The 2025 Draft Thread

[skinsinparadise]

For perspective, there is a strong argument to be made that he is the worst projected starting safety in the division. I don't think anyone on this board is taking him over Quan/Mukuba/Blankenship/Holland/Nubin/D. Wilson/Hooker

Almost identical PFF score to Wilson.

One of my observations rewatching the Eagles-Commanders championship game was Ertz owned Blankenship.

Don't know, maybe all the safeties in the NFC East are better. The point doesn't get me fired up much one way or another. This staff comes off thus far as one that doesn't priortize the safety spot, they aren't the only team on that front. As for whether it bites them or not will see.

If we are sticking with PFF scores as the key metric to judge, Dominque Hampton had a good preseason. They red shirted him and were working on converting him to LB. But he is a hybrid SS type. Exact same height and weight as Chinn ironically according to PFF.

 

[DWinzit]

Kain Medrano is similar is size and seemingly style of play..except hopefully all will tackle better including him in the future

 

[skinsinparadise]

Kain Medrano is similar is size and seemingly style of play..except hopefully all will tackle better including him in the future

Hoffman-Paulson discussed this some. they think it would be a tough move because especially at strong safety, tackling is what you major in.

But for the start of his career, a LB who plays in obvious passing downs could be the thing for him because he's really fluid and covers a lot of area in the passing game.

 

[Iraolaball]

Hoffman-Paulson discussed this some. they think it would be a tough move because especially at strong safety, tackling is what you major in.

But for the start of his career, a LB who plays in obvious passing downs could be the thing for him because he's really fluid and covers a lot of area in the passing game.

I played LB a majority of my 13 years of football, and I believe tackling is more attitude than talent. I remember Sam Huff relating a story that when he got to the Giants training camp, his LB coach told his group, “That guy with the ball, he is a guy who has taken everything you have, and is running away with it. How are you going to stop him?” Sam never forgot that.

 

[method man]

Almost identical PFF score to Wilson.

One of my observations rewatching the Eagles-Commanders championship game was Ertz owned Blankenship.

Don't know, maybe all the safeties in the NFC East are better. The point doesn't get me fired up much one way or another. This staff comes off thus far as one that doesn't priortize the safety spot, they aren't the only team on that front. As for whether it bites them or not will see.

If we are sticking with PFF scores as the key metric to judge, Dominque Hampton had a good preseason. They red shirted him and were working on converting him to LB. But he is a hybrid SS type. Exact same height and weight as Chinn ironically according to PFF.

Blankenship had a 74 PFF grade this past year and made a lot of big plays. Wilson has stacked a bunch of solid/good seasons in a row and has a track record Harris does not have.

PFF scores work better when there is a lot of data such as for starters over a 17 game season but there's a lot of noise with preseason samples, especially when you are comparing apples and oranges as some guys are facing starters and other guys are facing guys who went to go sign XFL contracts a week later

Hampton was moved to LB because it was clear he was being outplayed by Owens in camp and would have been the odd man out had he stayed at safety. It is not being widely reported, but Hampton is now 240+. He has added a lot of weight this offseason and is now a true LB.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Blankenship had a 74 PFF grade this past year and made a lot of big plays. Wilson has stacked a bunch of solid/good seasons in a row and has a track record Harris does not have.

PFF scores work better when there is a lot of data such as for starters over a 17 game season but there's a lot of noise with preseason samples, especially when you are comparing apples and oranges as some guys are facing starters and other guys are facing guys who went to go sign XFL contracts a week later

Hampton was moved to LB because it was clear he was being outplayed by Owens in camp and would have been the odd man out had he stayed at safety. It is not being widely reported, but Hampton is now 240+. He has added a lot of weight this offseason and is now a true LB.

I know how to look up PFF grades, so I am aware of Blankenship's grade. I was making an off hand comment about how Ertz really had his number that day. It wasn't a tit for tat comment related to Harris.

As for Hampton was moved to LB specifically because Owens outplayed him in camp -- I am a bit of a media junkie especially during camp (I try to attend some camp, too) for everything I can listen to and never heard that one -- not doubting you on this at all but i am curious which reporter had that report because that's a juicy missed story for me. Converting someone to another position because an undrafted FA was outplaying him -- to me that's either a big time endorsement of Owens or quite the slam of Hampton.

I am not married to PFF scores but i do like it as a reference, lol, depending on who am debating, some think I love PFF too much and others not enough. But, If we are sticking with the PFF theme, Hampton had a better preseason than Owens as to the games. And I'd presume they both played in the 2nd half in the preseason games so its likely apples to apples. Not that it matters.

Not sure about camp though. In the practice I watched neither stood out. Lynell who has a show on 980-106.7 as a radio sub, recently talked about concerns about the safety spot and if I heard him right he suggested he was told to curb his enthusism about Owens, and was referencing Hoffman-Paulsen on it and the vibe I got was it was inside info. But he said it so quick, am not 100% sure that I heard it right. I know they love Owers as a special teams player. I didn't get any buzz about him this off season though from the podcasts I listen to from the beat reporters. But he certainly has the athleticsm to be a stud.

Reading Harris' PFF scores doesn't get me fired up for or against him. But when I go strictly with PFF, I do value the last season the most. Yeah the season before wasn't good for him aside from his run defense score. The season before that was decent. So on PFF scores alone, 2 of the last 3 seasons being decent is good enough for me in the context of I trust Peters with moves for veterans. He wasn't perfect last year but pretty close as to FAs. So for me, the PFF scores don't scare me or excite me.

I feel neutral staring at those PFF scores. Peters tips the balance. Logan ironically in his Q and A podcast the other day talked about in his mind the flaws with PFF grading. They were talking about how PFF has John Bates with a horrendous run blocking score -- yet Logan among others think Bates is the best blocking TE in the league. So how can they be that far apart from the PFF score. He got into it. But in short, Logan isn't the only one who likes PFF but takes some of their scores with a grain of a salt. Not saying you feel differently. I am just explaining there are limits to how literally I take PFF. I got to watch the players along with looking at the scores.

So ultimately my opinion will be formed by watching him. I just started watching the game against us with all 22. Just watched some of the first quarter so far. My initial impression is they move this dude everywhere. He was even in the middle linebacker spot on one play. And they like to use him to blitz. Not saying my take after watching him will be on the money or not. But for me, I don't get too fired up for or against players on stats and PFF scores unless there is something dramatic, otherwise I need to watch them. And lol, maybe I'll turn negative after watching him. I don't know. I don't really currently have a leaning one way or another.

And don't get me wrong I am not high on Harris. I am just not sure. I don't mind looking at PFF scores for a brief idea of the player. And when I look at it from that context, those scores are fine enough for me. Nothing that gets me excited or concerned. But when I pile on to that both Mark Bullock, and Logan Paulsen watched Harris and liking him. I don't always agree with Logan and Bullock, but they both among social media are the most avid watchers of the Commanders scheme and do breakdowns. And I would guess clearly Whitt liked him. And Quinn. And Peters. All of that for starters makes me give them the benefit of the doubt. Until i watch him.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Yeah Pickens toasted St. Juste last year in that big moment that turned that game

Yeah but if we’re being honest with ourselves, my 6 year old son could have turned St. Juice around and made him fall on his ass and torched him for a TD. And my son wears braces for toe walking and can’t catch. (He is remarkably fast, however. Braces and all.)

 

[Gooseneck]

Yeah but if we’re being honest with ourselves, my 6 year old son could have turned St. Juice around and made him fall on his ass and torched him for a TD. And my son wears braces for toe walking and can’t catch. (He is remarkably fast, however. Braces and all.)

Does he play CB?

 

[method man]

I know how to look up PFF grades, so I am aware of Blankenship's grade. I was making an off hand comment about how Ertz really had his number that day. It wasn't a tit for tat comment related to Harris.

As for Hampton was moved to LB specifically because Owens outplayed him in camp -- I am a bit of a media junkie especially during camp (I try to attend some camp, too) for everything I can listen to and never heard that one -- not doubting you on this at all but i am curious which reporter had that report because that's a juicy missed story for me. Converting someone to another position because an undrafted FA was outplaying him -- to me that's either a big time endorsement of Owens or quite the slam of Hampton.

I am not married to PFF scores but i do like it as a reference, lol, depending on who am debating, some think I love PFF too much and others not enough. But, If we are sticking with the PFF theme, Hampton had a better preseason than Owens as to the games. And I'd presume they both played in the 2nd half in the preseason games so its likely apples to apples. Not that it matters.

Not sure about camp though. In the practice I watched neither stood out. Lynell who has a show on 980-106.7 as a radio sub, recently talked about concerns about the safety spot and if I heard him right he suggested he was told to curb his enthusism about Owens, and was referencing Hoffman-Paulsen on it and the vibe I got was it was inside info. But he said it so quick, am not 100% sure that I heard it right. I know they love Owers as a special teams player. I didn't get any buzz about him this off season though from the podcasts I listen to from the beat reporters. But he certainly has the athleticsm to be a stud.

Reading Harris' PFF scores doesn't get me fired up for or against him. But when I go strictly with PFF, I do value the last season the most. Yeah the season before wasn't good for him aside from his run defense score. The season before that was decent. So on PFF scores alone, 2 of the last 3 seasons being decent is good enough for me in the context of I trust Peters with moves for veterans. He wasn't perfect last year but pretty close as to FAs. So for me, the PFF scores don't scare me or excite me.

I feel neutral staring at those PFF scores. Peters tips the balance. Logan ironically in his Q and A podcast the other day talked about in his mind the flaws with PFF grading. They were talking about how PFF has John Bates with a horrendous run blocking score -- yet Logan among others think Bates is the best blocking TE in the league. So how can they be that far apart from the PFF score. He got into it. But in short, Logan isn't the only one who likes PFF but takes some of their scores with a grain of a salt. Not saying you feel differently. I am just explaining there are limits to how literally I take PFF. I got to watch the players along with looking at the scores.

So ultimately my opinion will be formed by watching him. I just started watching the game against us with all 22. Just watched some of the first quarter so far. My initial impression is they move this dude everywhere. He was even in the middle linebacker spot on one play. And they like to use him to blitz. Not saying my take after watching him will be on the money or not. But for me, I don't get too fired up for or against players on stats and PFF scores unless there is something dramatic, otherwise I need to watch them. And lol, maybe I'll turn negative after watching him. I don't know. I don't really currently have a leaning one way or another.

And don't get me wrong I am not high on Harris. I am just not sure. I don't mind looking at PFF scores for a brief idea of the player. And when I look at it from that context, those scores are fine enough for me. Nothing that gets me excited or concerned. But when I pile on to that both Mark Bullock, and Logan Paulsen watched Harris and liking him. I don't always agree with Logan and Bullock, but they both among social media are the most avid watchers of the Commanders scheme and do breakdowns. And I would guess clearly Whitt liked him. And Quinn. And Peters. All of that for starters makes me give them the benefit of the doubt. Until i watch him.

On Owens vs Hampton, it was reading between the lines for me. Remember the snippet from Breer during preseason suggesting Owens was going to make the team (something coaches absolutely must have told him) and remember we had Chinn, Martin, Butler, Reaves, Forrest, Owens and Hampton in camp battling for 5-6 safety spots. Hampton was the odd man out and moving to LB where we had Luvu, Wagner and Walker as the other guys make the week 1 roster - Magee was IR’d and Bellore was signed to the PS the first few weeks. The other tell here is that Hampton was active for all of one game last year so he was effectively the 53rd guy on the roster.

On PFF, I agree it is a heuristic. They get a lot of things wrong with their grading but it is oftentimes directionally accurate. His 2022 grade isn’t pertinent because he played 68% of his snaps as a nickel corner, 15% as an outside corner, 15% as a box safety and 2% as a free safety. He was basically a CB that year, which we didn’t bring him here for as a primary responsibility. Prior to that, he was ranked as a bottom 10 safety in the league by PFF from 2019 to 2021. Thus, when he has primarily been a safety, if we go by PFF as a heuristic, he has had 1 ok season out of 5.

Another way I look at this is how are teams handling these guys. In the case of Wilson, he is in the last year of a 3 year $21M deal. He has a $9M cap hit this year and the Cowboys would save $5M cutting him. They chose not to do that. He will make in one season more than what Harris will make in 2 if he stays for two seasons here.

I look at how the league values track record. The Jets, coached by Harris’s old coach and former DB coach Glenn, decided to pay Andre Cisco double than what we paid for Harris. If we go by PFF, Cisco was coming off his worst year and a year slightly worse’s than Harris’s (59 PFF grade) after 3 years of solid play (67-69 PFF grades).

I agree that tape is ultimately the best way to analyze these guys. I don’t take Logan’s takes on our players seriously but it is encouraging that Bullock likes his film. I value your film insights and I’m looking forward to your observations as you watch more.

To me, there are just too many red flags about Harris. I hope I’m wrong but this guy feels like the safety version of Jon Bostic - a guy who is clearly bright (given the versatility), athletic (9.63 RAS), high character, Day 2 pedigree & special teamer but just isn’t a quality starter

 

[skinsinparadise]

On Owens vs Hampton, it was reading between the lines for me. Remember the snippet from Breer during preseason suggesting Owens was going to make the team (something coaches absolutely must have told him) and remember we had Chinn, Martin, Butler, Reaves, Forrest, Owens and Hampton in camp battling for 5-6 safety spots. Hampton was the odd man out and moving to LB where we had Luvu, Wagner and Walker as the other guys make the week 1 roster - Magee was IR’d and Bellore was signed to the PS the first few weeks. The other tell here is that Hampton was active for all of one game last year so he was effectively the 53rd guy on the roster.

On PFF, I agree it is a heuristic. They get a lot of things wrong with their grading but it is oftentimes directionally accurate. His 2022 grade isn’t pertinent because he played 68% of his snaps as a nickel corner, 15% as an outside corner, 15% as a box safety and 2% as a free safety. He was basically a CB that year, which we didn’t bring him here for as a primary responsibility. Prior to that, he was ranked as a bottom 10 safety in the league by PFF from 2019 to 2021. Thus, when he has primarily been a safety, if we go by PFF as a heuristic, he has had 1 ok season out of 5.

Another way I look at this is how are teams handling these guys. In the case of Wilson, he is in the last year of a 3 year $21M deal. He has a $9M cap hit this year and the Cowboys would save $5M cutting him. They chose not to do that. He will make in one season more than what Harris will make in 2 if he stays for two seasons here.

I look at how the league values track record. The Jets, coached by Harris’s old coach and former DB coach Glenn, decided to pay Andre Cisco double than what we paid for Harris. If we go by PFF, Cisco was coming off his worst year and a year slightly worse’s than Harris’s (59 PFF grade) after 3 years of solid play (67-69 PFF grades).

I agree that tape is ultimately the best way to analyze these guys. I don’t take Logan’s takes on our players seriously but it is encouraging that Bullock likes his film. I value your film insights and I’m looking forward to your observations as you watch more.

To me, there are just too many red flags about Harris. I hope I’m wrong but this guy feels like the safety version of Jon Bostic - a guy who is clearly bright (given the versatility), athletic (9.63 RAS), high character, Day 2 pedigree & special teamer but just isn’t a quality starter

Thanks. I really don't know about Harris. But lol, you are really making me dive into his PFF scores, now season by season. If I had to pick a pattern by that alone, he seems to do worse when he's yanked around from safety and corner. He had two OK seasons with the Lions it looks like where he was strictly playing safety. Then in 2021 he was yanked around from safety and corner and had a bad score.

His other bad season, 2023, he was just short of a 60 score at safety but he was back and forth with that and corner and played corner badly according to those scores. He played 6 games at safety that season. You are referencing 2022 doesn't mean much because his decent score came playing primarily at corner. But if I flipped your point around, then his 2023 season shouldn't be a red flag because he played better at safety and it was corner that gave him that bad score. According to PFF in 2022, he played one game at safety and was decent in that game. I actually like that he played corner well in 2022. It shows a pattern that if you stick him at one spot, whether its corner or safety he plays better.

I was listening to some PFF guy ironically talk about the subject in relation to Sainstrill going back and forth from slot to outside -- saying its difficult to keep locking in to different spots even if both are at corner because the responsibilities are so different. Cosmi apparently whined to Ron about playing guard and tackle that same season, he wanted to lock into one spot, not two.

I am not talking about shifting on some plays -- sometimes nickle, FS, SS, etc like that. I can tell already the Saints like to move him around a lot. But if you are flat out starting at corner versus safety, those are two different animals and he seems to do better when locked into one.

But who knows, will see. Just purely going with PFF scores and what I've read, I am not concerned about Harris as a dude that will suck. But I can see him being just a guy. Feels like based on his scores and narratives, high floor, low ceiling guy.

As for Hampton, yeah don't know. It's possible they moved him because of a logjam at safety but lack of depth at LB. I get the logic of it. But not sure it was Owens specifically or if it was am not sure if that aged well during the season. They clearly didn't trust Owens in the season, didn't play at all aside from special teams. And have heard no buzz about that's (Owens) who they are thinking can be in rotation this year. But its early. I guess that's a camp story. Will see. I hope so.

I watched Dominque Hampton, the college version, picked him in the late rounds in the ES draft. I think the dude is talented. I wasn't blown away by him, he needs some work IMO both in coverage and tackling. But he flashed plenty IMO and has really nice size and athleticism for the spot. If I recall he played corner for years before switching to safety. It's encouraging that he had a decent preseason according to a metric. And Peters is generally good at finding talent at LB-S.

 

[skinzplay]

My confidence in Peters continues to grow. Man, it feels good to finally have a real GM again. It's been AGES.

 

[skinsinparadise]

My confidence in Peters continues to grow. Man, it feels good to finally have a real GM again. It's been AGES.

On that point what a stranger outlier appearance from Portis IMO on Sheehan's podcast.

He said it all cheerfully, so didn't come off negative in tone. But in short, he doesn't think the team upgraded any of their weaknesses in the off season. Thinks the Eagles got much better from last year and increased their gap with this team and the rest of the NFL. Clearly he had no clue about their FA losses.

And in the mix of his points. Thinks Eagles nailed the draft because they drafted Alabama and Georgia players. lol, if that's all it took, this team would have been in the SB years ago. Touted Tunseil as a top 5 tackle. Admitted that adding Conerly at a minimum adds depth to a spot that you never can have enough of. Liked the Deebo trade. Yet, it all adds up to no improvement?

Bemoaned missed opportunities in the draft, highlighting Skattebo and how this team struggled with short distance-goal line runs last year and he could solve it. Look i like Skattebo as much as anyone but we can survive not landing him.

He implies that the running game hasn't been fixed yet has no clue who Croskey-Merritt is.

He thinks Dallas is going to be really good. And likened the Pickens trade to an epic level heist that he likened to the Dallas-Lakers Luka trade.

What a wild segment. Portis has had some smart takes over the years. But some off the wall stuff IMO too -- this round was almost as off the wall as all of his defense lawyer sells of how Dan Snyder was really a good owner in the past.

 

[Phantvm]

On Owens vs Hampton, it was reading between the lines for me. Remember the snippet from Breer during preseason suggesting Owens was going to make the team (something coaches absolutely must have told him) and remember we had Chinn, Martin, Butler, Reaves, Forrest, Owens and Hampton in camp battling for 5-6 safety spots. Hampton was the odd man out and moving to LB where we had Luvu, Wagner and Walker as the other guys make the week 1 roster - Magee was IR’d and Bellore was signed to the PS the first few weeks. The other tell here is that Hampton was active for all of one game last year so he was effectively the 53rd guy on the roster.

On PFF, I agree it is a heuristic. They get a lot of things wrong with their grading but it is oftentimes directionally accurate. His 2022 grade isn’t pertinent because he played 68% of his snaps as a nickel corner, 15% as an outside corner, 15% as a box safety and 2% as a free safety. He was basically a CB that year, which we didn’t bring him here for as a primary responsibility. Prior to that, he was ranked as a bottom 10 safety in the league by PFF from 2019 to 2021. Thus, when he has primarily been a safety, if we go by PFF as a heuristic, he has had 1 ok season out of 5.

Another way I look at this is how are teams handling these guys. In the case of Wilson, he is in the last year of a 3 year $21M deal. He has a $9M cap hit this year and the Cowboys would save $5M cutting him. They chose not to do that. He will make in one season more than what Harris will make in 2 if he stays for two seasons here.

I look at how the league values track record. The Jets, coached by Harris’s old coach and former DB coach Glenn, decided to pay Andre Cisco double than what we paid for Harris. If we go by PFF, Cisco was coming off his worst year and a year slightly worse’s than Harris’s (59 PFF grade) after 3 years of solid play (67-69 PFF grades).

I agree that tape is ultimately the best way to analyze these guys. I don’t take Logan’s takes on our players seriously but it is encouraging that Bullock likes his film. I value your film insights and I’m looking forward to your observations as you watch more.

To me, there are just too many red flags about Harris. I hope I’m wrong but this guy feels like the safety version of Jon Bostic - a guy who is clearly bright (given the versatility), athletic (9.63 RAS), high character, Day 2 pedigree & special teamer but just isn’t a quality starter

While he may not be a “quality” starter, of all positions that a roster might need an upgrade, SS would most certainly lead that list. Clearly Peters felt of Chinn the way you feel of Harris considering he dedicated less money to the position than he would have to retain Chinn. Ideally a rookie contract would fill that void and of all voids its the one I’m most comfortable having lesser “quality” at than any other.

So yes, Harris might be a bit of net downgrade vs Chinn, he also cost half as much money and it’s the least impactful position on both sides of the ball imo. I don’t think Harris, nor Chinn, would be the difference between a SB or no SB.

 

[burgold]

On that point what a stranger outlier appearance from Portis IMO on Sheehan's podcast.

He said it all cheerfully, so didn't come off negative in tone. But in short, he doesn't think the team upgraded any of their weaknesses in the off season. Thinks the Eagles got much better from last year and increased their gap with this team and the rest of the NFL. Clearly he had no clue about their FA losses.

And in the mix of his points. Thinks Eagles nailed the draft because they drafted Alabama and Georgia players. lol, if that's all it took, this team would have been in the SB years ago. Touted Tunseil as a top 5 tackle. Admitted that adding Conerly at a minimum adds depth to a spot that you never can have enough of. Liked the Deebo trade. Yet, it all adds up to no improvement?

Bemoaned missed opportunities in the draft, highlighting Skattebo and how this team struggled with short distance-goal line runs last year and he could solve it. Look i like Skattebo as much as anyone but we can survive not landing him.

He implies that the running game hasn't been fixed yet has no clue who Croskey-Merritt is.

He thinks Dallas is going to be really good. And likened the Pickens trade to an epic level heist that he likened to the Dallas-Lakers Luka trade.

What a wild segment. Portis has had some smart takes over the years. But some off the wall stuff IMO too -- this round was almost as off the wall as all of his defense lawyer sells of how Dan Snyder was really a good owner in the past.

I'm not sure if this will make sense but I think Peters' goal was to solidify the roster instead of improving it.

I think we are potentially deeper and better at o line, receiver, and corner. My inner eternal optimist wants to say running back, too (even though Bill was a seventh rounder. I think he's become my draft crush. Well, him and Lane.)

That said, few of the moves Peters made with the possible exception of Tunsil were world shakers. We didn't get a lot of headline players in free agency or in the draft. We just acquired good, solid players, and improved our depth. Now, there is draft potential that some of our picks could become future headline players, but right tackles and o line are rarely headline sexy and Amos feels like a good cover guy but not a ballhawking turnover machine. He feels like a great CB2.

So, I think I can see Portis' POV though I think it's a superficial way of looking at team improvement. Personally, I'm pleased with how we spackled holes and grew competency across units.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I'm not sure if this will make sense but I think Peters' goal was to solidify the roster instead of improving it.

I think we are potentially deeper and better at o line, receiver, and corner. My inner eternal optimist wants to say running back, too (even though Bill was a seventh rounder. I think he's become my draft crush. Well, him and Lane.)

That said, few of the moves Peters made with the possible exception of Tunsil were world shakers. We didn't get a lot of headline players in free agency or in the draft. We just acquired good, solid players, and improved our depth. Now, there is draft potential that some of our picks could become future headline players, but right tackles and o line are rarely headline sexy and Amos feels like a good cover guy but not a ballhawking turnover machine. He feels like a great CB2.

So, I think I can see Portis' POV though I think it's a superficial way of looking at team improvement. Personally, I'm pleased with how we spackled holes and grew competency across units.

I think solidfy pertains to D line, maybe RB. D line feels a bit deeper and maybe better against the run. Nothing major as to a shift from the previous season. While I like Croskey-Merritt, I'd get the argument that we tried to make that RB spot more solid versus shifting it.

I think the shifts in theory are CB, WR, O line

In theory the O line has been transformed from below average and thin to above average and deep. That's where they spent the most draft capital -- the Tunsil trade and Conerly. If Conerly ends up anything close to his billing and Tunsil keeps on the track of his career thus far it will end up a major shift from arguably a top 5 worst OT tandem in the league to a top 5 best. And then we got the ripple effect of moving Coleman and Wylie (until Cosmi is back) to guard which arguably are their stronger positions. Having Herbig and Allegretti as backups for the interior gives them really strong depth.

We were almost dead last in coverage grade for the secondary last year. Purging Forbes during the season. And M. Davis and St. Juste after this season. Replacing with a hopefully improved Lattimore. Trey Amos. And J. Jones who has had a good career. Should all hopefully translate to a major shift. It might not shift from 30th in coverage to top 5. But I think we can at least be middle of the road with this crew.

As to WRs. We didn't have a legit #2 last season or a legit speed (sub 4.4) threat. Deebo has been one of the best Wrs in the game, even in his down season last year, he was close to the tops in the league in YAC. Lane granted a rookie but is a legit speedster and at a minimum should be a YAC threat. And Michael Gallup as the wildcard veteran IMO is more intriguing than name that other veteran we had at that spot -- Zaccheus, Crowder, etc.

 

[skinzplay]

On that point what a stranger outlier appearance from Portis IMO on Sheehan's podcast.

He said it all cheerfully, so didn't come off negative in tone. But in short, he doesn't think the team upgraded any of their weaknesses in the off season. Thinks the Eagles got much better from last year and increased their gap with this team and the rest of the NFL. Clearly he had no clue about their FA losses.

And in the mix of his points. Thinks Eagles nailed the draft because they drafted Alabama and Georgia players. lol, if that's all it took, this team would have been in the SB years ago. Touted Tunseil as a top 5 tackle. Admitted that adding Conerly at a minimum adds depth to a spot that you never can have enough of. Liked the Deebo trade. Yet, it all adds up to no improvement?

Bemoaned missed opportunities in the draft, highlighting Skattebo and how this team struggled with short distance-goal line runs last year and he could solve it. Look i like Skattebo as much as anyone but we can survive not landing him.

He implies that the running game hasn't been fixed yet has no clue who Croskey-Merritt is.

He thinks Dallas is going to be really good. And likened the Pickens trade to an epic level heist that he likened to the Dallas-Lakers Luka trade.

What a wild segment. Portis has had some smart takes over the years. But some off the wall stuff IMO too -- this round was almost as off the wall as all of his defense lawyer sells of how Dan Snyder was really a good owner in the past.

By week 5, I think Pickens will have Dak down in the Figure Four next to the Cowboys bench, after another of his pick 6's.

Love ol' Clinton, but it looks lije he hasn't really done a deep dive on our draft picks, or, as you noted, on what the Eagles have lost.

 

[method man]

Thanks. I really don't know about Harris. But lol, you are really making me dive into his PFF scores, now season by season. If I had to pick a pattern by that alone, he seems to do worse when he's yanked around from safety and corner. He had two OK seasons with the Lions it looks like where he was strictly playing safety. Then in 2021 he was yanked around from safety and corner and had a bad score.

His other bad season, 2023, he was just short of a 60 score at safety but he was back and forth with that and corner and played corner badly according to those scores. He played 6 games at safety that season. You are referencing 2022 doesn't mean much because his decent score came playing primarily at corner. But if I flipped your point around, then his 2023 season shouldn't be a red flag because he played better at safety and it was corner that gave him that bad score. According to PFF in 2022, he played one game at safety and was decent in that game. I actually like that he played corner well in 2022. It shows a pattern that if you stick him at one spot, whether its corner or safety he plays better.

I was listening to some PFF guy ironically talk about the subject in relation to Sainstrill going back and forth from slot to outside -- saying its difficult to keep locking in to different spots even if both are at corner because the responsibilities are so different. Cosmi apparently whined to Ron about playing guard and tackle that same season, he wanted to lock into one spot, not two.

I am not talking about shifting on some plays -- sometimes nickle, FS, SS, etc like that. I can tell already the Saints like to move him around a lot. But if you are flat out starting at corner versus safety, those are two different animals and he seems to do better when locked into one.

But who knows, will see. Just purely going with PFF scores and what I've read, I am not concerned about Harris as a dude that will suck. But I can see him being just a guy. Feels like based on his scores and narratives, high floor, low ceiling guy.

As for Hampton, yeah don't know. It's possible they moved him because of a logjam at safety but lack of depth at LB. I get the logic of it. But not sure it was Owens specifically or if it was am not sure if that aged well during the season. They clearly didn't trust Owens in the season, didn't play at all aside from special teams. And have heard no buzz about that's (Owens) who they are thinking can be in rotation this year. But its early. I guess that's a camp story. Will see. I hope so.

I watched Dominque Hampton, the college version, picked him in the late rounds in the ES draft. I think the dude is talented. I wasn't blown away by him, he needs some work IMO both in coverage and tackling. But he flashed plenty IMO and has really nice size and athleticism for the spot. If I recall he played corner for years before switching to safety. It's encouraging that he had a decent preseason according to a metric. And Peters is generally good at finding talent at LB-S.

On Harris, we’ll see. Again, hope I’m wrong but I’m not feeling particularly hopeful. I actually think the backup plan is a possibility you alluded to - Jonathan Jones. Given his experience as a safety, you could have JJ be your FS and you can move Quan back to SS where he’s been a more impactful player. Patriots fans feel JJ lost a step and can’t play in the slot anymore.

While he may not be a “quality” starter, of all positions that a roster might need an upgrade, SS would most certainly lead that list. Clearly Peters felt of Chinn the way you feel of Harris considering he dedicated less money to the position than he would have to retain Chinn. Ideally a rookie contract would fill that void and of all voids its the one I’m most comfortable having lesser “quality” at than any other.

So yes, Harris might be a bit of net downgrade vs Chinn, he also cost half as much money and it’s the least impactful position on both sides of the ball imo. I don’t think Harris, nor Chinn, would be the difference between a SB or no SB.

I don’t think anything is “clear.” Keim reported both sides were deep in extension talks and unfortunately the two sides couldn’t get anything done.

On the Chinn deal, the nuances matter. Chinn got 75% of his contract guaranteed by the Raiders. This means that if the Raiders cut him after this year, they would take a $6M dead cap hit. Could’ve been the dealbreaker for all we know

 

[Phantvm]

On Harris, we’ll see. Again, hope I’m wrong but I’m not feeling particularly hopeful. I actually think the backup plan is a possibility you alluded to - Jonathan Jones. Given his experience as a safety, you could have JJ be your FS and you can move Quan back to SS where he’s been a more impactful player. Patriots fans feel JJ lost a step and can’t play in the slot anymore.



I don’t think anything is “clear.” Keim reported both sides were deep in extension talks and unfortunately the two sides couldn’t get anything done.

On the Chinn deal, the nuances matter. Chinn got 75% of his contract guaranteed by the Raiders. This means that if the Raiders cut him after this year, they would take a $6M dead cap hit. Could’ve been the dealbreaker for all we know

Precisely. Money to performance was the factor. Hence why they signed a lesser “quality” player. I don’t see how this is a disagreement.

Of course we would’ve brought Chinn back at a price we wanted to pay. That didn’t happen. Yet to be determined if Harris will be of lesser quality or not.

My position is that out of the 22 starters if SS is our weakest link I will live with that every Sunday.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[burgold]

For whatever reason, I always get amped for the rookie mini camp even though there’s rarely much coverage