MichiganCardinal

I guess the question is who you consider the big boys to be. For me right now in the NFC it's the Eagles and maybe the Niners if they can find a QB. I don't think there is another team in the NFC who I look at and see a perennial power in the making. And if you're at the point where you can realistically be the 2nd or 3rd best team in the conference with the right moves, you should damn well try to make those right moves. At that point you're on the fast track to be hosting a playoff game - to be favored in a playoff game - to be one or two wins (one or two opponent's mistakes or injuries) from the Super Bowl.

I agree that there is probably a Jim Harbaugh element of needing to be wanted. Last year the Bucs were pleading with him to return, and 10 franchises would have been waiting at the door if he didn’t want to return to Tampa. This year, Tampa is lukewarm on a return, and while I’m sure a franchise would eventually take him, it’s much more of a “let’s explore all of our options first”. I could still see him returning later in the off-season when a team is striking out on the market; or even returning if a playoff team suffers an injury at QB midway through next season.

Where are these leaks coming from? I imagine Ryan’s might leak that Denver made a late push for him, but everything else has to be Denver intel. Not exactly a ringing endorsement of the Coach you just shipped off two high draft picks to acquire.

I would choose Denver over Houston for ownership alone. Ryans was smart to secure a six-year deal though. Should hopefully give him at least three seasons to right the ship, and he can blame the GM and get a new one if Caserio isn’t getting the job done.

A 1st and a 2nd for Payton and a 3rd. That makes much more sense than two 1sts.

Two hires happening almost simultaneously. Schefter says they weren’t related but I have my doubts.

Worth remembering too is that Tommy Kraemer could be brought back as well. He was expected to be the backup OG, and the starting RG when Vaitai went down, but went down with a back injury within the same week that Vaitai did. Kraemer could be had on a minimum contract. Brown was the 3rd string guard and the backup center.

I think Vaitai is one of the more nuanced decisions for them to make. If he’s retained he will absolutely be restructured into a one-year prove-it style of incentive laced deal, but the question is whether they will want him back at all, or will seek to replace him in the draft or free agency. If you’re guaranteed to get what you got in 2021, it’s a no brainer. Vaitai had a career year at RG, despite being a tackle by trade, and he’s only going to be 30. He was arguably our best offensive lineman in 2021... He’s coming off of a back injury though that can really mess with a lineman’s performance. The last thing you want is to sign him to a one-year deal to be your starting RG and have him come out, aggregate it in training camp, and go out again (i.e., Levi). Now you’re digging into depth again before you’ve even gotten a snap out of your starting five (yet again). Hank Fraley is one of the best in the business, but it’s not fair to be expecting him to turn Jonah Jackson into a starting caliber NFL guard.

“We exist too!” -NCAA

Tyree Wilson has the opportunity to have a Travon Walker-esque climb through the process. I wouldn't be surprised to see him overtake one of the two unanimous top defenders right now... He doesn't have the production of Anderson or the flash of Carter, but (like Walker) his athleticism and analytics are off the charts. Of the three names you mentioned, they could cut R.Okwara and Harris on June 1st and it wouldn't surprise me at all... That would be $17MM in combined freed cap space ($11MM in Okwara and $6MM in Harris). I would actually be more surprised if they didn't cut R.Okwara. I think Paschal is a little more versatile than you give him credit for. He could put on a little weight and slide to 3-tech in just one offseason. All three of Hutch, Paschal, and Wilson (or Anderson, or Murphy) could definitely both be on the field at the same time, with Paschal on the inside of either edge. Wilson (and Murphy) are more of a hand-in-the-dirt style of physical edge than Hutch (or Anderson), but it doesn't exclude them from lining up next to Paschal.

We need at least six more ex-players on this coaching staff for it to be successful. Reading around, it's unclear if Tanner Engstrand is getting a promotion or getting the boot.

The more I digest last night’s Eagles-49ers game, the more I want this Lions team to be all-in this offseason. I’m not advocating for mortgaging the future by any means and “selling the farm”, but I don’t think there is a need for patience or development of a rebuilding plan anymore. Go sign some free agents, draft some instant play-makers and make a run. The NFC on the whole is simply beatable. Don’t wait for the Cowboys, Giants, Vikings, Panthers, or Seahawks to claim that spot as the NFC power alongside the Eagles and Niners (who are both themselves beatable). The NFC is up for grabs, go friggin take it.

I’ll still say it. Burrow > Mahomes

That was probably the real Super Bowl.

Penalty will win the game for the Chiefs.

When he was fresh onto the color commentary scene, he knew something. The game has moved beyond his generation, but it’s like he hasn’t realized it.

I heard a rumor that the State fans are actually who bought MTS and turned it into a gambling site.

I think they may get their asses turned inside out by the Bengals or Chiefs. Any given Sunday and all that, but the best of the AFC seems a step-and-a-half above the best of the NFC.

The NFC is trash. You can see it here. I'm not saying it'll happen, but it's not crazy.

Eagles are getting as easy a cake walk to the Super Bowl as I can remember seeing.

Another questionable roughing the kicker call. Sure looked like he got blocked into the kicker by the lineman.

I don't think Purdy can throw it beyond the LOS. CMC wildcat is worth a shot at this point.

He had his arm hit as he threw. Didn't look like much, but he was seen telling Shanahan that he couldn't go, and the broadcast reported later that there was nerve damage. He should be okay, but doesn't have feeling in his hand, which obviously makes it hard to grip and throw the ball.

I think he can also manage the offense and hang onto the ball better than Josh Johnson.