(03-17-2025, 03:42 AM)StickierBuns Wrote: Dude, your rationale is fading on this one. Finding fault with the Mason trade is just searching for ways to bag on KAM. You've got a known quantity in Mason, who's only 25 years old, to unknown quantities in the draft and some of these guys are already 24 years old. He can pass block well. 'Historically loaded' doesn't mean much if you draft the wrong guy. I know you have a hard on for KAM, but this isn't the deal to criticize.

• A proven player in the league. He has done it in the NFL (good runner, runs hard, catches and pass blocks well).
  
• More flexibility in the draft as it fills a glaring need and reduces pressure to focus on RB. We are close to the “best player” available mindset in this draft.
  
• Even if we draft a RB the group becomes better. Even gives us the chance to develop the drafted RB than forcing him early.
  
• We are in a better spot to trading down in this draft as we have fewer needs.
  
• We did not give up much (draft picks or cash or cap) to get Jordan Mason. It’s not like this move affected what we can do in the off season regarding other potential free agent signings.
  

(03-17-2025, 03:42 AM)StickierBuns Wrote: Dude, your rationale is fading on this one. Finding fault with the Mason trade is just searching for ways to bag on KAM. You've got a known quantity in Mason, who's only 25 years old, to unknown quantities in the draft and some of these guys are already 24 years old. He can pass block well. 'Historically loaded' doesn't mean much if you draft the wrong guy. I know you have a hard on for KAM, but this isn't the deal to criticize.

(03-17-2025, 08:06 AM)MaroonBells Wrote: Agree. Of all the backs we're talking about, only about half will fit what we do and we could easily miss on those. 

I've heard there could be more than 30 backs taken in this draft. Last time the NFL took 30 backs was 2017. This was the McCaffrey, Cook and Mixon draft. The first one take, Fournette, is out of the NFL, and a guy taken after the draft, Ekeler, has been better than about 25 of the 30 drafted. The draft will always be a crap shoot.

(03-17-2025, 03:42 AM)StickierBuns Wrote: Dude, your rationale is fading on this one. Finding fault with the Mason trade is just searching for ways to bag on KAM. You've got a known quantity in Mason, who's only 25 years old, to unknown quantities in the draft and some of these guys are already 24 years old. He can pass block well. 'Historically loaded' doesn't mean much if you draft the wrong guy. I know you have a hard on for KAM, but this isn't the deal to criticize.

(03-17-2025, 09:19 AM)supafreak84 Wrote: Let's let the draft play out and we can revisit this topic. All I'm saying is if we pass on an elite RB prospect in a historically good draft because we acquired Jordan Mason, who had a good first month of the season then didn't do dick, it's a mistake. Everybody keeps saying, "he's proven" well what exactly has he proven? He's as likely to be Alex Mattison as he is Marshawn Lynch in a small sample size and I hope we don't pass on an elite prospects at the position because of it, but got to let it play out first

(03-17-2025, 09:19 AM)supafreak84 Wrote: Let's let the draft play out and we can revisit this topic. All I'm saying is if we pass on an elite RB prospect in a historically good draft because we acquired Jordan Mason, who had a good first month of the season then didn't do dick, it's a mistake. Everybody keeps saying, "he's proven" well what exactly has he proven? He's as likely to be Alex Mattison as he is Marshawn Lynch in a small sample size and I hope we don't pass on an elite prospects at the position because of it, but got to let it play out first

(03-17-2025, 09:22 AM)StickierBuns Wrote: No worries, its all opinion. Just for the record, I don't think Mason is either Mattison nor Marshawn Lynch, lol. I just think it was a very solid trade and addition to complement Jones. Tough runner. Its not like I have him penciled into my 1st team RB NFL All-Pro ballot.

(03-17-2025, 09:19 AM)supafreak84 Wrote: Let's let the draft play out and we can revisit this topic. All I'm saying is if we pass on an elite RB prospect in a historically good draft because we acquired Jordan Mason, who had a good first month of the season then didn't do dick, it's a mistake. Everybody keeps saying, "he's proven" well what exactly has he proven? He's as likely to be Alex Mattison as he is Marshawn Lynch in a small sample size and I hope we don't pass on an elite prospects at the position because of it, but got to let it play out first

1. Playing in the NFL for one year does not meet your definition of “proven” but you are absolutely sure a player (that we are not even sure will be available when we pick) who has never practiced with an NFL team nor played an NFL down has proven enough to you.
   
2. You are also certain that Mason will flame out but your unknown player will be better.
   

1. Draft the best player available (be it a running back or not)
   
2. Trade out of the pick if we don’t have a high enough grade for any of the players instead of drafting for need. Signing Mason makes RB need less critical position to fill.
   
3. Have a better running back group and overall team going into the draft so we can be flexible on our targets. It’s no different than the other moves we have made. 
   
4. Look at it this way, I am sure if one of the top DL or OL prospects were available when we pick we will definitely consider them despite the FAs we have signed.
   

(03-17-2025, 10:54 AM)mblack Wrote: So let me get this straight…

1. Playing in the NFL for one year does not meet your definition of “proven” but you are absolutely sure a player (that we are not even sure will be available when we pick) who has never practiced with an NFL team nor played an NFL down has proven enough to you.
   
2. You are also certain that Mason will flame out but your unknown player will be better.
   

I am not trying to pick a fight but it’s really hard to follow your line of thought here.
Lastly, no one said signing Mason means we will pass on a RB. All it does is gives us more options and flexibility to do any of the following: 

1. Draft the best player available (be it a running back or not)
   
2. Trade out of the pick if we don’t have a high enough grade for any of the players instead of drafting for need. Signing Mason makes RB need less critical position to fill.
   
3. Have a better running back group and overall team going into the draft so we can be flexible on our targets. It’s no different than the other moves we have made. 
   
4. Look at it this way, I am sure if one of the top DL or OL prospects were available when we pick we will definitely consider them despite the FAs we have signed.