12-15-2022, 03:05 PM
(12-15-2022, 10:46 AM)impactplaya Wrote: I can see a team like the Lions who are a couple
Players on defense away from being a legit playoff team,
Signing Pratt and Bates in free agency.
Easier to replace a player like Pratt then it is Higgins
I think the high-priced guys the team will try to move off of soonest are Bates (after this year, Hill takes that spot), Mixon (after next year, Perine or drafted RB),and Jonah (after next year). Landing a LT to replace Jonah is going to be tough, given our likely draft position. There is a dropoff after Jones at OT. There are some Rd2/RT types (Mauch, Wright), but those may be Collins replacements.
FAs by year:
2023: Bell, Pratt, Hurst, Apple, Perine
2024: Burrow (5th year option), Higgins, Boyd, Mixon (club option on $13.1 mil, $2.75 dead cap), Jonah, Reader, L. Wilson, Awuzie.
2024. Cappa makes $9.25 with a $4.5 mil dead cap number, he is going nowhere. Collins makes $8.66 with $1.66 in dead cap, Karras $7.4 and $1.0 dead. BJ Hill $10.8 and $3.3 dead. Hilton $7.45 mil, $1.0 mil dead.
While I understand wanting to lock extensions in before the cap goes up, I do not know if boosting Burrow's cap number by $30 mil before we have to, with a SB window open, is such a good idea.
For 2024, I think you have to pay Reader. He is such a huge difference maker. But he is already making $15 mil, so it is not that much of a leap. Wilson and Higgins are close to must pays, in my view. However, top notch prospects at DT, WR, and LB van routinely be had late 1st, 2nd (Higgins),or even 3rd (Wilson himself).
We have to pay Burrow & Chase, period. Hendrickson is locked up for a while & worth every penny. Ditto Hubbard. Cappa is playing well and his dead cap number makes no sense to cut him until at least 2025.
But for everyone else? We gotta be looking for possible replacements in the draft, pronto. I *think* Reader is must pay, but I'd still take a hard look at Ika from Baylor late in Rd1 if the CBs/OTs are all gone. And Hill has been good, but $10 mil good? And Carter not so hot. 3Tech is not a problem per se, & I don't think we give up on Carter. But neithe he nor Hill are so good I get off a studley DT prospect in the draft. I *think* Higgins is must pay, and I like Irwin & Taylor, but we have a need for (non-Chase) speed and Boyd is up soon as well. An exciting WR in Rd 1 or 2 has to be looked at. Starting next year, both OTs look to be slightly more expensive than their play would mandate. If we see good value in OT in any round, we got to take it. Not to mention a cheaper Mixon replacement at RB.
So, DT, WR, OT, and RB could all use a starter level guy soon to replace more expensive yet productive guys we have now.
And if we loose Bates, Bell, Pratt, Hurst, Apple, or Perine, you could add S, LB, TE, CB, and RB2 to the list. I think we need another TE regardless of Hurst's status. More CBs and pass rushers are always welcome, and S is gonna be thinner (though I think we are drafting a reserve, there).
