02-28-2024, 09:31 PM
Alright, onto the mid-tier position group needs, starting eith what I think it the most urgent/likely to have FA spending, cornerback.
Though it is close with Safety. Really, I could see a significant FA in play for us at any or all of these spots, depending on how FA goes at the other spots. The more we whiff (or get good value) at DT, OT, TE, and WR, the more likely we spend big(ger) at CB, S, P, or IOL.
5. Cornerback
A. Signed
Player, Cap, Dead Cap, FA Yr, PFF L3, 2023 Snaps
1. CTB: $1,623,471; $754,628; '26; 64.5/56.1/x, 655 D + 5 ST
2. Turner: $1,400,010; $2,140,026; '27; 51.5/x/x, 829 D + 84 ST
3. Hilton: $7,450,000; $1,000,000; '25; 77.4/73.4/72.3, 878 D + 7 ST
-------------Starter Line-----------
4. Ivey (Inj): $935,168; $60,489; '27; 86.8/x/x, 21 D + 113 ST
5. J. Davis: $1,225,000; $75,000; '25; 51.4/60.4/69.3, 53 D + 198 ST
--------------Reserve Line------------
6. George: $915,000; $0; '25; x/60.4/x, Zero.
------------Future's/PS Line--------
B. Unsigned
Player, FA Status, PFF L3, 2023 Snaps
1. Awuzie: UFA, 62.6/69.9/83.4, 722 D + 56 ST
------------Starter Line--------
C. Analysis
Looking at it one way, our CB situation seems pretty simple. We have spent a 2nd round pick the ladt 2 years on boundary corners, and both have shown well enough and played enough snaps to be penciled in as starters. Hilton continues to be outstanding in the slot. Davis has been an adequate backup for years. Ivey looked good in limited snaps. Go get some depth with a value FA or a mid-round pick in a good CB draft, and move on. Plus, Hill can play some slot. Why is CB even up this high?
Two reasons. First being that there does not appear to be a legit CB1/lockdown guy. Second, with Chido a FA and the promising Ivey recovering from serious injury, we have nada boundary corner depth. Davis/Hill are slot guys.
CTB and Turner have flashed, but nothing like peak Chido (2021) who is now a FA. Of couse, Chido did not look like peak Chido either coming off the injury. Does he bounce back or is 2023 Chido the new reality? Further, it IS a deep CB class and we could be staring at a guy with lockdown potential at #18 (Arnold, Mitchell, DeJean, Wiggins) or starter potential in Rd2. Awful tempting with Hilton in his last year. I think you need at least 4 CBs who can play at a good level. We have 2 + Turner. Realistically, the only way I'd go corner at #18 is if Reader, DT-3T (Wilkins, L. Williams), & OT (Onwenu) are already solved & DT/RT are off my draft board at #18.
I'd without a doubt prioritize trenches in FA: DT & OT. I am confident a deal with Reader gets done, but when he can play & the terms are murky. But if I cannot land another legit top DT-3T/OT guy as serms likely (Jones, Madubuike, Wilkins, Onwenu) or a good 2nd tier guy (L. Williams, Smith, Brown), I'd allocate top draft resources to those spots & turn my sights to upgrading CB, S, IOL, or P in FA. Or filling TE. Really, even if we sign Reader + a legit DT/OT guy we should still have around $15-$20 to play with. If it is just DJ, the $35 mil or slightly more
But just like at DT & OT, the true HR FA's (Johnson, Sneed) seem likely to be tagged, extended, or only traded for a haul. A lockdown corner would be nice, but it is not a huge need. Especially if one is bullish
on CTB & Turner & see the 3 starting spots as locked down.
Baring an unlikely series of FA HR's that allow us to draft CB1 at #18 or sign a CB1 in FA, I think the realistic choices are bring back Chido, a cheaper vet FA signing, or use a Rd2-Rd4 pick to add some depth. Or both.
Lastly, there are the issues of Ivey's injury and what to do with Hill. With Ivey recovering, we may need 2 CBs, not one. I would not feel comfortable penciling Ivey in as CB4 even if he was not injured. He only played 20-some snaps. As for Hill, even if he moves back to CB, he is likely slot only, and Hilton's backup/successor, and likely bumps Davis. We'd still need 2 boundary corners. Or only 1 if Ivey is good to go at CB5.
Though it is close with Safety. Really, I could see a significant FA in play for us at any or all of these spots, depending on how FA goes at the other spots. The more we whiff (or get good value) at DT, OT, TE, and WR, the more likely we spend big(ger) at CB, S, P, or IOL.
5. Cornerback
A. Signed
Player, Cap, Dead Cap, FA Yr, PFF L3, 2023 Snaps
1. CTB: $1,623,471; $754,628; '26; 64.5/56.1/x, 655 D + 5 ST
2. Turner: $1,400,010; $2,140,026; '27; 51.5/x/x, 829 D + 84 ST
3. Hilton: $7,450,000; $1,000,000; '25; 77.4/73.4/72.3, 878 D + 7 ST
-------------Starter Line-----------
4. Ivey (Inj): $935,168; $60,489; '27; 86.8/x/x, 21 D + 113 ST
5. J. Davis: $1,225,000; $75,000; '25; 51.4/60.4/69.3, 53 D + 198 ST
--------------Reserve Line------------
6. George: $915,000; $0; '25; x/60.4/x, Zero.
------------Future's/PS Line--------
B. Unsigned
Player, FA Status, PFF L3, 2023 Snaps
1. Awuzie: UFA, 62.6/69.9/83.4, 722 D + 56 ST
------------Starter Line--------
C. Analysis
Looking at it one way, our CB situation seems pretty simple. We have spent a 2nd round pick the ladt 2 years on boundary corners, and both have shown well enough and played enough snaps to be penciled in as starters. Hilton continues to be outstanding in the slot. Davis has been an adequate backup for years. Ivey looked good in limited snaps. Go get some depth with a value FA or a mid-round pick in a good CB draft, and move on. Plus, Hill can play some slot. Why is CB even up this high?
Two reasons. First being that there does not appear to be a legit CB1/lockdown guy. Second, with Chido a FA and the promising Ivey recovering from serious injury, we have nada boundary corner depth. Davis/Hill are slot guys.
CTB and Turner have flashed, but nothing like peak Chido (2021) who is now a FA. Of couse, Chido did not look like peak Chido either coming off the injury. Does he bounce back or is 2023 Chido the new reality? Further, it IS a deep CB class and we could be staring at a guy with lockdown potential at #18 (Arnold, Mitchell, DeJean, Wiggins) or starter potential in Rd2. Awful tempting with Hilton in his last year. I think you need at least 4 CBs who can play at a good level. We have 2 + Turner. Realistically, the only way I'd go corner at #18 is if Reader, DT-3T (Wilkins, L. Williams), & OT (Onwenu) are already solved & DT/RT are off my draft board at #18.
I'd without a doubt prioritize trenches in FA: DT & OT. I am confident a deal with Reader gets done, but when he can play & the terms are murky. But if I cannot land another legit top DT-3T/OT guy as serms likely (Jones, Madubuike, Wilkins, Onwenu) or a good 2nd tier guy (L. Williams, Smith, Brown), I'd allocate top draft resources to those spots & turn my sights to upgrading CB, S, IOL, or P in FA. Or filling TE. Really, even if we sign Reader + a legit DT/OT guy we should still have around $15-$20 to play with. If it is just DJ, the $35 mil or slightly more
But just like at DT & OT, the true HR FA's (Johnson, Sneed) seem likely to be tagged, extended, or only traded for a haul. A lockdown corner would be nice, but it is not a huge need. Especially if one is bullish
on CTB & Turner & see the 3 starting spots as locked down.
Baring an unlikely series of FA HR's that allow us to draft CB1 at #18 or sign a CB1 in FA, I think the realistic choices are bring back Chido, a cheaper vet FA signing, or use a Rd2-Rd4 pick to add some depth. Or both.
Lastly, there are the issues of Ivey's injury and what to do with Hill. With Ivey recovering, we may need 2 CBs, not one. I would not feel comfortable penciling Ivey in as CB4 even if he was not injured. He only played 20-some snaps. As for Hill, even if he moves back to CB, he is likely slot only, and Hilton's backup/successor, and likely bumps Davis. We'd still need 2 boundary corners. Or only 1 if Ivey is good to go at CB5.
