Offseason thread, WR hunt, Cap Space now $4.768M not counting JJ and Jacobs

[Flyingiguana]

explain?

goldson is a SS. he has excellent range, but lacks the instincts to play center field

 

[ChrisPozz]

NFL.com Blogs Blog Archive La Canfora: Steelers won’t bring back Ward

 

[ChrisPozz]

49ers Blog and Q&A: Injury updates: Byham eager to get back in the fold

 

[BINGO]

Finnegan's fate

9:09AM ET

Cortland Finnegan | Titans | Interested: Buccaneers?, Rams?, 49ers?, Raiders?, Jaguars?, Cowboys?, Falcons?

Cornerback Cortland Finnegan is the Tennessee Titans' biggest free agent when taking into account free agent market value. However, as of Friday, talks between the team and the Finnegan camp remained at a stand-still, according to the Tennessean.

Don't worry too much for Finnegan, though, as the CB will have plenty of suitors should no deal (or franchise tag) occur within the next few weeks. We know that the Dallas Cowboys are in the market for help at the position this offseason, and according to what a league source has told Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit Lions would be in the mix if Finnegan hits the open market on March 13. The source added that the Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be in the mix as well.

If he lands in Detroit, he would be the latest addition to the fraternity of ex-Titans who have joined former Tennessee DC Jim Schwartz in the Motor City.

- Tim Kavanagh​

 

[Ray_Dogg]

This is insane:
SI.com's Peter King sees free agent Mario Manningham landing a deal that will pay him "at least" $7 million per season.
As a result, King doesn't see the Giants "making anything but a cursory effort" to re-sign their No. 3 receiver. Limited to 39 catches for 523 yards in 12 games as he struggled with injury in 2011, Manningham is just one year removed from a 60/944/9 campaign. He'll turn 26 in May.

 

[Ray_Dogg]

Forget about Finnegan:

Player Outlook
Game Log
Career Stats
Draft Advice

Cortland Finnegan - DB - Titans

A league source tells the Detroit Free Press the Lions could be "one of the key teams interested" in free agent CB Cortland Finnegan if he makes it to the open market.
Finnegan is reportedly seeking a five- to six-year deal worth at least $10 million annually. There's been no indication the Titans plan to use the franchise tag on their No. 1 cornerback. The Lions have shown a keen interest in Titans defenders since hiring coach Jim Schwartz, also signing DE Kyle Vanden Bosch and MLB Stephen Tulloch away from Schwartz's former team. According to the Free Press, the Rams, Cowboys, Raiders, 49ers, Falcons, Bucs and Jaguars are other teams who could "make a play" for Finnegan.
Related: Lions
Source: Detroit Free Press
Feb 13 - 8:22 AM

 

[Ray_Dogg]

Anthony Spencer is going to make re-signing Brooks VERY HARD.

Date: Team: Pos:
Anthony Spencer - LB - Cowboys

A team source tells the Fort Worth Star-Telegram the Cowboys are considering using the franchise tag on free agent OLB Anthony Spencer.
Pro Football Weekly reported in January that the Cowboys would likely let Spencer test the open market, but they're apparently skeptical they can find an upgrade opposite DeMarcus Ware. Although a disappointment as a pass rusher since being Dallas' first-round pick in 2007, Spencer has been consistently solid against the run, and tallied six sacks to go along with 66 tackles and four forced fumbles in 2011. He'd be guaranteed roughly $9 million under the franchise tag.
Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Feb 13 - 11:24 AM

 

[CalamityX11]

damn, the one good year we've had and all of a sudden half our team are FAs looking for some bang...lol

I guess if we can't find a deal with Brooks, OLB may move up the needs ranking come draft time..... Wouldn't mind Brooks but he's that one guy I would let go after some other guys to be resign for my likings.

Think its bad now, JUST wait til Bowman becomes a FA... good heavens...

 

[Ray_Dogg]

Thanks to MM:
McDonald, Whitner, Akers and Goodwin combined for $8.65M in 2011 cap space.

That makes me very excited about our off-season. Marathe is gonna have a feast.

MM also thinks Goldson might have the highest cap hit for re-signed players next season at $6.2 if he gets franchised.

 

[CalamityX11]

6 For Goldson? for 4 yrs, why not? wtf... that's awesome

what's the catch?

 

[Ray_Dogg]

6 For Goldson? for 4 yrs, why not? wtf... that's awesome

what's the catch?

It would be 6ish for Goldson next season under the franchise tag. He'd be an UFA again the following off-season.

 

[CalamityX11]

It would be 6ish for Goldson next season under the franchise tag. He'd be an UFA again the following off-season.

right, so with the figure 6 per yr being the avg of the top 3-5 Safeties, 6-7 per yr on a new contract shouldn't be that bad.

I think...

wait... no.... idk....

 

[Ray_Dogg]

It isn't that bad that as a one year term. 6-7 Per for Goldson for multiple years would be bad. Ideally they would work out a much friendlier deal.

 

[Ray_Dogg]

As it stands right now we can throw A TON of fluffy and cuttable money into years 2014+ into free agent deals.

We have one player under contract in 2017. 2 guys signed for 2016, and 5 guys signed for 2015. Bring on the back loaded Clements type deals where they never see the money in the end!

 

[Ray_Dogg]

49ers Mailbag II: Is $30 million in cap space enough?

 

[ChrisPozz]

Dominik: Bucs putting "every penny" into free agency | TBO.com

 

[BINGO]

Originally Published: February 15, 2012

Top offseason needs: NFC West

What the Cardinals, Rams, 49ers and Seahawks need to address this offseason

By Brian McIntyre
Football Outsiders
Archive

Levi Brown's future in Arizona rests at the heart of the Cardinals' offensive line concerns.

This continues an eight-part series in which Football Outsiders looks at the biggest holes remaining on each team going into the offseason. Remember, some of these holes might not actually be holes if teams re-sign their own players, and other holes will be filled during free agency and the draft.

Today, Outsiders looks at the NFC West.


Arizona Cardinals: Offensive tackle, outside linebacker
In Kurt Warner's final three seasons as the Cardinals' starting quarterback, the offensive line ranked among the top 10 in ASR (adjusted sack rate, which measures sacks allowed per pass play adjusted for situation and opponent). For the second consecutive season with a quarterback other than Warner in the pocket, the Cardinals ranked 27th in ASR, a decline that can be attributed to Warner's pristine pocket presence and to the shuttling of 2007 first-round pick Levi Brown from right to left tackle. Having Brandon Keith and Jeremy Bridges manning the right tackle position did the team no favors, either.

Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Brown's cap number will swell to nearly $17 million, a figure the Cardinals are not going to carry in 2012. Brown will be re-signed for the long term -- and perhaps moved back to right tackle -- or released. That should put the Cardinals in the unfamiliar position of being in the market for an offensive tackle in the draft. Of the team's 30 draft picks since 2007, only three have been used on offensive linemen. Just one of those picks, Keith, has contributed in a meaningful way, and he is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in March. With Arizona holding the No. 13 pick this year, Matt Kalil, Riley Reiff and Jonathan Martin could be long gone, and the top tackles available in free agency -- Demetrius Bell and Jared Gaither -- could be retained by their current clubs. But the Cardinals need to look.

They have used fourth-round picks in back-to-back drafts on pass-rushing outside linebackers O'Brien Schofield (2010) and Sam Acho (2011), who combined for 11.5 sacks in 2011. The Arizona defense ranked 20th in ASR, and, with Clark Haggans and Joey Porter scheduled for unrestricted free agency, defensive coordinator Ray Horton certainly would like to add another pass-rushing linebacker to his arsenal.



St. Louis Rams: Wide receiver, outside linebacker
It's difficult to pinpoint just one area of need on the roster of a franchise that has won three or fewer games in four of the past five seasons, has fired its general manager, and has hired its third full-time head coach since 2008. On the offensive side of the ball, the Rams have their franchise quarterback (Sam Bradford) and a Pro Bowl-caliber running back in Steven Jackson. They've used high-round choices on offensive tackles in two of the past three drafts -- on Jason Smith and Rodger Saffold -- and, although the Rams' line didn't protect well at all last season, it's probably too soon to give up on the line after it looked so promising in 2010. One component still missing from the mix is a true No. 1 receiver.

St. Louis traded what turned out to be a 2012 fifth-round pick to the Denver Broncos to acquire Brandon Lloyd, who caught 51 passes for 683 yards and five touchdowns in 11 games with the Rams. Lloyd is an unrestricted free agent, turns 31 in March and could be in demand on the market. Brandon Gibson is a serviceable complementary receiver, and Danny Amendola was Wes Welker Lite in the slot before tearing his left triceps. Neither of two 2011 draft picks -- Greg Salas and Austin Pettis -- appears capable of filling that No. 1 role (and Pettis will open the 2012 season on the suspended list), and Danario Alexander's injury history has hurt his chances of being an answer there, as well. The Rams could pursue Marques Colston, DeSean Jackson or Dwayne Bowe in free agency. Or they could use the No. 2 pick in the 2012 NFL draft on Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon.

The Rams have a true quarterback on defense in middle linebacker James Laurinaitis, who is on the cusp of being a perennial Pro Bowler despite playing with a constantly revolving cast of outside linebackers. Na'il Diggs, David Vobora, Bryan Kehl and Chris Chamberlain started games alongside Laurinaitis in 2010. Ben Leber, Brady Poppinga and Zac Diles were brought in for 2011. Free-agent options in 2012 could include Jo-Lonn Dunbar, who recorded 76 tackles while playing for defensive coordinator Gregg Williams when Williams was in New Orleans, and a pair of Seahawks -- David Hawthorne and Leroy Hill -- who would be solid additions to the Rams that also weaken a division opponent.



San Francisco 49ers: Wide receiver
To identify the largest hole on the 49ers' roster, one shouldn't have to look further than the final game of their 2011 season. In the NFC Championship Game, 49ers wide receivers accounted for one catch: a 3-yard reception by Michael Crabtree with six minutes remaining in regulation. Crabtree's production is improving, as he ranked 41st in receiving DVOA last season. (DVOA is Football Outsiders' defense-adjusted value over average metric, explained here.)

Still, that's not the production expected of a top-10 pick, let alone one who remained unsigned into October of his rookie season when he was looking to be paid as if he were a top-five pick.

The main problem with the 49ers' receiving corps is that, after Josh Morgan went down with a season-ending ankle injury, San Francisco had no adequate starter opposite Crabtree. The 49ers attempted to improve the receiver depth by signing Braylon Edwards to a one-year, incentive-laden deal this past August, but he had more knee operations (one) than touchdowns (zero) last year and was waived in the final week of the regular season. Backup receivers Kyle Williams and Ted Ginn were nice gadget players for Jim Harbaugh to tinker with, but their value and contributions were mostly on special teams.

Williams is entering the final year of his contract, but his pair of miscues on punt returns in the NFC Championship Game could jeopardize his roster spot. Ginn took a pay cut before the start of the 2011 season and will be an unrestricted free agent. He'll be joined by Morgan, who posted negative DVOA ratings in 2009 and 2010 but was on his way toward turning that around with 15 receptions for 220 yards and a touchdown in the first five weeks of the 2011 season. Morgan is expected to re-sign with the 49ers, but legitimate competition at the No. 2 receiver spot and building quality depth at the position should be a priority in the draft and free agency.



Seattle Seahawks: Defensive end, quarterback
Since taking over in 2010, Pete Carroll and John Schneider have done a good job of retooling the Seattle defense. The Seahawks' defense ranked 29th with a DVOA of 15.0 percent in 2010, a figure that improved to minus-3.1 percent in 2011, good enough to rank in the top 10. (Like points allowed or yards allowed, defensive DVOA is better when it is lower.) The secondary has been completely overhauled, and it placed three players in the 2011 Pro Bowl.

Six-foot-4, 320-pound Red Bryant, an inherited and underused defensive tackle, was moved to defensive end. That move, along with the re-signing of defensive tackle Brandon Mebane and the addition of defensive tackle Alan Branch, helped bolster the run defense. Using a heavy front to stop the run comes at the expense of the pass rush, though, and the Seahawks ranked 28th in ASR in each of the past two seasons with nearly identical figures of 5.3 percent (2010) and 5.5 percent (2011).

Schneider acquired Chris Clemons from the Philadelphia Eagles and has been rewarded with 22 sacks in the past two seasons. Another veteran acquisition, Raheem Brock, had nine sacks in 2010 but just three this past year. Whether it's in free agency or the draft, the Seahawks need to find a pass-rusher to create pressure opposite Clemons in the short term, and potentially to replace him in the long term, given that Clemons' contract runs through only 2012.

To address the quarterback position, Carroll and Schneider have tried trades (Charlie Whitehurst) and free agency (Tarvaris Jackson), but they still do not have the franchise quarterback who ultimately will define their regime. Whitehurst is a free agent and is not expected to return. Playing despite a pectoral injury, Jackson passed for 3,000 yards with 14 touchdowns, finishing the season 20th in passing DYAR. With a good defense and strong running game, Seattle doesn't necessarily need to chase Jackson's replacement this offseason. In fact, unless the Seahawks are willing to roll the dice again on a free agent (Matt Flynn) or mortgage their future by trading a bounty of picks for Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III, they might have no choice but to stick with Jackson in 2012.

Brian McIntyre is a staff writer for Football Outsiders; he also writes about the NFL for the Tacoma News-Tribune and his own site, Mac's Football Blog. You can follow him on Twitter here.

 

[AU_Fever]

Bingo, if there is a run at WR's in the 1st round, how about Fleener at pick #30 and possibly move up for Criner in round 2. Harbaugh loves using two TE's and Fleener would be an upgrade over Walker. Just imagine Davis, Fleener, Criner, Crabtree and Gore. That should definitely improve the offense especially in the red zone and hopefully 3rd down conversion rate.

 

[ChrisPozz]

NFL.com news: Ward, Newman and Cooley highlight "Cap Casualty Season"

 

[ChrisPozz]

Broncos sign former Jacksonville WR Jason Hill | First-and-Orange ? Denver Broncos news, stats, analysis ? The Denver Post