3rdandinches
Seasoned Veteran
Re-sign
J.Ferguson NT - 1 more year rotating with Solai
N.Jones CB - low cost, real effective in Nickel and Dime packages
J.Taylor OLB - 1 more year to help transition our young OLB's
R.Brown RB - plays under 1 year deal (5mil option) and if he stays healthy he can earn himself a 3/4 year deal next year
D.Bess WR - should be wrapped up long term for a reasonable amount
A.Fasano TE
J.Haynos TE
Cut - A chance to correct past mistakes
R.Torbor ILB - too much money for a backup
A.Aoydele ILB - not effective enough to start and too expensive to sit
G.Wilson SS - Need I say anything!
W.Allen CB - 5.2mil to be a backup, no thanks Nate and Jason keep those duties and play special teams.
J.Porter OLB - due a 1.2 mil bonus with 3.6mil base salary, Wake needs to get the opportunity to start.
FA
K.Dansby ILB - Play making ILB that will help Crowder be the tackling machine he needs to be.
I really want to put A.Bryant on this list or even M.Floyd but I think the FO likes the direction our receivers are going. Turner will get thrown in the mix and the late rounds in the draft will let the FO try to uncover a diamond in the rough. This will be a sore spot for alot of fans because the issues we had last year but I think some of the issues we're more of a blip then the norm. Bess/ Fasano and Ginn bounce back to have big seasons.
Draft
With McClain and DEZ long gone and no one willing to trade back we take...
1. E.Thomas FS - This kicks our defense into high gear, no more easy throws down the deep middle!
2. B.Graham SOLB - Rotates with Taylor adding to the pass rush while being stout against the run.
3. M.Johnson ILB - Solid depth for ILB
4. T.Troup NT/ E.Udofia NT - Get the opportunity to learn for a year before needing to step up and become a part of the rotation next year.
6. A.Tracey OLB - 6'3 245 4.65/40. 4 year starter that might bump Anderson off the roster.
6. T.Price WR - 6'1 212 4.38/40. Needs time on the practise squad but a great athlete with eye popping measurables.
6. F.Barnes WR - 6'2 206 4.53/40. 155 receptions, 1770yds, 19tds...I think he knows how to catch the football!!!
7. K.Weston NT - Another project to sit and learn the pro game.
7. J.Williams OT - a star LT at Havard, very athletic. 6'5 295, needs to put on some weight but can learn on the practise squad.
P.Solai becomes the starting NT with Fergy rotating in, I would love to sign Hampton/Pickett/Wilfork but let's be realistic. The FO doesn't make the great big move and Solai has shown improvement every year.
Dansby is the one big splash we make, he was on our radar last year but Zona smartly franchised him. Zona has a tonne of FA's and might even have to look for a starting Qb aswell. Dansby allows Crowder to be the plug LB that he is and helps out a tonne in coverage. Of course there will be some other role playing additions in FA but probably very low key.
The cuts free up alot of money which we'll need when the cap does come back. This is a must because it may never happen again that you can errase some past mistakes with no penalty just a kick in the wallet. W.Allen is the hardest of the cuts but because of his injury we learned that the rookies are there to stay and J.Allen and N.Jones are effective in our packages.
E.Thomas FS could be alittle high for him but with the two studs gone and no one willing to trade up he becomes a great pick for us. A true FS that is a ballhawk, he could come in and play average and this is still 1000 times better then what we had last year. Thomas is a gifted Athlete and will provide our defense with a much needed threat in the secondary.
The biggest issue for a fans perspective will be the lack of WR attention. I would love to get A.Bryant and it could very well happen making this a great offseason but I wanted to keep it as realistic as possible. Turner may step in and become that missing ingredient after a full offseason training program. I love the potential of T.Price and F.Barnes, give them a couple of years on the practise squad and we could a pleasant surprise for our passing attack.
J.Ferguson NT - 1 more year rotating with Solai
N.Jones CB - low cost, real effective in Nickel and Dime packages
J.Taylor OLB - 1 more year to help transition our young OLB's
R.Brown RB - plays under 1 year deal (5mil option) and if he stays healthy he can earn himself a 3/4 year deal next year
D.Bess WR - should be wrapped up long term for a reasonable amount
A.Fasano TE
J.Haynos TE
Cut - A chance to correct past mistakes
R.Torbor ILB - too much money for a backup
A.Aoydele ILB - not effective enough to start and too expensive to sit
G.Wilson SS - Need I say anything!
W.Allen CB - 5.2mil to be a backup, no thanks Nate and Jason keep those duties and play special teams.
J.Porter OLB - due a 1.2 mil bonus with 3.6mil base salary, Wake needs to get the opportunity to start.
FA
K.Dansby ILB - Play making ILB that will help Crowder be the tackling machine he needs to be.
I really want to put A.Bryant on this list or even M.Floyd but I think the FO likes the direction our receivers are going. Turner will get thrown in the mix and the late rounds in the draft will let the FO try to uncover a diamond in the rough. This will be a sore spot for alot of fans because the issues we had last year but I think some of the issues we're more of a blip then the norm. Bess/ Fasano and Ginn bounce back to have big seasons.
Draft
With McClain and DEZ long gone and no one willing to trade back we take...
1. E.Thomas FS - This kicks our defense into high gear, no more easy throws down the deep middle!
2. B.Graham SOLB - Rotates with Taylor adding to the pass rush while being stout against the run.
3. M.Johnson ILB - Solid depth for ILB
4. T.Troup NT/ E.Udofia NT - Get the opportunity to learn for a year before needing to step up and become a part of the rotation next year.
6. A.Tracey OLB - 6'3 245 4.65/40. 4 year starter that might bump Anderson off the roster.
6. T.Price WR - 6'1 212 4.38/40. Needs time on the practise squad but a great athlete with eye popping measurables.
6. F.Barnes WR - 6'2 206 4.53/40. 155 receptions, 1770yds, 19tds...I think he knows how to catch the football!!!
7. K.Weston NT - Another project to sit and learn the pro game.
7. J.Williams OT - a star LT at Havard, very athletic. 6'5 295, needs to put on some weight but can learn on the practise squad.
P.Solai becomes the starting NT with Fergy rotating in, I would love to sign Hampton/Pickett/Wilfork but let's be realistic. The FO doesn't make the great big move and Solai has shown improvement every year.
Dansby is the one big splash we make, he was on our radar last year but Zona smartly franchised him. Zona has a tonne of FA's and might even have to look for a starting Qb aswell. Dansby allows Crowder to be the plug LB that he is and helps out a tonne in coverage. Of course there will be some other role playing additions in FA but probably very low key.
The cuts free up alot of money which we'll need when the cap does come back. This is a must because it may never happen again that you can errase some past mistakes with no penalty just a kick in the wallet. W.Allen is the hardest of the cuts but because of his injury we learned that the rookies are there to stay and J.Allen and N.Jones are effective in our packages.
E.Thomas FS could be alittle high for him but with the two studs gone and no one willing to trade up he becomes a great pick for us. A true FS that is a ballhawk, he could come in and play average and this is still 1000 times better then what we had last year. Thomas is a gifted Athlete and will provide our defense with a much needed threat in the secondary.
The biggest issue for a fans perspective will be the lack of WR attention. I would love to get A.Bryant and it could very well happen making this a great offseason but I wanted to keep it as realistic as possible. Turner may step in and become that missing ingredient after a full offseason training program. I love the potential of T.Price and F.Barnes, give them a couple of years on the practise squad and we could a pleasant surprise for our passing attack.
