RayClay
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Kevin Williams reportedly took less money to play for seattle, presumably in some sort of rotation. We have three tiers of players at DT, in my opinion.
First tier, formerly injured older pros. No doubt about the NFL readiness of Wilfork and Kelly. Physical readiness/health due to age could be.
Second tier, IMO is Easley and Armstead. Easley, coming back from injury, should be a lock for extended role if healthy. Armstead, not so much, but still highly thought of by Belichick, if healthy. He was projected to be a force, not a backup as far as I know, but nobody knows for sure. Boom or bust, but not just a backup.
Third tier is the young free agents who worked so hard at a difficult time last year. In my opinion, if all the top two tiers spontaneously combust, the third tier is not going to become our starters without a massive manhunt for anyone we can get or trade for. Jones might get some minutes as apass rusher, but if Arm and Easley are healthy, may not. Silinga probably backs up, if we values the backup NT position as much as we used to. Vellano? Don't see it unless worse comes to worse.
So...to the thread title. Kevin Williams is a great pro and a penetrating NT. Goes great with the first tier, if all healthy. No one in the third tier is going to take his snaps. Chris Jones is no Kevin Williams.
So that leaves two players who would impact him to turn down more money, theoretically because they would impact his chances to play. If Armstead and Easley are ready, or close, why would we sit them in favor of a vet who's on the down slope? We wouldn't. Hope my analysis rings true, since it isn't based on any actual medical info.
First tier, formerly injured older pros. No doubt about the NFL readiness of Wilfork and Kelly. Physical readiness/health due to age could be.
Second tier, IMO is Easley and Armstead. Easley, coming back from injury, should be a lock for extended role if healthy. Armstead, not so much, but still highly thought of by Belichick, if healthy. He was projected to be a force, not a backup as far as I know, but nobody knows for sure. Boom or bust, but not just a backup.
Third tier is the young free agents who worked so hard at a difficult time last year. In my opinion, if all the top two tiers spontaneously combust, the third tier is not going to become our starters without a massive manhunt for anyone we can get or trade for. Jones might get some minutes as apass rusher, but if Arm and Easley are healthy, may not. Silinga probably backs up, if we values the backup NT position as much as we used to. Vellano? Don't see it unless worse comes to worse.
So...to the thread title. Kevin Williams is a great pro and a penetrating NT. Goes great with the first tier, if all healthy. No one in the third tier is going to take his snaps. Chris Jones is no Kevin Williams.
So that leaves two players who would impact him to turn down more money, theoretically because they would impact his chances to play. If Armstead and Easley are ready, or close, why would we sit them in favor of a vet who's on the down slope? We wouldn't. Hope my analysis rings true, since it isn't based on any actual medical info.