2024 Comprehensive Draft Thread

[KDawg]

24 minutes ago, Going Commando said:

 

It would have been wrong to reach on OLs in the second round, but that wasn't the situation we faced.  IMO Suamataia and Beebe were BPAs and value picks over Sainristil and Sinnott.  And if you don't like them, three other tackles went in the second after our picks aside from Suamataia and you could have made a BPA case for each of them in the 50s.  But personally, I had Suamataia as a huge value pick in the 50s, and if he and Dawand Jones were out starting OTs, with Cosmi, Biadasz, and Beebe in the interior, we're looking at such a different future for the offense.  That's the OL I would have built with zero benefit of hindsight, and if I can figure that out from my couch, our FO should be able to blow that out of the water.

 

If anything, I had Sainristil and Sinnott as mild reaches in the second, although I think I could have been too low on Sainristil and that he could be another Terry McLaurin.  To my credit, I was the first one here to spot Sainristil and start gassing him up in the thread.  I've always liked him, I just think the draftnik community got too high on him and didn't accurately bake his size limitations into his draft value.

 

And we did reach on Coleman.  At that pick, Beebe should have been a no brainer.  And if you don't like Beebe, then Zinter, Amegadjie, Wallace, Adams, McCormick, Van Pran, and Haynes would have been better options too.  TBH, I think Coleman was a fifth or sixth round caliber pick.  I don't think his film is any good, and IMO both Braeden Daniels and Ricky Stromberg had better film than him.

 

I, personally, do regret passing on Beebe. That's going to bite us later.

[method man]

I don’t have issues with taking Coleman but I felt the same way @Going Commando did about taking Sainristil instead of one of the high ceiling LT prospects. The point I made is all those guys in the second were snatched up by good organizations (Texans, Dolphins, Chiefs and Ravens). As we ended up seeing, none of these guys would’ve been reaches at 50 because they all went within 13 picks of that pick so let’s put that narrative to rest.

 

From a strategy standpoint,

- When you are picking after the mid 1st, left tackle prospects you take have low floors. Left tackle is a very tough position to solve. Why not take two shots at it to increase your chance of hitting?

- Wylie is likely here for one more year. A big reason they kept him is the net cost for keeping him was just $2M vs cutting him. If both hit, great. You found two starting tackles in this draft. 

[Going Commando]

43 minutes ago, KDawg said:

 

I, personally, do regret passing on Beebe. That's going to bite us later.

 

I hate that he went to the Cowboys.  Wish it could have been anywhere else.  The Cowboys get these guys and max out their talent.

 

I'm worried about DeJean too.  I thought the trade down was a good idea in real time, but the more I think about it, the less I like it.  Part of me feels like staying at 40 and picking him ourselves is a better outcome than what we ended up with.  And if you change the picks in the third round to Beebe at 67 and Corum or Haynes or Zinter at 78, then I like that class better than our real one.

 

 

[Koolblue13]

Sain I think is a great culture pick and I like GCs Terry comp.

 

Sinnott was one of the guys I felt we needed to come away from this draft with. Sinnott vs DeJean is going to be fun to watch for the next decade. 

 

Newton was such a home run pick for us, that it makes up for a lot. Our IOL rotation is going to be league best and create a lot of opportunities for our undersized secondary.  

[skinny21]

31 minutes ago, Going Commando said:

 

I hate that he went to the Cowboys.  Wish it could have been anywhere else.  The Cowboys get these guys and max out their talent.

 

I'm worried about DeJean too.  I thought the trade down was a good idea in real time, but the more I think about it, the less I like it.  Part of me feels like staying at 40 and picking him ourselves is a better outcome than what we ended up with.  And if you change the picks in the third round to Beebe at 67 and Corum or Haynes or Zinter at 78, then I like that class better than our real one.

 

 

That would have been a heck of a draft.

 

If our guys work out though (big if obviously), nailing down tackle and TE is much better value IMO, and that’s magnified when you’re fielding a young qb.  

And of course if Sainristil is as good a slot corner as projected, that also allows Martin to move to FS.  I like his chances of success there far more than Butler.

[e16bball]

The biggest problem with this offseason is the same thing that’s always been the biggest problem with this franchise: a lack of a truly coherent plan. They just “do things,” and you never really see how it all holds together as part of a long-term plan.

 

They knew from apparently pretty early in the offseason that Jayden was their guy. Okay, cool. It isn’t what I would have done, but you can work with it. Taking your franchise QB is a seminal decision, the most important one Peters has ever made in his career and certainly the most important one DQ will ever make here. That’s your centerpiece personnel move, and you have to build the rest of your plan moving forward around that guy.

 

But almost nothing they did this offseason appears to line up with Jayden’s particular skillset/needs. The one thing I will credit them for is signing Biadasz right out of the gate — interior pressure is a killer for Jayden, so having a terrible center would have been a big problem for him. That’s true of every QB, probably, but it’s a major issue for our guy. I guess you could lump Allegretti into this, as well, but I’m pretty hesitant to credit them for signing a 3rd-tier option at a position that had a lot of FA talent available. Perhaps he surprises.

 

Otherwise, what did they do? They go get two TEs and a pass-catching RB. We’ve all watched every play of Jayden’s college career at this point — how often do you ever see him throwing to TEs or RBs? A bit more to the RBs at ASU, at least, when he had Eno Benjamin and Rachaad White. Virtually nothing at LSU, and he had a very talented TE in Mason Taylor who just fell into anonymity last year. Until the bowl game, when he went 7/88 with Nussmeier, that is. 
 

Jayden loves to throw to WRs, especially on the perimeter, guys who separate easily and can win vertically. We go out and get him…a college QB turned mid-major receiver who will probably need some time and even long-term seems to read more “big slot” than “perimeter operator.” We’re just hoping/praying that Dotson’s terrible sophomore year was a Bieniemy-induced fever dreams — and we’re one injury to 17 away from having the worst WR room in the league.

 

Jayden loves to have time and comfort in the pocket. The luxury of time allows him to really engage that vaunted CPU of a brain, and it also tends to result in the back end of the defense breaking down and giving him lanes to really engage those vaunted legs of his. As noted, we grabbed a quality starting center, but we completely whiffed on the OT position. Out goes Leno from last year’s terrible OL, and in comes…absolutely no one. It’s hard to count Coleman, because he’s probably unplayable right now. Major project. It feels like borderline malpractice that the best case scenario on the roster at the moment is Lucas/Wylie as the starters — and if one or both of them go down, you can choose from various practice squad fodder. 
 

They go out and grab 6-8 defensive FAs, and then they use their top two picks after Jayden on even more defense. Pretty much every one of those moves is defensible (or legitimately good) in a vacuum. But there’s probably some irony in the reality that while we won in that vacuum, things still suck for our rookie QB.

 

 

In short, it’s mind-numbing to me that they planned to take this kid all along, but they made no special efforts to ensure that they’d be giving him a structure in which he can succeed. You’re trying to build a long-term franchise QB for a franchise that has not had one in my entire lifetime (c. 1985)! How is that not at the heart of everything you do?

 

 

[Skinsinparadise]

4 hours ago, Going Commando said:

 

I was banned during the draft last year, I never gave a take on it in real time.  I thought Forbes was a Jahan Dotson style reach of an early second round talent getting picked mid first, not as bad as Jamin was, but would have had several OL ahead of him even in that weak class, particularly Anton Harrison and Dawand Jones.  I liked Quan Martin and Braeden Daniels, although I think he reached on Daniels by a round.  I picked Daniels in the ES mock and got him in the fifth, at what I felt was fair value.  I hated the Stromberg pick, and I would have picked Olu Oluwatimi over KJ Henry.

 

 

You must have had at least a mixed take on Forbes because I do recall a post with you lauding the pick too, citing the imagination (in a good way) of this regime as how to build the secondary in the context of that pick.

 

But I do recall crystal clear overall at some point you liked the draft and off season because we debated it -- and it was tough for me to forget you questioning whether I was ever genuinely that into Ron if I wasn't into what he did that off season.

 

3 hours ago, Going Commando said:

 

 

If anything, I had Sainristil and Sinnott as mild reaches in the second, although I think I could have been too low on Sainristil and that he could be another Terry McLaurin.  To my credit, I was the first one here to spot Sainristil and start gassing him up in the thread.  I've always liked him, I just think the draftnik community got too high on him and didn't accurately bake his size limitations into his draft value.

 

 

OK I was high early on Sainristill too.  But then at the end he felt so cool with the drafniks that it felt a bit over the top and I wondered if he was a scheme fit.

 

As for the TEs, I was unsure for a spell about who should be my TE #2, so I divved into watching them all back to back and landed on Sinnott.

 

3 hours ago, Going Commando said:

 

 

And we did reach on Coleman.  At that pick, Beebe should have been a no brainer.  And if you don't like Beebe, then Zinter, Amegadjie, Wallace, Adams, McCormick, Van Pran, and Haynes would have been better options too.  TBH, I think Coleman was a fifth or sixth round caliber pick.  I don't think his film is any good, and IMO both Braeden Daniels and Ricky Stromberg had better film than him.

 

Some of the bigger draftniks disagree that Coleman was a reach.   I don't have the same impression you do of Coleman from the 2022 game i watched his morning.  But granted its just one game.  No that I loved Coleman from what I saw but saw enough of his upside that I can see the charm.  66% give or take of third rounders are busts.  This isn't like a top 10 pick.  You are betting on traits.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't but OT is one of those traits types of spots so the method to the madness I get with that pick. 

 

The scouts who McGinn talked to ranked him in their top 100.  He's got some hype.  You rating him as a 5th-6th rounder is a valid opinion of course but its clearly not a consensus opinion where Peters is off on some odd island.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 8 by Skinsinparadise

[Skinsinparadise]

3 hours ago, Koolblue13 said:

Sain I think is a great culture pick and I like GCs Terry comp.

 

Sinnott was one of the guys I felt we needed to come away from this draft with. Sinnott vs DeJean is going to be fun to watch for the next decade. 

 

Newton was such a home run pick for us, that it makes up for a lot. Our IOL rotation is going to be league best and create a lot of opportunities for our undersized secondary.  

 

Agree.  they needed a major impact player on the D line, Newton exceeded anything I expected.

 

Sanstrill, is basically the same size as the Honey Badger but is a clear peg better athlete.  Ditto in that size-style of Budda Baker another dude I liked before that draft.  Both have been killer players in the NFL.

 

I listened to a a Sainstrill interview on a local radio show last week -- comes off like a super sharp serious guy.  I posted on this thread some of the articles about Sanstrill going the extra mile as a leader.  A vocal dude on the field and off the field.

 

IMO lockdown slot CB who is a ballhawk and is a good blitzer.  And is a communicator.  And a leader on the field and off the field.  Great pick.

 

We've needed to draft a high upside TE forever.  Sinnott was my fav aside from Bowers.  You said you like him even over Bowers.  Considering Peters track record at TE, I am stoked that he's stoked about him.

 

Unpopular take I gather on this thread -- but not so much in the draft universe but Coleman on my first serious look, comes off to me a fine pick in the early 3rd.  

 

I have digested a lot about McCaffrey post draft, comes off like a Terry level high intangible and tough player.  I think he will exceed expectations.

 

Know nothing about Magree aside from his uber athleticism but I'll trust Peters on mid round LBs considering his track record

 

Hampton I took on the board's mock draft.  Uber athlete- hybrid S-LB type.  The type of player Quinn tends to groom well.

 

Jean-Bapitise is a defender I pushed for on day 3, like his potential.

 

As for UDFA, I think they might have found a legit starting corner in the Coloriado State CB.  The Georgia WR is a dude I took in the board's draft and touted some on this thread.  Overall am feeling VERY good about this draft.  Though granted you never know until you know.

 

But as for it being well received -- its getting A's from every corner, mock drafter of all types including PFF, high grades from other teams as to what reporters heard.  Heck we saw the Jets GM tout the Sainstrill pick in their own draft hype video.  So I like it a lot.  Others like it a lot.  Can it suck anyway?  Sure.  Will see.  But at the moment, it feels like a killer draft to me.  

 

 

Edited May 8 by Skinsinparadise

[Chump Bailey]

https://steelersdepot.com/2024/04/2024-nfl-draft-scouting-report-tcu-ol-brandon-coleman/

 

This site does a good job of player evaluation, IMO. Above is a thorough breakdown of Coleman.

 

[Warhead36]

I liked our draft overall but I do agree with the general premise that it feels disappointing to not get a more highly regarded T prospect in what was such a loaded T class. Kinda reminds me of last year when we didn't take a single TE when there were so many good ones(but at least we did end up taking one T prospect this year so not quite the same).

[Skinsinparadise]

3 minutes ago, Chump Bailey said:

https://steelersdepot.com/2024/04/2024-nfl-draft-scouting-report-tcu-ol-brandon-coleman/

 

This site does a good job of player evaluation, IMO. Above is a thorough breakdown of Coleman.

 

 

I got to watch him more.  But based on that one game from this morning, I'd be very surprised if he's not a good guard.  i know he's a work in progress as a run blocker -- he needs to work on sustaining his blocks on that front.  But as a pass blocker, he has really strong hands and anchors well and IMO looks better suited to guard because to my eyes his weakness in pass protect is about moving laterally.

 

Not that am out on him at LT.  But I get it when some say good guard, question mark at tackle.  But just looking at him, he's built in a lab, both stocky, strong and fast.

[mhd24]

2 minutes ago, Skinsinparadise said:

 

I got to watch him more.  But based on that one game from this morning, I'd be very surprised if he's not a good guard.  i know he's a work in progress as a run blocker -- he needs to work on sustaining his blocks on that front.  But as a pass blocker, he has really strong hands and anchors well and IMO looks better suited to guard because to my eyes his weakness in pass protect is about moving laterally.

 

Not that am out on him at LT.  But I get it when some say good guard, question mark at tackle.  But just looking at him, he's built in a lab, both stocky, strong and fast.

Heck, if he's a great guard, that's not a bad issue to have as he's probably the starting LG from Y2 onwards.  I always thought our R1 pick next year is destined to be LT anyways.  Its already set in stone to be either edge or LT regardless IMO.

[Skinsinparadise]

11 minutes ago, Warhead36 said:

I liked our draft overall but I do agree with the general premise that it feels disappointing to not get a more highly regarded T prospect in what was such a loaded T class. Kinda reminds me of last year when we didn't take a single TE when there were so many good ones(but at least we did end up taking one T prospect this year so not quite the same).

 

Different to me.

 

At TE we passed the position over completely.  We don't partake in the first tier at TE, not at the 2nd, not at the third tier -- nada, zip.

 

At tackle, we played at the 2nd tier.  And had a legit excuse to skip the first tier because we were going QB and tried to trade up to take a first tier LT. 

 

While I value everyone's opinion, no one here is an elite scout where we can say this dude is definitively good or bad.  Will see.

 

There are plenty of people (including scouts) as I posted who are high on Coleman.  they could be right, they could be wrong.  Will see.

 

IMHO from watching one Coleman game at tackle, the pick doesn't feel from Mars.  Early 3rd round, bet on traits and hope to get lucky.  My fav high floor tackle (but more of a RT) was Blake Fisher but alas he went in the 2nd round. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 8 by Skinsinparadise

[Skinsinparadise]

35 minutes ago, mhd24 said:

Heck, if he's a great guard, that's not a bad issue to have as he's probably the starting LG from Y2 onwards.  I always thought our R1 pick next year is destined to be LT anyways.  Its already set in stone to be either edge or LT regardless IMO.

 

Agree.

 

I hate to be cliche and agree with some of the draft media-some scouts on this which is he might be better suited for guard but if the result is a high end guard  that's more than OK with me. 

 

The argument for LT is he has the length and athleticism for it and played better at LT than he did at guard.  But to me that high ankle sprain is a big deal which he played on as a guard.  I've had bad ankle sprains before and I can't believe he played on it considering how critical your ankle is to anchor.

 

And i don't rule out tackle for him.  But to my eyes he might be better suited to guard.

 

He has moments as a run blocker but would want to see him sustain his blocks better.  But as a pass protector, he anchors well and can stonewall defenders with his hands when they are coming straight on him -- that quality feels to me more guard than tackle.  Where he hits me a work in progress is matching pass rushers moving laterally.  But you don't have to move laterally much at guard.

 

But heck you don't even have to watch that deeply.  His upperbody looks like is out of a Marvel movie and he has the length and sub-5 speed with elite agility measurements.   He looks like the posterchild of betting on a dude with traits for the position.

Edited May 8 by Skinsinparadise

[Koolblue13]

Passing on Beebe was rough, especially where he ended up, but if Coleman works out at LT, it's worth it. 

 

I spent a lot of time watching Sinnott and Beebe and never noticed Coleman.

[Skinsinparadise]

 

I'd go as far as saying if i went to Vegas and bet on one player from this draft succeeding its Sainstril.

 

I was big on Terry McLaurin before that draft, and he didn't get a lot of love here.  And part of the rational for me about Terry was he was billed as a very special player, uber tough and a culture setter.

 

Sainstril is billed the same way, actually if anything he's more hyped than Terry on that front. 

 

I've heard to death from Keim in his podcasts that the secondary didn't have a communicator that helps direct others and the coaching staff would bemoan that.  Not much leadership with the team but especially on D.   We didn't have a ballhawk type on defense.  

 

You basically cover all of this and more with Sainstril.  Then you add in spite of his size he's good against the run which is helpful when you are playing the slot and is a good blitzer which is also helpful playing from the slot -- especially in Quinn's defense.

 

This player studies so much film that its been said that he would call out the opposing's offense plays for the rest of the defense presnap -- ala what a good old school Mike LB does.

 

 

 

 

Edited May 8 by Skinsinparadise

[Koolblue13]

After years of just absolutely tanking the 2nd round choices, we may have 3 big hits this year. 

[Chump Bailey]

49 minutes ago, Skinsinparadise said:

 

I got to watch him more.  But based on that one game from this morning, I'd be very surprised if he's not a good guard.  i know he's a work in progress as a run blocker -- he needs to work on sustaining his blocks on that front.  But as a pass blocker, he has really strong hands and anchors well and IMO looks better suited to guard because to my eyes his weakness in pass protect is about moving laterally.

 

Not that am out on him at LT.  But I get it when some say good guard, question mark at tackle.  But just looking at him, he's built in a lab, both stocky, strong and fast.

 

He's a mid round pick for a reason. All these guys have flaws the longer you watch them. Latham and Alt are the most clean in my eyes followed by Fashanu and Fuaga.

[Skinsinparadise]

16 minutes ago, Koolblue13 said:

After years of just absolutely tanking the 2nd round choices, we may have 3 big hits this year. 

 

Feels that way to me.

 

Good shot at a franchise QB at #2

Likely stud DT

Likely stud CB

Good shot that we got at least a Cooley level TE-HB

Coleman -- my guess is above average guard -- complete wildcard at LT

Luke McCaffrey -- good chance he's a good 3rd Wr.

 

After that it might just be purely special teams players (which is fine for 5th-7th round) but will see.

 

Magee -- profiles as a stud special team player at worse, at best is we got another hybrid Chinn --S-LB type

Hamption -- same as Macgee

Jean-Baptise-- I like him more than what i saw from Henry and Jones' college tape.  Good roll of the dice edge player

 

The Colorado state CB and Georgia WR are too of my fav UDFAs that I can recall in a long time.

 

This feels like it could be a franchise changing draft.  And I know that sounds like a homer but my take is consistent with the draftniks and leaks from scouts, etc.  So its not just from the perspective of a Washington fan.  So I am feeling good right now.  But like any draft you don't know until you know.

 

As for the comps to Ron at O line.  Major differences IMO.  Ron did hardly anything in FA last year aside from overpaying for a maligned RT and overpaying for a lowgrade center.  And then drafted an undersized sub 300 LT with the lowest wonderlic score at that position.  I liked the Stromberg pick but he's a solid player IMO not a stud.

 

I like Biadaz way over Wylie.  I like Allegreti way over Gates.   They signed Michael Deiter who is a solid backup G-C.    And I like Coleman's chances well over B. Daniels.  Coleman is built in a lab for that spot.  Daniels is a tweener.  Night and day.  Look, I wanted more at the O line.  But they made much more progress this year IMHO versus Rivera did last year.  And heck its good to know its hot on their to do list considering they tried to trade up to get one.  So I suspect they will still make another signing down the road.  They need to do more but they clearly know that.

 

7 minutes ago, Chump Bailey said:

 

He's a mid round pick for a reason. All these guys have flaws the longer you watch them. Latham and Alt are the most clean in my eyes followed by Fashanu and Fuaga.

 

I was big on Mims notwithstanding durability concerns.

 

I liked Morgan but more as a guard.  Loved Barton but more as a guard.

 

That next tier of tackles -- Kinglsey, Fisher, Rosengarten, Coleman, Paul all brought different flavors but all of them had some boom-bust.  

Edited May 8 by Skinsinparadise

[Koolblue13]

Agree with everything you just said. 

7 minutes ago, Skinsinparadise said:

 

Look, I wanted more at the O line.  But they made much more progress this year IMHO versus Rivera did last year.  And heck its good to know its hot on their to do list considering they tried to trade up to get one.  So I suspect they will still make another signing down the road.  They need to do more but they clearly know that.

I love that it's a priority and they've done a lot to address it, without forcing it. That's one of the biggest differences from the last few years.

 

There is patience in the build being done correctly.

[Skinsinparadise]

18 minutes ago, Koolblue13 said:

Agree with everything you just said. 

I love that it's a priority and they've done a lot to address it, without forcing it. That's one of the biggest differences from the last few years.

 

There is patience in the build being done correctly.

 

Agree.

 

They clearly backed their talk as to creating a physical identify.  And wanted dudes who can be violent manning the flat.   And Quinn likes to move chess pieces around and do some exotic blitzes.   And he has some weapons now to do that.

 

Netwon is physical and is a baller.  Magee with a 90 plus pass rushing grade with 5 sacks.    Hybrd defender type.  Hampton ditto a physical oversized safety.   Sanstril albiet a small dude is a good blitzer and physical tackler.   This is after already adding Chinn who is a good bltizer and Luvu who is one of the better pass rushing LBs in the league.   Quan Martin already on the roster isn't a big dude but he's also physical and a good blitzer.

 

They clearly want safeties and LBs who they can keep on the field and are tone setters.  And they already mentioned they plan to use Jamin more closer to the line of scrimmage.  So it feels like they want to use their LBs and safeties to create mismatches and chaos. And wow are both positions deep now.

 

McCaffrey is one of the more physical and better contested catch WRs in that last draft.  Sinnott is one of the better blockers and is physical with the ball in his hands.  And we already have Robinson who is a physical back and Gonzalez. 

 

Daniels isn't a thickly built QB but he's a baller and competitive.

 

To me the identity that they are building is clear as heck.

Edited May 8 by Skinsinparadise

[srtman04]

Overall,  I'm extremely happy with this draft under Adams Peters.   Infinitely better than any draft under Ron Rivera or even other previous regimes.  

 

It's impossible to address every single glaring need in a single draft......I'm happy they didn't give up the farm of current and future potential for a LT this year.   

 

The trade with philthy clearly appears to be beneficial to us, on paper at least.   We'll see when the real games start.

 

I do feel like we are being run by competence again and that in itself is a HUGE win for us,  even if it doesn't show up on the field right away.    But I honestly have a good feeling about this upcoming season and we will make huge strides this year.  

 

 

[Koolblue13]

Our CBs are mostly a question mark that I see people bring up, but our safeties and LBers are such big improvements that I think it'll take a lot of pressure off of them.

 

Sain and Quan seem pretty similar and can switch from CB to deep FS on any play. 

 

We have a ton of blitzers and our IDL should be fun to watch.

 

We will not be an easy or fun team to play this year, win or lose.

 

Offense is definitely more of a question mark and I'm not sure if anyone is too high on Kliff. I'm still out on him. I'm extremely high on Lynn though, so if we need to be a ground and pound offense while Daniels comes up to speed, so be it. I'm excited to watch a rookie QB be treated like a rookie QB and an offense called by adults.

[Skinsinparadise]

18 hours ago, e16bball said:

The biggest problem with this offseason is the same thing that’s always been the biggest problem with this franchise: a lack of a truly coherent plan. They just “do things,” and you never really see how it all holds together as part of a long-term plan.

 

 

 

 

On defense the plan seem as clear as a bell.  They love themselves these undersized LBs, oversized safeties who can hit and blitz.  And this team is loaded on that front now. 

 

Quinn is known to be great at bringing the best out of his D line and Witt from the secondary so should be interesting to see how it all unfolds.

 

18 hours ago, e16bball said:

 

 

Otherwise, what did they do? They go get two TEs and a pass-catching RB. We’ve all watched every play of Jayden’s college career at this point — how often do you ever see him throwing to TEs or RBs? A bit more to the RBs at ASU, at least, when he had Eno Benjamin and Rachaad White. Virtually nothing at LSU, and he had a very talented TE in Mason Taylor who just fell into anonymity last year. Until the bowl game, when he went 7/88 with Nussmeier, that is. 
 

Jayden loves to throw to WRs, especially on the perimeter, guys who separate easily and can win vertically. We go out and get him…a college QB turned mid-major receiver who will probably need some time and even long-term seems to read more “big slot” than “perimeter operator.” We’re just hoping/praying that Dotson’s terrible sophomore year was a Bieniemy-induced fever dreams — and we’re one injury to 17 away from having the worst WR room in the league.

 

Jayden loves to have time and comfort in the pocket. The luxury of time allows him to really engage that vaunted CPU of a brain, and it also tends to result in the back end of the defense breaking down and giving him lanes to really engage those vaunted legs of his. As noted, we grabbed a quality starting center, but we completely whiffed on the OT position. Out goes Leno from last year’s terrible OL, and in comes…absolutely no one. It’s hard to count Coleman, because he’s probably unplayable right now. Major project. It feels like borderline malpractice that the best case scenario on the roster at the moment is Lucas/Wylie as the starters — and if one or both of them go down, you can choose from various practice squad fodder. 
 

 

Many watched Jayden's throws.  I've watched all of them twice.  But we don't all land on the same conclusion from watching him.  Every take is good but we all come out of if with different takes.

 

I'll start with I doubt we are just going to run the LSU offense.  So what we saw there was specific to LSU, am sure they will borrow some of it though.  Daniels is a smart dude and works hard.  I was listening to his QB coach who got into how he approaches the off seasons and he often centers on what doesn't he do enough of or doesn't do well and lets take that on.  My point i don't think Daniels skill set is static.  Not saying you are saying otherwise but just explaining my mindset and guessing their mindset based on what they've done this off season.

 

Jayden has a quick release.  Compact, consistent, very smooth delivery.   The LSU offense loved to go deep so he'd hang in the pocket for as long as possible so on those counts it came off like he holds on to the ball for a long time and in those cases he does.  Average time to throw in the pocket is still less than 3 seconds according to PFF stats.

 

When throwing to the flat, Jayden's accuracy to my eyes was good and he gets rid of the ball fast in that context.    If you go through Nabers stats in particular, Jayden throws his fair share of slants, screens, shallow crossers to him.  

 

I actually thought while watching him a pass catching RB would fit well like Ekeler.   But heck even if I didn't feel that way if they want to run the ball which apparently they do, you ideally want to have a mix of different types.  Rodriguez is in that powerback mode of Robinson so you need something different. Ekeler is different and to me fits an overall plan perfectly versus not having an overall coherent plan.  Then I'd add he's a veteran leader mentor type which we don't have much on our roster.

 

Sinnott is an H-back-TE and is different from the standard TE since he plays a lot out of the backfield and can be an extension of the running game.  Jay Gruden in particular last season would go on and on about how this team doesn't have TE's that can block and how it handcuffs this scheme.  So if we want the running game to be Daniels friend, an H back who is comfortable playing everywhere including the backfield is tailor made.

 

And as for McCaffrey.  Having a big dude like him playing slot also helps the run game.   He has reliable hands and is good with contested catches -- and that sort of fit Daniels trust with the LSU receivers.

 

You add Biadaz who is an above average smart center who can help call protections.  Allegreti was a swing backup guard but looks like he can start.  Has the reputation including from Kelce for being a baller and a tone setter type.  In his 5 seasons gave up 1 sack.  With a 75 plus pass protect PFF grade last year which is a good grade.   Michael Deiter is a solid backup signing.    

 

I am not in the camp that Coleman won't work out.  I like his chances at LG, and by that meaning he can be a very good LG and am far from alone on this take.  I am unsure about LT.  Will see.  But its not as if they weren't aware of LT as an issue, I read multiples places they tried to trade up in the first.  Clearly they weren't in love with a specific 2nd tier LT type -- that's fine with me.  Tough to do everything in one shot.  But I still think good shot they sign a LT -- hopefully some stupid team like we were in releasing Moses or the Bears were in releasing Leno happens again.  Maybe Bakhtiari if his health checks out?

Edited May 9 by Skinsinparadise

[skinny21]

When considering the offseason moves on offense, I have to remind myself we brought back Lucas and Crowder too.  Not world beaters obviously, but pretty solid players, especially serving as placeholders for Coleman/McCaffrey.