Well, @dieterbrock wanted me to do less trading, @jrry32 asked me to be more realistic with the player trades, and who am I to refuse people who asked nicely? Mind you, there's still going to be two trades, but I'll mostly stick to selections we already have. Ready? Let's do this then:
Futures: Tru Edwards, Brennan Presley, Mario Williams, Elias Neal, Mark Redman, Nate Valcarcel, Cam Lampkin, Dylan McMahon, Wyatt Bowles.
(Those are the important ones that we've either already kept or should keep.)
Cut: Darious Williams,
(Lost more than a step. Thank him for his service, then let him go.)
Extend:
Puka Nacua - five years, 39 million per year
Kobie Turner - four years, 25 million per year
Steve Avila - four years, 16 million per year
Warren McClendon - four years, 13 million per year
(Looking to extend the players who have done well. Nacua and Turner are obvious. McClendon gets a nice raise, and we have to keep one of Avila or Dotson.)
Re-sign:
Kam Curl - three years, 11 million per year
Roger McCreary - one year, 6.5 million
David Quessenberry - one year, 2.5 million
Jake McQuaide - one year, 1.5 million
Nick Hampton - ERFA
Harrison Mevis - ERFA
Justin Dedich - ERFA
(Going to really go with the draft, so limiting the signings. Curl's earned a contract with how he's played. McCreary gets a one-year, prove-it deal. Quessenberry competes for our swing tackle job. McQuaide steadies the long-snapping duties. The others are ERFAs.)
Release:
Rob Havenstein
Tyler Higbee
Cobie Durant
Tutu Atwell
Jimmy Garoppolo
Akhello Witherspoon
Nick Vannett
Ronnie Rivers
Keir Thomas
Xavier Smith
D.J. Humphries
Derion Kendrick
Troy Reeder
(Havenstein will likely retire, Higbee is replaced via free agency, Durant can get paid on the market, Atwell hasn't had production with us, Witherspoon is older, Garoppolo goes for the chance to start, and we can upgrade everyone else.)
Free Agency:
Isaiah Likely (TE) - four years, 14 million per year.
(Likely immediately steps in Higbee's slot and produces. Unlike Pitts, Likely has been productive and gives a shit as a blocker, while still being an outstanding receiver. Not a huge need, but someone I'd love to get a hold of.)
Cor'Dale Flott (CB) - three years, 9.5 million per year.
(Flott is young, ascending, and seems like the perfect corner to pair with Forbes and our draft picks.)
TRADES:
2027 fourth round pick to the Green Bay Packers for Dontayvion Wicks.
(There it is, our #3 wide receiver. Wicks is a lot like a younger Davante Adams, so why not make a trade with a team that has more receivers than they know what to do with?)
#13 overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers for #21 overall, #76 overall, and #85 overall.
(This is what I'm not sure of, but I think is a possibility. I think the top three receivers, McCoy, Downs, the top four edge rushers, Mendoza, Fano, and Mauigoa all go before #13 and I really don't like using #13 on the options remaining - and before you ask, no, I am not a Delane fan at all. We say we have conversations with another team taking Simpson at #13. Pittsburgh trades up with us to secure the spot, swapping firsts while giving us two third round selections.)
DRAFT:
#21 overall (Falcons) - Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee.
(We miss out on Jermod McCoy, but his teammate is hardly a bad consolation prize. Athletic, productive, bloodlines, should step in if our signed corners can't get the job done.)
#29 overall (Rams) - Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State.
(Doubling the hell down with a productive, smart, and athletic corner, just in case Forbes/Flott/McCreary fail.)
#61 overall (Rams) - Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame.
(Big, fast receiver with a lot of tools. Have Puka, Adams, and Wicks mentor him in 2026, have him sit and be a healthy scratch for games, and he'll kick ass in 2027 when Adams leaves and Wicks goes into his contract year.)
#76 overall (Steelers via Cowboys) - Harold Perkins Jr., ILB, Louisiana State.
(Here's our third-down, sideline-to-sideline linebacker. A bit small, but has outstanding speed and smarts. Should immediately help on teams.)
#85 overall (Steelers) - Kevin Coleman Jr., WR, Missouri.
(There's our punt returner/slot receiver. Coleman is cat-quick, smart, and a solid route runner. Brings juice to our punt return unit and teams.)
#93 overall (Rams) - Tacario Davis, CB, Washington.
(Big cornerback who was productive everywhere but Washington. We'll see if Washington was a fluke or not, but he should be great on kick/punt coverage.)
#167 overall (Rams) - Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas.
(Wildcard as a QB. Outstanding athlete and arm, smart, hard worker, but scattershot accuracy. Did better last year with better receivers than he had this year.)
#206 overall (Texans) - Pat Coogan, OC, Indiana.
(Steady center for the championship team. Technical, powerful, not the best athlete or pass protector, but he's worth the gamble this late.)
#209 overall (Rams) - Red Murdock, ILB, Buffalo.
(Productive linebacker who placed second in tackles in the NCAA. Productive pass rusher as well. Should immediately help on teams.)
#232 overall (Rams) - Gary Smith III, NT, UCLA.
(Huge nose tackle with freakish physical traits with a 700 lbs. squat. Needs to keep an eye on his weight - he's been at 355 before - but has been very productive against the run.)
#250 overall (Robinson comp) - Keyshawn James-Newby, EDGE, New Mexico.
(Outstanding edge rusher. Explosive and productive throughout multiple college stops. Had a decent run grade, but it's not good enough for the NFL yet.)
#256 overall (Rozeboom comp) - James Neal III, OG/OT, Iowa State.
(Versatile and big, he can back up McClendon and the guard spots.)
KEY UDFAs:
Curtis Allen, RB, Virginia Union.
(Big and hugely productive running back at a DII school, first running back to win the Harlon Hill trophy since 2013. His Pro Day will be interesting, to say the least.)
Caleb Offord, CB, Kennesaw State.
(Been productive at a smaller school. If not for a nasty head injury caused by a dirty hit, might've been even more. Good gamble to take.)
Beau Gardner, LS, Georgia.
(We absolutely have to bring in someone young to compete with McQuaide. We're doing it with the 2025 Mannelly Award winner.)
ROSTER:
QB: Matthew Stafford, Taylen Green.
(Call me crazy, but I'd rather have Green as the backup than Bennett; if Stafford goes down for any length of time, we're screwed either way, so why not let the kid see what he can do and learn from the master?)
RB: Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Jarquez Hunter (KR).
(Light on running back, but K-Will and Corum are a solid duo, and Hunter gets the primary kick return duties along with occasional snaps. Curtis Allen is on the practice squad in case any of our backs are hurt.)
WR: Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Dontayvion Wicks, Jordan Whittington, Konata Mumpfield, Malachi Fields, Kevin Coleman Jr. (PR)
(No real surprises at wideout. Using Whittington and Mumpfield as gunners and backups, Coleman as the punt returner, and Fields gets a redshirt year before he takes over the role. Williams, Edwards, and Pressly are all practice squad with the capability of jumping up.)
TE: Isaiah Likely, Colby Parkinson, Terrence Ferguson, Davis Allen.
(I was torn about Allen actually being traded, but I'm keeping him on for now. Likely starts, Fergy learns more, and Parkinson will hopefully keep living up to his contract.)
OL: Alaric Jackson, Steve Avila, Coleman Shelton, Kevin Dotson, Warren McClendon, David Quessenberry, Justin Dedich, Pat Coogan.
(It's a risk having lighter O-linemen after our starters, but I'm willing to take a risk. Neal goes on the practice squad along with Bowles and McMahon; Neal's not able to play left tackle in the pros and is better suited for guard, unlike Quessenberry and he isn't established like Dedich. Believe me, I was torn on this. I think Neal steps in next year or in case of injury, though; I think he's that pro-ready.)
DL: Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, Poona Ford, Tyler Davis, Ty Hamilton.
(Gary Smith III ends up on the practice squad to condition him for the NFL. Other than that? Same old, same old.)
LB: Jared Verse, Byron Young, Nate Landman, Omar Speights, Josaiah Stewart, Desjuan Johnson, Keyshawn James-Newby, Shaun Dolac, Harold Perkins Jr., Red Murdock.
(Still think Agent Zero is a prime trade candidate, but we'll see what happens with his contract. Dolac, Perkins, Murdock should help a tremendous amount on teams, while James-Newby is a healthy scratch to get better against the run. I think Perkins or Dolac replace Speights in the starting lineup eventually, but McVay likes his starters.)
DB: Emmanuel Forbes Jr., Cor'Dale Flott, Roger McCreary, Quentin Lake, Kam Curl, Colton Hood, Chris Johnson, Tacario Davis, Kamren Kinchens, Jaylen McCollough, Josh Wallace.
(This is where the majority of our players will go. Forbes and Flott start with McCreary splitting STAR duties with Lake and Kinchens coming in when Lake is in the STAR. Hood, Johnson, Davis? They all sit for a time or unless Forbes/Flott/McCreary bomb. McCollough and Wallace are on teams. Offord learns from the veterans; I think he could be an excellent teams player in time. Valcarcel is on the practice squad as the safety well, as I want nothing to do with Ingle after the screw-up in the Panthers game.)
ST: Harrison Mevis, Ethan Evans, Beau Gardner
(I think Gardner wins the job. Evans has to kick better, or his job is on the line. We'll see if Mevis can keep his kicks straight next year. Overall? Very fluid situation.)
Have at me.
Futures: Tru Edwards, Brennan Presley, Mario Williams, Elias Neal, Mark Redman, Nate Valcarcel, Cam Lampkin, Dylan McMahon, Wyatt Bowles.
(Those are the important ones that we've either already kept or should keep.)
Cut: Darious Williams,
(Lost more than a step. Thank him for his service, then let him go.)
Extend:
Puka Nacua - five years, 39 million per year
Kobie Turner - four years, 25 million per year
Steve Avila - four years, 16 million per year
Warren McClendon - four years, 13 million per year
(Looking to extend the players who have done well. Nacua and Turner are obvious. McClendon gets a nice raise, and we have to keep one of Avila or Dotson.)
Re-sign:
Kam Curl - three years, 11 million per year
Roger McCreary - one year, 6.5 million
David Quessenberry - one year, 2.5 million
Jake McQuaide - one year, 1.5 million
Nick Hampton - ERFA
Harrison Mevis - ERFA
Justin Dedich - ERFA
(Going to really go with the draft, so limiting the signings. Curl's earned a contract with how he's played. McCreary gets a one-year, prove-it deal. Quessenberry competes for our swing tackle job. McQuaide steadies the long-snapping duties. The others are ERFAs.)
Release:
Rob Havenstein
Tyler Higbee
Cobie Durant
Tutu Atwell
Jimmy Garoppolo
Akhello Witherspoon
Nick Vannett
Ronnie Rivers
Keir Thomas
Xavier Smith
D.J. Humphries
Derion Kendrick
Troy Reeder
(Havenstein will likely retire, Higbee is replaced via free agency, Durant can get paid on the market, Atwell hasn't had production with us, Witherspoon is older, Garoppolo goes for the chance to start, and we can upgrade everyone else.)
Free Agency:
Isaiah Likely (TE) - four years, 14 million per year.
(Likely immediately steps in Higbee's slot and produces. Unlike Pitts, Likely has been productive and gives a shit as a blocker, while still being an outstanding receiver. Not a huge need, but someone I'd love to get a hold of.)
Cor'Dale Flott (CB) - three years, 9.5 million per year.
(Flott is young, ascending, and seems like the perfect corner to pair with Forbes and our draft picks.)
TRADES:
2027 fourth round pick to the Green Bay Packers for Dontayvion Wicks.
(There it is, our #3 wide receiver. Wicks is a lot like a younger Davante Adams, so why not make a trade with a team that has more receivers than they know what to do with?)
#13 overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers for #21 overall, #76 overall, and #85 overall.
(This is what I'm not sure of, but I think is a possibility. I think the top three receivers, McCoy, Downs, the top four edge rushers, Mendoza, Fano, and Mauigoa all go before #13 and I really don't like using #13 on the options remaining - and before you ask, no, I am not a Delane fan at all. We say we have conversations with another team taking Simpson at #13. Pittsburgh trades up with us to secure the spot, swapping firsts while giving us two third round selections.)
DRAFT:
#21 overall (Falcons) - Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee.
(We miss out on Jermod McCoy, but his teammate is hardly a bad consolation prize. Athletic, productive, bloodlines, should step in if our signed corners can't get the job done.)
#29 overall (Rams) - Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State.
(Doubling the hell down with a productive, smart, and athletic corner, just in case Forbes/Flott/McCreary fail.)
#61 overall (Rams) - Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame.
(Big, fast receiver with a lot of tools. Have Puka, Adams, and Wicks mentor him in 2026, have him sit and be a healthy scratch for games, and he'll kick ass in 2027 when Adams leaves and Wicks goes into his contract year.)
#76 overall (Steelers via Cowboys) - Harold Perkins Jr., ILB, Louisiana State.
(Here's our third-down, sideline-to-sideline linebacker. A bit small, but has outstanding speed and smarts. Should immediately help on teams.)
#85 overall (Steelers) - Kevin Coleman Jr., WR, Missouri.
(There's our punt returner/slot receiver. Coleman is cat-quick, smart, and a solid route runner. Brings juice to our punt return unit and teams.)
#93 overall (Rams) - Tacario Davis, CB, Washington.
(Big cornerback who was productive everywhere but Washington. We'll see if Washington was a fluke or not, but he should be great on kick/punt coverage.)
#167 overall (Rams) - Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas.
(Wildcard as a QB. Outstanding athlete and arm, smart, hard worker, but scattershot accuracy. Did better last year with better receivers than he had this year.)
#206 overall (Texans) - Pat Coogan, OC, Indiana.
(Steady center for the championship team. Technical, powerful, not the best athlete or pass protector, but he's worth the gamble this late.)
#209 overall (Rams) - Red Murdock, ILB, Buffalo.
(Productive linebacker who placed second in tackles in the NCAA. Productive pass rusher as well. Should immediately help on teams.)
#232 overall (Rams) - Gary Smith III, NT, UCLA.
(Huge nose tackle with freakish physical traits with a 700 lbs. squat. Needs to keep an eye on his weight - he's been at 355 before - but has been very productive against the run.)
#250 overall (Robinson comp) - Keyshawn James-Newby, EDGE, New Mexico.
(Outstanding edge rusher. Explosive and productive throughout multiple college stops. Had a decent run grade, but it's not good enough for the NFL yet.)
#256 overall (Rozeboom comp) - James Neal III, OG/OT, Iowa State.
(Versatile and big, he can back up McClendon and the guard spots.)
KEY UDFAs:
Curtis Allen, RB, Virginia Union.
(Big and hugely productive running back at a DII school, first running back to win the Harlon Hill trophy since 2013. His Pro Day will be interesting, to say the least.)
Caleb Offord, CB, Kennesaw State.
(Been productive at a smaller school. If not for a nasty head injury caused by a dirty hit, might've been even more. Good gamble to take.)
Beau Gardner, LS, Georgia.
(We absolutely have to bring in someone young to compete with McQuaide. We're doing it with the 2025 Mannelly Award winner.)
ROSTER:
QB: Matthew Stafford, Taylen Green.
(Call me crazy, but I'd rather have Green as the backup than Bennett; if Stafford goes down for any length of time, we're screwed either way, so why not let the kid see what he can do and learn from the master?)
RB: Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Jarquez Hunter (KR).
(Light on running back, but K-Will and Corum are a solid duo, and Hunter gets the primary kick return duties along with occasional snaps. Curtis Allen is on the practice squad in case any of our backs are hurt.)
WR: Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Dontayvion Wicks, Jordan Whittington, Konata Mumpfield, Malachi Fields, Kevin Coleman Jr. (PR)
(No real surprises at wideout. Using Whittington and Mumpfield as gunners and backups, Coleman as the punt returner, and Fields gets a redshirt year before he takes over the role. Williams, Edwards, and Pressly are all practice squad with the capability of jumping up.)
TE: Isaiah Likely, Colby Parkinson, Terrence Ferguson, Davis Allen.
(I was torn about Allen actually being traded, but I'm keeping him on for now. Likely starts, Fergy learns more, and Parkinson will hopefully keep living up to his contract.)
OL: Alaric Jackson, Steve Avila, Coleman Shelton, Kevin Dotson, Warren McClendon, David Quessenberry, Justin Dedich, Pat Coogan.
(It's a risk having lighter O-linemen after our starters, but I'm willing to take a risk. Neal goes on the practice squad along with Bowles and McMahon; Neal's not able to play left tackle in the pros and is better suited for guard, unlike Quessenberry and he isn't established like Dedich. Believe me, I was torn on this. I think Neal steps in next year or in case of injury, though; I think he's that pro-ready.)
DL: Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, Poona Ford, Tyler Davis, Ty Hamilton.
(Gary Smith III ends up on the practice squad to condition him for the NFL. Other than that? Same old, same old.)
LB: Jared Verse, Byron Young, Nate Landman, Omar Speights, Josaiah Stewart, Desjuan Johnson, Keyshawn James-Newby, Shaun Dolac, Harold Perkins Jr., Red Murdock.
(Still think Agent Zero is a prime trade candidate, but we'll see what happens with his contract. Dolac, Perkins, Murdock should help a tremendous amount on teams, while James-Newby is a healthy scratch to get better against the run. I think Perkins or Dolac replace Speights in the starting lineup eventually, but McVay likes his starters.)
DB: Emmanuel Forbes Jr., Cor'Dale Flott, Roger McCreary, Quentin Lake, Kam Curl, Colton Hood, Chris Johnson, Tacario Davis, Kamren Kinchens, Jaylen McCollough, Josh Wallace.
(This is where the majority of our players will go. Forbes and Flott start with McCreary splitting STAR duties with Lake and Kinchens coming in when Lake is in the STAR. Hood, Johnson, Davis? They all sit for a time or unless Forbes/Flott/McCreary bomb. McCollough and Wallace are on teams. Offord learns from the veterans; I think he could be an excellent teams player in time. Valcarcel is on the practice squad as the safety well, as I want nothing to do with Ingle after the screw-up in the Panthers game.)
ST: Harrison Mevis, Ethan Evans, Beau Gardner
(I think Gardner wins the job. Evans has to kick better, or his job is on the line. We'll see if Mevis can keep his kicks straight next year. Overall? Very fluid situation.)
Have at me.
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