NFL Free Agency Thread

[manxman2601]

I think it makes plenty of sense if they could go the entire season only playing against 2 WR offenses with a receiving tight end (big nickel) or 3 WRs on obvious passing downs (3CB/3S dime), but then what do you do on first down against three wide receivers, a tight end, and a running back? They've historically had problems with nickel run defense so taking a DT off the field sounds like a disaster, the two linebackers are obviously going to be on the field almost every snap that they're healthy, and my premise here is that the third CB is somebody other than one of those three safeties. I'm just not seeing how those numbers add up.

I just don't think in today's NFL where match ups are important that there are 11 starters. I think Weddle would be too pricey for the amount of time he's on the field but in this scenario, I imagine Weddle would come off the field to be replaced by Coleman when we go up against 3 WR.

 

[jah]

You mean like Denver?

Their FA splashes make more sense than those of stupid teams like MIA/JAX/OAK, we just doubt them on principle (actually, multiple principles).

 

[1960Pats]

Yea it was an anomaly how few injuries the Broncos had last year. .. they played it incredibly risky by stacking the deck with an expensive, top heavy team with little to no depth and they pulled a golden horseshoe out of their ass and avoided serious injury all year long, all the way to a SB... that almost never happens

The Broncos also benefited from injuries to opposing players at the right times. Everything fell their way. That's the way things usually go in the NFL though. There has to be a certain amount of luck to get through a season as champs.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Eexxcceeellleennntttt! This was the only part of the Donks winning the SB that I was looking forward to... the complete dismantling of that team via FA... now they don't have Von Miller on his rookie deal anymore for top 10 elite talent..

They're losing a lot of key guys that were huge contributors... and I doubt they'll have the incredibly fortunate luck with injuries the way they did last year...


And I love it

Shaping up for a 2013 Ravens-esque season

 

[Kontradiction]

To add to that, snap count for our safeties last year:

McCourty: 14 games, 925 def. snaps
Chung: 15 games, 885 def. snaps
Harmon: 16 games, 601 def. snaps
Richards: 14 games, 238 def. snaps
Wilson: 9 games, 83 def. snaps
Ebner: 15 games, 45 def. snaps

LOL. Richards, a rookie, had almost three times as many defensive snaps as Tavon Wilson. What an absolute trash bag second round selection that was. At least Belichick made up for it with Jamie Collins.

 

[JarOfMayo51]

Gotta wonder out of Jones, Malcolm, Collins and High they can only keep two of the four.

I think they can manage 3, but it will be pretty tight... and they wont be able to make any other splashy moves, just some lower end depth signings..

At the same time, BB doesn't typically double dip into the same position for top end contracts.. I doubt its a rule of this, but probably a general philosophy that you'd rather spread your top talent out over each side of the ball..
Better to have an elite guy at every layer of the defense (DBs, LBs and DL)..

If that were the way it was going forward, that means either Hightower or Collins would be the odd man out.. although I'd prefer to think of Collins as a DE/OLB versatile pass rusher.. whereas Hightower is your big, nasty middle linebacker...

With the 3-4/4-3 hybrid defense, the line between DE and OLB is very blurry

 

[Kontradiction]

Shaping up for a 2013 Ravens-esque season

Now that Peyton is gone and the networks won't care about keeping this game in their pocket, I hope they have the Broncos open up the season against a fully healthy Pats squad. I would love to watch Brady, Belichick, and a healthy (and hopefully replenished) Pats team dismantle them on national television as they drop the banner.

 

[manxman2601]

Big if true. Eagles move up from 13 to 8. A QB play?

Okay, this is just from Benjamin Allbright so take with caution but the Eagles/Dolphins deal looks like this supposedly

 

[PF_SU]

LOL. Richards, a rookie, had almost three times as many defensive snaps as Tavon Wilson. What an absolute trash bag second round selection that was. At least Belichick made up for it with Jamie Collins.

Funny story: Wilson got 464 def. snaps (42%) in his rookie season. Says more about the state of our safety corps that year than about him though.

 

[JarOfMayo51]

Jackson is basically guaranteed 7M/yr over the life of the contract.. That's about what's he's worth.. Not $15M/yr.. SMH..

Yea i thought he would land something like Sheard's contract, but maybe a bit more due to inflation... but $15 @$&^^ million? holy cow...

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

2 year for Mario

 

[VectorPrime]

2 year for Mario

Not sure why the Patriots didn't take a good look at him for 2/16. Obviously that would mean Jones is gone but Mario may be the better player anyway. And we get a return for trading Jones.

 

[Love The Drake]

marios known to be a bit of a headcase and maybe hes planning on keeping Chandler?.or likes our young ends

 

[AzorianPats]

I think they can manage 3, but it will be pretty tight... and they wont be able to make any other splashy moves, just some lower end depth signings..

At the same time, BB doesn't typically double dip into the same position for top end contracts.. I doubt its a rule of this, but probably a general philosophy that you'd rather spread your top talent out over each side of the ball..
Better to have an elite guy at every layer of the defense (DBs, LBs and DL)..

If that were the way it was going forward, that means either Hightower or Collins would be the odd man out.. although I'd prefer to think of Collins as a DE/OLB versatile pass rusher.. whereas Hightower is your big, nasty middle linebacker...

With the 3-4/4-3 hybrid defense, the line between DE and OLB is very blurry

He doubled dipped in 2012 signing both TE's to big, new contracts.

If he feels they are worth it, he'll do it.

I can see Hightower taking a "hometown discount" for some reason. Hes made some decent change already..

Collins and Butler, for how they've played and what they're getting paid are legit steals.

 

[Kontradiction]

 

[JarOfMayo51]

Suh and now Mario Williams...

Man, these teams just never learn.

The Williams move isnt that bad, its probably structured similar to Sheard's, which for Williams level of play is a good deal.. Only a 2 year deal as well so it doesn't lock them up long-term either.. the Suh move was absolutely absurd.. paying someone like that the kind of money you'd pay to the consummate leader and icon of your football team.. and they chose Suh? HAHAHAHAHAHA

Granted, I still worry every time they play Miami now because all it takes is 1 Suh moment to end Brady's season

 

[manxman2601]

 

[JarOfMayo51]

Yes, the Chung to LB idea has been quite popular. It still doesn't address the idea of who is being replaced. If you move Chung from S to LB and add Weddle at S, then that's 12 guys. Who is coming off the field?

Whoever takes over Mayo/Freeney's role, or a defensive lineman

 

[JarOfMayo51]

Yep. Harmon I believe played 60-65% of the defensive snaps and McCourty and Chung were at 80% so if they wanted to they could do it. Although I think Weddle ends up in Oakland, they have the money, they have a hole there with Woodson retiring

Hell I remember Chung covered TY Hilton most of the game against the colts this year. And didn't Tavon Wilson also play a game or two as a CB?

I don't think BB has any qualms about having his safeties come up and play some man coverage.

Yea we're pretty deep at safety, so unless Weddle is willing to play for way below his market value I don't see the Patriots dedicating that much cap space to another safety..

Harmon, Chung and McCourty is a very solid safety group, with Richards and some other young bucks being groomed behind them

 

[Marqui]

Glad he turned us down.