mastershake

I've been out of the loop. Has anyone said yet if we're going 3-4 or 4-3?

You're not concerned with giving up two draft picks, a high 3rd and 4th/5th? You're not concerned with potentially overpaying for only a decent starter, and wasting precious cap space? Those are the assets to use to improve the team. Either way, that trade was gross incompetence on Gettlemen's part. Possibly his worst move this season. Can you name a worse move from Gettlemen last season?

Yes, therein lies the problem with the trade. Why give up draft picks for a guy in the last year of his contract, for 8 games in a failing season???? If you really want him, the logical thing to do would be to try to sign him in the offseason, and NOT trade for him. I seriously believe Getty should be fired over it for gross incompetence. Has Getty even acknowledged this massive drawback to trading for Leonard Williams, and recognized his error?

A 10mm cap hit wouldn't even place Leonard Williams on the top 25 of DL salaries in the league. Browsing that level currently, you have guys like Eddie Goldman, Damon Harrison, Trent Murphy...Williams is probably around that talent level. Personally, if we're going to spend on a DL, we should just go all in for Chris Jones, with a 5 year 100-120 million dollar contract, or something close to that.

They are not in a great cap position, and may have to re-sign Mahomes at this point, though they could cut Watkins and free up a lot of room. We're in a relatively stronger cap position. I'd love Jones if possible. If not, for DL, I'd be happy with Armstead. I would go all in on one of those two, because after those, there really isn't much top level talent at DL in free agency. Offer 5 years, $100-110mm I don't consider Leornard Willams top level talent; decent starter, but nothing special. I'm also a big believer in controlling the line of scrimmage.

Yes. And Getty needs to avoid the overpaying him this offseason. Anything more than $10mm per year is too much, plus let's not forget the 5th round pick we would give up to the Jets changes to a 4th if he re-signs. Please don't get us caught in a sunken cost fallacy. Just cut your losses at this point and accept losing the 3rd and 5th.

If we pay him more than $10mm per year, Gettlemen is a fool and should be fired. Might as well pay Chris Jones or Arik Armstead at that point.

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.