MichiganCardinal

An additional aspect of the Chark signing I like is that it gives us a real chance to better and more fully evaluate Goff. Goff wasn't good for a lot of last season, but in his defense, he really had no one to throw to. As St. Brown developed and we picked up Reynolds, we saw Goff improve by quite a bit. Can he fully utilize a deep threat like Chark? Or will Chark be handicapped in the routes he can run?

I think one thing to bear in mind is that we aren’t necessarily trying to turn the 31st defense into a top 10 defense, and we don’t necessarily have to be a top 10 defense to be successful. Recent playoff teams have demonstrated clearly that an average defense can win a Super Bowl with a good offense.

I think the upgrades are coming, likely mostly through the draft. We couldn't just abandon the entire defense because they were bad though. Harris was decent last year, as was Walker. Above replacement value at least, and those are the only two who have received starting money (and not even playmaking starting money at that). The players who were re-signed at or below replacement level (Anzalone, Dion Hamilton, Elliott, Woods, and Moore) received depth or fringe starting money, which is fair. The hope for them is likely that they won't be put in a starting role unless there are injuries. Guys like Anzalone probably won't be a starter on a playoff team, but can be a very serviceable backup or rotational player.

I thought he would have signed something like 3/27 on the open market, which I also think would have been an overpay. I think $7M is a fair price for an average starting edge rusher, but I like the length a lot. Keep it short and hopefully easy to get out of if he does turn out to be a one-year wonder.

It’s the rebuild that never actually builds.

I don't understand why the Jaguars feel the need to spend all their money in one go. The way that team is trending, Lawrence is going to be looking for a new team by the end of his rookie deal.

Late to the party this morning but excellent move. Draft a WR1 and the wide receiver room goes from ugly to pretty decent looking.

I think Harris is an interesting case because the decision surrounding whether to re-sign him (assuming it is not solely about money) could speak to greater draft and scheme strategy, as well as the confidence the team has in Julian Okwara. With their publicly stated move to a base 4-3, you would assume Romeo Okwara would return to the line, where he's had a great deal of success in his career. Take the edge rusher presumably selected early in the draft and your defensive line actually looks pretty decent as R Okwara, McNeill, Brockers, and (Hutch/Thib/Walker/etc), with Levi rotating in for McNeill and Brockers.... I think it's likely that J Okwara remains an OLB, presumably next to Barnes at ILB, and a second OLB (Harris? Another draft pick?). That said, if there is enough confidence in Levi to take more snaps alongside McNeill in the middle of the line (or if there is a plan to add someone like Jordan Davis - though I don't think there is), you could theoretically keep R Okwara back, leaving either Harris or J Okwara without a starting role. Alternatively, even if there is just more flexibility in the planned defensive packages (i.e., they are basing things more off of the nickel where there are only two LBs on the field), there are going to be situations where you are left with one too many guys between Harris and the two Okwaras. If the team sees Julian Okwara as a cheaper version of Charles Harris, it's understandable that they wouldn't want to pay Harris starting money for an 3+ year contract. I think of everything I just laid out, a 4-3 of R.Okwara/McNeill/Brockers/Rookie - J.Okwara/Barnes/Harris is the most talented option presented on paper, but if Campbell and Glenn envision more nickel looks than would make that scheme worthwhile, far be it for me to argue.

If only those kids from high school could see me now.....

It’ll be close. I have no doubt that Jacksonville overpaid though.

Kirk’s deal probably does throw a bit of a wrench into the WR market. Robinson likely will want more than him now, and will probably ultimately be told “go ask Jacksonville then”

Jacksonville is overpaying because they're Jacksonville. Wonder where that has failed before.

Holmes was complimentary of Benson earlier this offseason and claimed that they anticipated Benson to be a project player who wasn't ready in 2021. Granted, he has to say that because he traded for him and Benson was not ready in 2021. I would expect Benson to compete for WR5/6. If he is eventually released, it will definitely go down as a clunker of a trade. At the same time though, had we just drafted him in the 5th round last year and then released him in the second year of his rookie deal, I don't think many would bat an eye.

They’re bringing people back but they’re not really paying them. Walker is the only one who’s received starting money, and $8M yearly isn’t going to break the bank for a starter. I’d have preferred a two eyear deal for Walker but I’m not bent out of shape over bringing him back.

I'm not opposed to spending money on pieces on the defense (including Williams), but in building a team I think you need to have an eye on what wins in the NFL, both now and moving forward. That is the offense. When you look at the top teams in the NFL (Rams, Bengals, Chiefs, Bills, etc.), the name of the game is offense over defense. With guys like Mahomes, Burrow, and Allen in their mid-20s, that shows no sign of slowing down soon. Despite the ineptitude of the Lions defense last year, I think only 2, 3 tops, of the first five picks we have should go to addressing the defense. Get someone who can rush the passer, get someone who can help neutralize an opponent's playmaker, and then weaponize your offense. Get yourself playmakers on offense and just plain outscore your opponents. If you're scoring 30+ points every game, you don't need your defense to move mountains. They just need to hold their own and limit mistakes. The same goes for free agency. If you have $X to spend, don't spend it all on the defense and expect them to hold opponents to single digits. No matter how good those pieces are, that's just not practical in 2022 NFL.

Anzalone only made $1.75M last year and I can't imagine he would get much of a raise. JRM's cap hit was even less. I think those are the guys they don't mind bringing back for depth and to maybe compete for a starting role, but I don't think they would prohibit a free agent signing, if that's the direction the team decides to go.

Likely true. Like I said, I think it's more indicative of a trend than anything definitive. If they were already determined on taking Willis at #2, they wouldn't have offered Boyle in the first place.

Another very good linebacker is hitting the open market.

Even a million dollars is a lot for a 3rd string QB. You can get a 3rd string QB off any given practice squad for half of that.

Re-signing Boyle probably doesn't completely rule out taking a QB early, but it could be an indication that they are trending that direction. You don't pay $2.5M to a 3rd string QB.

Lol

Michigan travels everywhere. Certainly more than Colorado State does. I would expect Tennessee to bring plenty up north for those games as well.

With that game being in Indy, I have to imagine a lot of Michigan fans will travel. Very favorable landing for a mediocre basketball team.

Michigan to play Colorado State in a 6-11 matchup, no play-in game.