Building off Dubz draft sim thread, we are now 2 games in. Yup, it's too early to know much of anything for sure, but some things are starting to show up that are starting to give me some ideas on what we need to do position-wise next off-season, especially with the draft.
Sure, need shouldn't play into it according to the experts, but lets face it, every team uses need as part of the decision making in terms of the draft. It certainly is the main reason for pulling in most of your free agents.
We have 9 draft picks at the moment, with 5 of them being in the early/middle rounds (1-4). They have ammo to move up or can stand pat and add starters and depth at multiple positions.
These are the positions I'm most concerned with, in order:
1) Pass rusher - CM3 has moments as does Perry, but neither of them is really doing anything consistently. I hope there is a first round pick there for us at that position. If I can re-sign CM3 to a short, team friendly deal I'd consider it because he still is functional and would be decent depth both at OLB and ILB. You're stuck with Perry for at least another year because the dead money CAP hit just doesn't make it worth it to cut him and he is decent against the run.
2) WR - Adams is fine. Cobb is looking great right now, but I suspect injuries will slow him down at some point this year. A re-signing is questionable. Allison is a nice #3-4 guy. I'd like to maybe use a 2nd or 3rd round pick on a more capable and ready WR. I have a feeling that only one of the 3 guys we took in the last draft will pan out. I don't have a strong feeling for which one yet. The other two will hang around for another year maybe but probably won't ever contribute much. It's early so I could be wrong.
3) DL - Right now we are OK. Clark looks like he could be a stud, but Daniels is getting older and I suspect Wilkerson will be gone next spring. Lowry is OK. Adams is still a question mark. I'd be fine with adding a solid guy for the DL in the first or second round.
4) OL - McCray may get better but he's not very good. Bulaga is playing fine but with his injury history it only seems like a matter of time before something else happens. The other 3 guys are signed and playing well enough right now. If I can find a quality tackle in the first 3 rounds I'll bite unless we see some evidence of Spriggs being better than he has been so far. Either way I'm taking an interior lineman somewhere in Rds 3-5.
5) ILB - We haven't seen Burks yet but even if he's good there is nothing for depth. Ryan may or may not be back on a minimum deal, but he's just a guy. I'd like to see another quality player there so hopefully there will be a worthy option available in those first 5 picks.
6a) S - This and RB are tied right now. HHCD is playing a little better than last year and might be re-signed for modest/decent money. Brice is looking pretty good. They have Jones from last year's draft, but I just don't know that he's a good fit. Isn't really making plays. Still has some time and could develop. I don't want to use a real early pick on one unless a stud falls to us, but I'd be fine with one in Rd 3 or later.
6b) RB - Like safety, they are OK right now. Jones and Williams are good enough and Jones may will prove to be a real steal if he can stay healthy. Williams is a willing runner, does his job catching and pass blocking and is "available". Monty is a nice rotational guy and makes a nice receiving option out of the backfield. He's in the last year of his deal, but it won't take a ton of money to keep him. I'd take a true stud as early as round 1 but the best value is likely to be found somewhere in rounds 4-6.
7) QB - With ARs new deal, he's not going anywhere for another few years. Sure, we could use a good back-up, but with the college QB situation what it is, I think that anyone with some solid credentials will be taken early. I'll take a late round flyer on a developmental guy but I'm not sure it's worth taking one early in this year's draft. I'd rather see if it could be addressed in FA.
8) TE - Graham still looks like he's got plenty in the tank and might play out the entire 3 year deal with quality production. Lewis is probably done. Kendricks is serviceable as a back-up if you want to keep him on a minimum contract. I think Tonyan could be a nice addition. Maybe a little like Chmura. Decent hands and route running ability but needs a couple of years to develop physically. Hopefully he'll be able to add something later this year and next season. I'd be good with taking a blocking type TE somewhere in round 5-7.
9) CB - This could change, but the young guys seem pretty capable and should only get better unless injuries derail them. I'm always good with taking a CB anywhere in the draft if the talent is there. It's a premium position. It's just that right now, I'm feeling much better about Alexander and Jackson than I ever did about Randall and Rollins so I'm good with just a late rounder for depth.
I didn't bother with FB as it seems to be a dead/dying position. Sure, bring in an UDFA or two and let's see if one is worth keeping instead of a 4th TE or 8th WR. There is also no need to look at specialists - barring something unforeseen, Crosby, Scott and Bradley seem to all be working out fine. I know Crosby is older (34), but good kickers can go into their forties. These 3 positions might be set for the next 5 years or more.
In terms of free agency, forget pass rusher, nobody lets them hit FA. I'd be looking for a back-up QB, ILB, S, and OG. It seems that some quality players are always available at those positions. They should have about $40mil in CAP space next March, even with the AR contract. That should be enough to keep a few select veterans on modest deals, if you want (CM3, HHCD, Cobb, Monty, Wilkerson, Kendricks) and sign a quality player or two in free agency.
Sure, need shouldn't play into it according to the experts, but lets face it, every team uses need as part of the decision making in terms of the draft. It certainly is the main reason for pulling in most of your free agents.
We have 9 draft picks at the moment, with 5 of them being in the early/middle rounds (1-4). They have ammo to move up or can stand pat and add starters and depth at multiple positions.
These are the positions I'm most concerned with, in order:
1) Pass rusher - CM3 has moments as does Perry, but neither of them is really doing anything consistently. I hope there is a first round pick there for us at that position. If I can re-sign CM3 to a short, team friendly deal I'd consider it because he still is functional and would be decent depth both at OLB and ILB. You're stuck with Perry for at least another year because the dead money CAP hit just doesn't make it worth it to cut him and he is decent against the run.
2) WR - Adams is fine. Cobb is looking great right now, but I suspect injuries will slow him down at some point this year. A re-signing is questionable. Allison is a nice #3-4 guy. I'd like to maybe use a 2nd or 3rd round pick on a more capable and ready WR. I have a feeling that only one of the 3 guys we took in the last draft will pan out. I don't have a strong feeling for which one yet. The other two will hang around for another year maybe but probably won't ever contribute much. It's early so I could be wrong.
3) DL - Right now we are OK. Clark looks like he could be a stud, but Daniels is getting older and I suspect Wilkerson will be gone next spring. Lowry is OK. Adams is still a question mark. I'd be fine with adding a solid guy for the DL in the first or second round.
4) OL - McCray may get better but he's not very good. Bulaga is playing fine but with his injury history it only seems like a matter of time before something else happens. The other 3 guys are signed and playing well enough right now. If I can find a quality tackle in the first 3 rounds I'll bite unless we see some evidence of Spriggs being better than he has been so far. Either way I'm taking an interior lineman somewhere in Rds 3-5.
5) ILB - We haven't seen Burks yet but even if he's good there is nothing for depth. Ryan may or may not be back on a minimum deal, but he's just a guy. I'd like to see another quality player there so hopefully there will be a worthy option available in those first 5 picks.
6a) S - This and RB are tied right now. HHCD is playing a little better than last year and might be re-signed for modest/decent money. Brice is looking pretty good. They have Jones from last year's draft, but I just don't know that he's a good fit. Isn't really making plays. Still has some time and could develop. I don't want to use a real early pick on one unless a stud falls to us, but I'd be fine with one in Rd 3 or later.
6b) RB - Like safety, they are OK right now. Jones and Williams are good enough and Jones may will prove to be a real steal if he can stay healthy. Williams is a willing runner, does his job catching and pass blocking and is "available". Monty is a nice rotational guy and makes a nice receiving option out of the backfield. He's in the last year of his deal, but it won't take a ton of money to keep him. I'd take a true stud as early as round 1 but the best value is likely to be found somewhere in rounds 4-6.
7) QB - With ARs new deal, he's not going anywhere for another few years. Sure, we could use a good back-up, but with the college QB situation what it is, I think that anyone with some solid credentials will be taken early. I'll take a late round flyer on a developmental guy but I'm not sure it's worth taking one early in this year's draft. I'd rather see if it could be addressed in FA.
8) TE - Graham still looks like he's got plenty in the tank and might play out the entire 3 year deal with quality production. Lewis is probably done. Kendricks is serviceable as a back-up if you want to keep him on a minimum contract. I think Tonyan could be a nice addition. Maybe a little like Chmura. Decent hands and route running ability but needs a couple of years to develop physically. Hopefully he'll be able to add something later this year and next season. I'd be good with taking a blocking type TE somewhere in round 5-7.
9) CB - This could change, but the young guys seem pretty capable and should only get better unless injuries derail them. I'm always good with taking a CB anywhere in the draft if the talent is there. It's a premium position. It's just that right now, I'm feeling much better about Alexander and Jackson than I ever did about Randall and Rollins so I'm good with just a late rounder for depth.
I didn't bother with FB as it seems to be a dead/dying position. Sure, bring in an UDFA or two and let's see if one is worth keeping instead of a 4th TE or 8th WR. There is also no need to look at specialists - barring something unforeseen, Crosby, Scott and Bradley seem to all be working out fine. I know Crosby is older (34), but good kickers can go into their forties. These 3 positions might be set for the next 5 years or more.
In terms of free agency, forget pass rusher, nobody lets them hit FA. I'd be looking for a back-up QB, ILB, S, and OG. It seems that some quality players are always available at those positions. They should have about $40mil in CAP space next March, even with the AR contract. That should be enough to keep a few select veterans on modest deals, if you want (CM3, HHCD, Cobb, Monty, Wilkerson, Kendricks) and sign a quality player or two in free agency.