HOW WE GOT HERE: I took over this franchise six years ago, two years after it won a championship.  Unfortunately, the previous regime mortgaged the future to earn that championship and I inherited a team devoid of talent (past their prime Roethlisberger, Gurley, and Mark Ingram) and a draft cupboard barren of picks.  I didn't do too bad that first draft considering I didn't pick until the third round, walking away with Daniel Jones and Hunter Renfrow.  Neither ended up being a pillar of the franchise but both made decent contributions early on.

The next three drafts were complete garbage as I constantly drafted for need over talent, walking away with only Jameson Williams.  It didn't help that Cam Akers and Javonte Williams both repeatedly blew out a wheel multiple times, but I digress.  I did continue to build a team through free agency and trades and by the time we got to the start of the 2023 season I had a solid core of players with Jalen Hurts, Austin Ekeler, and CeeDee Lamb.  The 2023 and 2024 drafts fared much better as I walked away with Bijan, LaPorta, Tucker Kraft, Drake Maye, and finally made the post-season but fell to the eventual champ SoCal Enforcers in the first round of the playoffs.

GOING INTO 2025:  This season I expect to challenge for the big prize.  I have a great QB room with Hurts and Maye, a top three RB in Robinson to go with some solid veterans and promising young talent, a top three WR who has some nice complimentary pieces in Williams, Jeudy, and Keon Coleman, and strong TE's with LaPorta, Loveland and Otton. 

I did bonehead in last year's draft taking Coleman at the 1.8 pick with the next four players being Daniels, Thomas Jr., McConkey, and Worthy, but hey, there's still time for Coleman to ease that pain a bit.  And I may regret taking Skattebo at 1.8 this year and letting Egbuka, Warren, and Golden slide past but we'll see.

Overall, there are stronger teams in this league, but I feel I can go toe-to-toe with most anyone on any given week and if we get on a hot streak at the right time, who knows.  I'm excited to get this season going.  I like the new rules to keep the free agent pool a little deeper, even though my franchise is strapped for both cash and cap space, but it will still make the league that much better.  Good Luck to everyone.  Rooting equally for you all to finish second!