Damn. I was hoping Gore went to a team that had a shot for the SB.

Are they really projected to be that good of NFL QB's? Mayfield is the only one I've seen much of and he seems like he could be the second coming of Johnny Manziel. I didn't hear much NFL hype for any of them until late this season.

I hate this. I know by every reasonable metric it was right to let him walk, but I hate it.

They all could be busts. I saw a lot of Darnold and Rosen living in California. Darnold was a turnover machine and Rosen has some issues including durability. Mayfield is an immature punk. Not a damn one of them is close to Luck coming out of college. Allen, I don't know much about. I expect the Browns to take Darnold, the Giants to take Rosen if they choose a QB. The Jets are definitely taking one of the QB's, that's for damn sure.

Well, defensive players are much faster when younger, whereas offensive players sometimes do fine even as they age

I know I worded this wrong, but my point is that a young defense is more valuable than a young offense.

he isn't some great player.

I don't think he's great but I think he's better than any other RT option we have. And he shouldn't cost much at this point.

i would rather roll with our guys

Rapsheet on Total Access this evening says that Jests have made the largest offer for Suh at greater than 10/year...not known how many years or how much guaranteed but they lead Rams, Titans, Saints on the money front. Willie McCheeter suggests that while the money is important, in his conversations with Suh he's also thinking about his legacy and wants to sign with a contender.....and that ain't the Jests. I just hope he doesn't sign with the Tits

Oops.......Jets have pulled their offer!

Suh signed with the Rams for 1 year, 14 million. Damn that's going to be a hell of a defense.

Yep, that it well be.

Sounds like it, but these kind of things never seem to work out as well as expected

True, but Suh only has a 1 year contract so I think he will be a beast for his next big payday.

Who's their NT, though?

Suh will probably end up playing NT.

Yep. The Jay Ratliff/Sly Williams role.

Kevin Bowen
@KBowen1070
Some tidbits from sitting down with Chris Ballard:

-FWIW, Andrew Luck is still not throwing an actual NFL football
-#Colts went after some big name free agent
-Deeper personnel look

I'm listening to Kevin Bowen on Big Joe and Grady debrief his interactions with Reich in Orlando......a few sound bites (framed from the perspective of Kevin's takeaways from conversation but from also observing and interacting with him and others)

1. Coaching style will be aggressive, competent, well prepped, play to win....not not to lose. Yes, Yes, Yes!!!
2. For a the first time Kevin is truly getting the sense that Colts leadership have confidence that Luck will be ready....i.e. Has really turned the corner
3. Even in the scenario that only 2 QB are taken in the top 5 picks of the draft and the other consensus top 3 non QB (Barkley,Nelson, Chubb) are taken, there is a "mystery 6th" non QB talent that Ballard thinks is a big time playmaker.....Kevin couldn't learn who that is but because of this he thinks it's very unlikely Ballard will trade back further than 6 unless he's on the clock and a QB needy team is willing to give up another huge haul a la the jets deal.

4. Forgot to mention re oline.....although Reich agrees that the line needs some new talent, Kevin's sense is that he's not more concerned about the oline over other talent gaps....Reich really believes that the scheme change, up tempo getting the ball out quicker is going to make a significant impact on reducing the number if sacks even with the same talent. THIS!! Completely agree with this! Can't be said enough times!!

My guess for the mystery 6th man is Denzel Ward. He's got the lookof a zone corner.

No one gets excited for a zone corner in the top 10.

And the Cowboys didn't play exclusive or even primary zone under Marinelli. They mixed their coverages. I expect Eberflus will do the same.

It’ll be a mix, but I agree that the value of a corner is lower in this system. LBs who can both cover and play the run are more important, which is why I think Smith is the 4th player.

Smith would be great.

But, this is another instance, just like when Freeney was drafted. If this is your guy, that you really have a conviction in, then you don't fuck around trading back. You take him at #6 and let the critics keep spouting off about value.

If it were me, Chubb was off the board and Nelson was available, I'd see what the Bears would offer to move up. They really want a guard and they have shown a willingness to overpay to move up and get the player they want. Then I would go with Smith at #8.

Point #4 above should put to bed the idea of drafting/signing 3+ high profile O-linemen.

It's probably Fitzpatrick. We saw with Malik Hooker last year that Ballard loves ballhawking, playmaking, rangy safeties.

With Dez Bryant being released by the Cowboys today, is there any interest from the Colts? He is not the dominant player he used to be, but i suspect he would step straight into the 2nd receiver role. It will be interesting to see what money he is looking for, but he could be an excellent pickup in my opinion. And would again allow us to concentrate on other positions in the draft early, and leave WR to a mid or late round selection.

Colts won't be interested. By the time the Colts are hoping to contend, Bryant would be even further in decline. Take the next 2 years and play 21-24 year-olds who can be peaking at the time you hope to contend.

That last sentence is Ballard's strategy in a nutshell. While I agree with the philosophy, I would have preferred 1-2 bigger UFA acquisitions to stabilize certain parts of the roster. Oh well, he's going all in with the draft and develop approach. It just adds a little more risk.

I sure as hell hope not. Cowboys didn't even try to lower his pay, just flat out released him and the Cowboys aren't exactly overflowing with great receivers. Dez looked horrible last year, seems like he can't catch worth a shit anymore.

or seperate. no thanks.

Exactly, don't need that prima donna POS on the Colts.

Hell no. Fuck that guy