I disagree, if Rakestraw is really a player and Branch is 75-80% that’s a comparable secondary to all good teams in the NFC except Philly, the Rams and Seattle. We win the division and we are probably playing a team with a comparable secondary in the 1st round
I see that Reed can’t really compete against a #1 receiver. I don’t know what Rake has, but playoff teams typically have a very good #2. If he could handle that, great. But he’s bound to have a lot of ups and downs as essentially a rookie corner.
Izzy and Clark are decent, but nothing like Branch and Kerby. Maybe it’s an unfair comparison.
I just see the talent in the secondary as fatally deficient at this point. Would like to be wrong.
I don’t know man 2023 Lions and 2024 Commanders had absolute JAGs at CB2 and made the championship game
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If Branch is only 75% I’d rather he just sit out the season.
I’d love to see JPJ come in, move Reed to #2, and consider putting Rakestraw at safety as a ball hawking Kirby replacement.
Based on what im seeing from other guys who tore Achilles last year, he’s probably looking 80-85% maybe better. Kittle and Billy Bowman Jr look like they never got hurt
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Cowboys DBs are dropping like flies. JPJ price increasing as we speak. Simple supply/demand. Very little chance his price falls into our range.
Sorry, I meant to say that playoff teams typically have a very good #2 WR, which is a tall order for Rake, who hasn’t played much football in a long time. Would be a great story if he became what they thought he could be. Definitely cheering for the kid.
Yeah even if he plays well it would be shocking if his body held up but man it was shocking to see how good he was today. Especially in contrast to Rock
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Rake is not a centerfielder. He is a feisty in your face CB very similar to Reed. There are better options at FS.
Yeah, that’s the thing. Can’t count on him to stay healthy. Ergo, need a to add a top level CB before it’s too late.
I always chuckle at these ideas… You want to take a player who’s only ever been a CB, who’s been injured, and put him at a position that he’s never played and is more physical and expect positive things?
So far we’ve gotten about 25 minutes out of him at CB. If he isn’t figuring out the assignments well enough to be active the first 2 games, maybe he needs a different role? Otherwise, we’re in year 3. He should’ve absorbed something by now even if he was injured.
When people were sending me links to articles linking JPJ to the Lions, I always said watch the Cowboys, that’s a trade they’d make, unlike the Lions
The Cowboys have the kind of draft capital the Steelers will be looking for.
Or they just wanted to get him more practice time before throwing him to the wolves… If he’s going to succeed, it’s going to be at CB, safety is not his brand of football
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And Jerry is old and crazy, wants another shot a chip before they throw dirt on his grave
The Lions have more than the Cowboys.
The Cowboys will be willing to spend more of their capital to make it happen
This is more true, I think.