Following my Championship victory in 2020 I had high hopes of running it back with the same core and being the first repeat champ.  I came so close the following season losing in the War Bowl in 2021 and then bowed out in the Semi-Finals in 2022.  After taking some time to evaluate my team after those two years I could see my team beginning to trend in the wrong direction.  Aging players and expiring contracts was yielding dimishing returns and I made the call to rebuild.  

 

I targeted the 2024 Draft as one loaded with talent and I managed to get lucky being able to stockpile several high end players.  I was very happy with my selection of Malik Nabers, while I am optimistic about the continued growth of Caleb Williams and Ricky Pearsall.  RB has still been a work in progress however as the future surrounding Jonathon Brooks is uncertain and previous 1^st rounders in Zach Charbonnet and Kendre Miller have yet to produce quality results.  Tank Bigsby showed flashes a year ago but not enough to assert himself as a #1.  RB was the clear need heading into this off-season.  

 

Luckily, this year's draft was loaded with talent at the RB position, but with my first pick not until 1.07 I figured the well would be mostly dry before it even got to me.  So I made a trade to aggressively move up the board all the way to the 1.02 sending Guido DeVonta Smith, the 1.07 plus an extra 2^nd rounder and some cash.  It ended up being a win-win for both teams that helped each club - those are the best deals.  

 

Because I had several draft picks, I mostly abstained during the auction because I knew that I would need the cap room to sign them all.  But, I did manage to add a couple of pieces - the biggest of which was getting Sam Darnold, the new starter in Seattle.  I like having three QBs on the roster to cover for any potential injury issues and after the year he put up in Minnesota I'm expecting similar results for the Hawks.  

 

I also acquired the servives of RB Nick Chubb, who, at the time, was unsigned.  But I might have found a potential steal as Chubb eventually signed with the Texans.  With Joe Mixon on the shelf and his return still up in the air, Chubb is in line for a starting role.  He's definitely not the same player he used to be, but with carries up for grabs and a good offence around him he could see a decent amount of scoring opportunities.  I'll take that every day for $26.

 

Come Draft Day, I turned in the card with Omarion Hampton's name on it.  One of my favorite players during the pre-draft process.  Going to a Jim Harbaugh coached Chargers squad I expect him to get a lot of work and he is likely the most talented RB we've been lucky to get our hands on.  I feel like I've finally found my true RB1.

 

From there it was all about trying to find the best complimentary pieces I could.  At 1.11 the draft shook out perfectly, with the Smuggler on the clock at 1.10 and both Tyler Warren and Emeka Egbuka still available I knew I couldn't lose.  Whoever the Smugglers didn't take, I would.  I knew pretty comfortably that he would take Warren though which was perfectly fine by me.  Egbuka was somebody that I had spent a lot of time scouting over the past couple of years with the expectation being that he would originally declare for the 2024 Draft, when he eventually announced he was returning to school it was a gut punch because I really liked him as a prospect.  It feels poetic then that I was still fortunate enough to be in a position to get him on my team in the end afterall.  

 

Despite not being a position of need, I took the upside of Luther Burden in the 2^nd round.  A player who many pegged as a 1^st round lock throughout much of his college career, a sub-par final season in Mizzou coupled with a crowded group of skill players in Chicago caused him to drop further than anticipated.  I'll roll the dice that the talent will win out over time and I love that pick.

 

Moving on from Kyle Pitts and George Kittle not getting any younger it was time to address the TE group.  I wanted Elijah Arroyo as a guy with an intriguing skillset who I was thrilled to see end up in Seattle.  But I got sniped by Guido one pick before me in the 3^rd round.  I went to my next best option of Terrance Ferguson for the Rams.  

 

My Draft concluded with one of my favorite sleepers in Bhayshul Tuten for the Jags.  Can Liam Coen turn him into this year's Bucky Irving?  We'll see.  But for a 4^th round pick there was zero downside.  

 

I wasn't done making moves though.  After the Draft, Guido approached me to inquire about the services of Chris Godwin.  After surveying his team for a potential fit there could be only one choice and it was to right the wrong made on Draft Day and bring home to one that got away in Elijah Arroyo.  I also sent him RB Brian Robinson who had just been moved to the 49ers.  With CMC on Gas City's squad it made sense for him to get the handcuff.  This was another trade that I feel benefits both teams.  

 

After two back-to-back years of missing the playoffs there are several new faces.  Only three players remain as holdovers from the Vendetta team that bowed out in the 2022 Semi-Finals.  Now it's time to see how all of the hours of research and scouting over the last couple of years performs between the lines.  I feel cautiously optimistic about this new incarnation of the Vendetta being able to challenge for a return trip to the playoffs and beyond.  

 

Let's get this thing started!