Minnesota Gambling Manager Bond AmeriPro Surety Bonds
Minnesota Gambling Manager Bond AmeriPro Surety Bonds
Paid Position Available - Gambling Manager
Surety Bond - Minnesota Gambling Manager
Gambling Manager Seminar Minnesota Gambling Control Board
Gambling - Gambling - Minnesota
Charges: Gambling Manager At Fridley ... - CBS Minnesota
Gambling Manager's License - Minnesota.gov
Gaming Manager Salary in Minnesota Salary.com
Minnesota Gambling Manager Bond
gambling manager minnesota
gambling manager minnesota - win
Streaming options for Week 8 - Who are you guys streaming next week? Here are my thoughts.
Ready to run over and crush your next week's opponent like a STREAMroller? You're in the right place! If you got a roster spot to spare or a guy you're not particularly fond of and wouldn't mind sacrificing him to the Waiver Wire Gods in return for some more games played next week, streaming is your cup of tea. I'm taking a look at which teams play on scarce gamedays next week, as their players should help most fantasy GMs fill out their starting rosters on those days, and analyzing which players could bring you some juicy stats and a W in the upcoming matchup. Here are my thoughts on the fantasy basketball streamers for Week 8. Just one word before we go deep into next week. I've been getting some amazing replies to my posts in the past few weeks, and thank you guys so much for this! I just wanted to let you know that the whole RotoBaller crew is working hard to help fantasy GMs out, and there is a ton of quality stuff on plenty of topics on our website, so if you're looking for information about something else as well, you can probably find it here:https://www.rotoballer.com/category/nba-fantasy-basketball-advice
NBA Schedule Guide - Week 8
Only Thursday and Saturday (with five games a piece) have fewer than seven games scheduled. There are five teams that play on both of these days, and their players will be the ones we will focus on here. Here's the low-down: Teams with 4 games: Boston Celtics Charlotte Hornets Cleveland Cavaliers Dallas Mavericks Denver Nuggets Detroit Pistons Golden State Warriors Houston Rockets Los Angeles Lakers Memphis Grizzlies Milwaukee Bucks Minnesota Timberwolves New Orleans Pelicans Oklahoma City Thunder Orlando Magic Phoenix Suns Portland Trail Blazers San Antonio Spurs Toronto Raptors Washington Wizards Teams with 3 games: Atlanta Hawks Brooklyn Nets Chicago Bulls Indiana Pacers Los Angeles Clippers Miami Heat New York Knicks Philadelphia 76ers Sacramento Kings Utah Jazz Teams with 2 games: - Number of teams playing each day: Monday: 16 Tuesday: 14 Wednesday: 18 Thursday: 10 Friday: 22 Saturday: 10 Sunday: 20 Back-to-Backs (beware of older or banged-up players who might rest): Monday/Tuesday: GSW, HOU, SAS Tuesday/Wednesday: BKN, NOP Wednesday/Thursday: IND, TOR Thursday/Friday: BOS, DET, ORL, POR Friday/Saturday: ATL, NYK, UTA Saturday/Sunday: PHO Sunday/Monday the following: CLE, LAC, SAC Days with SIX or fewer games: Thursday: 5 games Saturday: 5 games Teams playing on both days: Golden State Warriors (4 games - Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sat) Houston Rockets (4 games - Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sat) Indiana Pacers (3 games - Wed, Thurs, Sat) Miami Heat (3 games - Tue, Thurs, Sat) Philadelphia 76ers (3 games - Tue, Thurs, Sat) Teams with a GOOD START to the week (three games from Monday to Thursday) Golden State Warriors (4 games - Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sat) Houston Rockets (4 games - Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sat) Toronto Raptors (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat) Teams with a GOOD END to the week (three games from Thursday to Sunday) Boston Celtics (4 games - Tue, Thurs, Fri, Sun) Detroit Pistons (4 games - Tue, Thurs, Fri, Sun) Orlando Magic (4 games - Tue, Thurs, Fri, Sun) Portland Trail Blazers (4 games - Tue, Thurs, Fri, Sun) Teams with a POOR START to the week (one or no games from Monday to Thursday) Atlanta Hawks (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sat) Los Angeles Clippers (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sun) New York Knicks (3 games - Tue, Fri, Sat) Sacramento Kings (3 games - Tue, Fri, Sun) Utah Jazz (3 games - Tue, Fri, Sat) Teams with a POOR END to the week (one or no games from Thursday to Sunday) Brooklyn Nets (3 games - Tue, Wed, Sat) Chicago Bulls (3 games - Mon, Wed, Fri) New Orleans Pelicans (3 games - Tue, Wed, Fri) Washington Wizards (3 games - Mon, Wed, Fri)
Baller Streaming Strategy for Week 8
Thursday has only four, and Saturday only five games scheduled, while all other days have at least seven. So these are the two days most likely to bring empty starting spots for fantasy GMs. Five teams have games on both these days and their players could fill in these holes nicely. Primarily Golden State and Houston who have a four-game week, and also Indiana, Miami and Philadelphia who play one more time in addition to the two days mentioned above. Players from these five teams will be our focus. Fantasy managers with a bigger acquisition limit who need some help on other days as well could potentially try to maximize their games played by combining several players with different schedules throughout the week. For example, San Antonio has a back-to-back set on Monday and Tuesday, then Atlanta and Indiana play three games from Wednesday till Saturday, and 18 teams play on Sunday so you can have your pick. If you stream players from these teams in the correct order, you could potentially get a six-game week from just one streaming spot using three acquisitions. There are other options as well of course, but this is just one example.
Streaming Options for Week 8
Shallower League Streaming Adds for the Week (Rostered in 25-75 % of Yahoo leagues): Eric Gordon, SG/SF, HOU, (59% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT% DeMarcus Cousins, PF/C, HOU, (67% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, BLK/STL - positive circumstance: will get more minutes while Christian Wood is out Justin Holiday, SG/SF, IND, (42% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, a bit of everything Jeremy Lamb, SG/SF, IND, (53% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT%, a bit of everything Duncan Robinson, SG/SF, MIA, (70% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT% Goran Dragic, PG/SG, MIA, (68% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, AST - buyer beware: sprained his ankle in the previous game and we don't have an update at the moment so be sure to check his status before adding him Kelly Olynyk, PF/C, MIA, (26% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, STL/BLK Seth Curry, PG/SG, PHI, (60% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%, AST - buyer beware: an illness kept him out of his previous game
Shallower League Add
DeMarcus Cousins, PF/C, HOU, (67% Rostered) Strong Cats: REB, BLK/STL Positive circumstance: will get more minutes while Christian Wood is out Boogie Cousins is a household name, especially in fantasy basketball. A top-10 player for years while back in Sacramento, Cousins is known to be able to stuff the stat sheet when he hits his groove. And with Wood being out for some time, he should be getting enough playing time to really be fantasy relevant. You gotta take the good with the bad with Boogie, and he could be quite frustrating to have on your team, but when he shines, he shines brightly! Here is what I mean. He is second on the all-time ejections list behind only Rasheed Wallace (found this on several unofficial websites so if it's not correct I apologize, although it sounds legit) and he is starting to gain on Rasheed with a few ejections this season as well. Furthermore, Boogie doesn't care if he's got a cold hand as he is capable of shooting 2-of-16 from the field (in his first of three games that Wood has missed during January). But, then he steps up and hits 9-of-15 (4-of-8 from three-point range), and goes 6-of-7 from the charity stripe for 28 points, adds 17 boards and five assists the very next game. Then he follows that one up with 6-of-11 from the field for 19 points with 11 rebounds, five steals and a block. Very hot and cold. But that's Boogie for you. If you have nerves of steel, and you like having a high impact player (whether it's a positive or negative impact, only Boogie will tell), he is definitely worth a shout with Wood out. Especially with a four-game week with games on the scarce days.
Deeper League Add
T.J. McConnell, PG/SG, IND, (22% Rostered) Strong Cats: AST, STL I absolutely love McConnell! As I am a big fan of a three-way punt FT%, 3PM, PTS build, he is exactly my type of player in the final rounds of drafts (or off the waiver wire in most cases as well). He brings elite per minute assists and steals to the table, along with a few boards without hurting you FG% from the PG spot, which is quite useful in such builds. Now, T.J. is definitely an acquired taste, as he doesn't shoot or score much, is not too good from the free-throw line and doesn't get many threes or blocks. Furthermore, he might hurt you in the TO department as well on an off night. So, if these categories are important to you, McConnell is probably not your guy. However, in the previous month, he is averaging 5.5 PTS on 49.2 FG% and just 20.0 FT% (but on only 0.4 attempts per game), 0.3 3PM, 3.3 REB, 8.3 AST, 1.9 STL, 0.3 BLK and 2.3 TO in over 25 minutes a game. This is good enough for spot #118 in Yahoo rankings. So, if you don't need much help in his weak categories from your streamer, and you do anticipate a close matchup in AST, STL and FG%, McConnell is your guy! Furthermore, Indiana doesn't play before Wednesday, so if you're a gambling man, and you believe T.J. will be waiting for you, you could potentially get in a Houston, San Antonio or Golden State player for the back-to-back on Mon/Tue and then switch to McConnell for his three games on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Insanely Deep League Add
Juan Toscano-Anderson, SF/PF, GSW, (10% Rostered) Strong Cats: FG%, 3PM, REB, BLK/STL The NBA is crazy, and this season is making it even crazier. Thus, it shouldn't come as too big a surprise that I am recommending a player here who has played just seven games from the start of the season until February and scored a total of 22 points in those seven games. He actually had 11 personal fouls in those seven games as well, so 2 points for every personal foul. Not quite what you want from your fantasy players. Juan Toscano-Anderson is buried in a crowded Warriors' rotation when everyone is healthy. But at this very moment, almost no one is. We got Marquese Chriss, James Wiseman and Kevon Looney already confirmed out for the next week (Chriss even longer of course), and Eric Paschall missing the previous game and questionable for the Week 7 Saturday game, so he could potentially also miss games in Week 8 as well. And in the two February games in these new circumstances, Juan has been quite good, averaging 15.0 points with 2.5 threes on 70.6% from the field and no misses (in just one attempt) from the line, 5.0 boards, 3.0 dimes, 0.5 steals, 1.5 blocks and 1.0 turnovers in 33 minutes a night. I will just mention that this has him ranked at #30 on Yahoo, although this isn't a reliable indicator on such a small sample size. Nevertheless, Juan has been given a shot and has used it quite well. He even played 40 minutes in the previous game. And with so many players making way for him, and such a favorable schedule for GSW next week, Toscano-Anderson is someone who could really contribute to your fantasy team. Of course, he could do nothing as well, since he is a rotational player usually, but it seems he is as good a bet as any in deep leagues.
Other Deep League Options for the Week
Rostered in less than 25% of Yahoo leagues Juan Toscano-Anderson, SF/PF, GSW, (10% Rostered) - Strong Cats: FG%, 3PM, REB, BLK/STL Eric Paschall, SF/PF, GSW, (6% Rostered) - Strong Cats: PTS, REB - buyer beware: currently injured day-to-day Kent Bazemore, SG/SF, GSW, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL/BLK, REB Brad Wanamaker, PG/SG, GSW, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: FT%, 3PM, AST, STL Damion Lee, SG/SF, GSW, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL P.J. Tucker, PF/C, HOU, (16% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, REB Jae'sean Tate, SG, HOU, (7% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, STL/BLK - positive circumstance: rookie factor; - buyer beware: also the rookie factor Sterling Brown, SG/SF, HOU, (2% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, a little bit of everything David Nwaba, SG/SF, HOU, (2% Rostered) - Strong Cats: STL, a little bit of everything - buyer beware: missed a couple of games due to an ankle sprain and still hasn't returned Danuel House Jr., SF/PF, HOU, (11% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, a little bit of everything Doug McDermott, SF/PF, IND, (12% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT% Aaron Holiday, PG, IND, (2% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, FT% T.J. McConnell, PG/SG, IND, (22% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, STL Goga Bitadze,C, IND, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: FG%, REB, BLK Kendrick Nunn, PG/SG, MIA, (19% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, STL, FT% - buyer beware: his minutes are very dependable on whether Goran Dragic is playing or not Precious Achiuwa, SF/PF, MIA, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, BLK/STL, FG% - buyer beware: plays just 16 minutes a game so far this season Andre Iguodala, SG/SF, MIA, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, STL, REB Shake Milton, PG/SG, PHI, (22% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%, AST Danny Green, SG/SF, PHI, (23% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, a bit little of everything Tyrese Maxey, SG, PHI, (6% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS Matisse Thybulle, SG/SF, PHI, (7% Rostered) - Strong Cats: STL/BLK Dwight Howard, C, PHI, (16% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, BLK, FG% - buyer beware: poor FT% Furkan Korkmaz, SG/SF, PHI, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL I hope this article helps you jump over your next obstacle on the way to the Fantasy ring! EDIT: If you read this post in the first 10 minutes of publishing, there were some mistakes in it. Thanks to u/dubious_dinosaur for pointing it out. I've corrected the mistakes. Two games have been added to Week 8 and some schedules have changed a bit. This resulted in an extra game for Boston, Detroit, New Orleans and Toronto. The article should be fully correct now.
Megathread: President Donald Trump announces he has tested positive for Coronavirus | Part II
President Donald Trump announced he and First Lady Melania Trump had tested positive for the virus and will begin their quarantine and recovery process immediately. The news comes after it was announced that close presidential aide Hope Hicks tested positive Wednesday evening. Megathread Part I
A Draft Pick, Free Agent Signing and Trade Target for all 32 teams
Title says it all. Going to suggest a player to be drafted in either the first or second round (or third for HOU at the moment) for each team, along with a player to target in free agency, and a player to potentially trade for. Trying to avoid overlap as best I can, but some may have similar targets. Resources used include PFF, The Draft Network, and OverTheCap. Enjoy!
Arizona Cardinals (8-8)
Trade Target: DT J.J. Watt, Houston Texans - The last deal between Arizona and Houston worked out well. Why not try again and add a serious piece to their pass rushing arsenal in Watt. An ideal interior fit for Arizona, Watt would help them push for the playoffs in his final seasons in the league. Draft Pick: C Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma - Reuniting Kyler Murray with his old center for the Sooners would be an excellent move. The Cardinals currently have Mason Cole at center, but could easily slide him over to guard to make room for Humphrey if they wanted a significant upgrade at an underrated position. Free Agent Signing: TE Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans - Arizona would be wise to look at adding Jonnu Smith into the equation on offense. One of the NFL's best after the catch at the TE position, he'd be another fun weapon to slot alongside Murray and Hopkins.
Atlanta Falcons (4-12)
Trade Target: S Tracy Walker, Detroit Lions - With a new regime coming in, Detroit is headed towards an extended rebuild, and acquiring assets for up-and-down players like Walker could be a consideration. Now, still young, Walker has plenty of potential for the Falcons, and if the price is right, could be a tremendous bargain. Draft Pick: QB Justin Fields, Ohio State - While Matt Ryan will remain the QB of the Falcons next season, due to his contract, the Falcons should plan for the future and add a Georgia native in Fields, one of the better QB's out of college football in recent years. He'd be able to develop behind Ryan under the tutelage of new head coach Arthur Smith. Free Agent Signing: CB Mackensie Alexander, Cincinnati Bengals - The Falcons do not have positive cap space at the moment (currently projected $30 million over the limit) so even after reworking deals and cutting some players, they'll be bargain shopping more than anything else. PFF projects Alexander to fetch a deal of about 2-years, $6 million, which could be feasible for the Falcons. He'd be a solid veteran presence across from CB A.J. Terrell.
Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
Trade Target: OLB Whitney Mercilus, Houston - I list him in "trade target" as he's technically under contract in Houston going into 2021. However, it's 99% more likely that the Texans cut him and Baltimore pursues him as a newly released free agent. Kind of cheating on my listings, but I like the idea of Mercilus in Baltimore after Houston cuts him. It'd be a coup for Houston if they could get a pick for him. Mercilus is a veteran pass rusher who could step into a role in Baltimore should OLB Matt Judon depart for greener pastures...green meaning money of course. Draft Pick: WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota - The idea of Bateman in Baltimore remains one of my favorite potential pairings for any player likely to be selected in the first round of the draft. Similar to Keenan Allen in my opinion, Bateman could become the go-to wide receiver the Ravens lacked last season. Free Agent Signing: G Jon Feliciano, Buffalo Bills - The Ravens need to bolster the middle of their offensive line, and a tough veteran like Feliciano could be ideal target for the Ravens. With a big contract committed to LT Ronnie Staley, a cheaper veteran like Feliciano could match price tag with talent. Good value for the Ravens.
Buffalo Bills (13-3)
Trade Target: DT Malcom Brown, New Orleans Saints - The Saints are in cap space purgatory, and thus could be looking to offload some decent players like Brown simply to get back under the cap. He's a solid starting DT who could be available for cheap in the Saints push to real in their financial situation. A strong fit next to Ed Oliver on the inside. Draft Pick: LB Chazz Surratt, North Carolina - Given their limited cap space, the Bills may have to decide between re-signing OT Daryl Williams and LB Matt Milano. If so, a replacement like Surratt could be a smart move for Sean McDermott and co. as Surratt is a quick backer who excels in space and has shown plenty of promise in coverage. Free Agent Signing: DE Romeo Okwara, Detroit Lions - The Bills aren't loaded with cap space (barely above 0 if the cap stays down at $175 million), but I'd imagine they'll find some ways to free some cap up. If they do, they may want to consider Okwara, a rising pass-rusher, as a replacement for some of their own departing edge rushers. He tallied 10 sacks this season after hitting 7.5 sacks in 2018 in Detroit. While not elite, Okwara's likely a solid value pass-rusher for a contender like the Bills.
Carolina Panthers (5-11)
Trade Target: DT Akiem Hicks, Chicago Bears - The Panthers just drafted DT Derrick Brown, but pairing him and Hicks together could become a dominant duo in the middle of that defense. And with DT Kawann Short a likely cut candidate, Hicks could be an instant upgrade for Carolina. Draft Pick: LB Micah Parsons, Penn State - Forget the QB position, if the Panthers have the opportunity to land Parsons at 8th overall, they should pull the trigger. He'd be an immediate boost of speed, instincts and athleticism into their linebacker corps, a strong replacement for Luke Kuechly. Free Agent Signing: TE Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Rams - More of a move tight end than a traditional in-line blocker, Everett could be an exceptional value signing for someone, as he's not likely to command as much money as Hunter Henry or Jonnu Smith, but is a very good player himself.
Chicago Bears (8-8)
Trade Target: QB Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers - Unless the Bears are set to bring back Mitch Trubisky, who played a bit better to end the season but still not strong enough, the Bears should look at the veteran QB market. While Garoppolo has had some injury issues, he's a notable upgrade over Trubisky and could give them a steady veteran presence for a couple of more years. Draft Pick: OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech - There's growing buzz that Rashawn Slater could join Penei Sewell in the top-10, leaving him just out of the Bears' grasp. But Darrisaw is quite the consolation prize as he's a first-round caliber offensive tackle himself who could fill a big need for the offense in the Windy City. Free Agent Signing: WR Sammy Watkins, Kansas City Chiefs - Watkins and Bears head coach Matt Nagy did not cross paths in Kansas City, but a recommendation from Andy Reid could push the two together. The Bears are another team facing some cap complications, and thus may need a cheaper replacement for Allen Robinson on the outside. If so, Watkins has been a strong complimentary receiver who could pair well with rising youngster Darnell Mooney.
Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1)
Trade Target: G Joe Dahl, Detroit Lions - Finding protection and weapons for QB Joe Burrow is the primary goal for Cincinnati this offseason before they enter the coaching carousel in 2022. Dahl is a strong pass protector who has grown into a quality starter. However, with large contracts for C Frank Ragnow coming up, along with big deals in place for Decker and Vaitai, Detroit may need to send Dahl out for picks. Draft Pick: OT Penei Sewell, Oregon - There is buzz that Northwestern's Rashawn Slater may be viewed as OT1, and I get the hype, however, I'm sticking with Sewell for now. The Bengals should draft Sewell and get him ready to go as their franchise left tackle in 2021. Free Agent Signing: CB Troy Hill, Los Angeles Rams - The Bengals have a healthy chunk of cap space, and should use of that to bring back CB William Jackson III. However, they should not stop there, they should also make a push for a quality veteran cornerback like Hill to bolster their defense in the meantime.
Cleveland Browns (11-5)
Trade Target: LB Jaylon Smith, Dallas Cowboys - After looking like an elite linebacker from 2017-2019, Smith had a rough year under now fired defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. A fresh start in Cleveland could be ideal for both teams, as Smith is still young enough, 26 years, to be a strong piece to their defense for years to come. Draft Pick: DT Daviyon Nixon, Iowa - The Browns are in a strong position at 26th overall to sit and see who the top defensive lineman on the board is. If they're lucky enough for it to be a high potential defensive tackle like Nixon, it'd be an ideal situation to bring him in the replace Ogunjobi. A defensive end like Jayson Oweh or Jaelan Phillips could also work here. Free Agent Signing: S Marcus Williams, New Orleans Saints - The Browns could use a big upgrade on the back end, and Williams, at only 24 years old, would be a premium add for a team who finally broke through the playoffs. PFF projects Williams to command a deal around 4-years $57 million, and the Browns would likely have the money to make that happen, sitting tenth in cap space this offseason.
Dallas Cowboys (6-10)
Trade Target: CB Mike Hughes, Minnesota Vikings - Hughes was a first-round pick for the Vikings in 2018, but has not lived up to the billing so far. Dallas is in need of several new faces on its defensive backfield, and perhaps a new situation could be best for Hughes to turn his NFL career around. For Dallas, a cheap flier on defense. Draft Pick: CB Patrick Surtain II, Alabama - The Cowboys defense is a mess at many levels, and so picking a premium defensive player like Surtain would be a wise for Dallas to get things straightened out. He's consistently been pegged as the top corner of this draft cycle and makes a lot of sense in Dallas. Free Agent Signing: DT Dalvin Tomlinson, New York Giants - The Cowboys ranked 31st in total rushing yards surrendered in 2020, meaning they'll need to make it a priority to find a run-stuffer like Dalvin Tomlinson to get their defense back on track. While most teams are geared towards stopping the pass, you simply cannot be as bad in run stopping as Dallas was and expect to be competitive.
Denver Broncos (5-11)
Trade Target: QB Marcus Mariota, Las Vegas Raiders - An inter-divisional trade for a QB seems unlikely, but it's something for both sides to consider. The Broncos need to find a veteran QB to bring in to push QB Drew Lock, who has shown flashes in his first two years but has so far been too inconsistent to commit to long-term. Draft Pick: EDGE Joe Tryon, Washington - More likely a second-round selection here, the Broncos should consider finding a player to develop into Von Miller's replacement, given all the complications with their star pass-rusher recently. Tryon has a high motor and excellent athleticism to develop across from Bradley Chubb. Free Agent Signing: CB Quinton Dunbar, Seattle Seahawks - Dunbar was an excellent player for Washington previously, but did not meet expectations after getting moved to the Seahawks. Should he walk in free agency, perhaps putting him under a solid defensive coach like Vic Fangio could help him get back into the strong form that made him a coveted player in 2019.
Detroit Lions (5-11)
Trade Target: A Big Haul for Matt Stafford - We suggest one later on, but Detroit's in a full-on rebuild with Stafford wanting out. Peter King recently reported that at least five teams would be willing to offer their first-rounder for Stafford. Detroit should turn it into a bidding war and land as many draft picks as they can to bolster their rebuilding efforts. Draft Pick: QB Trey Lance, North Dakota State - The Lions are moving on from QB Matthew Stafford after he understandably requested out. With Detroit picking at 7th, there's a very good chance that Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, and Zach Wilson are all off the board. Thus, unless Detroit makes a bold move up the board, chances are that they go with Lance, who has the potential to be available with their pick. He has plenty of upside to develop into a starting QB behind a veteran QB, say Tyrod Taylor, reuniting with new Lions offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn? Free Agent Signing: LB Matt Milano, Buffalo Bills - If we were ranking worst position groups in the league, Detroit's LB corps is in strong contention. An outdated group of lethargic old-school thumpers, almost none of Detroit's LB's are capable of playing modern football at a high level. Detroit should invest some cash into someone who is, such as the Bills LB Matt Milano, an excellent backer with range and some ability in coverage.
Green Bay Packers
Trade Target: WR Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys - The Packers wide receivers performed quite well after all the criticism Green Bay received after not bringing in anyone for QB Aaron Rodgers. However, good is the enemy of great, and pairing Gallup with Davante Adams would give Green Bay an elite duo in terms of pass catchers. Draft Pick: LB Nick Bolton, Missouri - If Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was here as well, I think he could be another strong option, but Bolton is an excellent linebacker who can fill gaps inside and fly from sideline-to-sideline. Free Agent Signing: CB Gareon Conley, Houston Texans - Like the Falcons listed earlier, the Packers don't have positive cap space at the moment, and thus any free agent additions will likely be bargain bin deals. I like the example that PFF lists in their free agency preview, suggesting Conley could replicate Ronald Darby's return, taking a year deal with the aims of getting things turned around and landing a larger deal after that. An opportunity in Green Bay seems like a good start.
Houston Texans (4-12)
Trade Target: Every Pick they can get from the Jets - Even hiring a veteran coach like Culley to run the show and attempt to repair the relationship with Watson, it seems unlikely to me that Houston holds on, given the issues between Watson and owner Cal McNair. Thus, if forced to deal him, the Texans should aim to land at least three first rounders from a team like the Jets, who could see Watson as a better player than any of the QB's available behind Trevor Lawrence. Draft Pick: QB Zach Wilson, BYU - This obviously assumes a trade with the Jets sends #2 overall to Houston. If so, Wilson looks like the next best bet behind Lawrence in my opinion. He, along with the boatload of additional assets that would come along in this trade, should be a solid foundation for Culley and co.'s rebuild. Free Agent Signing: S Malik Hooker, Indianapolis Colts - The Texans will start their rebuild without any cap space, meaning that taking chances on younger guys like Hooker, 24 years old, to potentially find useful pieces is key. If they can land Hooker to play safety for them on a cheap 1-2 year deal, that'd be ideal for Houston.
Indianapolis Colts (11-5)
Trade Target: QB Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions - Easy one here. If the Colts had Stafford in 2020 they probably would have replaced the Bills in the AFC Championship Game. Stafford is only 32 years, meaning he still has a strong 4-5 years left to help the Colts' well-rounded roster make a championship push. Surrendering a first round pick and potentially a 2022 3rd (if there competition from others) is a gamble I'd definitely make if I were Chris Ballard. Draft Pick: DE Patrick Jones II, Pittsburgh - Assuming the Colts use their first on the aforementioned Stafford deal, then finding a balanced edge rusher like Jones would be a great move for Indy. With players like Denico Autry and Justin Houston headed to free agency (and getting old), the Colts would get a terror on the edge with a tremendous motor and tools to develop. Free Agent Signing: WR Allen Robinson, Chicago Bears - The Colts have a large amount of cap space, second in the league according to OTC's projections. Given that they will need to conserve some of that war chest for internal extensions, they would be wise to replace T.Y. Hilton with a more dominant receiver like Allen Robinson. An offseason adding Matt Stafford and Robinson together should make Frank Reich and Marcus Brady very excited for 2021.
Jacksonville Jaguars (1-15)
Trade Target: WR Odell Beckham Jr., Cleveland Browns - If the Browns are preparing to move on from Beckham Jr., then perhaps sending him down to Jacksonville to pair up with Urban Meyer could help get him playing elite football again. After posting 1,000 yard season in 3 of the previous 4 seasons, an injury once again cut his year short. Draft Pick: OT Dillon Radunz, North Dakota State - Not at #1 overall obviously. We all know that will go to QB Trevor Lawrence. However, with the Rams 1st round selection (acquired via the Jalen Ramsey trade), the Jaguars should look to use it on an upgrade to their offensive line in the form of Radunz. Free Agent Signing: OLB Shaquil Barrett, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Provided new defensive coordinator Joe Cullen brings a Ravens style 3-4 defense with him, then adding a premier OLB like Barrett while K'Lavon Chaisson develops would be a great move for Jacksonville. With the NFL's lead in cap space, Jacksonville could afford Barrett along with some other instant contributors.
Kansas City Chiefs (14-2)
Trade Target: WR Anthony Miller, Chicago Bears - The Chiefs could easily lose WR Sammy Watkins to free agency, leaving an opening for another wideout to join the rotation. Miller has been fairly productive in Chicago, and could be a solid option to join Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce in Andy Reid's passing attack. Draft Pick: G Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC - Vera-Tucker gets mocked to the Chiefs a lot, and it makes perfect sense why. A premier offensive line talent, he has some versatility after playing tackle for the Trojans. While I think his best fit is inside, he'd be an ideal player for Kansas City to add to bolster their protection after investing so much in QB Patrick Mahomes. Free Agent Signing: C Ted Karras, Miami Dolphins - The Chiefs will also be bargain bin hunting, as they're currently over the cap by $18 million. Thus, a starting caliber center like Ted Karras could prove useful for the defending Super Bowl champs (at this point). Karras signed with the Dolphins for only $3 million last season, and a similar deal with KC could be an absolute bargain when all is said and done.
Las Vegas Raiders (8-8)
Trade Target: DT Akiem Hicks, Chicago Bears - I mentioned Hicks for the Panthers as well, but he'd be a great add for either team, perhaps even more so for the Raiders, who could easily see DT Johnathan Hankins depart in free agency. A disruptive player in the middle, he'd be a nice add in Las Vegas. Draft Pick: EDGE Azeez Ojulari, Georgia - After shockingly selecting DE Clelin Ferrell at fourth overall in 2019, the Raiders have still been searching for a game changer at DE to go alongside the productive efforts of Maxx Crosby. Ojulari profiles as a high potential pass rusher to scratch that itch for Jon Gruden and co. Free Agent Signing: S Anthony Harris, Minnesota Vikings - The Raiders may have to get creative to free up the cap space to land Harris, as they're currently over. But if they can do it, he'd be an ideal player to add to the Vegas' defense, now led by defensive coordinator Ken Whisen...uh...Gus Bradley. Harris is an elite free safety who would pair well with Jonathan Abram.
Los Angeles Chargers (7-9)
Trade Target: DT Danny Shelton, Detroit Lions - Shelton struggled in Detroit, but frankly, everyone on Patricia's defense did. Before that, Shelton posted strong results as a 3-4 interior gap-plugger, doing a quality job for both the Browns and Patriots before him. With Linval Joseph on the decline, adding a younger replacement for cheap could be in store. Draft Pick: G Wyatt Davis, Ohio State - LA needs a couple of new starters on its offensive line, and if the tackles fly off the board before they can get one at 13th overall, then perhaps a top notch guard could also suffice. Davis has been a consistent player for the Buckeyes and projects as an instant impact lineman for someone at the next level. Free Agent Signing: OT Alejandro Villanueva, Pittsburgh Steelers - A sturdy, veteran left tackle should be a big priority for the Chargers, as the imperative to protect QB Justin Herbert is high. After a breakout season for Herbert, he gives the franchise a ton of optimism under new head coach Brandon Staley. Keeping him upright is something Villanueva would do well at.
Los Angeles Rams (10-6)
Trade Target: QB Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville Jaguars - The Rams are in a pickle with QB Jared Goff. He has not been a strong point for the team recently, but his contract is a bit too heavy to move right now. Thus, a cheaper way to acquire some genuine competition for Goff could be to trade for the affordable Minshew, a solid starter in his own right. Jacksonville will be bringing in Trevor Lawrence anyways to replace him, so perhaps acquiring a pick or so to send him out could be a wise move. Draft Pick: EDGE Quincy Roche, Miami - Provided that new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris isn't changing the scheme outright, Roche would be an excellent fit at 3-4 OLB in LAR. He's a dynamic pass rusher with excellent physical traits. If he falls to the Rams in the second-round they shouldn't think twice about selecting him. Free Agent Signing: LB Jarrad Davis, Detroit Lions - The Rams are another team already over the cap, so not a lot to spend on. However, they could use some help at inside linebacker, and Davis projects to be a relatively cheap piece to take a gamble on. Physically impressive, he's struggled with the mental side of the game. If Morris can get him sorted out, it could be excellent value.
Miami Dolphins (10-6)
Trade Target: WR Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons - The Dolphins will likely have the opportunity to draft a premier wide receiver in the first round, but could also use some of their stockpile to add an established star like Jones. Giving Tua as many options as you can is a wise move. Draft Pick: RB Najee Harris, Alabama - Reuniting Harris and Tua in a backfield would fill a big need for the Dolphins. Whether taking him with their second selection in the first round or hoping he drops to the second, Miami should get serious about finding a talented running back, Free Agent Signing: G Joe Thuney, New England Patriots - The Dolphins still have a decent amount of cap space (8th in the league) and could easily use some of that to target an upgrade to the interior of their offensive line by adding Thuney. Thuney crossed paths with Dolphins head coach Brian Flores in New England, and a reunion down south could be profitable for both parties.
Minnesota Vikings (7-9)
Trade Target: DT Tyquan Lewis, Indianapolis Colts - Lewis may not be on the trade block, but the Colts have both defensive tackles locked up ahead of him (Buckner, Grover Stewart). Perhaps they'd consider moving a young, promising 3-technique if Minnesota put together a quality offer for him. He'd instantly fill a need for the Vikings. Draft Pick: EDGE Gregory Rousseau, Miami - With the failed Yannick Ngakoue tenure, the Vikings still need to find a premium pass rusher. Rousseau sat out 2020, but was dominant the year before and projects as a highly athletic piece for Zimmer to develop. Free Agent Signing: OT Matt Feiler, Pittsburgh Steelers - Feiler offers a lot of versatility, which works great for Minnesota, as they could insert Feiler as a starting tackle, or slide G Ezra Cleveland into the LT position and put Feiler in at guard. Either way, a relatively affordable upgrade on the OL.
New England Patriots (7-9)
Trade Target: TE Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles - The Eagles are another team finding themselves in a less-than-ideal cap situation, and thus, will likely explore moving a top player like Ertz. While the Patriots have drafted a handful of decent role players at TE, they've lacked a player of Ertz's caliber. He'd be a nice upgrade to help whomever the Patriots land at QB. Draft Pick: WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama - It seems unlikely that Devonta Smith or Ja'Marr Chase slip to New England, but I'd imagine they'd be perfectly content with a potential stud like Waddle to bolster their mediocre group of pass catchers. He's a very smooth player with a lot of potential. Free Agent Signing: QB Andy Dalton, Dallas Cowboys - Dalton got off to a rough start with Dallas in relief of QB Dak Prescott, scoring a total of 13 points in 2 games while throwing 1 touchdown to 3 interceptions. However, he was admirable after that, throwing 13 touchdowns to 5 interceptions while posting a 4-3 record over that stretch. Dalton could be an upgrade over Cam Newton for New England while they hunt for a new franchise QB to replace Tom Brady.
New Orleans Saints (12-4)
Trade Target: Draft Picks for Kwon Alexander, Nick Easton, or Latavius Murray - The Saints game isn't necessarily who they should bring in, but if they can get picks for some players with bloated contracts that they may need to cut. If they can score some late-round picks to move these guys (or others) elsewhere, they need to pull the trigger. Draft Pick: WR Kadarius Toney, Florida - While it seems like the hype train on Toney has left the station, it'd be incredible if he slipped to the Saints at 28th overall in this draft. An explosive player, he'd be an ideal partner for WR Michael Thomas, giving Taysom Hill or maybe Jameis(?) some excellent weapons. Free Agent Signing: TE Jacob Hollister, Seattle Seahawks - The Saints, as mentioned, are in cap purgatory. Their signings will be quite minimum once they make the trades, cuts, and restructures required to get them back under the cap. However, one cheaper option could be a solid TE like Hollister, as TE Jared Cook is set to depart. Putting up 25 catches including 3 touchdowns at a price tag a shade over $3 million could be in New Orleans price range.
New York Giants (6-10)
Trade Target: G Gabe Jackson, Las Vegas Raiders - Jackson has been rumored to be available for a little while now. Not yet 30 years old, he's a steady veteran option on the interior of any offensive line and would fit quite well with the Giants. Draft Pick: WR Devonta Smith, Alabama - If the Dolphins don't take Smith, the Giants certainly should. Ensuring that QB Daniel Jones has the weapons he needs to grow into the franchise QB role is pertinent. Smith is a stud pass catcher and would be an excellent pick if he were on the board at 10th overall. Free Agent Signing: EDGE Matt Judon, Baltimore Ravens - The Ravens have let a handful of pass rushers walk, and if they do so with Judon this year, the Giants should go get him. While Yannick could also be a Ravens OLB on the market, Judon fits Joe Judge's style a little bit more than Yannick does, and could be available for cheaper, which is important for another cap squeezed team like the Giants.
New York Jets (2-14)
Trade Target: QB Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans - As I do think Justin Fields or Zach Wilson can be good franchise QB's, Watson already is an exceptional one. The Jets should put together a package of picks to go land the beleaguered QB and unite him with Robert Saleh, whom he listed as one of the guys he originally wanted Houston to interview. Draft Pick: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, USC - Assuming the Jets send both first-round selections to the Texans in the hypothetical Watson trade, the Jets would still have a premium pick to start off the second-round, one they should use to add a top tier WR like St. Brown who could be a star quickly. Free Agent Signing: CB William Jackson III, Cincinnati Bengals - If the Bengals can't lock Jackson up to an extension before free agency, the Jets should throw some cash at him to be a foundational piece of Saleh's defense in the Big Apple.
Philadelphia Eagles (4-11-1)
Trade Target: Draft Picks for Zach Ertz, DeSean Jackson, and Alshon Jeffery - Like the Saints, the Eagles probably should focus on offloading bloated contracts rather than bringing anyone in. The cheap rookie contracts that draft picks provide will be needed to steer themselves out of cap purgatory. Draft Pick: WR Ja'Marr Chase, LSU - The Eagles and Chase are an ideal fit, and new head coach Nick Sirianni sure could use the big play ability that Chase provides. Whichever QB ends up getting the start, they'll be happy to have a guy like Chase to throw to. Free Agent Signing: CB Bashaud Breeland, Kansas City Chiefs - The Eagles have a horrific cap situation themselves, and thus, a lower-end veteran like Breeland can give them a solid starter at an affordable price as the Eagles try and sort out their defense.
Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)
Trade Target: QB Sam Darnold, New York Jets - The Steelers may have brought in Dwayne Haskins, but frankly I have little faith there. Instead, they should call up the Jets to figure out what Darnold will cost them. One season behind Roethlisberger in his final go could be a great change of pace for Darnold before taking over. Draft Pick: RB Travis Etienne, Clemson - Everyone is too cool for elite running backs in the wannabe scouting world. But Etienne is a stud, and the Steelers need a big upgrade at running back. If they don't like their options for QB late into the first, they should give serious weight to taking Etienne and landing an elite player rather than reach for a lesser player elsewhere. Free Agent Signing: G Elijah Wilkinson, Denver Broncos - Wilkinson had a very rough 2019 season, but has been a good deal better in 2020. He's still on the younger end, not even 26 years old, and could be an affordable gamble for Pittsburgh, who also needs to find their way back under the cap ($35 million over).
San Francisco 49ers (6-10)
Trade Target: QB Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions - If the Colts don't land Stafford, the 49ers absolutely should. Pairing Stafford and Kyle Shanahan would be fun to watch, and he'd be a much most consistent player for the 49ers than the oft-injured Jimmy G. It's a big move, but one Shanahan may want to consider to make another championship run. Draft Pick: CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech - If the 49ers don't move for Stafford and keep their first-round selection, they should target a top tier corner like Farley as they have a handful of corners (Sherman, Witherspoon, Williams) set to hit the open market. Free Agent Signing: DT Shelby Harris, Denver Broncos - The 49ers top priority should be retaining OT Trent Williams, but after that, adding a veteran pass rusher on the interior could be a good move. Harris has been a consistent player for Denver, but has yet to be rewarded with a big opportunity, something he could get here alongside Nick Bosa and Arik Armstead.
Seattle Seahawks (12-4)
Trade Target: DT Jonathan Allen, Washington Football Team - I'm not sure the Football Team would move him, but he is on the final year of his deal, and Washington's going to have weigh future deals for DE's Montez Sweat and Chase Young into the equation. If they aren't willing to pony up for three studs on the defensive line, they may look to add some picks in exchange for Allen. Draft Pick: CB Greg Newsome II, Northwestern - A late riser up the board after a stellar junior year in Evanston. Newsome has ideal size (6'1, 190 lbs) for Seattle and could help fill a gap if they have to choose between Shaquill Griffin and Quinton Dunbar. Free Agent Signing: DE Carl Lawson, Cincinnati Bengals - A really good fit here, as the Seahawks very much need some pass-rushing help. Lawson has been an excellent player for the Bengals and could find the chance to compete in the playoffs if he heads west for Seattle.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5)
Trade Target: QB Sam Darnold, New York Jets - The Bucs are another team that should explore the asking price for Darnold. While Brady is still winning his battle against time, it seems unrealistic to expect it to continue for too much longer. The Bucs could potentially land his heir apparent in Darnold. Draft Pick: Christian Barmore, Alabama - Between Barmore and Daviyon Nixon, I think both have a case to make as DT1 in this class, but Barmore projects as a bit better fit to Todd Bowles' 3-4 defense than Nixon does. The Bucs add an impact defensive lineman to pair on the inside with Vita Vea, giving them flexibility in replacing Ndamukong Suh. Free Agent Signing: OLB Tyus Bowser, Baltimore Ravens - The Bucs have a good chunk of cap space available, but will need to prioritize some re-signings like LB Lavonte David, OLB Shaq Barrett, and TE Rob Gronkowski. Thus, they may not have a lot of cash to throw out there after bringing back some of their own. Bowser is a good value to add as a rotational pass rusher, scoring some decent grades from PFF as a backup for Matt Judon and Yannick in Baltimore. An expanded role in Tampa could pay off for both sides.
Tennessee Titans (11-5)
Trade Target: OLB Jacob Martin, Houston Texans - As sad as it is, Martin's 3 sacks in 2020 would have led the team for Tennessee. In a passing era, you need to get after the QB better than the Texans are doing. While team's are hesitant to trade within the division, the Texans should be more focused on acquiring picks to rebuild, which they could get by moving a decent rotational pass-rusher. Draft Pick: OLB Joseph Ossai, Texas - Really the Titans should be focused on landing a high potential pass-rusher, and Ossai figures to be a hot name in that range. He's a springy pass rusher who can inject some life into one of the league's worst team's at getting to the QB. Free Agent Signing: WR T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts - After a strong season in 2020, WR Corey Davis seems a bit unlikely to return, as he'll likely fetch more on the market than the Titans can afford to pay him. Thus, they should consider adding a veteran replacement to pair with budding star A.J. Brown at wide receiver.
Washington Football Team (7-9)
Trade Target: QB Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans - Another team I think should really make a push for Watson. It'll cost them at least a 2021 and 2022 first-round pick, along with probably another second and DT Jonathan Allen or some other player. It could definitely cost more than that! But Watson would solidify Washington as the top team in the NFC East for the next few years. With QB and DE locked in with Watson, Sweat, and Young, this could be a potential dynasty in the division. Draft Pick: OT Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State - A potential second-round target, Washington should look to find a developmental tackle to eventually slot into their lineup. Morgan Moses and Cornelius Lucas were a solid pairing last year, but both are about to turn 30 years old, and Jenkins has a lot of potential. A year to develop before taking a spot in the starting lineup would ideal for everyone involved. Free Agent Signing: WR Kenny Golladay, Detroit Lions - Washington managed to build a passing attack out of Terry McLaurin and a handful of role players at RB and TE. While it worked in 2020, it does not seem very sustainable, as Washington should use its cap space to bring in a premier WR to pair with Terry McLaurin. Pairing up McLaurin's speed with Golladay's ability to go win contested balls is an ideal complementary pairing.
1 - Jacksonville Jaguars - Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson - At this point, the only way Lawrence wont go first is if the Jags somehow write the wrong name on the card. 2 - New York Jets - Justin Fields, QB, OSU - Zach Wilson vs Justin Field has become a hotter debate in recent times, with mocks seems to split 50/50 on which of the 2 will go before the other. This one will likely end up coming down to preference, but personally I prefer Field’s upside and athleticism. Still, it’ll probably end up being a close call overall. 3 - Carolina Panthers (via MIA via HOU - sends 1.08, 3.73, 2022 CAR 1st, 2022 CAR 2nd, for 1.03) - Zach Wilson, QB, BYU - This seems like a lot at first glance, but I’d bet on the Panthers being much improved next year with the return of a healthy McCaffery and Joe Brady/Matt Rhule having another year to establish their system. What that means is that if the Panthers can improve at QB, they could be a legitimate playoff contender. Teddy Bridgewater is not the answer, and IMO when you have someone as good as CMC, you need to give him a good QB. The Panthers don't want to end up like the Vikings, sticking a bunch of mediocre at best QBs next to their stud RB. 4 - Atlanta Falcons - Trey Lance, QB, NDSU - I know there’s a large portion of Falcons fans who really want to go anywhere but QB here, but how much longer can Matt Ryan play at a high level? With the 2022 QB class still full of question marks, grabbing your guy of the future right now would be a prudent move. Its instant gratification vs long term strategy. And with the success of raw QBs at the next level under proper development, Trey Lance looks like a solid bet. He’s got a great arm, and plays smart enough to only have a single interception in his college career. There’s a serious ceiling here, and he could absolutely benefit from learning from Matt Ryan for a year. Arthur Smith completely revitalized Tannehill as well, so maybe he could turn Lance into a stud. 5 - Cincinnati Bengals - Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon - Seems like it ends up working out for the Bengals, who really need to protect Joe Burrow. There’s been whispers that teams have Rashawn Slater over Sewell currently, but I partially chalk that up to prospect fatigue. IMO Sewell’s the best OT in the class, and although he’s got areas he can improve, his body of work is utterly dominant currently. If he can polish up his technique and stay healthy, he’ll be a godsend to the Bengals OL. 6 - Eagles - Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU - DeVonta Smith has been crazy this year, but it seems like people have forgotten Ja’Marr Chase was just as dominant last year too. Honestly, the Eagles really can't go wrong here with either WR, but IMO Chase is more of a sure thing to be dominant in the NFL, as minute of a difference as that is. 7 - Detroit Lions - DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama - After that insane performance against Ohio State, I don't think the Lions can pass up on Smith here, even as bad as their defense is. With their entire WR corps being possible FAs, they need to find replacements ASAP, especially if they cannot find a way to agree to a deal with Kenny Golladay. As for Smith well, he’s a beast. Plain and simple. Y’all saw what he did to Ohio State in just one half. 8 - Houston Texans (Via MIA via DET - Sends Deshaun Watson, 2022 HOU 3rd for 1.08, 2.50, 2022 MIA first, 2023 MIA first, Tua Tagovailoa, salary fillers) - Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan - The Dolphins send away Tua + a ton of picks for a shiny new franchise QB, and the Texans begin their rebuild. First up is addressing the defensive line. JJ Watt is very likely gone, Whitney Mercilus is done, and Jonathan Greenard has disappointed. They need someone who can make a serious impact, now. Kwity Paye has been one of the most dominant players in college football, with an insane pressure rate, and is a supposed athletic freak who runs a sub 6.8 3 cone at 6’4’’, 272, with some claiming it being as low as 6.37. No matter what the time ends up being, it's utterly insane for someone of his size, and he could likely play the same role that Watt does for the Texans. 9 - Denver Broncos - Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State - The Broncos do really need CB, but there’s a pretty big hole in the middle of the defense next to Alexander Johnson. Josey Jewell isnt a 3 down LB, and it's really hard to pass up on Parsons here, an elite LB who can be the tonesetter of the Broncos defense from day one. Pairing up Parsons and Johnson should give Denver two monsters in the middle of the defense. 10 - Dallas Cowboys - Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech - Now that Dan Quinn’s the new DC, meaning that they’ll be running a ton of Cover 3. And with how much Quinn loves his physical/athletic CBs who can play both man and zone, Caleb Farley is the natural pick here IMO. He’s sticky as glue, with fluid hips and a size profile that NFL teams dream of, perfect for pattern-match that should be used a lot in Dallas next season. His zone coverage does need a little work, but the Cowboys will likely be doing mostly spot-drop zone, which is pretty simple to pick up, and outside of injury concerns, Farley should be a huge help for the Dallas defense. 11 - New York Giants - Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina - The Giants love their press man coverage, but were forced to run zone a lot last year due to how bad their cornerbacks were outside of James Bradberry. Jaycee Horn fits their preferred scheme, and also shores up that huge hole at CB2 that they have. No CB in the class is as good as disrupting WRs at the LOS as Horn is, and he’ll be a great addition to what was a surprisingly good defense last year. 12 - San Francisco 49ers - Patrick Surtain, CB, Alabama - The 49ers have 0 CBs under contract next year. They need building blocks now, especially with Robert Saleh now gone. Patrick Surtain fits into their zone heavy system perfectly. He’s got elite ball skills, is consistently disruptive, and can stick to WRs like glue. He’d be the perfect guy to replace Richard Sherman if the 49ers cant bring him back, and should be able to slot in at CB1 or CB2 immediately. 13 - LA Chargers - Rashawn Slater, OL, Northwestern - Slater’s a guy who's been getting a ton of hype in recent times, with some even putting him above Sewell. How much of that is real and how much of it is smoke? Hard to say at this point, but I do know that he’ll be an upgrade no matter where he slots in for the Chargers. Protecting Herbert should be there #1 priority right now, especially for the terrible LA OL. Slater should be a fantastic player for the Chargers from day 1. 14 - Miami Dolphins (Via Minnesota Vikings - sends 1.18, 3.82 for 1.14) - Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama - Miami goes ALL in here. With Watson now on the roster, their window is now, and they treat it with urgency, giving up some more draft capital to grab the last of the 3 main stud WRs in the class. Jaylen Waddle fits what Miami needs right now, a speed demon joystick who would be what Will Fuller was for Watson in Houston, a connection that was lethal even with Fuller being injured constantly. Watson to Waddle should be one of the deadliest partnerships in the league, turning the Miami offense into a high powered scoring machine. 15 - New England Patriots - Mac Jones, QB, Alabama - Mac Jones is a guy who’s worked his way from fringe QB prospect all the way up to R1 guy. I'm not sure if the NFL likes him as much as most people in the draft community do, but he’s a smart QB who was instrumental in leading the Crimson Tide to a National Championship. I’d say he grades out pretty well at all the important areas of being a QB, like his arm, going through progressions, that kind of thing. This only big flaw IMO is his ability to extend plays, but the Patriots have the OL to shore up that weakness. The main question here is how will Mac Jones play without any solid WRs? The Patriots receiving corps is barren, so that will be something that must be addressed soon. 16 - Arizona Cardinals - Wyatt Davis, OG, Ohio State - The Cardinals offensive line seems to consistently lose at the LOS, something that was a huge part in them not making the playoffs. With that in mind and all of the top 3 CBs long gone, they grab the mauling OG out of Ohio State, an absolute mauler who can hit hard to create space in the run game. He’s a great fit for the Cardinals run game, and should give them some of the nasty they’ve been lacking. 17 - Las Vegas Raiders - Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah, LB, Notre Dame - It's hard to say what the Raiders will go with, as Mayock has not been on the job that long, but this is a pick that I agree with Daniel Jeremiah on. The Raiders lack that dynamic linebacker who can move around and cover everything, and JOK should be able to line up all over. He’s perfect for an NFL that seems to value positionless players more, and especially for a Raiders defense that’s going to be stuck against Travis Kelce for the near future. 18 - Minnesota Vikings - Gregory Rousseau, DE/DT, Miami - When your sack leader is a guy you traded away half way through the season, there's a problem. That Vikings defense was inexcusably bad this year, even with the loss of Danielle Hunter, and basically cost their offense a shot at the playoffs. They need to add some juice to the pass rush ASAP. Gregory Rousseau would be perfect, a raw and crazy athletic player who can line up all over the defensive line to wreak havoc. Considering Minnesota turned one athletic freak into a stud, they should have confidence that they can make Rousseau great too, and he’d be a wonderful addition, especially considering the fact that the Vikings have moved around their edge rushers to exploit mismatches, most notably against the Saints. 19 - Washington Football Team - Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech - There doesn't seem to be a solid answer at QB available here for Washington, so they look to bolster up their trenches in order to replace the departed Trent Williams. Darrisaw has the size and length to be a fantastic NFL tackle, along with an extremely strong anchor and some great agility for his size. His technique needs to be cleaned up a little, but he could easily lock down the LT spot for Washington in the future. 20 - Chicago Bears - Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota - Allen Robinson is gone, leaving a huge hole at WR1 for Chicago. Seeing as there’s not really a great way to fix Chicago’s QB situation, they instead look to try and make the most of their closing window. Rashod Bateman should come in and be the WR1 for Chicago, a great route runner with sure hands who can snag a ball and some more yards after the catch. Hopefully Trubisky builds a much better connection with him than he did with Arob. 21 - Detroit Lions (Via IND - sends Matthew Stafford for 1.22, salary filler) - Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa - The Lions defense really needs help at LB. Jarrad Davis is probably starting again, but Tavai really shouldnt be. Zaven Collins can step in and be the best LB in the Lions from day 1, an absolute freak athlete who can cover, can stop the run, and even has a pass rushing upside. He’s the perfect chess piece for the new Lions defense to build around, and should be an immediate impact player from day 1. 22 - Tennessee Titans - Daviyon Nixon, DT, Iowa - The Titans need pass rush in every capacity, and that includes from the defensive line. Jeffery Simmons is a monster, but he doesn't get much help. He’d pair up great with Daviyon Nixon, a freak athlete out of the B1G who excels most when he gets to pin his ears back and just attack the QB. His ability to cause issues down the middle should help alleviate the Titans pass rush issues somewhat. 23 - New York Jets (Via SEA) - Kyle Pitts, TE/WR, Florida - The Jets just need to add weapons to their team at this point. Their WR corps has little promise outside of maybe Mims, and their TE corps is equally barren. Pitts addresses both of those issues at once. Able to play all over the lineup, Pitts can work as both a huge WR and a TE, able to consistently beat coverages and get catches against defenses. He’ll be a great weapon for Fields to utilize, a truly dynamic threat who could be one of the best receivers on the Jets from day 1. 24 - Pittsburgh Steelers - Liam Eichenburg, OT, Notre Dame - A lot of the Steeler’s tackle depth, most notably starting LT Alejandro Villenueva, will be lost to FA, and Pittsburgh needs to address that ASAP. Liam Eichenburg isnt the most athletic OT with a crazy high ceiling, but he’s a solid technician who should be able to start from day 1, perfect for a contending team like the steelers. 25 - Jacksonville Jaguars (via LAR) - Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas - The Jaguars need to protect their investment, especially with Cam Robinson a question mark to be back due to his poor play. Protecting a young QB should be the #1 priority after landing one, and Cosmi is a tantalizing prospect to add. He’s got plenty of athleticism and a frame that’s waiting to be filled out, a solid pass blocker who can deal with speed rushers really well. He’s a high ceiling prospect who could become a great LT and lock down Tlaw’s blind side for the future. 26 - Cleveland Browns - Jaelen Phillips, EDGE, Miami - Sometimes it just feels like the Browns defensive line is just Myles Garrett. That can't stand. The Browns need to give Garrett some help in the pass rush, and that's why they pick Jaelen Phillips. There’s a lot of injury concerns here, but if Phillips can stay healthy, he’s an absolute MONSTER in the pass rush, having notched 8 sacks in just 5 games this year. If he can stay on the field, he and Garrett should give opposing offensive lines some serious headaches. 27 - Baltimore Ravens - Alijah Vera-Tucker, iOL, USC - The Ravens need to bolster their offensive line more. After the loss of Marshall Yanda, the Ravens offensive line has taken a notable step back, and Ronnie Stanley’s injury certainly didn't help there. AVT’s easily BPA at this point, an interior beast who is a stone wall with excellent hand usage. He should be able to make the Ravens offensive line even better, and boost their already lethal run game to higher levels. 28 - New Orleans Saints - Kyle Trask, QB, Florida - Im sorry, I don't think Taysom Hill is an NFL level QB. Especially not for a title contender. Drew Brees is retired, and I doubt Winston will be back. That means QB is the most glaring hole in NO. Kyle Trask might never be Patrick Mahomes, but he’s a good solid player who can make accurate passes, adjusts to pressure well, and is willing to extend plays. With the Saints filled with weapons and talent, Trask should be a good enough game manager to help the Saints be contenders for the rest of their window. 29 - Green Bay Packers - Levi Onwuzurike, DT, Washington - Kenny Clark and Keke Kingsley are building blocks along the defensive line, but the Packers could afford to add some depth. Onwuzurike has been mocked in the first by DJ, and he tends to have his ear to most NFL team’s pulse. Onwuzuriki’s calling card is his length and athleticism, which combined with his explosiveness and motor results in him just running over people at times. He does need to improve his power and add more consistently, but the addition of Onwuzurike could make the Packers defensive line a force as good as the Steelers DL. 30 - Buffalo Bills - Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson - The Bills just need playmakers especially in the run game, and Etienne is one of the best pure playmakers in the class. He’s an explosive threat who must be addressed at all times, or else he could break free and gash the defensive for serious yardage. His acceleration and contact balance make him a problem to tackle, and with supposed 4.3 speed, defenders won't be able to catch him once he gets into open space. He’s no slouch in the pass game either, putting up solid production at Clemson and flashing the ability to run a few option routes. The Bills already have their Jim Kelly and Andre Reed in Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs. Time to add the Thurman Thomas of the trio, and turn Buffalo into an offense that can toe to toe with the Chiefs. 31 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan - Donovan Smith is very likely gone this year, meaning that Tampa would have a hole at one of the tackle spots opposite of Wirfs. No matter if they move Wirfs to LT or keep him at RT, Mayfield would be a great get opposite of him. Mayfield’s a dependable run blocker who has good feet, and although he's not finished just yet, if Tampa can utilize his athletic gifts to the fullest, he’d be a great compliment to their current franchise OT. 32 - Kansas City Chiefs - Joe Tryon, EDGE, Washington - Joe Tryon’s another player who is apparently well regarded according to DJ. He’s shown flashes of being a great pass rusher, but he’s really still a WIP in most areas, especially as a run defender. However, he does fit the mold of what the Chiefs want in their pass rushers, standing at 6’5 262. Kansas City does need the help on the EDGE, and they can afford to take a gamble here, considering the Mahomes led offense should be able to easily cover up any defensive deficiencies for the next few years.
This Franchise tracker is based off of u/Impossible-Path3033 Franchise tracker I may not be as good of a writer as he is, but his posts inspired me to try this out, any writing tips are welcome Link to Google doc franchise tracker - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16kLvaTWTQHYY-KD-3SfETPNfad9ilKWXATJEeLY4eLk/edit?usp=sharing All credit goes to the original creators and updaters, this includes The_Original_Alex, JFresh1999, bigboymoooose and Impossible-Path3033 Just like Impossible path I'll update the tracker as I go and post stuff like this every few days or whenever I can, hope you like it =) To new beginnings- On December 4th, 2018, the NHL announced that Seattle would be getting an NHL team, making them officially the 32nd team in the NHL Seattle citizens were ecstatic and excitedly awaited the revealing of their teams colours and name. It was officially revealed for the Seattle Venom to be the 32nd team in the NHL, with the three main colours being Black, Red and Grey The organization hired DankCrayon as General Manager to get Seattle off the ground, as this is his first time as general manager, DankCrayon is hoping to bring the cup to Seattle to prove his skills The team got off the ground with the expansion draft taking place two days before the entry draft, in which Seattle held the 3rd overall pick Some notable picks from the expansion draft were CBJ: RW- Cam Atkinson EDM: RD- Ethan Bear NJD: LD- Ryan Murray PHI: LW- James Van Riemsdyk STL: LD- Vince Dunn VAN: G - Thatcher Demko WSH: LW- Jakub Vrana The picks in the draft seemed to indicate the organization was taking a high risk/high reward approach to this next season, gambling on young guns and some players returning to their former glory DankCrayon hired Daniel Persinger as head coach, Peyton Hayes as Associate Coach, Kirk Hatcher as Assistant Coach and Fred Cumiskey as Goalie Coach after being hired, Persinger said "Im looking to get this team as offensive as possible, we have a lot of forward talent that I think we can get a lot out of" First Draft in Seattle History!- Seattle had the 3rd Overall pick in there first ever draft, after the top two picks (F-Emil Mueller going to Ottawa and D-Josiah Gabo going to Minnesota) Seattle had a few options to pick from, however they surprised everyone by taking the 4th ranked player D-Sergei Mogilny instead of D-Tom Clifford When asked to provide an explanation to the pick, GM DankCrayon stated "We feel Moginly is closer to breaking the NHL line up then Clifford is, Moginly has a great offensive game that reminds us of a young PK Subban, If he could work on the defensive side of his game, I have no doubt he'll become a great defenseman for us, we'll let him play another year in Russia to round out his game". Free Agency- Seattle's first free agency was filled with depth signings to fill out their NHL and AHL rosters as the org chose to not sign anyone from the most recent draft, some notable pick ups were G- Mads Sogaard F- Charles Hudon F- Nicholas Baptiste F- Valentin Zykov F- Liam Hawel F- Beau Bennett D- Jake Dotchin Trades, Trades, Trades- It was clear that Seattle had a few big blockages of players, most noticeable was left wing and left defense, GM DankCrayon went to the trade market to fix this problem. The first trade involved trading Defensemen Jonas Brodin and Travis Dermott to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Shayne Gostisbehere, again showing management making a high risk/high reward decision, Ghost returning to his 65 point form from 2017 would be a massive win for Seattle. Another Defensive trade was made shortly after addressing the desperately needed Righthanded defense, Seattle acquired another offensive defenseman in Sami Vatanen and a 3rd round pick in exchange for Oliver Kylington and a 2nd round pick, Sami has struggled in New Jersey and is hoping to rebound in Seattle. Seattle acquired some center depth in Tyler Pitlick while also getting a 3rd round pick in exchange for next year's 3rd and 5th round picks. A deal was struck with Columbus to get defensive prospect Andrew Peeke plus a 3rd round pick in exchange for Ondrej Palat and Valeri Nichushkin. The final trade made before the season was Jake DeBrusk and Mattias Janmark being traded to LA for forward prospect Rasmus Kupari, this was needless to say a surprising trade, when asked about it GM DankCrayon said "not everyone was going to get the ice time they deserved in this system and DeBrusk's play style did not fit with Coach Persinger's style, so rather then waste Talent on the 4th line, I'd rather get a good prospect in return for him" Going into the first season- Shortly before the preseason it was announced that the team would not have a captain going into their first season and would instead have 3 alternates A - James Van Riemsdyk A - Paul Stastny A- Shayne Gostisbehere Looking at the opening line up a lot of questions still remained, would the team make it far without a star player? would Khudobin hold up in net as the starter? would the first line full of players who haven't lived up to expectations be ok? Well, after winning 6 games and only losing 1 in the preseason hopes were high for this team, would the risk pay off? or would they fail to replicate what Vegas did? https://preview.redd.it/tfc292he2jg61.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=86cbf37e1bafe4d38eee6f53d7f5b1b81bfce13f
Hello, and welcome back to Most Embarrassing Moments! Today, let's take a look at the MLB. Some of these teams, have had some of the most laughable stories that we'll look in. Before we get into the topic, don't forget to vote for tomorrow's LoF shitpost, alright, let's go. Arizona Diamondbacks - Randy Johnson was arguably the best pitcher that the D-Backs have ever had. But this was simply laughable. In 2007, Randy Johnson was almost at 300 wins for Arizona. The Diamondbacks tried to low-ball him by giving him a $2.5 million for 1 year. Understandably, he wasn't happy with the deal, and he fucked off to San Francisco. Atlanta Braves - Everything. Just everything about John Rocker. He had a decent career, but this statement was rotten. I would retire first. It's the most hectic, nerve-racking city. Imagine having to take the Number 7 train to the ballpark, looking like you're riding through Beirut next to some kid with purple hair to some queer with AIDS right next to some dude who just got out of jail for the fourth time right next to some 20-year old mom with four kids. It's depressing. John? This can't get worse, right? The biggest thing I don't like about New York are the foreigners. I'm not a very big fan of foreigners. You can walk an entire block in Times Square and not hear anybody speaking English. Asians and Koreans and Vietnamese and Indians and Russians and Spanish people and everything up there. How the hell did they get in this country? Are you fucking kidding me? Baltimore Orioles - I could go far away back in 1951, when the Orioles were the St. Louis Browns, they had to use a fucking stage performer to bat, but no, I'm going to for the infamous 30-run game. This Orioles team allowed 30 runs in one game... 30 runs, HAVE YOU HEARD OF DEFENSIVE REPLACEMENTS?! Boston Red Sox - I could go for the Babe Ruth Trade, I could go for the that time Tony Canigliaro got hit in the face with the ball, but no, the clear winner here is Bill Buckner. Mookie Wilson hit a slow roller at Buckner at first base. So Buckner was aware that Mookie Wilson was really fast. So he tried to rush the play, but the ball rolled through the left side of his glove and through his legs to allow Ray Knight to score the winning run. Bill... oh god no. Chicago Cubs - This was the epitome of embarrassment. So the Cubs had a 3-0 lead and a 3-2 series lead in the 2003 NLCS. Luis Castillo hits a fly ball into foul territory in left field. Bartman reaches out and deflects the ball robbing Moises Alou of a potential catch. Then the Marlins murdered the Cubs in the 9th inning and they went on to win the NLCS and the World Series. But after the incident, this was just absolutely rotten. Fans started throwing debris and shouted insults at the poor man. You only have yourself to blame on that one, lads. Shocking. Chicago White Sox - This was too easy to find. We should all know about the 1919 Black Sox Scandal. Eight players of the team were banned for life for throwing games on purpose during 1919 World Series, Arnold Gandil decided to be a fucking idiot and get a New York gangster to get money for fucking gambit, and it all ended in 8 players being banned, and so did Joe Jackson. Cincinnati Reds - Pete Rose was one of the greatest baseball players to ever play the game, but this was just absolutely out of line. He was a fucking idiot... who gambled on his own team. What? Cleveland Indians - This was one of the worst ideas that I've seen. So back on June 4, 1974, The Indians were a dumpster fire. Their attendance was ass, everything was fucked. So Ted Bonda decided to make an event called "10-Cent All-You-Can Drink Night". The idea work so well that the attendance was 25,000, but they were forced to forfeit their game because the fans were drunk and decided to throw cups on the field. Way to go, Ted. You really outdone yourself. Colorado Rockies - That streak.. JUST THAT STREAK! I'm mad too, Troy. Detroit Tigers - Oh, how could we forget about the 119-loss season. The starting rotation was absolutely fucking terrible. Nate Cornejo, Jeremy Bonderman, and Mike Maroth? Are you fucking kidding me? And their offense was led by Dmitri fucking Young, and their defense was... oh boy. Houston Astros - *BANG BANG BANG\ *evilly laughs** Oh, how little you truly knew about the deal you made. Los Angeles Angels - Game Five of the 1986 ALCS. Oh my goodness. Dave Henderson hit a home run and he got the game winning sac fly. Off of their reliever Donnie Moore. That loss made them go 16 years without a postseason appearance. And to top it all off, Donnie Moore, committed suicide after shooting his wife 3 times. Christ above. Los Angeles Dodgers - This was so shocking. So back in 2011, Frank McCourt had to file the DODGERS for bankruptcy. What a total fucking idiot. Thank god he sold the team to Guggenheim Baseball Management, OR THE DODGERS WOULDN'T HAVE A TEAM! Kansas City Royals - Their attendance. That is all. To be honest, I'd stay home if I didn't have shitty baseball teams. Miami Marlins - The Marlins 1997 World Series was the best World Series in my opinion. But after that, it was a fucking hellhole. The Marlins were in financial troubles. So what did Wayne Huizenga do? Traded their best players, and that ended up being a 100-loss season the year after. Milwaukee Brewers - Ryan Braun is a Brewers legend. But in 2012, after winning the NL MVP, he tested positive for using steroids. Great job, Ryan! Minnesota Twins - This team gets bitchslapped every year they face those Damn Yankees in the playoffs. This is why I've never taken this team seriously. New York Mets - HOW THE FUCK DO YOU CHOKE A 7-RUN LEAD?! ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?! Poor FivePoints. I feel sorry for that bastard. New York Yankees - You lost in the 2001 World Series. In 7 games. To the expansion team known as the Arizona Diamondbacks. I feel nothing. Oakland Athletics - After 3 straight World Series Championships, they traded Reggie Jackson and Ken Holtzmann to those Damn Yankees. In return, Mike Torrez, Paul Mitchell and Don Baylor all hit 15 home runs all season, while Jackson and Holtzmann would win 2 straight WS Championships with the Yankees. My goodness. Philadelphia Phillies - 10,000 losses. My good lord. Pittsburgh Pirates - The 1980's were wild, weren't they? Try a cocaine ring in the depths of Three Rivers Stadium. Some of the players were NL MVP Keith Hernandez and Tim Raines. Jesus. San Diego Padres - The Padres and the World Series are not friends at all. 1-8 in the Fall Classic? Fucking brutal. San Francisco Giants - STEROIDS, JUST THAT! Seattle Mariners - Oh, Mariners, Mariners, Mariners. How could we forget that 2001 season. You had the best record in all of baseball, and you punched your fans in the dick by getting obliterated in the ALCS by... WHADDAYA KNOW, THE DAMN YANKEES!! St. Louis Cardinals - How do you lowball your best player, and let him walk for 10 years? This is why you're fucking terrible. Tampa Bay Rays - The Rays were bulking up their core after their 2011 ALDS loss to the Texas Rangers. They acquired Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez. But Manny decided to be a fucking idiot and use PEDs and was forced to retire. Texas Rangers - David fucking Freese, what a joke. Toronto Blue Jays - How the fuck do you lose your last 7? You have some of the best players in George Bell, Jesse Barfield, Lloyd Moseby, and a young Fred McGriff, and you collapse like that. Washington Nationals - Drew Storen. That fucking hack gave up 4 runs. 4 FUCKING RUNS! Anyway, that is the end of this presentation, you let me know what moment should be in this list, let me know in the comments below. If you enjoyed this post, make sure to upvote and I will see you in the LoF! Have a nice night, everyone.
Jameis Winston Every Play Weeks 9-10 While I really hope it’s not the case, there’s a non-zero chance that Drew Brees has played his last snap in the NFL. The legendary QB turns 43 in less than 2 months, and received an early birthday gift this past Sunday, in the form of multiple broken ribs and a collapsed lung. While the outlook for his return is nebulous at the moment, there’s no doubt that he will miss at least several weeks, leaving the door open for Jameis Winston to step in as the starter. Winston looked so-so in relief of Brees during the 2nd half of Week 10, going 6/10 passing for 63 yards, with no TDs or INTs. Most of the passes were quick 3-step drops, designed to go to a hot route at or behind the line of scrimmage, which was a smart strategic move on Sean Payton’s part. This was doubly reinforced by the few times Winston looked to throw the ball deep, during which he was nearly intercepted, and was sacked twice. The two sacks came in consecutive plays deep in the redzone, and the latter was a result of Winston displaying poor pocket awareness. It seemed like Winston overreacted to the previous play, and balked at nonexistent pressure, ultimately stepping up into defenders who would have otherwise been cleanly blocked. While it would have been nice to see a more impressive fill-in performance from Winston, it’s important to remember that besides a single garbage time throw and several kneel-downs in Week 9’s blowout, this was the first meaningful action Winston has seen since being the Buccaneers starter in 2019, and the game was hanging in the balance. The Saints will likely utilize a short passing game to let Kamara and the skill position players carry the load for the offense, and Payton now has a blank check to pull out all the stops with his playcalling. Taysom Hill Every Play Weeks 1-10 …Which brings me to Taysom. The do-it-all QB/RB/WTE/LB/PHD/.JPEG should be more involved than ever with Drew Brees out, but make no mistake, Hill will not be the traditional starter at QB unless we see true vintage 30TD-30INT Winston. The Saints use Hill to run read-options, to catch passes, and even to throw bombs on flea-flickers, but the 4th year utility player has only 18 total passing attempts across his 573 offensive snaps with the team. At 6’2”, 221lbs, Hill is an absolute unit of a ball-carrier, and he has surprising burst and wiggle. He is much more on the power end of the spectrum, yet he is also an ankle collector who will regularly leave tacklers grabbing at air, and is a competent route runner to boot. Most of Hill’s value lies in his redzone usage, and if not for being tackled within the 3-yard line seemingly every game, Hill could easily have a handful of touchdowns on the season. He had also been coming on strong prior to Brees’s injury, as Weeks 8 and 9 saw Hill rack up a total of 140 yards as a runnereceiver, to go along with 48 yards as a passer. Moreover, Hill carries dual designation as QB and TE on ESPN, and potentially on other platforms as well. Besides the small top-tier of tight ends in fantasy, most guys at the position are touchdown-or bust anyway when it comes to providing value. If your platform allows Hill to be started as one, he brings a unique blend of involvement and touchdown upside in the upcoming weeks. Wayne Gallman Every Play Weeks 1-9 | Every Play Week 10 A top waiver target last week, hopefully you were able to grab Gallman before the news broke of Devonta Freeman being added to the IR for his ankle woes. Gallman is not a sexy name, and I think some of it can be chalked up to the guy having been on the team for a few years now, with no real success to speak of when he did get his chances to shine here and there. Hell, I even saw Alfred Morris truthers out and about last week, but Alf followed up his Week 9 workload split (10 touches, 16 snaps, 21% snap share) with a nearly identical Week 10 workload split (8 touches, 15 snaps, 21% snap share). Gallman is clearly the back to own for the Giants, and he added to his 3-game scoring streak by cashing in twice on the goalline in Week 10, making it 5 total rushing TDs in the past 4 games. His 18 carries and 59% snap share were both season-highs, although a measly 2.9YPC limited his fantasy impact. After his strong involvement contributed to a big division win in Week 10, Gallman should see similar work after he comes out of the Week 11 bye to face the woeful Bengals defense. Kalen Ballage Every Play Weeks 2-9 | Every Play Week 10 People can clown him all they want, but Ballage is quietly playing a workhorse role for the Chargers over the past two weeks. With Justin Jackson the latest LAC running back to hit the IR, Ballage has been far and away the leader in this backfield, and he saw a big uptick in playing time from his Week 9 Chargers debut. Logging a 73% snap share, Ballage turned 24 opportunities into 102 scrimmage yards, and was just barely denied a goalline score. He is being shown tons of trust from the coaching staff, who again gave him rushing attempts on 4th down, as well as entrusting him to pass block for their rookie franchise QB. Fellow RB Troymaine Pope technically returned after missing a game due to a concussion, but he failed to log a single offensive snap. Joshua Kelley has no injury to report, yet he saw only 17 snaps in Week 10, marking his lowest snap count of the season. Until Ekeler returns, Ballage should continue to thrive in this offense, and with news that Ekeler likely won’t even practice this week, Ballage should safely remain locked in as a solid RB2 when the Chargers host the lowly Jets. Nyheim Hines Every Play Weeks 1-6 | Every Play Weeks 8-10 Jonathan Taylor managers have officially reached DEFCON-1 levels of panic. The highly-touted rookie saw his lowest snap count of the season in Week 9, and followed that up with an even lower snap count in Week 10. Hines, on the other hand, balled out in a birthday explosion which saw him tie or exceed season-highs in carries, rushing yards, snap total, and snap percentage. He amassed 115 total yards, and scored twice, once on the ground, and once through the air. Hines was already known as the most explosive athlete in the Colts backfield, but his limited opportunity made him too risky a start, considering he would have to be ultra-efficient on his 20ish snaps in order to return worthwhile value. However, now that we know that this type of usage is a possibility, Hines becomes an interesting play this week. He already commanded every snap in 2-minute drills, and tons of passing-down work, but Week 10 showed what he can do with more consistent usage throughout a game. He carries high risk this week, considering how he followed up his Week 1 explosion with an absolute dud in Week 2. However, if there’s ever a time to gamble on him, it’s definitely in a home matchup with Green Bay’s atrocious rushing defense. Salvon Ahmed Every Play Week 9 | Every Play Week 10 I don’t know what is going on in Miami these days, but there’s gotta be something in the water. Their defense is surprisingly looking like one of the best in the league, the QB switch from Fitz to Tua could not have gone any smoother, and now they are getting great RB play from a guy who was basically 5th in line on the depth chart. 2020 is wild man. The UDFA rookie was initially signed by the 49ers after the 2020 draft, but they couldn’t possibly need RB depth this year, so he ended up in Miami as the backup to Myles Gaskin, who he also backed up in college at Washington. With Gaskin on the IR, Ahmed stepped up in a big way in Week 10, logging a massive 76% snap share, and posting 90 scrimmage yards to go along with a score. As Matt Breida is currently out nursing a pesky hamstring injury, and with the release of Jordan Howard, Patrick Laird is the only other candidate to take snaps from Ahmed. Laird really didn’t do that in Week 10, logging more special teams snaps than offensive snaps, which he has done in every single game this season. Ahmed, on the other hand, looked explosive and decisive, following his blocks well on short-yardage attempts, as well as making defenders miss in the second level. He is built almost exactly like Gaskin, although his lone target across two weeks suggests that the Dolphins may not utilize him in the receiving game in the same way. Either way, as long as Gaskin is out, Ahmed has a chance to pop off in upcoming matchups with the Broncos, Jets, and Bengals. Cole Beasley Every Play Weeks 1-6 | Every Play Weeks 7-10 Through 7 weeks of the season, Beasley was the model of consistency in PPR, seeing at least 6 targets in all but one of the 7 contests, as Josh Allen looked to be putting together a fantasy MVP campaign. Then Week 8 came, and Allen completed only 11 passes in an ugly rain game vs the defending SB champs, which explained away the fact that Beasley struggled to the tune of 2-24-0 on just 2 targets. However, Week 9 brought Beasley probably the best possible WR matchup in the Seahawks, and Beasley disappointed again, hauling in his 3 targets for 39 yards. He also didn’t register a single target in the second half, despite Allen throwing for a season-high 415 yards. This is likely because fellow WR John Brown was finally healthy and involved in Week 9, seeing 11 targets against the Seahawks after struggling through injury all season. Beasley bounced back in a big way in Week 10, to the tune of 11-109-1 on 13 targets, and now Smoke is dealing with an ankle injury he picked up in the game. With Brown’s availability already in question for a game two weeks away, it’s unlikely that he returns as a healthy player in Week 12, which should further reassure Beasley managers. The Bills are on bye in Week 11, but in Week 12 Beasley gets a chance to shine against a Chargers defense which has struggled against the passing game. Michael Pittman Jr. Every Play Weeks 1-10 The rookie WR from USC is coming on strong after returning from an early-season injury, breaking out for 122 total yards in Week 10. After logging back-to-back games with 57+ snaps, MPJ looks to have recovered fully from his odd injury, a form of compartment leg syndrome which forced him to have surgery after Week 3’s contest. The 6’4” WR has yet to be given a chance to show off his massive catch radius in the endzone, but Week 10 saw Philip Rivers target MPJ several times deep in the redzone. In fact, he could have easily logged multiple touchdowns in his breakout day, but was tackled at the 1-yard line on a redzone slant, and took an end-around 20+ yards before being tackled at the 2-yard line. With the Packers coming to the dome for a Week 11 matchup, MPJ could be primed for another big game. Curtis Samuel Every Play Weeks 1-5 | Every Play Weeks 7-10 The often-overlooked 3rd option in the Panthers offense behind DJ Moore and Robby Anderson, Samuel has quietly put together consistent usage numbers with McCaffery out. The speedster has played on at least 70% of snaps in 6 of 9 games, and hasn’t seen fewer than 4 targets since Week 2. He has also logged at least one rushing attempt in every game so far, and has converted 2 rushing scores. Fantasy managers probably took notice after Samuel’s Week 7-9 stretch, where he put up a total of 225 scrimmage yards and 4TDs across the 3 games. However, a dud in Week 10, combined with the news of Teddy Bridgewater’s knee injury, could lead to him being dropped during this week’s round of waivers. Samuel was involved early and often in a tight first-half contest with the Buccaneers in Week 10, but Tampa Bay absolutely dominated the time of possession in the second half through long drives and forced turnovers. As a result, Samuel only saw a single target in the second half, an incomplete pass from backup QB PJ Walker in the waning minutes of what had morphed into a blowout. Matt Rhule should be able to set up a good gameplan around PJ Walker for the upcoming matchups with Detroit and Minnesota, and it should feature plenty of Samuel. Marquez Valdes-Scantling Every Play Weeks 1-4 | Every Play Weeks 6-10 Bring on the hate. I don’t like it any more than you, and I’m personally not touching the guy since there are better options in my leagues. But after two big weeks which saw MVS haul in a total of 202 yards and 3TDs, he’s made a convincing case to be picked up in standard scoring leagues. After all, he is playing 60+ snaps with an Aaron Rodgers who is absolutely dealing right now, heavy winds and all. News of Allen Lazard’s impending return will turn managers off, as will a bad matchup with the Colts, and of course MVS’s tendency to drop easy catches doesn’t help either. But if you’re down bad, especially in deeper roster formats which start lots of WRs, you could do way worse than MVS. On average, he’s playing on 88% of the offensive snaps in the past 7 contests, and it will likely take a bit before Lazard cuts into that too much. Logan Thomas Every Play Weeks 1-9 | Every Play Week 10 Probably the most consistent tight end outside of the elite tier, Thomas is still available on tons of waiver wires. In Week 10 vs the Lions, he put up another solid day for the position, grabbing 4 of 6 targets for 66 yards. He also came close to scoring his 3rd touchdown in 4 games, by hauling in a catch at the 2-yard line, and then later drawing a holding flag on an endzone target. Thomas has been playing a massive amount of snaps this season, and Week 10 saw him log an astounding 87 snaps. According to the Football Outsiders database, there have only been 2 single-game snap counts higher from a skill-position player in 2020, Cooper Kupp (92) and Robert Woods (88), both in Week 8. Thomas is 3rd among tight ends in offensive snap percentage, and 9th among tight ends in total offensive snaps. The guy just doesn’t come off the field for the Washington offense, and with Alex Smith throwing the pigskin a whopping 55 times in Week 10, there should be plenty of opportunities for Thomas in the upcoming weeks. Speaking of, the upcoming matchups for Thomas are quite juicy, with the Bengals and Cowboys on the slate.
Offseason Blueprint: The Toronto Raptors already had their fairy tale ending, but now they'd like a sequel
The playoffs continue to rage on, but there are 26 teams sitting at home with nothing to do but twiddle their thumbs, watch the Conference Finals, and wait for next season to start. For their sake, we wanted to look ahead with the next edition of the OFFSEASON BLUEPRINT series. In each, we'll preview some big decisions and make some recommendations for plans of attack along the way. Today, we're looking at the Toronto Raptors step one: Wish Upon a Star... When the Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies came into the league (in 1995), expectations weren't terribly high. They felt like filler teams, made for Michael Jordan to break records against. Maybe they'd have a playoff appearance here and there, but there's way that they'd ever be an elite contender. There was no way that some random ass team from Canada would rise to the top of the league. Sadly, Vancouver has fallen off the map (for now), but Toronto has exploded as one of the best stories and best franchises in the association. This fairy tale didn't happen overnight. The Raptors had some nice moments and nice young stars in the past -- Damon Stoudamire, Vince Carter, Chris Bosh -- but they won a grand total of 1 playoff series over their first 20 seasons in the NBA. Given that, their latest stretch has been remarkable. They've won 48 games for seven seasons in a row, including 50+ in each of the last five. They won with Kawhi Leonard, but they managed to survive and stay relevant without him as well. Making the playoffs has become part of their DNA. Masai Ujiri, Nick Nurse, and Kyle Lowry have earned a lot of attention and credit for that (rightfully so), but we also have to give credit to Coach Dwane Casey and DeMar DeRozan for helping to get the ball rolling in the first place. Wisely, the Raptors locked up Nick Nurse to a contract extension this offseason. The next step should be doing the same with Ujiri. The fact that high-profile teams and big markets like the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, L.A. Lakers, and L.A. Clippers all have power brokers in place should be seen as a positive there. There aren't many franchises that in a position to throw $10M+ his way. Still, there's no reason the team should let their magic genie Ujiri go. In a league where role players get $10-15M a year, top executives deserve to get obscenely rich as well. Losing Ujiri would sting badly -- not only for basketball reasons, but also for reputation reasons. The Raptors have had all their wishes come true so far; they can't start pinching pennies now just because it's expensive to varnish a magic lamp. step two: convince FVV that there is nothing more than this provincial life It's the dream of every college basketball player to earn the attention and affection of NBA scouts. At Wichita State, Fred VanVleet did his part to turn their eye. He started 100+ games, and helped lead the Shockers to a combined record of 121-24 across four seasons on campus. When he finally strolled into the NBA ballroom... he received nothing but crickets. Eyerolls. Murmurs about his unappealing body. He didn't get drafted at all. Now, four seasons and one championship later, the league suitors are singing a different tune. It's going to be a weak free agent class, and FVV is one of the Belles of the ball. There's talk that he can generate $15M, $18M, $20M! in salary per season. Heck, I've even heard some talk like 4 years, $100M (that's $25M per year, if you're no bookworm like Belle.) Ironically, it's some of the same qualities that made NBA scouts dismiss him that make FVV an appealing target now. He's shorter and stubbier, but that strength allows him to play and defend both PG and SG. In fact, basketball-reference charted him as playing 56% of his minutes at SG this season. VanVleet's shooting prowess (39.3% from three for his career) also fits like a glove in the modern NBA. He can be a lead guard, or he can be a complementary 3+D spacing guard... he can do a variety of things to win a team win. As such, he's a "high floor" and "high character" acquisition that can justify an inflated salary, a la Malcolm Brogdon last year (who got 4 years, $85M total from Indiana.) VanVleet would be a valuable addition to any team, but he's especially valuable to this particular Toronto team. He's already shown that he can play alongside Kyle Lowry, but he may have an even larger role in the future. Lowry's massive contract ($30M per year) is coming off the books after next year. As good as Lowry has been, he's 34 now, and he's not going to be a viable starter forever. VanVleet can continue to play in tandem with Lowry now, and then potentially take the reins of the lead guard position for the next 5 years after. Through that lens, $20M doesn't sound unreasonable at all. I also like the idea of retaining some members of the title team as long as possible, as it adds prestige to the franchise. No doubt, the Raps will want VanVleet back, even if he's paid $20M per season. He may be worth that. The question is: what happens if he gets offered more than he's worth? What if the Knicks get crazy and offer him $25M or more? Toronto can't get into an unreasonable bidding war, but they can evoke VanVleet's emotional connection to the franchise and fan base. They helped give him the development and opportunity to become a star. And while Toronto isn't a traditional "big market" compared to New York City, it may be more appealing. Toronto’s a thriving city, where $20 (or $20M) goes a lot further than NYC. Moreover, VanVleet will be a beloved member of the Raptors' franchise and their legacy. If he goes off to be a hired gun somewhere else, those new fans may turn on him as soon as his shooting slumps. If Toronto is effectively "The Beast" (that you learned to love), the Knicks may be "Gaston," the showy rival that you'll only end up resenting. I truly believe that VanVleet is better off in Toronto (even at 80-90% of the price) than going to a franchise like the Knicks. Of course, it's not my decision to make. step three: Jack and the (singular) Beanstalk Presuming that Toronto is able to come up with a new accord with Fred VanVleet, they'll have limited coins left in the purse. They may need to make a decision regarding their bigs, with both Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka entering free agency as well. These are two decorated veterans who have gotten used to gold (this season, Gasol made $25.5M and Ibaka made $23M.) While the Raptors' frontcourt depth helped them win a title, it doesn't make sense to double dip and OVERLOAD on the position. The modern NBA doesn't cater to centers, so you don't want to tilt your salary cap too much in that direction. Moreover, backup Chris Boucher (also a free agent) deserves some more playing time. It's very realistic for the team to pick one of their current bigs, and roll with Boucher as a backup. Between the two bigs, I'd lean to retaining Serge Ibaka over Marc Gasol myself. As always, Gasol's raw stats -- 7.5 points and 6.3 rebounds -- don't reflect his actual value. He's a good, heady basketball player who is able to stretch the court offensively. Even at age 35, he's still a good defensive presence. In fact, ESPN's RPM metric graded him as a +3.4 impact per 100 possessions on defense, 5th best among all centers. Still, it's hard to ignore the age factor. Gasol's 35 now, and turning 36 in January. Based on either the eye test or analytics, you can see some decline in his play. Retaining him on a 1-year deal would make sense, but anything more than that would be risky. Meanwhile, Serge Ibaka is no spring chicken himself. He's listed at 31 (and some think he may be older than that.) Still, he doesn't appear to be in as noticeable of a decline. He still has some spring to his legs, which aids him as a rim protector and also helps him convert inside on offense. He actually outpaced Gasol this year in terms of true shooting percentage 58% to 55%. Overall, Gasol vs. Ibaka is fairly even right now, but we'd have to lean in favor of the younger player as we project to the future. All things (and contracts) being equal, I'd re-sign Serge Ibaka. If Gasol wants to undercut Ibaka and come in for a cheaper deal, then that's a legitimate option as well. Center is less of a priority for all teams right now, and the Raps shouldn't overpay for competent play down low. step four: dream of a date with Prince Charming, but settle for Prince Charming-Enough The Toronto Raptors and their fans have their eyes on the prize: Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak may hit free agency in 2021, at which point the Raptors could be a legitimate contender for his services. Realistically, it's hard to imagine the team clearing enough space to sign Antetokounmpo outright. They'd have the room if they didn't re-sign Fred VanVleet or Serge Ibaka to long-term deals, but if they did that, why would Antetokounmpo want to come play for them? He's not leaving Milwaukee unless he signs up with a superior roster. More likely, Toronto would need to work out some sign and trade centered on Pascal Siakam (and his $30M salary.) If the Raptors had the chance to grab Antetokounmpo, they wouldn't mind waving their diamond in the rough Siakam goodbye. There's some duplication to their talents and skill sets, only Antetokounmpo is a much better version of it. He's also about a year younger. With a Siakam to Antetokounmpo upgrade, the Raps would be right back in the title picture again. While this whole entry has been about fairy tales, let's take a step back and presume that doesn't happen. What then...? The first step would be trying to put Siakam in better situations to score. He had been incredibly efficient as a secondary option behind Kawhi Leonard, crashing in the paint and shooting 60.2% from two-point range. This past season, as the go-to scorer, he found those shots harder to come by and saw his two-point percentage plummet down to 49.9%. As a result, his true shooting numbers crashed from 62.8% to 55.4%. Some of that is injury related, but a lot of it is shot distribution and defensive attention. Simply put, Siakam had to work a lot harder to get his points. The prior season, 49% of his twos and 98% of his threes were assisted. This year, those numbers dropped to 42% and 66% respectively. He also took longer threes. In 2018-19, 68% of his three pointers came in the corner. This year, that dropped to 22%. (All numbers courtesy of basketball-reference.) Overall, the Raptors may need to rethink their usage of Siakam and have him take a step back as a lead option. While the team was still successful overall, their offense wasn't any great shakes, ranking 14th overall. That has to improve if they want to win the East again. One way to potentially do that is to redistribute the scoring wealth. Rather than treating Siakam as a top option, treat him as an option. He's a solid scorer and ball mover -- like most of his teammates -- so let's get them all involved equally. The Raptors goal should be to have their top 6 players (Siakam, Lowry, FVV, O.G. Anunoby, Ibaka/Gasol, and Norman Powell) all average around 15 points per game. They can also get more from rising players like Chris Boucher, Terence Davis, and Matt Thomas (a better marksman than Snow White's Huntsman). With balanced scoring like that from all over the roster, they may be able to get their offense back into the top 10. Better still, they may spin a whole new fairy tale for the Canadian kids to enjoy. previous offseason blueprints ATL, BKN, CHA, CHI, CLE, DAL, DET, HOU, IND, GS, LAC, MIL, MIN, NYK, ORL, POR, SA, SAC, UTA
Offseason Blueprint: if the Boston Celtics turn their Big Hero 6 into the Magnificent Seven, they may be in the Finals themselves next year
The NBA Finals are underway, but there are now 28 teams sitting at home with nothing to do but twiddle their thumbs, watch LeBron, and wait for next season to start. For their sake, we wanted to look ahead with the next edition of the OFFSEASON BLUEPRINT series. In each, we'll preview some big decisions and make some recommendations for plans of attack along the way. Today, we're looking at the Boston Celtics. step one: don't flush money down the toilet This is a difficult entry to write, because the Boston Celtics are a good team without any major problems hanging over their head. They were top 5 in W-L record, top 5 in point differential. They finished 4th in offense, 4th in defense. They advanced to the Conference Finals, knocking off a tough Toronto team along the way. If they rolled it back next season, they should be considered a top 5 team once again. If you can nitpick, you can find reasons to quibble with some of their big splash free agency signings. Gordon Hayward got a huge contract and didn't sustain his All-Star level (for reasons out of his control.) Last offseason, the team gave out another huge contract to Kemba Walker ($32M + $34M + $36M + $38M player option), and they may be regretting that now. Walker never looked at 100% health and he got picked on some defensively in the playoffs. The idea of paying him that kind of money for three more seasons may be a little scary. Of course, there's no use crying over spilled milk. Gordon Hayward will likely "opt in" to his $34M player option. Is that an overpay? Sure. Still, Hayward is still a solid starter with a balanced skill set. With another year removed from that injury, he may take another step up. As for Walker, the hope is that he'll do the same with an offseason to recover and another year in the system. It can't be easy to go from the star of a franchise to the 2nd or 3rd option. In fact, most of Walker's offensive decline can be chalked up to a reduced role. His PPG dropped from 25.6 to 20.4, but that comes after his minutes dropped by 3.8 and his field goal attempts dropped by 4.4 per game. In terms of his efficiency, there wasn't a big difference. He actually scored a higher true shooting percentage (up from 56% to 58%). His offensive box plus/minus stayed near the same at + 4.9, which ranked as the highest on Boston's team. Walker didn't look great in the bubble, but I'm going to chalk that up to some lingering injuries. He's still only 30 years old, so he hasn't gotten materially worse in a year. Will he get much worse by age 32? At 33? That's possible. But again, the Celtics have already committed to that. They can try to float trade packages for Walker to get off that contract, but I don't see teams beating down their door for it. If a team like the Knicks wants Walker, they may not offer anything back in return (aside from their willingness to take the contract.) Given Boston's situation as a team on the verge of the Finals, it doesn't make a lot of sense to take a step back like that just for cap relief. step two: promote a temp to a full time desk The Boston Celtics have a very strong "top six." You have the two rising stars in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. You have the two veterans in Kemba Walker and Gordon Hayward. You have the super role players in Marcus Smart and Daniel Theis. After that, it's more of a grab bag. No other player on the team averaged more than 20 minutes a night in the regular season, and no other player averaged more than 18 minutes a night in the postseason. A team can make a deep run in the playoffs by going six strong, but it makes the margin of error narrower. When one of those players gets hurt -- like Gordon Hayward did this postseason -- it strains your depth. Beyond that, having an extra member of the full-time cast allows your players to take nights off and manage their minutes in anticipation of that deep playoff run. Hayward and Walker are both 30 now, so it's going to be important to keep them fresh. Effectively, we want to take this "top six" and make it a "top seven." (Hence the post title.) The top candidate for a promotion would be rookie PF Grant Williams. To me, Williams has more offensive potential than fellow forward Semi Ojeleye. After three good years at Tennessee, Williams dropped to # 22 in the draft based on the perception that he was more of a "college player" who couldn't keep up with NBA athletes. That didn't look to be the case so far for Williams (or for Cam Johnson in Phoenix, by the by.) Williams is a high-IQ player who can potentially play several different positions. He needs to keep increasing his range (25% from three), but he's been working toward that over his career. If he can take a leap next year, that'd be a major boon for the Celtics. Fellow rookies Romeo Langford and Carsen Edwards may be slightly behind on the development curve, but it'd be great if they could get on the track toward the rotation eventually. Langford projects as a quality scorer who could potentially replace Gordon Hayward in the lineup in 1-2 years. Meanwhile, Edwards was a major shot maker in college who still has a lot of work to do. It may be too optimistic to think he could be a starter one day, but perhaps he could take the reserve role from Brad Wanamaker (a free agent.) If not, Tremont Waters (another rookie) may try to vie for that spot himself. It's not exactly Game of Thrones, but it's Game of Bench Seats. If nothing are ready for 15 or so minutes, then the team may need to re-sign Wanamaker or another filler vet. In an ideal world, the Celtics would have faith that Robert Williams would be ready for an elevated role himself. They may lean more toward smallball bigs, but it's nice to have the option of a more traditional big at center as well. Enes Kanter has a player option for $5M that he may take -- he may not. He may try to finagle a longer-term deal somewhere. But if the team trusts the Time Lord, they can negotiate from a position of strength on that front. No matter what happens, the Celtics will likely need their "7th man" to come from within. They have $120M committed on the cap for next season, so they're going to need to rely on internal improvements. step three: bundle like the Big Short If you thought the Boston Celtics had a lot of prospects in their "farm system" already, just wait. In this upcoming draft, they'll have pick # 14. And pick # 26. And pick # 30. And pick # 47. Danny Ainge has always valued the draft and having a lot of picks, but we don't need this many. After all, we're trying to win the NBA title, not the G-League title. The most obvious tactic would be bundling up these assets and trying to upgrade somehow. Like in The Big Short, perhaps a bunch of low-end assets can equal something of value. Still, the Celtics and their fans need to be reasonable here. They've tried bundling up lower draft picks in order to move for a while now, and always seem surprised when teams reject it (thinking of the potential Justise Winslow trade-up, primarily.) The truth is, these mid-to-late R1 picks aren't as valuable as many people seem to think. If the team packages all four of those picks together (14, 26, 30, 47) in order to move up, they may only land around pick # 9 or so. This isn't the NFL; NBA teams tend to value quality over quantity in the draft. For a team that's already pretty strong and balanced, there may be a tendency to keep all their picks and just swing for a home run or two. The trouble is: there's only so much room on the roster. Consolidating (or pushing some of those picks back to future drafts) may be necessary. If the Celtics can't move up and stay at # 14, they should have the option of getting another solid prospect. Some that may be intriguing to me personally would be Arizona SG/SF Josh Green ("Green"? karmic!), Villanova SF Saddiq Bey, or Maryland PF Jalen Smith. All three are quality prospects that project as rotational players in a year or two. A bigger home run swing may be Aleksej Pokusevski, the skilled 7'0" stretch big from Serbia. Pokusevski's narrow frame would make me nervous to bet on him if I was a GM on the ropes who needed to hit on my pick, but the Celtics have more freedom than that. They can take some chances if they want. Other upside plays would include PG/SG R.J. Hampton (U.S./New Zealand) and SF Jaden McDaniels (Washington). With the # 26 pick, the Celtics could also get a decent prospect as well. You can never go wrong with a traditional 3+D prospect like SF Robert Woodard (Mississippi State). I also wouldn't rule out taking a traditional big like Vernon Carey (Duke). No one wants traditional scoring bigs anymore, but that's the reason that a player like that (who averaged 18-9 as a freshman) would slip down to # 24. In another era, the kid may be a top 10 pick. At the very least, he could replace the Enes Kanter role as a scoring sub. step four: keep on truckin' Hmm. Usually these offseason blueprints have 4 or 5 steps, but I'm running out of ideas here. As mentioned, things are running pretty smoothly for this franchise. I don't think Danny Ainge needs much help from reddit right now. Still, I'll throw in some minor little notes that don't even merit a full section. WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU? The Celtics have a lot of shot makers, but sometimes their offense can stall and fall into iso or hero ball. They need to keep pushing forward with ball movement and set plays if need be. One stat I noticed: Jaylen Brown is an exceptional shooter from the corner. He's at 43% from his career, and that swelled to 48% this season. Running action to get him more of those shots would be helpful. REUNITE GERMANY. The team has a $5M option on center Daniel Theis that they'll definitely pick up. After that, Theis will be an unrestricted free agent. If I ran the team, I'd start talking to Theis about an extension. There may be a perception that the team can play any smallball center and save some money at the position, but I'd disagree. Theis is an underrated player that fits the modern NBA well. There may be a matchup here and there where he struggles, but overall he's a good starter and may need to be paid like one. He's still a little "under the radar," so perhaps they can get a team-friendly deal if they extend him now. KEEP YOUR COACHING DEPTH STRONG. Celtics assistant coach Jay Larranaga is one of the better lieutenants in the game. He had been floated for some head coaching jobs in the past, but seems to have been lost in the shadows with all the major movement on the sidelines this year. Hopefully, for Boston's sake, Larranaga doesn't feel discouraged by that and doesn't start looking for head coaching opportunities elsewhere. His father is a good college coach, and he may decide to go that NCAA route eventually himself. The team should keep him well compensated so he doesn't feel the need to do that. Overall, we're talking minor tweaks for this next season. The Celtics' chances of winning a title will hinge on how much they can improve -- both from their young stars and from their young bench. other offseason blueprints ATL, BKN, CHA, CHI, CLE, DAL, DEN, DET, HOU, IND, GS, LAC, LAL, MEM, MIA, MIL, MIN, NO, NYK, OKC, ORL, PHI, PHX, POR, SA, SAC, TOR, UTA, WAS
The Minnesota Gambling Control Board regulates the licensing of managers. The requirements for the licensing of a gambling manager are found on the state’s website. Our agency makes meeting the surety bond requirement easy and it will only take a few minutes of your time. Amount of Surety Bond – Qualifying – Premium . Required by statute, the Minnesota gambling manager bond is a $10,000 surety bond. Gambling Enforcement conducts criminal and gaming license background investigations, and monitors the 18 tribal casinos in the state for compliance with the State-Tribal compacts. In 2020, gambling agents conducted: ... Minnesota State Lottery and Minnesota Gambling Control Board. Each month, the Minnesota Gambling Control Board conducts an online gambling manager seminar providing information on the conduct of gambling, maintaining inventory, how you can spend your money, internal controls, and reporting. The seminar is conducted over a nine-day window, and consists of an online class, three optional once-daily WebEx review ... Minnesota Gambling Manager Bonds are required by the Minnesota Gambling Control Board. The required bond amount is $10,000. Most applicants with good credit will qualify for rate indicated. In order to receive your specific quote, we must review your qualifications to determine the lowest possible price. Title: Gambling Manager's License Alternate Title: Description: The gambling manager is the person who is in charge of the day-to-day activities of an organization's gambling operation. Lawful gambling is regulated in Minnesota by the Minnesota Gambling Control Board (GCB). The average Gaming Manager salary in Minnesota is $72,870 as of December 28, 2020, but the range typically falls between $59,850 and $113,145. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on the city and many other important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession. The Burnsville Hockey Club Gambling Manager is the person in charge of the day-to-day activities of the organization’s gambling operation . Gambling Manager Requirements . The Burnsville Hockey Club Gambling Manager must meet the following criteria to qualify for the position: Be fully licensed by the Minnesota Gambling Control Board; Have a $10,000.00 bond; Have attended a Gambling Manager Seminar and passed the written test; Attend a continuing education class every calendar year Minnesota Weather: Walz Authorizes ... He suspected that Linder, the former gambling manager there, had stolen about $20,000 in gambling money. Officials with the American Legion investigated, ... Minnesota Gambling Manager bonds must be issued by an insurance carrier admitted by the Department of Insurance. The insurance company issuing any surety bond, such as the Gambling Manager bond, will also be referred to as the "surety company" or the "bond company". The business is referred to ...
You might say the Kardashians changed the way we look at money and fame. Tracy Smith sits down with Kris Jenner, the woman who literally gave birth to the mo... WagerTalk TV is a daily sports betting channel on YouTube that prepares our audience to make the most educated bets possible with free sports picks, including NFL picks, MLB picks, NBA picks, NHL ... Welcome to Audit The Audit, where we sort out the who and what and the right and wrong of police interactions. Help us grow and educate more citizens and off... Lee Mack tells his infamous 'Kent' joke leaving John Cleese & Martin Clunes in near tears.#TheGNShow #TheGrahamNortonShow #GrahamNortonFollow us!Facebook - h... 15 Things POOR People Waste Money On Sunday Motivational Video SUBSCRIBE to ALUX: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjPtOCvMrKY5eLwr_-7eUg?sub_confirmation... Created in 2019, “The Look” uses historical references and contemporary stories to highlight the bias experienced by Black men in America. The film helps to ... LATEST NEW VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cXUTJzKrHA&t=1sFOLLOW ME ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram: CassadycampbellFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/c... Here’s exactly how I built 7 income sources that generate $163,800 per month - Enjoy! Add me on Instagram: GPStephanThe YouTube Creator Academy: Learn EXACTL... Ask the Experts: Direct from the WagerTalk TV Studios in Las Vegas, WagerTalk.com’s Kelly Stewart talks with Sports Betting Expert Teddy Covers as they cover... FrontPoint Partner Mark Baum (Based off of Steve Eisman) meets CDO manager who manages on behalf of Merrill Lynch.The meeting quickly turns confrontational a...
