Free agency sets up the draft.....

[musicman]

So what would you like to see (approach wise, position or players) in FA?

Defense: I strongly hope we get a really good DE (short or long term contract). I could see a Houston for 8/9 mil a year for 2 years or Trey Flowers for 13 mil a year but several years so the cap hit is lower. Experience and immediate impact is needed and with a depp draft the FA's may not all get paid top dollar. We should pick up another FS, but low level as a back up to the draft (there's a lot available). Resigning Love at DT helps that we don't need a stud in the 2nd or 3rd round (which I wouldn't mind) but this is to set up the draft for the BPA. I also see a long term deal for Shaq to lower the cap hit. DE is my 1 important signing.

Offense: Assuming Olsen doesn't change course I would still sign a low level (cheap) vet TE in case he gets hurt. If he goes into broadcasting, this now becomes a higher draft pick and getting a vet. Signing RT Williams at the right price is key, even a 1 year deal. This allows them to maybe take the Bradberry the C or a 2nd rd Tackle to develop. If they are keeping WR Smith I don't see them signing any WR vets. Tackle (Williams or someone else) is my important signing if $ works out. After an injury he is an unknown and we don't want another Kalil contract.

This then leaves OT, C, DE, even DT open in the 1st round. Assuming what ever they don't take of those 4 will be in the 2nd and 3rd round, but I'll add FS into the 2nd or 3rd round mix. LB creeps in around the 4th along with RB. My scenario (assuming we get a FA DE); OT 1st., DE in 2nd, C & FS in 3rd. RB in 4th. If it's BPA at the time they should be good and contribute with OT starting (assuming Williams didn't resign), DE in strong rotation, C possibly starting moving Larsen to G and FS battling it out with Gaulden. Note: I think the top 5 or 6 D-lineman are gone by 16 which IMO lessens the impact of the player in his 1st year. Doesn't mean they won't have a great career. OT has a higher rating of contributing successfully in the 1st year then a mid round DE pick. 

We don't have a lot of money so it's really 2 or 3 moves with one being sort of big. In all this, the X factor is Cam. No matter draft or going with what we have, this year is deep playoffs or bust. He doesn't rebound that whole team strategy changes for 2020.

 

[RumHam]

Honestly if it's a reach for a OL at 16 but yet the OL can be good for many years, would rather take that.

[panthers101]

BPA in the first two rounds. If that player is OL great, if that player is DL great, if that player is LB great, I don't care as long as it's a player of need the first two rounds need to be homeruns. I want another super bowl run! We have to trust the people who know our team the best. I know this will not be popular because we as fans think we know best but the coaches know better than we do. Like has been said before Cam covers up a lot and I think we seen this last year, our D has covered up a lot in the past, not so much this past year. We have very little money to play with, so hopefully we pick up 1 or 2 decent FA players and then try to hit a homerun in the first and second round. Then we should make the playoffs but will have to stay healthy.

[Dex]

I feel like we're priced out of Triple A DE talent in F/A. Resign Daryl Williams and sign Clinton Dix? There will be 1st round DE talent at 16.

[Toomers]

Trent Brown— 5/75

Preston Smith—4/44

adrian Amos —-4/36

Morse—4/32

Tre Boston—3/11

  This is actually easily doable and wouldn’t cost us anything of real value(losing players) to accomplish. And we never signed Reid. That would help. 

[Toomers]

2 minutes ago, stbugs said:

I am starting to think the team doesn’t think value Williams as much as he does and I’ll be honest I never thought 2nd team All-Pro in 2017. That means he was a top 4 tackle. The post before about how he got among the most TE help makes sense as to how he got graded so high because Cam Jordan abused him in the playoff game.

I’d rather sign a Flowers or a Paradis or even a Mathieu and then go from there. BPA at 16 and honestly it could be any position. There’s no way to know for sure who the 15 guys will be. With CMC is was a lot easier. Once you get out of the top top guys it’s kind of a crap shoot. Hope for the best. Let’s say we sign Flowers (we likely won’t but we could if we dump Kalil, Smith and Searcy (that’s $15m right there) and then Sweat is available. Is it really that bad to have two young stud DEs and let Addison go after this year? Constant pressure for the next 4 years is bad somehow? 

 If they don’t think Moton can play LT, do you offer anything at all to DW? I think that’s the real question. 

[LinvilleGorge]

Preston Smith - $10Mish per year/4 years

Daryl Williams - $9Mish per year/4 years

Tre Boston - $3Mish per year/2-3 years

Head to the draft

[Dex]

Just now, LinvilleGorge said:

Preston Smith - $10Mish per year/4 years

Daryl Williams - $9Mish per year/4 years

Tre Boston - $3Mish per year/2-3 years

Head to the draft

I think Smith will get 12M a year but I love the signing. All 3 of those would make me a happy camper going into the draft. You might be just a tad optimistic on those numbers though.

[LinvilleGorge]

2 minutes ago, Dex said:

I think Smith will get 12M a year but I love the signing. All 3 of those would make me a happy camper going into the draft. You might be just a tad optimistic on those numbers though.

Yeah, we'll have to wait and see. I don't think I'd go that high for Smith even though I really like him. I'm counting on the strong draft class to somewhat depress some of the DL/edge rusher FA values.

[Dex]

1 minute ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Yeah, we'll have to wait and see. I don't think I'd go that high for Smith even though I really like him. I'm counting on the strong draft class to somewhat depress some of the DL/edge rusher FA values.

DEs will always go for more than they're worth even in a saturated market. Same for OTs. We just happen to need both unfortunately.

[Dex]

2 minutes ago, black-panthers said:

That team that sign Williams would be stupid. Donovan Smith is a LT and played at a higher level his entire career with no injuries got 13M.

I'd like to keep Daryl if we can but I agree it's just too risky to shell out big money like that after an injury.

[top dawg]

When you don't have as much money as you'd like, free agency has to be an exercise in fluidity and adaptability. What will transpire is anyone's guess. That being said, I'm sure they have discussed possible priorities and targets.

I don't think the presence of Smith is going to stop us from upgrading the receiver position if we can make a good deal with some other vet.

I still don't believe that Flowers or Ansah are completely out the picture, but even if we have to go cheaper stopgap, then a guy I'd think about who will probably be available is Michael Bennett. Vinny Curry is still at the back of my mind.

The center from Denver is still on my mind. As for Williams, he is anything but a lock. I still think that he's probably gone. We shouldn't overpay for his services.

Even if Olsen retires, I think Thomas is ready. Manhertz is depth, albeit JAG. Perhaps ASJ or Jesse James would be worth a flier. But I'm not as concerned. 

[top dawg]

I might offer a 6th or 7th for Trae Wayne's to compete in the backfield.

[PantherOnTheProwl1523]

31 minutes ago, black-panthers said:

Hate to say this bc I hate the man but I might be willing to send a 7th rounder to Philly for Michael Bennett from a football viewpoint. But, it would be tough for me to see Reid and Bennett together on the same team. 

A dream that will never be a reality.