Ok so I wanted to share my two cents on what would I do during the draft and FA process, now that the combine has given us some useful information and that AB is practically gone we can start shaping next year's roster during the offseason:
From the combine I get the feeling that I rather get a CB in the 2nd round than spend our 1.20 in any of the probable options that will be there, Murphy and Baker look like really good CBs but lack that extra athleticism and/or size to make it worth a mid 1# (Greedy Williams will probably be gone already, if not he is in the mix). That leaves us with the possibility of going for ILB/OLB/S, right now I like Bush/Burns/Gardner-Johnson right there for those spots (White and Sweat will be long gone, Allen too)
Back to Free Agency, I'm assuming two things: first we trade AB for a late 1st, second we trade Burnett for a 5th rounder (cap savings= 3,6M). Money available = 19M
1) we should go balls out on a CB because we won't get a day 1 starter from the draft, here are the top available options: McCourty(cheats), Darby(eagles), Jackson(texans), Nelson (Chiefs). I would try hard to sign any of these guys, none of them is an elite corner so it shouldn't cost more than 8 M/Y.
2) get your own free agents back: Hilton (ERFA), Jesse James, Finney(RFA) and Feiler(ERFA). 2nd tier: Foster, Chickillo, Sensabaugh, Rogers, Fort (all these guys should get cheap contracts and have to fight it out to earn a roster spot). Total cap hit 9M
3) A vet WR should be of need given that our current players are JuJu 22, Washington 22 and Switzer 24. A guy with leadership and experience could help these kids and whoever we draft midrounds, how about John Brown who many already like here? Another way to go in FA is trying to sign Golden Tate, who won't be cheap, instead of the starting CB opposite Haden. I prefer the CB
4) if you don't go for the top vet CB or WR you might spend some money in a 3rd safety, one that can play near the LoS and make stuff happen, like this guy some have heard of Tyranne Mathieu? This would mean 3 starting safeties on Defense, coaches better find out how to make this work.
5) Fill the rest of the roster with minimum wage vets and try to complete the roster in the draft.
On to the draft:
- if we got a top CB in FA then Murphy, Willams and Baker are out of my list in the 1st round. I'd look for ILB/OLB/S
- if we got a top S in FA then Gardner-Johnson is off
- if we got a top WR in FA then no WRs until the 4th round.
ILBs in order of liking: White, Bush, in round 1; Wilson, Pratt in round 2. It is a must to secure a top 4 ILB in this draft, even if it means moving up in the 2nd round, ABs pick and our 3rd rounder should help with that.
CBs in order of liking: Williams, Murphy, in round 1; Baker, Oruwariye, Mullen, Ya-Sin. I think 2nd round is the sweet spot for picking CB this draft.
S: CGJ in round 1, Hooker, Savage, Rapp, Adderley in round 3
WR: there's a lot to like in this class, I´d use that late 1st / early 2nd from AB on securing a top WR like Butler, Harry, Samuels
OLB: this is a tough one, with so many needs only if huge value is there at 1st or 2nd round I'd pass up on OLB, I see it at the same need level as Safety. Names I like are of course Allen(who won't be at 1.20), then Banogu, Burns, Hollins, Ximines. Best value available at round 3
So 5 needs in the draft to be drafetd early. I think Safety gets the axe in a numbers game. Of course, if we do go for a big FA then we shouldn´t be between a rock and a hard place. Hopefully AB does bring a late 1st to help us out to move up or down and get best value for the different positions of need.
So, what would you do if you were the Front Office? Salute the Nation
