question for anyone who knows the cap well

[notex]

I'm bored at work....and this is what i think of....

okay so these following things must happen for the pats to remain the powerhouse they have been thus far this year...

I see these as FA signings that the pats need/want to take place...

- A$ante
- Randy
- Stallworth (might not be necessary)
- Geno Wilson (I think hes a UFA ? could possibly show him the door)
- Top ten (likely top 5) draft pick
- Linebacker help

How much cap room do we have and how many of these signings would even be possible under the current cap.? i know its very circumstantial to salary #'s and contract lengths but i was just trying to get an idea of whats in store for us.....

 

[patsfanofNC12]

I think that we don't need Stallworth, because we could use Washington in his posistion since Kelly is so fast

 

[DaedalusX]

I think we can pretty safely say that the offense, as is, does not need ANY fixing whatsoever. Maroney proved sunday that he can run. And with Morris back, there are no concerns with the running game next year. So the off-season focus being on defense is a foregone conclusion.

I've been thinking for a while about how Asante and Stallworth's asking prices are going to factor into the off-season and how the Ravens performance would affect the shakeup of their all-star defensive lineup.

For all of its injuries, the Ravens defense, when healthy, is still the best in the league. Having the best offense in the league almost lose to them in a very, very tight game should make that very clear. But given the situation the Ravens are in, they need more depth at CB and a clutch receiver. They could also really use a top 5 draft pick. Bill Belichick wants to adopt Ed Reed, according to Tom Brady. Ed Reed loves the game first and foremost and is at a point in his career where the chance at winning it all is more important to him than money. Already sounds like a Patriot to me.

And as Belichick said, Reed is the kind of freak of nature athlete (like Moss) that frees you up to do things on defense that are very unorthodox. And much, much more aggressive.

To put this another way, the Ravens are entering a rebuilding phase. Their loss to Miami was a huge blow to their pride. The coach has lost control of the team. Their defense can no longer compensate for the atrocious offense and play-calling. They're going to start bleeding their marquee talent.

Trading a top 5 pick and Stallworth for Ed Reed would seem like a very smart move. If you could find a balance to have both Reed and Samuel after cutting Stallworth, we'd be golden. If not, the Ravens could very much use a #1 CB right now, too.

This next bit is going to sound like pure lunacy, but think it over a bit first. We know all other off-season focus should be on the depth at LB. Belichick loves smart, veteran linebackers. You've just described Ray Lewis. I mean, we already picked up Adalius Thomas from them, so it's not a ridiculous jump to make. I would almost suggest Bart Scott and Terrell Suggs too, but I don't know if even Belichick can humble those two.

Anyway, this sounds like the perfect fantasy football team going into 2008, but it also sounds somewhat plausible given the situations both teams are in. And can you imagine the juggernaut that would be birthed in the marriage of this offense with the major talent of the Raven's defense? Forget 19-0, hello 38-0.

 

[eom]

go check out miguel's most excellent salary cap page linked at top ^^.

 

[Patsmaniac]

DaedelusX is on Crack I think. Ed Reed is great. If we keep Geno, rodney is around for another year or two, Sanders keeps progressing, we will have some serious depth at the position. I think we could find a good inexpensive draft pick/alternative to Reed.

As for us having Ray Lewis. No way. He is slowing and we need to start getting young guys for the future to contribute to our D and dont break the Cap Space, etc. We have some wiggle room possibly in this draft so we can get some players who are skilled and can be with us for years to come(hopefully.)

Us having AD, Rosie(if restructures), Teddy(prob another year), Ray Lewis, and Suggs, is absurd in my mind.

We can get a couple good D players this draft and get a good FA player for the LB corp etc...

im no expert but those are my thoughts.

 

[DaedalusX]

I think we could find a good inexpensive draft pick/alternative to Reed.

As many coaches (especially Belichick), players and analysts have pointed out, there is no one on the same level as Ed Reed. He's quite openly regarded as the best in the league and possibly to ever play safety, and he's still in his prime. The Ravens imploding now gives the best shot for any team to scoop him up. Would you rather have the best safety in the league practicing against your QB or picking him off?

 

[BradyToMoss]

DaedelusX is on Crack I think. Ed Reed is great. If we keep Geno, rodney is around for another year or two, Sanders keeps progressing, we will have some serious depth at the position. I think we could find a good inexpensive draft pick/alternative to Reed.

As for us having Ray Lewis. No way. He is slowing and we need to start getting young guys for the future to contribute to our D and dont break the Cap Space, etc. We have some wiggle room possibly in this draft so we can get some players who are skilled and can be with us for years to come(hopefully.)

Us having AD, Rosie(if restructures), Teddy(prob another year), Ray Lewis, and Suggs, is absurd in my mind.

We can get a couple good D players this draft and get a good FA player for the LB corp etc...

im no expert but those are my thoughts.

One problem with this is that here are no good FA LB's coming up in 2008. The best of the bunch is Karlos Dansby of Arizona, that's how bad the crop of LB's will be in 2008. With that said, our only LB hope will come with that top 7 pick. If Chris Long gets drafted before our pick, our guy will be and must be James Lauranitias. He's projected to go right around the 6-7th pick and because of the Niners latest victory, that looks to be where we are picking. It's a perfect fit. He'll step right into the middle of that 3-4 and be a stud from day one.

The big wildcard will be Asante. At this point, I think he's gone. There is no way given our cap situation that we'll be able to compete with these other teams like Tennessee that have tons and tons of cap space, none whatsover. Asante doesn't have the "Get paid" tattoo for nothing. Consider him long gone and hard to find.

Hard to believe, but Randall Gay might be the starting corner in Asante's spot unless BB can draft OSU's Jenkins or he swings a deal for a guy like Terrence Newman.

 

[mgteich]

Miguel's cap pages are the best sources of information.

As of now, we will have $11M left of 2008 cap, with 42 players signed. If you add our RFA's and ERFA's, we are at about $7M with 48 players signed. The $7M is more than sufficient to sign our draftees, rooks and a few midlevel or low level free agents.

OFFENSE
Stallworth is not a FA. However, he could be cut for considerable cap savings, or he could renegotiate. This money could be used to sign Moss and/or Gaffney. The rest of the offense is in fine shape, although some of us would add a 5th RB as upgrade over Eckel.

DEFENSIVE LINE
We will need a 7th DL, since we gave up ours to add Troy Brown to the inactive list for the rest of the year. As of now, Santonio Thomas of the PS is in that position. This is not a position of need.

LINEBACKERS
We have Alexander and Woods as the backups to Bruschi and Seau. Izzo may or may not retire. We have Lua coming back from the IR. It would seem that we will need LB help. It is expected that Colvin will extend with considerable 2008 cap savings.

SAFETIES
Harrison and Sanders are our starters. Meriweather, Baker and Andrews are our backups. Life is good. We might re-sign Wilson or Mitchell (or a free agent to replacement), but this is not a need, or a great cost.

CORNER
We have Hobbs, Eddie Jackson and Richardson coming back. This is a very serious situation. Samuel is a UFA who will almost certainly leave. Hopefully, we can re-sign Gay. We will re-sign or replace Chad Scott. We could consider moving Meriweather over to nickel as we did in preseason.

BOTTOM LINE
We now have four early draft picks to address our needs at corner and linebacker. This is a good draft. I expect that we will trade down, ending up with 5 picks in the first three rounds.

 

[Batman]

Hard to believe, but Randall Gay might be the starting corner in Asante's spot unless BB can draft OSU's Jenkins or he swings a deal for a guy like Terrence Newman.

Thats not a thought I like. Gay is a solid backup to have but not of starter caliber IMO he may develop but we would be better picking up an older guy like tory james or playing Meriweaher there.

 

[mgteich]

Why do you think Meriweather is a better corner than Gay? BTW, if that we so, Meriweather would be playing nickel now, instead of warming the bench (expect for special teams).

Thats not a thought I like. Gay is a solid backup to have but not of starter caliber IMO he may develop but we would be better picking up an older guy like tory james or playing Meriweaher there.

 

[Batman]

I think Meriweather hasn't really been given much of a chance. He was a good corner at the U, I know college is a different game style but we should give him a chance. Now would be the perfect time to as we have got homefield advantage and only a record is left to play for which isn't the end of the world if we don't get it.
We have all looked at Meriweather and said he isn't right for safety on the pats without seriously beefing up, people are talking about picking up Ed Reed might as well use him as a corner if we can't use him as a S or we wasted a first round pick on the guy.

 

[Miguel]

I'm bored at work....and this is what i think of....

okay so these following things must happen for the pats to remain the powerhouse they have been thus far this year...

I see these as FA signings that the pats need/want to take place...

- A$ante
- Randy
- Stallworth (might not be necessary)
- Geno Wilson (I think hes a UFA ? could possibly show him the door)
- Top ten (likely top 5) draft pick
- Linebacker help

How much cap room do we have and how many of these signings would even be possible under the current cap.? i know its very circumstantial to salary #'s and contract lengths but i was just trying to get an idea of whats in store for us.....

If any of the above want to sign a deal that is agreeable to the Patriots, then the Patriots will get it done.

 

[makewayhomer]

I think Meriweather hasn't really been given much of a chance. He was a good corner at the U,

he was primarily a Safety in college

 

[tatepatsfan]

IMO there is no way we keep Stallworth at that price. He is a very good WR, but not worth over 6 million a season. He will either have to renegotiate or will be cut.

Think about that. 6 extra million a year (I know it might work out to be a little less than that with bonuses etc.), but that is a lot of extra cash to go around (particularly with Asante, Randy, etc.)

 

[Miguel]

I think we can pretty safely say that the offense, as is, does not need ANY fixing whatsoever. Maroney proved sunday that he can run. And with Morris back, there are no concerns with the running game next year. So the off-season focus being on defense is a foregone conclusion.

I've been thinking for a while about how Asante and Stallworth's asking prices are going to factor into the off-season and how the Ravens performance would affect the shakeup of their all-star defensive lineup.

For all of its injuries, the Ravens defense, when healthy, is still the best in the league. Having the best offense in the league almost lose to them in a very, very tight game should make that very clear. But given the situation the Ravens are in, they need more depth at CB and a clutch receiver. They could also really use a top 5 draft pick. Bill Belichick wants to adopt Ed Reed, according to Tom Brady. Ed Reed loves the game first and foremost and is at a point in his career where the chance at winning it all is more important to him than money. Already sounds like a Patriot to me.

And as Belichick said, Reed is the kind of freak of nature athlete (like Moss) that frees you up to do things on defense that are very unorthodox. And much, much more aggressive.

To put this another way, the Ravens are entering a rebuilding phase. Their loss to Miami was a huge blow to their pride. The coach has lost control of the team. Their defense can no longer compensate for the atrocious offense and play-calling. They're going to start bleeding their marquee talent.

Trading a top 5 pick and Stallworth for Ed Reed would seem like a very smart move. If you could find a balance to have both Reed and Samuel after cutting Stallworth, we'd be golden. If not, the Ravens could very much use a #1 CB right now, too.

Trading Ed Reed would hurt the Ravens cap-wise.
From what I know, his 2008 cap number is scheduled to be $3,405,000. Trading him would make it $11,000,000. That difference pretty much makes Ed Reed untradeable.