Every year we get to this point of draft season and the Asshats come out. Honestly this is one of my favorite parts of BBI, we’ve had good insiders over the years and there’s something that makes you feel part of the team by having some inside info.
This year seems to be different than others. As Eric has mentioned many times, he’s had formerly credible sources feeding him conflicting information making it very difficult to predict which way we’re going to go. In essence, 2024 has become “The Draft of Dueling Asshats”.
With this in mind I’m attempting to organize information that we know for a fact as reference. If I’m missing anything please add it in the thread, if I get something wrong, please correct me:
Current Draft Picks:
1 – 6
2 – 47
3 – 70
4 – 107
5 – 166
6 – 183
Current Cap Space - $6.2Mil Per Spotrac (4/23/2024)
Key Players Lost in Free Agency:
Saquon Barkley
Xavier McKinney
A’Shawn Robinson
Ben Bredeson
Others lost were role players or in Ward’s case, tied to Wink
Key FA Signings:
Jon Runyan Jr
Jermaine Eluemunor
Devin Singletary
Drew Lock (possible starter…)
Beyond that I wouldn’t call any signings “key” but there were some things of note:
Despite our secondary being thin, 1 DB was signed
2 WRs signed both seem to have ST’s value, none are impact players
5 Offensive linemen were signed, this was our clear focus
We finally brought in a blocking TE
The Burns Trade:
Our biggest move this offseason was by far the Brian Burns trade, both by assets expended and $$ spent. We gave up our biggest trade asset to move up for a QB (pick 39 + a swap and future 5th) to acquire Burns and also gave him a large long-term contract.
Burns is a very good player at, in my opinion, the second most impactful position on the field besides QB. This trade makes sense from that perspective.
Our Current Roster:
We have holes…
To start, we don’t have a QB that anyone is comfortable going into the season with. There is no WR1 on this roster (now Slayton seems unhappy) and I can’t tell you who is starting next to Deonte Banks or Jason Pinnock. On top of that, we made 5 OL signings but only 1 (maybe 2) is a true starter, we acquired veteran depth and no more. There is also the question of what our DT rotation is next to Lawrence.
We’re not a player away, maybe a player away per position would be more accurate
Our Coaching Staff:
Most of our offensive staff was retained, so I don’t see a change in player type needed there.
We did get a new DC and he brought in a few new position coaches. It is worth asking the question “are they going to be looking for different types of players than what we have now?”
The Brian Burns trade may have cured the biggest need, however I still expect them to bring in some defensive players in the draft and it’s worth asking what we think they will look like.
Draft Lead Up:
Starting with a general comment which can be stated as fact:
We’ve scouted the heck out of QBs…
Looking at the top 30 visits alone the only major QB prospect they didn’t bring in was the one that everyone seems certain is going number 1 (Caleb Williams). List below, Joe Milton has been talked about a lot but is absent:
1. Drake Maye, QB North Carolina
2. J.J. McCarthy, QB Michigan
3. Michael Penix, Jr., QB Washington
4. Jayden Daniels, QB LSU
5. Bo Nix, QB Oregon
6. Spencer Rattler, QB South Carolina
DB was the only position that brought in more top 30 visits with 7, we only signed 1 FA DB this year:
27. Chau Smith-Wade, CB Washington St
28. Max Melton, CB Rutgers (LOCAL)
29. Andru Phillips, CB Kentucky
30. Evan Williams, DB Oregon
31. Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB Alabama
32. Chigozie Anusiem, CB Colorado St
33. Cam Hart, CB Notre Dame
The ”Big 3” WRs were all brought in but the only other aside from them was Tejhaun Palmer from UAB who was 49th in The Beast and 40th on Sy’s list, neither with draftable grades.
They also brought in a DT, Pheldarius Payne, who did not even make The Beast despite it listing 30 DTs.
Despite signing 5 OL this offseason, 5 OL were still brought in on Top 30 visits
14. Joe Alt, OT Notre Dame
15. Giovanni Manu, OT Univ of British Columbia
16. Cooper Beebe, OG Kansas St
17. Jordan Morgan, OL Arizona
18. Patrick Paul, OT Houston
The only off ball LB brought in on a Top 30 was UTEPs Tyrice Knight
Joe Schoen has drafted heavily from the Top 30 list in the past
Other signings/things of note:
RB Turbo Miller was signed in an odd situation where a player who thought he was draft eligible was actually a FA
There have been changes in the kickoff rules and some of our back-end FA signings seem to be in adjustment to this
Rumors of draft plans haven’t just been conflicting from our own Asshats, even the local beat reporters have been getting conflicting information
Mara has publicly said he would back the drafting of a new QB if Schoen/Daboll felt it was the best move for the team
Schoen has left the door open to staying put at 6, trading up and trading down…
Coaching staff and front office have all acknowledged we have a lot of holes to fill and seem to finally understand we’re in a rebuild
"Schoen and company seems to know we are in a rebuild much as we were in 2022. Time will tell if they stay with that conclusion through the season."
That being said, if we do not get Maye and basically get nothing at QB, I still can't see Jones being the guy. We have made it way way too public our interest in getting a QB and that is clearly sending a message to the team that we are not happy with our highest paid player.
If we add Nabers (or other WR) or drop back it better be work to fill the major holes elsewhere or it won't matter again next year as we won't have enough picks or talent to get a QB.
I don’t know what this team is about - and I haven’t for years.
I have no idea what the plan is.
They're not willing to mortgage the house to get one, for obvious reasons.
If that doesn't work, they pivot to a wide receiver with the #6 pick.
Why?
Because, as Sy has pointed out, the team needs an identity, for that you need elite players, and any of those top three WR's are elite.
Unless another team comes in with an overpriced offer, I don't see Schoen trading down, but you never know.
They're not willing to mortgage the house to get one, for obvious reasons.
If that doesn't work, they pivot to a wide receiver with the #6 pick.
Why?
Because, as Sy has pointed out, the team needs an identity, for that you need elite players, and any of those top three WR's are elite.
Unless another team comes in with an overpriced offer, I don't see Schoen trading down, but you never know.
I agree.
Schoen needs a home run in round 1. Odunze screams "Safe" pick.
I would rather trade down if no QB early.
Yes, you are 100% correct two starting OL.
But as usual, any thread started by Biteymax22 is a quality thread and should be required reading.
I can also say, that id Schoen(and the FO) was trying to fool everyone or keep people of the scent, then they have been 100% successful in keeping all guessing as to the 1st round pick.
For R1 I think:
Picks 1,2 and 3 don't move and pick QB and AZ picks MH. The Giants trade with the Chargers if a QB they like is at 5, or trade down with Denver/Minnesota/Raiders if they don't like the QB left at 6. A future 1st sets them up next year. They then go BPA - the (only) advantage of having so many holes is BPA/need will almost definitely align.
Roll on Thursday!!
I put the "Maybe 2" caveat in as I think Eluemunor winds up starting but I think he's a guy that should be more of a 6th man utility player. Unfortunately our situation is going to push him into the starting line up.
Honestly you just said it. While I'd love a QB, what I really need to see the most is that there's some sort of a strategic plan being executed to get us out of the doldrums of the NFL.
I felt like there was one in Schoen/Dabolls first season but it was quickly thrown out the window the second we had a bit of success. I was happier with how this offseason went as far as long term building goes but will the draft follow suit?
I know I always harp on George Young (and Ray Perkins and Parcells) but the lessons still hold up.
1) decide what type of team you want to be
2) scout draft and acquire players to fit the mold
3) get rid of the ones who don't and develop the ones you acquire.