2018 General Managers Discussion Thread

Yes, but I also gave up a 4th for Celek

 

Yay. I got a comp 7th anyway...

 

I got none for the Eagles, as expected, but next year may have a few and good ones. Ravens just one.

 

I got none for the Eagles, as expected, but next year may have a few and good ones. Ravens just one.

 

I get Mr. Irrelevant. I might trade him though. You never know...

 

I'll trade my late 7th for it and some crap you have.

 

So are we aloud to rescind on ERFA's ? Or is it too late?

 

I don't think they are guaranteed.

 

CHARGERS FREE AGENCY PERIOD UPDATE

Not much happening lately. This is the discussion thread. So if I'm gonna be yappin about Chargers being serious contenders, I think explanations are in order...

I'll say this much...The Chargers have a new look. It's been fun creating and spending money.

After assessing the situation, it seemed pretty obvious that if I could fix the run defense, as well as the problems at Center and RT, the Chargers could really be in business. No doubt Bosa and Ingram provide a fierce pass rush, but it doesn't take total effect when teams are running all over us. (yes beach, i said us! I'm all in over here. lol!) So enter tackling machine Preston Brown and about $24m worth of defensive tackles in Dontari Poe and Star Lotulelei. Those two, along with Corey Luiget, give the Bolts a really dynamic interior D'line, to go along with the outstanding edge rushers...Not sure how that couldn't have a positive effect....

The offensive line was much trickier. As we all saw on the thread, Centers were going at a premium. So first I made a money saving trade for a prospect I have very high hopes for, though I know he's had a rough start in Center Hroniss Grasu. I was high on him a couple years ago when he came out of Oregon. Though the Bears clearly got the better player right now in Travis Benjamin (whom I like), but just thought he was a bit overpaid. The move saved me about $3.7m...The second move was fairly lucky IMO. I got C John Sullivan in free agency from the Rams for $4m. After seeing what some of the other Centers were going for, I consider this a real steal....I found my RT via trade. Couldn't be more pleased about bringing in Jordan Mills from Buffalo. He has been a rock the last two seasons on that right side, and though I hate trading away draft picks, I felt a mid 5th was well worth it...

I'm excited about my WR's. Obviously Keenan Allen is among the best in the NFL out of the slot. Can't wait to see what Mike Williams can do, and was real happy to land another big outside the hash target for Rivers in Terrelle Pryor....

Tre Boston fit Gus Bradley's defense like a glove as one of the best coverage safeties in the league (per PFF), so re-signing him was a top priority, and I was happy as hell to get him at $6m....And you can never have enough good CB's. Nickell Robey-Coleman is among the leagues most reliable, and will fill that slot CB position nicely...

Graham Gano was one of the best deals in free agency period at $1.75m..Succop was my original target, but his price went sky high as expected...Gano missed one kick last year, and it was from 50+....Finally the Chargers kicker situation has stability...

It's sad to see the end of a HoF era, but the time has come replace Antonio Gates. Hunter Henry is coming along nicely, but another pass catching TE was needed. In a bit of a gamble, we brought in the talented but injury prone Tyler Eifert. If he can get over the back problems and get back to his 2015 form, he is a bargain at $5.5m...

Two other major moves both involved trades. As much as I like CB Jason Verrett, he has only been able to play in 5 games the last two seasons. At $8.5 per, I was ready to move on, and thought I might have very tough time trading him. Was able to eventually get a 3rd rd pick from the Titans. Time will tell I suppose, but I feel really happy about that one.....The other trade was a move I'm very excited about. I hated to lose Rayshawn Jenkins and the 7th, but when the opportunity to make a deal for Joe Mixon came about, I had to go for it. That's a pretty potent backfield duo with Melvin Gordon...Phillip Rivers is very pleased.

Still a few more tweaks to come, but lookin forward to the draft...

Chargers ready to make a run....

 

Okay this is strange. A mistake on Sportrac I think. LAC OT Chris Hairston is listed as an UFA. But on Sportrac he is also on my roster counting against my cap for $1.525. If I release him, it says I can save $1,525,000, with no dead money....I'm guessing I should go ahead and release him, since he shouldn't be counting against my cap in the first place, or even be on my roster, correct? Or is he re-signed, and shouldn't be on the free agent list?

If somebody could clarify his situation for me, I would appreciate it...

 

I think it is a mistake. OTC seems to have added an extra year by accident and Spotrac got confused trying to copy their hard work. If you release him it would clear cap.

 

Ok. Well it'll show on my transactions log....No need to announce it on the Roster Cuts thread, since he's already listed as a free agent everywhere.

 

Probably getting way too far ahead of the exercise, but . . .

Does a team have to release a player they have under contract before they sign him to the Practise Squad?

 

In real life, yes. Although there may be a verbal commitment already when this takes place.
For this exercise however, it is my understanding we aren’t actually signing a practice squad. Some guys might comment on 2-4 guys they likely would sign to PS. But that’s all hypothetical

 

For our purposes, if you want to go so far as the practice squad then you just leave those guys sitting on your (up to) 90-man roster. Actual NFL practice squad aren't created until the start of week one of the regular season.

We don't carry this out that far, though we'll have a chance at the end to project who will make the final 53-man roster. Naturally we're also free at that point to comment on who would likely make the practice squad.

 

They already signed, so in that sense it's too late to rescind the tender. But unless the mods say otherwise, that wouldn't mean you're stuck with the guy. You would simply release him instead of rescinding the tender.

 

Random question at this stage, but is anyone else in full-scale scouting mode now?? I've watched tape on probably 40-50 guys over the last week. Really excited about 5-8 guys and I've already found 4-6 I think are quite over-rated at their current draft projections.

I'll add this question/comment; anyone else have a particular position that they feel they don't scout particularly well?? I sometimes wonder when I watch WR tape if I really understand what I'm looking for. I mean I obviously want to see a guy with strong hands who highpoints the ball. And obviously a guy who creates separation is ideal.
But as far as gauging speed/technique against weaker competition, or studying the way a guy cuts in and out of breaks when the youtube tape I have access to is always keyed in on the quarterback...just not sure my WR grades are the most reliable of the position groups. Just my $0.02 on that. Wondering if anyone else has the same issue, at that position or any other.

 

Been there for several weeks now. If you've been at least loosely following it since October you would notice how much shifting there has been within the group think on a lot of players. This year has had more change in rankings both positive and negative prior to January than I can recall from any other season.

I have several players that I think are being both over and under valued. It will be interesting to see how many people are willing to step out on the ledge with their projections compared to those that will stick with the herd.

If I had to pick a position group that I am weakest at, it would be the offensive linemen. The reason for it is really simple and I have no excuse for it. Full disclosure - I get bored with it after so many days. I typically go through groups in a focused manner by scouting them for several days in a row before moving on to the next group. I tend to mentally wander off some with the OL group.

 

One thing to consider when it comes to the trenches and in just my opinion and observation. There are schools out there in the college level that have a hand picked department of guy's to just focus on the O-line and recruiting from the High School level. I tend to look at these for reference.

Programs like Alabama, The Ohio State Buckeyes and a lot of the Pac-10, SEC and B1G schools (and many others) are head and shoulders above the rest in their evaluation. That leads me to pay very close attention to who they are scouting and looking at.

The teams at the College level and the NFL that are consistent winners seem to have 1 thing in common, a strong offensive line and depth at that position. Its an over-looked position at many levels, but one of the most important to the success of the offense in general.

I guess what I'm trying to say is this... I'm letting the 'professionals' and 'experts' at those levels to do the dirty work and in a day and age of computer data banks and sharing of knowledge, what the most important to me is the right platform to depend on. Discernment is the key when it comes to gleaning data from the internet.

Bottom line - I don't do all the work (I cant), but there are those who can, so I utilize their work. Guess I'm a thief of sorts. Who can be the best at thievery comes out on top, lol.

PS - I'm watching you guy's like a hawk, lol.

 

I have been stuck on QB's for far too long...

I actually can't wait to dig into offensive lineman. I have learned a ton about the position in the last year or 18 months and what to look for. The hardest part is often getting a good quality look at a player to use how they are using their hands and feet. If you don't have good tape you may never see if the guy can open his hips at all etc... I love watching the fatties dance...

For me it's WR's. I honestly have no idea what I do doing with them. You so rarely get to see how routes develop or what a guy is doing on his way to making a catch, do they block etc... So much of being a WR happens away from the film unless you have all 22 I don't know how you can possibly make full evaluations.