5 minutes ago, HazletonEagle said:

Funny everyone assumes they'll take a T that can play G. Maybe they just take a G if that's the need. 

Would be the first time in over 10 years they'll have done so, if you care about their draft trends.

I found this interesting.  EDIT: Zangaro ran a fan-sourced mock.  I'd be OK with this.

 

1 hour ago, Sack that QB said:

Is that Terrell Owens?

1 minute ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

I found this interesting.  Zangaro ran the PFF simulator.  I'd be OK with this.

 

Yes, I like that one as well. I might prefer Eric All at TE, FWIW.

1 hour ago, EricAllenPick6 said:

It's a strange call, but maybe?  Who's gonna sign a big $$ deal between now & August?  

Ceedee Lamb, Justin Jefferson, Jalen Reagor, Brandon Aiyuk, Tee Higgins, Ja'Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle. Not all those guys will get deals done by then but most of those will get good to mega money.

12 minutes ago, just relax said:

Yes, I like that one as well. I might prefer Eric All at TE, FWIW.

Hey, while you're here...

I was considering a possibility that the FO doesn't see Steen as a real solution at OG, but they do like him as an OT.  He showed some ability in the preseason and the beats all reported good stuff from the practices they observed.  They would be comfortable enough to let him be the swing tackle for now and see if he could develop under Stout into a solid option to succeed Lane.  With that in mind, they would look to the draft to find the RG of the future.  The depth in this draft applies to iOL as well.  Definitely not at 22, but get into the 30s (where they picked Dickerson) at take a blue-chip OG.

EDIT:  I forgot to add that looking at the money OGs got this offseason in free agency / extensions.  The value of a pro bowl level guard on a rookie deal has become too significant to ignore.

Thoughts?

 

If you want to balance short-term and long-term needs, the best positions to draft are at WR and CB. A RD1 WR/CB would immediately start in 2024, 2025, 2026, etc. No other position can say that except for linebacker, but no LB is worth that.

27 minutes ago, just relax said:

My preference for Latham is based on my belief that he can play guard at a very high level, then move to tackle,, where I believe he can play at a very high level. Other than Latham, I have little interest in drafting a straight-up guard.

If he's that good of a guard though,  I'd probably want to leave him there. 

26 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

Would be the first time in over 10 years they'll have done so, if you care about their draft trends.

I don't. 

23 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

I found this interesting.  EDIT: Zangaro ran a fan-sourced mock.  I'd be OK with this.

 

That draft is looking great

1 hour ago, bpac55 said:

This is embarrassing. I think AI has trophies bigger than that.

 

Apparently you've never been to places like the Constitution Center where they have statues that allow you to walk among the founding fathers.  The whole point of those, and this, statue is that they are life size and leaves a more realistic impression of the man it depicts.

33 minutes ago, bpac55 said:

What Mailata has become is incredible but at the same time, nothing became of Jack Driscoll or Sua Opeta and multiple other OL who have been brought in. I don't think Stoutland is going to just make any OL a good one.

Unpopular opinion, I think we overrate Stoutland just because of Jordan Mailata. Of course, Mailata will always be his claim to fame, but it also doesn't hurt when you have Pro Bowl, All-Pro and HOF talent to coach on the line. We complain an awful lot about the running game year in and year out. Stoutland is the run game coordinator. Surprised he doesn't get any criticism when it comes to that.

Jeff Stoutland is a top coach and his players love him. I just don't think it's safe to assume that any OL is going to be good just because he's here. 

 

I don't think we overrate Stoutland. Kelce never made a pro bowl or all-pro before Stoutland. Evan Mathis was a nobody and became an all-pro once Stoutland arrived. Peters maintained his all pro level with Stout. Dickerson has become a pro bowl guard. And guys like Seumalo, Vaitai, etc. developed into solid players here and haven't been as good since they left. 

Yes, some guys didn't develop, but Dillard was the only premium pick who didn't, and he just got cut after one year in Tennessee. Driscoll was useful for a 4th round pick, and Opeta was great for an UDFA. 

33 minutes ago, bpac55 said:

What Mailata has become is incredible but at the same time, nothing became of Jack Driscoll or Sua Opeta and multiple other OL who have been brought in. I don't think Stoutland is going to just make any OL a good one.

Unpopular opinion, I think we overrate Stoutland just because of Jordan Mailata. Of course, Mailata will always be his claim to fame, but it also doesn't hurt when you have Pro Bowl, All-Pro and HOF talent to coach on the line. We complain an awful lot about the running game year in and year out. Stoutland is the run game coordinator. Surprised he doesn't get any criticism when it comes to that.

Jeff Stoutland is a top coach and his players love him. I just don't think it's safe to assume that any OL is going to be good just because he's here. 

 

It's not so much that you assume they'll be good because Stout is here.  But he does take a lot of the variables off the table.  Having him here gives you some flexibility with who you bring in and when.  He gives you that option where, yeah, Latham might have to be traded up for but he could be the best guard in the draft....or you can wait, grab someone like Mahogany or Zinter even, and Stoutland can get them up to a very solid level.   

And I don't think there's any way you can overrate Stoutland because of Mailata.  Dude went from the streets basically to a top-5 LT in the game.  He wasn't a diamond in the rough that every team overlooked.  Stoutland had to *make* him.  That's no minor thing.

3 minutes ago, paco said:

Apparently you've never been to places like the Constitution Center where they have statues that allow you to walk among the founding fathers.  The whole point of those, and this, statue is that they are life size and leaves a more realistic impression of the man it depicts.

Life size? Are you making an Iverson short joke?

4 hours ago, HazletonEagle said:

Maybe the Justin Simmons signing is happening today too.

May 2nd

First day you can sign a FA and not affect your compensatory pick compensation. Wouldn't be surprised if the terms are already agreed but waiting for this date to make signing official

23 minutes ago, LeanMeanGM said:

Ceedee Lamb, Justin Jefferson, Jalen Reagor, Brandon Aiyuk, Tee Higgins, Ja'Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle. Not all those guys will get deals done by then but most of those will get good to mega money.

Yeah, that's a good list.   Ceedee is playing on the 5th year option this season, and he won't get a new deal until next year.  Does DeVonta want to wait it out?  

3 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

I don't think we overrate Stoutland. Kelce never made a pro bowl or all-pro before Stoutland. Evan Mathis was a nobody and became an all-pro once Stoutland arrived. Peters maintained his all pro level with Stout. Dickerson has become a pro bowl guard. And guys like Seumalo, Vaitai, etc. developed into solid players here and haven't been as good since they left. 

Yes, some guys didn't develop, but Dillard was the only premium pick who didn't, and he just got cut after one year in Tennessee. Driscoll was useful for a 4th round pick, and Opeta was great for an UDFA. 

There's definitely a portion of the fan base that thinks "we don't need round 1 talent, we have Stoutland!" which overrates him from being a great coach into a football god. 

1 minute ago, HazletonEagle said:

Life size? Are you making an Iverson short joke?

2 minutes ago, DeathByEagle said:

May 2nd

First day you can sign a FA and not affect your compensatory pick compensation. Wouldn't be surprised if the terms are already agreed but waiting for this date to make signing official

He was cut so it doesn't matter

3 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

I don't think we overrate Stoutland. Kelce never made a pro bowl or all-pro before Stoutland. Evan Mathis was a nobody and became an all-pro once Stoutland arrived. Peters maintained his all pro level with Stout. Dickerson has become a pro bowl guard. And guys like Seumalo, Vaitai, etc. developed into solid players here and haven't been as good since they left. 

Yes, some guys didn't develop, but Dillard was the only premium pick who didn't, and he just got cut after one year in Tennessee. Driscoll was useful for a 4th round pick, and Opeta was great for an UDFA. 

Oh, believe me, I'm not taking anything away from what Stoutland has done. Like you mentioned, Evan Mathis wasn't a Pro Bowl player before he got here, Brandon Brooks blossomed under Stoutland. Dickerson was a 1st round talent who's biggest concern was the injuries. I think Seumalo was pretty solid for the Steelers last year and Vaitai we all knew got paid because of his Super Bowl run. 

I disagree that Driscoll was useful for a 4th round pick. I think he was viewed as a starting guard eventually and just never found his stride there. 

If there really are top WR prospects that can be had in the second round, I say we draft one and try to assemble an unstoppable offense for the next two years. Obviously address the major needs on defense with the rest of the picks.

 

edit: someone who can play outside and in the slot

Has anyone else noticed the irony of Iverson having a statue at the practice facility? We talkin  bout practice.

35 minutes ago, LeanMeanGM said:

Ceedee Lamb, Justin Jefferson, Jalen Reagor, Brandon Aiyuk, Tee Higgins, Ja'Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle. Not all those guys will get deals done by then but most of those will get good to mega money.

That WR market is going to get destroyed with the amount of talented receivers that will be getting mega contracts. I know Howie has time but it'd definitely be super beneficial if he were to get Smith done asap

15 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

Hey, while you're here...

I was considering a possibility that the FO doesn't see Steen as a real solution at OG, but they do like him as an OT.  He showed some ability in the preseason and the beats all reported good stuff from the practices they observed.  They would be comfortable enough to let him be the swing tackle for now and see if he could develop under Stout into a solid option to succeed Lane.  With that in mind, they would look to the draft to find the RG of the future.  The depth in this draft applies to iOL as well.  Definitely not at 22, but get into the 30s (where they picked Dickerson) at take a blue-chip OG.

EDIT:  I forgot to add that looking at the money OGs got this offseason in free agency / extensions.  The value of a pro bowl level guard on a rookie deal has become too significant to ignore.

Thoughts?

I do think they would prefer Steen as the swing tackle, especially if they have the opportunity to draft a top OL. He's played it in the past. If they draft someone like Mims, say, then Steen probably becomes the starting RG, unless Hennessy is fully healthy and his weight is back up. Hennessy is the variable here. If he's fully healthy he'd be a quality guard. Right now, it's between him and Steen for the RG with the other being an interior swing man. Hennessy's experience is mostly at center so I expect Steen to be the starter unless they add draft somebody to beat him out.

I frankly haven't seen enough of Steen to have a strong opinion. There are a lot of folks on here who recall the Dallas game where Micah Parsons took his lunch money and think that's all he'll ever be. I'm sure he's better than that and will improve. Look at what Stout did with Seumalo, Vaitai, Dunlap, etc. I've made no secret of how much I like Latham but he may be out of reach. Zinter from Michigan would be a helluva pick. If his leg is fully healed I expect he'd beat out Steen. If not and they draft him, Steen will a place-marker for Zinter until he's healthy. That's not a knock on Steen; Zinter is terrific.

28 minutes ago, HazletonEagle said:

If he's that good of a guard though,  I'd probably want to leave him there. 

True and I agree. That's kind of what I was driving at when I talked about tackles converting to guard and staying there, like Allen and Martin.