Why not 7 WR's on the opening day roster?

[WhatJustHappened]

Gennaro? Good luck with that 1 420, he's so far down the Depth chart it's not even funny.
IDGAS how fast he can run in a straight line, that's about as important as my dead mother spreading her legs...
Noone Cares.

 

[Family]

Lomu can likely play guard at a high level.

I don't doubt this, but it's unlikely Lomu will see the guard position during camp until he improves his practicing at tackle.

 

[Huckleberry1]

We have an outstanding set of starting CBs. And we have some aspiring youngsters behind them.

Trading Boutte for a backup CB seems like a very poor exchange to me. Unless we get an upgrade on one of the starters, which seems unlikely.

If they could get a good off the ball LB for him i could go for that.

The primary problem with keeping 7 WR's is that this is not a strong group of WR's when it comes to special teams. Unfortunately all signs are pointing to Boutte being traded by cutdown day, barring any significant injury. And what we might see is a day 2 pick, but in the 28' draft.

 

[Family]

The primary problem with keeping 7 WR's is that this is not a strong group of WR's when it comes to special teams.

Again we are only talking about the bottom roster spots who don't dress. And we are also referring to a short period of time with 53.

Did it matter that Chism who wasn't dressed until week 5 or Wallace (week 14) played special teams or not week one?

The last roster spots week one (and all season for that matter) are developmental players.

Of course you would prefer not, but how much difference does it make week one if the last two roster spots play the same position? Especially when the team can just call up a special teamer to dress, if they want.

 

[Thelonious]

This sort of thing is a problem which results where a team is doing good job rebuilding, a circumstance in which the prospects you have brought on board are so good and abundant, offer such promise, that you want to hold onto more than is feasible given other needs. In other words, if you did not have seven you'd like to keep, the problem could not arise.

The obvious answer to the post's question is "because you also have needs and/or promising prospects at other positions." It's a problem, but there are far worse problems to have. As for the specifics, I continue to hope they will hold onto Boutte, even as I understand fully his wish to move on to a better opportunity. If I had to pick a WR to set aside, my painful choices might be Pop or Kyle Williams, but, tbh, I'd kinda like to keep them too.

I have this problem with my guitars. I have too many, but it's painful to decide which ones to sell. They all have their virtues. You kind of have as many voices as you have instruments.

 

[Zoomnbyu]

8 pages, and counting, over whether we'll keep 6 or 7 players in one role. The season can't come quick enough.

 

[Family]

The obvious answer to the post's question is "because you also have needs and/or promising prospects at other positions."

This is at the root of the question. It is not about who plays special teams (although the ability to do so is factored into the prospect) or who can backup RIGHT NOW because they won't dress.

The team has three expiring contracts so the need for development is there.

 

[Ring 6]

8 pages, and counting, over whether we'll keep 6 or 7 players in one role. The season can't come quick enough.

The chances that a 7th WR would contribute anything, ever are slim.

To say we want to keep 7 WRs is to say:

Brown, Doubs, Boutte will be the starters.
Williams deserves a roster spot and has a future so he will get reps, ideally earning more as the season goes on

We also need to keep Douglas on an expiring contract with little hope he will be here beyond this year. This would mean he has a role and will get PT.
We ALSO need to keep Hollins at 34 on an expiring contract because we “only” have 5 fighting for pt.

Then we need to keep Chism because even though we need to keep 3 guys on expiring contracts because we don’t want him to get on the field he must be a future star.

If your WR 7 is worth keeping to never see the field because he is so good, get rid of 1 (or 2) of the guys on expiring contracts.
If for example you have to keep Douglas this year instead of putting chism in his backup role, how can you really value chism.

We have too many needs at other positions to keep extra WRs because fans know their names more than the players in the trenches who really are more important

 

[Wozzy]

First he should show he can play tackle at a high level.

Why?

Get him snaps and experience, it all helps.

So far reports are saying he hasn’t showed he can play anything at a high level.

He has to keep pushing, learning, improving… this is how training camp works for rookies.

 

[Wozzy]

I don't doubt this, but it's unlikely Lomu will see the guard position during camp until he improves his practicing at tackle.

It’s early, he’s young….

 

[Wozzy]

It’s way too early to say how many WR’s they’ll carry, especially who will start… or even be here.

Someone will get traded if this trajectory continues.

 

[Zoomnbyu]

The chances that a 7th WR would contribute anything, ever are slim.

To say we want to keep 7 WRs is to say:

Brown, Doubs, Boutte will be the starters.
Williams deserves a roster spot and has a future so he will get reps, ideally earning more as the season goes on

We also need to keep Douglas on an expiring contract with little hope he will be here beyond this year. This would mean he has a role and will get PT.
We ALSO need to keep Hollins at 34 on an expiring contract because we “only” have 5 fighting for pt.

Then we need to keep Chism because even though we need to keep 3 guys on expiring contracts because we don’t want him to get on the field he must be a future star.

If your WR 7 is worth keeping to never see the field because he is so good, get rid of 1 (or 2) of the guys on expiring contracts.
If for example you have to keep Douglas this year instead of putting chism in his backup role, how can you really value chism.

We have too many needs at other positions to keep extra WRs because fans know their names more than the players in the trenches who really are more important

The irony.

 

[TommyD4207]

The chances that a 7th WR would contribute anything, ever are slim.

To say we want to keep 7 WRs is to say:

Brown, Doubs, Boutte will be the starters.
Williams deserves a roster spot and has a future so he will get reps, ideally earning more as the season goes on

We also need to keep Douglas on an expiring contract with little hope he will be here beyond this year. This would mean he has a role and will get PT.
We ALSO need to keep Hollins at 34 on an expiring contract because we “only” have 5 fighting for pt.

Then we need to keep Chism because even though we need to keep 3 guys on expiring contracts because we don’t want him to get on the field he must be a future star.

If your WR 7 is worth keeping to never see the field because he is so good, get rid of 1 (or 2) of the guys on expiring contracts.
If for example you have to keep Douglas this year instead of putting chism in his backup role, how can you really value chism.

We have too many needs at other positions to keep extra WRs because fans know their names more than the players in the trenches who really are more important

Douglas is a pretty easy cut, even if he's on an expiring, he's making nothing. If he ends up getting beat out in camp, cutting him over his contract won't be a consideration.

 

[Ring 6]

Douglas is a pretty easy cut, even if he's on an expiring, he's making nothing. If he ends up getting beat out in camp, cutting him over his contract won't be a consideration.

Right he isn’t the reason to keep 7 if you have 6 other ls that are worthy.

 

[patfanken]

Just end this thread NOW! There is no POSSIBLE and logical reason to have 7 WRs on cut down day. It's been argued up and down for over 10 pages. There is NOTHING more to be said that hasn't been said time and time again, END the madness.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Douglas is a pretty easy cut, even if he's on an expiring, he's making nothing. If he ends up getting beat out in camp, cutting him over his contract won't be a consideration.

And there's the caveat.
Pop won't be beat out in camp by Chism, DeG, or any of the other WRs currently below him.
He's easily one of our 6 best WRs.
Contract considerations are always factor, and yes he would be an easy trade from that perspective.
But we are simply not a better team in 2026 without him.
So there's the rub, do you trade a guy for a minimal return because you have too many resources even though it sets you back on the field for 2026?
People can make fun of him tripping over his feet all they want, we are a better team with him on the roster than Chism, DeG, or whatever name you want to insert from our current Botton WRs.
IMO you keep Brown, Boutte, Pop, Doubs, KW and Mac and roll the dice with Chrism and DeG on the PS.
You can certainly make a case for trading Pop or Boutte, but again, there is zero % chance that makes us better in 2026 on the field.
We have legit SB hopes, injuries happen, I hope we keep the 6 mentioned and continue to develop Chism and DeG on the PS with call-ups as necessary.
And let's remember, a player isn't actually claimed off the PS.
He is offered a contract by another team, and he has every right to decline.

 

[Ring 6]

And there's the caveat.
Pop won't be beat out in camp by Chism, DeG, or any of the other WRs currently below him.
He's easily one of our 6 best WRs.
Contract considerations are always factor, and yes he would be an easy trade from that perspective.
But we are simply not a better team in 2026 without him.
So there's the rub, do you trade a guy for a minimal return because you have too many resources even though it sets you back on the field for 2026?
People can make fun of him tripping over his feet all they want, we are a better team with him on the roster than Chism, DeG, or whatever name you want to insert from our current Botton WRs.
IMO you keep Brown, Boutte, Pop, Doubs, KW and Mac and roll the dice with Chrism and DeG on the PS.
You can certainly make a case for trading Pop or Boutte, but again, there is zero % chance that makes us better in 2026 on the field.
We have legit SB hopes, injuries happen, I hope we keep the 6 mentioned and continue to develop Chism and DeG on the PS with call-ups as necessary.
And let's remember, a player isn't actually claimed off the PS.
He is offered a contract by another team, and he has every right to decline.

If the top 4 are AJ Boutte Doubs Williams I dint think we are any better or worse based upon who is WR5 and WR6. The difference in who we keep of them in terms of winning or losing is pretty much non-existent.

Whoever we are wringing our hands over to keep as the 7th isn’t gong to see the field and if they would the other 2 of the 3 wouldn’t make a difference.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

If the top 4 are AJ Boutte Doubs Williams I dint think we are any better or worse based upon who is WR5 and WR6. The difference in who we keep of them in terms of winning or losing is pretty much non-existent.

Whoever we are wringing our hands over to keep as the 7th isn’t gong to see the field and if they would the other 2 of the 3 wouldn’t make a difference.

In a perfect world were all top 4 WRs are always available, yes the importance of your 5th and 6th guy diminish greatly.
However that's not reality.
#5 and 6 could easily be #4/5, or even 3/4 with some bad injury luck.
I think we keep 6, the 6 I outlined unless we trade Boutte, which could happen but I think that would be a big mistake for 2026.

 

[Family]

It’s way too early to say how many WR’s they’ll carry, especially who will start… or even be here.

Someone will get traded if this trajectory continues.

Everyone posts rosters. I've seen you post yours. What's the difference? It's a discussion board.

I think the chances of a 7th WR has decreased with the poor play of the offensive line, particularly at backup guard. I think they keep a developmental OL like Crownover, as the10th OL instead of 9th when backup guard looked better.

 

[Wozzy]

Everyone posts rosters. I've seen you post yours. What's the difference? It's a discussion board.

Go look at my July 9th 53 man roster prediction, I had 7 WR’s on there…. only I had Boutte traded and DeGennaro making the team.

I have no problem with people posting predictions, only people posting definitive statements.

I think the chances of a 7th WR has decreased with the poor play of the offensive line, particularly at backup guard. I think they keep a developmental OL like Crownover, as the10th OL instead of 9th when backup guard looked better.

I said I doubted they carried 7 WR’s on the 53
even though I favored the position in my predicted depth chart… but it could happen.

If they can find WR’s who can block and tackle on special teams they could easily carry seven. It will also depend if they think they can slide a guy like Crownover to the PS without losing him.