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Re: The 2025 NFL Draft Thread

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2025 6:41 pm
by skinsinparadise
GoingCommando wrote: Mon Apr 28, 2025 3:37 pm
skinsinparadise wrote: Mon Apr 28, 2025 2:42 pm
D Line is the only weakness on the team now IMO.
I wouldn't call them weaknesses, but WR, RB, TE, and LB are all below average areas of the team, with room for huge improvement.

TE has the potential to get good because of Sinnott, but we don't really know which way that's going to go yet. I think we do know that WR, RB, and LB are all much more likely to degrade than improve over time. Deebo was a significant short term addition, but he's really just a patch on an otherwise low-end group group of weapons. Better long term outlook than Ekeler and Ertz, but not by a whole lot. Ekeler and Ertz needed to be replaced this offseason, as did Wagner, but the opportunity to do that in a cost effective way didn't really emerge.

I'm happy with the build-work Peters did because I'm taking the rosy view and hoping that the secondary and OL are going to be legit strengths next year. But we have taken a ton of risks with the trades and signings we made. Deebo and Lattimore could easily be way past their good years and look like bad trades. And I love the Tunsil deal on paper, but I'm not going to lie, it worries me that a franchise LT has already been traded twice by the time he's hit his prime years. Not just that, we drafted his replacement the first opportunity to do so after acquiring him. There is obviously something wrong with the dude's character/mental approach. Rumors about him skipping meetings/showing up late to practices. The constant penalties. Dropping in the draft for smoking weed with a gas mask. He's got some knucklehead in him and he's not going to change. This trade looks great if he spends the next three or four seasons kicking ass with us, but it looks terrible if we don't get at least two good years out of him.

Conerly is really the key to the offseason long term. If he ends up becoming a stud LT who is a special guy and a core to our build long term, then this offseason will be remembered as pretty good work.

But for us to reach the level that the Eagles are at, Peters needs to hit a fuckin no doubter home run off-season and get like four true studs out of a draft class, and this off-season was not that.
IMO Terry, Deebo, Noah Brown-Gallup. And I like Lane a lot. As a whole I don't see that unit as below average. But, to each their own. I actually think its an above average unit.

RB -- Wagner is old, but 2nd team All Pro. Luvu is good. Back ups all right. Their future worries me but IMO the present unit is above average.

TE -- is just OK, i don't love what am hearing about Sinnott. Good dude from what i hear but i get the vibe he's not the sharpest processor. Bates is one of the best run blockers in the NFL.

RB: Robinson is a jag. Ekeler has his moments but needs to be used sparingly. Rodriguez IMO is better than Robinson but I gather this coaching staff disagrees. I get the impression that they held a "meh" camp from Robinson against him. So hopefully he brings it this camp and plays well. I am big fan of Croskey-Merritt. Granted a wild card. I know it sounds weird to say this about a 7th round back, but I think he emerges as the #1 back over time.

I mentoned him before our pick came up. I did the same for Jean-Bapitise last year on ES. The difference is I saw Jean-Baptise as a backup. Croskey-Merritt IMO is a more talented runner than Robinson. But will see.

Re: The 2025 NFL Draft Thread

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2025 7:38 pm
by skinsinparadise
GoingCommando wrote: Mon Apr 28, 2025 3:37 pm
skinsinparadise wrote: Mon Apr 28, 2025 2:42 pm
D Line is the only weakness on the team now IMO.
I wouldn't call them weaknesses, but WR, RB, TE, and LB are all below average areas of the team, with room for huge improvement.

TE has the potential to get good because of Sinnott, but we don't really know which way that's going to go yet. I think we do know that WR, RB, and LB are all much more likely to degrade than improve over time. Deebo was a significant short term addition, but he's really just a patch on an otherwise low-end group group of weapons. Better long term outlook than Ekeler and Ertz, but not by a whole lot. Ekeler and Ertz needed to be replaced this offseason, as did Wagner, but the opportunity to do that in a cost effective way didn't really emerge.

I'm happy with the build-work Peters did because I'm taking the rosy view and hoping that the secondary and OL are going to be legit strengths next year. But we have taken a ton of risks with the trades and signings we made. Deebo and Lattimore could easily be way past their good years and look like bad trades. And I love the Tunsil deal on paper, but I'm not going to lie, it worries me that a franchise LT has already been traded twice by the time he's hit his prime years. Not just that, we drafted his replacement the first opportunity to do so after acquiring him. There is obviously something wrong with the dude's character/mental approach. Rumors about him skipping meetings/showing up late to practices. The constant penalties. Dropping in the draft for smoking weed with a gas mask. He's got some knucklehead in him and he's not going to change. This trade looks great if he spends the next three or four seasons kicking ass with us, but it looks terrible if we don't get at least two good years out of him.

Conerly is really the key to the offseason long term. If he ends up becoming a stud LT who is a special guy and a core to our build long term, then this offseason will be remembered as pretty good work.

But for us to reach the level that the Eagles are at, Peters needs to hit a fuckin no doubter home run off-season and get like four true studs out of a draft class, and this off-season was not that.
I don't like the Lattimore trade but I get the idea behind it at the time. Part of my desire for a CB in this draft is concerns about him. I think he's a total wildcard at best. But it wouldn't shock me if that ends up being Peters' screw up in the mix of mostly great moves when it comes to acquiring veterans. But no one wins them all. I like the aggresiveness at the time behind the trade. Not sure I love them doubling down on him this off season. Part of the charm of the deal for me back then is you could cut bait this off season because he has no guaranteed money.

Deebo for a 5th rounder is a no risk, worth a shot. Drives me crazy when some local reporters say if he regains his form in his career year from 2021 (if am recalling the year right) than we are good -- acting like every other year has been bad for Deebo. Nope. Deebo indeed did have one killer season that he didn't replicate but he's had a good career, nonetheless. Only bad year was last season and it wasn't so bad, he was still #2 in the league for YAC/yards per reception.

For Deebo with his contract on the line, maybe it brings out his best. I got a simllar hope for Payne who seems to be especially driven by money. I don't need peak Deebo. 2023 Deebo is more than fine, rated that year as one of the top half best players in the NFL by his peers. I love that trade.

As for Tunsil, I listened to hours upon hours of Texas beat guys interviewed about him as a dude. Don't love him being late to meetings. As for voluntary meetings -- other dudes like Trent would skip them here, that doesn't bother me. But no drug issues past eons ago from early college that I've seen. We couldn't say the same about Trent Williams who actually had issues in his career with it. But these days, not a big deal in the NFL.

Reporter after reporter who covered Tunsil has more of less the same narrative. Nice guy. They like talking to him. Good teammate. His teammates like him. Hard worker -- in shape. Wants to be great. The downside to him is he's not a natural leader. And he really really really likes to get paid.

I love the trade. He's not a perfect personality but I don't have concerns at least based on what Texans reporters have said about him.

Re: The 2025 NFL Draft Thread

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2025 8:08 pm
by rvaskins
The Commanders are getting mixed grades on the Josh Conerly pick. I for one have no problem with the pick. You can never have too many quality offensive linemen. Especially with the defenses we face.
I like that Peters picks the BPA instead of reaching for need. He's not done. We'll pick up a Edge at some point.

Re: The 2025 NFL Draft Thread

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2025 7:26 am
by skinsinparadise
rvaskins wrote: Mon Apr 28, 2025 8:08 pm
The Commanders are getting mixed grades on the Josh Conerly pick. I for one have no problem with the pick. You can never have too many quality offensive linemen. Especially with the defenses we face.
I like that Peters picks the BPA instead of reaching for need. He's not done. We'll pick up a Edge at some point.
Not on my watching-reading and I hit a pretty wide gamut. It's mostly love with minor criticisms. The minors ones that I encountered was Sikemma from PFf who ranked him 30, we took him 29 and said he doesn't love him as much as his co-host from PFF. McShay had him 45 but then goes on about how much he loves him. I gather I missed 1 or 2? But overall, lot of love for that pick from my encounters. One guy forgetting whom said more or less what gives? Since this will be Washington's third tackle, they don't need one. My thought is that's silly. They indeed need another tackle. Coleman is a guard.

Cooley, who is far from an easy get, gushed about him on Sheehan's podcast. Cooley who was down on the Haskins pick among others. Used to trash so many of Bruce Allen's FA signings. Thought Jayden was the best QB in the last draft. Thought Josh Allen was the best QB in that draft, too. Has some misses like anyone else. But has a good eye IMO. He did a deep dive into Conerly, it was a good listen.

Re: The 2025 NFL Draft Thread

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2025 7:38 am
by skinsinparadise

Re: The 2025 NFL Draft Thread

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2025 10:00 am
by Warhead36
Tunsil isn't a leader or culture setter. He's a great player (arguably the best LT in football last year) but he's kinda just an employee basically. He'll show up and do his job but doesn't do more than that. Its not a big deal because we have plenty of leaders on our team. If he shuts down his man and keeps Daniels upright, I'm good. I didn't hear anything about missing/being late to meetings, I just heard he wasn't much of a leader in that Texan locker room and didn't take responsibility for the OL as a whole sucking because he was good (can't totally blame him for that I guess). I don't think taking Conerly was any knock on Tunsil. It was an opportunity to really strengthen the OL and turn it into a potential top 5 unit in 2026. Tunsil isn't anywhere close to being past his prime. OL can dominate well past age 35 (see Trent Williams, Andrew Whitworth, Lane Johnson, Tyron Smith etc. etc.).

Re: The 2025 NFL Draft Thread

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2025 10:01 am
by Warhead36
skinsinparadise wrote: Tue Apr 29, 2025 7:26 am
rvaskins wrote: Mon Apr 28, 2025 8:08 pm

Cooley, who is far from an easy get, gushed about him on Sheehan's podcast. Cooley who was down on the Haskins pick among others. Used to trash so many of Bruce Allen's FA signings. Thought Jayden was the best QB in the last draft. Thought Josh Allen was the best QB in that draft, too. Has some misses like anyone else. But has a good eye IMO. He did a deep dive into Conerly, it was a good listen.
Haven't listened to that yet, hoping Sheehan plays it on his show today (I think he planned to play it yesterday but the stadium news took up much of the time). Its good to hear that Cooley is high on him. He is mostly money on his player evaluations. Kinda feel like he could have a career as a scout or coach but he seems happy just making pots and chilling in Wyoming.

Re: The 2025 NFL Draft Thread

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2025 11:30 am
by skinsinparadise
Warhead36 wrote: Tue Apr 29, 2025 10:00 am
Tunsil isn't a leader or culture setter. He's a great player (arguably the best LT in football last year) but he's kinda just an employee basically. He'll show up and do his job but doesn't do more than that. Its not a big deal because we have plenty of leaders on our team. If he shuts down his man and keeps Daniels upright, I'm good. I didn't hear anything about missing/being late to meetings, I just heard he wasn't much of a leader in that Texan locker room and didn't take responsibility for the OL as a whole sucking because he was good (can't totally blame him for that I guess). I don't think taking Conerly was any knock on Tunsil. It was an opportunity to really strengthen the OL and turn it into a potential top 5 unit in 2026. Tunsil isn't anywhere close to being past his prime. OL can dominate well past age 35 (see Trent Williams, Andrew Whitworth, Lane Johnson, Tyron Smith etc. etc.).

Yeah while i get the point and sentiment. I don't get the impression this is once a knucklehead, always a knucklehead because of that incident as if I recall which happened when he was a sophomore in college. i can think of most people in my life who if I defined them that way by an incident like that in college -- that in turn I'd know many more knuckleads in my life than professionals. Albiet, most of them turned out uber professional and successful.

Tunsil has talked about that incident as embarassing and he learned from it. As far as I recall, he didn't have any other episodes with pot in the pros unlike some other people we've loved like Trent.

I did stumble on an article about him being late to some meetings. But overall listening to the people who have covered him -- they describe a dude who is rigiourous about off season training. Keeps in good shape. He wants to be regarded as the best LT in the game and works on his craft to make that happen. Nice guy albiet a bit quiet and teammates like him.

But the beef is for one of their best players, he acts like he's just another player and doesn't lead the room. Though some have said on the field he's selfless including helping his left guard and pointing out needed shifts in protection. And he really really likes to get paid and isn't shy as to letting people know that.

Sort of sounds a bit like Daron Payne but not being quite as quiet as him and comes off as more of a self-motivator than Daron by reputation. Daron is quiet. Daron let everyone know, heck including even the fans, how much he wanted to be paid during this contract year and come off as a bit of a mercenary. Tunsil by reputation is similar.

The difference between the two according to beat guys, etc -- Tunsil doesn't just want to get paid, he also wants to play great and be considered great. Daron according to some who coached him isn't a big self motivator. But clearly when his contract was on the line, Daron found that motivation. Sounds like Tunsil like Daron isn't shy to make it known he wants to get paid. And if I had to pick the one common thread the Texan beat reports said negative about Tunsil its that.

I do like how Tunsil doesn't brush off criticism. He was knocked some for his run blocking. And said he was determined to improve on that and did so last season. Also this off season, he said his false start penalities are unacceptable and will work to clean that up.

I am not put off by players who want to be great but also get paid for that. I get its classier to keep your mouth shut about wanting to get paid. But I am OK with it. The players who get on my nerves are the ones who want to get paid and aren't that determined to be great.

Re: The 2025 NFL Draft Thread

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2025 1:45 pm
by The Consiglieri81
Warhead36 wrote: Mon Apr 28, 2025 2:02 pm
Peters was smart in drafting OT and CB early. We took them just as there was gonna be big drop offs in talent. After Connoly the last high echelon T left was Simmons and both would be gone pretty much instantly (everyone knew KC was going OT). After Amos the last good CB left was Revel (like Simmons he was also coming off injury). Instead of reaching for needs we took shots at guys who are much more talented and at premium positions to boot.

My only knock is not being able to get an Edge out of a stacked Edge class, but the board just didn't play out in that favor. Again, can't reach for need. Take talent and figure it out later.
Some quick thoughts:

OT: Totally agree, word I heard is that it was 4 or 5 deep and then the talent level went off a cliff. We got, what, the 4th dude. We trade down, decent chance we can't get the 4th or the 5th.

CB: Do not agree, though I'd agree with/the idea that there wasn't much left at the position after Amos, who I had around 4th-6th based on my readings (I can't watch tape and decide whose a stud, I know what I like in profiles other people write), what I think matches things a bit better is that we started a run at corner, 6 corners including ours went in the next 24 picks, only 1 had gone in the previous 13 picks (another guy I liked, Morrison). I liked a few of those guys, particularly Revel (like you I guess), other highly rated guys by Brugler and some other tape guys included A. Thomas, the FSU kid, Parrish, Nohl Williams who I liked, and Porter who I liked but if I remember right, is just too old.

So for me, what I liked about Amos was more the reality that he was a top 25-45 talent that we were getting at a 15-35 selection discount. Reminded me of us landing Smoot at below market value in '01, and while not an All Pro, he was a solid, above average corner for nearly a decade. Amos feels like a better version of that kind of steal.

Edge: The big problem here was that post Lattimore/Tunsil trades we emptied the cupboard of picks in '25 and to a degree '26, not mentioning losing a 5th for Deebo. No matter what we did, we were almost certainly going to leave a position group unaddressed:

Tier 1 Needs:
Edge
CB
RB

Tier 2 Needs:
OL
WR
TE
LB

Tier 3 Needs:
S
QB-Backup

We had 2 blue chip picks, and the interest clearly appeared to be moving down, to get enough picks to hit 3 of those top 4 or 5 position group needs in the top 100-125, but the reality was, like with us in dynasty leagues, or say in mocks, there's always a guy or two that if they fall into your lap, you're going to welcome said talent into your arms, like Paul Pierce back in 1998, or Deni and Haliburton in '00 etc. In this case, apparently the Tackle, and Amos were simply dudes that they probably had top 20, and probably top 40 on their boards. To my mind, personally, if you liked Connerly that much, well, you couldn't trade down, because OT was either going to be taken at slot, or traded up for. There was so little talent left.

Amos is the one, where, if they wanted, they could have moved down. Some guys they could have gotten in round 3 include:
Revel-CB
Gillote-Edge
Porter-CB
L. Jackson-Edge
Nohl Williams-CB
Princely-Edge
Burch-Edge
Parrish-CB

Etc, there was around another 25+ slots we could have dropped down, and gotten some of those dudes. I think for the most part, the tier drop at edge happened at slot 72 in round 3, after that you're looking at guys like Princely and Burch, at CB 76th was the last guy I really liked, I think. then there's a tier drop there too, but in both cases, you're still getting something interesting after that, its just likely after a tier drop at both positions.

So the question ends up: is moving from Amos to Revel, or Parrish or Porter or Nohl Williams worth it? Is it worth it to dip about 16 slots for Jackson?

That's the question, there's two really:
#1 Did we screw up in not moving from round 2, pick 60 or so, to 75, worth the drop? Would the payoff be worth it (I guess maybe turning a 6th into a 5th or something). That's an open question. I really like Revel and Amos, the rest of them I'm more nervous about, but I also liked Landon Jackson, so, maybe, it was worth it? I do like Amos so much though that I think it was probably worth it, hopefully Jackson and Revel are misses so we aren't left with what if's lol.

#2 Was going after athletes in round 4, 6 and 7 the right decision? The guys in the 4th and 6th look sketchy as hell as prospects, really, really, really low floors. But if they hit? The RB, wow, that guy, legit looks like a steal. If he busts, he'll just be another in a mega long line of RB's over the years I thought we stole, that did bupkis, so we'll see (for the curious, Bryce Love in '19, and Keith Marshall in '16 were the last day 3 RB's I thought we stole: Admittedly Bryce was recovering from catastrophic injury, and wanted to go to med school).

The reviews are funny (except for the Warren Sharpe podcast guest, he seemed kind of clueless with our day 3 strategy, but you can't know everything about every team), because you can tell they're all:
"Well, we love the round 1 and round 2 value, but they had a lot of needs, and couldn't address them all, Edge is still a HUGE problem, they have a bunch of crap at RB, so......was day 3 good? Really good athletic profiles but huge weaknesses (the WR didn't do much at all, the LB can't apparently see who he's supposed to tackle based on the missed tackle metrics, and the RB couldn't figure out his own eligibility). They can't seem to figure out how to evaluate us, which, is totally understandable. But the expectation looking at the class 20 months from now, is that we landed 2 starters, and a potential starting rb? Plus some speed in packages for the Offense and Defense? Well, that's basically a solid draft, and for a team with the paucity of picks we had going in, that would be a very good haul.

Re: The 2025 NFL Draft Thread

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2025 1:49 pm
by Jumbo
Media won't be done with this for awhile 👹🤡

"Multiple owners told teams to take Sanders off their boards"

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootba ... -the-board