Superman

Yeah, nsurg with the best post of the year, IMO. Relating it to Manning was very helpful. With the surgery in the past and his recovery being obvious from his on field performance, we can consider the operation a success at this point. Still, cervical fusion makes me wonder about spinal stenosis, future arthritis, etc. By the way, Danielle Hunter had a fusion in 2020. We've seen him bounce back. Performed by Dr. Watkins, same doctor that operated on Manning and Latu. So no doubt the Colts were thorough before making this decision. Edit: Leighton Vander Esch was born with spinal stenosis.

I'm back and forth on whether they tried to trade out. I'm sure they would have considered a great offer that didn't require moving down more than 4-5 spots, but the only team that traded up was the Vikings, and they were all the way down at #23. But the fact that they could take their highest rated defender at #15 -- and this is the one situation where you know this isn't bogus GM speak, because he was literally the first defender off the board -- is probably exciting. They really lucked out, IMO.

Around the three minute mark, he starts talking about being medically retired by Washington. He got injured, and while he was still working through his options for surgery and recovery, the program told him they were going to medically retire him. Before he got the surgery! He has the operation, then goes out and plays rugby two months after a cervical fusion. That's the Poly way. He had an offer from a pro rugby team in Seattle, but turned it down to keep playing football. So yeah, it's right to be concerned by the fusion and his recovery, but it's seeming like the medical retirement was overblown because of how Washington chose to handle it.

I'm no fan of the way Bradley runs this scheme, but for it to work as designed, you have to be able to get consistent pass rush with the front four. Adding another good edge definitely helps get you closer to that goal. And we'll see how Partridge helps, I know his reputation is great, but let's see how it goes. Once the 6 (SIX!!!!) QBs were gone, there was no way to predict what the Raiders would do. I don't even think the fans can be mad, they didn't really have a chance to trade up for a QB, and Bowers is a good prospect. I guess Bowers could have been the trade-up target for the Colts also, I just assume it was a WR, and Odunze is the one that was in range.

I offered it as an option months ago, but I don't think he's the right fit with Pittman. Among the likely available veteran trade options, he's the only one I'd consider. But I think maybe the Niners keep him, and trade Deebo.

I like Turner, just didn't see him as a scheme fit for the Colts. I also expected him to be gone in the top 10-ish. I'm not totally shocked by the way the top of the round went, but I never would have called 14 straight offensive players. I figured someone would trade up for a pass rusher. The Falcons taking Penix is the real shocker, I'm still not over that one... If we believe Ballard from last night, they were probably trying to trade up for Odunze. And I guess the Bears at #9 is kind of a surprise, they only have four picks, and that was the spot that I expected a trade back, especially since they already have Keenan Allen and DJ Moore. But they're doubling down on a strength, which isn't a bad strategy. I think Latu projects as a matchup problem for blockers. He's an edge who might attract a double team on passing downs, which is something we haven't had in a while. While our pass rush is anemic at times, I think the DL is solid. Now you drop in a guy who can win on the edge, and there's potential for a big step up. And we still have other young guys who have been improving, despite how people here disregard them.

No, he won't. And I'm not a guy who makes definitive statements like this very often. But I think it's plain as day that Aiyuk will be getting a new contract before the season starts, whether it's with the Niners or another team.

If there's really no way to trade back, I viewed Dallas Turner as the best guy on the board. It's easy to understand why the Colts had Latu ahead of him. I like Byron Murphy also, but we know what the Colts have done at DT already. I guess BTJ would have been my choice, but I never expected the Colts to draft a WR in the first round. Knowing that everyone feels good about the medicals, Latu makes all the sense in the world.

Aiyuk will not play on the fifth year option. You can take that to the bank.

He's not the player I wanted, either. I still think it's a good pick.

It's the only one I got right.

Since we're bumping stuff...

I've been calling out DE as a target position since January. I'm surprised that the Colts took a risk with his medical, when they tend to be more conservative with stuff like this. They're obviously comfortable with it, and after listening to his comments about what happened at Washington, it sounds like maybe they gave up too quickly. No doubt the Colts did their due diligence. We'll see how it plays out. He's a great prospect. Not my favorite guy in this draft, but no doubt about what he brings to the table. He's the most polished pass rusher in this draft, and the most accomplished. But he's not just a technician, he has burst and power and speed, and he can bend enough. You want production over RAS? How about both? I don't know how much upside he has. He's not the most exciting prospect to me for that reason. He can still be really good.

I think a thread in NFL General for the league wide draft is good. And a separate thread for the Colts tonight would be good. It's a new event, stuff is happening right now, and not having to wade through 80 pages to find the new info is probably a plus. That's based on some of the feedback from the FA thread.

How he plays, yeah there's a definite similarity, good and bad. I think Aaron Rodgers went through a spell where he was too focused on not turning the ball over, and it led to more sacks. I think Williams gets too focused on making a play, but same results. Gotta be more willing to let it rip or get a short gain and end the play. Personality wise? Not really. Both are a little off the beaten path. Rodgers is on a different level, though, IMO.

Penix is getting more love lately. I'm not a big fan. Nix isn't high on my radar either. Either of them in a later round as a development guy, fine, but not as a potential franchise player.

@NewColtsFan By the way, Taven Bryan's contract in 2023 was one year, $4.5m. In 2024, it's one year, $2.25m (including all incentives), with $1.125m guaranteed. I was confused on this earlier, finally got a chance to track it down. Don't know if that changes your reasoning on his roster standing or not. 2023: https://coltswire.usatoday.com/2023/03/15/colts-free-agency-taven-bryan-signed-contract-nfl-2023/ 2024: https://overthecap.com/player/taven-bryan/6914 I'd say it's time for a new thread...

He has some good traits, but nothing that jumps off the screen when watching him. Good enough arm, good enough athleticism, good enough size... And surface level viewing, the immediate reaction is this is a game manager on a great team, not being asking to do any big boy QBing. You have to really dig in to see examples of him making big throws from the pocket in critical situations, etc. Those examples definitely exist, but it's easy to miss them. So can he become a franchise level QB who can elevate his teammates, or is he more of a system guy who needs to be on a really good team to succeed? I think he has a lot of potential. He just doesn't seem like the prototypical first round QB prospect that the team wants to build around. And then like stitches said, the other three guys at the top are two Heisman winners, and a consensus top five prospect for the last two years. So the general response to McCarthy has been muted. I don't think there's anyone who would consider him the best prospect in this year's draft, so it's not surprising that no one chose him in this poll. But there are people whose opinions I respect who have him as #3 ahead of Maye, including JT O'Sullivan, who I think is the best Youtube evaluator.

I won't be online, and I wasn't last year, so I don't remember how it was done. But yeah, that's a great way to go, IMO.

No, I don't think they might blow up their plan. I was explaining why I wouldn't mind drafting Murphy. I also don't think they'll draft him, but not because they signed Davis and Bryan. I see it from the opposite angle, they probably signed Davis (not necessarily Bryan) because they already determined they weren't interested in the DTs at the top of this draft. And I'm fine with that. I'm also aware that they might not like Murphy as much as I do, which is also fine.

No doubt. It could also mean that BTJ's issue is more concerning than Nabers. Or not, know way of knowing without having the medicals and someone to decipher and contextualize them for me. With DJ's mock, I think what's more likely is that his choices are flavored by what he's hearing + a desire to pair certain players with certain teams. Nothing he has stands out as weird or unreasonable (he has Latu as the 4th edge, by the way), but I think Bowers to the Colts is just what people think is fun, and BTJ to the Bills just makes sense. So he puts Rome at #10, and then no more WRs until BTJ at #28, which seems unlikely to me, and kind of forced. Then again, a month ago having BTJ at #28 seemed normal, so who knows.

He still has Nabers at 6 though...

I would need to get more info. If that's the indication from medicals, then I think I'd be okay with it. I don't know anything, though. It's probably a team by team thing, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Colts are more conservative than other teams when it comes to shoulder injuries... Edit: https://www.si.com/nfl/2024/04/022/takeaways-nfl-draft-latest-buzz-rumors-medicals?__s=nxvbiahefc4aoa0o76dc So you're right, I probably misread this when I saw it the other day.

I don't know why he would only play 25% of the snaps for 2-3 years. Taven Bryan and Eric Johnson combined for about 600 snaps last year, why couldn't Murphy take most of those right away? I guess maybe Davis is in line to take those. Also, Buckner played about 350 snaps at DE last year, so he's not strictly used at 3T. I'd be fine with letting that work itself out in 2024. It's an unpopular stance, but I'm not super concerned with a first round pick being an immediate contributor. If he is, that's great, but even if we see a position group as strong and deep, and a rookie has to fight for playing time, I'm okay with that.