07-29-2025, 03:14 PM
The D is more straightforward for me. And the pecking order more well defined.
For me, the D is:
20 locks: top 4 at DE, DT, LB, CB, S
2 near locks: C. Sample and Ivey
2 winners of legit comps:
---LB5: Heyward, Giles-Harris, Njongmeta
----CB6: M. Wilson, J. Davis
That is 24. We will circle back to the last spits later.
The top 4 at DE, NT/DT, LB, CB, and S are pretty well established, to my eye at least. Though we can certainly quibble about the order. But that is 20 guys, and I'd say all but the backup safeties absolute locks: Hendrickson, Ossai, Stewart, Murphy; BJ Hill, Slaton, Jenkins, Jackson; L. Wilson, Knight, Burks, Carter; CTB, Turner, D. Hill, Newton; Battle, Stone, Anderson, Anthony.
A. DL (9). Hendrickson, Ossai, BJ Hill, Slaton; Murphy, Stewart, Jenkins, Jackson, C. Sample.
There is no way we don't carry at least 9 DL (probably 10, maybe 11). C. Sample is a proven rotational guy with DE/3T versatility seems to be the easy leader here. Unless that injury really took him down a level.
Unlike OL, we rotate guys on the DL. 4 ends and 4 DTs will play each week. And you really need cover for the reserves as well. And given our division, we may play some with 3 DTs in as well. I think you need: 5 guys who can play DE (at least 3 of which can hold up vs the run), 3 guys who can play NT/DT, and 3 guys who can play 3T.
I can get there with this 9.
DE 5: Trey, Ossai, Murphy, Stewart, C. Sample. The last 3 hold up well vs the run (Murphy is more theoretical, however) and Trey/Ossai more pass rushers.
NT/DT: Slaton, Jackson, Hill
DT/3T: Hill, Jenkins, Stewart, Sample.
Though I think Stewart & Sample will mostly be passing down DTs. But the minimalist in me has it covered at 9 DL.
B. LB (5). L. Wilson, Knight, Burks, Carter, Heyward. PS: Giles- Harris, Njongmeta.
There is also no way we don't carry at least 5 LBs, and 6 is not impossible, given we have some legit options deep into our LB depth. I think it is a 3 way battle for LB5: Heyward v Njongmeta vs Giles-Harris. The winner makes the 53. There coukd be another LB spot, as I think we will play with 3 LBs more this year. 1-2 spots on the PS as well. Atm I like Heyward, but this is very open. Young is likely PS only.
C. CB (6). CTB, Turner, D. Hill, Fig, Ivey, M. Wilson. PS: J. Davis + 1.
We will also carry at least 5 CBs, probably 6. Ivey looks like CB5 right now to me. M. Wilson was on the 53 last year, but has a knock atm. And J. Davis has been bouncing from the 53 to the PS for years now. But he has been pretty much nickel only. Wilson was preferred last year. The rest of the guys are battling for PS: Brooks, Lux, and Robinson. I think there will be room for 1 more on the PS besides Davis, as we will want a boundary corner.
D. Safety (4). Battle, Stone, Anderson, Anthony. PS: Jules, Key.
Safety was a huge worry for me this year, and we have done virtually nada at this spot. We passed entirely on a good FA group. We passed on Emmanwori & Starks in Rd1 and Watts & Winston in Rds 2 & 3. Stone took a haircut on his contract and he and Battle are the entrenched starters. Anderson is a soecial teams ace who has few (if any?) defensive snaps. And Anthony barely played after the KC incident. Key & Jules were PS guys last year. UDFA Loyal is the only move at S we have made. It looks status quo to me, certainly at the 53.
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For me, the D is:
20 locks: top 4 at DE, DT, LB, CB, S
2 near locks: C. Sample and Ivey
2 winners of legit comps:
---LB5: Heyward, Giles-Harris, Njongmeta
----CB6: M. Wilson, J. Davis
That is 24. We will circle back to the last spits later.
The top 4 at DE, NT/DT, LB, CB, and S are pretty well established, to my eye at least. Though we can certainly quibble about the order. But that is 20 guys, and I'd say all but the backup safeties absolute locks: Hendrickson, Ossai, Stewart, Murphy; BJ Hill, Slaton, Jenkins, Jackson; L. Wilson, Knight, Burks, Carter; CTB, Turner, D. Hill, Newton; Battle, Stone, Anderson, Anthony.
A. DL (9). Hendrickson, Ossai, BJ Hill, Slaton; Murphy, Stewart, Jenkins, Jackson, C. Sample.
There is no way we don't carry at least 9 DL (probably 10, maybe 11). C. Sample is a proven rotational guy with DE/3T versatility seems to be the easy leader here. Unless that injury really took him down a level.
Unlike OL, we rotate guys on the DL. 4 ends and 4 DTs will play each week. And you really need cover for the reserves as well. And given our division, we may play some with 3 DTs in as well. I think you need: 5 guys who can play DE (at least 3 of which can hold up vs the run), 3 guys who can play NT/DT, and 3 guys who can play 3T.
I can get there with this 9.
DE 5: Trey, Ossai, Murphy, Stewart, C. Sample. The last 3 hold up well vs the run (Murphy is more theoretical, however) and Trey/Ossai more pass rushers.
NT/DT: Slaton, Jackson, Hill
DT/3T: Hill, Jenkins, Stewart, Sample.
Though I think Stewart & Sample will mostly be passing down DTs. But the minimalist in me has it covered at 9 DL.
B. LB (5). L. Wilson, Knight, Burks, Carter, Heyward. PS: Giles- Harris, Njongmeta.
There is also no way we don't carry at least 5 LBs, and 6 is not impossible, given we have some legit options deep into our LB depth. I think it is a 3 way battle for LB5: Heyward v Njongmeta vs Giles-Harris. The winner makes the 53. There coukd be another LB spot, as I think we will play with 3 LBs more this year. 1-2 spots on the PS as well. Atm I like Heyward, but this is very open. Young is likely PS only.
C. CB (6). CTB, Turner, D. Hill, Fig, Ivey, M. Wilson. PS: J. Davis + 1.
We will also carry at least 5 CBs, probably 6. Ivey looks like CB5 right now to me. M. Wilson was on the 53 last year, but has a knock atm. And J. Davis has been bouncing from the 53 to the PS for years now. But he has been pretty much nickel only. Wilson was preferred last year. The rest of the guys are battling for PS: Brooks, Lux, and Robinson. I think there will be room for 1 more on the PS besides Davis, as we will want a boundary corner.
D. Safety (4). Battle, Stone, Anderson, Anthony. PS: Jules, Key.
Safety was a huge worry for me this year, and we have done virtually nada at this spot. We passed entirely on a good FA group. We passed on Emmanwori & Starks in Rd1 and Watts & Winston in Rds 2 & 3. Stone took a haircut on his contract and he and Battle are the entrenched starters. Anderson is a soecial teams ace who has few (if any?) defensive snaps. And Anthony barely played after the KC incident. Key & Jules were PS guys last year. UDFA Loyal is the only move at S we have made. It looks status quo to me, certainly at the 53.
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