12-13-2024, 01:29 AM
(12-12-2024, 09:16 PM)Destro Wrote: So is anyone going to buy some defensive players or...
There are not really any game changers on D in FA. Some nice players. But nothing really elite. Especially on the line and at CB.
There guys who are good at one thing but poor at the other. We have guys like that. Hilton is the #1 run defending CB in the NFL via PFF. Karras is a top 5 pass protecting C, and OBJ is a very good pass protecting LT. Problems? Hilton is below average in coverage, Karras bottom 10 run blocker, and OBJ very poor.
https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-free-agents-by-position/
The #1 DE is Hassan Reddick, #2 Josh Sweat, #3 Khalil Mack. Mack is older, Reddick two years removed from being productive, and Sweat good but hardly great.
At DT BJ Hill is #4, Odighizuwa from Dallas is #1, Milton Williams from Philly #2, and Onwuzurike from Detroit #3. The first two guys are good pass rushers but poor run defenders. Onwuzurike is similar to Hill, more even but benefitting from playing next to Reader.
There are some very good/excellent guards and a couple safeties. I'd rather spend big there, if anywhere, than overpay for above average/limited guys in a thin FA year.
We are $62 mil under according to OTC, with 42 guys signed, not counting the PS. The PS + the picks + is around $13, so say $49. With 48 guys.
Restructuring Burrow saves us $19. So back to $68. Worst case, tag Tee for $25, $43 left at 49. Chase's extention will only be the prorated bonus and he is on for $21.8 already. Say $8 mil. So $35
Cut Rankins and give Hill (or another FA DT) his money. Roughly a wash, $35 mil at 49. Cut Cappa and pay big for a premium guard (save $8 spend $18). So $25 mil left at 49. Pay Gesicki $5. $20 at 50 guys.
Cut Stone. That gets you to $26.5 at 49 guys. If we have ANY brains at all with Tee & some of the other deals, we should be able to save $5-$10 mil on the cap the first year ynder what I threw out. $30-$35 mil for a few more FAs (S, DE, DT) and guys we may want to bring back (Ossai, ADG, Hudson, Hilton?).
And if you want to save more, Hubbard, Moss, and Drew Sample are still cuttable and get you another $15 if you want. McPherson doesn't save us much, but doesn't cost after June 1.
Not exact science here, of course. But just ballparking.
We can be pretty sure Harmon, Grant, and Nolen will be there at #11. Harmon is a DT/Edge, Nolen a DT, and Grant more of a DT/NT at 339. Pick your guy and work FA to compliment. If you want Grant, then chase pass rushing DTs. If you want Harmon or Nolen, then go after bigger NT types and/or bring Hill back.
