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A Little Pre-Draft Chatter
Posted on April 10, 2019 15:47
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The NFL draft doesn't start until the end of April, but that doesn't mean there's nothing to talk about. Here are some interesting developments involving recent free agent moves.
Who, oh who will sign that boy named Suh?
Ndomukong Suh remains a free agent. Primarily a run-stopper, he posted 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks in the NFC playoffs and was a major factor in the Rams’ holding the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints to a combined 98 yards of rushing.
But Suh (who played high school ball at Grant High in Portland), now commands a formidable salary. It is likely that he won't be signed until after the NFL draft and before training camp. Suh may be getting older, but this guy is still a force.
Is OJ Howard on track for Comeback Player of the Year? QB Jameis Winston thinks so, but hey, Howard plays for the Bucs.
Howard, an excellent slot receiver, was badly injured in a game against the Giants last season. The year before, he had gone to the Pro Bowl. So, yeah, the guy is good.
But Howard often had the benefit of running routes on the other side of the field from the really great receiver in a Bucs uniform, Mike Evans. I compare that to Juju Smith-Shuster, running routes on the other side of Antonio Brown. The lesser threat will get open a lot.
Adrian Clayborn has played on two Super Bowl teams in three seasons. He was unable to play for the Falcons against the Patriots in 2017 because of injury, but he got a ring with those same Patriots in 2019. Even though Clayborn had a sack and five QB hits in the Super Bowl against the Rams, the Patriots cut him. Yes, he had struggled earlier in the season, but the larger factor was probably his big free-agent salary. Trey Flowers, who should have been MVP, was also let go by the Pats.
Now, Clayborn is back in red and black on the same defense with Takk McKinley and Vic Beasley. Hmmm …
Are the Steelers in real trouble? The Browns have now caught them in the division, and the bickering going on in Pittsburgh is unseen in the franchise's history. While I think it is true that Antonio Brown sometimes acted like a "diva", he also was one of the NFL's two most feared wide receivers (along with Julio Jones). Smith-Shuster is quite a talent, but will he be as effective with no AB on the other side of the offense? And will the Steeler offense recover from losing Le’Veon Bell?
All good topics for debate as we await the draft.
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