GunnerBill

It is why losing Bernard was so big. He has been the downhill guy in our defense all year. One of the key differences between McDermott and Frazier is how aggressive they are in the use of linebackers to attack rather than react. And then when it came to the crunch Sean was starved of those linebackers.

100% agree with this. I am. Definitely. I mean he is better than Gabe, and faster than Gabe, and more explosive than Gabe. But he can basically run the same three routes as Gabe. I think that is fine if Diggs can get back to being Diggs. If you get a better version of Gabe Davis we have already seen that 1-2 punch can work - especially with Kincaid and Shakir developing in supporting roles. My worry is if Diggs can't get back to his best and your next guy is just a better version of Gabe.... they you are in trouble. Because I think you become predictable.

But how would that help in this scenario? Mahomes is playing in the tougher conference. He has another very good QB in his division that he plays twice. I'm not sure how making him play teams with worse Quarterbacks more often achieves more competitive balance?

How is it fair that the best team keeps winning? I mean that's sports. You live in the hope that one year they don't.

Carmichael is definitely a guy I'd hire. But I'm not sure as a QB coach. I'd hire him in a senior offensive assistant role. Sean Ryan is a guy I've liked for a while. The lustre has worn off a bit , he was a hot OC candidate for a few years but at the time when teams could still block a QB coach interviewing. He has E-P experience. He would be an interesting hire. And other than Rice those guys suck.

Every drought coach was worse than McDermott. Of course none of them had a QB but they were all less able coaches.

Took over a 7-9 team went 9-7. Two games better and with a worse roster.

No and no. What you get with all fanbases is the extremes who shout loudest on the internet.

Hang on, what is the argument here? If Mahomes was in the NFC - i.e. the weaker conference for opposing Quarterbacks - then your theory might support moving him to the AFC to face more competition. But how does moving the best Quarterback out of the stronger Quarterback conference and into the weaker one promote competition? If Mahomes was in the NFC he'd make the Superbowl every year with even less jeopardy.

I have seen Dane's reporting on Legette and he is definitely a credible guy. I suppose we will see. I don't know what the film knock on him is that is what I haven't really seen explained so far.

I was told by a very well placed source when he was here - Joe is the scout. Brandon's the brains. Doug Whaley was a good scout too. He couldn't do the GM job.

Condolences to you and the family. Be strong for one another and for her. And to the rest of you just hold your loved ones that little bit tighter tonight. But for the twist of fate go us all.

No to be honest, nor do I. I think he is the same player again basically. I suppose my thinking is it allows you to start re-distributing some of the money elsewhere. The Giants roster is a mess.

They absolutely could trade up for one of the top two. That is definitely in play. Atlanta is a prime spot IMO. If the first 6 picks are 3 QBs and 3 WRs (DJ had it that way too and I have seen others) then get to Atlanta's spot you are guaranteed one of the top 2.

Yea, I'm also just leery of that scheme inflating reality though. It made Jimmy G and Matt Schaub look like franchise QBs. They were not. It made an actual franchise QB - Matt Ryan - look elite. He was not. It isn't a knock on the kid in the sense I think as a Mr Irrelevant, a year and a half in he is as good as prime Jimmy G was - that is a pretty big compliment. That's a serviceable starting Quarterback.

Yea I think teams will be enticed by Thomas. Not a change in my mind... as of now I have the second tier stacked: Legette, Franklin, Thomas in that order although all pretty tightly and it is trying to project them into the offenses as much as anything. Thanks for the spot on Bowers. I'd had a Bama player in that spot at one point and when I moved things around didn't spot I'd left the college in wrong. I just think if the top two tackles are gone then taking the next best tackle at 10 is reaching in a way you should never do with a top 10 pick.

Definitely possible. Personally I think there is a clear drop off from Fashanu and Alt to the other OTs and I'd consider any of the rest a significant reach at #10. Now if they wanted to slide back 5 or 6 spots, collect a pick or two and then take a tackle there I'd see the logic.

I think he has been a game wrecker multiple times this season. But I haven't called him elite.... you called him an average rotational player. He is a top 10 defensive tackle in the league and still ascending.

- - - - - WARNING: LONG POST - - - - - Drum roll please!!! As always, in the week after the conference Championship games here comes version 1 of my 2024 Mock Draft. For any new readers I do three mocks every year: Version 1 - a two rounder, no trades, released late January; Version 2 - a one rounder allowing myself trades after free agency; Version 3 - a one rounder, no trades, in the 48 hours before the draft and that is the one I then score myself against for accuracy (the last two years have been pretty good scores). So here we go - version 1.0 - can someone put the Chicago Bears on the clock? - - - Round 1 - - - 1. Chicago Bears – Caleb Williams – Quarterback, USC The Bears have three options here. They can draft Williams (which is what I’d do), they can trade down and collect picks (which is what they did last year) or they can stand pat and draft a non-Quarterback (which would be crazy). For now I’m going with them trading Justin Fields and starting over at QB. 2. Washington Commanders – Drake Maye – Quarterback, North Carolina At the time of writing the Commanders don’t yet have a coach, but they do have a General Manager – Adam Peters – who came from the 49ers and lived the Trey Lance experience. I don’t expect him to repeat that mistake here and therefore I think his search for a franchise QB will weigh Maye’s ability to transition quickly to an NFL offense higher than the physical potential of Jayden Daniels. 3. New England Patriots – Jayden Daniels – Quarterback, LSU Which leaves Daniels for New England. They just have to find a Quarterback. And while I think of the three teams at the top of this draft the Patriots are the most likely to go the veteran route in 2024, for now I have them in the sweepstakes and I think Jerod Mayo might be more willing than Bill Belichick to go away from the traditional pure pocket passer template in picking Daniels. 4. Arizona Cardinals – Marvin Harrison Jnr – Wide Receiver, Ohio State The Cardinals seem to be sticking with Kyler Murray so they need to get him a legit #1 wide receiver again. His most productive spell of NFL football came when he was first paired with DeAndre Hopkins and Harrison is the guy who profiles best to be a true #1 wideout – though I don’t quite buy the “best WR prospect ever” hype. 5. Los Angeles Chargers – Malik Nabers – Wide Receiver, LSU The Chargers offensive weaponry has been predicated on size at receiver for as long as I can remember. That was former GM Tom Telesco’s MO. But Mike Williams is a potential cap casualty, Keenan Allen is increasingly old and brittle and Quentin Johnston had an in and out rookie year. They need a speedy separator who can work inside the numbers as well as downfield. Nabers is the perfect fit. 6. New York Giants – Rome Odunze – Wide Receiver, Washington With no standout defensive difference maker at the top of this class the table is set for three Quarterbacks and three receivers to make up the first 6 picks. Welcome to the NFL in 2024. The Giants just have to find a true #1 receiver who can threaten downfield and dominate outside. 7. Tennessee Titans – Ola Fashanu – Offensive Tackle, Penn State When Taylor Lewan departed last February I said the Titans needed to draft a left tackle. Instead they tried to get by with Andre Dillard and drafted Peter Skoronski to play guard. Skoronski did okay for a rookie but Dillard was a disaster. Fashanu or Joe Alt should be the pick and as the Titans pivot towards being a Will Levis team and not a Derrick Henry team I prefer Fashanu as a pass protector. 8. Atlanta Falcons – Dallas Turner – EDGE, Alabama Everyone knows Atlanta needs a Quarterback but they have hired a defensive coach in Raheem Morris and in this scenario the first three Quarterbacks are off the board. I suspect that means the veteran Quarterback option rather than a rookie and if they do go that route their other glaring need is pass rusher. 37-year-old Calais Campbell led the team with 6.5 sacks in 2023. 9. Chicago Bears – Joe Alt – Offensive Tackle, Norte Dame The Bears cannot trot Braxton Jones out at left tackle again while also pretending they are trying to win. Their plan to take a college right tackle in Darnell Wright and switch him back to the left side has yet to take shape and he won’t be up to it if it ever does. They need a franchise left tackle. Alt is plug and play for a decade. 10. New York Jets – Brock Bowers – Tight End, Georgia The Jets would be gutted to miss out on the top two tackles at this spot. Offensive line is by far their biggest need. They don’t have much at tight end though either and many would have Bowers ranked among the best available at this spot. 11. Minnesota Vikings – Kool-Aid McKinstry – Cornerback, Alabama The Vikings have to get better a corner. They drafted Andrew Booth two years ago but he has been constantly hurt and they brought in Byron Murphy as a mid-range free agent but he failed to shore things up. This is a muddled corner class that lacks a true star but McKinstry’s ability in press man projects well into Brian Flores’s defense. 12. Denver Broncos – Laiatu Latu – EDGE, UCLA The Broncos got great value when trading away Bradley Chubb but since then have struggled for a consistent pass rush and have had to resort to frequent blitzing. That has had an impact on their coverage unit whose performance dipped this year. Latu is an explosive, bendy edge rusher who will add some pop to their defensive front. 13. Las Vegas Raiders – Jer’Zhan Newton – Defensive Tackle, Illinois I have no idea what the Raiders’ plan at Quarterback is. Could they take a shot on Penix, McCarthy or Nix here? They definitely could. But they are brutal in the middle of their defensive line. No penetration, no strength at the point of attack in the run game, no nothing. Newton doesn’t have prototypical size but he will be a disruptor at the next level. Immediate upgrade. 14. New Orleans Saints – Jared Verse – EDGE, Florida State Cam Jordan is going to be an interesting Hall of Fame debate when his time comes, he only has six sacks fewer than classmate Von Miller who everyone considers a lock. But 2023 was the year when he finally fell off the cliff. The Saints need to draft his replacement and Verse fits their scheme. 15. Indianapolis Colts – Nate Wiggins – Cornerback, Clemson The Colts are not well stacked in the secondary. JuJu Brents was a second round pick last year and was okay as a rookie but the situation opposite him at the other corner spot is brutal. Nate Wiggins is a perfect scheme fit for the cover 3 style that defensive coordinator Gus Bradley likes to run. 16. Seattle Seahawks – Michael Penix Jnr – Quarterback, Washington Geno Smith has been a serviceable placeholder the past two years but selecting Penix would allow the new regime in Seattle to remould this team around him and he would come into a decent situation on offense with bookend tackles and a couple of decent receivers to begin his career. 17. Jacksonville Jaguars – Brian Thomas Jnr – Wide Receiver, LSU The Jags need help at a lot of premium positions. Josh Allen is a free agent on the edge, Calvin Ridley is a free agent at receiver, the corner situation opposite Tyson Campbell is a mess and they could stand to upgrade from Cam Robinson at left tackle. But speed on the outside is the priority. Thomas is already getting buzz in the process and all expectations are he will blow up at the combine. 18. Cincinnati Bengals – JC Latham – Offensive Tackle, Alabama Another team with some major needs is the Bengals. They have been turning water into wine at corner the past couple of years but that luck seemed to run out in 2023. Receiver could also be an issue if Higgins and Boyd both walk. However, Jonah Williams was as bad at right tackle as he had been at left and is a free agent anyway, so JC Latham as a plug and play right tackle makes sense. 19. Los Angeles Rams – Cooper DeJean – Cornerback, Iowa I have heard the theory that the Rams can afford to be position agnostic and take the best player on the board. I think they have a need in the secondary and adding talent there must be a priority for a front office not used to having 1st round picks. Some see DeJean as a corner, some a safety, others as a Kyle Hamilton type swiss army knife. I think he’d upgrade the Rams however he is used. 20. Pittsburgh Steelers – Tyler Guyton – Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma The Steelers started last year’s draft by going offensive tackle in round one then corner with the first pick of round two. Yet I feel both positions remain their biggest needs on the roster. Broderick Jones had some bumps at right tackle as a rookie but still outperformed Dan Moore who allowed 55 pressures and 8 sacks from left tackle. You probably want to start Guyton on the right and slide Jones over to the blindside but Guyton has potential to play left tackle down the road. 21. Miami Dolphins – Taliese Fuaga – Offensive Tackle, Oregon State Here comes the offensive line run as a third tackle flies off the board in four picks! Terron Armstead is talking retirement which would leave a gap at left tackle for the Dolphins to plug, but even if he stays around Fuaga could start immediately at guard where Robert Hunt is a pending free agent. 22. Philadelphia Eagles – Terrion Arnold – Cornerback, Alabama If there was a center worthy of this pick that might be the direction I’d go in given Jason Kelce’s retirement - but there isn’t. The Eagles have struggled this year at corner as James Bradberry and Darius Slay began to look their age. Terrion Arnold is my #1 corner and could be the first off the board. I have him 3rd here because of specific scheme fits earlier on but he’d be a steal at this spot. 23. Houston Texans – Byron Murphy II – Defensive Tackle, Texas This pick originally belonged to the Browns but was flipped in the Deshaun Watson trade. The Texans have a promising young roster but they could do with some more pop in the middle of their defensive front. Byron Murphy is undersized but explosive and with him in the middle and Will Anderson on the edge this would be a defensive line to fear. 24. Dallas Cowboys – Troy Franklin – Wide Receiver, Oregon The Cowboys offense is very CeeDee Lamb centric. Brandin Cooks is past his best, Michael Gallup is inconsistent and Jalen Tolbert hasn’t quite broken through despite flashes. They need another legit target outside and Franklin has the vertical speed to open things up and allow for Lamb to work the middle of the field. 25. Green Bay Packers – Troy Fautanu – Guard, Washington One of the Packers’ last 12 first round picks has been spent on offense (Jordan Love). In that time they have picked five first round defensive backs and that is a possibility here with question marks over Jaire Alexander’s future and holes at safety. But I have them leaning offense and upgrading the interior of their offensive line with Fautanu a college tackle who will likely play guard in the NFL. 26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Quinyon Mitchell – Cornerback, Toledo Mitchell has been one of the buzziest players in the first month of draft season and a lot of respected analysts see him making his way into round 1. I like this fit. The Buccs have not been afraid to select smaller school guys early in the draft and he plays with the aggressiveness that Todd Bowles loves in his corners. 27. Arizona Cardinals – Chop Robinson – EDGE, Penn State The Cardinals’ sack leader in 2023 was Dennis Gardeck, a former UDFA out of West Virginia State, hardly a household name even in his own household. They have to find a pass rusher. Chop Robinson is raw, and he doesn’t have the sack production numbers in college to be a first round pick. But the ceiling is huge and on a rebuilding team like Arizona they can afford to let him develop. 28. Buffalo Bills – Xavier Legette – Wide Receiver, South Carolina The Bills have to get more dynamic at wide receiver and Legette has some size and could run in the 4.3s at the combine. He is primarily a vertical, outside receiver, but he can catch a short pass and take the ball the distance too as he showed vs Mississippi State. The doubts around him are one season of production and age (he will be 23 by the draft) but the upside is worth the risk. 29. Detroit Lions – Kamari Lassiter – Cornerback, Georgia The Lions have had a great season but they still have an achilles heel at corner. Brian Branch was borderline elite in the slot as a rookie but they need boundary help badly. Lassiter didn’t give up a single touchdown in coverage in 2023, and while he needs to improve his ball skills to make some of those game changing plays he would be an upgrade in Detroit. 30. Baltimore Ravens – Bralen Trice – EDGE, Washington The Ravens have one of the more complete rosters in football. But at outside linebacker both Jadaveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy played on one-year deals. Former first rounder Odafe Oweh has never really cemented his spot and Bralen Trice just feels so Baltimore. Intelligent, high-motor, decent burst and needs to play as an outside rusher in a 3-4, so is a definite scheme fit. 31. Kansas City Chiefs – Adonai Mitchell – Wide Receiver, Texas The Chiefs receivers were among the worst in the NFL in 2023 and despite Rashee Rice having a nice rookie year I expect Kansas City to be aggressive in seeking an upgrade in this draft. Mitchell has the size but lacks the explosion of some of those who have gone ahead of him. But he has excellent hands (1 drop in 2023) and for a team that has suffered with drops that must make him appealing. 32. San Francisco 49ers – Amarius Mims – Offensive Tackle, Georgia The 49ers lost Mike McGlinchey in free agency last year and haven’t quite cracked the right tackle conundrum since. When you add to that the fact that Trent Williams is 36 this summer and could even hang them up if the 9ers win the Superbowl and the need at tackle is acute. Mims is raw, but the potential is there. He would start at right tackle but in the long term could play on the blindside. - - - Round 2 - - - 33. Carolina Panthers – Jordan Morgan – Offensive Tackle, Arizona Two years ago when Icky Ekwonu was coming out I said he is really talented but he is a guard at the NFL level and lacks the footspeed to play on an island at tackle. He gave up eleven sacks this year. Some of that was on Bryce Young holding the ball but a lot was on Ekwonu. Jordan Morgan’s feet are ballerina-esque in comparison. Plug him in at left tackle and move Ekwonu inside to guard. 34. New England Patriots – Xavier Worthy – Wide Receiver, Texas Having taken a Quarterback in round one the Patriots should help that guy out with some speed and explosiveness at wide receiver. Their offense has been painfully one paced for years now and while Worthy projects to me as more of a good #2 than a #1 receiver he fits a need here. 35. Arizona Cardinals – Jackson Powers-Johnson – Center, Oregon The Cardinals have so many needs it is tricky to work out where they go next with their third pick in this draft. Corner is probably the most glaring need but the next couple od guys on the board there are not natural scheme fits. Powers-Johnson would be an immediate upgrade to an interior offensive line that really struggled in 2023, whether he starts at center or guard. 36. Washington Commanders – Chris Braswell – EDGE, Alabama The mid-season fire sale of pass rushers in Washington has left them with very little pop on the edge and the top three guys in their rotation by the season’s end are all free agents. They have to address that need. Braswell is more a power rusher than a speed rusher but he would at least solidify a spot. 37. Los Angeles Chargers – T’Vondre Sweat – Defensive Tackle, Texas When I think about Jim Harbaugh teams I think about big, powerful, trench players. Nick Williams and Austin Johnson have underwhelmed in the Chargers’ defensive interior and both are free agents. Sweat is a huge guy with unusual explosion at that size. He’d be a day 1 starter. 38. Tennessee Titans – Ennis Rakestraw – Cornerback, Missouri The Titans haven’t yet confirmed a defensive coordinator which could affect this pick as Rakestraw reminds me of Kaiir Elam – he HAS to play in a man heavy scheme and struggles with zone transitions. But both of Tennessee’s starting corners are free agents and he is one of the best players remaining on the board. 39. New York Giants – JJ McCarthy – Quarterback, Michigan The Giants are tied to Daniel Jones for one more year, and there are a couple of interesting prospects still on the board here in round two. I’m not as high on McCarthy as some but I could imagine him running some of Brian Daboll’s passing concepts at least as well as Daniel Jones and for a lot less money. He gives the franchise a shot to re-set at Quarterback. 40. Washington Commanders – Graham Barton – Guard, Duke We are now hitting the second offensive line run. If, as expected, Ben Johnson is the next coach in DC he needs to start upgrading the offensive line, which was a key building block of his offense in Detroit. Barton is a college tackle who would likely begin at guard in Washington. 41. Green Bay – Kamren Kinchens – Safety, Miami Even if the Packers can resist the temptation to take a defensive back in round one they will definitely select at least one on day two. Both of their starting safeties are free agents and it doesn’t sound like former first rounder Darnell Savage will be brought back. Kinchens reminds me some of Savage and would step straight into that void. 42. Minnesota Vikings – Bo Nix – Quarterback, Oregon Kirk Cousins is a free agent. I think the Vikings will bring him back but I don’t expect a long term commitment. I think Bo Nix needs a situation where he can sit for a year and learn the NFL game before being pressed to start. This pick could work out for all parties. 43. Atlanta Falcons – Ladd McConkey – Wide Receiver, Georgia The Falcons have nothing at all at receiver beyond Drake London and the JAGs they do have are all about to be free agents in any event. McConkey is a guy you can line up outside or in the slot and do a lot of horizontal game with to allow London to focus on threating downfield. 44. Las Vegas Raiders – Kingsley Suamataia – Offensive Tackle, BYU The Raiders are another team that needs to upgrade their offensive line. Their starting right tackle is a free agent and they haven’t had good production from that spot opposite Kolton Miller in any event. Suamataia played left tackle this past year but was more impressive in 2022 on the right side of BYU’s line. 45. New Orleans Saints – Keon Coleman – Wide Receiver, Florida State This is where the fall ends for Coleman as the Saints finally accept that Michael Thomas is never going to be the guy he was before the injuries hit and add the Florida State wideout as the big body compliment to Chris Olave’s game breaking speed. 46. Indianapolis Colts – Jeremiah Trotter – Linebacker, Clemson The Colts cut ties with Darius Leonard halfway through the 2023 season as it was clear he had declined as a player from his all-pro pomp. They could look to replace him by snagging Clemson’s Trotter who has the explosiveness and coverage skill to be a modern three down linebacker. 47. New York Giants – Leonard Taylor III – Defensive Tackle, Miami The Giants need help on both lines, but on the offensive line they need vets to solidify things now having already spent good draft capital. On the defensive side Dexter Lawrence is a stud but needs a running mate inside and Taylor is a big, explosive, penetrator from the 3tech spot. 48. Jacksonville Jaguars – Jonah Elliss – EDGE, Utah As mentioned previously, Josh Allen is a free agent. Most people expect the Jaguars to retain him but even if they do they need more pass rush potential around him. Enter Elliss, with 13 sacks and an impressive pass rush win rate for the Utes in 2023. I think his relative lack of size probably means he has to play as an outside ‘backer in a 3-4 so Jacksonville’s scheme makes sense. 49. Cincinnati Bengals – Devontez Walker – Wide Receiver, North Carolina I do think it is likely that Tee Higgins has played his final snaps for the Bengals and therefore Ja’Marr Chase will need a new running mate. Walker arguably took a step back this year and struggled to separate vs man coverage but as a #2 who excels in contested catch situations he fits here. 50. Philadelphia Eagles – Jonathan Brooks – Running Back, Texas D’Andre Swift had a 1,000 yard season as Philadelphia’s lead back but is now a free agent and is likely beyond their budget to retain with other needs more pressing. I think Brooks is pretty much a perfect fit for what the Eagles do in the run game and while this might feel early for him I love the fit. 51. Los Angeles Rams – Adisa Isaac – EDGE, Penn State The second Penn State edge rusher comes off the board. Again, I feel like this is possibly a tad early for him based on talent, but he reminds me of raw version of Leonard Floyd who found success in this scheme using his long limbs to create a bull rush in passing situations. 52. Pittsburgh Steelers – Edgerrin Cooper – Linebacker, Texas A&M The Steelers defense goes as their front goes, by and large, but that is at least in part because they are sub-par at linebacker. When I think of great Steeler defenses they had an aggressive downhill player at the second level and Cooper would give them that skillset. 53. Miami Dolphins – Kris Jenkins – Defensive Tackle, Michigan Christian Wilkins, Raekwon Davis and Da’Shawn Hand are all impending free agents and even if Wilkins was able to be retained they would need to fortify around him. Jenkins is a versatile player who is big enough to hold up against the run but who offers some interior pass rush potential too. 54. Philadelphia Eagles – Jermaine Burton – Wide Receiver, Alabama Who knows what is going on with AJ Brown? But even if that situation resolves itself the Eagles have a sneaky need at receiver because behind Brown and Devonta Smith the cupboard is pretty much bare. Burton is an effective deep threat but also can be moved around the formation and I expect him to sneak into round 2 as a result. 55. Cleveland Browns – Ja’Lynn Polk – Wide Receiver, Washington The Browns need a reliable compliment to Amari Cooper and with basically no free agent cash to spend at the position they have to look to the draft. Polk had over 1,000 yards in Washington’s run to the National Championship game and is a well-rounded prospect even if he lacks a bit of pop. 56. Dallas Cowboys – Patrick Paul – Offensive Tackle, Houston The Cowboys success (at least in the regular season) in recent years has been in no small part down to their offensive line. They have been willing to spend high picks to keep it well stocked and Patrick Paul gives them a potential upgrade at right tackle or an option at left tackle if Tyron Smith retires. 57. Green Bay Packers – TJ Tampa – Cornerback, Iowa State I have already referenced the uncertainty of Jaire Alexander’s future and without him the cupboard starts to look a little bare at corner for Green Bay. TJ Tampa is an excellent fit for zone heavy schemes and that seems to be the direction the Packers’ search for a new coordinator is heading. 58. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Tyler Nubin – Safety, Minnesota Having gone corner in round one the Buccs go back to the well in the secondary snagging Nubin who many believe is the top pure safety in the class. Both starting safeties (Antonie Winfield and Ryan Neal) are free agents so it is likely Tampa needs a guy who can start right away. 59. Houston Texans – Ja’Tavion Sanders – Tight End, Texas Dalton Schultz had a nice season for the Texans at tight end but he was playing on a one year deal below his true market value. It would likely cost more to keep him and in that situation drafting a young, athletic, tight end with excellent hands to grow with CJ Stroud might be the play. 60. Buffalo Bills – Calen Bullock – Safety, USC The Bills need help on the defensive line and at safety given expiring contracts and age concerns. However, the defensive line run has already taken place in this round leaving better value at safety. Bullock will need to improve his technique as a tackler but he is a bigger safety who can play in the box or be a match up weapon in coverage. 61. Detroit Lions – Brandon Dorlus – Defensive Tackle, Oregon We know that the Lions General Manager Brad Holmes believes in building front to back and Dorlus as an interior rusher who is versatile enough to play a couple of spots in their 5 man front and then play a more conventional 3 tech when they go to a 4 man front makes some sense. 62. Baltimore Ravens – Trey Benson – Running Back, Florida State JK Dobbins career with the Ravens is full of what ifs as the injury bug has bitten him hard. Gus Edwards has been a reliable deputy but he is a free agent. Benson could well run in the high 4.3s and that speed next to Zay Flowers and Lamar Jackson could be a nightmare for defenses. 63. Kansas City Chiefs – Josh Newton – Cornerback, TCU The Chiefs are not exactly desperate at corner but at the moment L’Jarius Sneed is scheduled to hit free agency and after proving himself a high level outside corner, rather than just an excellent slot, he is going to get paid. Josh Newton has similar traits to Sneed and Trent McDuffie – inside / outside flexibility and sticky in man coverage. 64. San Francisco 49ers – Christian Haynes – Guard, Connecticut This man was born to play for Kyle Shanahan. The perfect zone blocking guard, athletic, excellent technique, quick feet and high football IQ. He is a small school guy who could really benefit from the exposure of this week’s senior bowl and rise up boards but he is such a perfect fit for the 9ers. Okay TSW.... feel free to flame away!!!

Yea I know, @Pine Barrens Mafia is an Ed hater - he likes his man bigger in the behind - but he can at least have fun with it. The poster I was replying to is just talking nonsense. On the fake point I had no problem with them going fake punt there. But jesus if that is the best fake point call we have that is a worry. Snap it to a slow safety right in the middle of the formation and what? Hope he suddenly runs like Barry Sanders? Of course it isn't. It is just that they haven't found the great ones by and large.

He did not play his best on Sunday, no doubt. And last year he didn't either but he was hurt and playing with one arm. But he is one of our best players, he has had a great year and the famous 13 second game he was probably our best defensive player and was in Mahomes's face a lot. Saying he is an average rotational player because of one disappointing game and one game where he was playing with one arm is ridiculous.

The main problem with the Ravens was they didn't try and run the ball. Gus Edwards had 3 carries for 20 yards. It isn't rocket science - the gameplan on stopping Lamar is out: stop the conventional run game (i.e. the backs) and muddy his reads in the middle of the field. If you do both of those you will keep him and Baltimore in third and long. And while he will escape a couple of times with his legs he won't every time and if you ask him to win 3nd and long regularly with his arm he will lose more than he wins. Yesterday Todd Monken did half of the job on the Chiefs behalf. The Ravens are a team that leans on the run and he must have seen the Bills run on them last week? Why get away from it? It looked to me like an OC who didn't just want to win. He wanted to win on Lamar's arm to show how clever he is or something. Brutal gameplan.

The only year I have kinda thought that was the Bengals - Rams year. I didn't think either of those teams were better than the Bills. On a par, possibly, but not obviously better. Of course that was the 13 seconds year and I did still think the Chiefs were better than us (despite the fact we had them all but beat and it is the one loss that is without question on coaching). But the Chiefs - Buccs year, the Chiefs - Eagles year and now the Chiefs - 49ers? I think all 6 of those teams are/were better than the Bills of the corresponding season. Still, I am encouraged by the young guys that broke through this year. I said it last week after the defeat and I still feel it. I am more positive about where the roster is and our chance to get better next year than I was this time last year. And the reason is that collection of young guys. I felt like last spring once Ed Oliver had extended we didn't have any of our top 10 players who were still on rookie deals. Now we might have 3 or 4. That is promising. Stack another good draft and one or two of those guys take a step and hopefully the chips fall our way.

Utter, utter nonsense. That isn't ball. It's trash.

Yes. And so will everyone in this thread.