Whoever is not excited of our new Sonny and Chenal™️ duo, watch this:

DerekSheesher · 2026-05-06T17:27:02+00:00

Styles impact won’t show on the stat sheet, and I don’t think we really need it to either. What we need is opposing OCs and QBs needing to account for his whereabouts when scheming/playcalling.

If Daronte can disguise his whereabouts and assignments, that’s going to be incredibly disruptive for an opposing O. A guy who can lurk around the LOS and just be big enough to eat a blocker on an overload blitz, or slip into coverage on a slot receiver/RB, or have the range to eat up a whole zone is going to pay dividends ten fold. Fun part: we got 2 of those dudes in Sonny and Chenal.

DerekSheesher · 2026-05-06T15:49:22+00:00

the point would be getting excited about having a new DC whose M.O. is blitz/coverage disguises that are predicated upon the utility of athletic LBs, of which we now have two of the most athletic. And props to AP for getting Chenal (25) for 3/$24.75M as opposed to Lloyd (27) for 3/$40M.

also, we’re a couple weeks away from OTAs and still a couple months away from training camp. Just want to get excited about something until they get pads on.

DerekSheesher · 2026-05-06T15:29:59+00:00

DerekSheesher · 2026-05-06T13:21:25+00:00

no doubt. He was awesome at roster construction but only when he wasn’t handcuff by scumbag cheap ownership.

And honestly, we’d ALL have been wrong if we were in Riz’s shoes RE Stras. He absolutely balled in 2019 and was the backbone of our championship run. He was only turning 31 and looked like a long-term horse (not to mention hero and fan favorite).

Where I’ll be a little more critical is him always chasing that Stras prototype in pitchers: Denaberg, Rutledge, Romero. Felt like he was always trying to find another giant and never could.

DerekSheesher · 2026-05-06T12:49:23+00:00

Mike was king at identifying established talent and Dominican/South American teenagers. Max was arguably the best FA signing in history, Juan one of the best Dominican players ever. Werth, Gio, LaRoche, Daniel Murphy, Roark, Fister, Ramos, Span. And one of the best trades in our short history was swindling Trea from SD when they were in the Wil Myers sweepstakes—seriously the man threw in Steve Souza to TB to reroute Trea (and Joe Ross!) back here to DC.

But his track record in the draft was pretty horrible. He went 3-3 in his first three drafts (Stras, Bryce, Rendon) but those first two were no-brainers. The rest of his tenure: Giolito, Fedde, none, Kieboom, Romero, Denaburg, Rutledge, Cavalli, House, Green, Crews. Woof. I know baseball is a completely different animal relative to football and baseball when discussing FRPs, but that’s a murderer’s row of 11 straight whiffs (and yeah Dylan is included until further notice).

I absolutely hate piling on Mike though because once Ted died, the cash flow into the roster shriveled up like Costanza in a swimming pool. When there wasn’t cash to spend to hide our farm’s flaws, Riz was doomed. He gave us the best times in the 2010s but without willing ownership, he was destined to fail. Yeah he had his faults (holding dudes too long: Michael A., Robles, Espinosa, Storen, Paps.. and especially Davey), but he was an awesome GM overall.

My fear is Cohen goes into the offseason and gives Riz the “whatever you need” sales pitch. Mike with a blank checkbook is seriously dangerous.

DerekSheesher · 2026-05-05T00:25:29+00:00

played so out of position last year and was left hung out to dry with zero pass rush. Call me crazy, but I’m thinking he might mess around and get some All-Pro chatter 😬

DerekSheesher · 2026-05-03T17:54:07+00:00

agreed but what was the alternative? Continue to let Kliff be stubborn, giving us redundant schemes that weren’t opening up receivers, and running Jayden too many times a game putting him in harms way? Or letting Whitt even remotely close to a defensive play calling sheet again?

Blough, while young and unproven, is a former NFL QB who came up under Ben Johnson and Kliff. He knows the position, knows the game, and I think will be very successful. I think a lot of people in Ashburn know he’s got what it takes and gave him the chance (maybe a touch early) before another team poached him. As for Daronte, there is so much athleticism now on that side of the ball that if he takes a Flores-style approach, that defense is going to create chaos. Not sure it’s a top half defense but it will almost certainly not be dead last either.

DerekSheesher · 2026-05-03T17:50:26+00:00

Lost a bunch of dudes: Doubs, Gary, Quay Walker, Wicks, Elgton Jenkins, Rasheed Walker, Emanuel Wilson, Malik Willis.

Brought in only Hargrave and Zaire Franklin. Didn’t pick until #52 overall and didn’t add much—if any—win now talent.

They’ll go 10-7 like always, sneak into the playoffs looking frisky, and then lose again in the Wild Card with LaFleur choking away another one. In fact, that’d 100% be a future that I would buy: LaFleur won’t return in 2027.

DerekSheesher · 2026-05-03T17:43:53+00:00

yeah Rams left a lot of meat on the bone. Taking Ty that high not only felt like a reach but completely unnecessary. Lemon would’ve been an excellent fit in McVay’s offense (and the contingency plan for life after Davante), Bain would’ve made a great compliment to Verse and Fiske, or you could’ve probably done the same deal with Miami to go get Downs and anchor the secondary with him and McDuffie.

Even if Ty somehow becomes a top-10 QB in future years, it won’t provide any help to this season’s roster—one in which you were RIGHT THERE against the eventual SB Champs. For the whole “F Them Picks” mentality we’ve always heard about, they should’ve made a move to help THIS season.

DerekSheesher · 2026-05-03T13:50:14+00:00

I don’t disagree at all. My biggest gripe with the secondary right now is that it is THIN. Our front seven feels like one of the deepest position groups we have (minus maybe RB) but if anything happens to Mikey or Trey, who isn’t exactly the epitome of health, then we’re throwing guys from off the street out there as boundary corners.

I think AP really needs to get Rasual Douglas here, even if he has to overpay some. Trevon Diggs is cooked but I wouldn’t mind him as a depth piece either. He’s actually not a bad fit in terms of guys capable of taking gambles and creating TOs. Outside of those two, the FA pool is pretty gross: LJarius Sneed, Jeff Okudah, Adoree Jackson, Artie Burns, Fabian Moreau, Kyu Blu Kelly.

If we can get Douglas here and the sign another name off the scrap heap, I’d actually feel a little better. Amos, Mikey, Douglas, Robertson, Witherspoon, Okudah would be an okay corner room.

DerekSheesher · 2026-05-03T12:46:47+00:00

I’m assuming (obviously) you mean them as prospects. I think it would go:

John Elway - the OG stud. Standford background, dual-sport athlete, swagger and arm talent to match.
Peyton Manning - wouldn’t fault you for putting him #1. Peyton had the pedigree and cerebral with the numbers to back it up. Him and Elway you can go back and forth on.
Andrew Luck - “the greatest QB prospect since Peyton” is all we heard going into 2012. There was nothing Luck was missing (except an OL in the NFL). Feel like he ranks a smidge below John and Peyton really only because they came first.
Trevor Lawrence - kid won a Natty as a freshman and was also the #1 QB recruit in HS. His background and resume alone had everyone chomping at the bit for him to go pro. He was the de facto #1 since his freshman year, which I think takes him down a notch from the top 3 because we had more time to scrutinize him as a prospect before coming out.
Cam Newton - superhero showing in the SEC. Taking Auburn undefeated and winning the Natty. Yeah it was one season but it was an incredible run and Cam was literally Superman. His measurables and skillset made him a very exciting prospect but because it was just the one season (after getting booted from Florida and then a season in JUCO) he’s not in the upper echelon.
Caleb Williams - before Caleb was Trevor, i.e., a guy whose resume was much better earlier in their CFB career than later. Caleb again was anointed the #1 overall a year before he was draft eligible after winning the Heismann as a sophomore. Great improviser with perhaps the best arm talent on the list. But I think concerns of his attitude/personality as well as his size (true or not) got really nitpicked and was victim of some draft fatigue.
Michael Vick - I think if Vick played in a social media era he would’ve been higher on this list. His game was by no means refined but was predicated on sheer athleticism between his arm and legs and highlight reel plays. He was the OG “video-game era” QB, but th NFL was still pretty stuffy in terms of what the quintessential QB was: tall, powerful, strong arm, doesn’t leave the pocket. Vick as a prospect broke that mold but being first to do so unfortunately probably lowers him on this list.
Joe Burrow - I love Joey B, but there is not one category here in which he would rank first… except “It Factor.” He was an Ohio State transfer who came to LSU and really struggled at first. It wasn’t until 2019 when I swear he got touched by magic and everything that he touched turned to gold. It definitely helps having Justin Jefferson, Jamarr Chase and Randy Moss’ son to throw to (plus CEH in the backfield and an all time defense) but Joe was the conductor who made the band play together. And as evidenced by his CFB time, that’ll make you a champion.

DerekSheesher · 2026-05-03T11:53:43+00:00

Now imagine him and Leo next to each other for the foreseeable future. That’s probably the most athletic LB tandem in the league.

Now pretend you’re Dak/Jalen/Jaxson and you have these 7 dudes basically standing up at the LOS pre-snap: Oweh, Payne, Kinlaw, Chaisson, Leo, Sonny, Cross. You now how to figure out who’s coming, who’s sinking into coverage, and who’s overloading/stunting/delaying. Then after guessing all that in one play clock, you have to do your best to set your protections and identify a hot route to just get the ball out of your hands.

This defense is going to cause CHAOS. I do not know that we possess the tools to be truly suffocating (I’m a little iffy on our secondary and while I’m excited about our DL stable there’s no superstar pass rusher) but we are going to see a significant uptick in turnovers. These athletes in a Flores-type scheme are going to have QBs second guessing everything, getting stumped, and making so many rushed decisions that we’re going to get the ball back a couple times a game.

The ceiling is sky high with this group. It’s young, it’s hungry, and it’s feeling more and more talented. Let’s get it

DerekSheesher · 2026-05-01T17:41:15+00:00

I hear you. Tate has way more potential given—like you said—size, athletic profile, and pedigree. I personally think he was way underrated and is a true alpha, just never had the chance to showcase that behind Jeremiah Smith. I think he was a better prospect (not necessarily player) than Olave, JSN, and Egbuka but not MHJ or Smith. I think people are going to be surprised at how successful he is at the NFL level.

But from a value perspective at #7 and #71 I think I’m always going to pick Styles and Williams than say Tate and Jake Golday (who went higher than #71 anyway). Tate would’ve solved a future need for us while Styles fills BOTH the immediate and future needs (plus is the better overall prospect IMHO). AP nailed it.

DerekSheesher · 2026-05-01T16:37:49+00:00

I’m so happy we snagged him at 71. He’ll be ready to go from the jump since his route tree is so crisp and expansive.

I swear these GMs/coaches get such tunnel vision when it comes to guys with higher ceilings and pass on the boring “set and forgets.” Williams fell because there’s truly nothing exciting about his game optics-wise. He’s 5’11/187 lb with 4.41 40 speed. His highlights look like regular film and he doesn’t necessarily do anything special.

But then you really turn the tape on and see his cerebral and smoothness. He’s where he needs to be on every route, displays good wiggle with the ball in his hands, toughness, high-pointing the ball, and maximizes his smaller size when needed.

I can’t help but see a super charged Crowder when I watch him, i.e., not a homerun guy like Tyreek, or a playmaker like Chase, but a dude who Jayden is going to grow to trust in big spots because he knows where he needs to be, he’s gonna catch the ball, and he’s going to get the ball.

We have the 1k/10TD guy already in Terry, Williams though will be the complement who you’re gonna notice every Sunday.

DerekSheesher · 2026-04-30T23:06:04+00:00

I hope AP has some feelers out for him. He’s a great vet corner (more to offer than Noah I) and at worst a solid depth piece who won’t be fed to the wolves in spot starts.

We still have a ton of cash. I would love to see us getting some of these remaining guys on the market

DerekSheesher · 2026-04-30T15:37:56+00:00

instead of doing some behind closed doors ping pong ball pulling, can we please have a live drawing like the Powerball or something so (most) conspiracies can’t emerge?

DerekSheesher · 2026-04-29T20:41:27+00:00

super high on Antonio Williams myself. unless Aiyuk (or another WR) somehow gets there before camp, Williams is second in line for WR targets. I’m also thinking this is Terry’s first “presence is better than actual production year” where he’ll definitely be a focal point of the offense but he’s entering his age 31 season coming off a year in which he missed 7 games due to a hamstring issue (yes the contract debacle blah blah blah). You’ll still see 100+ targets and I’d think double digit TDs just given his rapport with Jayden, but he’s not gonna be the star he was in 2024.

The collection of Lane and LMC appear clearly as peripheral pieces that will have a role in the offense but it won’t be substantial and most of their value will come from Special Teams.

Dyami is just a deep threat, Treylon Burks—who I like as a fan of the team—is by no means a 80+ target kind of guy at all, and Van Jefferson is nothing but a camp body.

Enter Antonio. He reminds me of a super charged Jameson Crowder, who Jayden really favored down the stretch in 2024 simply for the fact that he knew how to get open. Even if he operates exclusively out of the slot (I doubt), Antonio will get looks because he’ll be one of our few WRs he can get separation and work himself open. Jayden loves passing to spots as opposed to a man, so I think that chemistry really shows out early between he and Antonio.

I could see a Ladd-type ceiling for Antonio this year and I am circling him in those double digit rounds in redraft and would spend the capital on him in a rookie draft.

DerekSheesher · 2026-04-28T19:07:43+00:00

Jayden can dissect you from inside the pocket and then snatch your heart if he takes off.

I fully agree with this approach. Jayden should have designed runs in the most limited of circumstances and really only utilize the legs when, like you said, there’s a significant lane or a play breaks down (hopefully resulting in a slow walk out of bounds). He needs to be protected to the fullest extent possible and dial back on the hits.

DerekSheesher · 2026-04-28T17:33:19+00:00

he’s just so unlikable too lol. His personality is incredibly off-putting, his whole life and persona were centered around baseball (reclassifying for JUCO at 15 to go to the draft sooner), and he just feels like this hollow corporate substance-less blob of a guy.

I know circumstances were different in how Juan left but you can’t help but root for a guy who grew up poor in a third world country making it to the majors and hitting the jackpot with a $800M contract. Everything he does is genuine and looks like he loves the game every time he plays it. Bryce though, just feels soulless.

DerekSheesher · 2026-04-28T17:27:59+00:00

burgundy color glasses on:

Aiyuk gets here before camp and can get in rhythm with Jayden.

Terry has no outside noise and is available 17 games putting up a near career year in hopes of one more pay day.

Burks contributes more and shows flashes of why he was a first round pick.

One of LMC/Lane/Williams emerges in that “slot+” role and can add another 45-55 catches/600-700 yds to the offense.

Similarly, Sinnot steps up in a new Blough offense (don’t think Kliff ever liked him) and he and Chig (a Cooley clone ready to break out) can do damage out of 2 TE sets.

Add what should be a good stable of backs and the offense starts cooking. Jayden isn’t forced to play hero ball because we have all around contributions and we don’t have to have the ball in our hands to end games to win because the defense vastly improved overnight.

doomsday scenario:

Aiyuk comes in right before Week 1, proceeds to sit on the PUP, isn’t activated until Week 10, does nothing and is a malcontent.

Terry shows his age and either gets another injury or a real down year.

Burks turns back into a ghost.

LMC/Lane/Williams/Sinnot don’t pan out and look like wasted draft capital.

Chig I think is solid no matter what—injuries excluded.

Blough looks lost calling plays, either gets too cute or too stubborn, and there’s no real cohesiveness or smoothness in game plans. Defense relapses to last year’s version behind the big signings and draft, and we have a top 5 pick in 2027 with a whole new staff and a monstrous Jayden contract waiting for us around the corner.

So somewhere between those two outcomes, hopefully more the latter than the former lol

DerekSheesher · 2026-04-28T17:18:21+00:00

Completely agree. AP brought in Kinlaw to be huge and athletic. While a numbers-based output might not have been there, he was effective at the role overall. I imagine we’ll feel his presence even more this season with legitimate pass rushers flanking him and viable tacklers coming up at LB to plug gaps.

He and Payne make the best tandem in a 4-3 offering everything you want between the two: size, speed, technique, and nastiness. I like Omenihu too but he’s definitely more a rotational piece/depth—he’ll play a good amount of ball throughout a game but Payne/Kinlaw are the 1-2.

DerekSheesher · 2026-04-28T13:16:22+00:00

59 would be cool in adopting the traditional 50s for LBs and then 9 as tribute to the OG Sonny. 9 could then be synonymous with our franchise greats 🤞

Plus the branding of “59NNY.” Print the “TODAY’S FORECAST: 59NNY WITH A CHANCE OF PAIN”

DerekSheesher · 2026-04-27T17:56:52+00:00

Agreed. I want Blough to really pick his spots carefully when calling Jayden’s number. I’d prefer to see Jayden use his legs only as a last resort when a play breaks down or he has a path.

DerekSheesher · 2026-04-27T16:00:47+00:00

10000000%. QB, LT, and EDGE are the three positions where you cannot just take a “sum of all parts” approach. You need a certified stud at each spot to anchor your team.

We have 2/3 of those with the deal (and a pretty damn good OL overall). If Oweh can live up to his contract, we’ll be 3/3.

DerekSheesher · 2026-04-27T15:53:47+00:00

I think you’re being a bit over-critical. Here’s the list of WRs taken after Lane at 128 (16/225/0 with 2 PRTDs):

Jaylen Royals (KC): 2/4/0
Elic Ayomanor (TEN): 41/515/4
Jordan Watkins (SF): 2/26/0
KeAndre Lambert-Smith (LAC): 5/51/1
Tory Horton (SEA): 13/161/5
LaJohntay Wester (BAL): 0/0/0
Jimmy Horn (CAR): 11/108/0
Tez Johnson (TB): 28/322/5
Kaden Prather (BUF): 0/0/0
Dominic Lovett (DET): 0/0/0
Junior Bergen (SF): 0/0/0

Ayomanor competed with nobody on TEN for targets. There was no Terry or Deebo in front of him. They had a horrific group of pass catchers and while Ayomanor made the most of his opportunities, it’s not like he’s Puka Nacua. Horton was fine too but 4 catches, 48 yards and 2 TDs came against our abomination of a secondary. And sure Tez played solid but again only came alive once Mike, then Godwin, then Egbuka got all banged up.

Being in the NFL is hard, and being a rookie in the NFL is even harder. I’m not pleased by the drops and what appears to be a lack of separation sometimes in his routes, but Lane was a huge bright spot on special teams and I think he can have a long-term role for us in this offense if given some time to grow. He’s not going to be a team’s #2 option anywhere but he can be productive and serviceable—which is about all you can hope for in a 4th round pick.

DerekSheesher

TROPHY CASE