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Some Random and Rambling Thoughts/Observations As The NFL Offseason Drags On



1. Shouldn't we be hearing an announcement about 2021 NFL compensatory picks by now? We usually hear a few days before the end of February, and while I doubt the WFT will be getting any, I'm always anxious to know who gets what, because it helps in identifying teams who might be willing to trade up (thereby allowing us to trade down for more picks) because they have more draft capital to land a player on their board whom they feel strongly about.

2. The Brandon Scherff situation is a difficult one, and I go back and forth on how I would handle it. Clearly, letting Scherff walk weakens our offensive line considerably. However, I can't ignore that he will be 30 years old at the start of the season, and that he's missed 16 games in the last 3 years. In addition, we have several other guys who we're going to have to pay in the not too distant future. My current expectation is that the WFT will probably offer Scherff something in the range of 4 yrs., $56-$60M, with $28-$30M guaranteed. Part of the reason why I think they do that is because of what RR believes Scherff brings to the culture he's trying to establish--not because it's the smartest or most efficient "financial" play.

At the end of the day--and it pains me to say it--but I think that I would be inclined to let Scherff test the FA market. So what next? I spend my 1st round pick on a LT who is also capable of playing OG. There are only 3 names I would consider based on where we are picking at 19--Alijah Vera-Tucker, Christian Darrisaw and Alex Leatherwood. Leatherwood is my personal favorite because he played inside at Alabama early on (against strong SEC competition). Also, it speaks highly of his overall talents that Saban opted to have him at LT instead of 2020 top 10 pick Jedrick Wills (who played RT at Alabama).

As additional insurance against letting Scherff walk, I would target Jermaine Eluemunor in FA as a cheaper option. Eluemunor has played both OG and OT in Baltimore and New England (two teams with strong reputations for coaching and developing O-Linemen). He started games at LT last year in NE following a rash of injuries they suffered along the line, but was eventually in a backup role to Michael Onwenu, who had a strong rookie campaign.

3. Who would be my top WR targets in FA, and why? My personal favorite is Kenny Golladay, but I suspect he will be tagged by the Lions. I like Allen Robinson too, but I think he's going to have so many suitors that someone ends up overpaying for him. The two receivers I would target are Corey Davis and (the recently released by the Raiders) Tyrell Williams (assuming he can pass a physical). My rationale is pretty simple: (1) they're still young, they're affordable (or should be), they've been productive in the recent past, and they "fit" because they're long WRs with SPEED. Those last two points are key, because the WFT has plenty of big receivers in Cam Sims (though he's a FA), Kelvin Harmon and Antonio Gandy-Golden. But none of them (at least to this point) have been especially productive, and all of them lack real speed. Conversely, Corey Davis seems to have finally figured out being a successful WR in the NFL, and Tyrell Williams put up the kind of complementary numbers we'd love to have opposite Terry McLaurin before being injured with the Raiders.

I've got tons of other thoughts to share on a variety of topics in the future, like other positions/players to target in FA, how to address the QB position, and who we should trade or release to avoid finding ourselves in salary cap "hell" (see Philadelphia Eagles for reference) down the road. But that's all for now!

I know many fans will have strongly differing opinions from this 69 year-old lifetime fan who grew up in DC, but now resides in NJ (with one next door neighbor a diehard Giants fan and the other a diehard Jets guy), but all comments are welcome. I don't post often, but when I do, I know they can be lengthy. My sincere apologies. All I can say is "It is what it is!"