I agree. I don't actually think Keim has info on that, he might, but I doubt it, I think he's speculating based on what WRs are going to demand and the amount of holes we need to fill, and the role Deebo plays is a luxury to have. And I don't disagree. I think if I was betting, I would also bet they wouldn't bring him back. But I don't think we've seen any real "reporting" on that yet. Just hunches. Maybe informed hunches, but I think it's just hunches.
I'd replace your A. with Terry Injury. The hold out/in was less of a problem than the injury which had him miss essentially half the season.
As I said in the post above, McCaffery + Deebo + Lane made it impossible to find a player to take what is essentially the backup to NBrown/Terry spt on the outside, because anybody coming in would be competing for the 6th WR roster spot. So that's how you ended up with Osborn, Moore, Gallup, and I think a few other useless vets all competing for a spot.
The mistake, BIG mistake was trusting NBrown. They should have moved on from him and signed a more reliable outside WR who can start. Trading for Deebo was fine, I didn't have any problem with that. If NBrown and Terry had stayed healthy all year, I think the trio of Terry, NBrown and Deebo would have been REALLY good. But we never saw it to full effect with Daniels. The only time we really saw it was week 1 and 2, and Terry was still getting into playing shape after sitting out the entire preseason.
The other unfortunate thing is McCaffery was drafted in the 3rd round and he can't be trusted to be a backup outside guy either.
So it all came tumbling down.
They need to entirely re-do the WR room. I wouldn't have any issue if they went WR at #7 if there's a guy they like. They need a replacement plan for Terry anyway.
He could be speculating, though even his speculation is almost always based on some item. He doesn't seem hardcore on either point but when asked to bet if Deebo or Wagner are back, he bets against both but he doesn't come off slam dunk on it.
The speculation if that's what driving it seems to be that he's clearly heard that:
A. Want an explosive playmaker who can take advantage of a play action heavy offense
B. Deep threat-speed
Deebo doesn't fit either idea.
I don't agree with this. I think you're drawing a conclusion based on a fact pattern that might not be there.
I think they thought they were upgrading the weapons big time by getting Deebo, and they thought NBrown + Deebo + Terry would be really dangerous. You have stretch the field ability + toughness, gadget stuff, it would be really tough to defend.
And I agree with that.
Trusting Noah Brown for that role, however, was the big mistake. And probably not one Peters is going to make again.
As I said, once they signed Brown and traded for Deebo, they cut off the pipeline to any other WR wanting to come here. So they were forced to shop in the aisle of discarded toys, because that's the only aisle which was available to them.
I don't remember who the other WRs were who were available in FA last year, I'd have to go back and look, but I think they looked at the list and held their nose. I remember it beign a very bad list in general. Which is why they traded for Deebo, because they thought he was a guy who could upgrade the room they could lock in and better than what was on the market.
Hindsight being 20/20, they probably should have chosen DBrown or OZ over NBrown, or gone outside to try and get somebody else better for the outside spot.
I think the other thing really hindering the WR is McCaffery is taking up 20% of the roster spots and hasn't developed into a reliable receiver. That's a problem Peters didn't inherit, he created it. But now he's got to live with it.
I know you don't agree we've argued this several times. As i told you last time, I don't think the team would even agree with you. Keim has flat out said in a podcast he knows the team thought they weren't where they needed to be at WR and edge and were taking chances on those spots but felt they needed another off season before they can accomplish what they wanted.
You are just giving a narrative for how it can work out. Sure, but I can do the same for any spot just about.
Lets go D line as an example: What if D. Wise rediscovered his peak form from NE, renergized by new surroundings. Jac
ob Martin has been sneaky good, Von Miller too if you match their reps to pressures-sacks in their previous stints. J Kinlaw was a high first round pick, in limit snaps he was around 5 sacks for the Jets. Daron Payne is energized to play without Jonathan Allen. J. Newton was considered a first rounder, a year removed from his surgery. Year 2 under Whitt. Boom! Lets win a SB.
OK I'll do WR. Noah was banged up some but when he played exceeded expectations, give him year 2 in the system, and we got ourselves a Z and on the cheap? Then you add Deebo to play slot. So Noah and Deebo and Terry that's not bad. Jayden proved he can throw to anyone last year. So backups should be fine. Gallup hasn't played in over a year but in his prime he was a good Z. So there is Noah's backup. We don't know if McCaffrey and Lane are ready but heck they should at least be servicable backups to Deebo in the slot. And Chris Moore isn't a burn burner but is being an OK backup type so he can cover Terry at X and heck Terry never gets hurt anyway,
OK now let me tear the if and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas narrative
A. As Keim said Peters thought Gallup, Osborn, C. Moore would work out at least as backups. He swung and he missed. Was that well planned? nope. they were all street FAs. Odds were against all of them.
B. No one in FA? The SB had Diggs and Kupp and Hollins who signed in FA. Devonte Adams almost made the SB. Darius Slayton would have been an upgrade. Heck even Keenan Allen. You can do better than Noah easily let alone their scrub backups
C. Noah as the starting Z was a joke. He's a 4th WR on most teams when healthy let alone he can never stay heallthy
D. They didn't want to pay Terry bigger money in part because the history of 30 plus year olds at the position which is heavily about injuries. Yet it didn't occur to them he might be more injury prone in his 30s?
You point is somewhat Deebo, Deebo, Deebo, case closed. And you can explain the other moves. So Deebo coupled with explanations for what else shows their ambition. My response is an injury prone street FA at Z. Counting on three street FAs as back ups. 2 mid round project WRs. And assuming age is only a number for Terry while basically negotiating with him like they don't believe in that line at all and are willing to risk a hold out to prove that point -- wasn't them taking WR seriously.
And on Deebo specifically, yeah that's indeed an expensive slot Wr, bravo but to offset that they had street FAs as the starting Z and in key roles as backups. So its like you add truffles to your thanksgiving side dishes but to make up for that expense you got ramen noodles and kraft mac and cheese as the other side dishes.
If you want to defend them, here's the best defense IMO
A. If Adams can find Zaccheus why not trust him to find the next Zaccheus and for that matter the net behind Naoh Brown?
B. Jayden is special. If he can make lemoande out of lemons from Crowder, Zaccheus, Dyami you bet he could do it with Osborn, Chris Moore, Michael Gallup if needed.