My Blueprint for the Defense

[Merril Hoge's Tie Knot]

Hopefully after the draft we'll be able to say that BB "fixed it".

Hopefully he fixes it before then. There is a contract Cleveland won't match, but even if there wasn't there are other options.

Jon Asamoah would be a nice long-term left guard and would allow Connolly to earn his money at center. If Connolly can't play center Jonathan Goodwin would be a nice stopgap while a top 100 center backs him up for a year.

 

[mayoclinic]

Mike Reiss looks at some DE/OLB UFA candidates, and asks the pertinent questions:

Questions to answer at the position: Is it dangerous to rely on Chandler Jones (played 98.1 percent of defensive snaps) and Ninkovich (98.6 percent) to carry such a heavy load in 2014? Will the third year be the charm for 2012 third-round draft choice Bequette? Can 2013 seventh-round draft pick Michael Buchanan emerge as a regular defensive contributor? Would the Patriots consider using Dont'a Hightower or Jamie Collins coming off the edge in sub packages?

Free-agent fit: Defensive end/OLB - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Yes, no, hopefully, hopefully.

 

[mayoclinic]

7) Calvin Pryor - Clinton-Dix is the better cover guy but Pryor is the hitter we all want in the middle of their secondary.

So a return to the Brandon Meriweather/Patrick Chung days.

If you are going to equate being a hitter with sucking then I guess so Manx, Up until now i really hadn't heard that Pryor sucked. On the other hand I suppose i could equate taking Shazier with Gary Guyton and get the same result. If you don't like him that's fine but i doubt everyone feels he is going to suck.

That's the type of player I think he is. He's just OK. No great range in coverage, misses tackles too often, too interested in making the hit and not breaking up the pass. He's OK as a second rounder but I really don't like him in the first.

I certainly want a "hitter in the middle of the secondary", but I think that one has to consider Manx's points on Pryor very seriously. I love the idea of a hard hitting safety, but I don't think anyone wants to go back to the days of Brandon Meriweather freelancing and not being disciplined, or of Pat Chung being exposed in coverage. Any safety for the Pats has to be firs and foremost a good tackler, a disciplined player, not a massive liability in coverage, and adept at reading the Tactical Landscape, to use Grid's term. Anything beyond that is a bonus.

Pryor certainly is a big hitter, and there are times he takes a poor angle or goes for the big hit. But I think he's fundamentally sound. His former DC Vance Bedford lauds him as a "coach on the field" and raves about his film study, intelligence, leadership and ability to understand the entire defense, and compares him to former Chicago safety Mike Brown, one of the most cerebral and fundamentally sound safeties in recent memory:

First Draft: Against S Calvin Pryor, 'you're going to pay a price' - JSOnline

Matt Waldman also has a nice profile on Pryor with a good breakdown of his game:

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Futures: Louisville S Calvin Pryor

I personally think that Pryor has a good chance to develop into an impact safety if used in the right way, and if he is able to reign his game in some. His biggest risk is veering to the wrong side of recklessness, and his biggest limitation is his lack of range of coverage ability. I think both of those things make him perhaps not the optimal fit for the Pats, and while I think that Pryor could probably succeed where Meriweather and Chung have failed, it's a bit of a risk for a 1st round pick for the Pats. I'm guessing that he is intelligent enough and disciplined enough that he would reign in some of the recklessness and prioritize the consistency and little things that BB prizes, but it's a risk. I would personally lean towards someone like Kyle Fuller or Antone Exum as being a better fit and value. I don't think Pryor will last to 29 and I wouldn't be upset with the pick, but it wouldn't be my first choice. JMHO.

 

[Off The Grid]

I think that one has to consider Manx's point of view on Pryor very seriously. I love the idea of a hard hitting safety, but I don't think anyone wants to go back to the days of Brandon Meriweather freelancing and not being disciplined, or of Pat Chung being exposed in coverage. Any safety for the Pats has to be firs and foremost a good tackler, a disciplined player, not a massive liability in coverage, and adept at reading the Tactical Landscape, to use Grid's term. Anything beyond that is a bonus.

Pryor certainly is a big hitter, and there are times he takes a poor angle or goes for the big hit. But I think he's fundamentally sound. His former DC Vance Bedford lauds him as a "coach on the field" and raves about his film study, intelligence, leadership and ability yto understand the entire defense, and compares him to former Chicago safety Mike Brown, one of the most cerebral and fundamentally sound safeties in memory:

First Draft: Against S Calvin Pryor, 'you're going to pay a price' - JSOnline

Matt Waldman also has a nice profile on Pryor with a good breakdown of his game:

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Futures: Louisville S Calvin Pryor

I personally think that Pryor has a good chance to develop into an impact safety if used in the right way, and if he is able to reign his game in some. His biggest risk is veering to the wrong side of recklessness, and his biggest limitation is his lack of range of coverage ability. I think both of those things make him perhaps not the optimal fit for the Pats, and while I think that Pryor could probably succeed where Meriweather and Chung have failed, it's a bit of a risk for a 1st round pick for the Pats. I'm guessing that he is intelligent enough and disciplined enough that he would reign in some of the recklessness and prioritize the consistency and little things that BB prizes, but it's a risk. I would personally lean towards someone like Kyle Fuller or Antone Exum as being a better fit and value. I don't think Pryor will last to 29 and I wouldn't be upset with the pick, but it wouldn't be my first choice. JMHO.

Beautifully, beautifully put, Brother Mayo.

I believe that Brother Manx's concerns about Pryor's Agility and Discipline are fully warranted.

It's just that I absolutely love the way that he Reads & Reacts To The Tactical LandScape and directs himself to Make An Impact quickly enough to Matter...and in usually explosively beautiful ways.

I love his Generalship.

He strikes me as Pattonesque in his Decisiveness, his almost surprising Wisdom and Command of the Field...and in his Explosive Precision at The Point of Impact.

And he strikes me as Pattonesque...in his Deep Understanding of the Game...and in his Capacity to convey it, in Real Time, both in his own Play and in that of'is Mates.

Must...sleep.

 

[mayoclinic]

Beautifully, beautifully put, Brother Mayo.

I believe that Brother Manx's concerns about Pryor's Agility and Discipline are fully warranted.

It's just that I absolutely love the way that he Reads & Reacts To The Tactical LandScape and directs himself to Make An Impact quickly enough to Matter...and in usually explosively beautiful ways.

I love his Generalship.

He strikes me as Pattonesque in his Decisiveness, his almost surprising Wisdom and Command of the Field...and in his Explosive Precision at The Point of Impact.

And he strikes me as Pattonesque...in his Deep Understanding of the Game...and in his Capacity to convey it, in Real Time, both in his own Play and in that of'is Mates.

Must...sleep.

Or I could have just quoted you:

Calvin Pryor was pretty much born to play Rover at The Next Level.

He played CenterFielder at LouisVille, yes, and would certainly excel at that Role in the NFL. His command of this Game and his deeply developed comfort in directing the Secondary is intensely impressive, as is his speed in Reading and Reacting to Routes & Progressions and both consistently and decisively driving towards the Play.

However, because his Acceleration out'f'is spot is relatively pedestrian, he would often arrive late. The Hits he would then lay on would be things of Beauty, mind you, and if there's a statistic for dislodging what surely seemed to be completed Passes, he doubtlessly led all of College FootBall. But of course most of these Passes remained Completions.

Given a smaller arc of responsibility, though, I believe that Pryor's extraordinary Field Vision and Processing Speed would be more than ample to allow'm to succeed in breaking up Passes with far more deliciously violent frequency.

Category: Calvin Pryor -

I'm not sure that Pryor has the range to excel as a centerfield, and I'm not convinced that BB is willing to give him a "smaller arc of responsibility". Pat Chung might not have been a bad roverback, but BB required him to play in a coverage role, with disastrous results.

 

[Off The Grid]

I certainly want a "hitter in the middle of the secondary", but I think that one has to consider Manx's points on Pryor very seriously. I love the idea of a hard hitting safety, but I don't think anyone wants to go back to the days of Brandon Meriweather freelancing and not being disciplined, or of Pat Chung being exposed in coverage. Any safety for the Pats has to be firs and foremost a good tackler, a disciplined player, not a massive liability in coverage, and adept at reading the Tactical Landscape, to use Grid's term. Anything beyond that is a bonus.

Pryor certainly is a big hitter, and there are times he takes a poor angle or goes for the big hit. But I think he's fundamentally sound. His former DC Vance Bedford lauds him as a "coach on the field" and raves about his film study, intelligence, leadership and ability to understand the entire defense, and compares him to former Chicago safety Mike Brown, one of the most cerebral and fundamentally sound safeties in recent memory:

First Draft: Against S Calvin Pryor, 'you're going to pay a price' - JSOnline

Matt Waldman also has a nice profile on Pryor with a good breakdown of his game:

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Futures: Louisville S Calvin Pryor

I personally think that Pryor has a good chance to develop into an impact safety if used in the right way, and if he is able to reign his game in some. His biggest risk is veering to the wrong side of recklessness, and his biggest limitation is his lack of range of coverage ability. I think both of those things make him perhaps not the optimal fit for the Pats, and while I think that Pryor could probably succeed where Meriweather and Chung have failed, it's a bit of a risk for a 1st round pick for the Pats. I'm guessing that he is intelligent enough and disciplined enough that he would reign in some of the recklessness and prioritize the consistency and little things that BB prizes, but it's a risk. I would personally lean towards someone like Kyle Fuller or Antone Exum as being a better fit and value. I don't think Pryor will last to 29 and I wouldn't be upset with the pick, but it wouldn't be my first choice. JMHO.

Beautifully, beautifully put, Brother Mayo.

I believe that Brother Manx's concerns about Pryor's Agility and Discipline are fully warranted.

It's just that I absolutely love the way that he Reads & Reacts To The Tactical LandScape and directs himself to Make An Impact quickly enough to Matter...and in usually explosively beautiful ways.

I love his Generalship.

He strikes me as Pattonesque in his Decisiveness, his almost surprising Wisdom and Command of the Field...and in his Explosive Precision at The Point of Impact.

And he strikes me as Pattonesque...in his Deep Understanding of the Game...and in his Capacity to convey it, in Real Time, both in his own Play and in that of'is Mates.

Must...sleep.

Or I could have just quoted you:



Category: Calvin Pryor -

I'm not sure that Pryor has the range to excel as a centerfield, and I'm not convinced that BB is willing to give him a "smaller arc of responsibility". Pat Chung might not have been a bad roverback, but BB required him to play in a coverage role, with disastrous results.

Indeed.

I share your doubts regarding the willingness of Bill II The Mad (Genius) to deploy Pryor as a classic RoverBack ~ "Strong Safety" to Earthlings ~ and would heartily agree with you that a ~ what? ~ Cover 4 Scheme would fully embrace Pryor's Pattonesque Capacity yet expose'm to'is Athletic lack of...well, 'twould expose'm.

Must...sleep.

 

[mayoclinic]

With Seattle putting on a show of defensive dominance reminiscent of the 1985 Bears and 2000 Ravens, people are suddenly remembering that defense tends to win championships. The Pats have a lot of good pieces in place, and showed some significant progress this season before injuries took their toll. But there are a number of question marks.

Here's my "blueprint" for evolving the Pats' D into one on a Seattle/SF/Carolina championship-caliber level.

1. Need a change of attitude and approach.

The Pats' D comes from the top, and it's just not adequate in today's NFL. Too passive, too soft. The defense needs to get much more physical and play with an attitude and with controlled rage. Aqib Talib brought some much-needed swagger to a demoralized secondary, and that kind of attitude is needed on all 3 levels.

I have serious questions that Matt Patricia executing BB's strategy is going to get us to the next level. I like bringing in some fresh blood (Brandon Daly is by all accounts very intense, and that is needed). I wish we had brought in someone like from the outside like Ray Horton or Jim Schwartz who could provide a strong presence on defense that we haven't had since Romeo left.

2. Upgrade and add depth on DL.

In 2013 we had DEs Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich both playing over 1000 snaps (9.81% and 95.6%, respectively), with Andre Carter, Michael Buchanan and Jake Bequette for "depth". There was no depth. Vince Wilfork played on skates for 3 games, possibly due to Achilles tendonitis, before rupturing his Achilles week 4 against Atlanta. Tommy Kelly was solid at the beginning of the year before injuring his knee and eventually going on IR with an ACL tear. Chris Jones and Sealver Siliga stepped up, but neither is a clear future starter. In the AFCCG we got no pressure at all on Peyton Manning, and played a very passive game, even before Aqib Talib got hurt. Seattle showed what a difference pressuring Manning makes - even though they only recorded 1 sack they pressured him effectively the entire game.

We need to get serious quality depth at DE, and upgrade our starters at DT. I'm not at all optimistic about Wilfork's ability to come back, given the nature of his injury, the nature of his job, and his weight, age and genetics (strong family history of diabetes). Kelly should be able to come back, but he is not a long term solution at the 3-tech position. Armond Armstead will hopefully be back, but he is too much of an unknown at this time to bank on.

My preferences:

- DE: FAs like Michael Johnson and Greg Hardy will be too expensive. I thought we should have gone after Michael Bennett last year. He would be a reasonable option, but wants to stay in Seattle. I think the draft is probably the way to go. I like Trent Murphy (my favorite prospect in the draft). Aaron Lynch has all the physical tools, as does Kony Ealy (who will likely be off the board). Taylor Hart and Will Clarke have intriguing skill sets. Scott Crichton has violent hands and a non-stop motor. At least 1 of those guys would be a huge upgrade behind Jones and Ninkovich, with Buchanan hopefully stepping up. I could also see Armond Armstead and Dont'a Hightower getting time at DE, and Jamie Collins playing a Leo role.

- NT: I would cut Wilfork. The risks of extending him and being saddled with his contract if he can't come back outweigh the risks of cutting him. I'd sign Linval Joseph (think Brandon Mebane) as a UFA if possible. Louis Nix in the 1st round and Justin Ellis in the 3rd/4th are my preferred draft options. Sealver Siliga provides quality depth and rotational capability.

- 3-tech: Chris Jones is on the roster, and Armond Armstead will hopefully be able to get on the field and contribute. The Pats could "stand Pat" with Tommy Kelly and be ok for 2014, but if the opportunity to upgrade is there, I'd take it. I think the FA 3-techs like Henry Melton (coming off an ACL) are going to be expensive. In the draft I would consider Ra'Shede Hageman or Timmy Jernigan at 29 if they were available. Aaron Donald needs to be evaluate closely, but could be a good option in the early 2nd if he is available. Caraun Reid is an intriguing prospect, and plays with a violence that is much needed. Ego Ferguson and DeAndre Coleman could possibly play either the 0/1 or 3-tech positions. Stephon Tuitt could be a 3-tech/5-tech option, but I'm not sold on him. I wouldn't do anything with Tommy Kelly until after the draft.

3. Continue to get more mobile at LB.

Brandon Spikes and Dont'a Hightower are not the future of the NFL. Jamie Collins is. We need more players with Collins kind of skill set. Spikes won't be back, and Hightower will probably take over at MLB, but I'd like to see at least 1 and maybe 2 guys brought in who have the ability to play in space and cover and who can blitz or be used as sub rushers. Christian Jones has an Alec Ogletree kind of skill set but experience playing all 3 LB spots and DE and even some DT. He is much stronger than Ogletree and able to fight through blockers, but smooth enough in coverage to play man on Sammy Watkins. Marcus Smith has Jamie Collins-like athleticism. Kyle Van Noy has amazing instincts and range. Ryan Shazier has Lavonte David-like capability. Dane Fletcher provides nice depth at all 3 LB spots, and will hopefully be re-signed.

4. Go "Seattle" with big, physical DBs.

I can't stand seeing Kyle Arrington play outside CB. He has no place in that role. Logan Ryan is a nice ballhawk with good nickel capability, but I don't want him as my starting outside CB. The Pats need to re-sign Aqib Talib and extend Devin McCourty, but they need a more physical presence at safety opposite McCourty and they need 1-2 big, physical CBs who can play press-man. Calvin Pryor would be ideal at safety. He would punish players for going over the middle, something that we've been sorely lacking since Rodney retired. Stanley Jean-Baptiste, Aaron Colvin, Antone Exum and Jonathan Dowling are all options for big CBs, possibly with some safety versatility.

My "ideal" offseason:

- Cut Wilfork, sign Linval Joseph

The draft (including a Mallett for #33 trade for now):

- 29. Calvin Pryor, S. 6'2" 208#. We should have taken Harrison Smith at 25 2 years ago. A DT like Ra'Shede Hageman or Timmy Jernigan would also be an option.
- Trade 33 to Jacksonville for 39 and 102.
- 39. Trent Murphy, DE. 6'6" 261#.
- Trade 62 for 73 and a 4th round pick.
- 73. Marcus Smith, DE/OLB. 6' 3 1/2" 258#.
- 93. Used on offense (best available OL depending on FA).
- 102. Christian Jones, LB. 6'3" 236#.
- 4 (from Minnesota. Used on offense (move TE like Richard Rodgers).
4. Caraun Reid, DT. 6'2" 310#.
6a. Aaron Lynch, DE. 6'6" 260#.
6b. Aaron Colvin or Antone Exum, DB
6 (comp). Used on offense (Trey Millard)
6 (comp). Jonathan Dowling, DB

Post-draft, Gregory and Kelly restructure, possibly with 1 year extensions.

Revisiting the OP a month later, the discussion in this thread has influenced my thoughts on a lot of issues, but my basic "blueprint" is pretty much the same:

1. Get more disruptive. Disruption = production.

2. Get faster at all levels of the defense.

3. Upgrade and add depth on DL.

4. Get bigger and more physical in the secondary.

With FA about to start and the draft just over 2 months off, my basic plan would be:

- Re-sign Aqib Talib. We need the continuity and his play. If it doesn't happen, sign Sam Shields, Vontae Davis, Alterraun Verner or someone else, but I think Talib should really be the priority.

- Sign a UFA DL. Lamarr Houston, Michael Johnson, Everett Griffen, Corey Wootton ... lots of possibilities, at different price ranges. Ideally someone with some scheme versatility and explosiveness.

- Draft Aaron Donald. Find a way. Somehow, anyhow. Drew Boylhart perhaps says it best when he notes that "Aaron plays football like a Category 4 hurricane that causes extreme structural damage". He's the most disruptive defender to come out of the draft since JJ Watt, and I truly believe he'd have an impact on this defense comparable to what Richard Seymour had. If the Pats can't find a way to get Donald, then get Dominique Easley - he's the only other guy I see with the potential to cause anything like that kind of disruption.

- Get Christian Jones, Jordan Tripp, or Ryan Shazier (unlikely). Speed, explosiveness, range and versatility at the second level.

- Load up on day 3 DBs. Antone Exum as a SS conversion and one of Dontae Johnson / Phillip Gaines / Aaron Colvin / Jonathan Dowling. Talib is key, but we have to have depth behind him so that we can continue to play the same basic style if he gets dinged. Your defense cannot rely on any single player staying healthy for the entire season, and each game may be critical.

- Figure out the Wilfork situation. We've discussed this one ad nauseum.

That's it. Everything else is gravy.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Or I could have just quoted you:



Category: Calvin Pryor -

I'm not sure that Pryor has the range to excel as a centerfield, and I'm not convinced that BB is willing to give him a "smaller arc of responsibility". Pat Chung might not have been a bad roverback, but BB required him to play in a coverage role, with disastrous results.

First of all it appears that Pryor has the intelligence to play the position, which would render comparisons to Meriweather moot as he was a frigging idiot and it showed on the field. As for Chung i never figured out what went wrong with him because he was a bright talented kid but he never put it together on the field for them, and while Pryor could end up falling into that category I have been intrigued by the comparison that had him as a bigger Bob Sanders, who was a beast but was unable to stay on the field due to injury, and size certainly played a role in that.

It may be that the fans want the hitter and a true strong safety but belichick wants to play the left right system and a guy like Clinton-Dix is more suitable for him, and with his experience in Saban's system that could well be the case. personally i want more of a physical presence, which is why i went with Pryor, but if Ha Ha Dix could step in and play as well as McCourty then that may be the better option.

 

[mayoclinic]

Thought of the day, from another poster in another thread:

What we really need is a defense that makes the opposition QB as uncomfortable as Brady is made to feel in the playoffs.

Amen.

 

[Merril Hoge's Tie Knot]

Thought of the day, from another poster in another thread:



Amen.

Amen indeed, but I could live with the opposing view as well.

What we really need is an [offense] that makes [Brady] as [comfortable] as [the opposition QB] is made to feel in the playoffs.

 

[Merril Hoge's Tie Knot]

Worilds signed. He's officially off the market.

 

[mayoclinic]

Worilds signed. He's officially off the market.

Yeah, I had noted that in another thread. Jason La Canfora also reported that there has been substantial progress towards a long term deal between Worilds and the Steelers. I never really saw that as an option for the Pats, anyway.

 

[mayoclinic]

Worilds signed. He's officially off the market.

Worilds, BTW, has the kind of explosiveness and mobility that Dont'a Hightower lacks:

- Worilds: 6' 1 1/4" 254#, 32 7/8" arms; explosiveness = 38" VJ + 9'10" BJ + 24 BP = 71; mobility = 4.49 40 + 1.53 10-split + 4.13 SS + 6.95 3C = 17.1 (elite).

- Hightower: 6' 2 1/4" 265#, 32 5/8" arms; explosiveness = 33" VJ + 9'9" BJ (BP not measured); mobility = 4.62 40 + 1.58 10-split + 4.64 SS + 7.55 3C = 18.39 (poor - defensive tackle range).

 

[Merril Hoge's Tie Knot]

Yeah, I had noted that in another thread. Jason La Canfora also reported that there has been substantial progress towards a long term deal between Worilds and the Steelers. I never really saw that as an option for the Pats, anyway.

Ah but that's where you're wrong Brother. Everyone is an option. One must consider all the pigs before one can Use The Whole Pig.

 

[mayoclinic]

Doug Kyed discusses Vince Wilfork's situation from an "intangibles vs. analytics" perspective, and seems to imply that many outside New England expect Wilfork to be cut:

NFL teams expect Wilfork to be a cap casualty. But they could be looking at the 10-year pro in a purely analytical sense. Wilfork is 32 years old, he’s the second-highest-paid player on the Patriots, and he’s coming off a torn Achilles at 325 pounds.

Wilfork’s eventual replacement in 2013, Sealver Siliga, played extremely well from Week 13 — when he made his Patriots debut — to the AFC Championship Game. He single-handedly helped mend New England’s porous run defense while also providing production rushing the passer.

Siliga will make more than 20 times less than Wilfork in 2013.

The Wilfork decision is not as cut and dry as the rest of the league seems to think, but only so much can be put on intangibles and the hope that Wilfork can regain his All-Pro form. Wilfork is not 20 times better than Siliga, so the Patriots would have to put a lot of stock in the unquantifiable to keep the big man on board.

Vince Wilfork?s Future With Patriots Depends On Intangibles Versus Analytics | New England Patriots | NESN.com

I'm not sure on what Kyed is basing his statement that "NFL teams expect Wilfork to be a cap casualty", though I think it's more likely than most in New England are willing to admit.

 

[Merril Hoge's Tie Knot]

Brandon Browner was reinstated. I'd take a look at him as a SS.

 

[mayoclinic]

Brandon Browner was reinstated. I'd take a look at him as a SS.

My first thought when I read that.

Sign Browner + draft Exum. Then you have McCourty/Harmon at FS with Browner/Exum SS = instant impact safety group, with great coverage ability and big CB depth.

 

[manxman2601]

My first thought when I read that.

Sign Browner + draft Exum. Then you have McCourty/Harmon at FS with Browner/Exum SS = instant impact safety group, with great coverage ability and big CB depth.

I'd be fine with a one year prove it deal for him. Your final point is why I think Exum has such good value. The injury uncertainty around Talib does require us to have a similar backup for him.

 

[Merril Hoge's Tie Knot]

My first thought when I read that.

Sign Browner + draft Exum. Then you have McCourty/Harmon at FS with Browner/Exum SS = instant impact safety group, with great coverage ability and big CB depth.

Yes, exactly! I would do it. Let's just hope Bill will.

 

[mayoclinic]

My first thought when I read that.

Sign Browner + draft Exum. Then you have McCourty/Harmon at FS with Browner/Exum SS = instant impact safety group, with great coverage ability and big CB depth.

I'd be fine with a one year prove it deal for him. Your final point is why I think Exum has such good value. The injury uncertainty around Talib does require us to have a similar backup for him.

Yes, exactly! I would do it. Let's just hope Bill will.

Browner is still 1 violation from a suspension and coming off an injury, both of which should limit his market and keep his price down. Get him on a Tommy Kelly kind of deal and draft Exum to develop and for depth. Re-sign Talib and get a big DB day 3 for depth and you have one of the 2 best secondaries in the NFL, with tremendous depth and versatility.