It it so much of a joke what they've done??
Replaced massively overvalued Vernon by returning Mario Williams to the 4-3 DE spot where he dominated the league, for half the price and a top comp pick? I mean, you might have loved Vernon or something, but it's hardly a joke move.... Yes, Mario is older, but we have one of the youngest rosters and DE is the one position that players mature like a good Bordeaux. Check every year's QB pressure leader stats for confirmation.
Promoted Jay Ajayi to replace Miller and - as yet - they haven't replaced Ajayi. Damien Williams looks to be toast and I can hardly blame the FO. He can't run inside and his return game is suspect. They don't want to trade for a RB unless he's a stud, as they could lose the comp pick for Miller. They've brought in a few cast-offs as possible Williams replacements/camp bodies. Daniel Thomas was hated because of the price we paid for him in the draft. He was never a feature back and never will be. He's still an OK role player. His last season he was our best short yardage and between-the-tackles runner. I could care less whether he's on the 53 or not. We still need to replace Ajayi as the no. 2 RB and I presume we're going to draft someone. We can only say if it's a joke so far when we see who fills out the open spot/s.
Signed Andre Branch to replace Derrick Shelby. This is definitely a situation where we're worse off than we were. Branch is decent against the run but a horrible pass rusher. I wouldn't call it a joke, but it isn't funny either. Shelby seems to be a lockerroom issue though. Maybe Johnsonor Fede will take up the slack.
Replaced Brent & Miko by returning Byron Maxwell to the press scheme where he excelled in Seattle. Maxwell is a good press corner. There aren't many good press corner prospects in the draft. There weren't a ton of press corners in FA. Trumaine Johnson got tendered by LA, Jeremy Lane stayed with Seattle etc etc. We got younger at boundary CB by about as many years as we got older with Mario/OV. This move means we inherit a year of high salary from Maxwell and was part of the tradedown from 8 to 13. I can't say I'm in love with the move, but Maxwell having underperformed in a Chip Kelly system is not exactly unique to him. You can expect him to be closer to the Seahawk Maxwell.
We picked up Kiko Maxwell to replace Kelvin Sheppard. I don't need to even comment how much of an improvement this is. Still on a rookie salary, but has injury issues going back to college and was part of the tradedown. I think this was an inspired calculated risk. If we get the guy Buffalo had in year one, we'll be ecstatic.
We haven't signed another clear and obvious boundary corner. I'm a bit surprised, even if the FA press-man options weren't huge. But, this is a terrific draft for CBs (and not much else after DTs). We're definitely signing at least one.
Replaced the always injured Delmas with Abdul-Quddus. Gipson, Weddle and McLeod were the other big available free safeties. Gipson had a terrible 2015 but still got double Abdusl-Quddus salary. Whereas Mario and Maxwell were miscast in 2015, Gipson just had a 'mare. Weddle is in Zimmerframe territory and got almost as much. McLeod is the one I think we missed out on, though he got $6.5m avg to Isa's $4.25. I don't hate the signing, I'm not fully convinced and would like to see us draft a free safety (Powell, Simmons, Worley...)
Signed Bushrod and Urbik and Young to the OL. Bushrod is a very good signing. The other two - meh. Did we do enough? I'd have preferred we filled holes more convincingly before the draft, so I say no. This part of the team is still a joke unless proven otherwise.
We need a #4 WR and maybe a 1-tech DT.
Resigned Matt Moore. Now that is a joke.
