@gumby73 said:

Um, regarding the franchise tag in The Schwartz's case- no. All offensive linemen get lumped into one class- and franchising Mitchell would put him in Joe Thomas' pay range. The tag was $12 million last year. He'll probably get offered a significant raise, but not that kind of money for a RT.

@jrb12711 said:

I suspect you're right about the last part, but I disagree that if someone's drafted high it means you *must* play them straight away.

@gftchris said:

Not really, he sat for three games that season. It's a pretty fair statement to make that a guy drafted in the top five should be a starter by the first quarter of the season at the very latest. I have a pretty good feeling if that's how we go he'll be a day 1 guy though.

Edit: Meant to put three where I put two, although he did play in the 2nd half of week three.

@tour2ma said:

OIC

@gftchris said:

Bortles sat for a good portion of his rookie year. Arguably, RG3 should have sat.

But Bortles was a #3...

@tacosman said:

It's not black and white, whoever is best in camp starts and that's all there is to it. These rookie QBs have a lot more to learn than other positions.

@tour2ma said:

I see this tossed about on the board a lot.....but as I've said many times now- if you draft a qb number 2 overall in 2016, you DONT draft him to sit. period. #2 overall picks don't sit behind 37 year old journeymen their first year. Just doesnt happen. Maybe a start, but not the majority of the season. Every single guy taken in that range lately is going to be the starter.

@tim-couch-pulls-out said:

I'm inclined to agree. Much worse options at QB3 can be had - he looked good in his start against Baltimore, over a year ago, and has hopefully spent his injury-redshirt year 'honing his craft' or whatever cliché you want to use.

Zombo said:

I actually think the roster could be McCown, rookie QB, Shaw.

Not only does Shaw have a lot of moxie (whatever), he's equally as athletic as Manziel, and he's extremely studious....like to the point of fanaticism. Shaw was the unquestioned leader of that good run of S.Car teams. I think that's kind of what Hue values in a QB. He's a great QB3, IMO.

VesnaKociper said:

I have that same issue.

@tim-couch-pulls-out said:

I put that in there just for you.

@gftchris said:

Yes, always a chance.

I am guessing of the four QBs on the roster now, McCown is the only one who sticks.

I see a rookie drafted, pretty much for sure. And if we keep a third QB, prob someone Hue has had his eye on or had in his system.

If Davis or Shaw do make the roster, Davis might have more of an in, since Sashi gave him a new contract while Farmer was suspended.

Don't know if Hue is into short guys with average arms, but I guess there is always a chance for Shaw. He has a lot of "moxie"!

Zombo

Zombo said:

Well he's currently on the roster. It's unlikely, but I'm not going to argue with Hue-know-Hue if he decides Shaw's the man.

@gftchris said:

Think Mitch will stay, to be honest. Mack is likely gone, though chances of staying probably went from 1% to 10% with Huge Action coming in. We have a chance to be a very interesting team offensively next year. Whoever Hue decides is the guy at QB - McCown, Shaw, Goff, Wentz, whoever - could have a very solid OL, a pro-bowl TE, a pro-bowl WR in Gordon, another alternate in Benjamin, and two capable young backs in Crow and Duke. Rose tinted spectacles off, picking up and Alshon Jeffrey or someone in free agency suddenly makes things even more interesting.

The last several years this team has supposed to have been built around D first, I get the feeling that will change next year.

Great post, but ... Shaw? Connor Shaw?? No, no, no ... Lucky if he makes the roster.

Z

@jiggins7919 said:

I just get the impression that we're going to look a lot like the Jags this year. A potent offense, not quite able to get over the .500 hump, but capable of putting big points on the board.

@gftchris said:

I completely agree with you, Chris. We need a couple of things to go right for us, and our offense could look very different. We might not be able to stop anybody next year, but I think our red zone efficiency will go up considerably. More touchdowns and less FG's would've equaled a few more wins last year, and I think that will happen in 2016. Don't get me wrong, I'm not proclaiming that we're going to the damn playoffs next year, but it's safe to say I feel we're going to have more wins. And in 2017, our defense will hopefully start to perform like we need it to.

The last several years this team has supposed to have been built around D first, I get the feeling that will change next year.

@gftchris said:

thanks chris, that proves Heckert could draft & Banner can way over evaluate players worth. hope not in Schwartz case but franchise tag maybe in Sashi's & Depo's analytics tablets.. Can't lose Mack & Mitch.. Get a 3 year deal done on Mitch imo.

@gumby73 said:

Banner had one draft, and drafted about 5 players. Mingo, McFadden, Slaughter, Gilkey, and Armonty. Schwartz was a Heckert pick.

@tim-couch-pulls-out said:

For me, it was more of an absolutely stellar career and growth in his one and a half years as QB. Plus the physical tools, the mental tools and the overall acceptable personality.

You'd be right. I firmly believe that nothing done after the season should matter, which means that late risers are normally just combine warriors with inflated stock.

However, I was also saying that I'd rather we take Wentz than anyone else while the season was still in play - so this case is different. His meteoric ascension right now is just proof of what I, and a few others, have already been talking about.

I was also on the Bortles train very early, for the record. Very similar case here, in my opinion.

Much earlier to Bortles I think, but whatever... your credentials are good here...

What I have not yet seen in Wentz is the mental game. What tape/game showed it to you?