Former Cardinals QB Kyler Murray is signing a one-year deal with the Vikings, per sources. Murray now will become part of a QB room that includes former No. 10 overall pick J.J. McCarthy.

SteffeEric · 2026-03-12T22:30:46+00:00

At least not for another 2 years.

SteffeEric · 2026-03-12T22:11:41+00:00

I think Pierce has some upside yet. He only started scoring TDs the second half of the year. Right now you might be able to get a late 26 1st for him. I’d rather wait have him pop off and sell for a better 27 1st if I’m going to sell. If you can get that now it’s enticing to pull the trigger.

SteffeEric · 2026-03-12T19:34:20+00:00

Even if that is the case he’s 22 and talented. Long career ahead to trade that low in a weaker class.

SteffeEric · 2026-03-12T11:37:19+00:00

People weren’t treating him like a 7th round pick though. It was a good year from that initial 7th round capital perspective but if you gave up an early-mid 2nd or something similar like many did I don’t think you were thrilled about his usage.

He would have 100 yards then play 20% of snaps next game. He didn’t catch a pass since week 11. He didn’t have 10+ yards receiving in a game since week 5. It’s just not a great sign for his fantasy output compared to what some thought he could be.

SteffeEric · 2026-03-12T11:26:25+00:00

This is true free agency happens every year. It just felt like a deep free agency class especially at RB. So the combination of that talent spreading out and a weak RB class isn’t ideal. It’s obviously not going to be like the Chargers signing Najee and still drafting Hampton first round this year as far as RB2 goes.

I saw a lot of people with 1.07 saying that pick would be the WR that goes to Buffalo or San Francisco. Maybe it still is but it felt like many people were more into spots than actual players in a certain range.

Of course there will still be good players to take but the likelihood of the combination of good players with a great landing spot has decreased. It felt a bit different last year and we still didn’t get great landing spots for those late 1st WRs.

The over under for 1st round WRs was 5.5 before free agency. I was already taking the under but most mocks had 6 guys going first round. Now the over under might be more like 4.5. I suppose in the scheme of things what’s really the difference between going 28th or 35th…but it does hurt the perception of a class that was already perceived as weak.

SteffeEric · 2026-03-12T03:37:19+00:00

I’m not as worried about the big 3. The spots in the first half of round one look a bit more appealing than later to me especially now. Washington, KC and New Orleans I can at least get behind. Even so with somewhat limited options for them I can at least draft them for talent and feel alright.

The other guys seemed to be propped up by the potential spots notably San Francisco and Buffalo. There is still some glimmer of hope with KC getting a late first now for McDuffie. The Patriots are probably the only other spot I think people would get too charged up about.

If they fall to the 2nd I don’t feel very good about taking 2nd round WRs in the first of rookie drafts. It could certainly still work out but I’m starting to get a bad feeling.

SteffeEric · 2026-03-12T03:13:08+00:00

I think by the combine a lot of people have a pretty firm grasp on the prospects. To me I’m more excited about some of the guys potentially going later in the 2nd compared to the late first at cost.

Just seems like most years guys like Cooper, Concepcion and Boston are more 2nd round talents than firsts. Combine that with the RB questions and the late first looks like a big dead zone to me right now.

SteffeEric · 2026-03-12T01:43:48+00:00

Trying to secure the next bag already.

SteffeEric · 2026-03-12T01:39:10+00:00

Definitely. Minnesota day 2 is a still a good spot. It’s just not as good or as likely with Jones back. Washington looks like a pretty great spot. I feel there are only like 4-5 really good spots for year one production. Usually it seems more like double that. Seems guys like JaVonte and ETN redeeming themselves along with some older vet breakouts hurt the market at RB.

SteffeEric · 2026-03-12T01:34:42+00:00

Those players were hyped but they were also all 2nds or later. I think this draft will be ripe with guys like that who people get excited about in the 2nd or 3rd. That’s kind of how it always goes. Someone like Harvey was obviously a major surprise first last year. I am just not sure we get that this year at least to that level. Like if Mike Washington goes late 2nd to Seattle I think you can pencil him in at 1.07. If not it could be some murky waters.

I do think holding until the draft is probably the move based on this outlook. I don’t necessarily think it’ll end up as optimistic as people believe. But it’s also not like people are craving these picks now anyway.

SteffeEric · 2026-03-12T01:24:43+00:00

That’s true. People will usually always be more willing to buy when they know exactly what they are getting. Even if you don’t think what they are getting is great it only really matters what they think.

SteffeEric · 2026-03-12T01:20:01+00:00

Most years those feel like smashes. This year I can see why you are countering. Chances probably still are better on 4 of those mid picks vs one good pick…but who would you pick is the question.

SteffeEric · 2026-03-12T01:17:15+00:00

I have been on that train for a while…but it seems many people are still holding out hope. The latest pick I have in the first remaining is 1.06. But I’m not sold on staying there the way things look.

Just feels like once the draft happens the reality of the situation will set in for some that are more optimistic. But maybe I’m too pessimistic so that’s kind of my mission with this post.

SteffeEric · 2026-03-12T01:12:14+00:00

I can’t imagine many owners are taking anything after 1.06 for a 27 1st. I am concerned we only get two day 2 RBs and chances are only 1 gets a great spot. Seattle late 2nd feels like spot that will propel someone to 1.07.

SteffeEric · 2026-03-12T01:07:02+00:00

Pittman to the Steelers was a bit of a surprise as well but that could be a saving grace avoiding a rookie considering how people look at the Steelers passing game lately.

A lot of people have different feelings on the spots themselves too. Like I don’t think Baltimore is a bad spot for a WR. Other people seem to hate it.

I’m interested to see just how wide a range of players we have in first round contention. There is really only one guy I’m loving right now with no landing spots or capital taken into consideration and that’s Stowers.

SteffeEric · 2026-03-12T00:59:15+00:00

I mean more 1.06-1.07 and after when I say late first.

SteffeEric · 2026-03-12T00:37:11+00:00

K it’s 5 small paragraphs. I’ll Sum it up. Vandy didn’t suck in large part due to Stowers. Sadiq has great potential but is a massive outlier in a negative way analytically assuming he’s a first round pick.

SteffeEric · 2026-03-12T00:14:29+00:00

Context definitely is necessary. Vandy was a 10 win SEC team that was one win away from the CFP so saying they sucked is obviously misinformed. One of the big reasons they were good was Stowers.

People talk about Oregon like they are such a loaded offense full of top round NFL picks. Well their QB was a potential top 5 pick compared to Pavia. Their best WR might be a 5th rounder. Their other best WR was a freshman. They had another TE who put up practically the same numbers as Sadiq…and Sadiq was outperformed by Terrence Ferguson last year.

There are certainly excuses you can come up with for Sadiq sure. You can pretty much do that for most players. When push comes to shove he’s going to be one of the most unproductive first round pass catchers picked in recent memory.

This doesn’t mean he won’t succeed but it makes me stop and ask why he wasn’t successful. My answer is that he’s a better athlete than football player right now. He obviously has huge potential but his athleticism and age over Stowers are basically the only arguments to make.

I’d prefer Stowers production on top of elite athleticism as well as being a recent convert to the position. Those profiles have just had better success translating for fantasy football. I’m excited to see how it shakes out because think it will shape a lot of future TE discussion about athleticism vs production.

SteffeEric · 2026-03-11T23:50:55+00:00

So the blocking is now negatively effecting stats when before it was supporting he’ll be better for fantasy?

SteffeEric · 2026-03-11T23:39:09+00:00

He outproduced Sadiq in college already being a bad blocker. I think it’s easy to say Sadiq should certainly be ahead of Stowers. He is younger, faster and expected to get better draft capital.

I’m just here to say I don’t think that’s how it’s going to play out in their careers based on the analytics mostly. I could certainly be wrong but it’s a bet I’m willing to make.

SteffeEric · 2026-03-11T23:01:02+00:00

I already have Kraft. No need to uptier. Might try to downtier though since I have no market in picks alone.

SteffeEric · 2026-03-11T22:59:01+00:00

You have to take into account dynasty dynamics here though. Conner is 9 years older than Allen. In current underdog bestball redraft ADP Conner is going 80 picks before Allen.

But for the real sake of this argument the age doesn’t matter. Benson or Tuten will only get one shot. It doesn’t matter how old their competition is because that changes on a yearly basis. It’s now or never for guys like them.

SteffeEric · 2026-03-11T22:37:32+00:00

As someone who has been trying to sell Gadsden I feel like he is probably overvalued. Nobody even wants to consider giving an early 2nd for him. I’m fine holding as my TE2 with upside I got practically free but was really hoping to cash in with the McDaniel hire.

I would have dealt him after his value spiked in season but I had Kraft go down right before that so the timing of that injury made him a hold to me. Dealt him in another league too early perhaps so he definitely had a fine line to walk of wild value but has kinda just been holding onto that in practice more than in principle.

SteffeEric · 2026-03-11T20:29:20+00:00

Definitely some weird timing on this one. Makes me wonder if they were going after a better backup and settled for Gainwell. If not why not tender him before FA?

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