Practice Squad Analysis: who do we have, and what do they offer?

[Feverdream]

First of all, I am posting this as a separate thread, though I won't be offended if it is merged into Danny's very fine thread. I just thought this might be easier to navigate this way.

Let's get right to it!

Wide Receiver, Braylon Sanders: UDFA 2022. He's a deep threat-only at this point, and with that, he came close to making the team. This guy has a real chance to make the team next year... or even this year given injuries, but injuries have been his problem. Chances to ever be an NFL player. Decent

Cornerback, Kalon Barnes: 7th round Carolina 2022. This guy could be the fastest track athlete in the NFL... sadly, his entire game is speed. Carolina didn't seem to want him back. Big... BIG project. He'll be 24 in December. Chances: poor.

Offensive Tackle, Larnel Coleman: 7th round 2021. Small school project who knocked Pankey off our roster. He is effectively a rookie this year after losing most of last year to an injury. He has NFL size and Greg Little walks next year. Chances: Fair

EDGE, Cameron Goode: 7th round 2022 Classic SSLB on a team with Van Ginkle likely to exit next year. Of all of the players on our practice squad, he may have to best chance to develop into a rotational player. He knocked Scarlett off the roster and I see him playing some this year. Chances excellent.

EDGE, Porter Gustin: FA 2022. He's a bit of a jag. He's 25 and we're his THIRD team. He's more of a try-hard guy than a skilled one. We really don't want him to win a job; we need to do better. Chances: fair to stick, poor to contribute.

Safety, Verone McKinley III: UDFA 2022. He's undersized for his role, which is why he wasn't drafted. Yes, he's a bit of a ball-hawk, but the lack of size should make him the favorite target of taller receivers over the course of his career. Chances: decent to become a third or fourth safety.

Running Back, ZaQuandre White: UDFA 2022. He was only a rotational back in college, and only possesses 4.6 type of speed. Could he develop into our big back at 215#. Probably not, but that's how the scout team will use him during practice. Chances: poor

Wide Receiver, River Cracraft: Extremely well tutored, system receiver who followed McD over from the 49rs. He's 28 in November. He'll be a nice guy to have on the practice squad... Hey River, act like DVP on this play... Chances: remote to play, decent to become a WR coach.

Defensive Lineman, Ben Stille: UDFA 2022. He sure looked good in preseason. I didnt see much of a drop off from Adam Butler's play... but he is a UDFA and Ingram and Flowers came available. Both are rentals. Chances: good to become a rotational player. Poor to ever start.

Offensive Lineman, James Empey: UDFA Cowboys 2022. Jerry Jones gave this guy 6 figures to sign with the Cowboys after the draft. Then he jumped to Miami... so he's smart; sadly... he's a little undersized AND overaged after doing his LDS Mission before BYU. Chances to replace Dieter some day. Poor, as we'll likely draft a Center.

Wide Receiver, Freddie Swain: FA 2022. I expect this guy to play some... maybe as soon as week 1. He was a bottom of the roster WR and PR for the Seahawks and they generally know receivers. He has a bit more 'suddenness' than Bowden ever did... and honestly, do you want to see Waddle or Hill returning punts regularly? No... didn't think so.
Chances to be 6th WR and PR this year... quite good.

Defensive End, Markaviest “Big Kat” Bryant. UDFA Cowboys 2022. 5 year college player who dropped down in class his 5th year. He's probably behind Ben Stille. Chances: poor

Defensive Tackle, Josiah Bronson UDFA 2022. Interior Lineman... project. Benito Jones two years ago. Chances: poor

Defensive Tackle, Christopher Hinton: I sure wish he was as good as his father. Pro tip: he isn't. Interior Lineman prospect who I think will outperform Bronson. Chances: poor

Offensive Tackle, Kion Smith: UDFA 2021. Extremely small school prospect who has done good to get this far. Slated to become a mid-week blocking sled. Chances: tiny

Cornerback, Chris Steele UDFA Steelers 2022. UNDERAGED prospect who might surprise. Received what is said to be very poor coaching in college, then came out early. He WAS a 4 star recruit who received a VERY raw deal at Florida (forced to room with a predator). Chances: hard to say, but it won't be this year, let's see what our coaches can get out of him.

This is one of the youngest PSs I have ever seen. Almost all of them are from this year's draft class, so my best guess is that we should take the long view here...

Your mileage may differ.

 

[djphinfan]

respectfully disagree about Braylon Sanders, i thought. he showed much more then the deep threat narrative that was attached to him in college..

i think we have a future rotational receiver in the unit.

 

[Feverdream]

respectfully disagree about Braylon Sanders, i thought. he showed much more then the deep threat narrative that was attached to him in college..

i think we have a future rotational receiver in the unit.

As always, you may be right, but I dont think he's ready to run complicated route trees or really too much inside. He's not a big man, and injuries have kept him from polishing his game.
When I look at our WR room, I see the top 4 as good for the next 2-3 years, so our bottom guys have to have added value. Can Braylon learn to be a gunner (doubtful)? Can he return punts? Maybe.
If he could add PR to his repertoire while becoming the deep threat Jakeem Grant never was... we'd have something.
I wont say no.

 

[rafael]

The speed is probably wrong on White. That time was with a hamstring injury. He's in the high 4.4s. Not super fast or anything, but a big difference from 4.6.

 

[Feverdream]

The speed is probably wrong on White. That time was with a hamstring injury. He's in the high 4.4s. Not super fast or anything, but a big difference from 4.6.

Yeah, I saw where he couldn't run at the combine, but then elected to run at his pro day, then ran something like a 4.63.
Hopefully, he's faster than that, but I still think he'll be restricted to inside the Tackles in the NFL... and that's not a bad thing really.
Everyone would love it if he became our committee big back... especially at his entry level salary.

 

[NoblePhin]

Nice move trying out a new center on the PS in Empey. So what if he's a little older, if we have injuries that move Williams to guard we now have a backup center in the works.

 

[ANUFan]

Greg Little walks next year? Why?

Unless he’s asking for some crazy money. I don’t see why you let a young, clearly talented, swing tackle that can play LT/RT just walk?

 

[Duss]

Coleman is not « fair »
Dude was so bad he caught a cold from
His turnstile wind

 

[Feverdream]

Greg Little walks next year? Why?

Unless he’s asking for some crazy money. I don’t see why you let a young, clearly talented, swing tackle that can play LT/RT just walk?

He'll make 1.5m this year, and a starting Tackle makes at least 10m, more if he's good.
Unless the man has no competitive spirit, he'll want to start (and to make LOTS more money).
Oh... we can offer him 4-6m to remain as our backup, but the book on that is VERY poor when it comes to retention rate.
If Little happens to get 4-6 starts... and looks good, he's so gone.

 

[Feverdream]

Coleman is not « fair »
Dude was so bad he caught a cold from
His turnstile wind

Fun to say, but completely inaccurate. The coaches were praising his early preseason work, but he then he topped out... young players do that.

...and there is usually a flamethrower fan who doesn't understand the process... willing to mislable what he's seeing.

 

[Feverdream]

Nice move trying out a new center on the PS in Empey. So what if he's a little older, if we have injuries that move Williams to guard we now have a backup center in the works.

In the short run... nothing. He is a disaster plan who is playing for peanuts, but who would likely perform at a level akin to his pay- very low.
BYU isn't really the big time, and he is a bit small at 6'3" and under 300 pounds.
His height/weight combo makes him a Center only in the NFL, and he lacks the bulk to play Guard. He's only one year younger than Dieter, who is taller, heavier, and has played at a higher level... and we weren't thrilled with Dieter.

 

[gregorygrant83]

He'll make 1.5m this year, and a starting Tackle makes at least 10m, more if he's good.
Unless the man has no competitive spirit, he'll want to start (and to make LOTS more money).
Oh... we can offer him 4-6m to remain as our backup, but the book on that is VERY poor when it comes to retention rate.
If Little happens to get 4-6 starts... and looks good, he's so gone.

If little gets 6 starts and looks good, wouldn't it make sense for him to be considered as a heavy contender to start for Miami in 2023, considering Armstead's age and the fact that would mean Armstead had more injury issues in 2022. I know Armstead just signed this year, but if he has injury issues I could see him considering retirement.

 

[ANUFan]

If little gets 6 starts and looks good, wouldn't it make sense for him to be considered as a heavy contender to start for Miami in 2023, considering Armstead's age and the fact that would mean Armstead had more injury issues in 2022. I know Armstead just signed this year, but if he has injury issues I could see him considering retirement.

Exactly! If he plays that much it means that Armstead is staying true to form and getting hurt that cost him to miss games. Now you're adding another year on his body and you're going to get rid of the guy that step-in and hopefully played well enough?

I'm sorry those positions are too valuable to just let a guy walk.

 

[Feverdream]

If little gets 6 starts and looks good, wouldn't it make sense for him to be considered as a heavy contender to start for Miami in 2023, considering Armstead's age and the fact that would mean Armstead had more injury issues in 2022. I know Armstead just signed this year, but if he has injury issues I could see him considering retirement.

If he loved Miami, loved the coaches, had grown up a Phins fan... maybe, but money usually talks... and a team with a Tackle problem would worry very little about offering a FA... say... a two year, 25m contract. That's kind of the low end deal for a starting tackle.

Heck... we gave Ereck Flowers 3 years and 30m (20 guaranteed) to come play Guard...
Teams will offer this kind of money because the position demands it.

Yes, I'd love to keep Little, but he's due for a pretty big raise... next year at the latest.

Now... if he beats out Jackson, then this changes.

 

[Feverdream]

Exactly! If he plays that much it means that Armstead is staying true to form and getting hurt that cost him to miss games. Now you're adding another year on his body and you're going to get rid of the guy that step-in and hopefully played well enough?

I'm sorry those positions are too valuable to just let a guy walk.

We cant stop him from walking... other teams will be in a position to pay him starter money, we cant... without making him a starter.

This is the problem with getting better... you lose your depth veterans almost every year, your non-star starters too. This is why the Patriots always got so many comp picks.