General 2025 draft talk

I know we got a wr, but that's such a gaping hole between 21-83. If Grant and Harmon are gone, and Barron probably not being in play now, I would be willing to trade down to even the top of the second to fill that gap.

 

A couple articles with lots of info.

Interesting PFF article on all the QB's weaknesses.

https://www.pff.com/news/2025-nfl-draft-every-quarterbacks-biggest-weakness


Article from same site on Howard

https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2025-nfl-draft-scouting-report-qb-will-howard-ohio-state

 

One possible team that comes to mind, depending on what happens, could possibly be the Ciefs moving up to grab one of those top 3 WR's if things go sideways with Worthy's legal situation.

 

The Bills make a bunch of sense too. I know they like Coleman a bit, but they were without a high end WR for the season. They might be willing to trade up to 21 and give us picks 30 and 62 for it. They draft a WR and we can get RB and DL both within the first 62 picks. Not terrible. We can spend our 3rd and 4th on CB and QB, then fill out with Day 3 OL, S, DL, etc.

 

Same here.

Part of what's so baffling about this FA period is how unfocused the FO looked coming off of the Metcalf trade. Great job in getting the receiver, but what about QB, filling the RB room (Gainwell is an RB3), locking up a top corner opposite JPJ, solidifying the guard position, etc. And they're setting themselves up for holes again next year - the QBs they're in the running for are older, bridge options, Slay is 34 and on a one-year contract, and while they extended Metcalf Pickens is a UFA at season's end.

That all adds to the sting of not having that second round pick.

 

Yeah, especially the CB thing. Knowing how they seem to rely on FA's when it comes to their secondary.

 

It seems that the Slay signing is kicking the can a year on CB2 and giving Trice a season to figure it out before really investing highly at that position. I wouldn't rule out a Pickens extension, though I wouldn't rule out another trade/FA signing to replace him if we don't want to pay him. As for QB, it seems like the plan is to draft one this year or next. Rodgers or Rudolph this year and see what comes of the draft. RB is doable, as there are still a few FA's if we miss out on the top prospects in the draft this year, and with a deep draft it seems like they are looking at complementary style backs and giving Warren a real shot at the lead role (which is fine by me). I am also fine letting the young line develop before re-investing there (though I would have preferred us to extend Daniels and cut Seumalo). We're not going to revamp the team in a single draft/FA period. I think we have a shot of a quick turnaround if we get the QB right though (Dart and Howard seem like the most likely targets this year, and I would imagine the team is massively high on Allar coming out next year).

 

Developing young talent is important for every organization, but things move fast in the NFL. Free agency, injuries, and short peak performance windows make it such that if you're committing to pushing past a certain mark (wild card round, e.g.) you need to have a certain level of aggression with your roster construction in order to build upon the the talent you currently have.

It's hard for me to rationalize a historic move that was trading for and extending Metcalf being followed by the lack of a tangible plan at QB. I wouldn't put hopes on anyone from this draft class outside of Ward or Sanders being able to becoming an effective starter quickly (Ewers/Shough are outside chances with their experience, though less dynamic) - and Khan didn't seem urgent to sign a Fields or Darnold to serve as a bridge, either.

I like Warren, but think it unwise to head into the season with only Gainwell and Patterson backing him up. Adding a veteran guard upgrade doesn't displace any youth - Seaumalo becomes expendable if McCormick proves the better option. At corner there were good options fluid at both boundary and slot such that if Trice developed into a starting CB2 they could move inside replacing Bishop, who to this point hasn't shown to be starter-level.

They'll still need to address DL in the draft, to go along with RB, QB, possibly WR. That's a lot of plates to spin, especially if you want to stay within reach of a BPA approach. Feels like they're leaving a lot to chance.

 

OL needs upgraded on the interior. they have quietly been looking. MT was in georgia at their pro day. 2 of the better guards are from there. (ratledge) and (fairchild). they are looking at the tackle from ND state (zabel)and WVU (milum).

DL, QB, OL, RB. seem like the most likely top picks. there are some others. this will make the run game go and protect whomever is at QB, which will be crucial this year.

we lost more off the O-line than we did the DL this year. 3 of these guys were starters at the beginning and one was depth at the interior in scharping that isn't re-signed either. so that is 4. offensive linemen gone. on the DL we have lost ogunjobi and loudermilk so far. as i see it the biggest question marks are OL and QB right now.

as for CB everyone is leaving out echols.

 

I don't think the "lack of plan" is as tangible as you think. We very apparently were going to either sign Fields for a certain price or get Rodgers/another older vet to serve as a spot starter until we draft one. We don't want to be FORCED to go QB this year if there isn't someone they like in the draft, but I also don't feel like the secondary QB crop is that bad to think there aren't good QB's available. Dart, Ewers, McCord, Howard, and Shough all kind of feel like guys who could succeed in the league in the right situation. You're correct in tabbing Sanders as the most "pro ready" but I think that Howard would thrive in an Arthur Smith offense, being the best under center QB the draft has to offer. McCord is a gunslinger, Shough has a good bit of talent as well if we can keep him healthy... Or we can just roll with Mason or Rodgers for a year and then draft someone in 2026. Neither are terrible options in my opinion.

I don't think we will roll with just Warren/Gainwell/Patterson. We are seriously vetting the RB position in the draft, and its a position where rookies can contribute very quickly. If we don't go to the draft, there will be some vets available to be the primary back up or secondary tandem mate. Dobbins, Jamaal Williams, Gus Edwards, Nick Chubb, Trey Sermon, Cam Akers.... These aren't guys that will be anything more than option #2, but could easily handle 8 touches a game and spell Warren. We find a back in the draft or sign a vet short term. I think Patterson likely ends up the odd man out. We could still add to the G room too. We need a primary back up anyways, but could technically bring on a Liam Eichenburg or Teven Jenkins to push McCormick (or put Seumalo into a reserve role, but less likely). I don't think we're done filling out the roster, we just need a decision at QB to know how aggressive we can be.

 

We are still in need of a QB. Even if it's to backup MR this season. I see us taking one of Ward, Sanders, or Dart at 21. Hopefully we fill that position before the draft.


The guy I want at 21 is Nick Emmanwori, SS. Not really a position of dire need but he is one of those 'best football player on the field' types. Plus, DBs drop off sharply after the top 10 players.


DL is a deep class well into the 3rd/4th rounds. I see players I would love to take in the 1st, but not gonna be devastated if we wait. Mykal Williams, edge is still a real possibility.


With Warren, Gainwell, and Patterson/Heyward in the RB room, I will be shocked if we select a RB in the first 3 rounds.
Same thought on WR with our current WR room.

 

Look, none of what you're saying is necessarily invalid, but there's a lot of settling and passivity baked in for a team that had a significant amount of holes - but also had significant resources to fill them. Khan has been crafty at times in his tenure, aggressive as well. But after Metcalf's acquisition there's been a steady leak of talent from the FA pool while Khan has been relegated to adding mostly backup or aging pieces.

QB Rudolph
RB Gainwell
WR Metcalf
WR Miller
WR Skowronek
LB Harrison
CB Slay
CB Echols

Depth is of course needed to round out a roster, but outside of Metcalf and maybe Slay none of this group is doing much to push the needle. Most feel more like laying up so as not to interfere with any compensatory picks in 2026. While I can appreciate that, it's not an effective way to fill priority needs for a team purportedly on the mission to go deeper in the playoffs next year.

 

I think Gainwell and Echols will contribute more than you're giving them credit for, Gainwell could be their third down RB help on special teams and Echols could be their starting slot CB.

 

Ward isn't falling to #21

 

They would be wise to still draft a CB, Slay at 34 his play could fall off a cliff and Trice can't stay healthy.

 

Unless the decision is that we've tried the past couple years with an overall pretty good roster, but a below avg/game manager QB to no success. This could be the concession that "hey, I don't think we're a QB away from winning it all". They could be just making GOOD decisions and setting themselves up well for the near future. We don't have to suck to be in a better spot, but we also don't have to spend all our money and potentially strap our franchise for the future selling out to try to win a ring (which we aren't super close to doing). Our dead money is so low. We have a few aging stars in Watt and Heyward (and an underperforming one in Fitzpatrick) that could potentially leave us with a clean slate and an opportunity to get a QB and build a winning roster from the ground up. We have to hit on our early draft picks, but we don't have to sell off everything and go 3-14 for 2-3 years in a row either. And on top of it we could spend money and capital on FA and trades after we have the skeleton of a good roster and a quality young QB. Look at what Washington is doing. Look at what Houston did. That is probably a decent route to go in order to try to build a winner again.

Idk its all speculative at best, but it definitely seems like that is the route we want to go to me.

 

Who is he quoting?

 

lots of RB's left unsigned. plus the draft. why would anyone think we wouldn't add to that room?

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/_/year/2025/position/rb#tab2

 

Jordan Reid works for ESPN as a draft analyst.

 

I hope we are looking at Howard. He's pretty pro ready, has a lot of good tools, and is comfortable under center (a rarity in CFB today). I am not sure how we go about getting someone like him though. I doubt he's available in the 3rd when we draft... do we pull the trigger at 21 if we like him enough? Maybe. We could always trade back a bit and take him, but how much do we truly recoup in that situation... there are just so many ways to approach the draft. I wish I knew what we were thinking.

 

We should double deep at DT and RB.