02-06-2024, 04:08 PM
Higgins and Reader are A+ free agents. We should keep them.
As to what happens after that, who knows? It isn't like the FO has control. If Wilkins or Madubuike get tagged or extended, there may be nothing we can do.
Broadly speaking, my priorities would be:
1) Don't pay big money for mediocre FA's. Jonah isn't worth $15 mil.
2) Avoid big backwards steps if you can. Losing Highins or Reader us a big backwards step. Jonah, Boyd, and Chido are small steps back.
3) Improve the trenches. The OL first (RT), then run D (Reader), and then interior pass rush. I think we count on Hubbard being healthy and Murphy improving for outside upgrades.
4) Get more explosive on offense. Boyd could bounce back but I think he has lost a step. A legit TE upgrade would also help.
5) Better secondary depth, or maybe even a starter depending on how we view Dax & Turner.
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I think we have somewhere between 6-8 slots to get starter level guys.
1) Free agency. Over $50 mil in functional space. Room for 2 big deals or maybe 3. Tee + Reader + 1-2 more depending on details. Heck, we could squeeze another significant FA in if terms are good and/or we get some folks to renegotiate. 3-5 here.
2) Top 3 draft picks. Maybe a 4th if we trade down for extra picks or if the 4th is a depth piece (Secondary, backup NT, orxwe get lucky at TE).
That is 6 (minimum) and maybe 8 or 9 (max).
1. WR2: Higgins
2. NT/DT run stopper: Reader
Higgins is the best WR available. Reader the best run stopper. If we can get both for $25 (best case) or around $30 (more likely) vs the cap next year, we have $20+ mil left.
I swing for the fences and try for a $20 mil DT who can rush the passer (Madubuike, Wilkins, maybe Williams).
If successful, I use the rest to sign our own FA's who are vet min/close to it and playable: Adomitis, Browning, T. Williams, Irwin, Hudson, D. Sample, Ford, Scharping, Tupou, ADG, Bailey, Bachie).
Hudson, ADG, maybe Irwin a smidge above min.
Try to free up more space with reconstruction or maybe even a cut or two (Scott, Carman). If I have $$ left, I go for wherever in FA I can find the best bargain/afford: vet bridge RT, WR3, TE , DB help, NT backup, punter).
If I whiff on my FA DT, then I look for higher quality guys in the other roles.
Draft will play out depending on how FA went. If I land Tee, Reader, DT, and not much else, then the draft becomes:
Rd1: RT/OT
Rd2: WR3/TE/CB/S
Rd3: Ditto
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Rd4: Whatever is left, plus another DT/NT, RB, IOL, and LB value in play.
Rd5: Ditto, but the P from Iowa in play.
Rd5#2: Ditto.
R6 & 2 Rd7s: Ditto.
The three big fish and not much else will leave us top heavy and needing our picks to hit in year one. And will probably leave us having to live with/gamble on sime stuff.
Which is just reality. We simply have more needs that we can fill via signing FA studs and one or two picks.
May have to gamble on improvements from Murphy, Turner, and Dax Hill. Live with Scott as the backup S. Or Tupou at NT. ADG & Bailey at LB. Or gamble on Jones/Iosivas at WR.
But I'd rather fix the starting holes first.
Tier 1: WR2, NT/DT run stopper, RT
Tier 2: interior pass rush, WR3, TE1
Tier 3: Secondary depth, IOL depth, NT/DT depth.
Tier 4: P, RB, LB depth, OT depth.
As to what happens after that, who knows? It isn't like the FO has control. If Wilkins or Madubuike get tagged or extended, there may be nothing we can do.
Broadly speaking, my priorities would be:
1) Don't pay big money for mediocre FA's. Jonah isn't worth $15 mil.
2) Avoid big backwards steps if you can. Losing Highins or Reader us a big backwards step. Jonah, Boyd, and Chido are small steps back.
3) Improve the trenches. The OL first (RT), then run D (Reader), and then interior pass rush. I think we count on Hubbard being healthy and Murphy improving for outside upgrades.
4) Get more explosive on offense. Boyd could bounce back but I think he has lost a step. A legit TE upgrade would also help.
5) Better secondary depth, or maybe even a starter depending on how we view Dax & Turner.
--------------------
I think we have somewhere between 6-8 slots to get starter level guys.
1) Free agency. Over $50 mil in functional space. Room for 2 big deals or maybe 3. Tee + Reader + 1-2 more depending on details. Heck, we could squeeze another significant FA in if terms are good and/or we get some folks to renegotiate. 3-5 here.
2) Top 3 draft picks. Maybe a 4th if we trade down for extra picks or if the 4th is a depth piece (Secondary, backup NT, orxwe get lucky at TE).
That is 6 (minimum) and maybe 8 or 9 (max).
1. WR2: Higgins
2. NT/DT run stopper: Reader
Higgins is the best WR available. Reader the best run stopper. If we can get both for $25 (best case) or around $30 (more likely) vs the cap next year, we have $20+ mil left.
I swing for the fences and try for a $20 mil DT who can rush the passer (Madubuike, Wilkins, maybe Williams).
If successful, I use the rest to sign our own FA's who are vet min/close to it and playable: Adomitis, Browning, T. Williams, Irwin, Hudson, D. Sample, Ford, Scharping, Tupou, ADG, Bailey, Bachie).
Hudson, ADG, maybe Irwin a smidge above min.
Try to free up more space with reconstruction or maybe even a cut or two (Scott, Carman). If I have $$ left, I go for wherever in FA I can find the best bargain/afford: vet bridge RT, WR3, TE , DB help, NT backup, punter).
If I whiff on my FA DT, then I look for higher quality guys in the other roles.
Draft will play out depending on how FA went. If I land Tee, Reader, DT, and not much else, then the draft becomes:
Rd1: RT/OT
Rd2: WR3/TE/CB/S
Rd3: Ditto
------
Rd4: Whatever is left, plus another DT/NT, RB, IOL, and LB value in play.
Rd5: Ditto, but the P from Iowa in play.
Rd5#2: Ditto.
R6 & 2 Rd7s: Ditto.
The three big fish and not much else will leave us top heavy and needing our picks to hit in year one. And will probably leave us having to live with/gamble on sime stuff.
Which is just reality. We simply have more needs that we can fill via signing FA studs and one or two picks.
May have to gamble on improvements from Murphy, Turner, and Dax Hill. Live with Scott as the backup S. Or Tupou at NT. ADG & Bailey at LB. Or gamble on Jones/Iosivas at WR.
But I'd rather fix the starting holes first.
Tier 1: WR2, NT/DT run stopper, RT
Tier 2: interior pass rush, WR3, TE1
Tier 3: Secondary depth, IOL depth, NT/DT depth.
Tier 4: P, RB, LB depth, OT depth.
