Post Combine Draft Talk.

[Big_T]

Who impressed you? Who do you want?

I like a few guys. I really like Mathieu and would nab him in the third if he's available. From everything I've read and heard I believe we will be selecting a wide receiver in the first. The second round is what I find intriguing. Mcclain doesn't think they would draft a linebacker until the third. Many of you would say right tackle but this would surprise me...I'm leaning towards safety. Manning is aging and we have zero depth at the position.

I think a developmental quarterback will be taken at some point (especially with the new article front and center of the website) and we'll see at least one defensive tackle drafted.

[Hawkeye15]

we must address the #2 WR in the first round, and unless we have a player on the board graded MUCH higher than the best available WR, I can't see us going any other way. Quin needs to be re-signed, but yeah, we had a fall off with Manning, and Demps/Keo should not be getting reps. Safety is next to me as well. If Barwin walks, that also means we need more pass rushing, unless we are going to draft an ILB, and keep Reed outside, and promote Mercilus to full time starter.

You have to figure they will let the right side of that line try and grow together, and with the potential to cut Cody and Walter outright, a tackle will be picked up in the first 3-4 rounds I predict.

[Big_T]

cody is a free agent. I don't think we'll re-sign him...I'm also very curious to see what happens with walter. I wouldn't cut him until after the draft...but I would try to get him to take a major pay cut before I cut him. Moving him to 4th string would upgrade the bench.


If Barwin leaves, they'll definitely draft an olb or project de/olb but i don't think it would happen until round 4.



question. if ej manuel is available at our pick in the second, do you take him? kubiak just fed the press a piece about having to draft quarterbacks if you think they have the potential to be very good for the next 10 years.

[Hawkeye15]

I think this is the year to draft a QB if we see one we like in round 2-3. I don't think there is any way Shaub finishes that stupid deal we just signed him to, we need to start prepping a young QB, who can sit behind him for 2 years, and then cut his *** if the QB shows the ability.

Yeah, Cody won't be re-signed, Mitchell played at least as much.

If Walter takes a huge paycut, I would be willing to have him ride the bench for insurance or large WR packages.

[TaylorMays]

I don't think we have much of a choice but to draft a WR unless somehow like 6 go before our pick. I would take EJ Manuel in the 2nd. I don't think he will do anything this year but we don't need him to. We need to be looking for a replacement for Schaub and EJ Manuel has the tools to be a really good QB. I wouldn't really even be opposed to taking WR in rounds 1 and 2. Taking Jesse Williams (NT Alabama) would be nice and so would Eric Reid or John Jenkins

[TaylorMays]

I would consider trying to trade Antonio Smith since he is getting paid $9m. I wouldn't be looking to restructure since we are going to need money down the road, although that is a good option too. We could then take a DE in the 2nd round or sign a veteran. I'm not sure how the NFL cap works though. If we did trade him or even cut him, would that give us another $9m in the cap to work with?

[Big_T]

I was all for cutting Smith and going with Crick but I don't know what we could get with the open money. Maybe just to be able to re-sign all of our important free agents? Crick looked like he could be at least a solid starter. Jamison is coming back and the two of them could tag team the side opposite Watt.

I wish we didn't have the needs we have. I'd like to see Margus Hunt opposite Watt.

[astrosmaniac]

top 5 needs that need to be addressed (no particular order):
WR2
RT
ILB
OLB (if barwin leaves)
S (regardless of if we keep quin, but especially if he leaves)

[TaylorMays]

Cut Antonio Smith then take Margus Hunt and then a WR then cut Walter and we should have room to resign Quin, Barwin and probably 4-6 of our other free agents. Then take either an ilb or olb in the 3rd and put Reed at the other spot then take a safety with either the compensatory pick or the 4th round pick then I'd probably take another receiver. I think RT is kind of a need but I dont think we will draft one in the first 4 rounds.
How much cap space do we have? I thought it was a little under $6m but then I saw John Clayton said it was closer to $13m?

[Hawkeye15]

yeah, restructuring is basically saving us money now, knowing the large bill is eventually coming. Walter needs to be flat out cut to me, Smith can be let go as well. That money basically frees us to re-sign Quin, Barwin, and anyone else we feel is needed here (Brice?), as well as giving us the normal $4 million to sign all the draftees.

We are in a tough position money wise, and need to make tough decisions. The Colts will take us over in a year or two as the AFC South champs if we don't manage this exactly right.

[Big_T]

Brice is number two behind Quin to me. He started off a bit slow this season but the defense took a more visible step down when he wasn't on the field than it did when Cushing was first injured. Part of it is because we had already lost Cushing but Mercillus makes him more import than Barwin to me.


In other news Kubiak says he'd be open to moving Reed to ILB. What does that mean? He's also open to drafting a qb if they think they have a chance to draft one who'll be really really good. Too bad he didn't think that last year with russell wilson.

[Hawkeye15]

Brice is number two behind Quin to me. He started off a bit slow this season but the defense took a more visible step down when he wasn't on the field than it did when Cushing was first injured. Part of it is because we had already lost Cushing but Mercillus makes him more import than Barwin to me.


In other news Kubiak says he'd be open to moving Reed to ILB. What does that mean? He's also open to drafting a qb if they think they have a chance to draft one who'll be really really good. Too bad he didn't think that last year with russell wilson.

Wilson was a gamble that panned out. Most teams stay away from a 5'10" QB.

[malley03]

I still would like to get Teo, I feel like Keenan Allen would also be a great pick but I dont believe he will fall to us. Tavon Austin could also be someone but he wasnt really talked about until the combine, and im not really sold on combine stars. Example Dontari Poe...

[Hawkeye15]

I still would like to get Teo, I feel like Keenan Allen would also be a great pick but I dont believe he will fall to us. Tavon Austin could also be someone but he wasnt really talked about until the combine, and im not really sold on combine stars. Example Dontari Poe...

I like Austin, but we spent a 4th round pick on Martin last year, and that would be a redundant pick unless we have him graded way up there.

[malley03]

I like Austin, but we spent a 4th round pick on Martin last year, and that would be a redundant pick unless we have him graded way up there.

I hear ya there, I mean Austin could be really good, but we have a poor mans version of him in Martin. My one flaw with Austin is his size (not height). He is very lean, and I feel like he would need to bulk up a bit to not get wrecked... I do hope we could get lucky enough to maybe get Barkley. Now I know that would be an unwarranted pick, especially in the first but he has a bigger arm than Matt does and deff would fall under Kubs system and could sit. The Teo pick seems to be one that could deff work for us though. I know he ran slow but some people just arnt good at 40s. If he runs anything close to a 4.6 at his pro day I doubt we will snag him. Plus the Packers could grab him before we pick anyways.... Who knows where this pick may land us. For all we know we could always trade it, grab a second or third and pick up a first next year. (Dream Scenario) We trade up to the top 10, some deal like Ben Tate our 1st and third round picks and a 4th next year to someone like the Jets who could use Tate, and Get a guy like Patterson or MAYBE if he was to fall a guy like Dion Jordan both who would make immediate impacts