Filling Needs through Free Agency, Trades, and the Draft

[MHS831]

Opinions. There are basically three ways to accomplish this task. Trade, sign a free agent, or the draft. Feel free to share opinions below.

How should we meet the need at:

Draft-what round? and a name or two to target

Free Agency-who and how much would you offer? (including our own)

Trade- Who and what in terms of draft picks/players would you offer

QB:

WR (assume Smith is traded):

DT (do we need 2?):

DE:

OL (consider depth needs):

CB:

TE (Is Shockey enough--Barnidge the only other TE on the roster):

This is interesting to me because there could be a crazy free agency period if RFAs become UFAs. By April, the landscape could be totally different. The draft may not be as important as it has been in the past, and we are postioned well to go after free agents if this occurs. JR's prophecy is unfolding. (drama)

[TylerVagyler]

I still have faith that JR knows what he is doing.

[riddel]

I like this thread...

QB: FA or TRADE (Palmer, Young, McNabb) Keep Moore and see if Clausen would fetch a pack up gum via trade.

WR (assume Smith is traded): NO. I WILL NOT ASSUME THAT. I say we stand on the WRs we have and let training camp begin, then pick up a FA if necessary. I'd take Roy Williams once he is cut.

DT (do we need 2?): DRAFT and FA- 3rd or 4th round depending on talent available

DE: DRAFT- 3rd or 4th round depending on talent available

OL (consider depth needs): FA- We have a strong line, just need to get healthy.

CB: DRAFT-PATRICK PETERSON

TE (Is Shockey enough--Barnidge the only other TE on the roster): TRADE or CUT ONE KING or BARNIDGE

[teeray]

Opinions. There are basically three ways to accomplish this task. Trade, sign a free agent, or the draft. Feel free to share opinions below.

How should we meet the need at:

Draft-what round? and a name or two to target

Free Agency-who and how much would you offer? (including our own)

Trade- Who and what in terms of draft picks/players would you offer

QB:

WR (assume Smith is traded):

DT (do we need 2?):

DE:

OL (consider depth needs):

CB:

TE (Is Shockey enough--Barnidge the only other TE on the roster):

This is interesting to me because there could be a crazy free agency period if RFAs become UFAs. By April, the landscape could be totally different. The draft may not be as important as it has been in the past, and we are postioned well to go after free agents if this occurs. JR's prophecy is unfolding. (drama)

With QB are you talking short term or long term. Long term needs to be through the draft (not necessarily this year). Short term I would have to say FA. Trading for QB is too expensive.

WR- has good value throughout the first half of the draft. Also free agancy is always a good way to go.

DT- again both. DT is another position that has good value in later rounds and there are usually several quality guys in the FA market for whatever reason. Or Dareus #1.

DE- assuming everybody stays I kinda like where we are at DE. Greg Hardy is going to be a good one, Everette Brown has flashes. If anything shore it up through FA.

OL- just shore up in FA

CB- Lot's of value in the later rounds of the draft. Would probably stay away from the FAs at this point. Or PP #1.

TE- with the addition of Shockey I think we go with what we got. Maybe a late round we use our pick on a TE. But mainly let the guys we do have fight it out.

Just my 2 cents.

[MHS831]

I like this thread...

QB: FA or TRADE (Palmer, Young, McNabb) Keep Moore and see if Clausen would fetch a pack up gum via trade.

WR (assume Smith is traded): NO. I WILL NOT ASSUME THAT. I say we stand on the WRs we have and let training camp begin, then pick up a FA if necessary. I'd take Roy Williams once he is cut.

DT (do we need 2?): DRAFT and FA- 3rd or 4th round depending on talent available

DE: DRAFT- 3rd or 4th round depending on talent available

OL (consider depth needs): FA- We have a strong line, just need to get healthy.

CB: DRAFT-PATRICK PETERSON

TE (Is Shockey enough--Barnidge the only other TE on the roster): TRADE or CUT ONE KING or BARNIDGE

QB: I imagine, as desperate as teams are for QBs, someone would give us a fourth or fifth rounder for Clausen. Since that is the case, I say make him the third QB and see if he develops in the new climate.

WR: Of course we can keep SS here under contract, but I think his agreement is with JR and when the CBA is cleared up and he can be traded, we will find out what was decided if anything.

DT: I agree. The DL in the draft are deep.

OL: You (like me) are OK with what we have at RG? I thought Schwartz will be good there with a camp under his belt. I would like depth at T.

CB: The draft is not deep at the kind of CB we can use. I see this, but don't think it happens.

TE: I take it you would re-sign Rosario?

Good post.

[riddel]

I'm hoping Rosario can develop into the TE that Rivera and Chud are looking for. He always reminded me of a poor mans Gates. We just never threw much to the TE under Davidson's offense, because they were there for their zone blocking.

I failed to mention this, but I would want to trade down to 3-5 and pick up Peterson, which would give us a 2nd round pick. I don't know what I would use that second on. I feel like drafting a WR that high would be like saying Armanti was a wasted pick. I want to see if he develops into a Steve Smith type of WR before we give up on him.

[MHS831]

With QB are you talking short term or long term. Long term needs to be through the draft (not necessarily this year). Short term I would have to say FA. Trading for QB is too expensive.

WR- has good value throughout the first half of the draft. Also free agancy is always a good way to go.

DT- again both. DT is another position that has good value in later rounds and there are usually several quality guys in the FA market for whatever reason. Or Dareus #1.

DE- assuming everybody stays I kinda like where we are at DE. Greg Hardy is going to be a good one, Everette Brown has flashes. If anything shore it up through FA.

OL- just shore up in FA

CB- Lot's of value in the later rounds of the draft. Would probably stay away from the FAs at this point. Or PP #1.

TE- with the addition of Shockey I think we go with what we got. Maybe a late round we use our pick on a TE. But mainly let the guys we do have fight it out.

Just my 2 cents.

QB: I agree about the short term and long term approach to QB.

DT: I also agree that we have to get a DT in the draft and free agency. I wonder, however, what Hurney will do if we draft a DT early and one that was high on his board falls to him later? The draft is deep at DE and DT. Remember QB, WR, and CB last year?

CB: I think there are a lot of CBs in the draft, but the value is limited. I really have no desire to take one past the 3rd round or so. THis could make Peterson look pretty good.

TE: Which TE do you not re-sign? I am guessing King?

I expect we will do more in free agency than people think after the CBA is done.

[MHS831]

I'm hoping Rosario can develop into the TE that Rivera and Chud are looking for. He always reminded me of a poor mans Gates. We just never threw much to the TE under Davidson's offense, because they were there for there zone blocking.

I like the skill sets both Rosario and Barnidge offer. I expect to see them split a lot, creating some mismatches. When I looked at our play calling and formations last year, I was amazed at how simple it seemed compared to other teams. Emabarrassing came to mind.

[TheMaulClaw]

Trade down to the 4th for Palmer.

Draft AJ Green or Julio Jones. Possibly Patrick Peterson.

Package Smitty and our third to move back up in the first round.

Draft elite Dline talent. (i.e Ryan Kerrigan, JJ Watt (would move to DT), Adrian Clayborne)

Sign Mike Sims-Walker.

Sign veteran linebacker. (Stephen Cooper?)

Skill positions on offense would then be:

QB Palmer

WRs Simms-Walker, AJ or Julio, Jeremy Shockey, Dave Gettis, Brandon Lafell.

RBs DWill (hopefully) Jstew, Goodson, Sutton.

Offense fixed. Defensive needs filled.

Sign Dave Ball back for depth.

[Actionman0z]

Opinions. There are basically three ways to accomplish this task. Trade, sign a free agent, or the draft. Feel free to share opinions below.

How should we meet the need at:

Draft-what round? and a name or two to target

Free Agency-who and how much would you offer? (including our own)

Trade- Who and what in terms of draft picks/players would you offer

QB:

WR (assume Smith is traded):

DT (do we need 2?):

DE:

OL (consider depth needs):

CB:

TE (Is Shockey enough--Barnidge the only other TE on the roster):

This is interesting to me because there could be a crazy free agency period if RFAs become UFAs. By April, the landscape could be totally different. The draft may not be as important as it has been in the past, and we are postioned well to go after free agents if this occurs. JR's prophecy is unfolding. (drama)

QB: Moore, Clausen, Pike. FA= -Pike.

WR: Stand PAT.

DT: 1-2 in FA, Draft 1 (round not included).

DE: None, FA? Andre Carter

OL: Depth needs/possible Starter in FA for the right price..

CB: PP #1 overall (or trade down) and #4 overall.

TE: Rosario, Shockey, Barnidge. King = CUT.

LB: Depth and Special Teams help.

[MHS831]

I still have faith that JR knows what he is doing.

Me too. His role in the CBA was understandable. Smith and the other attorney the NFLPA hired (forgot his name) were screaming decertification and litigation, trying to fight the battle in the media.

The players on this team, members of the NFLPA, stand by JR as an owner. SS even calls him a second grandpa.

I hope he stays healthy a long time and leaves the franchise in good hands when he's gone.

[teeray]

QB: I agree about the short term and long term approach to QB.

DT: I also agree that we have to get a DT in the draft and free agency. I wonder, however, what Hurney will do if we draft a DT early and one that was high on his board falls to him later? The draft is deep at DE and DT. Remember QB, WR, and CB last year?

CB: I think there are a lot of CBs in the draft, but the value is limited. I really have no desire to take one past the 3rd round or so. THis could make Peterson look pretty good.

TE: Which TE do you not re-sign? I am guessing King?

I expect we will do more in free agency than people think after the CBA is done.

You bring up a good point at CB. And I wouldn't be shocked if PP is the pick. Not a lot of people are giving this as much credibility as it deserves. I think he will be DEEP in the mix. I think the guys that are really going to get looked at hard by the FO is PP, Dareus, Cam, Bowers, and maybe Gabbert and Fairley (although that contradicts Darin Gantt's "gut", whatever that means).

And frankly I am good with any of those solutions (despite my affinity for a QB I will remain nameless :p) except maybe Bowers. I just don't think it is a huge need and he isn't a transcendent type of player at that position that we would just HAVE to take. If he was the second coming of Peppers than I would get all the buzz. But right now I would be shocked if the pick was Bowers.

[MHS831]

Trade down to the 4th for Palmer.

Draft AJ Green or Julio Jones. Possibly Patrick Peterson.

Package Smitty and our third to move back up in the first round.

Draft elite Dline talent. (i.e Ryan Kerrigan, JJ Watt (would move to DT), Adrian Clayborne)

Sign Mike Sims-Walker.

Sign veteran linebacker. (Stephen Cooper?)

Skill positions on offense would then be:

QB Palmer

WRs Simms-Walker, AJ or Julio, Jeremy Shockey, Dave Gettis, Brandon Lafell.

RBs DWill (hopefully) Jstew, Goodson, Sutton.

Offense fixed. Defensive needs filled.

Sign Dave Ball back for depth.

I like these ideas a lot for the most part. If you drafted Green, would you still sign Sims-Walker?

[MHS831]

You bring up a good point at CB. And I wouldn't be shocked if PP is the pick. Not a lot of people are giving this as much credibility as it deserves. I think he will be DEEP in the mix. I think the guys that are really going to get looked at hard by the FO is PP, Dareus, Cam, Bowers, and maybe Gabbert and Fairley (although that contradicts Darin Gantt's "gut", whatever that means).

And frankly I am good with any of those solutions (despite my affinity for a QB I will remain nameless :p) except maybe Bowers. I just don't think it is a huge need and he isn't a transcendent type of player at that position that we would just HAVE to take. If he was the second coming of Peppers than I would get all the buzz. But right now I would be shocked if the pick was Bowers.

About Bowers and Quinn: I see it because I think we need 3-4 starting quality DEs to bring a rain of pressure on opposing QBs. If DT is deep, we get one in the third. I think the draft should be looked at for long term help and players who can be brought along without immdiate pressure to perform. Bowers would fit that mold. In 2 years (I think) we will have to decide on a second contract for Brown. Since they say it takes DEs about 2 years to become NFL ready, I see the need based on Everette Brown more than anything else. Pass rushing 4-3 DEs are hard to find. DTs are more common. But, DT, CB, and QB are bigger needs--if we address them in the draft.

And about the nameless QB: I see his upside and am tempted myself. I have actually decided that I am glad this isn't my decision and I am going to support the players we bring in regardless. If "He who shall not be named" becomes a star, I will not be surprised. If he busts, I will not be surprised either. I can tell you one thing: The next seven weeks are going to be very interesting.