All I can say is I apparently have a different memory of the end of the 2020 season than you do. I also wonder if Rivers agrees that WRs don’t matter.

If Campbell can stay healthy adding a 2nd or 3rd round rookie to the existing guys may be sufficient. I just am tired of depending on Campbell’s health. But if you plan to solve WR in the draft you need to solve something else in free agency - if you are trying to win a SB this year. I don’t think that’s Ballard’s goal though.

That had a lot to do with the QB not doing what was asked of him. Ryan would have had us in the playoffs. Just like Rivers would with that exact same team.

I’m specifically referencing the Rivers year, 2020 season. The year their leading Pass catcher was a RB, their leading WR had only 762 yds, and Marcus Johnson started 3 games. My memory is the lack of WRs hurt that team.

If your goal is just to make the playoffs, you are probably right - they are good enough, draft and start the season. I’m hoping they want more. Otherwise they should have just taken their lumps with Ehlinger so they can draft a QB that will allow the to set their sights higher than just making the playoffs.

Maybe it gets overshadowed with our complaints, but for the most part those of us on here who have been critical of Ballard acknowledge that he is at least a decent GM. That he drafts well, makes good trades, and is a huge upgrade of Grigson.

The point we're trying to make is that Ballard should be more flexible in his approach, which due to him strictly sticking to it has led to some large pressing needs not being filled in the past (pass rush the last couple of years for example). And since we now have an established 37 year old QB the time to become more flexible in his approach is now as we have a ton of gaps in the roster and in all likelihood a 2-3 year window to win it all with Ryan under center.

Agree that a good pass catching TE like Ebron in '18 will go a long way, but I still think we need to add a veteran WR opposite MPJ to at least keep defenses honest. Maybe Dulin will be able to make that leap, but he only had 13 catches for 173 yards last season so probably too much to ask of him.

Fun stat... In 2017, the Eagles' leading wide receiver had 768yds. A TE led the team in receiving yards. I'm not going to argue that we don't need another receiver. I even said last year it'd be great if Pittman was our A+ #2WR. Maybe he goes from good to great #1 this year. I'm just not panicked over it.

In 2020, as far as our receivers at the end... in the playoff game against BUF for example: Rivers had 300+yds. The team overall had nearly 500yds and held the ball for almost 35mins. It's hard for me to believe that we didn't have enough on offense to win. The kind of thing I remember hurting us is a 96yd TD drive with a 1:45 left in the first half.

I think I might actually be more concerned with TE than WR. MAC has improved as a blocker, but not as good as Doyle, and he's decent as a receiver. Granson is more the wildcard and I'm very curious how confident they are that he'll produce. And I like the idea of our RB's catching a shitload of balls.

All valid points. Maybe my memory is off, but I remember the team having to start Marcus Johnson and remember there being issues with lack of experience and separation at points as they searched for WR help.

I definitely like the idea of Hines getting more touches in the passing game. And I agree that help at TE is a concern as well. Hopefully Granson makes a big jump, because rookie TE aren’t typically major contributors. Overall I’m underwhelmed with the receiving experience the team has. An injury to MPJ and it gets very, very thin. Look at the experience of the guys on the roster. I’d much prefer a veteran be added at either WR or TE. But I admittedly put more value on experience than most here do.

And that is a fair assessment. With a Matt Ryan, you know the window isn't very long, so you get a little more aggressive.

On a side note, the number of free agents signed after the initial cluster of big names has been mostly silent everywhere. It seems the players not signed anywhere yet may be overvaluing themselves league-wide. It appears most GMs have decided to wait for the draft, and fill holes after they know who they get. Signing guys now could put you in drafting for need instead of BPA, or a combination.

I will reserve judgment until I see the final roster, and how well Ryan meshes with the current roster. I think the trades for Ryan and Yannick shows we are trying to get upgrades ate critical positions, but need to fill a couple of others with quality players.

Nailed the $4.5MM - but it was for the entire 2 year contract and not per year.

Vikings are getting a bargain if Reed's level of play is similar to last season.

It appears to me that Reed really wanted to return to Minnesota where he played college ball and took a discount to do so.


Contract details are up on Spotrac:

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/minnesot...is-reed-17242/

Im not bitching, Im drinking. And finding some of the shenanigans very amusing.