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Shedeur Sanders will not be throwing until April 4. The Big 12's combined pro days are this week, but for whatever the reason, he's pushing it to Colorado's individual day, which is usually for interviews, and the last day possible, if I understand correctly. This is just three weeks before the draft. So he's going to not only need to have an exceptional pro day, he's going to have a very compressed schedule if teams want to work him out at all or even have him throw in private at all, if he (and his father?) even allow it.

Wherever he goes, teams better get ready for a circus. The hype may not be off the charts, but the talk will be.

I believe Cam Ward will throw at Miami's pro day on Monday.
 
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That leaves just the Steelers*. They are stuck holding the old maid, with either Wilson or Rodgers as their QB - unless they are going with Rudolph, or somehow move up in the draft. Just unreal. They managed to sign DK, but don't have a QB to throw to him. It's also hard to believe they botched resigning Fields. Granted, the Jets are paying him a lot, but he actually played fairly well for the Steelers.

This also cements to me the Giants will draft a QB. Probably Shedeur.
*I do not consider the Browns or Titans interested in signing an old, washed up vet.
 
You're right, Fields played well. In only 6 starts last year (start of the season) he went 4-2 throwing for over 1000, 5 TDs to only 1 pick & passer rating of 93. Plus he added 289 yds rushing & 5 scores (only 1 fumble lost). And he didn't even second guess Tomlin's decision to bench him when Wilson was cleared to play from his injury. Lol.

I don't think they're going with Rudolph. The Titans didn't even want him as a backup releasing him & instead signing Brandon Allen to backup either Levis or Cam Ward.

The reports say that Rodgers spent all day yesterday hanging out with Steeler's mgmt but no deal was reached (was Rodgers offered a deal but declined?). If so, I can't figure why the Steelers would be that interested in an over 40, washed up, way past his prime, injury-prone QB that just needs to call it a career & retire. Lol.

There's some mocks suggesting that Pittsburgh might take Jaxson Dart in the 2nd rd. Dart has solidified the QB3 spot & is projected to go in the 2nd by most analysts (Kiper Jr for some strange reason thinks the Jets are going to take him the 1st. Lol).


I think Dart is the sleeper in this QB class. A legit 2nd rd pick that could be developed into a team's franchise QB. He's the best QB out of the SEC (First-team SEC) & broke Eli Manning's career passing yardage record. He also rushed for over 1500 yds in 3 seasons providing that ever valuable dual-threat running capability.

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/sQlrMYT6NPE?si=ql7TgBVM3qQBXKCY
 
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HS...he wants Dak Prescott type $$$?
Purdy is still under contract this season but Lynch said they want to get the extension done. That journalist isn't basing his opinion on any facts so it's just an opinion. The amount of so called insiders that get 49er contracts wrong is over the top. They also said Aiyuk was going to be traded last season. Purdy has been to one NFC game and one SB in three seasons. he also holds the franchise throwing yards record and has one of the highest completion rates in the league for a QB and is top five on most of the QB measurables, some of them he is at the top. He played all of last season without his best receiver, best two RB's and his left tackle. among others

He's been playing for nothing, basically around one mill per season but with bonuses now about two mill. QB's like Dak Prescott don't even compare to what Purdy has done in a short time. I expect him to be paid but I doubt that it's as high as Garofalo expects. Sure Purdy has most of the leverage and where would Shanahan be without Purdy after he let Jimmy go and Lance couldn't step up ? If it is an extreme deal, the 49ers don't seem to have a back up plan at the moment unless they think Mac Jones can be resurrected................. and if the 49ers don't make the playoffs this season on an easy schedule compared to previous years, then the pressure on the coach and GM gets magnified. The upcoming draft is probably the most important for their tenure as their record for hitting on early picks isn't good overall. The drafts they made from 23 and the one from 22 has hardly any of the players left on the starting roster at the moment. Last year's was better but then they had so many injuries, that they had to play the rookies and were only good enough for six wins. Interesting season ahead for the 49ers franchise in the year when the SB is at Santa Clara.
 
With the way contracts are going through the roof for average to good players, I can see why someone would say Purdy should get $60m a year.
QB's like Dak Prescott don't even compare to what Purdy has done in a short time.
I think that says more about Dak than it does Brock.
If the 49ers don't make the playoffs this season on an easy schedule compared to previous years, then the pressure on the coach and GM gets magnified. The upcoming draft is probably the most important for their tenure as their record for hitting on early picks isn't good overall. The drafts they made from 23 and the one from 22 has hardly any of the players left on the starting roster at the moment.
Excellent points. Some SF fans are lamenting all the lost players and expecting a down season. But I'm all but certain owner Jed York isn't. He has given Lynch and Shanahan all both wanted, and I'm sure he's going to expect them to deliver in that division. Lynch also recently said everything is going according to plan this off-season. The fact SF botched several draft picks, and hit the lottery with Purdy, shows now is the time for them to earn their money.

No possible way SF expect Mac Jones to do anything. Playing him has the potential to get both Shanahan and Lynch fired.

Speaking of Tre Lance, he's just sitting out there in FA, no one signing him. I presume at some point he'll sign for the vet minimum somewhere. Or end up on a practice squad. The guy SF gave up 3 first round picks, and a third round pick, just to move up and draft. Unreal how bad of a move that was in retrospect.
 
Shanahan for some strange reason believes Jones is better than Bradon Allen - their backup the last two seasons - and Tanner Mordecai - their UDFA prospect currently on their practice squad. They signed Jones to a 2 yr/$7m contract making him about the 12th highest paid backup. Crazy when there are FA QBs out there like Flacco, Wentz, Keenum, Ridder, Stick & Lock that they could have signed.


And speaking of Trey Lance - this article thinks he done from the NFL. He can't even win a backup position & no teams seem eager to take him on as developmental project. What blows my mind though is he's received $34m just for being a #3 OA pick & all the hype & expectations that comes with such a high pick. I think he has enough to retire comfortably & never have to work. Lol

 
Good article. Bummer they didn't mention the UFL as an option, only the CFL, which only pays slightly better, and the rules are different.

I had to dig to find reporters guessing he could re-sign with Dallas for the vet minimum, where he would just go to the practice squad, which would have to feel just humiliating after they didn't show any interest in extending him. Another said the Commanders could sign him. But I see no way that happens, they have Daniels, Mariota, and Sam Hartman. There are few teams left who even need a 3rd/practice QB. The Chargers maybe? Miami? No way Minnesota or Pittsburgh signs him (or anyone else) until after they get a true starter in there. Some teams (KC, Lions, etc.) already have 4 quarterbacks on their depth chart. And there will likely be 6+ QBs taken in this upcoming draft. It's like there is nowhere for him to go.

In case anyone is curious, a practice squad player makes about $200k a season. That pay jumps quite a bit if they suit up for a game. UFL players make about $85k (little wiggle room between position), and CFL players more like $150k on average, depending on the player, team. Bottom pay is about $70k, while a star can make $500k.
 
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Shanahan for some strange reason believes Jones is better than Bradon Allen - their backup the last two seasons - and Tanner Mordecai - their UDFA prospect currently on their practice squad. They signed Jones to a 2 yr/$7m contract making him about the 12th highest paid backup. Crazy when there are FA QBs out there like Flacco, Wentz, Keenum, Ridder, Stick & Lock that they could have signed.


And speaking of Trey Lance - this article thinks he done from the NFL. He can't even win a backup position & no teams seem eager to take him on as developmental project. What blows my mind though is he's received $34m just for being a #3 OA pick & all the hype & expectations that comes with such a high pick. I think he has enough to retire comfortably & never have to work. Lol

Mordecai might not be the 3 for long depending on what Jones shows. Some people seem to have a much higher opinion of Mordecai than most people. Purdy was the QB 4, behind Nate Sudfeld, Lance and Jimmy when he first arrived................that didn't last long.............
 
Mordecai might not be the 3 for long depending on what Jones shows. Some people seem to have a much higher opinion of Mordecai than most people. Purdy was the QB 4, behind Nate Sudfeld, Lance and Jimmy when he first arrived................that didn't last long.............
I've never heard of him but he must have caught Shanahan's attention for the 9ers to sign him to their practice squad.

Doing a little research, he's a little undersized but has an above-average arm & throws with a lot of zip. Surprisingly, he runs a 4.46 which is one of the fastest of any QB in the league. He had a stellar college career throwing the ball very well at SMU & Big 10 powerhouse Wisconsin (though he missed several games in his one & only season at Wisconsin due to a broken hand - I suspect this is why his draft stock dropped becoming an UDFA).

Just based on his arm talent & elite athleticism, Shanahan might have something there for development into a future starter.

Do you think Purdy might be a little worried about this guy?
 
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While I agree with Brooks that Shedeur may be drafted high, I see almost zero chance he is drafted by the Raiders, and almost as zero of chance the Chargers draft him. The "Tom Brady worked out with Shedeur!!!" line is really tired.

Also, as we have seen, there is close to zero chance Shedeur is drafted, then sits a couple years under someone line Geno Smith or Justin Herbert. Or anyone. Unless he falls to the 2nd round maybe. IF those teams don't have much faith in those QBs would be the only way. But the Chargers are paying Herbert huge money, and Harbaugh repeatedly sings his praises. It also makes no sense for the Raiders who just gave up a 3rd round pick to get Geno, and all the talk is how much they are going to give him on an extension, not if they will (Geno, his agent, and fans would likely blow a gasket if they offered him no deal at all, and drafted Shedeur to quickly replace him - wasting the draft pick and trade).

Fans across the web keep talking about how it will be best for a QB like Shedeur to sit a couple years - look at Jordan Love and Aaron Rodgers before him. Like that's the norm. It's not the norm AT ALL. Most every team owner is like a very impatient CEO. They are going to want to see their prize early, and often. The only way Shedeur (if drafted high) doesn't see the field is if he's hurt, or the team QB he is on plays lights out and they look like a serious contender, starting the season like 5-1. As soon as the losing, or just average play happens, Shedeur will get thrown in there.

I'm really surprised he didn't mention the Giants. A lot of other "experts" have Shedeur going to them.
 
I've never heard of him but he must have caught Shanahan's attention for the 9ers to sign him to their practice squad.

Doing a little research, he's a little undersized but has an above-average arm & throws with a lot of zip. Surprisingly, he runs a 4.46 which is one of the fastest of any QB in the league. He had a stellar college career throwing the ball very well at SMU & Big 10 powerhouse Wisconsin (though he missed several games in his one & only season at Wisconsin due to a broken hand - I suspect this is why his draft stock dropped becoming an UDFA).

Just based on his arm talent & elite athleticism, Shanahan might have something there for development into a future starter.

Do you think Purdy might be a little worried about this guy?
Not at the moment but if Purdy gets injured and Jones doesn't perform it will be interesting to see how he goes.
 
I would be surprised if the Raiders drafted Sanders if for some reason he's even available at #6 (all mocks seem to agree the Giants take Sanders with the #3 pick & Tennessee takes Ward with the #1). If the Raiders were to draft Sanders that would be a blow to Smith & vote of no confidence in him. And why would the Raiders give up a valuable 3rd rd pick for a guy that they don't have confidence in leading their team over the next couple of years? Doesn't make sense.

Now I could see the Raiders taking a QB in the late rounds - say a Will Howard or Kyle McCord (Howard played under Chip Kelly at OSU). I could see these guys competing with O'Connell for the backup depending on how they look in OTAs or being designated to the practice squad as a long-term development project.

I believe Bucky Brooks is talking about the Rams & not the Chargers as a fit for Sanders (like you alluded to Alpe, Harbaugh is 100% behind Herbert as his guy to lead them to the promised land). Brooks mentioned that Sanders could take a "redshirt" season & sit a year under Stafford. I had to laugh at this one - like Sanders would be willing to sit a year under anyone. Lol! (plus I don't think Stafford would like a high-profile rookie that comes with a ton of media attention breathing down his neck. Lol).

Like you mentioned, it's not the norm for 1st rd picks to sit the bench & learn under the incumbent veteran. This is a thing of the past as owners are becoming more & more impatient with their prized 1st rd QB. Maybe the low 1st rd picks once in awhile (e.g. Love) & certainly 2nd rounders can sit a year or two, but the top 12-15 picks? No way...not in this day & age. Let's look at last year's 6 1st rounders:

Williams (#1 OA) - Week #1 starter
Daniels (#2 OA) - Week #1 starter
Maye (#3 OA) - Week #6 starter
McCarthy (#6 OA) - DNP (injury).
Penix Jr (#8 OA) - Week #16 starter
Nix (#12 OA) - Week #1 starter.

Penix Jr was the only one that came close to sitting for the year if it wasn't for Cousins imploding & the team losing in late season forcing Morris to make a change. But unless Penix has a disastrous preseason, he'll be the week #1 starter hands down this season.

And the 3 QBs taken in the 1st rd of the 2023 draft; Young (#1 OA), Stroud (#2 OA) & AR (#4 OA) were all week #1 starters.

And to make things even worse is the unexpected performances & complete team turnaround by Daniels & Nix. Owners are now going to be even more impatient pointing out to their coaches & GMs that these teams were able to have instant success with their rookie QBs.
 
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Not at the moment but if Purdy gets injured and Jones doesn't perform it will be interesting to see how he goes.
Okay...why Jones in the first place? The guy is a draft bust & I'm not sure if he's even backup material (did you see how terrible he was in those 7 games he started in for Lawrence who went on season ending IR last year?).

I don't get it. Shanahan has a guy in Mordecai that is clearly a better QB than Jones - above-average arm, elite speed & athleticism - traits that Jones never had. And yet the team signs Jones to a 2 yr/$7m deal who brings nothing but embarrassment to a team's QB corps. Lol. And if something happens to Purdy, this is the guy that's supposed bring success to the team? Are you kidding me? Lol.

You really have to wonder if Shanahan has lost it with evaluating QB talent. He blew it so bad with Lance - who will probably go down as one of the biggest draft busts in the history of the game. And now he acquires Jones as his backup? Lol!
 
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If the Raiders were to draft Sanders that would be a blow to Smith & vote of no confidence in him. And why would the Raiders give up a valuable 3rd rd pick for a guy that they don't have confidence in leading their team over the next couple of years? Doesn't make sense.
Especially considering the Raiders traded for Geno! You don't do that, especially a vet with at least some success as a starter, only to plan to bench the guy a few games into the season.

Agree with all else you wrote.

I think Shanahan is drunk on his own "success" with Purdy, and he probably thinks he's the reason why Darnold was good last season, and he can perform the same magic with Mac Jones, and Lance "failure" with the Cowboys proves it was Lance all along, not him. Shanahan might think he's the new Bill Walsh. :oops:
 
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Okay...why Jones in the first place? The guy is a draft bust & I'm not sure if he's even backup material (did you see how terrible he was in those 7 games he started in for Lawrence who went on season ending IR last year?).

I don't get it. Shanahan has a guy in Mordecai that is clearly a better QB than Jones - above-average arm, elite speed & athleticism - traits that Jones never had. And yet the team signs Jones to a 2 yr/$7m deal who brings nothing but embarrassment to a team's QB corps. Lol. And if something happens to Purdy, this is the guy that's supposed bring success to the team? Are you kidding me? Lol.

You really have to wonder if Shanahan has lost it with evaluating QB talent. He blew it so bad with Lance - who will probably go down as one of the biggest draft busts in the history of the game. And now he acquires Jones as his backup? Lol!
Don't forget that Jones was supposed to be Shanahan's guy in the Lance draft but they opted for the project pick for some reason. They must have thought he had more upside than Jones ..........so some of the NFL media are intrigued about Shanahan opting for Jones now while 49ers fans are asleep with excitement..........except the Purdy haters of course !