The Weird, Wacky and Awesome World of the NFL - General Banter thread V3

Definitely a bit of an overpay, they don’t have a lot of cap flexibility so presumably the high signing bonus is to allow them to spread the cost across multiple void years, so that’ll keep his cap number down for 2023.

This could work out great if he can stay on the field, and is probably worth the risk given where their WR room is as you say

I think it's a brave move by a team that don't often do it. When they got Boldin they won the Superbowl and I think that's the last time they spent big on a free agent WR.

I too think it's to entice Lamar to stay.

They may be looking at 2023 as an all-in year because of the uncertainty with Lamar going forward, which is understandable. The big issues is that lot of the key guys they have on offence are quite injury prone, Lamar, Stanley, Beckham, Bateman and Andrews have all missed a lot of games in recent years.

What are the odd that all those guys are healthy and rolling going in to December / January? They really are looking to catch lightning in a bottle.

Personally I like the break up until the draft and then I get involved again when voluntary ota's start.

Yeah I seen Strahan advertising it too so I'd imagine he's a studio analyst.

It just shows how ridiculous Jackson is being holding out instead of taking that. Significantly more guaranteed money than Jalen Hurts, whos both played 25% more games, and played better in those games he has played in overall, than Jackson.

Should have had "since Hurts became a starter" in that, oops. But the stats - in Hurts two full seasons as a starter in the NFL he has started and played 15 games in 2021, 15 games in 2022 in the regular seasons. 30 games

In the same years Jackson started and played 12 games in 2021, 12 in 2022. 24 games

Thats a big difference in reliability.

Hurts has also played 4 playoff games in that time period vs 0 for Jackson, on top, too.

Pretty interesting to see that other NFL team owners don't seem to have a problem paying almost $200mn in guaranteed money when its not for Jackson eh? Their anti-Jackson collusion pact must be very convoluted to allow such exceptions.

Players and teams don't negotiate long term, 5 year, heavily guaranteed contracts based on someones performance in the distant past. Based on the last two years (Hurts' only two years as an NFL starter) hes played 25% more games than Jackson due to being injured less, Hurts has had a higher overall QB rating in each season, and hes won more games at the important end of the season (regular season and playoff). Hes also gotten better every year hes been in the NFL, unlike Jackson whos been getting worse every year since his MVP season back in 2019 as teams adjust to his limitations.

Hurts is also younger, has no ego problems, and apparently has a competent management team around him. None of which applies to Jackson.

Jackson is just a far riskier bet all-round.

Which is why Jackson holding out to get a significantly bigger contract than Hurts is beyond stupid, hes just not going to get it. As the apparent complete lack of interest in offering him one around the league shows.

Hurts was a serious consideration for MVP before his injury.

The Eagles lost the two games he missed in the 2022 regular season.

Finally comparing their first two years is pointless. We can't just compare years 2 and 3 for both. You have to take in all years and Lamar has a worse injury record than Jalen. Even the injuries should be looked at. Jalen missed games with a high ankle sprain and separated shoulder.

Lamar missed time twice with a knee sprain, once with a high ankle sprain, once with lower back injury and once with concussion.

Concussion, lower back and knee are far more concerning issues.

I think the issue is that Hurts costs more if you have the Ravens WR, OC and OL. So yes I would take Hurts over Lamar at the moment however that is not a choice the Ravens have. Though I think Jackson wants the "Total" guarantees to guarantees on the previous deal so you are paying them the same (I would still take Hurts at that point but not an option for the Ravens).

Trying to move the goal posts to what hypothetical debate might have occurred in April 2022 is beyond irrelevant. The question is whats happening right now, in April 2023.

We know what the Ravens have offered Jackson, and we know he turned it down. So we have a rather well educated guess that hes holding out for more than that.

You didn't answer my question. Can you honestly say if you were a GM you'd be happy paying 10-20% more for Jackson than Hurts in the year 2023 on a long term, multi-year, heavily guaranteed, contract?

And if so, why do you think that apparently every single real life GM, and most NFL analysts, are of a completely differing opinion?

I think its funny how you say they are apples and oranges but keep comparing them.

Well Hurts missed two games and the Eagles lost both and Minshew, who I'd consider a serviceable QB, got sacked six times in one of those games. So do we blame the offensive line for that? Is there a case where they have looked better than they are by having Hurts under center.

Also on the OC situation I think it's a little unfair to say that there was a big advantage for Hurts. The Ravens were 9-4 when Lamar went down. They struggled after that. As regards receivers, they had the best receiving tight end in the league who had a bad year with injuries. He has been Lamar's favourite target for quite a while. They also lost Rashod Bateman who had looked decent before injury took its toll early in the season. It's not up to the standard of the Eagles receiving corp but it's decent if they are all fit.

Roman won the AP coordinator of the year award in 2019, the other OCs to win that award are Kyle Shanahan, Pat Shurmur and Brian Daboll. That's not bad company to be keeping.

Hurts was being talked about as a serious MVP candidate before the injury. I like Lamar but I'd take Hurts everyday over him. Hurts is a better passer, he's a really good runner too.

The similarities between an apple and an orange is that they are both round and fruits.

I clearly asked you a question about the Eagles offensive line allowing six sacks on Minshew in one game.

I mentioned the OC situation and how the guy you are dismissing, Roman, as not as good as the Eagles OC is one of four offensive coordinators to win the AP coordinator award with the other three being Kyle Shanahan, Pat Shurmur and Brian Daboll. You have nothing to say about that either.