NFL (since 2016)

[crystal falace]

"Free agency started last night and was pretty crazy some huge money being spent. Osweiler getting £18m a year for the Texans, leaving the Broncos without a QB, Giants have spent a fortune on good but not great players, Oliver Vernon has more guaranteed money than JJ Watt. lots more deals but cant be bothered to list them all."

[Norflundon]

Great start for us getting parsons Big day on day 2 hopefully defensive heavy

[southbankbornnbred]

You always have to be careful with highlights reels. But here's Ty Campbell's highlights reel. He looks like the sort of corner who is physical and straight in the receiver's face. I like it. We could do with some of that. We've had a few shrinking violets since Revis. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tv4h53cAsPE

[southbankbornnbred]

"I like the look of Williams at RB. But, after two offensive picks in the first round (and having traded away our third rounder to move up to take Vera-Tucker) I suspect Saleh will insist (probably quite rightly) on meeting a glaring defensive need: cornerback. Would not be surprised if we took Ty Campbell, the CB out of Georgia. He looks like a really solid corner. Whether he's worth the second pick in the second round, I'm not sure: Douglas/Saleh might try to do something clever in order to trade down and still pick him up. We have so many needs, coming from such a low quality roster last year, that we need top-quality players all over the pitch! Williams would be an ideal RB for us. But I can't see it happening. Saleh will want to improve his defense and will be on the look-out for a new Sherman."

[Takashi Miike]

"SB, don't be shocked if you take RB Javonte Williams tonight. I watched him & his RB partner Michael Carter a lot last season playing for North Carolina, they're both very talented"

[southbankbornnbred]

"TM - yep, got to agree with you about Saleh, and Douglas. We haven't played a game under Saleh yet, but he's definitely making the sort of sensible and strong decisions that we haven't had at head coach since Herm Edwards. As you know, I wasn't sold on him and thought we needed an offensive HC. But bringing LeFleur with him was a smart move and has taken the pressure off him on offense. Should allow him to focus on his favoured defense. Likewise, big bonus having Douglas as GM: a former guard who seems to understand the benefits of having strong groups in the less glamorous positions. Vera-Tucker is arguably the least glamorous pick in the first round. But my guess he will be a starter for many years. It's a strong move to protect a rookie QB. Crystal - you're right: I thought the Bears hadn't given up much to shift to #11. But just seen what they handed over. There was talk of them jumping up to #6 or #7 to take a QB, so I was thinking they might break the bank (draft-wise). They didn't do that, but you're right - they traded a lot for nine places. A lot of analysts think Fields was over-rated at college. I'm less sure and still think he could be a good dual threat QB. He was always up against good opposition in that college conference. So he had a few more bad games than the likes of Wilson last season. But that doesn't make him a poor player. I don't think he's the second coming, but he should be a solid starter for Da Bears. Jury's out on Wilson because he came from a smaller college, but I totally get why the Jets took that risk. He makes things happen and we could do even with the mere excitement of just having that kind of QB. I can't complain. He needs some extra muscle, though. And maybe a wrinkle or two. He looks about ten! Going to be an interesting division again next season, with sides led by Wilson, Allen, Tua and Mac Jones. No more Fitzmagic in the AFC East!"

[crystal falace]

"Agree with most of what you said SB, but FYI the bears gave up ALOT to move from 20 to 11 to get fields"

[Takashi Miike]

"SB, it shows what a good coach salah is by getting a top lineman for the young QB. I like ja'mar chase, but joe burrow would get far more out of having penny sewell in front of him for the next ten years. funniest part of the night was the top two cornerbacks going just before dallas selected"

[southbankbornnbred]

"TM - I agree: Davis looks a good LB by any standard. Some sides picked up steals at defensive positions because of this over-spending on offensive talent. Parsons at the Cowboys is a superb prospect, so is Phillips, who fell to Miami. In previous years, some of these guys would have been top five. The best value in a draft dominated by QBs has been on defense and on the O-line."

[AKA ERNIE]

Fields is class but will just be another on the long list of qbs ruined by da bears franchise

[Mr. Burns]

What's a first round draft pick?

[Takashi Miike]

"love jamin davis. just a good free safety, tommy tremble and a second LB away from being a scary team in 2021"

[southbankbornnbred]

"With Wilson at QB and an offensive line that includes Mekhi Becton, McGovern and now Vera-Tucker, I think we might be able to pass the football for the first time since the early 2000s. Sam Darnold must be pissed off. He had Becton as a rookie at LT, but he never had a decent guard to protect him. Wilson walks into town (potentially a fine QB, btw) and immediately Douglas and Saleh surround him with protection. It's a good move by the new coaching/GM team, I'm not complaining. It seems like we've finally learned some lessons. But it makes you wonder what the Jets' brass thought Darnold could do on his own?"

[southbankbornnbred]

"What a weird first round! In many ways, the players in top ten picks were not a surprise at all. Obviously, many people thought the 49ers would go for Mac Jones ahead of Trey Lance. But they've got a decent QB there, even if Lance takes a year to adjust. Can't help but feel that Atalanta (Pitts) and Detroit, of all teams, (Sewell) got the two best players in the draft. And, unfortunately, the CowGirls picked up an absolute banger in Parsons at linebacker. The top ten was largely predicted, and this ridiculous premium on the offensive talent positions continues at the expense of very good defensive players. But that's been the case for a while. So the first seven picks were all offensive. I tell you now that one or two of them will flop - and some of the defensive guys taken between #8 and #15 will be superb NFL players for years. And then some slightly weirder things happened around the middle picks. How the hell did Mac Jones fall to the Patsies at #15? He was predicted top three (because of that QB premium), and looks like a good play-caller just fell into Belichick's lap. As a Jet, that is galling! Miami fans should be fecked off, too (they picked up a good receiver, though, Isaac!). Chicago also got the play-caller they wanted (Fields) simply by waiting and resisting the temptation to trade up. But the 'weirdest' thing was the order in which some of the #15 to #32 players went. Some very good picks in there, and some who probably should have gone in round 2 or 3. Very happy with the Jets picking up the best guard in the draft (Vera-Tucker) to protect Wilson (who's pick at #2 was inevitable). But not so sure we had to trade up so far to get him. Still, we had the picks. As a consequence of all this, there are some very good players still on the board - including at the talent positions and linebacker/pass rush. Some teams are going to have a very good day two."

[crystal falace]

The guy who was odds on to be drafted 3rd overall falls all the way to the pats at 15. Not the QB i wanted but I'll take it. Suits the system that brady ran almost perfectly and is probably ready to start week 1.

[crystal falace]

Sounds more like shanahan listened to his team rather than picking who he actually wanted. Means Jimmy G will probably stay in Frisco for another year as Lance probably isnt ready to start straight away.

[Takashi Miike]

"great pick by shanahan, he was never taking jones. I just hope we dont, though he won't drop that far"

[crystal falace]

Zach wilson looks no older than 14 years old

[crystal falace]

Rodgers to Denver sounds very close. Some very good quarterbacks (and derek carr) in that division! Hopefully another team out of the QB market in the draft and justin fields to the Patriots is one step closer!

[Hermit Road]

Looks like someone can have him for $30 million per year for the next two years. That is cheap for a team a QB shy of a SB run.

[southbankbornnbred]

"You never know, of course. But I'd be very surprised if Rodgers is not Green Bay's QB next season. I just can't see him moving. But, then again, I did say that about Brady!"

[Hermit Road]

"Rodgers looks like the sort of geezer who, when given a million pounds would complain about how heavy it is."

[zebthecat]

"It is difficult to know what Rodgers might be angling for at Green Bay as the roster is largely sorted. They dont have high draft picks but, from what I have read, this draft is stacked is good receivers who probably won't drop it Equinemous St Brown style when it really matters. If it is just money he needs to have a good think about that."

[southbankbornnbred]

"Timing is everything - and, for that reason, don't believe a single word of the Aaron Rodgers shite for the time being. I'm sure these 'sources' around him, leaking the stories, are his agents. He's been trying to agree a contract extension and has, for far, failed to get the deal he wants. Leak a story about moving on, on draft day (when picks and NFL futures get traded), and you'll do at least one of two things: a) Get a sense of the market value for what remains of your career. b) Panic your franchise into a better deal for you. My guess is Rodgers' agent has gambled on a final big pay day, and while he's at it, he's sending a message to Green Bay to draft the players their QB wants around him - or he might leave. Timing is everything."

[zebthecat]

"I suppose with Cam Newton tied to a cheapo 1 year deal it makes sense but it is not often a team will have two MVP QBs on their roster. Bellichick is going for a do it this year with his free agent splurge. Hey, it worked for the Bucs."

[Takashi Miike]

"there's plenty who could afford him, but he will want to join a team with potential. we'd be ideal for him, but as I said the packers will want a ridiculous return. patriots must be scheming in the shadows"