I think the team doesn't look that bad, if you take into account that game planning and coaching were partly responsible for the team's poor performances. Here's what I see.
Biggest Holes:
Pass rushing LB/DE
#1 CB (we have okay #2s and 3s)
#1 WR (same as above)
LT (C also needed)
Biggest Question Marks:
QB (Joey must go)
Backup RB (Morris isn't the answer, neither is RW)
DL (Can any of the young guys with potential step up? Can we keep JT?)
Mare? Nuff Said.
Here are some quality UFAs for '07:
Tony Gonzalez, KC - TE
Mark Starks, Pit - LT
Mark Gandy, Buf - LT
Lance Briggs, Chi - LB
Adalius Thomas, Bal - LB
Nate Clements, Buf - CB
Asante Samuel, NE - CB
So how about this... we roll with what we have on the DL, working a deal with Holliday, and working Fred Evans and Kevin Vickerson into the mix (maybe Manny will even come back now that Nick is not around to make him cry). And we stand pat at S with Jason Allen and Yeremiah Bell.
We try to grab one of these CBs and LBs in Free Agency. Adalius Thomas looks like a very good fit as a pass rushing LB, with 11 sacks this year. Briggs is just a beast of a run stuffer. Flip a coin on the Corners.
Now here's the tricky part... there aren't many top-notch receivers in FA, so I would try to draft one high, maybe with the first round pick. I hate taking a WR in round 1 because it is such a crap shoot, but the only other option is to keep the same receiving corps we have now and hope someone (Hagan, Vick?) develops. You could draft a WR in later rounds, but I wouldn't see them contributing much in '07. *BUT*, what if you could lure Gonzo away from KC? I think that would automatically improve the QB position and make the current WRs better. Expensive? Undoubtedly! But I saw somewhere that we might have as much as 40M in cap space this offseason,depending on how much dead weight we can prune, and maybe we could get something for McMike.
If you can buy Tony, draft an LT in the first round, unless Brady Quinn somehow slips to within reach, but that ain't gonna happen. Let Mueller work his magic with drafting a development QB in a later round, and plan on going to camp with DC, Cleo, and Marcus Vick (people are concerned about his height, but he is a little bigger than Drew Brees).
If you can't buy Tony, buy one of the above LTs and draft a WR first or second, depending on value. Draft a Center in round 3 or 4, depending on value available. This position will probably take some time to develop. Rex is okay, but I think his best position is Guard and McKinney just isn't that great. Whichever round you don't use for a C, use for a DE/LB. Finally draft another RB and a developmental QB. We need depth and Ricky is never going to be reliable. It kills me how many good RBs went in later rounds this season, and we missed out.
Now I know everything will most likely not click in 1 year, but this would create a solid basis for building an Offense next year, upgrading and getting younger on Defense, and heading to camp with options. If we can get some good game planning and coaching, we would be competitve next year with these upgrades and in good position the following year to fill any remaining needs heading into the draft.
Someone else commented trading down, maybe our 1 and 2 for two lower firsts may be able to get us the LT and WR, or LT and DE/LB positions filled and I think that has merit as well.
:dolphins:
