PRIORITIZED Needs as of 3/28/2024

[Jon Snow]

You have to remember that everything cannot and will not be addressed this offseason.  So don't panic when every hole is not plugged with instant upgrades. This is going to take awhile. It took them 6 years to make this mess, it's going to take more than one or two drafts to correct this even if they get 2 starters from each draft. What you see now as a team is a lot of bandaids and short term rentals. 

[*FreeFua*]

WR 

C

TE

In that order but C is a massive need. 

[WhoKnows]

21 hours ago, shaqattaq said:

At 33 and 39, we'd be drafting the 4th or 5th best WR or CB or the top 1-2 C, ILB, or TE. What I'd like to see is someone that will be an impactful starter day 1. 

This is where we go awry every year with Fitterer and Hurney post round 1.

In the 2020 draft, Lamb, Jefferson, Higgins and Pittman were the 3rd, 5th, 6th and 7th WRs. YGM and Chaisson were the 2nd and 3rd edges behind Chase Young. When you are staring at super deep classes, it’s not as simple as you mentioned. TE2 last year was La Porta. That’s fine because TEs were deep. This year you are likely passing on a couple WRs who will become a Higgins, Pittman or even Jefferson for a Howard or Njoku. Drafting the best guys at weak positions is not equivalent to the second tier guys at deep positions. You can get lucky but we’ve fuged up before like going with TMJ over Humphrey in a shallow WR class (handful of top talent) and a deep OL group with tons of starters after TMJ and after a long snapper too.

[Navy_football]

I don't think we should look at this rebuild position by position. That'll take many years. 

Football isn't played that way. It's the ultimate team sport. Pass rush is not dependent on one player or position. Pass coverage is not dependent on just the secondary. Passing is dependent on the entire oline and your receivers. Rushing is not dependent only on the running back. 

They've addressed every major area. That's all you can ask for. Make good decisions during the draft, and then it's the coaches turn to put it all together. 

[TheSpecialJuan]

On 3/28/2024 at 7:00 AM, MHS831 said:

Hi Gang, after talking a look at the roster (I will post below because it has been updated) I no longer see (or think they see) OL as a need that MUST be addressed in the draft.  They added 2 starting guards, creating a starting and backup center (jury still out, I know), and a solid swing OT.  Behind that, they have former starter Brady Christensen and at least Cade Mays.  Most all NFL lines have areas they would like to upgrade, but if they can get Ickey balanced, this could be a very special OL. 

This list represents a shift away from a prioritized need at Edge as well.  Based on Canales' comments, they are going to go with Clowney and Wonnum and develop players like DJ Johnson, Barno, Leota, and Chaisson.  Good plan.  It suggests that Canales thinks these players were not coached up or developed, but he would never say that.  Athletically, the OLB room is full of studs.

I still think our biggest need is a solid WR and if I were the GM, I would take 2 in this draft.  But nobody on the Huddle is talking that much about the second and third biggest needs, imo.  So here is what I put together this morning for you hacks to attack (includes long term needs--to me, since most rookies do not produce immediately, it is stupid to draft a player based on immediate needs):

1. Wide Receiver:  Johnson and Thielen, the top 2 WRs at this moment, are possibly in their final years.  Mingo was overdrafted and his performance has not matched expectations.  In my opinion, in a WR-deep draft, you grab 2 Wideouts.  Longterm:  You do not want to enter 2025 with Mingo, draft pick, Smith-Marsette, and Marshall (who may not be on the team by then).  In my view, you can take two and still find the essential depth pieces at ILB and CB.

2. Cornerback Depth:  Of course, signing Dane Jackson to replace "Action" Jackson and re-signing Troy Hill is not enough, considering Horn’s injury history--and even if Horn stays healty--you need 3 starting caliber CBs and a nickel.  I think we have to proceed as if Dane Jackson is the only starting caliber CB without an injury history and Bootle is a roster fringe CB at best.  We need a CB who can start if necessary.  Longterm:  Horn is a huge question mark at this point, so we have to draft as if we are taking a developmental starter.  For this reason, I see a second rounder being spent on CB. Dane Jackson is not elite by any means, and if we do not get pass rush this season, the secondary will be exploited. Troy Hill is 33 and this is obviously his last season here.  

3. Inside Linebacker Depth:  With only Thompson and Jewell with Wooten behind them, ILB Depth is needed.  I fully expect Morgan to go after an ILB on day 2.  He understands their importance to a defense.  I am assuming the new kickoff rule may make LBs more valuable as well. Longterm: Jewell was just signed to a 3-year deal, but I doubt Shaq is back, having just signed a 1-year deal at age 30 for 2024.  We will be signing an ILB early in this draft.  Morgan guarantees it (not really, but I bet he does)

4. Tight End:  I think they feel that TE is “covered” for now, but if they can upgrade the position, they will.  In my estimation, they want to see what they have in Tremble; that suggests they do not think the TE position was used properly in 2023.  Pure speculation.  Sullivan flashed as a pass-catching TE, and Ian is a suitable #3 TE as a blocker, but I have not seen that much from him in that area.  The could add a TE to the room, but with three other needs that are more pressing, I am not sure they will add someone who helps them improve.  However, they want to surround Bryce with weapons, so a TE would kinda be necessary–See the Super Bowl–their TEs were pretty good. Longterm:  This team needs an Alpha TE, and if Tremble cannot be that guy, they will bring one in.  I do like some of the TEs later in the draft, however.  A player like Ohio State’s Cade Stover would be a nice addition.  

I hope you make another one of these posts two weeks from now see what needs are remaining then  

[carpanfan96]

On 3/28/2024 at 10:34 AM, shaqattaq said:

Be careful, I was told yesterday that our defense was solid. While signing Clowney helped that, I still agree that CB, and ILB are big needs and day 1 starters can be found at 33, 39, and 65. The same can be said for C and WR (deep draft). I would love for those 4 positions to be addressed with our first 4 picks. I have a feeling that if the right ILB is there, Morgan will have a hard time passing on him.

You expect 3 day 1 starters from a draft with no first round pick? 
 

NFL hit rate after round 1 goes down hard. 3rd round picks are like 20% odds to find a starter. 

[MHS831]

I have been mocking, good people, and it is difficult to not mock a C. 

I just wish I knew how good Corbett can be there.  If

[strato]

C handles the ball 1st. It has to go out all kinds of ways. Seems like you should want someone who is a straight up C not converted from something else.

Possibly, C is Corbett’s calling, and in that case I would acquiesce. Otherwise, a real C please.

[thunderraiden]

3 hours ago, MHS831 said:

I have been mocking, good people, and it is difficult to not mock a C. 

I just wish I knew how good Corbett can be there.  If

If you get a 10 year starter, i dont give a fug if Corbett hits or not. Thats our problem we always draft for need. A rookie to replace Moton's cap hit would also be nice as well for 2025.

[MHS831]

10 minutes ago, thunderraiden said:

If you get a 10 year starter, i dont give a fug if Corbett hits or not. Thats our problem we always draft for need. A rookie to replace Moton's cap hit would also be nice as well for 2025.

And even if you didn't, Corbett is in the last year of his contract.

[raleigh-panther]

4 hours ago, MHS831 said:

I have been mocking, good people, and it is difficult to not mock a C. 

I just wish I knew how good Corbett can be there.  If

They have to fix this 

We all know the reasons…

we also know it makes no sense to spend all that money in guards to have a guy like Austin go out with another predictable injury that has a poor backup giving  a direct path to a small qb

[WUnderhill]

A guard coming off back to back season ending knee injuries just can’t be plan A at center. They’ve got to draft one. Don’t overthink it, grab one of the top 2 or 3 centers of the draft with one of the second round picks and hopefully get the position set for the next decade. I have much more confidence in getting our future starting center in that spot than getting a stud WR.

[WUnderhill]

On 3/29/2024 at 8:38 AM, WhoKnows said:

This is where we go awry every year with Fitterer and Hurney post round 1.

In the 2020 draft, Lamb, Jefferson, Higgins and Pittman were the 3rd, 5th, 6th and 7th WRs. YGM and Chaisson were the 2nd and 3rd edges behind Chase Young. When you are staring at super deep classes, it’s not as simple as you mentioned. TE2 last year was La Porta. That’s fine because TEs were deep. This year you are likely passing on a couple WRs who will become a Higgins, Pittman or even Jefferson for a Howard or Njoku. Drafting the best guys at weak positions is not equivalent to the second tier guys at deep positions. You can get lucky but we’ve fuged up before like going with TMJ over Humphrey in a shallow WR class (handful of top talent) and a deep OL group with tons of starters after TMJ and after a long snapper too.

We’re talking about Centers, not pass rushers. Top centers go late first/early second; it’s not a shallow center class if you’re drafting the #2 center at the top of the second.

[45catfan]

I think we are in a good place to take BPA in the draft.  Definitely a top WR, Edge and CB early as they still need an upgrade. I would like to see a RB, Center and DE.  If we get a TE or OLB, I'd be cool with that too.