2024 NFL Offseason and Draft Thread

[Pakuni]

Yeah, that's more like what I was expecting. From what I know about all the players the Panthers have drafted, I'm most looking forward to seeing what the TE, Ja'Tavion Sanders, can become. His film looks quite impressive. But otherwise, I don't have very high expectations, which has been the norm for 5 years now.

It's Evan Silva. I wouldn't sweat it. He's not good at this.
Case in point, he he gave the Bears an 'A' for the Fields draft, the Jets a 'B+' for the Zach Wilson draft, but the Lions a D+ for the Sewell/St. Brown draft and the Chiefs a C for Nick Bolton/Creed Humphrey/Trey Smith.
In 2020, he gave the Bears a 'C-' for Cole Kmet, Jaylon Johnson and Darnell Mooney and the Bengals a 'C+' for Burrow/Higgins/Logan Wilson but the Broncos an 'A' for Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler and the Jets a 'B+' for Mehki Becton and Denzel Mims.

[tower912]

To be fair, Sewell was a reach at 7 with QBs on the board since Goff is just a placeholder QB, and St. Brown is undersized and lacking elite speed.  Not worth a 4th round pick.

[Pakuni]

To be fair, Sewell was a reach at 7 with QBs on the board since Goff is just a placeholder QB, and St. Brown is undersized and lacking elite speed.  Not worth a 4th round pick.

In the event you're not pulling an Uncle Rico ... I wouldn't say Sewell was a reach.
He was #3 on The Athletic's Big Board.
https://theathletic.com/2530534/2021/04/29/2021-nfl-draft-consensus-big-board-70-lists-one-ranking-of-the-top-300-prospects/

11th on Daniel Jeremiah's board.
https://www.nfl.com/news/daniel-jeremiah-s-top-150-prospects-in-the-2021-nfl-draft-class

4th on PFF's board.
https://www.pff.com/news/draft-final-2021-nfl-draft-board-big-board-draft-rankings

6th on Kiper's board.
https://247sports.com/longformarticle/2021-nfl-draft-mel-kiper-jr-releases-final-big-board-player-rankings-trevor-lawrence-kyle-pitts-jaylen-waddle--164757859/#1637949

5th on McShay's board
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2941428-todd-mcshay-2021-nfl-draft-big-board-trevor-lawrence-pitts-top-final-rankings

4th on Bleacher Report's board
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2932010-br-nfl-scouting-dept-final-2021-nfl-draft-big-board

As for St. Brown, he was picked #112th.
Pre-draft, he was ranked 70th by BR, 112th by Jeremiah and 87th by PFF and 69th (nice) by The Athletic. So, mostly graded as a third-round value.

[JWags85]

Found it kind of wild that the later rounds featured a DB from the CFL who didn’t play in or attend college as well a lineman from the UK/NFL Pathway Program who not only has never played an organized football game…but didn’t play rugby at even a moderately high level (which has not all been the case for any rugby to NFL convert attempts).  Training camps and the NFL itself are full of random long shots and freak athletes from outside of the traditional FBS path, but it’s rare to see them drafted IMO.

I personally think Stiggers, the CFL DB, could be a steal for the Jets.  He was a stud in Canada, won ROY, and is still very young but already knows what it’s like to be a pro

[tower912]

A little Rico, remembering the discussion at the time.  Holmes and Campbell did not get the benefit of the doubt.   

[Jockey]

Found it kind of wild that the later rounds featured a DB from the CFL who didn’t play in or attend college as well a lineman from the UK/NFL Pathway Program who not only has never played an organized football game…but didn’t play rugby at even a moderately high level (which has not all been the case for any rugby to NFL convert attempts).  Training camps and the NFL itself are full of random long shots and freak athletes from outside of the traditional FBS path, but it’s rare to see them drafted IMO.

I personally think Stiggers, the CFL DB, could be a steal for the Jets.  He was a stud in Canada, won ROY, and is still very young but already knows what it’s like to be a pro

NIL.

These guys would be FAs in any other year.

[MU82]

It's Evan Silva. I wouldn't sweat it. He's not good at this.
Case in point, he he gave the Bears an 'A' for the Fields draft, the Jets a 'B+' for the Zach Wilson draft, but the Lions a D+ for the Sewell/St. Brown draft and the Chiefs a C for Nick Bolton/Creed Humphrey/Trey Smith.
In 2020, he gave the Bears a 'C-' for Cole Kmet, Jaylon Johnson and Darnell Mooney and the Bengals a 'C+' for Burrow/Higgins/Logan Wilson but the Broncos an 'A' for Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler and the Jets a 'B+' for Mehki Becton and Denzel Mims.

I'm not sweating it at all. I have low expectations. The last time I saw it, the over/under on wins for the Panthers next season was 4.5, and I'll be quite pleasantly surprised if they cover the over.

[PointWarrior]

everything I read has the Bears winning the draft and free agency, they will win the next 10 super bowls and never lose to the packers again....

[tower912]

Everybody in the NFC North is going to the Super Bowl.   

OK, it was a good draft for all 4 teams and it should be a grind.

[Pakuni]

Phil and Boomer booted from CBS pregame show, replaced by Matt Ryan.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2024/04/29/phil-simms-boomer-esiason-out-nfl-today-matt-ryan-in/73498461007/

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Phil and Boomer booted from CBS pregame show, replaced by Matt Ryan.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2024/04/29/phil-simms-boomer-esiason-out-nfl-today-matt-ryan-in/73498461007/

Really surprised they kept Bill Cowher. But I'm also surprised that Fox keeps dragging Terry Bradshaw out too.

Of course I don't watch any of these shows so what do I know.

[RJax55]

Phil and Boomer booted from CBS pregame show, replaced by Matt Ryan.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2024/04/29/phil-simms-boomer-esiason-out-nfl-today-matt-ryan-in/73498461007/

Too bad they moved Ryan out of the booth. He was really solid last year, but sadly buried on the CBS announcer depth chart.

[Pakuni]

In related news, Jason Kelce is joining Monday Night Countdown.

[tower912]

I hope he leaves his shirt on.

[Lennys Tap]

In related news, Jason Kelce is joining Monday Night Countdown.

Smart, funny and at ease in front of a camera. He’ll be great.

[Jockey]

Smart, funny and at ease in front of a camera. He’ll be great.

I agree. It’s not his first rodeo.

[wadesworld]

Justin Fields as a returner is the first move to getting him to play his actual NFL position.

[MU82]

Some jokes from the live-streamed (on Netflix) roast of Tom Brady:

Belichick: “People have said it — Tom and I butted heads a lot. And in a way that was true. But it was hard to butt heads with Tom — because he was so far up Alex Guerrero’s ass.”

Julian Edelman: “Alex Guerrero is the snake oil salesman that turned Tom into a complete weirdo.”

Drew Bledsoe: “A lot of people assume I have a lot of animosity toward Tom Brady. So I’m here tonight in front of millions of people to tell you — they’re correct.”

Bledsoe: “There were rumors that coach Belichick was going to be here tonight. Turns out he has some time on his hands. At least when I got fired, somebody else wanted me.”

Edelman said Belichick used to tell the team in meetings that Foxboro High players would've done a better job, leading to ... "Now Foxboro High is the only job offer you have. Do your job? More like need a job, coach."

Randy Moss: “Before I got to the New England Patriots, we heard about Spygate. Then after I left, we heard about Deflategate. So I only got one question for you, Tom: ’Why the f— didn’t we cheat when I was there?! I wanted to cheat, too. My kids always ask me, ‘Daddy, why does everyone have a ring but you?’ You know how hard it is to look your kids in the eyes and say, ‘They just don’t trust me enough to cheat’?”

Gronkowski on the similarities between Brady and Belichick: “You’re both hard asses that hate fun. You both live and breathe football. Neither of you are married anymore. You’re both even divorced from football — and both of you take full credit for the dynasty.”

Comedian Jeff Ross: “Tom was drafted 199th in the NFL draft. He sat there for days waiting and waiting and was finally picked in the sixth round when Bill Belichick’s dog stepped on the keyboard by accident.”

Ross on what Brady told Robert Kraft: "I'm the best decision your organization has ever made. Would you like a massage?" (A perturbed Brady got up from his seat and told Ross: "Don't say that sh!t again.")

Comedian Nikki Glaser: “You have seven rings — well, eight now that Giselle gave hers back.”

Brady said the NFL could've saved the $20M it spent investigating Deflategate because "I would’ve just told you I f—-ing did it.”

Brady on why he wants to buy a piece of the Raiders: “I’m tired of owning just the Colts and the Bills.”

Kraft: "Tom, good luck buying the Raiders. They did your favorite thing for you already — they got rid of Jimmy Garoppolo.”

Brady to Belichick: “I’ve been out of the game for a minute, so I’m curious - how many Super Bowls have you won since I left? … When I go to the Indy 500, I don’t ask, ‘Hey, who gassed up your car.’”