NFL 2024: The preseason pre-draft thread

Something, something, something Fresno State.

The Bucs have released Shaq Barrett, which everybody knew was coming. Wasn't living up to his contract post-injury and personal tragedy, and he'd been open about knowing he was going to be cut. I'm sure he'll get a job as Official Veteran Spot Pass Rusher on some team that likes to collect those kinds of players, like, maybe, the 49ers.

I was waiting for news about Devin White being cut, and then I had a beautiful, beautiful revelation . . . his contract expired, and he's no longer on the team, and that means he'll get a job somewhere based on pure athleticism, so . . . Raiders?

No cuts for the Packers yet. A bonus for Gary got changed to free up cash now.

De'Vondre Campbell is rumored. Continuing the trend of LBs who turn 30 and fall off a cliff of being able to stay on teams let alone get paid above replacement level.

Elephant in the room is...

Releasing Bakhtiari, on the other hand, would leave the Packers with approximately $19 million in dead money, opening up almost $21 million in useable cap space.

So ya that's going to happen and then TBD who they take swings at in free agency.

With that kind of money freeing up this year and next I wouldn't be surprised if they took a shot at one of the big name RBs. Essentially swap AJ Dillon for a better back but still keep it a reasonable commitment that doesn't break the cap 3 years from now.

Dave Canales wants to take Bryce Young off the high dive in his second season. Is he crazy? I mean, that's the only way Bryce can see over his offensive linemen.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:

Dave Canales wants to take Bryce Young off the high dive in his second season. Is he crazy? I mean, that's the only way Bryce can see over his offensive linemen.

I wonder if they're going to fill the pool first.

Meanwhile, the new HC also said he's going to be "stubborn" about running the ball.

On one hand, the Bucs were dead last in the NFL last year in rushing yards and yards per carry. On the other hand, 32nd was good enough to get the Bucs OC hired in Carolina.

Related: I'm in the market for another team to watch next season. I told myself I won't watch the Panthers until they win 4 games, which might not happen until 2025 or so. Plan B is to hate-watch the Saints in '24.

Enix wrote:

Related: I'm in the market for another team to watch next season.

Much easier said than done.

When the Sonics were stolen, I tried to get with the Trailblazers but not even Dame could quench my thirst for green/gold.

You can't replace your true sports love. It's just not possible.

You'll be back on that Panthers narcotic!

My former team employs a sexual predator and I still can't get into a new team. My advice is to play the field and watch some game of the week goodness.

Edit: I was reminded by my wife I saw my team win 1 game over two years, and still came back for more. Four wins is a pretty high bar. :/

I think I'd have to move to a new city and get completely immersed. Season tickets, tailgating, the whole...9 yards...

Yeeeeeahhhhh!

Devin White not expected to be back with Bucs.

IMAGE(https://u.cubeupload.com/MilkmanDanimal/ohnoanyways.gif)

His entire career highlight reel is the 2020 Super Bowl run, and the main reason he's not in any other highlights is he ran himself out of the play so badly he's not even on camera. My deepest desire is he wants to really stick it to the Bucs by going to a division rival so we can play him twice a year, and that's always a good sign of how you feel about a former player.

UpToIsomorphism wrote:

Texas Tech safety Tyler Owens confuses fans with bizarre NFL Combine comment: 'I don't believe in space'

I want him on some team that someone here roots for.

Maybe he meant to say he doesn't like listening to the Pixies.

In what is not shocking but is still depressing news, Mike Evans will go into free agency; the writing has been on the wall since before last season, because the Bucs were obviously going to try to extend him and, if it didn't happen, it's because he wanted far more than they were willing to pay. While he's still open to returning to the Bucs, it's not happening; if they were going to meet his price, it would have happened by now.

He's from the Houston area, and he says he wants to play with an elite QB on a team with a legitimate Super Bowl chance. The Texans' roster kind of fits that at the moment.

Mike Evans re-signs with Bucs for two years, $52 million, $35 million guaranteed. Genuinely pretty shocked; I figured if he wanted to stick around, he'd have done so by now.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:

Mike Evans re-signs with Bucs for two years, $52 million, $35 million guaranteed. Genuinely pretty shocked; I figured if he wanted to stick around, he'd have done so by now.

Panther Fan will be spending the day on the fainting couch. They had convinced themselves, all evidence to the contrary, that Carolina was going to sign Evans.

The good news is we'll still get to watch him twice a season go for 10-150-2.

Enix wrote:
MilkmanDanimal wrote:

Mike Evans re-signs with Bucs for two years, $52 million, $35 million guaranteed. Genuinely pretty shocked; I figured if he wanted to stick around, he'd have done so by now.

Panther Fan will be spending the day on the fainting couch. They had convinced themselves, all evidence to the contrary, that Carolina was going to sign Evans.

The good news is we'll still get to watch him twice a season go for 10-150-2.

I assume you used the singular because there is, at this point, just one Panther Fan. Very understandable. As for Mike, I looked up his splits, and, yes, the Panthers have been his favorite team to play against. 19 games, 102 catches, 1480 yards, 11 TDs. Hey, it's nice you guys get to see a legitimate NFL WR a few times a year.

Also, Jason Kelce is officially retiring. Good for him, walk away while you can still walk.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:

Guys, it's been a couple weeks, and Legion is still silent. We need to find ways to drag him back to the NFL thread;

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/zdbzOll.gif)

... just as I was in the middle of typing out how Kyle Shanahan would be a lousy party leader in D&D?!

Rat Boy wrote:

... just as I was in the middle of typing out how Kyle Shanahan would be a lousy party leader in D&D?!

If I make a comment that he's a great party leader until it's time to face the Big Bad in the last session would it drive Legion away again?

Think Kelce is a first ballot HoF’er?

TheGameguru wrote:

Think Kelce is a first ballot HoF’er?

Very possibly; looks like only two centers have gone first ballot (Jim Langer and Jim Otto), but the combo of six first team All-Pros in seven years plus him being just such a damn likeable guy makes me think he has a solid shot at it. That run as the best center in the league would I hope do it, kind of hard to be more dominant over a time period than that.

Wilkes: "It is I, Steve the Great, master of the fire magics!"

Shanahan: "Great, you're hired. Oh by the way, the party is spec'd for ice damage, so you're going to need to change things up."

Wilkes: "But... fire magic."

The Carolina Panthers are clearly running a multiclass Four Elements Monk/PHB Beastmaster Ranger at this point.

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/E9EyIbr.png)

Russ is going to have to cook some place else.

Rat Boy wrote:

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/E9EyIbr.png)

Russ is going to have to cook some place else.

And the Broncos are going to have to start shopping at Aldi, with Russ' $85 million dead cap hit.

They apparently will still be paying him another $39 million in cash to go away; that was the guaranteed portion remaining. How unlikable is Russ? He's "we will pay you $39 million to go away" unlikable.

I can see Russell Wilson playing in Pittsburgh.

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/6mbKbSO.png)

Their gift was he gets to not play in Jacksonville.

Rumor is Packers might actually release Aaron Jones if they can't redo his deal. Then attempt to resign him at market rate.

Sounds kinda crazy considering they are not in cap hell but this is the NFL.

List of RBs that are free agents on top 100 lists.
Saquon
Josh Jacobs
Derrick Henry
Austin Eckler
Tony Pollard

Decisive group of players besides maybe Saquon who even then people would say ya he's amazing but injuries.

So assuming Jones agent is worth their paycheck they break the news to him that reworking a deal might be better than playing FA roulette as a RB.

Counter to this it's not a top end RB draft. There should not be any RD1 RBs this year unless a team really stretches let alone 2 in the top 12 like last year.