(10-31-2022, 11:17 AM)Caldrac Wrote:

(10-31-2022, 08:01 AM)Newton Wrote: Starting to look like there is a chance, but I think this team picks up enough late season victories to make this an unrealistic option.

(10-31-2022, 09:10 AM)wg171 Wrote: At this point I’m kinda thinking a slight trade down and Johnston.

This. I don't think this team is going to continue to lose football games. I could see them winning games they shouldn't and eventually winning a game they should. Would probably finish with four or five wins and fall out of that race to get any of the actual elite level talent at DT, DE or CB. 

I think what's more realistic is what WG is saying here. I would take a trade down in a heartbeat and get Johnston without hesitating. He's tall, he's fast, he's shown he can go up and get it in contested situations. This offense doesn't have that presence on the outside and he would provide said presence. 

It's clear Lawrence is missing that around him. He had it at Clemson with guys like Higgins and Ross. A lot of us wanted Pickens last year but we ended up trading up for Devin Lloyd. Not a bad overall decision. They went all in on defense in the off season, the defense is not getting the job done, they need to now shift their focus onto the offense and add around their struggling signal caller. 

They're at least committed to him going into 2023. There's no way they don't start making moves offensively. Look at the trend in the NFL. Look at what Brown has down for Hurts in Philadelphia. Look at what Hill has done for Tagovailoa in Miami. Look at how miserable Rodgers is in Green Bay without Adams. It's pretty clear we need to be aggressive and we need to either DRAFT that player for him or TRADE for that player for him. 

But, this entire off season going into 2023 has to be about the offense. I did that in my mock draft. It's early. And, I get that. However, they're probably going to fall into that range anyways where I picked. Johnston was my pick in RD1. I was able to get him a tall receiving threat at TE in Washington in RD2. I was able to get him some more big, viable targets at WR and TE between Kuntz out of Old Dominion and Perry out of Wake Forest. 

This has to be the mindset going into next year. I don't think they look at a defender in RD1 unless for some crazy [BLEEP] reason a guy like Jalen Carter or Keelee Ringo fall into their laps which may not happen based on everything stated above for this year.

You make several good points, as is often the case. Focusing on offense must be the priority for next season, especially getting a true number 1 receiver. No doubt, the defense has been very disappointing during this losing streak. I still believe they have enough good players on that side of the ball to eventually become very good. The only significant need is at the 2nd cornerback spot unless Williams continues to get better. I hope they are NOT in the position to draft Anderson or Carter, but it would be impossible to pass on such elite players. If they could trade for Metcalf or Jeudy without giving up the 1st pick next year I'd do that in a heartbeat.

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