Yeah those dudes usually have a good take on things, always enjoy their vids. Disagree a bit with some of their grades, not to mention the lumping of WR and TE together. If I had to grade our overall units going into camp...
QB: A- Goff is coming off a Super Bowl season in which he demonstrated exceptional growth. He has room to grow still, but as a position group you also have to consider the value of our backup experience which is far better than what most teams have in a QB2.
RB: A+ This position group with the addition of a zone scheme all star in Henderson is absolutely loaded.
WR: A- As a group these guys are really good at executing what McVay draws up but they lack the elite type matchup problem for defenses. Not a huge knock on them or anything btw, but I wouldn't quite put them up there as an A+ roster group just yet. If Kupp stays healthy this year then they'll be among the best groups out there, which is all you need.
TE: C- These guys simply haven't been good enough to push for the playing time and gameplan focus that will put them over the hump. Will Everette change that? Jesus I hope so, because Goff could really use a big and physical matchup in the redzone and on third down who can threaten the middle.
OL: B The continued overhaul of this unit to guys Kromer has chosen and trusts should probably be graded higher, but in spite of my belief in them as a group having two young players moving in and Blythe still at RG means they have a lot to prove. I'm sure they'll be among the best units in the league this season too. But can't really give it to them just yet.
DL: A- Donald alone elevates this group in terms of grade. But I think they are improved compared to last year because of adding a lunch pail NT in Gaines and the fact I expect Brock to put on some weight and bounce back at 5T. Depth on paper looks better too, with JFM being a year wiser and SJD seeming to be ready to compete, not to mention getting a guy like Fox back. Bottom roster competition should be tough.
OLB: B+ Matthews' addition changes everything. All of a sudden with him and Fowler we might have an edge group that can deliver what Wade's defense requires. We are no longer a bottom feeder edge group. And there remains some roster talent that looks quite impressive when slated in as depth. It's a pretty damn good unit right now on paper.
ILB: C+ This is our weakest position on the defense. Littleton is a plus player, but outside of him there's a lot of unknown, limited options and the defense will need to sub more than a better roster would because of it. Hopefully Kiser proves a lot of people wrong but to grade them higher I need more than rainbows and unicorns.
S: A- The change from last year's unit with Joyner back there is significant. I still think we lack a natural deep safety who can allow Wade to call for single high looks with confidence, but they are going to be much improved this season.
CB: A This group has a CB who can still eliminate a top weapon in Talib. It has a top 5 slot CB in NRC. And an enigma in Peters. I give them an A because of Peters' threat to play the ball which counters his boneheaded plays. Really the key with this group is can Long settle in quickly in this scheme? Because last season the dropoff to CB4 was profound.
It's hard to find faults with this roster IMO. We are loaded and in for another season for the ages.
