03-22-2025, 12:29 PM
With a new DC, new OL coach, and some other coaching changes, it is hard to get a read on the existing pecking order, and hiw the FO feels about the guys we have. Not to mention schene changes. A Vyper, more LBs, less nickel, etc.
Big picture, other than QB, punter, and long snapper, and maybe C, I think we could use help/upgrades at every single position group. It is just a matter of how one prioritizes things.
OTC has Higgins at $24.1 mil cap hit this year, and Chase at $23.57. Early days, Tee's numbers have fluctuated already. But that is roghly a $2+ mill decrease for Tee and a $2 mil increase for Chase. Net wash. $24 mil in space without Patrick. Call it $21.9 with.
Paying Trey will take up some, the PS will take $3-4 mil, Rd1 pick net is around $2, and so is paying 53 instead of 51. And guys on IR (All). That is $8-$9 less, $13-$14 mil, minus Trey. Plus you know we keep a cushion for injuries (All won't be the only guy on IR).
Now, if we waived Moss (+3.3) and/or Volson (+$3.56) that nets $7 mil. Plus Burrow coukd restructure for +$19 mil. Moss getting waived seems likely, the others? Bottom line, there is not a ton there atm. Some. If we get a restructure, or Pratt/Stone moves, then more.
1. Guard.
Signed: Patrick (G/C), Volson, Karras (starting C + G), Ford (T/G), Lee (C/G), Kirkland (G/T), Stueber.
We have bodies. It is just that the best of them are best suited as backups (Patrick, Volson), already starting at center (Karras), primarily play/played another spot first/better (Ford, Lee, Kirkland), or have virtually no NFL experience (Kirkland, Lee, Stueber).
Drafting a short armed college OT and converting them to G with an eye on LT in the future and OT3 at present (also a need), is a viable strategy. A C pick could allow Karras to play G, but given his poor run block grades, I am not a huge fan of that.
Needs: At least one quality starter level, maybe 2.
Best method: 1 in FA + 1 in draft.
FAs: Scherff, Hernandez, Risner, Colon.
Draft: Jackson, Zabel, Ratledge, Fairchild, Gray, Kandra.
OT conversion: Campbell, Membou, Conerly, Savaiinaea, Grant, Mbow.
#17 is unlikely unless Campbell or Membou fall in our laps. But a trade down would bring Jackson, Zabel, and Conerly into play. They and others certainly in play at #49.
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2. Pass rush help, from anywhere/everywhere: DE, OLB/Edge, LB, DT/3T.
DE & DT are the most obvious spots. But Golden does play less nickel and more 4-3. There are a couple types of players that he may want that we don't have on roster.
Lou liked true DE's not 3-4 outside OLB/Edge types. Prioritizing run stopping in our division (Hubbard, Murphy, Sample, etc). Though Trey & Ossai have some OLB in their pasts.
Golden likes to play with a Vyper. An 3-4 stand up OLB/Edge or an An off-ball 4-3 OLB type who can pressure the passercoukd fill the bill nicely. And we don't really have either type on the roster. All our LBs are 4231 or 4-3 MLB types (though IDK in Burks) and our DE's are hand in the dirt not stand up OLB types.
IDK what the change will mean for the DE & LB position groups moving forward. Or how he views the guys we already have. DT could be impacted too. If we go lighter in the esge with a Vyper instead of a DE, does that mean heavier at the other 3 spots? Less 5 man fronts? More? IDK.
But I do know we need more pass rush. From the edge, from the middle, and from LB. Be it from a true DE, DT/3T, OLB 3-4 edge, or 4-3 OLB. Or all of the above.
DE (6): Hendrickson, Ossai; Murphy, C. Johnson, C. Sample, I. Thomas.
DT/NT: (4): BJ Hill, Slaton; Jenkins, Jackson
LB (5): L. Wilson, Pratt; Burks, Njogmeta, Heyward
Trey is obviously a stud. Ossai came on late last year and was retained with a raise, though IDK if he is ready to be an every down DE2 and can hold up vs the run. Murphy got no sacks last year but was decent otherwise. Sample was a competent rotational edge whi coukd kick inside & a good run stopper prior to his injury. And I thought Johnson looked decent in linited snaps.
If Sample can play, have have 5 guys who can play some. And IF Ossai can hold up at DE2. I could easily see a true DE (Stewart, Jackson, Scourton, JTT, Sawyer, Burch, Gillotte, etc) or an OLB/Edge type (Green, Pearce, etc) or both in the draft. It is a deep class with a lot of good pass rushers. And Smith as a FA option with 10 sacks last year, but he might be too expensive.
Further there are Rd1 guys like Walker & Campbell who are LB/pass rush guys who could work well for us as well as a Vyper type or 4-3 OLB. And our LB's are all MLB types. Aside from pass rush, some more sideline to sideline quickness at LB would also help. Though Burks could give us some of that, I am unfamiliar with him.
Whether one wants to label it a DE need or a LB need, there is a need for outside pass rush and dynacism at both spots. And given the depth at both spots, one of each isn't out of the question, despite only 6 picks.
We are short a body at DT/NT. We usually carry 5 (or even 6), and we only have 4 signed. And all are better run stoppers than pass rushers. And disruptor/pass rush guy for the DT rotation is needed, though Hill/Slaton are capable starters.
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After that, I think I drop down a level. Safety upgrades or a do it all TE1 type (Warren, Ferguson, Evans) would be fantastic. As would a true CB1, or even 1 more proven CB so Fig isn't first up.
Level 3 wouid be OT3 and RB depth. WR isn't too dynamic outide of Tee & Chase. You could argue Gesicki & Hudson are actually WR3 and WR4 and they are TEs. Though Yoshi did make progress and we aren't giving up on Burton (yet). Supposedly. A guy like Bech or Tez Johnson or Noel or Higgins or Savion Williams would be fun if we get an extra pick somehow. And McPherson was pretty damn shaky last year and we save $2.5 mil with a post June 1 cut.
Musts: G, DT/3T, pass rush help (DE/OLB/Edge)
Nice: S upgrades, TE1, CB1, coverage LB
Cherry on top: OT3, RB3, WR3-4, PK.
Sorry for the length.
Big picture, other than QB, punter, and long snapper, and maybe C, I think we could use help/upgrades at every single position group. It is just a matter of how one prioritizes things.
OTC has Higgins at $24.1 mil cap hit this year, and Chase at $23.57. Early days, Tee's numbers have fluctuated already. But that is roghly a $2+ mill decrease for Tee and a $2 mil increase for Chase. Net wash. $24 mil in space without Patrick. Call it $21.9 with.
Paying Trey will take up some, the PS will take $3-4 mil, Rd1 pick net is around $2, and so is paying 53 instead of 51. And guys on IR (All). That is $8-$9 less, $13-$14 mil, minus Trey. Plus you know we keep a cushion for injuries (All won't be the only guy on IR).
Now, if we waived Moss (+3.3) and/or Volson (+$3.56) that nets $7 mil. Plus Burrow coukd restructure for +$19 mil. Moss getting waived seems likely, the others? Bottom line, there is not a ton there atm. Some. If we get a restructure, or Pratt/Stone moves, then more.
1. Guard.
Signed: Patrick (G/C), Volson, Karras (starting C + G), Ford (T/G), Lee (C/G), Kirkland (G/T), Stueber.
We have bodies. It is just that the best of them are best suited as backups (Patrick, Volson), already starting at center (Karras), primarily play/played another spot first/better (Ford, Lee, Kirkland), or have virtually no NFL experience (Kirkland, Lee, Stueber).
Drafting a short armed college OT and converting them to G with an eye on LT in the future and OT3 at present (also a need), is a viable strategy. A C pick could allow Karras to play G, but given his poor run block grades, I am not a huge fan of that.
Needs: At least one quality starter level, maybe 2.
Best method: 1 in FA + 1 in draft.
FAs: Scherff, Hernandez, Risner, Colon.
Draft: Jackson, Zabel, Ratledge, Fairchild, Gray, Kandra.
OT conversion: Campbell, Membou, Conerly, Savaiinaea, Grant, Mbow.
#17 is unlikely unless Campbell or Membou fall in our laps. But a trade down would bring Jackson, Zabel, and Conerly into play. They and others certainly in play at #49.
------------------------
2. Pass rush help, from anywhere/everywhere: DE, OLB/Edge, LB, DT/3T.
DE & DT are the most obvious spots. But Golden does play less nickel and more 4-3. There are a couple types of players that he may want that we don't have on roster.
Lou liked true DE's not 3-4 outside OLB/Edge types. Prioritizing run stopping in our division (Hubbard, Murphy, Sample, etc). Though Trey & Ossai have some OLB in their pasts.
Golden likes to play with a Vyper. An 3-4 stand up OLB/Edge or an An off-ball 4-3 OLB type who can pressure the passercoukd fill the bill nicely. And we don't really have either type on the roster. All our LBs are 4231 or 4-3 MLB types (though IDK in Burks) and our DE's are hand in the dirt not stand up OLB types.
IDK what the change will mean for the DE & LB position groups moving forward. Or how he views the guys we already have. DT could be impacted too. If we go lighter in the esge with a Vyper instead of a DE, does that mean heavier at the other 3 spots? Less 5 man fronts? More? IDK.
But I do know we need more pass rush. From the edge, from the middle, and from LB. Be it from a true DE, DT/3T, OLB 3-4 edge, or 4-3 OLB. Or all of the above.
DE (6): Hendrickson, Ossai; Murphy, C. Johnson, C. Sample, I. Thomas.
DT/NT: (4): BJ Hill, Slaton; Jenkins, Jackson
LB (5): L. Wilson, Pratt; Burks, Njogmeta, Heyward
Trey is obviously a stud. Ossai came on late last year and was retained with a raise, though IDK if he is ready to be an every down DE2 and can hold up vs the run. Murphy got no sacks last year but was decent otherwise. Sample was a competent rotational edge whi coukd kick inside & a good run stopper prior to his injury. And I thought Johnson looked decent in linited snaps.
If Sample can play, have have 5 guys who can play some. And IF Ossai can hold up at DE2. I could easily see a true DE (Stewart, Jackson, Scourton, JTT, Sawyer, Burch, Gillotte, etc) or an OLB/Edge type (Green, Pearce, etc) or both in the draft. It is a deep class with a lot of good pass rushers. And Smith as a FA option with 10 sacks last year, but he might be too expensive.
Further there are Rd1 guys like Walker & Campbell who are LB/pass rush guys who could work well for us as well as a Vyper type or 4-3 OLB. And our LB's are all MLB types. Aside from pass rush, some more sideline to sideline quickness at LB would also help. Though Burks could give us some of that, I am unfamiliar with him.
Whether one wants to label it a DE need or a LB need, there is a need for outside pass rush and dynacism at both spots. And given the depth at both spots, one of each isn't out of the question, despite only 6 picks.
We are short a body at DT/NT. We usually carry 5 (or even 6), and we only have 4 signed. And all are better run stoppers than pass rushers. And disruptor/pass rush guy for the DT rotation is needed, though Hill/Slaton are capable starters.
-----------
After that, I think I drop down a level. Safety upgrades or a do it all TE1 type (Warren, Ferguson, Evans) would be fantastic. As would a true CB1, or even 1 more proven CB so Fig isn't first up.
Level 3 wouid be OT3 and RB depth. WR isn't too dynamic outide of Tee & Chase. You could argue Gesicki & Hudson are actually WR3 and WR4 and they are TEs. Though Yoshi did make progress and we aren't giving up on Burton (yet). Supposedly. A guy like Bech or Tez Johnson or Noel or Higgins or Savion Williams would be fun if we get an extra pick somehow. And McPherson was pretty damn shaky last year and we save $2.5 mil with a post June 1 cut.
Musts: G, DT/3T, pass rush help (DE/OLB/Edge)
Nice: S upgrades, TE1, CB1, coverage LB
Cherry on top: OT3, RB3, WR3-4, PK.
Sorry for the length.
