This may seem simplistic, but for me we had the top team in the NFL going into the pre-season. We had many injuries, and we went into the playoffs as the #1 team. We ended up as #2. IMHO, if we sign our own, we are likely to be at the very top in the SB hunt once again. And yes, there are extensions, cuts and contract changes that would increase the cap money available.
IMHO, compared to other season, we are in fine shape.
Solder
Fleming
Waddle
Lewis (not likely)
Burkhead
Amendola
Francois
Flowers
Harrison
Bademosi
Butler (NOT BLOODY LIKELY)
Ebner
King (I forget whether we have extended him)
IMHO, we still need a LB or two. And, we need to draft the LT of the future.
King is still listed as RFA on the OTC site. I'm guessing that they don't make the low-round tender (which should be something in excess of $1.8M), but offer him something like 2 years at $1.8M total.
Slater isn't on your list, FYI.
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The biggie for me is Solder - probably 2-3 years at +/- $12M AAV, up to 75% guaranteed (his last contract was 99% guaranteed).
After that, one of Fleming/Waddle. Based on a couple recent OL re-signings/extensions, their contract floors might be 2-3 years at $4M AAV.
After that probably one of Lewis/Burkhead.
Both Amendola ($3.5M?) and Marquis Flowers, I hope.
Ebner, certainly (2 years, $1.5M AAV). Slater, if he doesn't retire (1 year, ~$1.8M, like last time). Bademosi, if possible.
Francois and Harrison would likely both be post-draft re-signings at right around veteran minimum (~$2M for the pair of them, just for rough cap figuring purposes).
After that?
Maybe Jonathan Stewart at something a bit above veteran minimum to fill the fourth RB spot for a year.
Dwayne Allen gets extended-restructured down to about $2.25M for 2018 and sticks around along with Hollister. Perhaps Will Tye gets some consideration for a #2 receiving TE role (depends on how Allen and Hollister come along with their receiving).
..... Maybe less than a 40% chance that Bennett is back, IMHO.
Somewhere along the line, I'm hoping they'll have freed up enough cap space to be able to sign a decent ILB/MLB type with NFL experience, and/or a SS type. Another, relatively cheap 315+ lb DT would also be good.
I think the rest is going to be up to last year's returning injured and draft acquisitions and this year's draft picks/UDFAs.
I'm really not envisioning any headline-grabbing UFA signings or trades.
Which means, of course, one or the other of those things will happen immediately.