2021 GMO Draft - UDFA

Yeah I tried to research it a bit. But it was tough to get a sense of because the allegation was ugly, but at the same time it was tough to get details on what evidence there was or wasn’t, and against whom

Houston Texans​

This was a busy off-season. New GM, new Head Coach. And a disgruntled Face of the Franchise who publicly stated he didn't want to be here anymore. I agonized over what to do with the future of this franchise. But ultimately decided that Nick Caserio, a Bill Belichick disciple, would shed the distraction while the value on him was essentially sky high and move forward from there, building a roster that has depth and a desire to win. I shipped out Deshaun for a plethora of valuable assets (three 1's, one 3, CB Donte Jackson, and maybe most importantly DT Derrick Brown). Lovie Smith is our new DC. History says that means a transition to a heavy Cover-2 scheme. For that you have to win with your front 4. I got this vision in my head of Derrick Brown next to an improved Ross Blacklock wreaking havoc inside, and all the things I could do with the extra draft ammo. It's a brand new era in Houston!

Fun sidenote: Came within a "small" cap issue of this deal involving a different team and a different young budding star at DT. But as they say, the rest is history.

FREE AGENCY​

My goal was to make sure I had an option at QB after the trade. A possible stopgap in case I didn't land our QB of the future and/or present in the draft. Aside from that, this team was transitioning to a new coaching staff and new schemes. So I had to add some pieces to make those work while pinching pennies everywhere I could due to lack of cap space. Piece of cake, right?
My plan was to target a known commodity at the QB position. I also needed help at DB, LB's who fit the Cover-2 scheme, and due to roster cuts to get a little breathing room against the cap, I needed affordable starting caliber players at Running Back.

Execution​

Roster Depth:
QB Mitchell Trubisky $6 million (CHI)
QB Brett Hundley Vet Min (ARZ)

RB Mark Ingram $1.05 million (BAL)
RB Wayne Gallman $1.075 million (NYG)
FB Kyle Juszczyk Vet Min (SF)
WR Sammy Watkins Vet Min (KC)
WR Keelan Cole Vet Min (JAX)

LB Tahir Whitehead $1.1 million (CAR)
CB Mackensie Alexander $1.1 million (CIN)
P Jack Fox $625,000 (made probowl in 1st year in league, guessing Tim was asleep [busy AF] on this non-tag)
Traded for CB Donte Jackson and DT Derrick Brown

Final Thoughts: I thought it went well. Weren't a lot of good options in FA at the QB position. I got one I could live with for a year with at least a chance to outperform the low expectations at a reasonable price. Added some capable talent through trade/FA at RB, WR, DT, LB, and CB. All one year signings. Guys that succeed have a shot at 2nd contract. Guys that don't we move on. We started the rebuild up front with Derrick Brown while adding some capable scheme fits in Whitehead and M.Alexander. Also a boatload of draft capital.

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DRAFT
​

My primary goal was to find our QB of the future. Always a must if you don't have one. The secondary goal was to keep it simple and begin adding NFL talent across the roster. I had a likely starting point at DB, where not only were we transitioning to a new defensive scheme, but this team was simply horrible last year, finishing 30th in total defense while simultaneously creating the fewest turnovers in the entire league. That's not how you win football games, in regular season or the playoffs.

1(8) Zach Wilson - QB - BYU
3(3) Richie Grant - S - UCF
4(4) Kary Vincent Jr - CB - LSU
4(17) Kendrick Green - G - Illinois
5(3) Jaret Patterson - RB - Buffalo
6(18)
6(28)
7(3)


Zach Wilson needs no explanation. He's a polarizing prospect. But this franchise needs an identity and he's definitely capable of all the throws. He's a bit reminiscent of Patrick Mahomes in some of the off platform and arm strength feats he puts on tape. For better or worse, I don't think it's a secret it's a copycat league to a fault. Well Nick Caserio and co. flirt with disaster here, chasing greatness with what they hope will be the next young superstar signal caller capable of unbelievable plays on a down to down basis.

Richie Grant: He's a center fielder who reads developing plays quite well, has good range, and actually is a fairly sound tackler to boot. He's a bit similar to Justin Reid whom we already have on board. But back to our secondary goal...keep it simple and just add talent (especially on the back end).

Kary Vincent Jr.: Nick Caserio is a Belichick disciple. And there's two things I know for sure about Bill. He never shies away from swinging at DB's in the draft, and he takes his special teams seriously. Vincent can help on both counts. His speed could be an asset on special teams. And as for finding Cover-2 players for Lovie Smith, I personally thought Vincent was incredibly quick to react on tape to plays happening underneath him. And he certainly didn't shy away from flying in to blow up screens and curls before they could develop. Feisty at the catch point, we have high hopes for the impact he could have in this system and on specials.

Kendrick Green: Fun note about him as a man. Helped organize a peaceful rally at Illinois during the black lives matter movement. So he's a natural leader. Notes about him on the field. He's got gifts not every interior blocker does. He moves very well, and brings a physicality with him when he gets to his target. Has some learning to do, some balance issues to clean up breaking down on the move, but I think he's exactly the kind of man and player Caserio would love to fill this roster with. And no one can ever shit-talk the idea of taking shots to improve the protection in front of a franchise QB you just crowned in the Top-10.

Jaret Patterson: Seriously, go look up this dude's story on Youtube. He's been an underdog his whole life. And never let the low expectations stop him from outperforming them three-fold. He looks a bit undersized. But most people who watch his tape will tell you he doesn't play that way. I'm certainly one of them. Has great vision, good pad level, and has that "knack near the goal-line" you always hear about. He could be this year's Kareem Hunt or James Robinson and just ball out like Dallas just took him 4th overall or something.

 

I actually talked to a retired criminal attorney / Giants fan. He basically said if you had ANY chance of bringing Parsons into it you do. Just having his name associated with the case would have made it a big time news story and even if Parsons get cleared eventually just having his name involved helps your clients chances. He says if they didn't name Parsons it's because there is nothing there.

Is that necessarily true? No. Maybe there just wasn't enough evidence but plenty of reason to believe he was involved. I don't know the truth. But he seems to be fully "cleared" in a criminal sense so I don't really expect it to impact him much if at all.

 

I just think teams are gonna be even more conservative than usual this year where they haven’t been able to be on campuses rooting around for info or meet with players face to face. Nobody wants to be stuck with this year’s Isaiah Wilson.

 

TRADE:

NYG get: 1-15 [15] and 2-14 [46]

NE gets: 1-11 [11] and 3-23 [87]

Patriots are OTC

 

Lance or something else?

 

Isiaiah Wilson has redefined what bust means... that's hard to accomplish.

 

The Patriots select:



Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State University

 

49ers Select
Patrick Surtain II, CB - Alabama

 

Rashawn Slater, LT - Northwestern

 

VIKINGS are OTC

 

Truth. Though where he was selected I thought was a reach from the start.

 

1/14


the MINNESOTA VIKINGS select:

Jaylen Waddle - WR, Alabama

 

NYG are OTC

 

I guess I didn't fully trust your commitment to Jimmy. Though I'd've happily moved up there for Slater, as well.

 

We'll see what the actual 49ers do but the 49ers were a year removed from the title game with him looking fine. He gets another year from me.

 

@xinik . . . You're OTC

 

Damn you guys moved quick... I'm willing to slide back again if anyone is interested.

 

No one is interested.

Make your frigin pick!

 

I have till 3:30 and I will not be rushed!

 

Now that we have that out of the way...

The New York Giants select:

Defensive Lineman
Kwity Paye
Michigan