The biggest concern for us specifically is a similar sort of one to Manu: do we have the time to let him develop? I think we should always have developmental guys, but preferably you can use the practice squad for that and Iheanachor won’t make it on the practice squad.
Pay the tax for having to cut a guy if need be. If it’s someone like Jawaan Taylor at 3/54 but that’s actually a 1/24m deal if Max develops and is ready by year 2, just do it. I’m hellbent on being plus(ish) at OT.
And I’m just pulling numbers out of my ass.
One tackle that I think I’m going to make a thrift store entry about is Braxton Jones. Though then I’m more keen on the draft pick being usable in year one in case you get bad Braxton rather than good Braxton.
The upside with Braxton is a one year prove it seems rather possible and with a rebound you’re both out without any additional cap penalty and you’re looking at a high comp pick.
BUT that means that you have to have an in season plan B at LT bc I don’t think you want to flip Penei mid year.
The thing I like about Max is that he already has the feet to stop a speed guy like Bailey. It seems to me that development is easier when they have that trait and have to gain strength. But who knows, it all just depends. I want to believe in Manu but is it just me or does the athleticism not translate so far? Technique can make him look bad though.
I was very surprised that Mahlman wasn’t invited (yet). Same with Blake Miller.
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It’s just VERY difficult to find anything of use in FA. I know Taylor is a decent example and Jones might be too, but I might be more inclined to go with a vet we know is gonna give us league average play (but not much more), like whoever today’s version of Morgan Moses is. Or Eluemunor. Trent Brown? I don’t know. A year or two at most, hold the fort if we need you type of guy. To me Jones is a bet on the upside as well, kind of like Dan Moore last year. And like Moore, I think he’ll cost a lot more than you think. Not that much, but the scarcity of the position makes anyone with a pulse plus a little youth expensive. I mean who was the guy the Chiefs signed from SF last year? Has the guy even played a down?
My concern with Manu even when we drafted him was his lateral movement. He’s explosive going forward but not so great laterally, which showed on his testing (3-cone and SS were really bad). But it seems that’s the sort of guy our FO likes, Sorsdal was kind of the same as well. And it can work, most of those giant men aren’t great movers laterally, but they learn how to use their size to their advantage. And for all that I don’t think Manu moves well laterally, it’s better than Trent or Orlando Brown, he just needs to learn some of their tricks. But yeah, this is no Mailata with his under 7 3-cone.
I think I saw Mahlman accept an invite a while back? Maybe I’m dreaming that. Really surprised by Miller though.
Edit: yeah seems he’s at the Shrine
https://twitter.com/ShrineBowl/status/2003500958052200589?t=5WjK9Wm05kjI_dhwP7MuXA&s=19
Oh it will be pricey. Even buying extremely low on Jones probably means 1/10m.
Taylor is so hard to peg. Super high end pass pro metrics for any Tackle let alone a RT but then you have the sporadic disinterest in the run game and of course the false start stuff. But I’d still imagine he matches his prior AAV.
Havenstein plus Max or Mahlman or whoever is probably the best solution leaning into your approach. With flipping Penei of course.
But there are some who think Havenstein is basically toast or damn close to it. So we could be buying off the cliff.
Havenstein is a perfect shout, provided he’s not dead. I mean 33 doesn’t feel like too old, but maybe the injuries have caught up to him. Braden Smith would be ideal, but he’ll probably be the most expensive guy.
Maybe Oli Udoh is one of those late developers like Moses or Eluemunor? He went to a small enough school and is still decently young. He’s got some off-field issues but the bulk center around being a terrible driver. Just force him to take ubers as part of his contract.
That is quite a group of edge rushers but I’m not seeing any OTs to block them. In fact that has to be the worst O-Line group as a whole I have seen in recent history.
It’s just a really bad class.
Not much to see on the Shrine rosters either other than Coogan and your guy Roberts from Alabama.
Can we talk about how insane it is that a college QB is getting SEVEN figure transfer portal bids? Alabama QB Ty Simpson remains committed to NFL Draft despite 7-figure transfer offers - The Athletic
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Getting seven figures isn’t new to the QB’s but the Simpson bids were the highest numbers I’ve seen for a QB. Yes, it is insane.
Ha, he’s my guy only insofar as he comes incredibly cheaply. And doesn’t have a hidden injury holding him back.
Yep. And now I’m coming to the reality that it could be 2028 rather than 2027 that is the banner class.
Jerrah must have know this bc he’s so damn brilliant.
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Looks like Kade Pieper’s going back to school. Always expected, but still too bad. He would have made his way up to iOL1 and a 1st rounder I think.
So if it came down to Proctor or Ioane who do you guys like? I get a little torn because I think Ioane would be a huge get at a not-so-valued position. And he is probably just a guard. But he might solve a lot of Goff’s problems at LG. Dude looks high level. Especially if Tate develops and we add a C somewhere. Now we have good depth inside too, but our tackle problem (potentially) remains. Although maybe we could draft another developmental type later. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RnPRJJ4e7Do?feature=share
Proctor has potential but the best play might be to draft him and play him at guard for a year next to either Sewell or hopefully Decker, learn the ins and outs, and just see if he can work himself into excellent shape to play left tackle some day.
I’d be OK if you’re talking 2nd round, but in the 1st? No way. In a normal draft class these guys wouldn’t be sniffing our pick, it’s just really weak at both spots. I’d rather sign a Havenstein for a year, draft a mid-rounder like Mahlman, Iheanachor or Bowry, then come back to it next year. Proctor COULD end up being a good guard, but that’s a pretty big risk, and honestly if we’re going that route let’s just move Manu inside. Both are giant men who move really well in a straight line but poorly laterally (I suspect their measurables/testing to be VERY similar). Yes, Proctor has the pedigree but Manu’s been in the system for 2 years.
Interesting, so you aren’t high on Ioane I guess. I thought he looked pretty good this year. I actually think a lot of Penn State guys, at least with the draftniks, are being overlooked. They were supposed to be top 5 this year with a lot of returning talent so they get overlooked it seems. NFL scouts won’t make that mistake though. On Iheanachor, I’ve seen mocks with him in the first round (not saying they are right). I think it might have been Renner…