mastershake

He's an underachiever. He'll be overpaid.

You can read about the incompleteness of almost every player in a draft. Every player is a projection. Some can develop and correct their issues; others, like Ereck Flowers, can't.. For instance, here's what scouts said about Taylor Lewan...yet several pro bowls later. WEAKNESSES Is not a gritty, physical finisher. Has a lean lower body and does not explode on contact. Can be inverted by power and does not carry a load in his hands. Could do a better job recognizing and adjusting to the outside blitz. Quirky personality that can be easily misunderstood.

I'm fan of trading down to the 5-7 spot, assuming there is a rush for those teams to draft a QB, and pick the best tackle available or Isaiah Simmons. By the way, Willis completely locked down Derrick Brown in the Auburn game, so he might be the real deal. With Solder likely coming back, Willis maybe can start at RT for a year, then move over to LT in a year.

What's wrong with the tackles? I generally find the more I read about a prospect, generally the worse I view them. For instance, I see a bunch of people saying Young is just a size/speed prospect with no real pass rush moves, who feasts on lesser teams and gets shut down by talented ones.

Why is it that whatever OL profile I read, I immediately think "that sounds just like what scouts said about Ereck Flowers." Post traumatic draft disorder https://www.si.com/.amp-nygiants/nfl/giants/draft/draft-prospect-preview-ot-jedrick-wills-jr-alabama

I go back and forth between OL vs LB Isiah Simmons with the #4 pick. I might give the very slight edge to OL just because there isn't a ton available in free agency, and it will get very competitive ie expensive (I can see Conklin and Costanzo getting as pricey as Solder). Brian Boctieri could be a decent pickup but I think he'll be expensive too. Thomas or Willis sound like they can step in right away and be locks. Any good free agent Centers available? That's another big need.

I'd be happy with a scenario where we trade back and still pick up LB Isaiah Simmons or a top OL.

Are we officially the Cleveland Browns now?

Yes. And if 4-3, Simmons looks like a great fit at WLB.

Assuming 3-4: I've been an advocate for bringing in two big pass rushers, on DE like Armstead or Chris Jones, and OLB types like Barrett, Ngakoue, or Judon. Keep Ogletree for now, along with Connelly. Draft Isiah Simmons if available and if we can address OL in free agency.

That's one play. It wasn't like that all night.

Anthony Costanzo, Jack Conklin, or Bryan Bulaga could be options at Tackle.

If they have a plan to use a portion of that $20mm in that fashion, then yes...if they don't plan to invest it, and are keeping it around as insurance in case they have to sign players due to injury, then it's too much. Either way, I don't expect more than 3 "big" free agent contracts, along with several middle/smaller ones. Maybe something like DE/DL Chris Jones Or Arik Armstead DE/OLB Barrett, Ngakoue, or Judon CB Byron Jones or Logan Ryan (though due to age 29, Ryan may not be too pricey)

For free agents, given that he has said he wants to enter the season with $20mm in cap space (too much in my view), I don't expect DG to dole out more than 3 big contracts (ie $10mm plus) this off-season, even if we cut Martin and Ellison. That said, if I had to pick 3, it would be nice go big on two top tier pass rushers and a top CB. I just don't see premium O lineman in free agency, so we may have to rely on the draft, or lower tier free agents. Rest of the roster in general can be filled out that way as well. If Leonard Williams is paid more than $10mm per year, I won't be happy.

Hal Hunter is gone along with Schurmer, right?

Armstead will be big $$$ but I'd like him as well. Judon might be a better fit for us than Ngakoue, but I'd be fine with either. If we could get Armstead, Judon/Ngakoue, bring back Golden for say `4 years $40mm, plus add DB veterans Tre Boston and Logan Ryan who shouldn't break the bank, I'd feel pretty good about our defense. The first two on that list will be $14-15mm plus per year though, but we should have the cap space, and the early years of their contracts will be less.

What am I missing on keeping Markus Golden? He seems to have better stats than FAs like Ngakoue and Dante Fowler (sacks, hurries, tfl, qb hits combined) who will command big $$$. Those other two do have him beat on age though.

That's encouraging to hear, especially if we draft Andrew Thomas, who I presume would be plug and play at LT. I'm not sure who else we could replace Solder with at LT, as I haven't looked at free agents yet nor draft prospects beyond Thomas. Some are saying this year's draft is deep at the Tackle position, but I don't know who's ready to start day one.

Is Solder staying though if we're able to sign or draft a replacement? Maybe he can move to RT?

I wanted to make this thread specific to players on the roster, i.e. FA and Draft. Yes, clearly the coach is the number one team priority, as they're looking to hire asap. I can see the case for C being the top priority, plus there are likely more options at the position. If we're able to fill 3 out of the 5 priorities outline above, and go 8-8, I'd consider that to be an improvement.

I thought Tate was okay, though overpaid. Bj Hill was a real surprise with the drop in playing time...what happened exactly? DeAndre Baker, Sam Beal, and Ballentine were disappointing. Connelly, Slayton, and Love look like future starters, which is great for late round picks. DJ is further ahead than I expected, but needs to clean up ball security. I'd be okay if we signed Golden to a 4 year, $10mm per season deal, but no more than that.

He named four position priorities and I named five. We're not that far away from being competitive if we hit on 4/5 players in those areas, plus assuming guys like Jones, Baker, Beal, Hernandez, Slayton, Love, and Connelly all make progress. Not saying we're a super bowl team with that but definitely on the right track. For instance, adding two solid starters on the O line and you have a much more capable offense vs last year.

The lower priorities are areas we don't have to address or don't need to spend big/draft high on. The top 5 priorities are the key areas to invest in.

Purely position based priorities. This may change of course if we move to a 4-3. Top Priorities LT (I know easier said than done) C (Halapio could miss next season, plus stinks anyway) CB (Need a starting caliber CB) LB and Edge (Retain Golden if the price is reasonable, in my view draft Isaiah Simmons, and replace Ogletree if possible. I'm okay with keeping Ogletree if we can't replace him or if we put more pieces around him.) RT DE (I'm torn on retaining Leonard Williams if the price is right or just cutting our losses. Either way, a top priority in my view) Medium Priorities TE (Given Engram is always hurt) Lower Priorities/Depth S (assuming Love at FS and Peppers at SS as starters next year) WR (assuming Slayton is for real) G RB DT

And did so with a crap o line and crap playcalling.