03-17-2025, 08:52 AM
(03-16-2025, 12:55 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: IF these extensions for Chase and Higgins happen, we'll have $125 million in 3 offensive players.
That's new ground in the NFL by far.
It's going to put a premium on drafting.
What are your thoughts on team building?
It’s easier to find a bunch of average players to fit around superstars than superstars to add to average players. It gives us a point of difference over every team.
Ideally this would have been done earlier. People talk about the extra $10m a year that might have saved but not getting Tee signed up early also cost us an extra third round spent on Burton to try and replace him and maybe the 4th round spent on Charlie Jones (although that was really trying to replace Boyd).
Not re-signing Bates cost us a first round pick (Dax) and Geno Stone and Nick Scott’s contracts. His contract he signed in Atlanta looks good value now.
There’s always a premium on building through the draft. That’s the main way of acquiring great players as teams rarely let great players go. Its important that the Bengals hit in the draft this year as I don’t anticipate them drafting this high very often. It is much easier to find a difference maker at 17 than at 30 (and equally finding a solid contributor picking in the 40s than early 60s).
There should be good options at 17 (Nolan? Green?). 49 might be more of a trade back scenario to try and get some extra draft capital. Maybe they go G here as they seem to have painted themselves into a bit of a corner there. 3rd round might be a nice spot for a LBer (this is where we drafted both Logan Wilson and Pratt) but safety might be the value play here. Maybe it’s S in 3rd, LB in 4th or the other way around. The extra pick might then be a TE, RB or 2nd G. I’d expect them to double up at Edge or LB as well.
Ideally they go and get Scherff and Risner before the draft to give them a bit more flexibility.
