Since I’ve already moved away from Flores, I should add I’m not fully excited at the prospect of Payton. Giving up a likely first round choice will slow the rebuild and the Cards desperately need impact players. Consider the state of the roster. Who are the impact players who can change the direction of a game. They have no ballhawk in the secondary. They may lose 2 of their best players in free agency, though neither is a Pro Bowl player. They have no major sack artist in the Front 7. On offense, Brown is the only breakaway threat and a modest one at that. Murray was a decent red zone threat, but will he still be? They might as well be an expansion team!
Impact players mostly come from round and occasionally free agency. Losing a first round choice is a disaster. The cap, considering Murray’s contract makes it very difficult to add a proven impact player. With Payton I think it’s 3 years, more likely 4, to build a playoff contender.
I fully recognize that if the Cards blow this choice it may take more than 4 years. So who would I turn to as coach. Harbaugh would be the best fit, assuming none of the TV guys have interest. I’d be willing to take a chance with Steichen. I’d talk to Ben Johnson and Ken Dorsey.
