Lawrence. Irving. Collins. Crawford. Gregory. Ealy. Taco.
Lee. Jaylon. Rookie first rounder.
Chidobe. Lewis. Byron. Brown.
Thomas. Woods.
That could be an elite defense.
(Yes, I know Gregory bla bla. I'm going full optimism here as if everything I wanna see happen actually happens).
Are you ready for it?
It would be a terrible move to trade a high pick for a 29 year old player and then sign him to a massive deal.
I would trade a 3rd and that’s it.
I like your logic.You really can't look at it that straightforward.
Would you trade Byron Jones for Earl Thomas right now? He was a 1st round draft pick. Would you trade Jaylon Smith? Awuzie?
The reality is you're looking at getting Thomas for maximum 5 years. Probably closer to 3-4. If he can play to a high level to age 32 or 33 it's worth the trade.
If we don't pick up a guard in round one, I think this offense is going to take a huge step backward.
It would be a terrible move to trade a high pick for a 29 year old player and then sign him to a massive deal.
I would trade a 3rd and that’s it.
If we don't pick up a guard in round one, I think this offense is going to take a huge step backward.
So a rookie OG is the difference between this offense being great and taking a step back?
So this OL of first round talents can’t be good until they add another first round OL?
Yeah, a first round guard is likely to max out on snaps and have an impact on every play. Most positions can't and won't have that level of impact.
Positions likely to max out on snaps:
QB
OL
DB
A guard can improve the quality of every snap for a QB and a RB, which improves the play quality of WRs and TE.
A guard who doesn't play well on the other hand has the reverse effect.
Bang for the buck it is the best position to help this team and it isn't even close.
I've been banging this drum for a while, but nobody wants to acknowledge it because it shoots their personal wish list all to hell.
I don't for a second argue that this team doesn't need linebackers, plural, more than one. Their entire linebacking corps needs to be rebuilt. At least two and possibly three guys drafted. But you don't need to spend premium draft resources on a position that will only see about one-third of the defensive snaps, versus a player that will see virtually 100% of your offensive snaps barring injury.
I am of the mindset this team is snake bitten all the way down from the FO to the jock strap cleaning guy. Dallas will get ET, and the wheels will proceed to fall off due to multiple disastrous injuries, why you say because that is the book on this team. Regardless if ET is signed at least 3 starters will miss at least 6 games each due to injury with all of them overlapping where you are down three starters for 3 games.Not confident it will happen, but I do think it would be a transformative move for this defense.
As he said in the video, it would bring this secondary much further along and instantly help instill what Richards is looking for here. I think that would give us the safeties and corners this team needs in order to win.
Think we still need at least a serviceable linebacker and a big defensive tackle who can push the pocket, but Thomas would be a centerpiece on this defense behind Lawrence and Irving. I wish the team handled those guys in a smarter way.