Draft: OLB at 57

[MachS]

Yeah but les mentioned that his injuries were mostly freakish. It was two major injuries. However this year it's been a string of medium ones

Consistently hurt in college means consistently hurt in the pros. Cushenberry going one pick before us still kills me and I still remember McVays face after that happened. We need to draft another edge early because T Lewis can't be counted on unfortunately. If he suddenly gets healthy then its a bonus. Shitty part is we still need a center too. Interior OL and edge should be the biggest focuses in FA and the draft. Good news is there's multiple great options at both positions, both in FA and the draft.

 

[OldSchool]

It's all good! I'm reading on reddit that we can sign Watt to play OLB we don't need to draft any now

 

[Ram_Rally]

Consistently hurt in college means consistently hurt in the pros. Cushenberry going one pick before us still kills me and I still remember McVays face after that happened. We need to draft another edge early because T Lewis can't be counted on unfortunately. If he suddenly gets healthy then its a bonus. Shitty part is we still need a center too. Interior OL and edge should be the biggest focuses in FA and the draft. Good news is there's multiple great options at both positions, both in FA and the draft.

But that's the thing. If you have two season ending injuries that doesn't necessarily mean you're consistently injured. You just had injuries that require long rehabs. But I agree that I wouldn't trust him as a starting edge. I'm just pointing out that two unfortunate season ending injuries aren't the same as being constantly in and out of the lineup. Stafford had that same opinion bec use of freak injuries in his career but in reality he's played a full season 9 out of 12 seasons. Even with some lingering issues.

 

[Ram Ts]

Just my opinion- but I think Lewis will stay healthy and be a huge impact player. As the years go by, people will jump on the Lewis bandwagon and say they were for the pick. Receipts

 

[Merlin]

It's all good! I'm reading on reddit that we can sign Watt to play OLB we don't need to draft any now

That's some funny shit. He may have been able to do that when he was young but now, no way. He'd get destroyed on contain.

We could use a 5T though. Brock had a good season but he's better at 3T than he is 5T. And Robinson didn't really move the needle when he was in there. So I feel like that combined cash we're paying both those guys could be moved to Watt if he were to consider playing for us. Think last time I looked it was like $15M combined.

 

[MachS]

But that's the thing. If you have two season ending injuries that doesn't necessarily mean you're consistently injured. You just had injuries that require long rehabs. But I agree that I wouldn't trust him as a starting edge. I'm just pointing out that two unfortunate season ending injuries aren't the same as being constantly in and out of the lineup. Stafford had that same opinion bec use of freak injuries in his career but in reality he's played a full season 9 out of 12 seasons. Even with some lingering issues.

Look man I'm hoping for the best with him. But if you're letting the evidence guide you, I dont think he's had a fully healthy season since high school. Maybe 1 if any. Comparing Stafford isnt fair at all. He's performed at an incredibly high level for 12 years in the NFL already. His production is proven. And he plays through the small injuries, he doesn't miss time. Big difference.

Point is we need to draft an edge rusher early, I agree with the OP. We need to get a difference maker there in round 2 if we can and there will be some studs available. Let T Lewis come off the bench in known passing situations until he earns more playing time.

 

[Ram_Rally]

Look man I'm hoping for the best with him. But if you're letting the evidence guide you, I dont think he's had a fully healthy season since high school. Maybe 1 if any. Comparing Stafford isnt fair at all. He's performed at an incredibly high level for 12 years in the NFL already. His production is proven. And he plays through the small injuries, he doesn't miss time. Big difference.

Point is we need to draft an edge rusher early, I agree with the OP. We need to get a difference maker there in round 2 if we can and there will be some studs available. Let T Lewis come off the bench in known passing situations until he earns more playing time.

I wasn't comparing stafford in terms of production. Just in the sense that he had two big injuries to start his career and then he was pegged injury proned, despite the production you're mentioning. So I'm just saying that his 2 injuries in college mean less to me than this year where he was just always banged up, which is a bad sign. But I agreed with OP and you that he couldn't be depended on as a starter just yet due to injuries. I'm just saying that being banged up with two big injuries in college doesn't mean he'll never be healthy. I dunno anything about the high school stuff though.

 

[Merlin]

Consistently hurt in college means consistently hurt in the pros. Cushenberry going one pick before us still kills me and I still remember McVays face after that happened. We need to draft another edge early because T Lewis can't be counted on unfortunately. If he suddenly gets healthy then its a bonus. Shitty part is we still need a center too. Interior OL and edge should be the biggest focuses in FA and the draft. Good news is there's multiple great options at both positions, both in FA and the draft.

I'm guessing they feel like they can get an Edge at 57, but if they all go off the board then that means a Center or WR (or maybe TE) you thought wouldn't be there may be there.

What irks me is that once again we probably won't have a shot at the difference maker ILBs. Once Bolton goes off (Collins will go before him because he's got the measurables) the ILB upgrade hope is over. This class is JAG city after him. I am really tired of having shitty ILBs so hopefully Bolton falls even though I know he won't.

IMO the key to maximizing that pick at 57 is taking the highest guy on your board who falls. Only caveat would be I don't take an offensive backfield type there.

 

[CoachAllred]

Putting it here for a distraction from the early Goffseason discussion back 'n forth, feeling kind of stale around here.

 

[CoachAllred]

Cushenberry going one pick before us still kills me

From everything I have read Cushenberry has been a disappointment.

 

[MachS]

I'm guessing they feel like they can get an Edge at 57, but if they all go off the board then that means a Center or WR (or maybe TE) you thought wouldn't be there may be there.

What irks me is that once again we probably won't have a shot at the difference maker ILBs. Once Bolton goes off (Collins will go before him because he's got the measurables) the ILB upgrade hope is over. This class is JAG city after him. I am really tired of having shitty ILBs so hopefully Bolton falls even though I know he won't.

IMO the key to maximizing that pick at 57 is taking the highest guy on your board who falls. Only caveat would be I don't take an offensive backfield type there.

Yea we've been pretty solid in the 2nd-4th rounds so hopefully the trend continues. I know you want an ILB but I dont see it tbh. We won't ever really be dominant against the run until we get two great ILBs, but for whatever reason we prioritize the secondary always. And in today's NFL I get the thought process. But when you see levonte david and devin white playing side by side its easy to get jealous.

With Reeder, Kaiser, Howard coming back, and who knows how we use Hollins next year...I doubt we grab one early but anything's possible. I agree BPA in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, maybe leaning a bit towards IOL and edge. Our free agency will tell us a lot though and give us a better idea heading into the draft what we'll target at 57.

 

[CoachAllred]

I'm guessing they feel like they can get an Edge at 57, but if they all go off the board then that means a Center or WR (or maybe TE) you thought wouldn't be there may be there.

What irks me is that once again we probably won't have a shot at the difference maker ILBs. Once Bolton goes off (Collins will go before him because he's got the measurables) the ILB upgrade hope is over. This class is JAG city after him. I am really tired of having shitty ILBs so hopefully Bolton falls even though I know he won't.

IMO the key to maximizing that pick at 57 is taking the highest guy on your board who falls. Only caveat would be I don't take an offensive backfield type there.

Would love a deep threat WR there if the talent fits the pick.
But I had rather go ahead and snatch up Kenny Golladay and
use 57 for whatever Snead deems appropriate.
I know Golladay isn't a speedster, but he is a 6'4" big body that can
win the one on one deep ball attack.

 

[OldSchool]

From everything I have read Cushenberry has been a disappointment.

Most rookie centers are honestly though.

 

[MachS]

From everything I have read Cushenberry has been a disappointment.

He started every game as a rookie at center which is not an easy ask. I think he's going to be a good pro and the denver coaches love him by all accounts. He's not elite but will develop into a solid to good starter in this league. Meanwhile T Lewis got injured again and played in only 8 games as a rookie. And we still need a pass rusher. And we still need a center. Just wish we would've filled one of those holes with our 3rd round pick last year. 3rd round picks are important players, especially when you never have a 1st.

 

[Merlin]

Yea we've been pretty solid in the 2nd-4th rounds so hopefully the trend continues. I know you want an ILB but I dont see it tbh. We won't ever really be dominant against the run until we get two great ILBs, but for whatever reason we prioritize the secondary always. And in today's NFL I get the thought process. But when you see levonte david and devin white playing side by side its easy to get jealous.

With Reeder, Kaiser, Howard coming back, and who knows how we use Hollins next year...I doubt we grab one early but anything's possible. I agree BPA in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, maybe leaning a bit towards IOL and edge. Our free agency will tell us a lot though and give us a better idea heading into the draft what we'll target at 57.

You're probably correct. I do this shit every year so yeah you'd think I'd learn but noooo.

So I'll just say that in the games where our defense broke down it was due to the run game. And in those instances a good chunk of it was poor contain. Our ILB positions affected all instances of the run game breaking down. Edge was the rest of it. And Edge of course is a bigger need because of the rush but ILB is that one position on the roster (along with Center) where your talent level is really low. At some point that makes it a low hanging fruit with a lot of room for impact.

 

[Corbin]

How many years has it been since he did that?

Lewis was @ Bama for 4 seasons. He played in 26 gms & ONLY started 3 gms. Elbow (2017), ACL (2018). In 2019, Lewis appeared in 10 Bama games & recorded 31 tackles & 6 sacks for the Crimson Tide.

It's obvious that Lewis has some damage to that knee & Bama only used Lewis sparingly in the 2019 senior season. Why did Bama not start such a highly talented ER in his last season with the team? He injured his knee back in 2018! We all know about his knee issues during Training Camp & with Covid-19 plus when the season began all the time where Lewis underwent numerous injury tests on that knee. Does anyone recall this report? "Coach Sean McVay said Monday Lewis' knee injury is "something that we have never experienced before and that's why it's taken so long to get some clarity," Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports." i

Then Rams placed Lewis (knee) on the reserve/non-football injury list. Rams finally activated Lewis the 2nd week in October. Lewis's big game where he had the most snaps was gainst Seattle then the following week he was back on the injury list ...out. He was not back to practice till wk #14.

Lewis saw 124 snaps in 8 gms this past season. Lewis did not suit up until wk #16. After wk#16 he did not play again. Lewis has 2 sacks & 5 tackles total.

Honestly I think Lewis will have some good to stand out seasons but be very My h like Gurley in that year 3-5 range where injuries start making him a shell of himself. This off-season should help Lewis get to that point immensely.

Consistently hurt in college means consistently hurt in the pros. Cushenberry going one pick before us still kills me and I still remember McVays face after that happened. We need to draft another edge early because T Lewis can't be counted on unfortunately. If he suddenly gets healthy then its a bonus. Shitty part is we still need a center too. Interior OL and edge should be the biggest focuses in FA and the draft. Good news is there's multiple great options at both positions, both in FA and the draft.

Idc what anybody says, Cusenberry was our target for that pick and Lewis was a rushed consequence of being unprepared of drafting value there.

You nailed it on the head, the looks on their faces spoke volumes when he was drafted one pick before. Still a huge hole up there for us.

 

[CoachAllred]

He started every game as a rookie at center which is not an easy ask. I think he's going to be a good pro and the denver coaches love him by all accounts. He's not elite but will develop into a solid to good starter in this league. Meanwhile T Lewis got injured again and played in only 8 games as a rookie. And we still need a pass rusher. And we still need a center. Just wish we would've filled one of those holes with our 3rd round pick last year. 3rd round picks are important players, especially when you never have a 1st.

Sounds like you know way more about him then I do.
I think I read a "rookie year review" type of article, so
what I read was coming from a singular source.
Sounds like he showed far better than what I had thought. Thanks
for the reply.

 

[CoachAllred]

Most rookie centers are honestly though.

Yea, that position is so much more than blocking.
Plus like I was telling MachS , I was going by one
particular writer and I was not very informed on him
until reading his post.
Sure would be nice to have " that right guy" at the
center position making life easier for our guards.

 

[CoachAllred]

MachS

What do you thing about Kenny Golladay wanting to come to LaLa land?
6'4" about 215lbs 4.5/ 40yd. I know he is not a speedster
but can get deep and has shown he can beat defenders with his size.

 

[Mackeyser]

I'm guessing they feel like they can get an Edge at 57, but if they all go off the board then that means a Center or WR (or maybe TE) you thought wouldn't be there may be there.

What irks me is that once again we probably won't have a shot at the difference maker ILBs. Once Bolton goes off (Collins will go before him because he's got the measurables) the ILB upgrade hope is over. This class is JAG city after him. I am really tired of having shitty ILBs so hopefully Bolton falls even though I know he won't.

IMO the key to maximizing that pick at 57 is taking the highest guy on your board who falls. Only caveat would be I don't take an offensive backfield type there.

Do you have any idea how many ILBs are coming up on FA rn??? There are some really solid young dudes in that mix. There's like 2 big upgrades in all of FA. There's like 20 solid upgrades at ILB... and we aren't even at 3/17 by which more may shake loose.

I'm really interested in whether Snead restructures just enough or really maxes the restructures to focus on building this year...