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So, now that everyone is depressed about how little we got for Cassel (and I've changed my avatar, removing Aaron Curry now that we don't have even a dream of landing him), here's a thought at how the rest of our offseason and draft could look:
1. Trade pick #23 to Carolina for Julius Peppers (offer #34, then up it to #23 when they baulk). Peppers would move to 3-4 OLB, either combining with Adalius Thomas to form a killer rotation or allowing AD to move inside to SILB. Either way, or LBs suddenly look much better than the Jets, and the Cassel trade doesn't look so bad anymore. Sign Peppers to a long-term deal (somewhere around $10M/year, which would pay him as a top-5 OLB). Carolina is in cap hell, and a 1st round pick would likely get it done.
2. Plug holes in the secondary. Ideally, sign UFA CB Leigh Bodden and UFA SS Sean Jones. Bringing back one or more of the Sanders is a backup option.
3. Add a moderately priced FA WR for depth (Mike Furrey, Mark Clayton, etc.). I'll put Clayton down here for now, put substitute whomever you want.
4. Possible low-range resignings (3): Heath Evans (FB), Russ Hochstein (OG/C), Ray Ventrone (WR/S). All 3 have value and would be worth keeping if we could resign them for relatively cheap.
5. Do not resign (8-10): Rodney Harrison S, Junior Seau ILB, Roosevelt Colvin OLB, Larry Izzo ILB/ST, Tank Williams S, Deltha ONeal CB, Wesley Britt OT, Lamont Jordan RB. Also possibly James and Lewis Sanders depending on who we find in FA. I see Mike Wright leaving for a bigger salary than we can afford, much as I would like to keep him.
6. Players under contract to fight it out in TC for roster/PS (if eligible) spots (18): MGutierrez (QB). BenJarvus Green-Ellis (RB), Matt Slater (WR/S/ST), Tyson DeVree (TE), Brad Listorti (TE), Bill Yates (OG), Brad Connelly (OG/C), Ryan Wendell (C), Titus Adams (DT), LeKevin Smith (DE/DT), Tully Banta-Cain (LB), Vince Redd (LB), Eric Alexander (LB), Angelo Craig (LB), Darrell Robertson (LB), Bo Ruud (LB), Antwain Spann (S/CB), Mike Richardson (CB).
2009 Draft:
- 2(34): Connor Barwin, OLB (Cincinnati) - 6'4", 256#, 4.66. "The next Mike Vrabel". Would move AD to SILB and have Woods start at OLB opposite Peppers for a year while Barwin learns the ropes. Eventually, would have Peppers/Barwin/Crable as our main OLB trio, and Mayo/Thomas/Guyton as our core ILBs. Clint Sintim might also be an option (here or at 47), in which case we could move him to SILB and keep AD at OLB.
- 2(47): Sean Smith, S/CB (Utah) - 6'3", 215#, 4.47. Smith is large and fast with great range and could play both CB and FS. Could go for a "pure" CB like Alphonso Smith, DJ Moore or Darius Butler here, or a "pure" S like Louis Delmas, Patrick Chung or Will Moore. One of those 7 should be available at 47. With Hobbs/Bodden/Wheatley/Wilhite at CB and Meriweather/Jones at S, would end up with a much stronger secondary than in 2008. (Note: If Barwin is gone before #34, we could go DB at 34 and LB at 47 instead of the other way around).
- 2(58): Jarren Gilbert, DE (San Jose St.) - 6'5", 288#, 4.87. Powerful, athletic DL who could potential take over from Richard Seymour after 2009. C Eric Wood might also be an option here. Could also trade this pack into 2010.
- 3(89): Trevor Canfield, OG (Cincinnati) - 6'4, 307#, 5.15. Tough interior lineman with a nasty demeanor to backup and eventually replace Stephen Neal. Would be great opposite Mankins.
- 3(97): Sammie Lee Hill, DT/DE (Spillman) - 6'4", 329#, 5.11. Highly athletic enormous player who has played DE, TE and basketball. True DT to back up Wilfork.
- 4(122) Mike Wallace, WR (Ole Miss) - 6', 199#, 4.33, 40" vertical. Speedy, athletic WR in the Greg Jennings mold, with a hint of Deion Branch thrown in.
- 5(150s) Kevin Huber, P (Cincinnati) - 6'2", 220#, 4.85. Best punter in nation, gives us a Mike Scifres type of punter as a major upgrade from Hanson. Particularly good at pinning opponents inside the 20, and at getting great hang time.
- 6(180s) Lee Robinson, LB, Alcorn St. - 6'3", 249#. Long-term depth at ILB spot behind Mayo and Guyton. PS guy.
2009 roster (new FAs in italics, rookies in bold):
QB (3) TBrady, KO'Connell, MGutierrez
RB (5) LMaroney, SMorris, FTaylor, KFaulk, BJ Green-Ellis
WR (6) RMoss, WWelker, MClayton, MWallace, SAiken, MSlater
TE (5) BWatson, CBaker, DThomas, TDeVrees, BListorti
OT (4) MLight, NKaczur, MLevoir, RO'Callaghan
OG/C (8) LMankins, DKoppen, SNeal, TCanfield, RHochstein, BYates, DConnelly, RWendell
DT (4) VWilfork, SLHill, LSmith, TAdams
DE (4) RSeymour, TWarren, JGilbert, JGreen, LSmith
OLB (8) JPeppers, PWoods, SCrable, CBarwin, VRedd, TBanta-Cain, DRobertson, ACraig
ILB (6) JMayo, AThomas, GGuyton, TBruschi; EAlexander, LRobinson
S (5) BMeriweather, SJones, SSmith, ASpann, RVentrone
CB (5) EHobbs, LBodden, TWheatley, GWilhite, MRichardson
P (2) KHuber, TMalone
K (1) SGostkowski
That would give us a pretty decent 66 man roster to start TC with in my book.
Again, if you have individual preferences at a position (e.g., Delmas over Sean Smith at S, or a particular FA WR) feel free to substitute.
Any thoughts?
1. Trade pick #23 to Carolina for Julius Peppers (offer #34, then up it to #23 when they baulk). Peppers would move to 3-4 OLB, either combining with Adalius Thomas to form a killer rotation or allowing AD to move inside to SILB. Either way, or LBs suddenly look much better than the Jets, and the Cassel trade doesn't look so bad anymore. Sign Peppers to a long-term deal (somewhere around $10M/year, which would pay him as a top-5 OLB). Carolina is in cap hell, and a 1st round pick would likely get it done.
2. Plug holes in the secondary. Ideally, sign UFA CB Leigh Bodden and UFA SS Sean Jones. Bringing back one or more of the Sanders is a backup option.
3. Add a moderately priced FA WR for depth (Mike Furrey, Mark Clayton, etc.). I'll put Clayton down here for now, put substitute whomever you want.
4. Possible low-range resignings (3): Heath Evans (FB), Russ Hochstein (OG/C), Ray Ventrone (WR/S). All 3 have value and would be worth keeping if we could resign them for relatively cheap.
5. Do not resign (8-10): Rodney Harrison S, Junior Seau ILB, Roosevelt Colvin OLB, Larry Izzo ILB/ST, Tank Williams S, Deltha ONeal CB, Wesley Britt OT, Lamont Jordan RB. Also possibly James and Lewis Sanders depending on who we find in FA. I see Mike Wright leaving for a bigger salary than we can afford, much as I would like to keep him.
6. Players under contract to fight it out in TC for roster/PS (if eligible) spots (18): MGutierrez (QB). BenJarvus Green-Ellis (RB), Matt Slater (WR/S/ST), Tyson DeVree (TE), Brad Listorti (TE), Bill Yates (OG), Brad Connelly (OG/C), Ryan Wendell (C), Titus Adams (DT), LeKevin Smith (DE/DT), Tully Banta-Cain (LB), Vince Redd (LB), Eric Alexander (LB), Angelo Craig (LB), Darrell Robertson (LB), Bo Ruud (LB), Antwain Spann (S/CB), Mike Richardson (CB).
2009 Draft:
- 2(34): Connor Barwin, OLB (Cincinnati) - 6'4", 256#, 4.66. "The next Mike Vrabel". Would move AD to SILB and have Woods start at OLB opposite Peppers for a year while Barwin learns the ropes. Eventually, would have Peppers/Barwin/Crable as our main OLB trio, and Mayo/Thomas/Guyton as our core ILBs. Clint Sintim might also be an option (here or at 47), in which case we could move him to SILB and keep AD at OLB.
- 2(47): Sean Smith, S/CB (Utah) - 6'3", 215#, 4.47. Smith is large and fast with great range and could play both CB and FS. Could go for a "pure" CB like Alphonso Smith, DJ Moore or Darius Butler here, or a "pure" S like Louis Delmas, Patrick Chung or Will Moore. One of those 7 should be available at 47. With Hobbs/Bodden/Wheatley/Wilhite at CB and Meriweather/Jones at S, would end up with a much stronger secondary than in 2008. (Note: If Barwin is gone before #34, we could go DB at 34 and LB at 47 instead of the other way around).
- 2(58): Jarren Gilbert, DE (San Jose St.) - 6'5", 288#, 4.87. Powerful, athletic DL who could potential take over from Richard Seymour after 2009. C Eric Wood might also be an option here. Could also trade this pack into 2010.
- 3(89): Trevor Canfield, OG (Cincinnati) - 6'4, 307#, 5.15. Tough interior lineman with a nasty demeanor to backup and eventually replace Stephen Neal. Would be great opposite Mankins.
- 3(97): Sammie Lee Hill, DT/DE (Spillman) - 6'4", 329#, 5.11. Highly athletic enormous player who has played DE, TE and basketball. True DT to back up Wilfork.
- 4(122) Mike Wallace, WR (Ole Miss) - 6', 199#, 4.33, 40" vertical. Speedy, athletic WR in the Greg Jennings mold, with a hint of Deion Branch thrown in.
- 5(150s) Kevin Huber, P (Cincinnati) - 6'2", 220#, 4.85. Best punter in nation, gives us a Mike Scifres type of punter as a major upgrade from Hanson. Particularly good at pinning opponents inside the 20, and at getting great hang time.
- 6(180s) Lee Robinson, LB, Alcorn St. - 6'3", 249#. Long-term depth at ILB spot behind Mayo and Guyton. PS guy.
2009 roster (new FAs in italics, rookies in bold):
QB (3) TBrady, KO'Connell, MGutierrez
RB (5) LMaroney, SMorris, FTaylor, KFaulk, BJ Green-Ellis
WR (6) RMoss, WWelker, MClayton, MWallace, SAiken, MSlater
TE (5) BWatson, CBaker, DThomas, TDeVrees, BListorti
OT (4) MLight, NKaczur, MLevoir, RO'Callaghan
OG/C (8) LMankins, DKoppen, SNeal, TCanfield, RHochstein, BYates, DConnelly, RWendell
DT (4) VWilfork, SLHill, LSmith, TAdams
DE (4) RSeymour, TWarren, JGilbert, JGreen, LSmith
OLB (8) JPeppers, PWoods, SCrable, CBarwin, VRedd, TBanta-Cain, DRobertson, ACraig
ILB (6) JMayo, AThomas, GGuyton, TBruschi; EAlexander, LRobinson
S (5) BMeriweather, SJones, SSmith, ASpann, RVentrone
CB (5) EHobbs, LBodden, TWheatley, GWilhite, MRichardson
P (2) KHuber, TMalone
K (1) SGostkowski
That would give us a pretty decent 66 man roster to start TC with in my book.
Again, if you have individual preferences at a position (e.g., Delmas over Sean Smith at S, or a particular FA WR) feel free to substitute.
Any thoughts?