2026 53-Man Roster Thread

[Voice_of_Reason]

Fan’s trust wavers by the week (sometimes by the day or hour) depending on results or other factors. I certainly don’t want any organizational leader that is swayed by the fan’s opinions du jour or that is driven by earning their trust.

Hour by Hour?

If an UDFA RB fumbles on his first carry in the 4th quarter of the first preseason game, he sucks, his family sucks, his dog is ugly, the scout who evaluated him sucks, the GM sucks, and everybody should be fired and Harris should sell the team.

On his second drive, if he scores a TD, then all of those people were great in finding a diamond in the rough and is dog isn't ugly.

It's drive to drive, play to play.

Edit to add: this is clearly a joke and said tongue in cheek.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

Friend, you are mis-remembering.

It was worse than that. SO MUCH WORSE. Let's walk through it together:

So first, Josh Johnson made the 53 as a 39 year old beating out Hartman for the 3rd string job. Ok, fine, but not a great look.
Then Daniels got hurt, Mariota was the starter, Johnson the backup.
Then Daniels was shut down.
Then Mariota got hurt.
Josh Johnson was named the starter. But they didn't have a backup.
Instead of elevating Hartman from the PS to be the backup to Johnson, they signed Driskell and made him the backup the same week they signed him.

They wouldn't even give Hartman a jersey as a backup in games which it would be better they lost than won. (It's POSSIBLE he was given a jersey as the inactive 3rd string backup or something. Maybe. I can't remember that but it doesn't matter.)

If that's not the indictment of the century, I'm not sure what is. Forget start. They wouldn't even let him back up Johnson and signed a guy from off the street to be the backup.

So your memory was kinder to Hartman than history shows

Ooouuuccch, I forgot about the Driskell bit.

Hartman must be really valuable in the QB room.

 

[CapsCommies]

Ooouuuccch, I forgot about the Driskell bit.

Hartman must be really valuable in the QB room.

My working hypothesis for the past year+ is that they're developing him to be a coach and both sides are on the same page about it.

 

[Conn]

My working hypothesis for the past year+ is that they're developing him to be a coach and both sides are on the same page about it.

But…they could just do that without using a PS spot, that would be an idiotic use of resources. PS players “only” make like $180k for the season, if they spend the entire 17 weeks. Can’t imagine that’s significantly less than an entry-level offensive quality control coach, or they could pay him whatever they wanted as a coaching intern or assistant to the assistant QB coach. This feels like cope, they’re just mishandling resources.

 

[Boone]

N/M

 

[CapsCommies]

But…they could just do that without using a PS spot, that would be an idiotic use of resources. PS players “only” make like $180k for the season, if they spend the entire 17 weeks. Can’t imagine that’s significantly less than an entry-level offensive quality control coach, or they could pay him whatever they wanted as a coaching intern or assistant to the assistant QB coach. This feels like cope, they’re just mishandling resources.

Being a player and being a coach are fundamentally different experiences, and it would ostensibly help any coach to have played for a significant period of time - even if just on the PS. If you think it's a poor use of a PS spot, hey fair enough. I don't know enough about it. But I dont think roster spot #70 is likely to end up a contributor, anyway. So if he can run the PS fine and you cultivate a young coaching candidate in-house, feels fine to me. Not going to get worked up about it when there are much higher priority issues like OL, CB, etc.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

But…they could just do that without using a PS spot, that would be an idiotic use of resources. PS players “only” make like $180k for the season, if they spend the entire 17 weeks. Can’t imagine that’s significantly less than an entry-level offensive quality control coach, or they could pay him whatever they wanted as a coaching intern or assistant to the assistant QB coach. This feels like cope, they’re just mishandling resources.

I have no idea why he’s on the practice squad.

 

[Primus Porcus]

I have no idea why he’s on the practice squad.

just a thought...

Because he's been in the offense for 3 years and having another guy who knows the language / scheme / playcalling and can communicate it in practice and film room, is more valuable as your 4th QB than someone walking the street?

 

[Chris]

Hour by Hour?

If an UDFA RB fumbles on his first carry in the 4th quarter of the first preseason game, he sucks, his family sucks, his dog is ugly, the scout who evaluated him sucks, the GM sucks, and everybody should be fired and Harris should sell the team.

On his second drive, if he scores a TD, then all of those people were great in finding a diamond in the rough and is dog isn't ugly.

It's drive to drive, play to play.

Edit to add: this is clearly a joke and said tongue in cheek.

I was being kind. 😉

 

[NickyJ]

just a thought...

Because he's been in the offense for 3 years and having another guy who knows the language / scheme / playcalling and can communicate it in practice and film room, is more valuable as your 4th QB than someone walking the street?

But he wasn't more valuable as the 4th QB than someone walking the street last year. Unless Blough as an OC can finally tap into his abilities and elevate him to the 4th best now.

 

[Primus Porcus]

But he wasn't more valuable as the 4th QB than someone walking the street last year. Unless Blough as an OC can finally tap into his abilities and elevate him to the 4th best now.

I'm looking at practice, not game day.. they made it obvious that the street walkers on Sunday were more valuable, but that kind of is the bigger point right? He is who he is, and Mon - Fri you want less performance, more scheme

 

[method man]

just a thought...

Because he's been in the offense for 3 years and having another guy who knows the language / scheme / playcalling and can communicate it in practice and film room, is more valuable as your 4th QB than someone walking the street?

This is year 1 of a much different offense. They could bring John Wolford off the street and he’d be more valuable than Hartman

 

[36ST21]

the street walkers on Sunday were more valuable

Words to live by right there.

 

[Primus Porcus]

This is year 1 of a much different offense. They could bring John Wolford off the street and he’d be more valuable than Hartman

It’s still blough. The language is likely exactly the same, a language he’s been speaking for 3 years now.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

just a thought...

Because he's been in the offense for 3 years and having another guy who knows the language / scheme / playcalling and can communicate it in practice and film room, is more valuable as your 4th QB than someone walking the street?

Counter point: the offense is different, the terminology is different, he doesn't have an NFL arm, and they proved last year they wouldn't even elevate him to backup in a lost season.

I mean, maybe that's changed now, but I think with the departure of Kliff, it removes the "he knows the system" part of it.

I really don't care that much one way or another. Galdi brought it up this morning, it's just odd you have a guy on your practice squad for 3 years and seemingly have absolutely no intention of giving him a game day jersey.

 

[DWinzit]

Counter point: the offense is different, the terminology is different, he doesn't have an NFL arm, and they proved last year they wouldn't even elevate him to backup in a lost season.

I mean, maybe that's changed now, but I think with the departure of Kliff, it removes the "he knows the system" part of it.

I really don't care that much one way or another. Galdi brought it up this morning, it's just odd you have a guy on your practice squad for 3 years and seemingly have absolutely no intention of giving him a game day jersey.

Agree! Make Hartman an assistant coach if they like his presence that much. Or just put him on the 2027 team calendar then release him

It's a shame they didn't bring in another QB that could be considered another NFL or camp arm. That person could have become a bit familiar with the system and possibly been another developmental QB to compete with the Greek and perhaps land on the PS for the year. I mean, we do have a QB1 and QB2 that have an injury history.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Agree! Make Hartman an assistant coach if they like his presence that much. Or just put him on the 2027 team calendar then release him

It's a shame they didn't bring in another QB that could be considered another NFL or camp arm. That person could have become a bit familiar with the system and possibly been another developmental QB to compete with the Greek and perhaps land on the PS for the year. I mean, we do have a QB1 and QB2 that have an injury history.

I really have a hard time getting worked up over Hartman on the PS with 3 QBs on the 53.

If they want him to run scout team, fine, I really couldn't give a damn. There's like .0004% chance any 4th QB on the PS is going to amount to anything at all. If they like having 4 QBs to split reps, and they're comfortable with him because everybody likes him, whatever.

It's a bit odd, but not really a problem.

 

[Primus Porcus]

I really have a hard time getting worked up over Hartman on the PS with 3 QBs on the 53.

If they want him to run scout team, fine, I really couldn't give a damn. There's like .0004% chance any 4th QB on the PS is going to amount to anything at all. If they like having 4 QBs to split reps, and they're comfortable with him because everybody likes him, whatever.

It's a bit odd, but not really a problem.

I'm not arguing the oddity, just looking at reasons why it 'could' make sense. Hartman is here for a reason. If they didn't believe he brought something to the table, they wouldnt keep him. This Front Office is not shy about moving on from players they don't believe bring value to the table, we've got 800000 posts about Biadasz as evidence of that.

The 'best' reason I can come up with, is the value of having as many guys who know your system (or at least speak your language) inside and out running your offense has a ripple effect across everyone they're working with. The best way to develop the younger / back half of your offense, is to be working with someone who's got starter level knowledge instead of just anybody you bring in who is going to be learning it and making the wrong reads. It's POSSIBLE Hartman is like having another coach out there, and I'm not sure it's so easy to say "make him a coach" either.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I'm not arguing the oddity, just looking at reasons why it 'could' make sense. Hartman is here for a reason. If they didn't believe he brought something to the table, they wouldnt keep him. This Front Office is not shy about moving on from players they don't believe bring value to the table, we've got 800000 posts about Biadasz as evidence of that.

The 'best' reason I can come up with, is the value of having as many guys who know your system (or at least speak your language) inside and out running your offense has a ripple effect across everyone they're working with. The best way to develop the younger / back half of your offense, is to be working with someone who's got starter level knowledge instead of just anybody you bring in who is going to be learning it and making the wrong reads. It's POSSIBLE Hartman is like having another coach out there, and I'm not sure it's so easy to say "make him a coach" either.

I think it's just familiarity. They need an arm to throw balls for the scout team, he's liked in the locker room, there's no real thought he's going to actually play in a game, but that would be true basically for any 4th string PS player.

I don't think he knows the terminology better than anybody else because Blough said he changed it.

But if Hartman is a hard worker (which by all accounts he is), good teammate, not going to rock the boat, and willing to accept his role, runt he scout team, then eh, that probably checks the box for what you want for a 4th string PS QB.

 

[DWinzit]

I'd rather have PS personnel that can actually develop into game day contributors. I leave coaching for the staff and for the vets players