2022 Roster/FA Update + FA Finish & Draft Speculation

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(03-24-2022, 06:40 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: Now, depth is virtually the inverse of the situation with the starters.  We don't have proven depth hardly anywhere. At least in terms of being to play a starting role. We mostly have guys who are career backups/special teamers and/or guys who have struggled when given the chance to play larger roles.

Now, we do have bodies, and guys with whom we are familiar, and some have done well in limited roles. By position group, here is what thing look like. I will start with what look to me like the most pressing areas.

I.  We need bodies

1.  Cornerback. Likely 6-7 53. 1-2 on PS.

Starters: Awuzie, Apple, Hilton (slot).
Backups: ???, ???, Davis (slot).
PS: Brannon

Davis graded out well (69.0) last season, but played just over 50 snaps, almost exclusively in the slot, IIRC. Hargreaves, Phillips ,Flowers & Waynes all played more CB snaps than he did last year. We do not even have a viable backup boundary corner under contract. I'd call Davis CB6.

Bringing back our TE cooler Flowers on a cheap deal is appealing, but is kind of a niche role. He struggles vs quicker guys, would we need to carry 7 CBs if we bring him back? Waynes on a cheap deal?  I dream of Gilmore too, but that is gonna require him signing for less AND some other things to go our way to free up more space (Bates extension, a restructure, another vet FA fo real cheap  etc).  

It seems the draft is the most likely route. I could see 1 or 2 CBs taken. Especially if the 2nd can play CB & S (Daxton Hill) or can return punts (Marcus Jones). Gardner & Stingley surely gone by 31. McDuffie & Booth probably. Either would be hard to pass up if there. Elam has a shot to be there. Gordon & McCreary have good tape but did not test real well. Woolen, who is new to the position, is the opposite. Those guys are reaches at #31 but are probably gone by #63. If we trade back it is a possibility.

2.  DT/NY. 5 on 53. 1-2 on PS

Starters: Reader (NT), BJ Hill (DT).
Reserves: Tupou (NT), ???, Shelvin (NT).
PS: zero.

We do not have a functional 3T to backup Hill at the moment. Tupou coukd play 3T in 5 man lines/goal line, but he is really Reader's backup. Shelvin is also a nose, but is not ready to play. If he was, I doubt we bring Tupou back. I could see Shelvin losing his spot as well. He was often inactive on gameday.

I dream of bringing back Ogunjobi for cheap. Like dreaming of Gilnore, it is probably unlikely. He'd have to settle for 40% or less of what the Bears gave him (yearly). Given the injury situation, his value may have fallen enough so he is affordable. Hill starting might be awkward as well. Bringing Daniels or Kerr back seems more like a practice squad level move.

The draft seems most likely. Davis will be gone when we pick (NT). Wyatt likely as well. Wyatt would be hard to pass if there. Perrion Winfrey possible at 31, but likely a reach. Leal as well. Logan Hall & Travis Jones (more a NT) are reaches at 31 but likely (but maybe not) gone at 63. Mathis from Bama should be there. We could likely get one if we trade down into the mid 30s/early 40s.

3.  Offensive Line. 10 on 53. 2-3 on PS.

Starters: J. Williams, Carman, Karras, Cappa, Collins.
Reserves: Smith (OT3-4/G3-4), Prince (OT3-4), Adeniji (G/T), T. Hill ©.  
PS: Gaillard (G/C).

We usually carry 10 on the 53 and only have 9 ATM. And I do not feel real good about the reserves we do have. Adeniji started at RG and played OT in college but was not good. Prince filled in admirably for Reiff, but was not that good either. Fixing the right side was priority #1 for a reason. Smith looked like a starter in camp, and has OT/G versatility, but got hurt & did not play much. Hill was extremely troubled by penalties in limited time. All these guys are unproven, unimpressive, or both. I would not feel terribly comfortable with any of them in a big game.  

I think we need at least one more OL, maybe more than one. Reiff/Spain/Hopkins for cheap is a possibility. Or another vet cap/camp casualty. The draft is the other mechanism. With LG iffy and Karras' ability to play G, if a stud IOL is staring at us at #31 (Linderbaum, Zion Johnson, Kenyon Green) it is gonna be awfully tough to pass on. I'd go CB/DT over Raimann or Faalele or Smith. The young guys get another year to develop as backups, and a cheap vet still possible. If we don't go OL early, I would not expect a day 2 pick unless more pressing needs (CB, DT) are taken care of. If they are, then maybe a high upside project comes into play (Faalele).

4.  Tight End. 3 on 53. 1-2 on PS.

Starter: Hurst
Backups: Sample, ???.
PS: Washington (converted from TE).

TE is not a priority pisition in our offense. But losing CJ hurts. Hurst may be a better receiver but not as good a blocker. He is half the price, though. On a 1 year deal. This could be the last year if the Drew Sample experience as well. We do not have a TE3 s8gned ATM (it would be Washington ATM) and the two guys we have are in the last year of their deals.

TE market was getting thin when we signed Hurst. Draft has got to be the way to go. But that is dicey, too. There is not really a stud TE this year. McBride is a reach at #31 and no way would I pick a TE with CB/DT/OL needing help. And with talented DEs, WRs, and maybe even LBs out there. If not McBride, this pick could be TE3 this year. Ruckert was in a cast recently and the kid from A&M tested so poorly he is plummeting. Rd 3 at the earliest for me. Unless we acquire extra picks. If we have 4 picks in the first 3 I could happily burn one on a TE. Woods may be a day 3 guy, or late day 2.



Everywhere we ar least have bodies signed, though we could always use an upgrade.

You're missing a couple TEs: Wilcox, Moss

We're good on Nose Tackles we need at least 1 more 3 Tech

We need at least 2 CBs.

I look for those to bee addressed early in the draft. But affordable FAs:

Malik Jackson/DT
Tyeler Davidson/DT
AJ Boyue/CB
Jason Verrett/CB