BarleyNY

The rumors were out there well before the draft in regards to Blackmon’s problems. Usually it goes that way. Darron Lee (tOSU, Jest) is another example. Sometimes you can get the kid some help and he takes it and surprises you though. Tyrann Mathieu certainly turned his life around. Where in the draft a team takes chances like that matter a lot obviously.

That sucks. I did not believe in Clausen, but injuries can rob any player of their career. Locker, Okudah, Luck, Courtney Brown, etc., etc.

Totally agree.

I spent a little time watching Wright because I was out of step with others who almost all see him as a first round graded prospect. I’m sticking with my second round grade. I have a few reasons for that, most of which are covered in the NFL.com link above. He’s got a lot to like - build, strength, explosion and that game tape against Anderson. His strength is impressive. He will toss a DE if he gets his hands on them. I see what people like about him. He needs a fair bit of work on his technique. People who think he can step in at RT on day 1 are kidding themselves. He is a RT only IMO as he’s a better run blocker than in pass pro, where the technique issues are more apparent. Great lateral burst, but then his feet get slow and he lacks appropriate bend. He blocks so upright that I’m concerned about how he’ll be able to handle NFL DEs. He won’t have the strength advantage he has in college. That combo will be a problem if he doesn’t improve on at least one of those facets. Shedding a bit of bad weight might do the trick with the feet and he will get a lot of coaching on his technique so he might be good there. His issues with his lack of bend are more concerning. The NFL.com prospect profile grades him at 6.40, which projects him to “be a good starter within two years”. That’s how I see him too. In a year or two he should develop into a good RT. I don’t think there will be a lot of great choices at 27 (and Brown has been an issue at RT) so I see why Wright’s name keeps coming up. I just don’t think he would help the team in the short run and I don’t see him having a high probability of getting a second contract if he’s taken in the first round. Though he does have a chance to improve and do that.

Here is our recipe: - 1 large or 2 small ripe avocados peeled & pitted - 2 tsp fresh lime juice (from approx 1.5 small limes) - 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped - 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped - 2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped or minced - 1 scant tsp ancho chili powder OR fresh jalapeño, finely chopped - 1/4 tsp salt Using a fork mash avocado and lime juice together until desired consistency is reached. Stir in rest of ingredients with spatula. Taste and adjust. Makes about 1 cup. It’s easy and delicious. Use fresh ingredients and don’t forget to taste and adjust at the end. Typically the salt or lime juice needs a little tweak. If your avocado is not ripe, store it at room temperature in a brown paper bag and check it daily. When ripe it will yield to firm pressure but not be mushy. Enjoy.

A what? I kid. I kid.

What level you want your first round picks to play at? No. But his career is pretty much what you’d expect from a DE picked later in the first round. Here’s the other thing about these arguments - players don’t choose where they get drafted. I don’t ding overdrafted players for that. The fault is that of some GM. Clowney has had a long, solid career as a player. That’s not a bust IMO.

The Pro Bowl selections still meant something when Clowney got them. You should know that. And as mentioned above, Clowney was taken first overall and while he hasn’t lived up to that he’d have been a very worthwhile first round selection. I just think it’s hilarious that people argue he busted when that’s obviously not the case and because Reggie Bush, who was thought of as a lock for that first overall pick and went second, really did bust. Easy money right there, but some people would rather ignore the limitless list of real busts to talk about how bad they think Clowney sucked.

I thought Locker would be a very good pro too.

Clowney has always started on the teams he plays for. He’s been a second team All Pro and a Pro Bowler 3 times. At 30 he was still a solid, productive DE. How’s Gabbert done in those regards?

Courtney Brown. I thought he’d be a monster for years. Injuries and playing on a terrible Browns team did him in.

Torn between Benton and Musgrave. Wypier is a good choice too.

Bass was already on the books at the league minimum salary for a 4th year player so this can only add to his cap hit.

I heard that as well. Work event. Apparently I was the only one out of the loop on the gossip (which is not unusual).

From an injury standpoint last season was certainly a very bad one for the Bills, so that makes sense. I worry about them this season because we have so many important players coming back from injuries - and because I don’t think enough was done to protect Allen. Also it’s a house rule that I’m not allowed to say anything that might jinx the Bills. Three gameday rules in my house: - My daughter wears her Diggs socks. - My wife does not put Bills bandanas on our dogs. - And I repeatedly have been told (How exactly was that phrased by my family and friends again? Oh yes, I remember.) to “Shut the f*** up!” The official rule is now “Dad shuts the f*** up.”

I think it’s easy to say that almost any team is better this time of year versus at the end of a long, grueling season. I don’t mean to pee in your Cheerios, it’s just the reality of how injuries can impact a team. Our defense’s performance will largely hinge on star players coming back from injury - Miller, White, Hyde and Poyer all had significant injuries and there are questions as to how well at least three of them will return to form. There is potential for the defense to be better - even with the significant loss of Edmunds. The drop off potential at MLB is so significant because of the lack of a quality replacement. Edmunds (finally) developed into a very good player last season and we will miss that production if we don’t replace it. And as improved as Edmunds was, replacing his production shouldn’t cost anywhere near $18M a season. A better gauge might be a comparison of our final roster with the 2022 opening day roster.

With the 35th selection the Indianapolis Colts select Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland. Great fit for Indy. Fills a big need at a premium position. Big, fast and physical ant the LOS. He has the potential to be a high end CB1, but he needs to clean up his occasional discipline lapses. Happy that he fell. @RyanC883 is on the clock for the Rams.

So you’ve studied………..history?

Robinson had $15.25M fully guaranteed from the Rams this season. All they did was dump what they could.

And now Pickett. 🤣 Robinson never caught a break.

I’m surprised that ESPN gave Darnell Wright a first round grade. This list is exactly why having pick 27 in this draft sucks.

The Rams dumped Allen Robinson for nothing to jettison $5M of guaranteed salary. Shows you how far he’s fallen. Ditto the Rams.

The Steelers have had a pretty good “vitamin” program since the 70s. Maybe he rebounds for a year or two once he’s on that. The Rams paid Allen’s $5.25M roster bonus last month. I wonder if they’re eating any of his $10M salary. If so, that’s brutal unless they are getting a nice pick back (which is doubtful).

Appreciate the insight. I just don’t know how an NFL team takes a QB who is that small that high in the draft. As good as he was in college he looks like a low ceiling, high risk NFL prospect to me. Size and arm strength are going to be real problems for him.

I was referring to the massive amount of misinformation that is put out by teams, agents, etc. this time of year. The media runs with it all and so many fans buy it all - for the moment at least.