MasterStrategist

@HappyDays I think you're adding some of your personal "opinion", onto what Beane is saying. With the part about "lowering expectations". By your posts during the past few days, you seem to disagree with what Beane accomplished in this years draft/offseason (in aggregate, while agreeing with some decisions). Especially on offense/weapons. I think this year is all going to depend on how fast some of our young core players step up/and how far. Cook made a big leap LY, as did Bernard. Shakir made a solid leap, especially down the stretch. Now do we see a similar big jump with Dalton? What impact will Brady have with a full offseason to install his offense? What is the impact of losing Diggs, does Josh play more "free" without Diggs constantly in his ear/and ability to spread the ball around? What does a leadership "transition" do to the team/locker room? How far back to normal self is Von? Will the defense be able to avoid key injuries? So many questions, but none of those are any different than when we were prime SB contenders/had aspirations. Talent level, sure someone wants to say losing Diggs is monumental...but how did he play down the stretch/in key playoff games? This team is always going to be in a SB window with outstanding Qb play, that goes for any team like we saw with Chiefs in 2022. Ravens had a star team LY, they choked in AFCG because of Lamar's play. If Josh plays to his talent, we will always compete....I mean just look at LYs divisional game as an example when we had a patchwork defense that couldn't stop Mahomes at all, and we still were 1 potential drive/play from winning. Sometimes "new energy", young and/or new players taking the leadership roles can have a significant impact. Same goes for coordinators. I for one won't be lowering expectations.

This is consistent with what Beane has been saying most offseason. Due to cap issues, we needed to let go of a core group of leaders/contributors who have been around since we turned things around in 19/20. We kept the band together LY, now it's time to get our next core group to add onto existing group. This team isn't going to be SB favorites. But we have a strong roster still, offense has so many unknowns right now (Brady full offseason to install his system, "group approach" at WR/receiving). Defense still lacks a true star, but a very solid group of players on all levels. IMO, and this could be me being overly optimistic, but we went 6-1 down the stretch with Diggs being "average", no Milano/shell of Von, Floyd dropped off, and many injuries on defense. Poyer/Hyde still have solid instincts but clearly lost a step and ability declined. We have "hope" around a young core to continuing improve, and this class adding to that. But we're obviously in a transition year, with roster build. I wouldn't translate that to "tamper expectations" though. This is a team that will be division favorites and likely viewed as a top 4 AFC team. I hate comparing to KC, because they have a vastly different culture/coaches, but they did a mini rebuild and happened to win a SB. Texans came out of nowhere LY, GB clicked down the stretch and should have been in the Super Bowl. It's going to always come down to avoiding key injuries and playing our best ball in playoffs (all 3 phases). Past few years we've hit very tough injuries and haven't pulled it together when it mattered. Bottom line, there's still enough potential and key players in place to give us a legit SB chance. So I'm not saying it's a time to "lower expectations" and I'm sure Beane/Coach/team are treating it like that either.

Yeah, I like our value here better than Mia taking Chop at 21. We will see, but I won't be stunned to see Solomon put up 8 sacks as a rookie. He's ready to go as a situational rusher.

Agree on everything but addressing WR/Coleman. If it happens or not, Coleman has alot of potential and could be "that guy". Did Beane make the best decision on the WR he chose? We will see. But Coleman checks a lot of boxes from his college production, but not without concerns. Regarding WR in general: 1. We've now invested a #1 and #2 (basically a #1) in back to back drafts on receiving targets. 2. Group effort approach VS Stud 1/2 approach: I'd prefer to have a stud 1 and 2, but we've seen offenses be successful with the "group approach" (like we are planning). Teams like Jax, GB, Steelers (although their QB situation has been a mess). We add a proven vet who can gives us some downfield plays outside is the missing piece, as depth/rotational guy. MVS, Chark types...they fit this mold. Now, this Beane plan could blow up in his face. OR perhaps Brady is overestimating his ability to design/craft an offense in this mold. If we take a signicant step back on offense this year, Beane/Brady likely on the hot seat.

Yeah, IMO we absoltuely need a backup boundary/potential contributor. I think MVS, DJ Chark, Michael Gallup, Michael Thomas are all under consideration. MVS is a Gabe Davis type, without the blocking acumen. I think him or Chark are very realistic options on a 1 year deal (potential 1 year added void yr). Right now, I'm not panicking. There are a couple milestone moments, outlined below, that will get me from patience to full blown frustration/concern. Come July, I will be getting very worried if we haven't made a move. Come start of year, if no FA moves are made and Shorter doesn't show anything in preseason (we know who Hollins is at this point, WR5 and ST)...then I'll be in a full panic/angry. Let's see what Beane does, fact is there is still time to improve.

You're basically not high on Coleman, and we didn't double dip at WR. Based on experience and some of these prospects being older/ready to contribute immediately (maybe a bit lower ceiling): Immediate starters: Coleman, Bishop Sizeable % of snaps/key rotational role: Carter, Davis, Hardy (returner) Potential to be a future starter: SVPG (maybe even this year) Key backup/ST role: Ulof (immediate core ST player), Solomon (key S/T and potential to be a impact pass rush specialist this year) Grable is a solid developmental project, if we can hold onto him. We needed to do a mini rebuild across the roster, replace leadership as you said. I think we have a strong culture already in place but this class enhances that. Honestly, this draft class comes down mostly to Coleman and Bishops impact. And if we added some DL pressure. Davis will be a solid RB2 no doubt. I'm concerned about a 2nd outside WR too, but Beane either views a FA target post June 1 OR has enough faith in Shorter. My guess is we grab a vet WR in FA. Asking to go "GB" with multiple guys.... thing is we already have a few: Kincaid, Samuel, Shakir, Cook. We need a depth outside/boundary WR (vet FA noted above) and we are counting on: 700-800+ yard season: Coleman, Kincaid, Samuel, and Shakir 400-600 yards (in aggregate): Cook (mostly him), Davis and Johnson 400-600 yards: Knox, WR4, WR5 WR4/5: as of now, Hollins and Shorter. That's not going to cut it. But if we add a vet FA then I think we have at least a feasible plan in place. Let's be patient and see how Beane addresses WR4. He wasn't afraid to make moves after draft LY (Floyd, Murray, Ford).

It's honestly not a bad thought, quickest way to likely acclimate to all the nuances of NFL blocking/etc

Buffalo likes to draft the Western PA (Pittsburgh) guys...fine with me, local to me this is some of the best HS football. Hardy is definitely a fast athlete, he could take over punt return duties immediately

Depends what they think of Alec Anderson, seemed high on him being a future backup across IOL

It will matter when Sept / games come around. Until then, there are still FA options (likely after June 1st), OR in some slim chance we pull off 1 of the 1m trades you've asked for

I could care less about combine results, TBH. Watch him play and he has a great burst/bend, and mixes power with hand moves. He has long arms and a knack of generating a lot of pressure and producing results. He could be a James Houston impact rookie, as a pass rush specialist.

I saw plenty of explosion when watching him play

YESSSSS! Javon Solomon can be an instant situational rusher for us. Long arms/burst/variety of moves. Really good pick IMO

I really like Javon Solomon...different type of rusher who we can develop / be a situational pass rusher

I'd recommend not thinking of it, as direct "1 for 1" replacements. Beane is counting on a group effort/GB model type offense, which we saw how well that worked for GB down the stretch. I agree we need a better outside option than Hollins, but a couple options left in this draft/post June 1st/or they think Shorter made some big strides in offseason. If we don't take a 2nd WR, Beane must have another plan in place for later this offseason.

Javon Solomon or Devonshire at 163 would be nice. I'm thinking they have their eye on a WR post June 1st (likely vet FA)

Of course, but I put the odds above 75% based on what we've seen from Kincaid/Shakir down the stretch and how Shakir worked last offseason to refine his route running/burst. On top of that, we're counting on Joe Brady doing a better job than Dorsey, scheming and designing plays. I'd say that is definitely a much better chance, given what we saw with Brady....basically inheriting Dorsey scheme and running it better than him. Now we see Brady design what he actually wants

I think there's a difference between some of the fans you're bucketing as 'dillusional' I don't know exactly where you stand, but myself I was never expecting to replace Diggs with "a single player". It's going to be a group effort and how Beane has described it during press conferences (many ways to achieve a successful offense), just might look different than we've seen past 4 years. Samuel, Kincaid, Coleman, and Shakir are all capable of 800 yard seasons or a tad more. Then Knox, Cook/Davis, and I'm thinking we add another WR this draft or post June 1st...those guys likely contribute another 1,000 yards in aggregate. It's spreading out Diggs targets, we likely have a better run offense too. Time will tell, but I see a path to an offense that is just as good, if not better than LY. That's counting on Kincaid and Shakir to mainly up there game/results.

To me, we have 3-6 roster spot potentials left. . High chance: WR CB Edge Low-Mid chance: S LB RB (very low imo, after Davis)

We're gonna have a nice haul of 2025 picks, either next year ammo OR potentially for a trade deadline move this season

Perfect time to go WR, said it upthread...Thrash could bring a deep threat, versatile depth piece. Rice is an outside only guy, but could be nice depth. I like Thrash more for his versatility and YAC. DE: MO Kamara and Javon Solomon bring value at EDGE, as rotational pass rushers CB: Devonshire would be a good fit, and our potential punt returner

You must have said this 100x now...we finally know where you stand after this one Let's see how things play out. Davis is a very good player. Bishop likely steps off the bus as a starter, and future key piece of our secondary. Coach knows Safeties and if he wanted Bishop (enough to try moving up in the 2nd), he must see some excellent potential. Nothing worse than ppl getting upset, at an instant. You did the same on Keon in Jan/Feb, then came around on him. Point is, we won't know until football starts and how these guys will be integrated in our schemes/impact they make. We do know that we just lost our key safety tandem, had to use retread at RB2, and had no DT3 behind Ed that could stay healthy/make an impact. Time will tell, this is a key draft for Beane so if it blows up in his face then I could see a new GM in 1-2 years

I'm hoping Jamari Thrash. I think MJ will be there in Rd 5, we're ahead of Steelers in Rd5, who I think is our main competition for him

I think there are legit 4 roster spots open for: CB, RB, Edge, OL Assuming we go Wr in Rd4. There are some nice value at each of those still available. Beane letting this draft come to him. Instead of spending too much cap on depth guys in FA, restock some key depth roles with young guys. Maybe they all don't work out, but if we can find 3 out of 5 in Rd4&5, that's a good success and will help with cap mgt in future

Barring no trades, I really would like us to go: Rd 4: Jamari Thrash Rd 5 (1st): Javon Solomon Rd 5 (2nd): Best RB left Rd 5 (3rd): Devonshire Rd 5 (4th): Best OL Use 6th / 7th on BPA.