Miami Dolphins free agent CB Sean Smith

[Joey007]

I wouldn't mind him here on a one year deal, but I think there will be a few teams that offer him a longer term and/or better money--which he'll surely jump on. He is not the kind of player that will give out any hometeam discounts.

If he does end up here on a one year deal, that will definitely say quite a lot about what the other 31 teams' front offices feel about him.



I fully agree with this thought and have since he hit the market. I am honestly shocked that so many here value him so highly. I can't even tell you how many people threw out the "5/50" numbers, stating that he was clearly the best CB in the entire free agency pool. Sometimes I think it's almost like they were watching a different guy or something.

With that 10 million per year we could spend it on Gamble, who should come cheaper due to getting injured, Toler, who shouldn't cost more than a few million as far as I know, and Adrian Wilson, who should come cheap since he's aging.

So basically instead of overpaying for someone like Sean Smith, we could get all of these guy for very close to the same price. It's just finding all-around value.

 

[supafly]

IMO the improvements on defense were more about McCourty playing safety then anything Talib did. I think adding a CB like Smith would only further improve the team. Interceptions as we know are not always a major indicator of how good a CB is. Arrington had 7 in 2011 and I would want him covering my grandmother on the outside.

Exactly. Shoring up even a couple secondary positions can often turn a passing defense around dramatically. We saw the same thing in the 2011 SB loss year, as they played much better when moving McCourty to safety and using Arrington in the slot.

And just think: that 2011 group consisted of Antwaan Molden, Sterling Moore, Patrick Chung, and James Ihedigbo as 4 of the 6 players who all saw significant time down the stretch of the season, into the playoff, and even in the Super Bowl where they all received lots of reps. And we saw a dramatic improvement back there. I really think a lot has to do with better safety play, and I think that a lot of posters underrate the potential (good or bad) of having adequate safety play. That looks like it was fixed in my opinion, and I think we add to the position even more.

I am honestly not even remotely worried about the secondary half as much as the majority of posters on here, and I am glad they didn't overpay for Talib. The fact that they are addressing it is a great sign, and if Belichick feels confident about giving the money to a guy like S.Smith, Gamble, etc, then I'm more than happy with that. I think that we'll make a couple of other moves too with lesser known players and draft picks. Improving the depth of the secondary will do wonders, much more than simply worrying about who the CB1 will be (in my opinion anyway).

 

[supafly]

With that 10 million per year we could spend it on Gamble, who should come cheaper due to getting injured, Toler, who shouldn't cost more than a few million as far as I know, and Adrian Wilson, who should come cheap since he's aging.

So basically instead of overpaying for someone like Sean Smith, we could get all of these guy for very close to the same price. It's just finding all-around value.

Spreading the money around is definitely an option, and I like the moves that you make with how you'd spend it. I think that Toler is a decent lower cost signing, but I also have a hunch that ARZ will be making him their top priority, especially after letting Wilson walk, but that's just my thought. If it happened, I'd be fine with it myself.

I'll be happy with whatever Belichick wants to do as far as how he spends the money, or how much he chooses to spend. I also think we'll see some additional moves on a lesser level or through the draft too, so that should improve the overall depth of the entire secondary--as you said.

I think a lot of our opinions will differ on Sean Smith, just as they did during the pre-draft period. Many were high on him, some weren't. I personally am fine with Belichick's assessment, and if he chooses to reel him in, then I will assume that he has his reasons. Personally, I'll believe it when I see it, and I think that some of these reported rumors may be nothing more than seeing what the player's asking price is, and/or trying to set the market with our own players. I'll say one thing...I do think that Smith is better than some give him credit for. Obviously the money would be the biggest issue.

I'd have a hard time seeing Belichick spend 10 million per year average on a guy like Smith, but if he spends 8 million per year average on him that may be a totally different picture altogether, as that is pretty much the market rate anymore. One way or another I'd be much more comfortable seeing him give it to someone else besides Talib. I just have a feeling that we'd be disappointed with him next year on some level, as there's no way he'd be able to live up to the insane hype that so many fans here have created for him.

 

[DolphinsX72]

I don't mind him, he just isn't a gamechanger. He's solid overall, but I shudder thinking about all the potential Pick 6's he has dropped over the years, which of course can mean the difference between a win and a loss. And he seems to want gamechanger type money.

 

[Spergon Wynn]

Jeff Darlington just reported on NFLNetwork that Smith's agent told him that the leading contenders are now KC, PHI, and SF.

 

[RodThePat]

Jeff Darlington just reported on NFLNetwork that Smith's agent told him that the leading contenders are now KC, PHI, and SF.

Is there anyone the 49ers haven't been linked to at this point? Jesus...