Name 3-5 Realistic Free Agents (*additional QB ramblings)...

[davos]

...that are (1) practical (2) a strong-quality starter, & (3) fill a major need

The way I see the free agency this coming year:

There may be a few actually decent players that could become available and fill our needs (if they aren't addressed through the draft).

Everyone has been saying we're a few good players away from something above mediocre; well then here's how you additionally get aggressive on top of nabbing Green/Peterson/Newton/Dareus/or whoeverthefug in the first...

I'd personally like to see us pursue:

Mathias Kiwanuka (DE-Giants)

If we decide to go offensive playmaker with draft pick-1, I think it would make sense to push for Kiwanuka. This guy can be pretty beastly and could fit well in our defense (especially aside CJ when he's re-signed)

James Jones (WR-Packers) & Malcom Floyd (WR-Chargers)

Both of these guys in my eyes have late bloomer all over them. Not to mention they both are deep threat type players. Jones did have a few big drops last season, but when he's on can become a #1 receiver. Same goes for Floyd. He really stepped it up last year when he was on the field in that messy SD WR situation. Jones is 26, Floyd 29. Floyd may be older than others in relation to where they peak, but he could probably go for a decent number of years. Jones is young and ready to shine somwhere right now imo. So, if we miss out on Green, I don't necessarily see us heading in this direction 100% especially considering the positive feedback we've heard about LaFell/Gettis from Rivera, but there's no doubt the worst offense in the league can use a few upgrades. ;)

Brandon Mebane (DT-Seahawks)

They may franchise tag him, but rumors are that they may let him become a free agent. I would definitely go after Mebane even if we pick up a DT in the draft. We honestly need 2-3 new/young DTs to really improve this team as a whole. This guy is only 26 and seems like he could still be something special in this league (Hawk..what's your opinion on him?)

The thing is, opportunities are there for us to really upgrade this team beyond the draft. Also, you know there are going to be moves made with a new regime in place. That's why I feel comfortable for whatever moves we make FA/Draft combined concerning WR/DL/DB. The only damn issue that everthing keeps circling back to...

QB...wait not anymore because we drafted Newton! no rambling necessary :) (edit)

[GritsRgreat]

1st) resign key free agents.

On defense i like CB Johnathan Joseph (Cin) and DT Berry Coefield (NYG)

Joseph is from the area and could be had at the right price.

Coefield would make a great combo with Fairley. (my 1st over all pick)

On offense i like TE's Miller (Oak) or Kevin Boss. (NYG)

also a guard/center combo like Scott Mruczkowki (SD)

Would love to get Miller but i believe Boss could be a good

pickup at a cheaper price.

And of course Billy Vokek as a vet. mentor.

[davos]

1st) resign key free agents.

On defense i like CB Johnathan Joseph (Cin) and DT Berry Coefield (NYG)

Joseph is from the area and could be had at the right price.

Coefield would make a great combo with Fairley. (my 1st over all pick)

On offense i like TE's Miller (Oak) or Kevin Boss. (NYG)

also a guard/center combo like Scott Mruczkowki (SD)

Would love to get Miller but i believe Boss could be a good

pickup at a cheaper price.

And of course Billy Vokek as a vet. mentor.

Joseph would be a decent fit if Marshall is gone and we don't go Peterson.

Oakland is trying to get Miller back, but he still may explore the open market depending on what happens. Additionally, they have the whole Seymour & Aso situation going on...so hopefully he'll slip through the Raiders' grip.

[Chimera]

QB:

I haven't thought about Gradkowski. Of the QBs you mentioned, I think he'd be the one to give us immediate results. However, I don't think he'd be the guy if the long-term plan is to develop Jimmy (or Cam). Bulger worked with Warner and probably had a hand in Bradford's early success. I don't like Bulger at all, but he'd be the one I'd want to develop a young QB.

** edit: I forgot Bulger wasn't with the Rams last season. But I still think he'd be the guy for developmental purposes

DT:

Mebane would be a great pickup, which means it won't happen. I honestly don't think we can go wrong any way we go at DT. We're that bad there. I like Ah You or whatever his name is from the Rams. He's a little undersized, but he seems to get the push we lacked. He'll be cheap, too.

WR:

This year's crop of WR free agents can get ridiculous: Sidney Rice, Malcolm Floyd, Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes, Vincent Jackson, the other Steve Smith, Steve Breaston, etc. Will we get any of those guys? I doubt it. I do think we have a shot at Houshmanzadeh or a no-name, big WR like Derek Hagan.

DE:

Ray. Edwards. I would poo my pants.

I also like Jason Babin, but I think he'll stay in TN.

[Lumps]

Jones is not leaving Green Bay, everyone else is not worth the time.

[panthers55]

The problem with these threads in February is that no one has any idea who may be available or not at this point. So people put out names and debate them ad nauseum only to find that they are not going to be available realistically. They may not be tagged but the team they are playing for already will make a big push to sign them.

Sure it is the offseason but until we actually know who may be available, this is a huge waste of time.

Check out other team's boards and see how many times Charles Johnson and Williams are being mentioned. Before yesterday, Kalil was on a bunch of those boards as well.

Besides if you are going to be realistic, make sure the player is relatively cheap, a journeyman, and won't attract a bidding war. Otherwise when was the last time we actually acquired a big name in FA. Moreover, when was the last time we did that and they actually panned out. Hurney has already said we would be building through the draft and supplementing it with a few free agents. Not going after some big name pickups.The only ones I have really heard about was a TE and possibly a DT. And of course a vet QB.

[ncguy2184]

There may be no football so...

[jtnc]

Joseph would be great.

[mav1234]

I'm not sure Bulger wants to leave the Ravens.

Would really like to get CB Joseph though, and Cofield as well. Both good pickups.

Not worried so much about DE as long as we bring Johnson back.

[davos]

The problem with these threads in February is that no one has any idea who may be available or not at this point. So people put out names and debate them ad nauseum only to find that they are not going to be available realistically. They may not be tagged but the team they are playing for already will make a big push to sign them.

Sure it is the offseason but until we actually know who may be available, this is a huge waste of time.

Check out other team's boards and see how many times Charles Johnson and Williams are being mentioned. Before yesterday, Kalil was on a bunch of those boards as well.

Besides if you are going to be realistic, make sure the player is relatively cheap, a journeyman, and won't attract a bidding war. Otherwise when was the last time we actually acquired a big name in FA. Moreover, when was the last time we did that and they actually panned out. Hurney has already said we would be building through the draft and supplementing it with a few free agents. Not going after some big name pickups.The only ones I have really heard about was a TE and possibly a DT. And of course a vet QB.

Lucas, Keyshawn, Willig...we've made occasional splashes but have held off any bigger FAs towards the end of Fox's tenure. Yeah we build through the draft, but people I think are afraid to admit how much help we need and at least one major FA aquisition will probably be made. I just don't see why this won't happen.

Again, I'm not trying to spark any "I don't want such and such b/c of blah blah blah" I'm trying to show people quality is available if a particular need (minus QB) is not met through the draft.

Good post. Yeah, its a little early, but what the heck. Its something to talk about.

[panthers55]

Lucas, Keyshawn, Willig...we've made occasional splashes but have held off any bigger FAs towards the end of Fox's tenure. Yeah we build through the draft, but people I think are afraid to admit how much help we need and at least one major FA aquisition will probably be made. I just don't see why this won't happen.

Again, I'm not trying to spark any "I don't want such and such b/c of blah blah blah" I'm trying to show people quality is available if a particular need (minus QB) is not met through the draft.

Good post. Yeah, its a little early, but what the heck. Its something to talk about.

You could add Kemo, Hartwig, and Lewis to that list. The reality is that really no one was really worth what we paid to get them. That doesn't mean I wouldn't be more aggressive than Hurney has been though. I really think that guys like Anquan Boldin for example would have been well worth the price. And our failure to get a decent franchise quarterback through the draft or free agency have severely hurt us in the past few years.

There are some quality guys out there, I just doubt that we will pursue them. Maybe I will be wrong.

[Gscottnc5]

Billy Volek needs to be a Panther. He would come in completely knowing this offense and Volek can play and has game experience and playoff experience. I still want Cam though. 2 years with Volek, then the cam era will begin and we will be a contender

[Catalyst]

TE Zach Miller (OAK): I honestly do think he'll be a prime target for us if he's allowed to hit free agency. Rivera coached against him for three years in SD and knows how good he is. Plus, he fits Rivera's description of a "do it all" tight end perfectly.

DT Barry Coefield (NYG): I don't expect Brandon Mebane to make it to free agency, otherwise he'd be here. Coefield is a cheaper option, but has a similar blend of youth and ability. He's not as good as Mebane, but he's a LOT better than anything we have now.

WR James Jones (GB): This depends a lot on what we do with Steve Smith and who we take 1st overall. I don't think the front office views WR as a huge need for us given the way Gettis & LaFell played as rookies. Still, if we do trade Smith and opt not to pick A.J. Green then Jones would be a perfect fit for us. It's tough to say if the Packers will let him get to free agency. They have an aging WR in Driver, but also Jennings and a young up & comer in Jordy Nelson.

OG Marshal Yanda (BAL): Could be an under the radar guard prospect. I expect some of the bigger name guys like Carl Nicks to take up the headlines, but Yanda is solid and would be an upgrade for us at RG for sure.

OG Nate Livings (CIN): More of a run blocker than a pass blocker, but would probably come fairly cheap in the scheme of things and would still be better than Schwartz or Bernadeau.

[brandon_87]

On a limb:

J. Henserson, ASO, K. Boss.

More likely:

T. Davis, D. Williams, K. Boss

I see us being quiet again in free agency