LIONS 2014 FREE AGENTS THREAD (all positons)

[jayfan]

We'll agree to disagree, Old Lion. Young had a very good season, and though he was out-sacked by Ziggy, he was our most consistent pass rushing end over the course of the season. 29 tackles, 18 assists, 3 sacks, 5 batted balls, and lots of hurries. I'm not ready of rely of Taylor, and Jones is a waste of space who is a year older and coming off yet another injury. He mustered 1 (one) tackle and 0 assists in 2.5 games before going down.

 

[Dr. Evil-er]

He's got size, speed, returns punts and has put together back-to-back seasons with 85+ receptions, 1,000+ yards and 10+ TDs in each. That's nothing to sneeze at.

With Manning at QB and as you mentioned benefitting not actually as a #2 receiver, but like the #3 or even #4 in that offense with Thomas, Thomas, and Welker.

Maybe someone will offer him #1 WR money to come play for them, but I just don't see it. He does, however, deserve a top #2 WR type of contract, and I'd be more than willing to see us make that work if possible

And how much to you think that is since cap space is limited? What do you think we can afford to pay?

 

[Thruthefog]

I want to make a comment regarding the two women in Meow's avatar.

I've known for a long time that if Paris or Milan say something is 'fashion', no matter how ridiculous it looks, women will wear it. But I've got to say, the heavy makeup is really getting out of hand.

 

[tpaulus_2]

With Manning at QB and as you mentioned benefitting not actually as a #2 receiver, but like the #3 or even #4 in that offense with Thomas, Thomas, and Welker.

Twist it however you like, but he lined up as the #2 WR, was 2nd on the team in receptions, 2nd on the team in yards, and 3rd in TDs.

He's their 2nd starting WR, opposite Demaryius Thomas on the outside. Yes they have two other good receiving options in Wes Welker and Julius Thomas, but those two benefited from him just as much as he benefited from them. Demaryius Thomas is clearly their star receiver, nobody will argue that, but I don't get what Decker has done (or hasn't done?) to warrant the "over-rated" label. He's a very good #2 WR in the NFL. He's not a #1 type of guy that will beat double coverage routinely and dominate games, but we're not looking for that at WR, because we already have the best one of those.

And how much to you think that is since cap space is limited? What do you think we can afford to pay?

After all the talk last year about how we had no cap space and couldn't afford to sign anyone I would have though people would have learned their lesson on this one. The salary cap is very, very, very, very flexible; we'll have enough money to sign the Eric Decker types during free agency. I'm zero % concerned about our cap space after last year- we did lots with less then, so this year should be even better...

 

[Dr. Evil-er]

After all the talk last year about how we had no cap space and couldn't afford to sign anyone I would have though people would have learned their lesson on this one. The salary cap is very, very, very, very flexible; we'll have enough money to sign the Eric Decker types during free agency. I'm zero % concerned about our cap space after last year- we did lots with less then, so this year should be even better...

I ask you how much you thought he would cost and what you thought we could afford to pay?
I don't need (or want) a lecture on the fluidity of cap space.

 

[broncosmitty]

Id think Decker would/will get a deal similar to that of Sidney Rice, Victor Cruz, Antonio Brown or Pierre Garçon. Which would be around 5years and 40mil. Not #2 money. Unless you have a late round cheap QB, a DLline that doesn't feature three first rounders and havent given out the largest WR contract in NFL history already.

 

[tpaulus_2]

I ask you how much you thought he would cost and what you thought we could afford to pay?
I don't need (or want) a lecture on the fluidity of cap space.

Someone else mentioned no more than $5m per year, which seems about right. A 5 year $25-$27 million dollar deal seems about fair, if that's still what top #2s are going for. Maybe the market will even be lower after how slow it was last year during free agency.

I'm not well versed enough right now in cap numbers and player salaries to know what the going rate is for a 2nd starting WR, though, so my figures are more or less just guesswork. Basically Burleson's contract from a few years ago...

 

[tpaulus_2]

Id think Decker would/will get a deal similar to that of Sidney Rice, Victor Cruz, Antonio Brown or Pierre Garçon. Which would be around 5years and 40mil. Not #2 money. Unless you have a late round cheap QB, a DLline that doesn't feature three first rounders and havent given out the largest WR contract in NFL history already.

You think some team will view him as a #1 and pay him as such? I'm not saying they won't, but I'm definitely saying I wouldn't. Even after all that defending of him I did above, I do know he's not a #1 WR. I think he's talented and would love to see him opposite Megatron, but I absolutely don't want him if it means over-paying...

 

[Old Lion]

We'll agree to disagree, Old Lion. Young had a very good season, and though he was out-sacked by Ziggy, he was our most consistent pass rushing end over the course of the season. 29 tackles, 18 assists, 3 sacks, 5 batted balls, and lots of hurries. I'm not ready of rely of Taylor, and Jones is a waste of space who is a year older and coming off yet another injury. He mustered 1 (one) tackle and 0 assists in 2.5 games before going down.

I am not exactly enamoured with Jones either. Young may have more upside but he makes too many critical mistakes. I wouldnt mind resigning him, but I wouldnt be upset if they didnt. He is smallish for the wide nine.

 

[Dr. Evil-er]

Someone else mentioned no more than $5m per year, which seems about right. A 5 year $25-$27 million dollar deal seems about fair, if that's still what top #2s are going for. Maybe the market will even be lower after how slow it was last year during free agency.

I would expect his agent to start at the same contract that Welker got last year, which is $6m/yr. He wont likely get that but it's a very reasonable assumption that is where he will start. So I would say the numbers you have suggested are reasonable to what he will get.

IMO that is simply too much for a guy that has to come with question marks as to whether or not he is the beneficiary of a talented team or a genuine talent and true #2 compliment receiver. We have gambled and lost repeatedly on trying to find another WR. I don't think you do that and pay big in the process when the upcoming draft is loaded at the WR position.

 

[Dr. Evil-er]

The Lions can create cap space this year and play in FA. It's really a matter of how aggressive they want to be. What they can not do however is repeat last year. For as much as everyone was thrilled with who we added the Lions did what they always do and just kicked the can down the road.

Of the big adds and resigns (Houston, Bush, Quin, and Jones) the Lions did all that with only a combined cap hit of $8.183m in 2013. That's how they effectively created space out of nowhere. Those same players account for $17.533m in 2014. Everyone knows we are over the cap, Spotrac shows $1.2m. What I suspect most here do not know is that overage is only counting the contracts of 38 players. So in essence we are actually quite a bit more over the limit.

There is very little room within the current contracts of our players for any additional restructuring. The Lions will have to create space by extending Suh and cutting players. Delmas and Burleson contracts will either be reworked or they will be in the cut group.

So who other than the obvious (Delmas, Burleson, and Harris) do you cut? Those will get you $13.45m. With Suh's contract restructured lets say you have $21m to work with, and you have 35 players under contract. Fill out the roster and see what you come up with.

 

[broncosmitty]

You think some team will view him as a #1 and pay him as such? I'm not saying they won't, but I'm definitely saying I wouldn't. Even after all that defending of him I did above, I do know he's not a #1 WR. I think he's talented and would love to see him opposite Megatron, but I absolutely don't want him if it means over-paying...

Yep, I absolutely do. Not sure why he's getting so much attention on the Lions board. He's too good for us. Nate got 5mil a year, years ago. Decker should and will get significantly more. He's significantly better.

 

[Rollingthndr]

I think the point is, "You don't pay him #1WR money for his performance when system and other personnel is a heavy contributor."

I do like that Decker was productive with bums like Tebow, but would hold the line at $5MM per AND only sign him after the draft in case Watkins drops to #10.

I again worry that the FA market this offseason will be highly overpriced with so many teams with loads of cap space. I'd rather re-up my guys and sign backups than overpay now and go to cap hell the next few years.

@ Naughtymax

No way in hell dude gets #1 money. Truth of the matter is this draft is LOADED at the WR position. No team will overpay for this guy when they can draft a stud in the 1st two rounds of this years draft.

The Lions need a guy with almost no learning curve to compete for a championship right away. Decker would solve that problem and be a massive upgrade over "the room mate".

The only player I see that can come in and make an impact day 1 is Hopkins, which would be a miracle if he dropped to us.

 

[Rollingthndr]

Maybe someone will offer him #1 WR money to come play for them, but I just don't see it. He does, however, deserve a top #2 WR type of contract, and I'd be more than willing to see us make that work if possible. He'd solve a lot of problems for our offense, imo...

Totally agree.

No way someone is paying him 6 Million or more when you have studs with higher upside like , Hopkins,Lee, Evans, D. Adams, Benjamin, Cooks and Robinson. Plenty of great talent in the draft.

I would prefer to get the proven talent in Decker for 4-5 mil a year and draft all defense. Our offense is only a #2 WR away from being complete.

http://www.sportshoopla.com/forums/detroit-lions/133709-its-time-talk-free-agents-3.html#4425393

 

[Rollingthndr]

I am not exactly enamoured with Jones either. Young may have more upside but he makes too many critical mistakes. I wouldnt mind resigning him, but I wouldnt be upset if they didnt. He is smallish for the wide nine.

Interesting, I kind of like Young. Kind of a bonehead but I think he is better than Avril to be honest.

 

[broncosmitty]

Interesting, I kind of like Young. Kind of a bonehead but I think he is better than Avril to be honest.

So do I.

 

[RobBase]

Interesting, I kind of like Young. Kind of a bonehead but I think he is better than Avril to be honest.

2013 was Young's first year as a starter once Jason Jones went down, and he played in all 16 games.

He finishes with more total tackles (47) than Avril ever did in his 6 year career (including this year). Avril's best was 41 in 2009.

His 29 solo tackles ties Cliff's career best in 2011.

Where he falls off is sacks with only 3. Cliff got 8 this year, his lowest since 2009, but still 5 more than Willie.

Cliff really shines with the FF's. This has always been his strength. Even his sacks have been clean up duty with guys like Suh and Fairely chasing the QB his way. He has 5 this year for the Hawks to go along with the 16 he forced with the Lions.

Willie has 0 in his short career.

I think this tells us what we already know. Cliff is a pass rushing specialist and poor vs. the run. Willie can play the run much better and disrupts the QB but does not share Cliff's ability to finish the play. Can Young be as good as Cliff next season? I'm not sure he has the brains for the NFL to be honest. Maybe with Schwartz and his Napoleon complex gone, these guys will chill and Young will mature. Hard to predict after so many bone headed plays last year. Hope so. Would ge great to see a 7th rounder become a productive starter for us. Indy specialized in smaller, faster DE's so maybe Caldwell can work his magic.

 

[ShadowJ20]

I would like the team to go after DRC. As for the draft I think they should trade down a few spots and acquire a few more picks and get Jordan Matthews. I really like him.

 

[broncosmitty]

I've seen some interest in the Lions drafting a TE at 10. That seems like a stretch to me. Fred Davis will most likely be cut after droppin' dirty. (6game suspension coming). Jack off artist Kellen Winslow is set to be a FA. He didn't make squat this past season. Couple guys Id entertain signing for cheap. Nobody wants Peanut to come in and sure up the secondary?

 

[tpaulus_2]

I'm Fairey Leshoure that I posted on this very thread about going after Tillman... I'd love that.

My dream scenario would be to trade Houston so we can be out from under his salary, and then sign Tillman and DRC to pair with our 4 young CBs. Never gonna happen, but we'd suddenly have 2 quality starting CBs and a good looking young group to develop behind them...