MasterStrategist

Great work @GunnerBill as always. I've got one team connection, Steelers, and Mims is the guy from what im told. Re: Bills, im really hoping Worthy and Thomas are on the board at our pick. At 28, or a small tradeup, to see who they truly value more. I am in the Worthy camp myself, and draft/sign another WR later. Should be a fun night. Thanks for all you've shared/work on draft prep

Fantastic read/write up. I've watched a lot of Texas games and re studied videos of Worthy and Mitchell. I'd move Worthy to Mitchell's spot, and Mitchell at top of tier 4 (#1 talent but more risks). Worse case with Worthy, you get an excellent #2/complementary weapon. Agree he's not breaking alot of tackles, but he has the grit/toughness that he doesn't shy away. He played through injuries at Texas at a high level, he's hard working and dedicated to his craft. He gets the most separation, behind the 3 top players, by far. He'll be Zay Flowers as a rookie, without the attitude. Mitchell is also a great player, but his game makes me hesitant (at least Rd 1). Talent is there, not sure how dedicated he is/has the work ethic to be successful in the NFL. I like his size/speed/route running, but concerns above + I don't think he gets off jams/plays through contact as well as you'd expect for his size. Maybe he's the next Pickens, maybe he's a bust. He's the highest risk/reward at WR IMO. I'd also put Polk alot higher. He's easily going to be a solid #2 as a floor, his ceiling isn't as high as some, but he is a very safe pick.

Agree on how Mike Brown is, but this is a different day and age from 5+ years ago. This stuff hits the main media guys and it's usually a new contract/long term deal OR they're shipped out. We shall see over next couple days. I'd think Cincy would want immediate compensation in this year's draft. Those are great players, but Cincy would be in position to draft replacements/value where they are/could be. Carolina trading #33 for Higgins makes alot of sense. Tre, I think there's a decent chance he could get his deal re-done.

Worthy has been my "hope" since the Fall. He's gonna be an excellent player for whoever drafts him. Not sure Beane trades up to double dip, but I'm certainly more than fine if that's our combo. Perfect complementary types and could give us a very young/affordable group of playmakers for multiple years. Definitely think we need 2 WRs. Javon Baker or Tez Walker are potential fall back options at 60, or moving back from 60 to acquire more picks on Day 2/very early day 3.

If we stay put at 28, draft Chop, then trade up in the 2nd for Franklin/another WR high on their board them I'm fine with it. Chop has an excellent get off, and DE/pass rusher is a need. Just not as much as WR. Good chance Chop is gone by 28, and I will be mad if they trade up more than a few spots to draft him.

Cincy would be wise to keep them happy, but this likely ends with trades tomorrow night or Day2

Seems to be "some" discussion about a trade for JJ. Is there a scenario we can create $16+m prior to draft? Which is about what we would need. I know Josh has some 2024 "cap savings" left on the table, but forget how much/other option if we indeed were trying to swing a major trade

Not even possible with our cap situation, even after June 1st- let alone prior to draft. We need to fit him under the cap, before we offer any extension. I think we stay put at 28, then trade #60 to Was for 78 and 100.

My Pitt media insider is saying Mims or potential trade back for Steelers. He's not perfect, but right more often than not. JPJ if trade back. He also mentioned Rd2 focus for Steelers is WR, hearing Roman Wilson or Pearsall.

There's one team that could help, if they want to trade up for 60....and that's Washington. 78 and 100 = 60 on Rich Hill chart. That would be a trade that Beane should do in a heartbeat. Give us a chance to add some combo of DL/S, where the value should meet the need

Even though McDaniel seems to love Worthy, I'll be shocked if Miami passes on OL, with their 1st rounder. There are only so many targets on offense to go around, and there will be great value for them at OL to pick from. They could easily hit the WR well in 2nd-4th to fill there #3 role. I'm definitely the highest on Worthy around here, and think there is a shot he's there at 28. But if BTJ is there, moving up like you laid out makes sense. Rd2, I'm back and forth. I think this is where we could go either direction. If we don't move up in 1st round, we could try getting close to top of round for a DL. If we move back from 60, I like Washington as a trade partner. We get 78 and 100 for 60. That puts us in a better spot to get value at DT/DL and S in round 3. Then I'd even make another trade in round 4, giving up both 4ths and a 5th to Ariz or Carolina, at top of round 4, to go grab another WR (say Baker is still there). That'd garner us: Rd 1: Worthy (possibly), Franklin as a fall back (possibly we move back 6-8 picks if comfortable with 1-2 more guys) Rd 3 (traded our Rd 2 to Wash): pick 2 from best remaining DL: Orhorhoro/Trice/Maason Smith at DL S: Kinchens/Bullard WR: Baker, Rice 4th: RB2 or S,DL,WR (whichever we don't land in Rd3) Gets us an extra pick on Day 2, and helps us address 1 more area of need.

Exactly, Samuel will be a nice complementary piece. Quick passes, his strongest skillset is YAC and gaining extra yards after contact (being a former RB). My concern is the downfield passing game. We have plenty of short to intermediate options. Downfield though, we don't have a single player that I trust to fill that role. Samuel, he can mix it up and win some 1-1s but not his strong suit. Shakir, he doesn't show the body control to me outside the hashes downfield. Down the seam against zone, ok. Hollins was brought in, he's done this in the past a bit but he's not who we want to rely on. We absolutely need 2 draft picks capable of winning downfield, be it speed or size/50 50 ability. Counting on 1 early pick is risky, with our current group and makes me think back to 2019 when Smoke was our only reliable guy deep...teams figured out how to defend our offense at the end. Need a variety of options.

I'm with you on Worthy, he was my guy even before the Combine. Knew he would crush the 40, he's going to have a Zay Flowers type season for some team (hopefully us). If he played on Oregon or another team with a legit QB, he'd be a top 15 guy. Agree it would be nice to draft a complementary tandem at WR, bigger bodied as you say. Someone who is a better blocker, can win downfield on 50/50 attempts and redzone. I like Tez and Coleman in Rd2, but don't think Beane will double dip that early. If we wait until 4th, I like Javon Baker alot. And some others that might slide due to it being a deep class.

Not sure why you keep saying "2 receivers". My point is simple: 1. Can't believe everything Beane is saying right now. A couple years ago he mentioned counting on Boogie to take hold of a starting DE spot. Then proceeded to sign Von. Same example about talking up Dane, then drafting Elam. He's always propping his current guys and expecting more of them. 2. Beane is going to draft more WRs. Likely 2. So when you say we have "2 receivers", that won't be the case in 9 days. Our core group for passing targets is likely to be: Samuel, Kincaid, Rd1 pick, Shakir, Rd 4 pick, Cook, Knox As to who those 2 draft picks will be, that's anyone's opinion as of now. My "hope" is they take: Rd 1: Worthy (if there), or Franklin Rd4: Javon Baker Gives us 2 legitimate downfield threats, both guys would be versatile to move around the offense (as Beane/Brady seem to want). They complement each other's skill sets well, ie: Worthy or Franklin are separators/lean/rely on speed and quicks.... Baker is stronger built/capable blocker/50 50 downfield guy, with good speed. So when Beane makes it sound like the Justin Shorters or Andy Isabellas of our team are to be relied on, that's just GM speak to me. We've seen nothing from any of the guys you listed that provides what we need. More likely they're battling for the last WR spot with Hollins, or against each other if we keep 6. Either way, not a significant impact to our success in 2024

No argument here, about needing more weapons on offense (regarding your point on prior years). All in agreement there. I just don't think any of the guys you listed are capable, and also think this is typical "Beaneisms" this time of year. Kincaid/Shakir are the only young ascending players. Question is still out about their ceiling/development this season. Beane would be smart to take 2 WRs in one of the deepest classes in quite a while.