FanPost

Reshaping A Stale Offense. Mock Offseason 2.0

I really wanted to do a Lamar mock, as I truly believe that’s our best case off-season. I think Lamar, Ryans/Morris HC, and Greg Roman OC in combination with Ballard drafting would be great. I just don’t think anyone wants to read that mock, and I’d rather focus on other discussions than what ends in folks arguing about Lamar. This is what I’d call a best case type scenario mock where we select a rookie QB.

New Head Coach-

Kellen Moore-

I’d have loved Harbaugh, but that seems to have passed. Cool with many of the high character DC types too. Although no matter how hard I fight it. I truly want a young OC. I do not want our rookie QB having to play with multiple different OCs in the first 5 years. The only way to ensure that is to have the HC be the real brains of the operation.

Moore himself I like for multiple reasons. Former player, former QB coach, and he has multiple years in his current OC role. Dallas has displayed an elite ability to run the ball, feeding multiple mouths in their backfield. They also do a good job at getting the ball to their #1 WR, utilize the TE position well, and find ways to plug injuries along the OL. All with a QB that’s solid, but nobody will argue is elite.

I like Moore as a guy capable of being an equal or better O mind to whatever QB we bring in, which should go a long way in building a relationship ala McDermott and Allen, Reid and Mahomes, or Pederson and Lawrence. The scheme he’s currently running now is about as good as we could ask for to help players we have like JT and Jelani Woods. Dallas’s secondary WRs do well too leaving plenty of room for Pierce and Pittman to succeed. We probably need a new #1 though, although who am I to close the door on our current guys?

Don’t even think we’ve interviewed Moore, so what do I know…

Projected Cap- 35 mil.

Cuts-

Matt Ryan- 17 mil savings.

Nick Foles- 1.5 mil savings.

Updated Projected Cap- 53.5 mil

Resigns-

Paris Campbell- 1 yr 10 mil. - We have to overpay to keep the terms short. It’s worth it to see him play with a new OC and QB. Might be our answer for #1, might not.

Chase McLaughlin- 1 yr 4 mil

E.J. Speed- 2 yrs, 6 mil, 3 mil per.

Tyquan Lewis- 0 or small guaranteed money min offer. To be safe I’ll call it 2 mil. I want him in camp at least.

Updated Projected Cap Space- 34.5 mil

Let Them Walk-

Yannick Ngakoue- He is going where Bradley goes based on history. For this mock let’s say they both leave.

Bobby Okereke-

Brandon Fayscon-

Rodney McLeod-

Ashton Dulin-

Matt Pryor-

Ben Banogu-

Trades I’m Making-

Mo Cox to the Panthers for a 2023 5th (145). 5.5 mil savings.

Updated Projected Cap Space- 40 mil

2023 Unrestricted Free Agency-

Marcus Davenport- DE- New Orleans- 5 yrs, 100 mil. 20 mil per.

You can do a quick drive bye and come up with a handful of reasons we wouldn’t do this. Most blaming Ballard. However, I still contend Ballard would have signed Deforest Buckner in FA too. It’s just not that often guys come up that fit all of our wants. You could also make a case Davenport off a low sack season is a huge risk for this contract. Although I believe the two issues make for the perfect marriage. Add in the Saints roster situation, and cap health. Even better.

Ballard gets a DE that’s the type of athlete he loses his shorts over. One that’s still only 26-27 years old, has no major injury history, and was a former top 15 pick. Not that it means everything, but PFF still had him graded well. So it’s plausible his stats took a hit due to luck, and a lost season for the D. He had 9 sacks a year prior, and plays all 3 downs. So not only do we replace Ngakoue. This should make for a nice upgrade that stays a Colt for a longer duration. The deal likely ends up more like a 3 for 60 with a 4th and 5th year option for us.

Nate Davis- OG- Tennessee- 4 yrs, 32 mil. 8 mil per.

I had him in my first mock and see no reason to budge. We need to fix the OL quick for the incoming rookie. Not only to develop well, but to do everything possible to prevent injury before the kid can catch up to the speed of the game. Even then they occur, but it’s certainly more common for offenses that lack OL talent. What better way to start than addressing the first clear spot things went wrong? Which in my opinion was losing Mark Glowinski. Davis as a 26 year old plus player at RG, makes for an excellent make right. One that like Davenport will last most of the duration of our rookies 1st contract. I would be fine with Dalton Risner as well, who is the better pass protector, but a much weaker run blocker.

Jacoby Brissett- QB- Cleveland- 1 yr 6 mil.

I understand those who would be against this, I really do, and I apologize. I myself didn’t love the money we paid him, and never was one who thought he was the answer. A fine shot to try, but we were correct in deciding we need more at starting QB long term. However, unless you want to pay Ryan 17 mil to fill this role. Brissett is the best option on the market to start week 1 for this team, and carry on respectably until the rookie is ready. Not a bad option as a long term backup, but I think he still believes in himself and only takes a 1 year gig.

What makes him the best option isn’t just his ability to win games with a good team around him, but more so his being a top notch human being. A guy that will help our rookie in every way possible and gracefully exit stage left when the time comes. I’m not selling you any improvement one bit, or projection he learns to pass more than 20 yards downfield. He will do exactly what his level of compensation should dictate. Which is the difference this time around.

Zach Gentry- TE- Pittsburgh- 3 yrs, 12 mil. 4 mil per.

I ended up watching a lot of Pittsburgh this season as a Pat Friermuth fantasy owner. Annoying for my cause, I saw Gentry eat into the TE snaps due to his blocking skills. With us clearly missing Jack Doyle’s blocking skills, and having a receiver like Woods in tow. Gentry could go a long way in evening out our TE room, and taking care of the dirty work. He can catch the ball when asked. He’s just certainly at his best blocking, and only running small decoy responsibilities. Which is all we need.

Yosh Nijman- OT- Green Bay- 2 yrs, 8 mil. 4 mil per.

Another hold over from my first mock. Nijman may sneak out of GB due to their being locked into Bahkitari and staring down Elgton Jenkins contract due. Doubtful they can afford this luxury, and will look to the draft for a cheaper alternative. Nijman has appeared at both OT spots for the Packers when injuries have hit, and done better than expected as a late rounder. He was a trait heavy prospect coming out of college with an almost perfect RAS card. So we give him the 4-5 mil over a few years as a player to truly compete for the starting LT role. Excellent depth just comes along with it should Raimann lock it down.

Updated Projected Cap Space- -2 mil

2023 NFL Draft-

Round 1 (4)- Bryce Young- QB- Alabama- 6’0" 197lbs-

The NFL will value Levis and Strouds size, yet to be seen how much. There are also multiple defenders in this class worth top 5 picks, possibly a couple OL guys and a WR too. It’s not an outlandish stretch to think the top 3 picks stay put and end up looking like Will Anderson, Jalen Carter, and Myles Murphy.

Specifically Houston I see as a major wildcard. They don’t have the greatest rep at the time. Levis and Richardson may be the only guys that really turn on the charm in the interviews. To be real honest if I was Houston’s GM. I’d move back, gain what would be a 3rd 2024 1st rounder, and focus on hitting the rest, extending Tunsil, and getting something for Brandon Cooks. A 2024 QB should be more excited to play with that team. After seeing they can keep a HC more than 1 season and have some upside.

We happily take Young. I could go on about the positives of selecting him or the alternative. However, this mock isn’t really about that. Read my big board for an in-depth on him. It’s more about showing aggression, but in a way less expected. One that I believe might just be the answer. So why not start with what is my best case scenario in Young? The point and approach only change a bit for any of the top QBs. AR15 is a different story, and needs a mock of his own to explain.

Alternate Pick- CJ Stroud

Trade Up

Indianapolis Gets- 2023 1st (14). 7 mil savings from KM contract.

New England Gets- 2023 2nd (35), 2023 6th Comp (205), and Kenny Moore.

Belichick hates first round picks, and is the exact type of coach that may take a proven vet and a early 2nd rounder instead. He has some familiarity with Moore, as all signs pointed toward a tough 53 man cut Vs a player they disliked back in 2017.

We get aggressive about giving our new franchise QB a star to grow with. Also getting off Moore at the right time and price to best help this team.

Round 1 via NE (14)- Zay Flowers- WR- Boston College- 5’10" 177lbs-

Johnston is already off the board I bet or I’d say him across the board. However, the goal here is to get the best possible fit for the QB we select. For Bryce Young, that very well may be Zay Flowers. Not only is he an excellent playmaking outlet to any RPO play or gimmick set up. He actually brings the footwork, route running, ball skills, hands, and physicality to be so much more. Still would like to see the combine confirm his upside. However, I really do see a player on tape with similar tools of a Tyreek Hill or Antonio Brown with a floor of Jaylen Waddle or Diontae Johnson.

We certainly hope for the first two, but either way we add a very dangerous player, that only gets more dangerous when the street ball style Young plays gets going. This could easily be Jordan Addison too, I just think Flowers offers more playmaking ability with the ball in his hands. I don’t worry for a second about Ballard. He will take special traits. 4.3 speed, and an every touch homerun threat are certainly some. Sure he’s learned we need a long term QB. However, have we all not learned we need a #1 WR too, him included? If we are blessed at #4, let’s find a way to do both!

Alternate- Jaxson Smith-Njigba/Jordan Addison

Round 3 via WSH (79)- Sean Tucker- RB- Syracuse- 5’10" 210lbs-

I promise you I’m not kidding or trying to draw negative comments. This one comes down to two things. First, I think this is the most explosive RB in the class, maybe the best outright. A guy who’s a threat every time he touches the ball rushing or receiving. He may go overlooked for the faster Achane, bigger name in Gibbs, or bigger guys like Robinson. However, he’s a very impressive blend of all those skill sets reminding me of LeSean McCoy. Absolutely worth a mid round pick, and imo more like an early day 2. If we are making a luxury pick, it should be for a player this talented.

Second, and more important to this discussion. I hired Kellen Moore at HC. While I didn’t think paying Tony Pollard 8-9 mil per with JT around making less money. I do think recreating some of his role for our team should be a real priority. It would be a good thing for everyone involved JT included. I think Tucker would thrive in that role, and may be the best darn fit in the draft for it, since like Pollard he can do it all, leaving mystery to the playcall. Something we got wrong with Nyheim Hines.

Round 4 (106)- Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson- CB- TCU- 5’9" 177lbs-

I myself had him listed as a possible tier 1 player on my last big board. So I’m with you that he may not be here. However, he’s the guy I’d like to have out of this class at NCB. So like Bryce Young he gets the nod as the placeholder. The NFL does some weird stuff with DBs, so along with that disclaimer above. It’s perfectly reasonable he or a close prospect like Clark Phillips may actually end up here. A few tenths of seconds at the combine will determine it. I’ll never forget having Desmond King as a fringe 1st rounder, and watching him slide to the 5th round, past us many times. To then watch him be a nice player for the Chargers and now Titans wondering what happened. Hope it happens here too.

Round 5 (139)- Jarrett Patterson- IOL- Notre Dame- 6’4" 310lbs-

There are better OG and C prospects in this class, and certainly better athletes. While Patterson is a solid player, and may work his way into a starting lineup. I want to be clear I have concerns for his future, and am only buying him at the proper value. I think he certainly needs to add strength and anchoring ability for the jump, and he can struggle with quicker DTs rushing too.

What and why I am buying is this. He gets a shot like anyone no doubt, but I’m drafting him to hopefully never play OG again. He’s your typical ND OL player in that he’s technically sound, smart, and plays the game hard. I am bringing him in to groom at C. As that I think he fits better athletically, and I see a much clearer path to his starting and doing well. Either way it’s a sensible depth pick, but I really think we could sneak a new starting C out of this mid round class with some luck. It just may need to play out in 2024, rather than day 1.

Round 5- Via CAR (145) - Jalen Duncan- OT- Maryland- 6’6" 315lbs-

We already made moves in FA to address our clearest OL needs of RG and OT depth/talent. We could really use this pick for the defense, but in the spirit of not getting to where we are now again along the OL. We take Duncan as a traits heavy project. One very similar Yosh Nijman himself coming out. In a perfect world you want depth with starter upside, and Duncan around this point satisfies that before there aren’t any left. He just isn’t ready right now by any means, and has a chance to get cut and flame out too.

Round 7 (222)- Max Duggan- QB- TCU- 6’2" 210lbs-

I don’t see a pro QB here personally. However, things like Brock Purdy and Tom Brady don’t happen if you never take the shot. So this is about getting one more chance at a good NFL QB into camp. He and Elhinger would compete for the #3 role at the least.

Round 7 via WSH (237)- best S available.


Updated Projected Cap Space- 3-5 mil post Moore trade.


Conclusion-

The overwhelming message here is I want to be faster, and more explosive. I’d be willing to give what it takes to become so. Which is a spot I hope Ballard would agree he’s becoming more aware of the need, and will treat it like building the fronts. With premium talent from high picks. We started to see it with the 2022 draft a bit. Now we double down and get a bit more aggressive before round 2 with an elite QB and WR combo.

If you believe in what Dallas did this season. I think you’d really love this combination of talent and scheme for the long run. Honestly Cedee Lamb would be the only player on their team that we don’t offer here. However, we would have 4 real talents in Pitt, Pierce, PC, and Flowers, competing for the #1 role with me projecting Flowers to recreate Lamb in the aggregate of a true dynamic #1 weapon very soon into his career. If one of the others takes a giant leap too. Shewww… even better.

I know it’s not as sexy to talk about. However, adding Gentry, Nate Davis, and Sean Tucker to the rushing game could go a long way in improving things as well. They certainly all make us a more consistent team, which is a staple of good football teams, One helping to win those close sloppy games, or late season division matchups when everyone is banged up. Getting explosive is great, but we need to be great on 1st down to get there, and can’t forget that. If we can do that, even Brissett can win some games early on for us.

To achieve so much on offense a few things had to give on D. I’m looking to UDFA and 53 man cuts to help out with CB, LB, and S depth after losing Okereke and some others. I was able to add a new NCB, and an upside DE as enticing as Ngakoue at the least. Probably so much more. We also should return Leonard, and do offer youth at CB and S we hope steps up. So it’s reasonable to think we’d have a good unit, ready to compete when the rookie QB is.

On another note, one huge win from this mock for me. Is we retained all of our 2024 picks. I will leave it up to you if changing that is worth ensuring a specific QB. For now I favor sitting tight at #4.

2023 record prediction- 9-8 2nd in the AFC south, possible playoff birth. Est 2024 cap space- 40-45mil.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors.