The 49ers double dipped at the position adding to their 3 returning starters. Both players are proficient route runners with speed, shiftiness, hands and body control. The real battle will be for that 6th wide receiver spot as I believe Deebo, Aiyuk, JJ, Pearsall and Cowing are all locks to make the team. That leaves Conley, Martin, Owens, Bell, Taylor and Gray all vying for one spot. My pick is Danny Gray even if all he does is show a modicum of improvement due to his speed. The rest should clear for the practice squad. Maybe you get a 7th from the Chargers for Bell. What do you guys think?
On the practice squad teams may have 6 players with 2 or more years of experience and 10 players with less than 2 years. The veteran part of the PS is generally saved for players who can step in and play right away while the rookie part of the PS is used for future development. With those stipulations in mind I see the 9ers keeping Conley on the 53 or the Vet PS. If Conley makes the 53 then Taylor will be on the Vet PS if Conley is on the Vet PS then Taylor will be released. Unless Gray has a huge camp I think he will be released. Martin and Owens will be on the rookie PS. Unless they keep Conley on the 53 I see them keeping only 5 WRs. Making more room for RB or OL.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes you think this is the year Conley makes the roster?
DeleteTheir use of him in the playoffs and SB mainly. I have a feeling he will end up on the PS and the 9ers will carry 5 WRs. Then carry an extra RB or OL with Conley ready to step in at any time.
DeleteGray will need to show more than a modicum of improvement imo. Taking Cowing and keeping Conley around are both shots at the level of Gray's development in two years.
ReplyDeleteRoster math is going to be interesting this year. Keeping 6 guys on the 53 will impact their ability to hold onto guys at other positions. If they keep 6, the guy they keep will likely be there for STs value.
Gray on KR's over Bell or Conley?
DeleteThe team seem to be pretty interested in Guerendo for that role.
DeleteI was thinking more STs coverage unit guy.
I was thinking Guerendo and Gray but yea as a gunner he could take Womack's role as I don't think he'll make the roster.
DeleteI'm leaning towards just 2 qb's this year, 6 wr's and 5 cb's.
ReplyDeleteI think 2022 is still fresh enough in Shanahan's mind that he'll be keen to keep 3 QBs.
DeleteCould be Scooter. This looks to be a facinating training camp.
DeleteThe Vikings chief negotiator must be really bad at his job if he thought it wise to bid against himself by handing out this insane WR contract to Justin Jefferson. What a complete moron.
ReplyDeleteYup, completely nuts, however it will derail the Vikings playoff chances. They will have little money to grease the pockets of his fellow teammates.
DeleteIf Aiyuk wants anything near that kind of contract I am for trading him. Purdy is good enough to make players around him better, so...
DeleteI'd venture a guess that Marathe's line in the sand is 26 mill apr with 55 mill fully gtd at signing.
DeleteWhile I agree it is crazy money for a WR, I imagine many people were saying the same of the 49ers after they signed Bosa.
DeleteIs WR as valuable as a 3 down DE now? My question to the Vikings Chief Negotiator would be why did you bump up the guarantee by 69%? That's called bidding against yourself.
DeleteThe market seems to think so. Most of the top 10 highest paid non-QBs are now WRs.
DeleteAs for the guaranteed, let's wait and see how much is fully guaranteed.
Yea, every contract is about the fully gtd at signing. Nobody cares about the apr.
DeleteWell, nobody but agents!
DeleteLol, true
DeleteAn argument can be made that Jefferson is the best WR in football. We are talking about a player that is still young and highly productive. If I'm a Vikings fan I'm very happy by this signing. Does this hurt the overall financial structure of the at paying their other players? Yes. But, at least they lock up their only star player going forward. Now, they need to find an efficient QB to get him the ball. If JJ McCarthy can get the ball to Jefferson, Minn can save big money on McCarthy's rookie contract. But that's a question yet to be answered.
ReplyDeleteTBD
Here is my question about Aiyuk's Salary demands:
ReplyDelete1) We know he's under contract with the 9ers for $14.1 Mil for this season (2024).
* So the question is will Aiyuk refuse to play and set out the entire
2024 season?
2) We also know the 9ers can use the franchise tag on Aiyuk, for
the 2025 season.
* What's to stop the 9ers from giving Aiyuk a choice.
A) Accept $14.1 Mil for 2024 and ~$25 Mil for 2025 - 2028, or
b) 120% of his $14.1 mil 2024 pay for 2025.
If the 9er FO decides to play hard ball with Aiyuk, who blinks first?
Aiyuk holds out and doesn't get paid for 2 years, or the 9ers who'll
likely not get to, or win a SB this year?
Brandon ranked 3rd in total EPA among all playmakers, 7th in yds, 8th in Y/RR last year. Very few receivers work the entire field, against every coverage, like Aiyuk does. Top 10 WR all day, every day.
DeleteRazor
DeleteSo does that mean you're willing to pay Aiyuk the same money that the Vikings are paying WR Justin Jefferson, who will be making $35 million a year, with $110 million of that $140 million reportedly guaranteed?
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the deal includes $88.743 million due at signing.
And what do you propose the 9ers do if Aiyuk refuses to sign for less than Amon-Ra St. Brown's lucrative four-year contract extension worth $120 million ($30 Mil P/Y) and now demands
Jefferson money?
Marathe isn't paying anywhere near that gtd amount. The 49ers don't have to do a damn thing really. Aiyuk is under contract for 14 mill this year and they'll have the option to tag n trade him next year. WR franchise tag next year is 25 mill.
DeleteGEEP, if Schefter is correct, that just beats out the fully gtd amount 49ers paid Bosa last year.
DeleteI am 100% convinced JJ used Bosa's contract as the benchmark for his deal, wanting to be highest paid non-QB in the NFL.
Razor,
ReplyDeleteI agree. And Aiyuk is barely coming into his prime. With highly productive players like Brandon there has to be a middle ground that works for both sides. Also, if the 49ers pay BA this year, they likely will do so with the next few years in mind which nullifies negotiations in 2025.
For some reason Aiyuk has seemed upset at the 49ers since the SB. I don't think it is a bargaining position. I think a trade is inevitable. The 49ers should have moved on him before the draft, his demands make it much more difficult to trade him. I think they will get a 2nd round pick at best for him now.
ReplyDeleteCam Latu is looking more and more likely to be gone. Logan Thomas being brought in.
ReplyDeleteI think Saubert is TE2. Latu's injury may have been more serious than initally thought. Did you see Jackson's knee? Yikes
Delete