DCOrange

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2020/insider/story/_/id/28807973/wide-receiver-tiers-2020-nfl-draft-scouts-help-us-rank-loaded-class ESPN put out an article where they polled scouts, pro personnel guys, GMs, coaches, etc. to rank WRs into tiers for the draft. Happy to give the low down on specific guys as requested, but here's the tiers and where they think these guys line up best (names are listed in order of ranking within each tier). Tier 1 - Top 10 picks Jerry Jeudy - best in the slot but can play outside Tier 2 - Top 15 picks CeeDee Lamb - can line up anywhere Tier 3 - Top 40 picks Henry Ruggs - profile suggests he can play in the slot, will need to work on releases against press Justin Jefferson - will likely start in the slot but can play outside Tee Higgins - best outside but has some experience in the slot Michael Pittman Jr. - purely outside Laviska Shenault - anywhere Denzel Mims - purely outside Tier 4 - Top 100 picks Brandon Aiyuk - best outside KJ Hamler - purely slot Jalen Reagor - best in the slot Van Jefferson - best in the slot but can play outside Devin Duverney - purely slot Quintez Cephus - probably outside, but may need to be motioned around to help him create separation Chase Claypool - purely outside KJ Hill - can play in the slot or outside Donovan Peoples-Jones - probably start in the slot with potential to move outside

Yes, probably a Day 3 guy.

To me, Dak is pretty much on the borderline of the caliber of QB I'm okay with signing to a big deal. I think in Dallas' position I would lean towards keeping him. It would be a lot easier if they hadn't burned up so much of their cap on Zeke, who was the least important of their 4 big FAs IMO. At any rate, I will be genuinely shocked if Dak doesn't return to Dallas this offseason.

He's been mentioned as a potential replacement for Lorax

I like the actual metrics that PFF tracks, the draft guide, QB guide, etc. They've definitely been working hard to get a reaction out of people with these "Foreca$t" clips lately though. Some examples: Jaguars more efficient with Minshew than Buffalo is with Allen (I won't listen to this podcast, but I think that this was provided as context for the next example...) Gardner Minshew > Justin Herbert, basically saying Herbert is a 3rd-4th round prospect and that he's simply a worse player than Minshew. Henry Ruggs > CeeDee Lamb (which I agree with, but it's pretty controversial) Taking Jonathan Taylor will hurt your offense because it will lead you to want to run the ball more (same deal as the Ruggs take)

You were talking about it as if he was worse last season because they went away from Zeke. Dak was awesome last season and in all likelihood, they will be in the playoff picture again next season largely because of him.

Will be interesting to revisit this thread in a few years when Allen is demanding this kind of money. Hopefully Allen proves himself to be elite by then, but we'll see. As is, I'm not sure which way I would be leaning in terms of wanting to give him a big contract but obviously we have a few years to figure out what kind of player he's going to be. Dak was playing at a near MVP level for most of the season lol. He tailed off a bit down the stretch but he had a top 5-10 QB season this past year. Doesn't necessarily mean he's actually a top 5-10 QB but he proved he can potentially play at that level. Come on man. This is insanity.

From what I've heard, the helmet will be basically the same as it is now except the current horns are replaced by the new horn from that logo. Emphasis: there will reportedly be a gradient for that horn. It's not clear to me from the hat that there's actually a gap between the three sections of the horn, but if there is, it would naturally make sense for each section to be a different color I guess. It's also possible that first section (the one on the right that completes the "A") could be white to make the LA look better and then the other two sections are different shades of yellow.

Difference is Norman was getting paid more than twice as much in Washington and we're at a different stage of building than Washington.

In all likelihood we will be doing both. Sign a vet WR and also draft one or two WRs. You don't really want to go into the season with a rookie that has to be locked into the starting spot.

Definitely sounds like other teams were interested. Obviously no idea what those teams were offering but I assume he had at least one other offer for similar money.

If he's just referring to the fact that it's a one year deal, then that's fair. But I literally mentioned that in my post by saying "But it's a one year deal and we have plenty of cap space so who really cares?" $6-8 million for a guy that has been terrible the last few years is not cheap though; that's top 20-30 CB money. He could rebound and be end up playing like a top 20-30 CB, but we're paying him on the upside. If he simply maintains his level of play from the past few years, he's worth more like the vet minimum. Again though, I like that we're bringing him in and I don't care about his contract since it's just a one-year deal.

Funchess or Paul Richardson IMO

$6-8 million for a guy that’s been legitimately terrible for a few years now is definitely not cheap. We all know the other 3 points, one of which I literally made in the post you’re quoting.

Will be interesting to see what Dallas does. Offering him less than Jared Goff just got isn't going to get it done but of course they always have the franchise tag at their disposal if need be. His price will only go up unless he takes a significant step back next season.

A little high considering his last couple seasons, but it's a one year deal and we have money to burn so who really cares? 1/4 on the free agent signings I feel pretty confident about, though this was easily the one I was most confident in.

Drop rate is among the worst in his class over the past 2 years. Doesn’t really know how to run routes yet. Inconsistent beating press coverage. There’s a ton of potential with him but he’s probably not ready to start for us next year.

Great hands. Not sure he’ll be able to get separation against anybody in the NFL though. He plays the game very slow. Track record for his type isn’t good in the NFL. Still worth a shot at some point on Day 3 though if the first WR we take is an explosive type.

The workaround is you can kick the can down the road on some of those guys. Might end up paying more for some of them in the long run but it also buys you time for contracts like Star’s to become waiveable. It certainly sounds like we should be preparing for a quiet free agency but that feels like a mistake on Beane’s part imo.

Think you could argue almost all QBs are overpaid when they get paid their market value (outside of the elites), but FWIW, this is probably below his. Goff got more than this already. Wouldn’t really make sense for Dak to accept.

Seems like an odd use of the cap space, but he’d be a massive upgrade over Star and Aaron Wilson is very plugged in to everything Houston-related. Don’t think we can blow this report off though seems weird on the surface.

Not sure I buy the Reader rumor but the guy reporting it is Aaron Wilson and he’s definitely reputable and is very connected with everything Houston-related. And he’d be a massive improvement from Star.

Nah there’s no way his agent goes for that. Less than Goff got already.

He’s viewed as a Round 2 guy now after his disappointing 40 time, skipping the other drills, and getting surgery.

Gonna cheat and list 4: 1. Robby Anderson - don’t think I need to explain much. He’s a legitimately good starter if you can get past the personality. 2. Paul Richardson - can line up out wide and be an explosive playmaker when healthy. Has experience starting which I think is key this offseason. We’ve also been interested in the past. 3. Taylor Gabriel - basically McKenzie if McKenzie were good. 4. Devin Funchess - experience as a starter, red zone/contested catch target, Beane is/was a fan, would likely be a short and cheap deal.