A couple of things I see. First, so many people saying that there's no sure thing after the top 10. If history teach us anything is that there's no sure thing but death and taxes. Also, most people saying we need to get 4 linemen in free agency are some of the people who will complain if we lose Soliai and Starks. We can't get everyone. I want a veteran LT too. But it might not be posible. That's all I'm saying. I know it's going to be cheaper to get 2 guards than 2 OT's in free agency. I hope I'm worng and keep all of our guys and get 4 new starting o-linemen in free agency but I don't see how we can do that and still be at the cap.
Ozzy rules!!
My response may have sounded like I wanted 4 starters from FA, but what I meant to imply was I wanted at least 4 starters heading into the draft (including Pouncey). I really don't want any "serviceable" guys either. I think McKinnie is a good backup and competition for LT/RT at this stage in his career. I also don't know which guards, centers and tackles are the best fit for our offense, but I've seen more rumblings about the FA tackles than any other position on the line. I've not really heard anyone outright say Albert wouldn't fit with us. But I believe his age and back health are long term concerns. But I think we need superior talent on the OLine and Albert and Collins provide that. Getting one or both is a good start to addressing the line.
Yes, I would like to have Starks and Soliai back. I also think Moore will restructure to help. I think his window as a FA starter is slipping away and he likes it here. Many want to see Devlin as a long term backup, but as I see it, if Moore will restructure and save us $1-2M with a mutual friendly deal then there is no reason to blow up arguably one of the strongest and deepest positions on the team and create another hole that would need a draft pick to be used. I think we should wait for the offseason in which Tanny gets his big contract to promote Devlin and move on from Moore. No reason to do that right now.
I think the biggest issues this off season are in the trenches. Using approximately 4 picks in the draft for OL and DL, while picking up 3 OL starters and signing Starks, Soliai and Grimes would be my main goals. If we can't keep both Starks and Soliai, I think we keep Soliai and lose Starks.
We spent a lot of draft picks on D last year at critical positions, they need to impact this team this year. Also, we only really picked Thomas for the OL from last draft. If he can't be at least a quality backup or start on this current line, then yes we desparately need to acquire FA OL.
Regardless, we cannot get so wrapped up in keeping Starks and Soliai that we take away money from the OL. Keeping Tannehill upright and allowing the offense to do its thing is priority one. But we cannot approach this offseason with plans that include next offseason in acquiring players to fix obvious holes now like we did last offseason.
We need to stop treating every year like "next year" is the real year we try. We need an aggressive plan that breaks us out of this continual mold of "next year". We need urgency due to the age and contract timings of our key players. We need to fix this stench on the OLine with authority.
But mostly, I say we need to fix the OL with FA because Philbin does NOT believe in starting rookies. We have 4 open holes. If we are drafting starters for next year and the year after, we have no option but to acquire FA starters now or start looking at next year's draft for a QB. Because Tanny will become David Carr, Jr.
