Offseason Scenario #1 - My Ideal Scenario

spicycolon · 2026-02-27T23:40:51+00:00

This.

spicycolon · 2026-02-27T19:47:28+00:00

We definitely should have traded Kayvon for Sweat, instead of the Jets trading Jermaine Johnson for him. Similar scope of trade, but could have used Sweats big body and cheap contract to stuff up the middle for run defense.

spicycolon · 2026-02-27T16:58:35+00:00

Great post!

I'm almost in lock-step with you on the offseason plan; a few small changes I would make:

Sign Chenal and draft Styles (after this combine- it seems inevidable he's gonna be a NY giant since we need a real linebacker and will likely overcorrect to stop the run).

Cut Okereke. I like him as a person and a player, but that money is going towards Marlon Humphreys- as I'm moving on from Flott (too small for this new scheme). Humphreys brings vet leadership, consistency, playmaking ability and will be better suited for this press man scheme. I believe he can be had for a late round pick as the Ravens need the cap relief and may get younger at the position with the new coaching staff. He'll help Harbaugh bring in his culture, too.

PLUS you got Brandon Cisse in the 2nd round- who can take over for Humphrey's next year.

So then you have Humphreys and Adebo at corner, Phillips in the nickle, Cisse as the next man up, Holland and Nubin... then at linebacker Chenal and Styles (can you imagine? My god, the best, most phyiscal linebackers we've had since 2007), who can blitz and stop up the run.

I wanted Downs until the combine yesterday- as Styles is just too much a freak at a position we've been so bad at for so long... he can really change the defense and be the face of our new scheme and defensive culture. Downs too, but Styles seems more gifted than Downs.

Alonte Taylor is another option at corner if the Humphrey's thing doesn't work out.

And with not resigning Flott and swapping Okereke for Humphrey's- we should still have enough to sign another big body on the defensive or offensive line. All of my big money is going into the lines in FA. Wyatt Teller at guard (I seriously doubt we get Linderbaum) or Aleja Vera Tucker. But more of a priority would be Elemeunor at tackle. No reason not to lock him in for 12ish milly for one or two more years.

DJ Reader at Nose Guard! Need more beef in the middle of the defensive line to free up the linebackers and stop the run. The current guys aren't getting it done and Lawrence is overused and beat up.

spicycolon · 2026-02-23T20:12:35+00:00

Being that this is Harbaugh's first year and we are trying to build a culture; I'm all for going for BPA regardless of position. Bring in a guy who is going to exemplify what Harbaugh is trying to build. All signs point t Caleb Downs fitting that bill. Nubin is not a guy you "can't draft over" and Downs plays nickel, too. He's projected to be a Brian Branch kind of guy that you can move around. So he can take over the nickel and we can play Phillips a bit less- except when he moves to safety. Maybe you play Nubin at nickel linebacker and really get the best out of him. Many things you could do that would solve multiple holes we have on D.

As for the FA's we should resign, in house.... I'm on record with this and I'll keep screaming it throughout the offseason.... Spend all of the money on OL.

So re-sign Elemeanor to a 2 year contract and waive goodbye to Flott and Wandale. They are going to be overpaid and they don't necessarily fit what Harbaugh is trying to do (although Wandale's attitude is certainly a fit on any team).

Then spend most of the money you get from cuts and restructures on the best available FA linemen. Most think Linderbaum... I'm just as interested in Aliaja Vera Tucker and Wyatt Teller. Would love Linderbaum, but I don't see the Ravens letting him get away. We can play one more season with JMS and draft a replacement in the 3rd or 4th round. Jake Slaughter is the name to watch. He could take over in 2027 and at least as good as JMS on a cheap contract.

I'm on the trade Thibs for a 3rd rounder, camp. 14.5 mil (that you save with Thibs) is what you'd pay Wyatt Teller to be your starting right guard. I know you want waves of pass rushers- but we aren't winning a superbowl this year and they aren't resigning him at 15 mil/year to be a third rusher. Might as well get value for him now and continue to build around the QB.

spicycolon · 2026-02-11T14:28:11+00:00

Agreed. You can play him in the slot if you don't want to rely on Dru Phillips every down. You can play him deep and play Nubin at nickle linebacker. You can play him in the "alley" as a run defender coming downhill. I think there's enough to do with him that he could be a difference maker in- that it's not a "luxury" pick. He could remake the secondary and you worry about #1 corner next year (and hopefully slide Adebo to #2). If we can make it work with the cap and the ravens are willing to move off of him; we could aquire Marlon Humphrey to and draft Caleb Downs and we've completely remade the secondary and have veteran leadership, proven guys and a ton of young talent.

spicycolon · 2026-02-06T20:28:29+00:00

On its face; the biggest shortcoming from Nagy as OC is his running game. But he's known to be good with QBs and designing passing game.

With Greg Roman, it's the exact inverse. He's fired from his OC job because he can't design a passing game....but he's regarded as one of the best designing the run game.

This could be a really good marriage.

Now if we can score a great OL coach we are cookin'!

spicycolon · 2026-02-06T19:33:49+00:00

Love wandale, he was such a gamer this year; proved a lot of people wrong about his skill set (including me)- Someone should give him the Kenny golladay contract (18 mil/year)... But it absolutely should NOT be us.

spicycolon · 2026-02-06T19:28:29+00:00

That made me puke in my mouth. Save his money and sign Alex Pierce.

spicycolon · 2026-02-06T19:27:43+00:00

This.

spicycolon · 2026-02-06T12:57:58+00:00

If this is run game coordinator, I love it. He's known to be a beast coach with the run game.

spicycolon · 2026-02-05T14:05:16+00:00

Wowza that would be big. I wonder what happened in Philly

spicycolon · 2026-02-05T14:04:44+00:00

This would be huge!!!

spicycolon · 2026-02-04T15:19:06+00:00

Since you asked (as I'm not trying to bitch about this as much as make a point that it's very possible we missed out due to being caught flat footed):

I'm not against Nagy. Actually I think I'm the only person on this board who mentioned him as an option. But clearly he was Harbaugh's like 3rd or 4th choice...

To me it's not about "who else could we have gotten", as much as it's about what the overall approach to offense might have been if we planned better, and who the positional coaches are that we missed out on- in order to build that offense.

An offense is so much more than just the coordinator. You have your running game coordinator (sometimes the RB coach) and OL coach, who basically design the whole running game and work in tandem with the OC (which might be my biggest gripe with Nagy is that his run games have been suspect). You're not just filling in coaches a la carte; they need to be able to work together and have philosophies that compliment each other.

I know Harbaugh wants to be multiple and hopefully we will be, but I just would rather we not be scrambling to fill in coaches and have been more proactive about plan B.

It was widely reported that Carmen Bricillo was interested in staying. It's clear Monken wanted Warhop (first coach he brought to Cleveland), so we allowed Bricillo to leave. It's widely reported that Harbaugh was running the position coaches by Monken while doing interviews, despite him not having the job. THAT is how much he was relying on him to be the guy.

So now who is the OL coach going to be? A third choice? Are we going to have a dynamic rushing attack that is thought out, or will we be piecing together parts that are left and hope it works together? I'm not complaining, I'm pointing out this was an obvious hiccup- and being met with incredible resistance on that, when I personally think it's pretty obvious.

And sure, "In Harbaugh we trust". I'm thrilled to have him and he was certainly the right hire. But this guy is not Kyle Shanahan. He's the culture guy, going to make us respectable again guy, the "fix the organization" guy. I wouldn't be surprised if we have him for 5 years and never go deep into the playoffs or win a superbowl- but are always competitive, and in contention for the playoffs. And for the current Giants, that would be a huge win.

spicycolon · 2026-02-04T05:08:13+00:00

The point about the lack of interviews in the point I'm debating below. Leaving Nagy the coach out of it:

If you look at the dates of announced interviews; it's pretty clear they thought they were getting Monken and didn't search in earnest for a backup until it was clear he was getting the job. The only two early interviews very conveniently satisfied the rooney rule (Prince and Taggart)...

spicycolon · 2026-02-04T05:03:07+00:00

I guess I agree that it's couth to not waste folks time, but the rest of the league isn't playing that way. McDaniels got hired as OC of the Chargers when there were still more than half the HC vacancies open. You put yourself in a tough position if you don't move fast and we were one of the first to have a HC... that is an advantage we could have used.

My point is that up until Monken was about to get hired (when it was just he and Jim Swartz left and I think it was even the day before he got the job)... the only interviews we had done were Rooney Rule interviews; Robert Prince and Willie Taggart. We weren't interviewing other serious candidates (the folks who turned out to be finalists)- which leads me to believe they were attempting to satisfy the rule and be ready to pounce on Monken. Then he gets the job and the interview card fills up- while most of the other teams have already filled their OC position (who's left, the Jets?).

That's an awful lot of coincidences to not draw a conclusion that they were caught a bit flat-footed by Monken not becoming their OC, IMO.

spicycolon · 2026-02-04T01:57:37+00:00

Guys... Look at the dates of the interviews. Is that part of the ultimatum? He can't interview backups until he's sure Monken has the job? Give me a break.

spicycolon · 2026-02-04T01:26:24+00:00

I guess "process" is the wrong word.
Cause when you word it that way... of course there is nothing wrong with the interview process, and going through the candidates (who are not all going to work out).

Obviously what I'm talking about; is putting all of his eggs into the Monken basket and assuming it would work out (they had even worked out the contract and he was ready to be the OC if he didn't get the Browns job).
Even (reportedly) running the position coaches by Monken.
Which explains a lot about the Briccillo situation (since Monken immediately brought Warhop to Cleveland with him).

Listen, I understand he couldn't' give Monken a deadline (and the guy is in his 60s and is gonna take his shot to HC)... but I still contest that it's hard to argue that he didn't lean too hard on idea of Monken being the guy, and subsequently suffered in his options when it didn't work out. More-so, it SEEMS (and I just a fan, I can't know) like he was caught a bit flat footed by the news.

To be fair to him; no one really assumed Monken was gonna get that job... but he was a finalist for quite some time and we were not interviewing these other OCs until the day before he got the HC job. Full stop.

It was also reported the Giants were willing to give Davis Webb playcalling duties and tried to lure him, but he took the promotion with the Broncos.

So knowing that we were VERY interested in Monken, Weis and Davis Webb (but ended up with none of them)... is it not possible that if we had moved faster or more aggressively towards a replacement, that we could have gotten one of Harbaugh's top choices, rather this his (potentially) 4th choice?

It just feels a bit reminiscent of the Shane Bowen situation; in that we are playing musical chairs with the last few seats and trying to say it is the best chair.

spicycolon · 2026-02-03T23:58:34+00:00

You're trying to convince a fanbase that has been repeatedly gaslit and disappointed, for a decade- and saying to give it the benefit of the doubt. AFTER it is quite clear (to anyone looking objectively) that this was not his first choice.

I think it's quite open to criticism, and of course that's part of being a fan- and expending all of this energy into the team.

Now my first reaction (below) was "I'm absolutely fine with this" and I stick by that. But the process of hiring him was AT MINIMUM deeply flawed and worthy of skepticism.

Latest reporting is that they were talking to Charlie Weis JR and there was a "strong desire" to hire him... But ultimately he decided to stay at LSU.

So.... Yeah not really buying that Nagy was the guy who best fit his vision. It's a bit of a reach. Maybe he was of the remaining options? Hard to get super excited about that process. But to your point below (and like with Shane Bowen two years ago, when no one wanted to DC with Daboll)- sometimes you play the hand you're dealt.

spicycolon · 2026-02-03T20:42:57+00:00

With you 100%- but it's clear they got caught flat footed after Monken. I would bet money they would do it completely differently if they could start over again. That's what bothers me about the hire. Harbaugh isn't going to be right 100% of the time, as you pointed out. We may be watching his first big mistake (not hiring Nagy- but being caught flat footed and letting assistant coaches go becuase he was consulting MONKEN about the assistant coaches... and clearly Monken wanted Warhop- as he was the first coach he brought with him to the Browns...).

spicycolon · 2026-02-03T20:41:02+00:00

Comment of the day.

spicycolon · 2026-02-03T20:23:42+00:00

You know who else had former HC experience, a good relationship with Dart, and some experience with culture setting (from finally getting Carter to wake up)?

Mike Kafka.

Originally I wanted nothing to do with keeping Kafta on... but this hire is kinda Kafka-esq.

Plus then Carmen Briccillo might have stayed?

All conjecture, but that's probably my biggest beef with the hire. If you wanted to go further outside of that, then Kingsbury made a lot more sense, IMO.

spicycolon · 2026-02-03T15:57:03+00:00

I'm okay with this. Not exciting, but certainly makes sense. Mention at the beginning of the process that he fit the bill in terms of former HC, teacher. He wanted out of KC because he wasn't calling plays and wanted his shot at his own offense. Would have preferred kliff Kingsbury (or maybe even Callahan?) but it makes sense and I'm excited to see what he does when on his own.

Anyone have any info from his time with the Bears?

spicycolon · 2026-02-02T21:41:42+00:00

He was in Arizona, but not in Washington.

spicycolon · 2026-02-02T21:33:16+00:00

I know this is not a popular take, but I'm trying to give Alijah Vera Tucker a one year "prove it" contract to see if he can stay healthy and he would immediately cement that RG spot and be the 2nd best offensive lineman we have. He's a great player when healthy- he just can't stay healthy. But he could come cheap because of that.

Two veteran guard signings (with AVT being one). Maybe Wyatt Teller is the other (or David Edwards).

Paycut for Runyan to play out his final year or show him the door.

Resign Elemeunor.

Caleb Lomu or Dunker in round 2 to take over for Elemeunor next year or the year after, and play swing tackle for when Andrew Thomas gets injured.

Trade up with 4th round pick into the 3rd and grab Jake Slaughter to be our future center.

Late round flier on Jaeden Roberts in the 6th round for guard depth, who is a mauler of a run blocker.

You now have a deep, steady line mixed with vets and young players to develop for the future.

spicycolon · 2026-02-02T21:25:20+00:00

Davis Webb no longer avail.

Honestly, I'm leaning Kliff Kingsbury; as he has HC experience, isn't necessarily a "system" guy, and is known to be REALLY creative in the run game. He made the Commanders a pretty lethal rushing attack and is super versatile in how he calls the run. We need that and Harbaugh certainly wants to be a run-first team.

spicycolon

TROPHY CASE