MichiganCardinal

I think the length of contract may have been the sticking point more than money. A three-year deal for a 25-26yo RB is very different than a three-year deal for a 27-28yo RB. It's possible the "far apart" was that the Lions wanted him for 1 year / $4MM and he just didn't want to take a one-year deal. Which I understand.

Gonna miss seeing this guy play catch with kids in the stands pregame. Such a great dude.

For less than Montgomery.

This discrepancy is what I was referring to earlier. It feels like those who scout based off of film are head over heels about the guy, while those who love their numbers, measurements, and analytics are more hesitant. For me, I think the tail end of that quote Campbell got from an AFC exec is a bit laughable. “Are these sack numbers inflated?” He put up 37.5 sacks in 39 games in the SEC West. Was that too many for you? I think the numbers guys can get so far wrapped up in what their numbers say a player should be rather than what their eyes tell us they are. Some guys - especially the elite ones - can just defy your numbers and flat out ball.

Is your friend Alex Anzalone? Don’t worry, his job is secure. I will say though that if they do go the route of a pure edge rusher like Anderson, the linebackers will be tested. Less time in the pocket means more quick slants and screens.

Anderson came in at 6’ 3 1/2” / 253 lbs. at the combine, which was +10 lbs. from his listed weight at Alabama. Even assuming he downed a couple gallons of water before stepping on the scale, I’m not too worried about his size.

It won’t be as involved as HBO, but I think that is kind of what the Lions social media team is attempting with their Inside the Den series on YouTube. It’s a good production.

I actually think I may be higher on him than most pundits. I think you’re correct in our differences of him though. I do see a possible generational talent, especially from his 21 tape, and I know the consensus is that he is not. In the same way Travon Walker rose and Hutchinson fell when analytics got involved, I think that’s what we are seeing with Anderson falling and Wilson rising, despite Anderson, like Hutch, being really the best player on the board. Analytics are useful, but I don’t think the numbers should blind someone from raw production. Some guys are just beasts that get the job done.

Actually yes you may be right, because Saleh was hired in the same cycle as Campbell. Have to revise my statement to say that they’re a New York team with no kneecap biters in the field.

By being a team from New York I think they were the likely pick regardless.

I think I respectfully disagree RE Anderson. If you eliminate QBs from the discussion, I see a large gap between Anderson's ceiling and the next best player in this draft (probably Bijan or Tyree Wilson). People seem to have forgotten just how dominant Anderson was in 2021... 101 tackles, 31.5 TFL, and 17.5 sacks, largely while being doubled in the SEC West. If he had repeated that in 2022, he would have been the undisputed #1 overall prospect. There has almost been a staring effect on him, where he has been considered a top draft prospect for so long that so-called experts manufacture flaws. Carter's ceiling is closer to Anderson than either Bijan or Wilson, but I think his floor is so low (as well as the problems discussed ad nauseam) that will be removed from the board altogether. As for the Lions, I do think they would seriously benefit by having an elite edge rusher across from Hutch. Hutch was the most double teamed edge in all of football last year. I loved Houston's production as much as the next guy, but I don't think you let a 6th round rookie who flash-bangs onto the scene for five or six games stop you from taking an elite presence. There are even some 3rd down formations where you can justify putting all three of Hutch, Anderson, and Houston on the field at the same time and letting one of them (probably Hutch) send a delayed bullrush from the inside. If you've got the talent they'll find their way onto the field. I think a Hutch/Anderson combo would be take over some amount of games though. I don't want to sit at #6 and "settle" for a second tier talent, when getting a top tier talent is within reach. I don't think Holmes will either, if he sees the board that way.

Trivia time! What was the last pass Aaron Rodgers threw as a Green Bay Packer? A Kerby Joseph interception.

Now he's trashing Schefter. Says he told him to lose his number. I'm here for that.

I hate myself for turning this on. He's so dramatic, self-absorbed, and annoying. He just called himself the best player in Packers history. Sounds like the Packers want to use everything that's gone down against the Jets. If Rodgers had decided to play for the Jets two weeks ago, this deal is probably done. Now they've gone and signed Lazard, watched all the other QBs sign elsewhere, and clearly have all their chips in one basket. Two weeks ago, everything was stacked against the Packers, and they needed to move Rodgers. Now, both sides need to get this done. Rodgers cost his future team all their leverage by being a drama queen.

lol

Can you play DT? Asking for a friend.

I think one of the pieces that led the Lions to Montgomery too is his durability. He's only missed 6 games in four seasons, only one game last season.

I think a lot of us here have strong opinions that Montgomery will be better - possibly a lot better - behind a substantially better offensive line. 201 carries for 801 yards and 5 TDs isn't that amazing when compared to Jamaal's 262 carries for 1066 yards and 17 TDs... If Montgomery comes here and puts up 801 yards and 5 TDs in Jamaal's role, I think that will be disappointing and those grades will be appropriate. But if he can gain an extra yard or two per carry behind this offensive line, like the missed tackle rates suggest is possible, it's a different story completely.

If I’m Okwara my stuff is probably in boxes. Drafting Wilson or Anderson almost certainly makes him the odd man out, and they may not even wait until the draft.

Seems Harris is here to stay.

If I was told I needed to lock myself in a house and just answer the phone and stay in shape for four months, in exchange for a 4+ year contract worth multi-millions.... I would have gotten it done when I was 10 years old, 14, 16, 19, or 21. After the character flaws report came out, that's literally all Carter needed to do.

Generally, I subscribe to this belief. That said, I don't foresee Swift receiving an extension. If they do take a running back in the draft, they'll have $6MM or so plus a rookie contract on the books for the next three years. That's not the "paying running backs" that a team should stay away from.

I wouldn't be upset if we gave up both 2s and went up for Anderson. I would be too happy about having Anderson and Hutch as the bookends on that defensive line for the foreseeable future that I'm not sure there is anything they could do to upset me the rest of the draft.