Underrated players: NFC South

[DaCityKats]

we wouldnt be in this situation if Jerry just would have signed them guys. you can find a servicable C but, a top rank DE is what everyone wants and need. if it comes down to a bidding war we have to win that battle.

[rayzor]

kalil, as long as he's been in the league, has been a top 10 center, arguably top 5. without a doubt, the best center in FA.

charles johnson is a top 5 DE in FA this year.

i don't care how easy you think a center is to replace, one of kalil's caliber is much harder to find than a DE of johnson's caliber. losing johnson would hurt the dline some, but losing kalil would hurt the offense. new QB and a team that relies on the run has to have a player this good.

losing kalil would be on the level of losing jon beason.

[atljbo]

As a Falcon fan... If we was in you guys place.. I would do everything to make sure we resign both... But... I would have Franchised Charles Johnson... Besides QB... DE (pass rusher) is the most important impact position... Kalil is a great Center and i would have tried to resign him as soon as FA start.

Its going to be a battle for you guys to keep Charles Johnson... Ofcourse you are the front runners but teams will go after him very very hard... I know my falcons will be one of those teams.

[panthers55]

sometimes, tagging a player isnt the right thing to do. Many players dont like to have a deal forced on them, and would rather just negotiate a contract. But, tagging kalil was the smartest move between the two. Typically, centers dont make much money, especially when comparing to a DE, so that means we probably paid less for kalil than is worth, especially considering he is probably the best center in the league, and otherwise, would have gotten a deal that pays better than the average of the top 5 at his position. I just hope that placing the tag on kalil doesnt make him want to leave next season.

I think everything will be fine though. It will probably be easy to talk Johnson into staying in Carolina, because it isnt very far from his hometown and family in georgia, and we will probably give him a fair contract considering that he more than replaced Peppers production, for a fraction of the cost. And, i think that kalil might be interested in staying here long-term because positions on the o-line develop a chemistry with the rest of the o-line, and if he were to go to another team, he would risk hurting his production on a new team, based on any weaknesses that o-line may have.

The difference in tag numbers for Kalil and Johnson are pretty close (10.7 versus 12.4 in 2010) so I doubt that was a big factor. I suspect they want o make sure they locked up Kalil since he is a multi pro bowler and will likely be in the future. Johnson has had 1 great year and while we will pay him a premium, I don't know if it will average 13 million a year. It might if the bidding goes wild.

I think your other points are spot on.

[atljbo]

The difference in tag numbers for Kalil and Johnson are pretty close (10.7 versus 12.4 in 2010) so I doubt that was a big factor. I suspect they want o make sure they locked up Kalil since he is a multi pro bowler and will likely be in the future. Johnson has had 1 great year and while we will pay him a premium, I don't know if it will average 13 million a year. It might if the bidding goes wild.

I think your other points are spot on.

I think it would have been easier for yall to sign Kalil as a FA then Johnson.... You guys are the front runners for Johnson but i think teams will go after Johnson harder then Kalil... Not saying teams would not have went after Kalil.. Dude is a probowler so teams would have went after him but Johnson plays the 2nd important impact position... Its even harder to find a LDE that can bring you 10+ sacks.

Like i said... You guys are the front runners for him but his hometown team (Falcons) will go hard after him.