Dr. Who

I just don't think Diggs is tradeable for that kind of value given his age and contract. I am still inclined to go WR in round 1 and again early. If the right player was there in the second, I would do it, even if that means risking having some holes on D. But I'd be shocked if Beane does that. I think he will go WR early, then DT and S, and then in a deep draft, maybe take another WR in the fourth. (And to be clear, that is also a rational plan.)

My surmise is he takes time to build up to that speed. If he runs well at the Combine, I can't see how he isn't a lock for the first. One of the things I like about him is he has very reliable hands. It's a big plus.

I like him more than most here. Some of those whose opinion I value don't see him as a first rounder. I guess that is because he lacks explosive speed. He's definitely someone I would consider at #28.

I think there's a pretty good chance he will go in the first, actually. We might take him at #28.

I understand your argument, and I did not interpret your view as anti-WR. I believe you can probably get a few decent DTs at #99 and later. I think you can get a pretty good S later as well. Because of the quality at WR, I am inclined to get multiple players at the position in this draft. I would gamble I could get decent rookie replacements for the D later in the draft. DT doesn't have an elite one I would "have to have" in the first, but there are a few who are round 2 and 3 candidates. I think there are quite a few who will still be there on day 3. There are a bunch of safeties I like who will be gone before #99, so if I want one of that group of about five, I think I have to move up from my third rounder to ensure I get one of them. (#60 is too rich a cost, in my estimation.) I also think I can wait till the 4th to get a reasonable safety. If I end up trading my 4th to move up earlier for a WR, I think I can package a fifth and some of my sixths to get back into the 4th. Lots of different ways it could play out.

Yes, it's just speculative, and a lot can change, and there's a decent chance both teams miss out on WR4.

I did begin by contextualizing the Chiefs' move as "supposedly" and that Elam was our "likely" target, which is meant to indicate surmise, rather than declarative fact. Regardless, I don't think it is wrong to suspect the Chiefs will be interested in the same type of WR as we are looking for, nor that they have an acquisitive habit of moving up in the draft to get the player they want. It would be foolish to stand pat and expect them not to get ahead of you if there is a specific WR you want. If there are a group of relatively equal rated players on your board, that concern goes away.

Well, I recollect @GunnerBill making the argument otherwise, and I thought he had some inside info that confirmed such, but I may be mistaken on the latter. It was just a joke, but I got a green checkmark. There's no point in telling a joke if you have to explain it.

The straw man is the claim that lots of folks who are clamoring for an elite WR believe that acquiring such are saying that holes on D are nullifed by that fact. It's literally the first sentence. If you think that after the tier 1 top 3 WRs, that all those others are in the same grouping, then it doesn't matter which of them you get, and there's no point in blocking the Chiefs from a "tier" with numerous players in it. For certain, one of them is likely to be there for the Chiefs, no matter what you do. My view differs, so the strategy differs. I specifically think Thomas is better than the rest, and I would calculate on that basis.

Well, that is just a surmise. We both apparently wanted a CB. McDuffie has short arms, and his metrics don't match up with what McD's defenses typically look for.

Ah, well, I also don't want them to get Mims, who might be there for them. In fact, I don't think they should be allowed to draft any players.

Sorry, but that's a straw man. I don't think it is a common argument that finding a WR with elite potential means the holes on D don't matter. What folks remember as terribly frustrating is that after spending a ton of draft capital and FA investment on D, the results were consistently disappointing in the post-season. Granted, injuries played a huge role, and I believe we could have a ring this year with better fortunes on that front. Nonetheless, my view is you are replacing largely mediocre players on the DL. Jones is good, but long in the tooth. Epenesa finally became a solid addition in his contract year. The rest can walk. It's not a great year for edge players, and usually isn't. Those are rare birds. Beane will likely bring in a vet Safety, they don't command high dollars in free agency, and it's a buyer's market at the position this year. If you are looking for serviceable DL, you can find them in the middle rounds. There's enough wiggle room to move up. I don't think Beane should be so constrained by the cap that he needs to proceed as if he can't sign free agents, and also can't move picks to maneuver beyond the odd fifth or sixth rounder. And it's possible he won't have to move, or move much. The broader argument is that the WR room needs to be replenished for the overall flourishing of the team. Our offense should be more potent with Josh Allen at qb, and if that happens, it makes the job of defense that much easier. The D can afford to be aggressive if the other team is frequently playing catch-up, and the opponent becomes much more predictable. The talent this year is stacked at WR, so need and opportunity make a serendipitous match.

A fifth might move you up one spot. I have Rice and Polk as second round targets. Seems like Legette may be available then, too. The rest you mention are probably first rounders. I am willing to pay more, including possibly something from 2025, to keep the Chiefs from grabbing Thomas, who I think is WR4 in this draft.

Because the Chiefs are smart, and have proven to be tactically clever. The price they paid us to get Mahomes was light, relatively speaking. And then they supposedly jumped us to grab McDuffie, though I agree with GunnerBill that Elam was our likely target. Regardless, KC wants the same type receiver as we do, and they would also like to prevent us from getting that player, so you have to be wary of that.

Franklin could be there at #28. I think there's an outside chance Polk is there at #60, and the cost to make a modest jump in the second shouldn't be prohibitive.

Ultimately, that is probably often the case.

They'd have to devote the first two picks to WR for that to happen. I think Beane should. The folks who focus on D want to spend the early picks on DT, Edge, and S. They think the focus on WR weapons is indulgent and foolish. There's one fella who believes all the offense needs is a serviceable WR2, and everything else should be poured into the other side of the ball. He's fully absorbed McD's proclivities. I don't see an Edge player worth #28. The few that will go before then, frankly, are not more important than getting Josh Allen superior weapons. And I personally think you can find a few DTs in the middle rounds. You won't find a true IT, and if Sweat is there in the second, maybe you have to consider that, but I think this is the year to go heavy at WR. Those who say you can wait because it is a deep draft at the position are getting it wrong. It's the perfect year to double dip early, and maybe take another swing late, because you multiply your chances in a year with greater potential hits to improve at one of the premium, impact positions, and to do so on rookie deals. And to those who rhetorically ask "What are you going to do to fix the D?" my answer is, "well, so far, pouring a lot of prime draft resources into the D has produced abysmal playoff failure." This doesn't mean neglect the defense, but this is a year for an asymetrical approach. Bolster the Oline and the WR weapons early. Get younger on D with the mid-round picks, rather than the usual strategy of using those picks to supplement the receiving corps. All that said, I expect WR in round one likely, followed by round 2 and 3 devoted to DL and S.

The feng shui of the universe is difficult to calculate, but you might be the Lucky Charm.

Greenway and Joki in OT. UPL playing well, they finally show some heart.

I don't even want to contemplate those devil Chiefs jumping us to grab Thomas. If Beane has to overpay to stop that, I'm okay with it.

I think if they lose out on Thomas, Franklin and Coleman are likely their preference at #28. I expect if either is available, they will be the pick. If they are all gone, Ligette is ahead of Worthy, imo. I'd love Worthy as a second receiver, but they absolutely need a much bigger receiver at the X. I'm starting to see Rice showing up as a possible second rounder, which seems a little high to me, but I like him. Polk was an underrated one-term president, and I'd be pleased to add him to the WR room.

I think Alec Anderson ought to be a real consideration at C.

You're forgetting Cole Bishop. If they go WR and DT in the first two rounds, they could all be gone by #99.

I agree on Douglas, he fits McD's D well. The global point, however, is spot on.

I don't see any chance Odunze drops within trade range. Thomas might, Worthy will probably be there. He's really a twig, though a fast one.