in a blue moon. 

It's good to be aggressive, but the QB market is running dry.  Don't waste resources on a thin situation when we're already pretty thinned out.  

[ForJimmy]

Cross in the 1st Glass in the 5th? We draft our guy next year and either Glass develops and gives him a run for his money or he stays as our high potential backup. It’s not a terrible plan. Let the Bucs have the division Brady’s last year and we should be ready once he is gone. 

[davos]

2 minutes ago, PNW_PantherMan said:

I agree with your line of thinking, but we don't really have the picks this year for a lottery ticket at QB.  Assuming we don't trade down, we won't have a 2nd or 3rd round pick this year unless we get comp picks in the 3rd.

We've got an extra 5th.  If we're comfortable giving all this stuff up for Watson, why not just use one of those or our 4th if we land Cross or Penning at 6.  It's a dud draft for us with Rhule and Fit at the helm.  Bleed it dry for them and take your best shots at upgrades.  Reset 2023 if the QB doesn't work (which could be likely)   

Cross-Insert Body-Insert Body-Corbett-Moton is a crap ton better than last year.  

Insert Body is so much better than Elf at C and Brady at LG.  

[Panthers Rhule]

At this point, since I'm already on the train, if that train doesn't stop in Houston then I'm all for riding that train all the way to Las Vegas and see if Carr is available. I mean really, why not? He's better than average and he'd give us a chance now and time to find the future without breaking our team. 

[davos]

4 minutes ago, ForJimmy said:

Cross in the 1st Glass in the 5th? We draft our guy next year and either Glass develops and gives him a run for his money or he stays as our high potential backup. It’s not a terrible plan. Let the Bucs have the division Brady’s last year and we should be ready once he is gone. 

Maybe don't even focus on developing.  Just throw them in like Mills last year or Russ back in the day.  Just see what happens if Darnold looks awful (which will happen).  Coan/Glass in Round 4?  I mean, the value in that pick isn't something super coveted.  If that's all we're using to reach, just do it.  NO did it with Ian Book.  A lot of smart teams do it, hell a lot of stupid franchises do as well.  Most of the time doesn't work out.  Sometimes it does, might as well give it a shot.  We'd be putting as much blind faith in Willis and would give up the 6th overall of 263 picks.    

[MechaZain]

Fire Rhule and all is forgiven. I could even talk myself into Pickett if I knew he wasn't the reason.

[davos]

4 minutes ago, Panthers Rhule said:

At this point, since I'm already on the train, if that train doesn't stop in Houston then I'm all for riding that train all the way to Las Vegas and see if Carr is available. I mean really, why not? He's better than average and he'd give us a chance now and time to find the future without breaking our team. 

Carr can play for a playoff winner, and I actually really like the guy as a player, but it's not going to work out with us.  

Even if he is the brother with no gloves.  Just don't see it.  He's needed that dude who can take the top off a d and has never had it.  One thing I'll tell you--put him in SF instead of Jimmy with Kittle, Deebo and Mitchell and they're a SB fave.