Nice post below about WR's "after Marks". I have always thought that we needed 'our own guy' meaning drafting a WR who sticks with the team for the majority of his career not some over the hill FA which is what most of our FA signings have been (see other "after Marks" post) Until Chambers was drafted, that had been the case, no question. So this leads me to the point of my post and I need some opinions here, and a short list as to what the make up of our WR corp will be next year. First let me list what I believe to be some likely scenarios:
1) They will PROBABLY only carry 5 players at WR. This has been the number the last few years, and unless there is one less TE or one less DB, then 5 will be the # again. Remember a young prospect can always be stashed ready and available on the PS, just as Baker was this year when Gadsden first went down. This team carries 5 WR's, just like it is their philosophy to carry 4 TE's.
2) The team wants Gadsden back at the right price. But, I do not think that they want him back to be the #2 receiver, hence at the lower salary. They probably want him as the #3 or even the #4. He is a special play, possession guy, who is as dependable as they come, when it comes to moving the chains and running specific plays in the red zone, but that’s it.
3) The team wants to retain McKnight with a re-worked contract, lowering his cap number (salary) this year. They also want to upgrade the #2 position and more than likely do not want him as the starter (also reason for lower salary), provided that they can get a suitable and definitive upgrade. McKnight would probably be the #3 player seeing most of his action on first and second down in a 3 wide set, when reverses and other motion plays are run. Gadsden would be the #3 on obvious mid range possession downs.
4) Baker, Simmons, Johnson, Terry, Hooks, and any other training camp fodder are just that.........gone. One may stick on the PS, but none of these guys are going to get what may amount to one available roster spot. If Albert Johnson or Robert Baker were the answer as a return specialist, there would not be the rumored interest in Craig Yeast both this year and last year and we would not suck in this category. Albert Johnson was a leaf on a tree when he played in the regular season and is coming off major knee surgery (see Robert Baker).
5) The team has an interest in Willie Jackson.
6) The team has stated that they will not pursue a 'name' FA at this position, meaning that even a name like Ike Hilliard may be a pipe dream.
7) Most Important point.......... A #2 draft choice (our highest selection) is not likely to come in and start on this team on opening day unless he is pretty special, this making it unlikely that this player would get the #2 slot.So with these possible 'facts', lets look at what is most likely to happen at the position.
#1 - Chris Chambers
#2 - Open
#3 - James McKnight
#4 - Oronde Gadsden
#5 - Open
As you can see Craig Yeast and Willie Jackson would not round this receiving core as well as most of us would be comfortable with. Is it conceivable that Willie Jackson would be the #2 guy? He was VERY productive 2 yrs ago in New Orleans. And remember your best offensive lineman was a guard who did not play for a year named Jamie Nails, so one year off is the not, The End, if the player is dedicated and still has some gas in the tank. This is really THE question. Who is the #2 guy and where will he come from? Remember, there is not a ton of FA money to go around and with other very obvious priorities at LB, OL, DB, and QB, wide receiver may have to come from the draft.
If they only carry five AND they draft a player with the #2 or #3 pick and he is not necessarily a return guy (like Anquan Boldin is not) then where do you fit a guy like Yeast in?? AND if you draft a Boldin and sign a Yeast, who is your #2? This then gets you back to Willie Jackson or another similar player.
Assume that my carrying 5 players point, is the number, then list your 5 WR's and what position they will be slotted at. They could still release McKnight outright if he refuses to re-structure, but with the nearly $7M in dead cap money from Gardener and a bit more potentially already this year i.e. Ward and Lucas, I think that they would prefer to have him on the roster. It is also unlikely that the only returning players would be Chambers (and maybe Gadsden if they can get him signed). Too many new hands to sync up with for Fiedler, and he have enough problems as it is, so some continuity is a must beyond just Chambers.
My final 5 for now:
#1 Chambers
#2 Jackson
#3 McKnight
#4 Gadsden
#5 #2 or #3 draft choice
Maybe the return guy will be a new DB ? Or the receiver they draft will have to be a return guy?? This line up would give them a reliable veteran in Jackson (80+ catches in 01) and some new blood, "our own guy" in the high draft choice. The draft choice would be given every opportunity to become a starter at some point in the season. If Jackson falters, McKnight or Gadsden could start. I just don't know where the return guy will come from.Who are your five?
1) They will PROBABLY only carry 5 players at WR. This has been the number the last few years, and unless there is one less TE or one less DB, then 5 will be the # again. Remember a young prospect can always be stashed ready and available on the PS, just as Baker was this year when Gadsden first went down. This team carries 5 WR's, just like it is their philosophy to carry 4 TE's.
2) The team wants Gadsden back at the right price. But, I do not think that they want him back to be the #2 receiver, hence at the lower salary. They probably want him as the #3 or even the #4. He is a special play, possession guy, who is as dependable as they come, when it comes to moving the chains and running specific plays in the red zone, but that’s it.
3) The team wants to retain McKnight with a re-worked contract, lowering his cap number (salary) this year. They also want to upgrade the #2 position and more than likely do not want him as the starter (also reason for lower salary), provided that they can get a suitable and definitive upgrade. McKnight would probably be the #3 player seeing most of his action on first and second down in a 3 wide set, when reverses and other motion plays are run. Gadsden would be the #3 on obvious mid range possession downs.
4) Baker, Simmons, Johnson, Terry, Hooks, and any other training camp fodder are just that.........gone. One may stick on the PS, but none of these guys are going to get what may amount to one available roster spot. If Albert Johnson or Robert Baker were the answer as a return specialist, there would not be the rumored interest in Craig Yeast both this year and last year and we would not suck in this category. Albert Johnson was a leaf on a tree when he played in the regular season and is coming off major knee surgery (see Robert Baker).
5) The team has an interest in Willie Jackson.
6) The team has stated that they will not pursue a 'name' FA at this position, meaning that even a name like Ike Hilliard may be a pipe dream.
7) Most Important point.......... A #2 draft choice (our highest selection) is not likely to come in and start on this team on opening day unless he is pretty special, this making it unlikely that this player would get the #2 slot.So with these possible 'facts', lets look at what is most likely to happen at the position.
#1 - Chris Chambers
#2 - Open
#3 - James McKnight
#4 - Oronde Gadsden
#5 - Open
As you can see Craig Yeast and Willie Jackson would not round this receiving core as well as most of us would be comfortable with. Is it conceivable that Willie Jackson would be the #2 guy? He was VERY productive 2 yrs ago in New Orleans. And remember your best offensive lineman was a guard who did not play for a year named Jamie Nails, so one year off is the not, The End, if the player is dedicated and still has some gas in the tank. This is really THE question. Who is the #2 guy and where will he come from? Remember, there is not a ton of FA money to go around and with other very obvious priorities at LB, OL, DB, and QB, wide receiver may have to come from the draft.
If they only carry five AND they draft a player with the #2 or #3 pick and he is not necessarily a return guy (like Anquan Boldin is not) then where do you fit a guy like Yeast in?? AND if you draft a Boldin and sign a Yeast, who is your #2? This then gets you back to Willie Jackson or another similar player.
Assume that my carrying 5 players point, is the number, then list your 5 WR's and what position they will be slotted at. They could still release McKnight outright if he refuses to re-structure, but with the nearly $7M in dead cap money from Gardener and a bit more potentially already this year i.e. Ward and Lucas, I think that they would prefer to have him on the roster. It is also unlikely that the only returning players would be Chambers (and maybe Gadsden if they can get him signed). Too many new hands to sync up with for Fiedler, and he have enough problems as it is, so some continuity is a must beyond just Chambers.
My final 5 for now:
#1 Chambers
#2 Jackson
#3 McKnight
#4 Gadsden
#5 #2 or #3 draft choice
Maybe the return guy will be a new DB ? Or the receiver they draft will have to be a return guy?? This line up would give them a reliable veteran in Jackson (80+ catches in 01) and some new blood, "our own guy" in the high draft choice. The draft choice would be given every opportunity to become a starter at some point in the season. If Jackson falters, McKnight or Gadsden could start. I just don't know where the return guy will come from.Who are your five?