(03-13-2021, 11:27 AM)TheO-LineMatters Wrote: As for trading up, I target teams who already have an established LT who may be up against the cap and might possibly want to trade down and acquire more picks in order to re-stock  due to the salary cap with cheap rookie talent. There are gonna be some of those teams out there. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that this year more teams would be willing to trade down, due to the cap. 

The Patriots just re-signed Newton, as a fallback plan. I don't see Belichik moving up to get a QB. The Patriots always seem to move back, rather than to trade up. I also see Mac Jones going much higher than people think. I have him off the board when the Pats select, so unless New England is willing to take a complete enigma like Trey Lance, I don't see them taking a QB in round 1. Currently, I have them selecting Jaylen Waddle at #15. Instead, I think they add a veteran QB that might get cut after the draft. Maybe someone like Jimmy G, Sam Darnold, Matt Ryan or Teddy Bridgewater. Signing Mitchell Trubisky could also be an option for them. 

As I said before, Reiff would be a HUGE upgrade for us at either OT position. We are in agreement on that. I sincerely hope we do. If we don't make a play for him, I believe that would be a clear sign that Meyer and Baalke have no intentions of upgrading either OT position.

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(03-13-2021, 09:09 AM)Bullseye Wrote: I think it's possible for a rookie T to come in and upgrade Cam Robinson.  We've had two rookies do just that over the course of our franchise:  Boselli and Khalif Barnes.

The question for me is whether we will have access to the players who can step in and be a quality starter at LT from day one.

Most of the left tackles that can likely do that will likely be off the board by pick 25.  While Baalke has proven willing to trade up, that can't be relied upon at this stage to upgrade the position.

That's why all options are open. Signing Reiff immediately, would insure the position is upgraded and would resolve this entire issue.

As I said, I'm with you regarding the need to upgrade the position.  But I forgot to add that while rookies are capable of upgrading LT, there is no guarantee they can do so (Joekel and Monroe), aside from likely having to execute a trade up to get those rookies.  Because there is no guarantee, either of a trade up, the performance of a rookie, or for that matter the performance of Reiff or another free agent, that is why the team tagged Cam. 

The new league year hasn't begun yet.  We are still outside the legal tampering period for free agents.  Urban did not trash the RT class the way he did the LT class.  This is why I'm not yet in panic mode.

Even in a worst case scenario where the team does not upgrade either T position, there's no guarantee Lawrence gets injured behind that OL.  While Foles got hurt, Minshew survived his entire rookie year with those two at T-with Robinson fresh off a knee injury. 

The fact is we are a 1-15 team.  The likelihood of this team upgrading every position of need in one off season was next to nil, even with all of the cap room and the extra draft picks.  I want us to upgrade the T positions, but it may not happen this year.

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