Bucs have cap space to improve their roster if they want but you have to find the right player at the right position. Falcons strategy is a dual strategy of building for the future but also trying to win now. Very bold but those two goals could hinder one another. Cousins contract could hinder the Falcons future down the line and like wise Penix is not being used to take advantage of a cheap rookie deal.
Outside of Pitts and London they have a lot of slot guys on offense. Which fits into what Robinson will be doing on offense with motion. But the lack of big body catchers with Cousins/Penix is a huge down side. Penix is used to playing with larger WRs in college and similar sentiment with Cousins.
Judon makes Carter better in that Carter can win 1 on 1s though now. Jarrett with Onyemata with Ruke on the inside will be tough. But the Falcons secondary is the best in the NFC South now arguably.
So what I am saying is that I don't buy the hype of the Falcons offense but I see the real potential with their defense though.
But the lack of big body catchers with Cousins/Penix is a huge down side. Penix is used to playing with larger WRs in college and similar sentiment with Cousins.
London is 6’4” and 215.
Pitts is like 6’6” and 250.
Not sure how much more big body you can get.
And, they’re SIGNIFICANTLY bigger pass catching targets than Penix had in college (and Cousins last year)
shall I list the first and second round picks we have blown?
No lol . . please dont.
The draft is definitely a crap shoot BUT its also relatively cheap.
One way to look at things is that the Bucs see themselves as over performing in a period where performance may be second to paying off "debt."
Who knows if that is true, but we had a lot of young players and UDFA last year, no big FAs. Same thing this year.
Have the Falcons and Judon agreed to a new contract yet? As of yesterday, I don't think they have. I can't find any news about it if they did. I think it's a peculiar move to trade for a player disgruntled with his current contract without agreeing to a new one first. They just took on the Pats' headache.
I think it's a peculiar move to trade for a player disgruntled with his current contract without agreeing to a new one first.
Sounds oddly familiar to another current situation.
The ESPN talking heads are swooning over ATL as the surprise sleeper team for this season. They certainly have an easier schedule than the Bucs do, and they've made some nice additions to their roster, but please let's not crown them yet. Hopefully the Bucs will show who's boss in the NFCS.
The Falcons feel like they have to go for it, and when I say "it" I mean the Superbowl. They're taking their shot right now. They just spent top ten picks on offensive skill players four years in a row. Pitts (4), London(8), Robinson (8), Penix (8). Those first three are in their peak years right now and they have to strike while the iron is hot. A bell cow RB has maybe three or four peak years and Robinson is in year two. Pitts is already in his fourth year and his talent has been wasted.
The trade for Judon and signing Simmons - well it's quite obvious that they are selling out to go for it all. It's obvious, but it has yet to totally sink in. The Bucs aren't prepared to do that (... or are they?), because they are just coming out of their own successful Superbowl shot. They aren't quite ready to sell the farm again to get one or two guys to put them over the top. But Atlanta is not content with struggling to 9-8 or 10-7 and flipping a coin with the Bucs to see who wins the NFC South. They have higher aspirations.
Will the Bucs respond?
Will the Bucs respond?
It's possible the Bucs are waiting for the '25 season. There will be a lot of free agent WR's and DE's/OLB's. A wise decision may be to hold on to you draft picks and spend wisely in '25
I agree, not worth mortgaging the future for a role player…thought Judon could have been a sneaky good solution at a reasonable price.
Wow, was I wrong!?
ATL is clearly desperate. Sometimes that works out, but walking in with a torn bicep, to fill a critical role, AND forking over 3rd rounder…that rarely does.
@Donkey_Hunter - would extending Vita, now, result in void years against cap?
DOH!Also added Jeffery Simmons.
@trask force fair point.
to play devils advocate shall I list the first and second round picks we have blown?
the draft is such a crap shoot.
[in the old PR I’d have posted a really wicked meme if Ol Homer in this space…or maybe Java would have beat me to the punch]