"The Carolina Panthers could be set to select Desmond Waston in the 2025 NFL Draft as the front office at the Bank of America Stadium plans to bring the heaviest player in the history of the sport to their field.
The 464lb defensive tackle will eclipse the record holder, Aaron Gibson, by around 50lbs and will weigh 99lbs more than the Philadelphia Eagles' monstrous 6ft 8in Jordan Mailata.
Not just heavy, the 21-year-old also clocks a solid 5.93 in the 40-yard dash as well as performing a 25-inch vertical jump whilst also adding 36 reps on the 225lb bench press, showing strength too."
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
@Maywood said:
Oh boy, a recent Shedeur Sanders quote: "All I need is an opportunity. Simple,” Sanders told ESPN. “Whatever franchise wants to change their franchise, then it’s no doubt who to go with. I’ve done it over and over and over. You’ll be a fool not to pick me."
@Maywood said:
Oh boy, a recent Shedeur Sanders quote: "All I need is an opportunity. Simple,” Sanders told ESPN. “Whatever franchise wants to change their franchise, then it’s no doubt who to go with. I’ve done it over and over and over. You’ll be a fool not to pick me."
And here we go lol
I was thinking the same thing. Sounds like Johnny Manziel all over
@erikthredd, I don't even know why they'd go unless there was still a slight chance Haslam wants the kid. That's really the only logical reason to show up for a workout unless it's all a diversion campaign to mess up the other teams' thinking. Either way, there will be a head explosion --- Deion's head if Shedeur slips down into the round 1-20's, @Maywood if Cleveland picks him.
@Maywood said: @erikthredd, I don't even know why they'd go unless there was still a slight chance Haslam wants the kid. That's really the only logical reason to show up for a workout unless it's all a diversion campaign to mess up the other teams' thinking. Either way, there will be a head explosion --- Deion's head if Shedeur slips down into the round 1-20's, @Maywood if Cleveland picks him.
I think that there's still a real chance that he ends up with NY @ 3 if Cleveland doesn't take him. I don't know who the guy is that took that picture that I posted in my last comment but he also posted this other tweet about the Giants brass talking with Shedeur. Could be legit or it could be total crap. 🤷♂️ https://x.com/realmaceblack/status/1908254090817159475
It seems like the closer we get to the Draft the more hype comes out about certain players and the more intense the disinformation becomes. Right now there seems to be a big push about Travis Hunter and the various sites are trying to bring attention to themselves by proposing wild trade rumors.
It reminds me of a few years ago when the same thing happened with Bryce Young and CJ Stroud. It pushed Young to the top, which rhymes with FLOP, and Stroud sank to number two. It’s all very laughable to me.
@Maywood said:
It seems like the closer we get to the Draft the more hype comes out about certain players and the more intense the disinformation becomes. Right now there seems to be a big push about Travis Hunter and the various sites are trying to bring attention to themselves by proposing wild trade rumors.
It reminds me of a few years ago when the same thing happened with Bryce Young and CJ Stroud. It pushed Young to the top, which rhymes with FLOP, and Stroud sank to number two. It’s all very laughable to me.
The talk here seems to now be that Hunter is the new favorite being mocked to the Browns after Haslam personally went to the CU pro day and assuming the Giants go with Shedeur, Carter likely falls to NE. The plot literally changes with every turn of the news cycle.
Can we just fast forward to draft day so we no longer have to hear the draft "experts" keep pulling hot takes out their butts At least then we can make fun of their immediate draft grades lol.
How many times have we ever heard an owner of a pro sports team state publically that trading for you was a big swing & miss while the player was still on the team lol?
"Hey Guys, I'm literally still in the room" - Deshaun Watson
What's Watson owed, $93million?? Maybe they made him a buyout offer and he took it. Also, it wouldn't surprise me to hear that his achilles is still injured and not responding to treatment.
@Maywood This article does a good job of explaining Watson's contract situation. https://football.realgm.com/wiretap/52784/Deshaun-Watson-Browns-Locked-In-By-Contract-Amid-Uncertain-NFL-Future
Here's a piece of it... Watson, who turns 30 in September, is owed $46 million in each of the next two seasons with $173 million in cap hits remaining on his contract. Cleveland has already restructured his deal multiple times, most recently in March, pushing cap charges into future years.
Parting ways with Watson this offseason would place the entirety of his remaining contract as dead money on the 2025 salary cap, making roster construction nearly impossible. The $173 million dead cap charge would more than double the NFL record set by the Denver Broncos when they released Russell Wilson in March 2024.
If his overall dead cap charge is at 173M then I'm guessing that your 93M might just be what it would cost Cleveland on the 2025 cap alone. There's probably going to be a large chunk of future dead cap money still owed after that.
Haslam was right though, he did swing & miss hard, but at least Browns fans know that he went down swinging with the hope of getting better. The owner here won't even swing at all but that might be because there's likely a height requirement to even step into the batter's box.
@Maywood said:
What's Watson owed, $93million?? Maybe they made him a buyout offer and he took it. Also, it wouldn't surprise me to hear that his achilles is still injured and not responding to treatment.
I would t be surprised if they found him in breach of his contract as far as following treatment protocols, I read that there were rumors about Watson not wearing his walking boot and potentially was to blame in his Achilles not healing properly
I'm not saying it's true or false just what I read, they might have something on him and might be a deal being hacked out who knows
With all thew cap space BS it appears that this dud has not only ruined the team for two seasons as an active player but once he's gone he will still be a shadow over the team and affect the roster.
If that isn't enough for Haslam to stop playing GM and follow the @Maywood prescription of "Draft Carter" than it's hopeless and they might as well burn down the franchise.
@Maywood said:
What's Watson owed, $93million?? Maybe they made him a buyout offer and he took it. Also, it wouldn't surprise me to hear that his achilles is still injured and not responding to treatment.
I would t be surprised if they found him in breach of his contract as far as following treatment protocols, I read that there were rumors about Watson not wearing his walking boot and potentially was to blame in his Achilles not healing properly
I'm not saying it's true or false just what I read, they might have something on him and might be a deal being hacked out who knows
They might be attempting to put that narrative out there in an attempt to void his contract but it wont work. They wouldnt be the first team to try that for a player.
@Maywood said:
With all thew cap space BS it appears that this dud has not only ruined the team for two seasons as an active player but once he's gone he will still be a shadow over the team and affect the roster.
If that isn't enough for Haslam to stop playing GM and follow the @Maywood prescription of "Draft Carter" than it's hopeless and they might as well burn down the franchise.
What are they gonna do on offense? Between not having a good young QB in the pipeline and your star RB that's been devastated by injuries in recent years who isn't even under contract, not going with someone on offense would make an extremely hopeless siuation look even worse. Pats fans have seen what a very good defense/very bad offense looks like in recent years and its ugly. Really ugly. People keep talking about a Cousins trade to the Browns but you still wouldn't have that young QB which would cost at least one more pick.
Carter & Garrett seem like they'd be an entertaining duo and may break Burrow at some point but are they catching Lamar Jackson?
@Maywood said:
What's Watson owed, $93million?? Maybe they made him a buyout offer and he took it. Also, it wouldn't surprise me to hear that his achilles is still injured and not responding to treatment.
I would t be surprised if they found him in breach of his contract as far as following treatment protocols, I read that there were rumors about Watson not wearing his walking boot and potentially was to blame in his Achilles not healing properly
I'm not saying it's true or false just what I read, they might have something on him and might be a deal being hacked out who knows
They might be attempting to put that narrative out there in an attempt to void his contract but it wont work. They wouldnt be the first team to try that for a player.
Well if he breached his contract and it's real then they would be in a situation where discussions would happen
@Maywood said:
What's Watson owed, $93million?? Maybe they made him a buyout offer and he took it. Also, it wouldn't surprise me to hear that his achilles is still injured and not responding to treatment.
I would t be surprised if they found him in breach of his contract as far as following treatment protocols, I read that there were rumors about Watson not wearing his walking boot and potentially was to blame in his Achilles not healing properly
I'm not saying it's true or false just what I read, they might have something on him and might be a deal being hacked out who knows
They might be attempting to put that narrative out there in an attempt to void his contract but it wont work. They wouldnt be the first team to try that for a player.
Well if he breached his contract and it's real then they would be in a situation where discussions would happen
I dont know whats in his contract language but even if he did its not necessarily a breach and certainly not one that would necessarily be able to void a contract. The NFLPA doesnt fight for players often but would fight this one with how much guaranteed money is left. Usually when teams force some sort of buy out the player had been seeing some sort of rehab facility that isnt approved or their own doctors type thing like what happened with the Yankees and Ellsbury. He still got money in the buyout even though he used unapproved medical facilities
@Maywood said:
What's Watson owed, $93million?? Maybe they made him a buyout offer and he took it. Also, it wouldn't surprise me to hear that his achilles is still injured and not responding to treatment.
I would t be surprised if they found him in breach of his contract as far as following treatment protocols, I read that there were rumors about Watson not wearing his walking boot and potentially was to blame in his Achilles not healing properly
I'm not saying it's true or false just what I read, they might have something on him and might be a deal being hacked out who knows
They might be attempting to put that narrative out there in an attempt to void his contract but it wont work. They wouldnt be the first team to try that for a player.
Well if he breached his contract and it's real then they would be in a situation where discussions would happen
I dont know whats in his contract language but even if he did its not necessarily a breach and certainly not one that would necessarily be able to void a contract. The NFLPA doesnt fight for players often but would fight this one with how much guaranteed money is left. Usually when teams force some sort of buy out the player had been seeing some sort of rehab facility that isnt approved or their own doctors type thing like what happened with the Yankees and Ellsbury. He still got money in the buyout even though he used unapproved medical facilities
@Maywood said:
What's Watson owed, $93million?? Maybe they made him a buyout offer and he took it. Also, it wouldn't surprise me to hear that his achilles is still injured and not responding to treatment.
I would t be surprised if they found him in breach of his contract as far as following treatment protocols, I read that there were rumors about Watson not wearing his walking boot and potentially was to blame in his Achilles not healing properly
I'm not saying it's true or false just what I read, they might have something on him and might be a deal being hacked out who knows
They might be attempting to put that narrative out there in an attempt to void his contract but it wont work. They wouldnt be the first team to try that for a player.
Well if he breached his contract and it's real then they would be in a situation where discussions would happen
I dont know whats in his contract language but even if he did its not necessarily a breach and certainly not one that would necessarily be able to void a contract. The NFLPA doesnt fight for players often but would fight this one with how much guaranteed money is left. Usually when teams force some sort of buy out the player had been seeing some sort of rehab facility that isnt approved or their own doctors type thing like what happened with the Yankees and Ellsbury. He still got money in the buyout even though he used unapproved medical facilities
Ahh ok
the dynamics of these contracts are crazy
Some of the language really does get crazy. Madison Bumgarner secretly competing in rodeos and Jeff Kent not being allowed to ride motorcycles come to mind. Both got hurt but nothing really happened. It gets super complicated when the money is guaranteed. Historically the NFL has had more leeway to get out of contracts with all the money that wasnt guaranteed. In Watsons case as long as his agents did a good job on the contract it will be hard for them to get out of it since it is guaranteed.
@erikthredd, what I'm proposing is what the Browns have already done, very successfully, before.
Up through 2016 Cleveland was trying to find their "franchise QB" and were having dismal results. They stockpiled Draft Picks through some very wise front office moves and then had a few very poor seasons on the field. Those poor seasons resulted in two back-to-back 1st overall picks in the Draft: they chose Myles Garrett in 2017 and Baker Mayfield in 2018, Also, with the 35th pick in 2018 they took Nick Chubb. Those three picks turned the franchise around until Mayfield was injured and Haslam gave up on him.
I would add that during that time Haslam was hunting for his Head Coach: in his four seasons with the Browns I believe Baker Mayfield had 4-head Coaches and 5-Offensive Coordinators. The Head Coach has been settled on, Kevin Stefanski has been named Coach of the Year twice in four seasons, he just needs a consistent lineup and for the owner to stay in the Owners Box.
So fast-forward to the present day. The franchise is hamstrung but has an opportunity to experience some "Deja Vu" all over again by choosing Abdul Carter, aka Myles Garrett 2.0. It's 2017!!!
Let's face it, this is an average QB Class coming out in the Draft, that's why there's so much speculation about where Sanders will land. After Cam Ward, who seems the consensus Top Pick, it is entirely probable that the next QB taken will be somewhere around the 20th pick. There's just nobody worth risking the 2nd overall pick on. Cleveland has a "game Manager" on their roster, Nick Chubb will be healed and ready at some point, the OL is being retooled and the Receiving Corps that the Browns have is more then adequate. There roster as is should be able to compete and win 4-5 games.
It's really a no brainer: take perhaps the best overall athlete in the Draft, pick up another QB later and hope that next year's selection is better. Garrett and Carter together, JOK healed and a bolstered Defensive Backfield will alter the game plans of more than a few opponents, I really feel confident in thinking that.
Good write up and that seems like a solid plan moving forward. The main road block though could come in this part that you mentioned he just needs a consistent lineup and for the owner to stay in the Owners Box.
I've already mentioned that I hope the Browns take Carter there and not Sanders, if there's any hope for the Giants to pass up on Hunter it could be with the QB sitting there for the taking. 🤞Here's hoping NY bites.
@Maywood
good synopsis. I agree, they should be drafting Carter at 2. combined with Garrett that could be a world wrecking line. and I dont see any franchise QB's in this draft.
@perkdog said: Nobody thought CJ Stroud was going to be as good as he is, even Bryce Young showed signs of getting on the right track.
This is simply not true.
CJ Stroud had proven his talent at Ohio State and was a pretty good bet --- until --- the disinformation campaign ramped up sometime in February prior to the Draft. He scored poorly(supposedly) on the Cognitive Skill test that gets administered. The implication was that he just didn't/couldn't process information quick enough and teams should avoid him. At the same time Bryce Young scored better and was pushed to the top. Who ya gonna believe, some test or on-field performance you've actually witnessed??
Thus far Bryce Young has proven that he just can't compete as an NFL QB, maybe it has something to do with the fact that he's 5'10" tall and weighs 200lbs. He is the size of a tall WR or DB. That was an inescapable fact that every scout in the NFL should have known. No test can cover up the fact that Young is too short to play the position of NFL QB.
Stroud, on the other hand, is 6'3" and 220lbs. which is roughly the average size of a QB in the NFL. His size coupled with his NCAA proven skill should have been sufficient to demonstrate that maybe that Cognition Test was flawed. It shouldn't come as a surprise that he has succeeded in the NFL so far. Maybe that will change but I doubt it.
I agree that QB's in the NFL draft are often a crap shoot. There are sometime you can get a HOFer in the 6th round. and it is fine to take a flier on a QB like that in later rounds, but for me, I am not taking a chance with the 1st pick. Or at least I will mitigate my risk as best I could.
There are times when there are 1 or 2 QB's that are clear great choices in the first round like Manning, Elway, Marino, Luck, Bradshaw, Aikman etc.
If it were me, and there were no clear cut blue chip QB's in a draft where I had the top pick, I would probably trade it for future picks in the hope that I could get a steal in a later round or in future drafts.
If it were me, and there were no clear cut blue chip QB's in a draft where I had the top pick, I would probably trade it for future picks in the hope that I could get a steal in a later round or in future drafts.
That's the thing though, this draft only really has maybe two blue chip players (Hunter/Carter) and one QB (Ward) that all of the QB needy teams would love to have. After that, there really aren't many players that would be worthy of giving up future picks to get.
Any other draft would have the Pats sitting in a position of strength at pick #4 but not likely this one. That is unless some team really falls in love with a guy over the next two weeks but again, probably not happening.
If someone in the Patriots organization hadn't said "Hey, let's take that kid Brady from Michigan" when they were using their final pick TB might have been a store manager for some outfit in Ann Arbor!!
As far as where & when teams should be drafting QBs somewhat high in the draft goes, we've seen numerous different ways that teams go about building their roster and there's never been one guaranteed method where it was always a success.
Cleveland could go with Carter at 2 then proceed to use pick 33 or even trade up for a different QB not named Sanders. The Browns could also love Shedeur but just maybe not at 2 overall. No one really knows until the draft plays itself out.
@Maywood said:
If someone in the Patriots organization hadn't said "Hey, let's take that kid Brady from Michigan" when they were using their final pick TB might have been a store manager for some outfit in Ann Arbor!!
That's not his actual pre-draft resume, the real one just says Future GOAT! under his name. 😎
If it were me, and there were no clear cut blue chip QB's in a draft where I had the top pick, I would probably trade it for future picks in the hope that I could get a steal in a later round or in future drafts.
That's the thing though, this draft only really has maybe two blue chip players (Hunter/Carter) and one QB (Ward) that all of the QB needy teams would love to have. After that, there really aren't many players that would be worthy of giving up future picks to get.
Any other draft would have the Pats sitting in a position of strength at pick #4 but not likely this one. That is unless some team really falls in love with a guy over the next two weeks but again, probably not happening.
that is why winning that stupid final game of the season was such a TERRIBLE decision. Kraft should have canned Mayo and had the interim played the practice squad that game.
think of the position of strength we could have been sitting in had we lost that meaningless game. we could have swapped picks with Tennesee and gotten an extra pick and chosen whoever we wanted between Carter, Hunter or OL.
that last game could be one that haunts this team for a long while.
If it were me, and there were no clear cut blue chip QB's in a draft where I had the top pick, I would probably trade it for future picks in the hope that I could get a steal in a later round or in future drafts.
That's the thing though, this draft only really has maybe two blue chip players (Hunter/Carter) and one QB (Ward) that all of the QB needy teams would love to have. After that, there really aren't many players that would be worthy of giving up future picks to get.
Any other draft would have the Pats sitting in a position of strength at pick #4 but not likely this one. That is unless some team really falls in love with a guy over the next two weeks but again, probably not happening.
that is why winning that stupid final game of the season was such a TERRIBLE decision. Kraft should have canned Mayo and had the interim played the practice squad that game.
think of the position of strength we could have been sitting in had we lost that meaningless game. we could have swapped picks with Tennesee and gotten an extra pick and chosen whoever we wanted between Carter, Hunter or OL.
that last game could be one that haunts this team for a long while.
Can't change the past, just grab our left tackle and start going about fixing this roster.
@Maywood said:
If someone in the Patriots organization hadn't said "Hey, let's take that kid Brady from Michigan" when they were using their final pick TB might have been a store manager for some outfit in Ann Arbor!!
This is my point, I didn't follow the Stroud and Bruce Young draft all that much and maybe your right about that cognitive testing or whatever but either way neither QB was being touted as a Manning or Burrow, that was my point there and looking at where Brady was drafted you just never know unless you take a chance.
I think the Browns should take Ward if he is there, Sanders I can understand not wanting the baggage
@perkdog said:
Nobody knows that this is an average draft class as far as QB's go
Nobody thought CJ Stroud was going to be as good as he is, even Bryce Young showed signs of getting on the right track
You never know with these players, some adjust to the NFL while others don't.
If you need a QB and you have a chance at drafting one then you should do it in my opinion.
Imagine passing on Ward and he turns out better than Stroud?
It's the Browns and Titans so playing it safe might be the smarter move since neither team can evaluate QB talent anyways I guess
It really is a down year for QBs and really offense in general. Its a defense heavy draft. All the top QBs have serious question marks. Its deep in terms of backups but all the top QBs have big question marks more than normal. Ward broke out at Miami this year with some favorable calls but the ACC didnt play defense last year. Sanders is a diva and never really faced top notch competition consistently by design during his college days. Ewers injury issues, people question Dart from Lane Kiffin being an offensive genius, Milroe is a RB pretending to be a QB and so on.
The smart teams wont just say we need a QB no matter what and let most of these guys fall later in the draft where they belong. The Stroud thing he went to a good situation and was good his rookie year, he was bad last year. Young ended up on a team that was impossible to succeed trading everyone away and multiple QBs get better leaving there,
Titans the Levis that was an easy miss to call but theyre unloading talent as well. Browns you definitely dont want to go there even as a top QB and maybe they should just adapt the Dilfer Flacco Ravens style and just try and win with defense since they ruin every QB they take.
Too many teams over draft QBs because they have big hands, are tall, and can throw with no defense and no pads on.
I see the exact opposite there, that once Hunter gets settled in and his next coach finds the best ways to utilize him, he could eventually make plays at two premium positions. Its why I think he'd be a perfect fit in NE under Vrabel. Drake Maye's partner in crime on offense then playing nickel corner/free safety on defense.
I won't even pretend that I know what the Browns are planning for at pick #2 but alot of people were asking why Cleveland's owner decided to view Colorado's pro day in person. The consensus was, if their not interested in Sanders then they were probably there for Hunter.
I'm not entirely sold on Carter if we're being honest. There's definitely upside there but too many people are making the Micah Parson comparisons because he played at PSU although Cleveland might end up being the best situation for him with playing across from Myles Garrett. Anywhere else and he'd be expected to put up Garret type of production.
@Maywood said:
Travis Hunter isn't the type of impact player that Carter has the ability to be. JMHO.
After watching Courtney Brown, Chase Young and Lavar Arrington I'd say Hunter isn't all that bad a choice especially since you can put him at CB or WR whichever he adjusted too better
Outside of the PSU lineage/Parson comparisons that Carter gets, I think alot of the hype has come from having not seen him fail at the role he played in 2024. IIRC, last offseason he moved from linebacker to more of an edge rusher and had a fantastic season and the biggest question mark with him would be, can he do it again at the NFL level and repeat doing it?
Again, JMHO, but Tavis Hunter might look better if he focused on one position. Is he a receiver or is he a cornerback. All this talk about "can Carter adjust to the NFL" has to be looked at through the same lens with Hunter. The difference? He will be expected to make that transition at TWO positions, so he needs to know not only the offensive playbook but he needs to know the defense. Either one of those is a daunting undertaking. I think he would be more valuable to the Browns as a DB.
Looking at another angle, what if he goes two-way with whoever drafts him?? What happens if he gets injured?? And it doesn't have to be a serious injury, it could just be a day-to-day thing. That means two sides of the ball have to adjust.
But hey, we aren't dealing with any Deion Sanders hype about how good Hunter is, but I would avoid him UNLESS I had an assurance that he'd be playing only one position. I also see him as a potential problem in the locker room and on the sideline, but that's just me.
@Maywood said:
Again, JMHO, but Tavis Hunter might look better if he focused on one position. Is he a receiver or is he a cornerback. All this talk about "can Carter adjust to the NFL" has to be looked at through the same lens with Hunter. The difference? He will be expected to make that transition at TWO positions, so he needs to know not only the offensive playbook but he needs to know the defense. Either one of those is a daunting undertaking. I think he would be more valuable to the Browns as a DB.
Looking at another angle, what if he goes two-way with whoever drafts him?? What happens if he gets injured?? And it doesn't have to be a serious injury, it could just be a day-to-day thing. That means two sides of the ball have to adjust.
But hey, we aren't dealing with any Deion Sanders hype about how good Hunter is, but I would avoid him UNLESS I had an assurance that he'd be playing only one position. I also see him as a potential problem in the locker room and on the sideline, but that's just me.
Vrabel was recently asked about how he would use Travis Hunter if he was their pick and he said that they would have Hunter focus on just one position at the start and see how he develops before adding any more onto his plate. I would assume that would be the case with any team that he goes too, first get situated at one position before even thinking about the other.
That all being said, I'd honestly be surprised if he even played two ways during his rookie season. Maybe if he's a full time CB, that team could sprinkle in plays here & there on offense for him but if he comes in as a WR he'll need to spend time working out with and learning the defense before playing it in a game. He might be able to immediately handle playing defense in some zone coverage if needed though.
I wouldn't worry about Hunter's ego or locker room fit compared to someone like Shedeur. Go watch any interview with the kid and he's said & done all the right things this offseason, sort of the complete opposite of how his QB has acted. He admitted that he'd like to play two ways if it were up to him but that decision is ultimately up to the team on which side of the ball that he'll start on.
My sense is that it would be easier to play CB and do as you said, play on offense in spot situations, then to go the other way around. CB needs to learn coverage and then react, a receiver had better do the right thing and be in the right place all the time or it's a problem.
Comments
"The Carolina Panthers could be set to select Desmond Waston in the 2025 NFL Draft as the front office at the Bank of America Stadium plans to bring the heaviest player in the history of the sport to their field.
The 464lb defensive tackle will eclipse the record holder, Aaron Gibson, by around 50lbs and will weigh 99lbs more than the Philadelphia Eagles' monstrous 6ft 8in Jordan Mailata.
Not just heavy, the 21-year-old also clocks a solid 5.93 in the 40-yard dash as well as performing a 25-inch vertical jump whilst also adding 36 reps on the 225lb bench press, showing strength too."
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
And here we go lol
I was thinking the same thing. Sounds like Johnny Manziel all over
Jimmy has already shown that he can be suckered once with the Watson debacle, hopefully he won’t bite on this.
Deion definitely tried giving his best sell job to Jimmy and their GM at Colorado's Pro day yesterday.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
@erikthredd, I don't even know why they'd go unless there was still a slight chance Haslam wants the kid. That's really the only logical reason to show up for a workout unless it's all a diversion campaign to mess up the other teams' thinking. Either way, there will be a head explosion --- Deion's head if Shedeur slips down into the round 1-20's, @Maywood if Cleveland picks him.
I think that there's still a real chance that he ends up with NY @ 3 if Cleveland doesn't take him. I don't know who the guy is that took that picture that I posted in my last comment but he also posted this other tweet about the Giants brass talking with Shedeur. Could be legit or it could be total crap. 🤷♂️
https://x.com/realmaceblack/status/1908254090817159475
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
It seems like the closer we get to the Draft the more hype comes out about certain players and the more intense the disinformation becomes. Right now there seems to be a big push about Travis Hunter and the various sites are trying to bring attention to themselves by proposing wild trade rumors.
It reminds me of a few years ago when the same thing happened with Bryce Young and CJ Stroud. It pushed Young to the top, which rhymes with FLOP, and Stroud sank to number two. It’s all very laughable to me.
The talk here seems to now be that Hunter is the new favorite being mocked to the Browns after Haslam personally went to the CU pro day and assuming the Giants go with Shedeur, Carter likely falls to NE. The plot literally changes with every turn of the news cycle.
Can we just fast forward to draft day so we no longer have to hear the draft "experts" keep pulling hot takes out their butts At least then we can make fun of their immediate draft grades lol.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
I get the feeling that picture was more Deion telling the Browns not to draft him unless theyre now worried he will really fall if they dont.
I also wouldnt be shocked if the Titans are just faking everyone out and go ahead and take Hunter at 1
For what'it's worth.............
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
No way the Browns are that lucky
not with all that money on the table...
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
How many times have we ever heard an owner of a pro sports team state publically that trading for you was a big swing & miss while the player was still on the team lol?
"Hey Guys, I'm literally still in the room" - Deshaun Watson
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
What's Watson owed, $93million?? Maybe they made him a buyout offer and he took it. Also, it wouldn't surprise me to hear that his achilles is still injured and not responding to treatment.
@Maywood This article does a good job of explaining Watson's contract situation.
https://football.realgm.com/wiretap/52784/Deshaun-Watson-Browns-Locked-In-By-Contract-Amid-Uncertain-NFL-Future
Here's a piece of it...
Watson, who turns 30 in September, is owed $46 million in each of the next two seasons with $173 million in cap hits remaining on his contract. Cleveland has already restructured his deal multiple times, most recently in March, pushing cap charges into future years.
Parting ways with Watson this offseason would place the entirety of his remaining contract as dead money on the 2025 salary cap, making roster construction nearly impossible. The $173 million dead cap charge would more than double the NFL record set by the Denver Broncos when they released Russell Wilson in March 2024.
If his overall dead cap charge is at 173M then I'm guessing that your 93M might just be what it would cost Cleveland on the 2025 cap alone. There's probably going to be a large chunk of future dead cap money still owed after that.
Haslam was right though, he did swing & miss hard, but at least Browns fans know that he went down swinging with the hope of getting better. The owner here won't even swing at all but that might be because there's likely a height requirement to even step into the batter's box.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
I would t be surprised if they found him in breach of his contract as far as following treatment protocols, I read that there were rumors about Watson not wearing his walking boot and potentially was to blame in his Achilles not healing properly
I'm not saying it's true or false just what I read, they might have something on him and might be a deal being hacked out who knows
With all thew cap space BS it appears that this dud has not only ruined the team for two seasons as an active player but once he's gone he will still be a shadow over the team and affect the roster.
If that isn't enough for Haslam to stop playing GM and follow the @Maywood prescription of "Draft Carter" than it's hopeless and they might as well burn down the franchise.
They might be attempting to put that narrative out there in an attempt to void his contract but it wont work. They wouldnt be the first team to try that for a player.
What are they gonna do on offense? Between not having a good young QB in the pipeline and your star RB that's been devastated by injuries in recent years who isn't even under contract, not going with someone on offense would make an extremely hopeless siuation look even worse. Pats fans have seen what a very good defense/very bad offense looks like in recent years and its ugly. Really ugly. People keep talking about a Cousins trade to the Browns but you still wouldn't have that young QB which would cost at least one more pick.
Carter & Garrett seem like they'd be an entertaining duo and may break Burrow at some point but are they catching Lamar Jackson?
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
Well if he breached his contract and it's real then they would be in a situation where discussions would happen
I dont know whats in his contract language but even if he did its not necessarily a breach and certainly not one that would necessarily be able to void a contract. The NFLPA doesnt fight for players often but would fight this one with how much guaranteed money is left. Usually when teams force some sort of buy out the player had been seeing some sort of rehab facility that isnt approved or their own doctors type thing like what happened with the Yankees and Ellsbury. He still got money in the buyout even though he used unapproved medical facilities
Ahh ok
the dynamics of these contracts are crazy
Some of the language really does get crazy. Madison Bumgarner secretly competing in rodeos and Jeff Kent not being allowed to ride motorcycles come to mind. Both got hurt but nothing really happened. It gets super complicated when the money is guaranteed. Historically the NFL has had more leeway to get out of contracts with all the money that wasnt guaranteed. In Watsons case as long as his agents did a good job on the contract it will be hard for them to get out of it since it is guaranteed.
@erikthredd, what I'm proposing is what the Browns have already done, very successfully, before.
Up through 2016 Cleveland was trying to find their "franchise QB" and were having dismal results. They stockpiled Draft Picks through some very wise front office moves and then had a few very poor seasons on the field. Those poor seasons resulted in two back-to-back 1st overall picks in the Draft: they chose Myles Garrett in 2017 and Baker Mayfield in 2018, Also, with the 35th pick in 2018 they took Nick Chubb. Those three picks turned the franchise around until Mayfield was injured and Haslam gave up on him.
I would add that during that time Haslam was hunting for his Head Coach: in his four seasons with the Browns I believe Baker Mayfield had 4-head Coaches and 5-Offensive Coordinators. The Head Coach has been settled on, Kevin Stefanski has been named Coach of the Year twice in four seasons, he just needs a consistent lineup and for the owner to stay in the Owners Box.
So fast-forward to the present day. The franchise is hamstrung but has an opportunity to experience some "Deja Vu" all over again by choosing Abdul Carter, aka Myles Garrett 2.0. It's 2017!!!
Let's face it, this is an average QB Class coming out in the Draft, that's why there's so much speculation about where Sanders will land. After Cam Ward, who seems the consensus Top Pick, it is entirely probable that the next QB taken will be somewhere around the 20th pick. There's just nobody worth risking the 2nd overall pick on. Cleveland has a "game Manager" on their roster, Nick Chubb will be healed and ready at some point, the OL is being retooled and the Receiving Corps that the Browns have is more then adequate. There roster as is should be able to compete and win 4-5 games.
It's really a no brainer: take perhaps the best overall athlete in the Draft, pick up another QB later and hope that next year's selection is better. Garrett and Carter together, JOK healed and a bolstered Defensive Backfield will alter the game plans of more than a few opponents, I really feel confident in thinking that.
Good write up and that seems like a solid plan moving forward. The main road block though could come in this part that you mentioned he just needs a consistent lineup and for the owner to stay in the Owners Box.
I've already mentioned that I hope the Browns take Carter there and not Sanders, if there's any hope for the Giants to pass up on Hunter it could be with the QB sitting there for the taking. 🤞Here's hoping NY bites.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
@Maywood
good synopsis. I agree, they should be drafting Carter at 2. combined with Garrett that could be a world wrecking line. and I dont see any franchise QB's in this draft.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
Nobody knows that this is an average draft class as far as QB's go
Nobody thought CJ Stroud was going to be as good as he is, even Bryce Young showed signs of getting on the right track
You never know with these players, some adjust to the NFL while others don't.
If you need a QB and you have a chance at drafting one then you should do it in my opinion.
Imagine passing on Ward and he turns out better than Stroud?
It's the Browns and Titans so playing it safe might be the smarter move since neither team can evaluate QB talent anyways I guess
@perkdog said: Nobody thought CJ Stroud was going to be as good as he is, even Bryce Young showed signs of getting on the right track.
This is simply not true.
CJ Stroud had proven his talent at Ohio State and was a pretty good bet --- until --- the disinformation campaign ramped up sometime in February prior to the Draft. He scored poorly(supposedly) on the Cognitive Skill test that gets administered. The implication was that he just didn't/couldn't process information quick enough and teams should avoid him. At the same time Bryce Young scored better and was pushed to the top. Who ya gonna believe, some test or on-field performance you've actually witnessed??
Thus far Bryce Young has proven that he just can't compete as an NFL QB, maybe it has something to do with the fact that he's 5'10" tall and weighs 200lbs. He is the size of a tall WR or DB. That was an inescapable fact that every scout in the NFL should have known. No test can cover up the fact that Young is too short to play the position of NFL QB.
Stroud, on the other hand, is 6'3" and 220lbs. which is roughly the average size of a QB in the NFL. His size coupled with his NCAA proven skill should have been sufficient to demonstrate that maybe that Cognition Test was flawed. It shouldn't come as a surprise that he has succeeded in the NFL so far. Maybe that will change but I doubt it.
I agree that QB's in the NFL draft are often a crap shoot. There are sometime you can get a HOFer in the 6th round. and it is fine to take a flier on a QB like that in later rounds, but for me, I am not taking a chance with the 1st pick. Or at least I will mitigate my risk as best I could.
There are times when there are 1 or 2 QB's that are clear great choices in the first round like Manning, Elway, Marino, Luck, Bradshaw, Aikman etc.
If it were me, and there were no clear cut blue chip QB's in a draft where I had the top pick, I would probably trade it for future picks in the hope that I could get a steal in a later round or in future drafts.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
That's the thing though, this draft only really has maybe two blue chip players (Hunter/Carter) and one QB (Ward) that all of the QB needy teams would love to have. After that, there really aren't many players that would be worthy of giving up future picks to get.
Any other draft would have the Pats sitting in a position of strength at pick #4 but not likely this one. That is unless some team really falls in love with a guy over the next two weeks but again, probably not happening.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
If someone in the Patriots organization hadn't said "Hey, let's take that kid Brady from Michigan" when they were using their final pick TB might have been a store manager for some outfit in Ann Arbor!!
As far as where & when teams should be drafting QBs somewhat high in the draft goes, we've seen numerous different ways that teams go about building their roster and there's never been one guaranteed method where it was always a success.
Cleveland could go with Carter at 2 then proceed to use pick 33 or even trade up for a different QB not named Sanders. The Browns could also love Shedeur but just maybe not at 2 overall. No one really knows until the draft plays itself out.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
That's not his actual pre-draft resume, the real one just says Future GOAT! under his name. 😎
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
that is why winning that stupid final game of the season was such a TERRIBLE decision. Kraft should have canned Mayo and had the interim played the practice squad that game.
think of the position of strength we could have been sitting in had we lost that meaningless game. we could have swapped picks with Tennesee and gotten an extra pick and chosen whoever we wanted between Carter, Hunter or OL.
that last game could be one that haunts this team for a long while.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
Can't change the past, just grab our left tackle and start going about fixing this roster.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
This is my point, I didn't follow the Stroud and Bruce Young draft all that much and maybe your right about that cognitive testing or whatever but either way neither QB was being touted as a Manning or Burrow, that was my point there and looking at where Brady was drafted you just never know unless you take a chance.
I think the Browns should take Ward if he is there, Sanders I can understand not wanting the baggage
It really is a down year for QBs and really offense in general. Its a defense heavy draft. All the top QBs have serious question marks. Its deep in terms of backups but all the top QBs have big question marks more than normal. Ward broke out at Miami this year with some favorable calls but the ACC didnt play defense last year. Sanders is a diva and never really faced top notch competition consistently by design during his college days. Ewers injury issues, people question Dart from Lane Kiffin being an offensive genius, Milroe is a RB pretending to be a QB and so on.
The smart teams wont just say we need a QB no matter what and let most of these guys fall later in the draft where they belong. The Stroud thing he went to a good situation and was good his rookie year, he was bad last year. Young ended up on a team that was impossible to succeed trading everyone away and multiple QBs get better leaving there,
Titans the Levis that was an easy miss to call but theyre unloading talent as well. Browns you definitely dont want to go there even as a top QB and maybe they should just adapt the Dilfer Flacco Ravens style and just try and win with defense since they ruin every QB they take.
Too many teams over draft QBs because they have big hands, are tall, and can throw with no defense and no pads on.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/44628548/qb-joe-flacco-browns-reuniting-one-year-deal-agent-says
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
Flacco’s back, baby!!
One step farther away from the Sanders mistake and one step closer to Carter!! 😇
What if it's Travis Hunter instead?
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
Travis Hunter isn't the type of impact player that Carter has the ability to be. JMHO.
I see the exact opposite there, that once Hunter gets settled in and his next coach finds the best ways to utilize him, he could eventually make plays at two premium positions. Its why I think he'd be a perfect fit in NE under Vrabel. Drake Maye's partner in crime on offense then playing nickel corner/free safety on defense.
I won't even pretend that I know what the Browns are planning for at pick #2 but alot of people were asking why Cleveland's owner decided to view Colorado's pro day in person. The consensus was, if their not interested in Sanders then they were probably there for Hunter.
I'm not entirely sold on Carter if we're being honest. There's definitely upside there but too many people are making the Micah Parson comparisons because he played at PSU although Cleveland might end up being the best situation for him with playing across from Myles Garrett. Anywhere else and he'd be expected to put up Garret type of production.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
After watching Courtney Brown, Chase Young and Lavar Arrington I'd say Hunter isn't all that bad a choice especially since you can put him at CB or WR whichever he adjusted too better
Outside of the PSU lineage/Parson comparisons that Carter gets, I think alot of the hype has come from having not seen him fail at the role he played in 2024. IIRC, last offseason he moved from linebacker to more of an edge rusher and had a fantastic season and the biggest question mark with him would be, can he do it again at the NFL level and repeat doing it?
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
He's already got a pick 6
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Again, JMHO, but Tavis Hunter might look better if he focused on one position. Is he a receiver or is he a cornerback. All this talk about "can Carter adjust to the NFL" has to be looked at through the same lens with Hunter. The difference? He will be expected to make that transition at TWO positions, so he needs to know not only the offensive playbook but he needs to know the defense. Either one of those is a daunting undertaking. I think he would be more valuable to the Browns as a DB.
Looking at another angle, what if he goes two-way with whoever drafts him?? What happens if he gets injured?? And it doesn't have to be a serious injury, it could just be a day-to-day thing. That means two sides of the ball have to adjust.
But hey, we aren't dealing with any Deion Sanders hype about how good Hunter is, but I would avoid him UNLESS I had an assurance that he'd be playing only one position. I also see him as a potential problem in the locker room and on the sideline, but that's just me.
Vrabel was recently asked about how he would use Travis Hunter if he was their pick and he said that they would have Hunter focus on just one position at the start and see how he develops before adding any more onto his plate. I would assume that would be the case with any team that he goes too, first get situated at one position before even thinking about the other.
That all being said, I'd honestly be surprised if he even played two ways during his rookie season. Maybe if he's a full time CB, that team could sprinkle in plays here & there on offense for him but if he comes in as a WR he'll need to spend time working out with and learning the defense before playing it in a game. He might be able to immediately handle playing defense in some zone coverage if needed though.
I wouldn't worry about Hunter's ego or locker room fit compared to someone like Shedeur. Go watch any interview with the kid and he's said & done all the right things this offseason, sort of the complete opposite of how his QB has acted. He admitted that he'd like to play two ways if it were up to him but that decision is ultimately up to the team on which side of the ball that he'll start on.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
My sense is that it would be easier to play CB and do as you said, play on offense in spot situations, then to go the other way around. CB needs to learn coverage and then react, a receiver had better do the right thing and be in the right place all the time or it's a problem.