MichiganCardinal

This seems right, but it also seems extremely selective. "He was really really bad for these 24 games, so we are going to ignore those, blame others for it, and focus on (some of) the 10 games that came after that."

I agree. If the only hold-up was #48 vs. #55, I'd probably do #48, because it wouldn't take but a future late round pick to jump back to the mid-40s if needed. But generally, I agree. Unless they start getting cute and want to send stuff back. I would probably do #6, #18, and #81 (or a future 3rd) for #3 and #34. At that point you have the capital to move back into the 1st if needed, or stay put and get three really quality players in the 2nd round (assuming we can break the 2nd round curse).

I think the difference between then and now is that you can justify saying "one elite presence on this team (particularly on this defense) can take this team to the next level"... That wasn't the case last year (and it was only one spot), and it definitely wasn't the case two years ago.

It wouldn't help anyone to throw a defensive captain under the bus with a report that he was their fall-back plan. The public message will be that he is their guy and that they believe in him, which is what the public message should be.

I agree, and I love the idea of moving up for him (or Stroud) at #3, but I don't think I would give up a 1st (either #18 or a future) to do it. As buddha said, I would look to give up a 2nd this year and a 3rd either this year or next year. I would consider doing two 2nds (preferably one this year and one next year). But I don't think the Cardinals are going to get an offer that comes with a 1st and lets them stay in the top ten this year. As it is, the Cardinals could drop to #6 and probably have three of Jalen Carter, Tyree Wilson, Quentin Johnston, or Peter Skoronski waiting for them. Might not be true if they go any further. They have holes everywhere. We are in a spot to look for elite talent, with draft capital to spare.

I think he’s basically the 6th offensive lineman. We saw last season how quickly we made it to backup #2 when Vaitai went down and Kraemer followed in the same week. Not to mention how many weeks we had one of Jackson or Ragnow out. Whether you bring Vaitai back or draft a rookie guard, you’ll want a sure thing behind them. I think that’s Glasgow’s role.

Vick also did a lot more than dog fighting. He tortured and killed quite a few. I guess put another way if Stroud was to say “Vick did nothing wrong” I would have an issue… as it is though, non-story.

Watson maybe...... Vick spent nearly two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to dog fighting though, hard to justify a claim that that wasn't wrong. All the same, this is a non-story. Stroud can cite Vick as an inspiration to his game while also abhorring what he did off the field.

Probably. But even a two-year deal to a league age 28yo RB is risky business. He's likely one knee injury from retirement. This is probably the last multi-year contract he'll sign, so I understand maximizing your length and guaranteed money. I also think Holmes probably had his eye on Montgomery notwithstanding Jamaal. He certainly wasn't desperate to bring Jamaal back. I agree that fans will get over it by the time the draft rolls around.

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.