shasta519

If Lazard is going to the NYJ, then I would assume Rodgers is as well. Wonder if the NYJ would be willing to trade Elijah Moore. Would love to get him cheap.

Plot twist. They don't actually cut Matt Ryan and his remaining $17M or whatever becomes gtd. I would be here for that chaos.

After seeing what Edwards got, yeah it sure is. Still strange that they traded Smith, only to spend $24M on LB in FA. But this is good news for Okereke. It does take CHI out of the running, but Edmunds' contract helps reset the market a bit. My guess would be $8-10M.

Wasn’t Tremaine Edmunds called that as well?

Edwards was a better player last season, at least according to PFF. And he’s got the SB shine.

Yeah. I would think a 20 year-old QB prospect would want to go back to school for another year, especially one with the questions that AR has. However, next year's draft class appears to be stronger. Even if AR showed improvement, he likely isn't getting past Williams or Maye. And he could risk losing some of the momentum he has from being much more athletic and intriguing than this group. In this class, his agent can make a case for him to be at least be in the top 3 QBs taken...maybe even #1.

Weird. Wikipedia has him at age 21...slated to turn 22 in May. If he's actually a year younger, then he could basically sit for two years and still only be 23 when he starts his career.

The more I have thought about this...I think the Colts have to take a swing for the fences. The AFC is now loaded with top-tier QBs. That's the reality facing the Colts and they are way behind in the arms race. The quickest way to catch up is to try to get a guy that can match that. Ballard has said it's not about one guy, but that was back in 2017...before Mahomes, Herbert, Allen, Lamar, Burrow and Lawrence all arrived. There is a ton of risk involved in chasing upside. And it wouldn't be my job on the line. But those AFC QBs aren't going anywhere any time soon, so as a fan, I am fine with trying again in a few years. Or maybe even sooner depending on where they are picking in the next two years...as long as they are going after QBs who have that type of upside. Picking a higher floor/lower ceiling QB would solve the need to have a young QB on the roster, but I don't think it would solve the desire to contend in the AFC. I don't know that QB is, but it would seem like Young and AR have that upside, while Stroud doesn't. Or maybe just AR has that upside. The guy who does have that upside is going #1 in next year's draft. And I have said it before, but I would gladly take another lost season to get him. But that won't happen.

I would say Burns is pretty close to already being an elite ER. And he's only going to be 25 this year. Which means, even in a 5-year deal, you aren't paying for past production because he's still in his prime. No way you trade him, unless it's for a stupid amount of draft capital.

Fields was QB4 off the board that year. So they really only chose him over Mac Jones. Though the people that evaluated Trubisky are the same that evaluated Fields. But it doesn't mean that CHI couldn't luck into a great QB pick. HOU made all kinds of odd moves in recent years, but they managed to get the Watson pick right. I think a big part of their QB woes was Nagy's coaching. And I am confident that Steichen will be a much better fit. But I am also pretty confident they won't trade him.

It's an interesting choice. Either they trade up for the QB they want, which will cost far more. Or they stay pat and take whomever is available at #4. So either way that #4 pick is gone to a QB. So it just comes down to whether you Fields or one of the QB prospects better. There are other considerations, such as Fields having only 3 cost-controlled years left vs. a rookie having 5. But he also has begun to take clear strides forward, which is an advantage he has over an unknown rookie. Plus, the Colts just hired Steichen to be the HC...the guy who helped turn a similar player (Hurts) into a top tier QB. And I would argue that Fields has the same mobility, but better arm strength. He could very well be poised for that year 3 breakout that we have seen with other QBs. And if that happens, getting him with the #4 pick is a steal. Obviously, you would try to get him cheaper than the #4 pick, but it's not a wild idea.

HOU easily would and CHI would easily accept, pocket those picks and then start working the phones again for the #2 pick. Dream scenario for them. I feel like it's all just misinformation this time of year though. The overwhelming sentiment is that CHI won't get a king's ransom, yet there are also GMs who think they might trade Fields and draft a QB instead (which makes the first rumor moot). It's all about where the info is coming from...and more importantly why. When the season ended, I thought a trade up was likely. But the more I think about it...it's going to be tricky. The Colts have to outbid HOU by a good amount because they will be CHI's first call. And then the next call will be to those teams at #9 and #10, where the offers could start to get silly and force the Colts up their ante. Colts are sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place...and I think staying pat is going to look better and better, unless they love a QB in this draft. But if CHI would actually trade Fields, then all of this QB draft talk would be moot to me. Because then you go get Fields.

Even if the draft trade chart isn't gospel, we still have multiple real-life examples of teams trading down from the top few picks. And that trade would be the outlier of all outliers, especially for the #1 pick in the draft. I guess anything is possible. But if that was realistic, I would think it would have been done yesterday. This is the silly season. And my first thought reading this was just some misinformation to hurt CHI's position. And then predictably, I see a "rumor" that there are GMs who think CHI will trade Fields, which means CHI will need a QB and the pick would cost a fortune.

But the starting point for #1 is so much higher than the #3 pick (the pick the Colts had). #6 might be a lower valued slot, but the fall from #1 to #4 is 2x as much (1,200 pts) as the fall from #3 to #6 (600 pts). But this trade offer has it backwards, with CHI getting about 1/2 of what IND got. That's why I think it's way too light. Now there are other considerations. Like who CHI is targeting in the draft and whether they can still get that player. Not to mention relationships between orgs. I think if CHI has no interest in going below #6, those QB-needy teams below #6 will be able to quickly create some interest if they find out that is all IND is offering for the #1 pick.

Colts got (3) 2s to move from #3 to #6, with two of those 2nd rounders in that actual draft. And somehow CHI is going to do much worse moving from #1 to #4? I just can't imagine that is all it costs to move up to #1 from #4. If it is, then another QB-needy team will surely up the ante.

I have watched Levis at UK. And he actually reminds me of Desmond Ridder. Lots of downfield throws where his WR makes a play. But Ridder was a mid-3rd round pick last year. So I don't really get the Levis hype. For me, it's definitely seems like it's Young or Stroud. I have been on the draft a QB bandwagon since Luck retired, but if I am being honest, I would take a lost season if it landed Caleb Williams next year.

I think Aiyuk has All-Pro upside. He's a better WR than Pittman IMO. No question he was this past season.

They convinced themselves JB was worth giving a $28M to..:that Wentz could be the guy for the next several years…that Ryan made them a contender for the next two years. I could definitely see them falling in love with one of the QBs and doing what it takes to trade up.

The most success Irsay has had was when they had their choice at #1. Manning > Leaf. Luck > RG3. No way Irsay leaves it up to chance. Can’t promote #2 either.

If that’s all it takes, then likely there’s nobody behind the Colts offering.

Worked there for a decade. Worked with their current GM in KC (Poles).

Definitely trading up to #1. Worked out perfectly.

I think it's more of a nuanced debate when judging his work as GM because there have definitely been very good things. But I think we can all agree that team success hasn't exactly been extraordinary to date. I just don't really agree with the idea that Ballard has been at some great disadvantage. Other than QB, he's had just about everything a GM would need to be successful (salary cap in good shape, lots of draft capital, patient boss, grateful fans, supportive local media, etc.). And solving QB long-term is a challenge that nearly all GMs must face...it's typically part of the job description. So the loss of having an advantage (Luck) is not really a disadvantage.

Since this is the proper thread for grievances... All this talk about Ehlinger being a gadget player or even having him as the QB2 just reminds how Ballard passed on Malik Willis and Desmond Ridder in this past draft when the cost was just a 3rd round pick. Especially when the only young QB on this team is a poor man's version of those players (Ehlinger). I will never agree with the choice to not draft one of those two players in the 3rd round. That is all.

@NFLfanSorry for the delay. Put me down for ARI.