(11-28-2021, 09:06 PM)TheO-LineMatters Wrote:

(11-28-2021, 06:52 PM)Bullseye Wrote: 1.  I haven't seen the Cincinnati players at all.  Assuming UC makes the playoffs, I will watch them closely, including the QB and  Gardner.  I agree with you on Likely.  He has the potential to be a huge matchup problem on the next level.  The one thing about him that gives me pause is his height.  He doesn't look like the tall 6-5 or so TE.  I could see him measuring at 6-3 or so at the combine.  But his athleticism and hands are top notch, something we have not seen at the position here.  Completely understand your take on Davis.  You had the same concerns this past draft.  I look at Davis, and I see a modern day Curley Culp and I like the idea of that guy in the middle of our defense, even if Hamilton is moved outside.  But I agree with you that DL does not represent a huge need for us.

2.  Getting a good return is understood in the question.  I don't think anyone would push for switching spaces just because.  Right now, I don't think I'd want to go lower than 12-maybe 15 if we traded back twice.  I think mid first round is the floor for the availability of guys like Jameson Williams and Lindenbaum.  I think there are a few factors working against us in terms of getting a huge return on trading down.  First, as many has observed, I don't necessarily see this as a particularly strong QB class.  Some teams could get desperate and be willing to gamble on guys like the kid from Liberty or Howell.  On top of that, there are a few teams with a lot of draft capital next year:  the Bears, Eagles, Giants, Jets and Lions are among the teams that will have multiple first round picks.  In fact the Eagles currently have three.  If the Texans pull off a trade of Watson, they may be another.  The problem is that all of those teams either already have their QB prospect in hand (Jets, Bears...arguably Eagles and Giants), and/or they all already pick pretty high in the draft order already without having to deal up.  In short, the teams with the most draft capital to trade up with have very little incentive to move up at all to get the guys they want. 

3.  I would not be opposed to trading up into the bottom of the first if it means getting an elite speed receiver for Trevor Lawrence.  This is especially true if we've traded back from our top 5 pick and picked up another 2nd and 3rd in the process.  You may know how I am usually advocating we double up at certain positions.  I would love a scenario where we traded back to around 10 or so, take Jameson Williams, and then maybe get back up into the bottom of the first to ensure Jahan Dotson.  We'd have Williams, Dotson, a healthy Etienne, and maybe a healthy Chark on offense next year, with picks left to address OL, TE and LB.

I'm not really worried about Likely's height. Just look at TE's like Vernon Davis, Dallas Clark, Jordan Reed and Delanie Walker. All were under 6'5" and had very productive NFL careers. If a TE shows the athleticism as likely seems to show, they should find success. Tre McBride of Colorado State and Greg Dulcich of UCLA are two other TE's I like a lot. Both are listed as 6'4", but if you are looking for a bigger TE, I also really like Charlie Kolar of Iowa State and Lucas Krull of Pitt. Both are listed at 6'6". This should be an excellent TE class.

I'm all for doubling up at certain positions, mainly WR and ILB. I just don't wanna trade up to do it. If we could add a premier WR and a TE akin to Likely that would be giving Trevor two really good targets. Then we could look to the 4th or 5th rounds to add another WR as well. Someone like Jalen Nailor of Michigan State, Emeka Emezie of N.C. State, Dontario Drummond of Mississippi or Samori Toure of Nebraska would be ideal in the mid to late rounds. I think it's absolutely imperative that we draft a couple of ILB's. I'd try very hard to trade Myles Jack in the offseason. He just doesn't fit a 3-4 defense. My goal would be to enter 2022 with two new starting ILB's. This has been a weakness for us all season. We need linebackers who can cover.