Pete Prisco's top 50 FA's

[PATSNUTme]

Top 50 free agents: Former top pick Williams is top player on open market - NFL - CBSSports.com

Welker #18, Lloyd not on the list but that doesn't mean he's not a good fit for the Patriots. I wonder how Reggie Nelson would do at Safety?

The Texans will probably tag Williams.

 

[Fencer]

He has Jeremy Mincey at 21. Makes him sounds like a Patriots-style player, too.

 

[MP-Logick]

The Texans will probably tag Williams.

At $22 million, I doubt it.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Brandon Carr is that good? I know his teammate Flowers is a top 10 CB but him...

 

[pork3]

At $22 million, I doubt it.

If not, I wonder how much the Patriots would be willing to give up to acquire him. Would instantly help to improve this defense, or so that's my opinion, for whatever that's worth.

-Jamman

 

[JackBauer]

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Red Bryant is a FA? I don't know jack about the Seahawks, but is there any way he hits the open market? Very underrated player at a spot of need.

Some of the rankings seem a bit...odd...but whatever. It's Prisco.

 

[BradyBranch39]

Brandon Carr is that good? I know his teammate Flowers is a top 10 CB but him...

Carr is very good. #2 surprises me though. This list is a bit out of whack.

 

[MP-Logick]

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Red Bryant is a FA? I don't know jack about the Seahawks, but is there any way he hits the open market?

Some of the rankings seem a bit...odd...but whatever. It's Prisco.

If the Seahawks don't want to pay him what he thinks he's worth...he doesn't rush the passer, either, but he shuts down the run to his side of the field.

 

[Deus Irae]

Brandon Carr is that good? I know his teammate Flowers is a top 10 CB but him...

Carr is good. Many Chiefs fans think he is, or will be, better than Flowers. When I look at the Patriots main needs, though, I get (in no particular order)

WR
S
DE
OLB
CB

and I see the opportunity to re-sign Welker and Carter (and others who need to be brought back) while still signing Lloyd and a top free agent safety, and then turning to the high part of the draft to flesh out the DE/OLB slots. That would leave the CB question to either free agency (might need to restructure some current deals to ease the fit), lower draft pick (hope not) or hoping that McCourty and Dowling get it done in 2012.

Overall, I'd probably put the CB spot lower than the others on the "FA needs" list, because I'm giving McCourty the benefit of the doubt going forward.

Just my $.02

 

[Zeus]

Carr, Grimes, Finnegan, Porter - could be a buyers market for CBs.

 

[VrabelJr]

This list is lolriffic. Cliff Avril at #4? Look, I've said for years Avril is one of the most underrated 4-3 DEs but this years class is one of the best FAs I think I've ever seen. I maybe put Avril top 15-20.

edit: omg so many issues with this list. This list was clearly made just to piss people like me off. Red Bryant only #10? Has he seen this guy play? BEAST.

 

[VrabelJr]

Carr, Grimes, Finnegan, Porter - could be a buyers market for CBs.

Those are all great names but unfortunately none of those guys have any leadership qualities. Our secondary needs leadership more than talent.

 

[JackBauer]

edit: omg so many issues with this list. This list was clearly made just to piss people like me off. Red Bryant only #10? Has he seen this guy play? BEAST.

Bryant is a terrific player. I'd love to see him on the Pats.

 

[Zeus]

This list is lolriffic. Cliff Avril at #4? Look, I've said for years Avril is one of the most underrated 4-3 DEs but this years class is one of the best FAs I think I've ever seen. I maybe put Avril top 15-20.

edit: omg so many issues with this list. This list was clearly made just to piss people like me off. Red Bryant only #10? Has he seen this guy play? BEAST.

Same with DeSean Jackson at #5 unless you think it would be a good idea to give $millions to someone with the maturity of an eight year old.

 

[JackBauer]

Overall, I'd probably put the CB spot lower than the others on the "FA needs" list, because I'm giving McCourty the benefit of the doubt going forward.

Just my $.02

I've been turning this over in my brain a bit today. It seems, theoretically and based on a limited sample size from this past season, that McCourty might actually make a pretty decent FS.

Given the relative dearth of quality safeties in the league currently (and a bare cupboard in this year's draft), might they move him to FS and sign one of the marquee FA CBs to essentially replace him?

Of course, by the same token, they could always grab a Branch or Goldson and render the question moot. I guess they need to decide whether his slump is something that can be corrected and mitigated through higher quality safety play, or whether he's really more of a natural fit at the safety.

Anyway, just something to think about.

 

[Gronkandez]

This list is lolriffic. Cliff Avril at #4? Look, I've said for years Avril is one of the most underrated 4-3 DEs but this years class is one of the best FAs I think I've ever seen. I maybe put Avril top 15-20.

edit: omg so many issues with this list. This list was clearly made just to piss people like me off. Red Bryant only #10? Has he seen this guy play? BEAST.

This list isn't the "best" Free Agents.

"My rule when ranking NFL free agents: Nobody age 30 or over in the top 10 -- unless you are a quarterback.

You can be 30 and a star, and you won't be atop my list. I just can't see the rationale in spending big money on a 30-or-older player when it's almost a certainty that the player won't be playing at a high level for the duration of the contract.

The target age is 26 or 27.

It's bang for the buck. "
"

 

[Zeus]

I've been turning this over in my brain a bit today. It seems, theoretically and based on a limited sample size from this past season, that McCourty might actually make a pretty decent FS.

Given the relative dearth of quality safeties in the league currently (and a bare cupboard in this year's draft), might they move him to FS and sign one of the marquee FA CBs to essentially replace him?

Of course, by the same token, they could always grab a Branch or Goldson and render the question moot. I guess they need to decide whether his slump is something that can be corrected and mitigated through higher quality safety play, or whether he's really more of a natural fit at the position.

Anyway, just something to think about.

I'd be surprised if they are not giving this serious consideration. There does not seem to be an abundance of high quality safeties available in the draft or via free agenncy.

 

[makoute]

Those are all great names but unfortunately none of those guys have any leadership qualities. Our secondary needs leadership more than talent.

I'm not sure it's leadership that is the problem. I think talent is the biggest issue.

 

[VrabelJr]

I love Branch and Goldson. If we can snag one of them I would be stoked.

 

[VrabelJr]

I'm not sure it's leadership that is the problem. I think talent is the biggest issue.

When you make as many mental mistakes as our DBs made last year it's talent. If they were playing next to a Rodney Harrison they would think three times about messing up even once.