Defense

DE
At DE, Smith has an option year I highly doubt he sees(almost a $14 mil cap hit) and beyond that we have Jordan, Romeus(possibly being moved to OLB in 2013), and Walker, with Hicks being a strong possibility to be moved here full time after spending time at DE and NT in 2013. Johnson is a RFA who is likely to be tendered and split time between DE and NT

We probably look to the draft and FA to add some depth here, but we likely have our long term starters in Jordan and Hicks. No cuts or restructures here.

NT
Manning the NT spot will be Bunkley and Jenkins, with Hicks still being a possibility here if we add a starting DE. Johnson is a RFA and could be tendered to add depth to both NT and DE. No cuts or restructures here(Bunkley saves only about $500,000).

ILB
In the middle we Have Lofton and Hawthorne(who could see time at OLB in certain packages) as the likely starters with Chamberlain and A. Johnson as the reserves. Likely to add depth through FA or the draft. Not seeing any cuts or restructures here.

OLB
The other boom or bust position on the team this year(LT being the other), we have Butler, Galette, Wilson(could see time at ILB in certain packages), Broughton, Romeus(?), and R. Johnson.

Butler has a chance to bolt if he outplays his contract, which could leave us dangerously thin. If Galette and/or Wilson don't step up(or Broughton or a rookie that surprises us) this will be a huge need that must be addressed early in the draft or in FA. I see no cuts or restructures here.

CB
We have our top 4 returning next year with Greer, Lewis, Robinson, and White. Lewis and White are Locks, but Greer and/or Robinson could be cut, extended, or in Greer's case restructured. After that we have young hopefuls Turner, Steed, and Davis.

Depending on what happens with Greer and Robinson, and how White develops, we could be lacking a starting corner. I think White will at least be a capable nickel if nothing else. We likely add a CB through the draft, maybe 2nd round or later.

S
I was going to split this, but with Vaccaro that makes it hard to do. He'll likely be the starter, but with Jenkins not under contract and Harper being a very likely cap casualty if he doesn't extend/restructure, the question is what spot.

Harper is the only safety currently under contract next year, but Bush and Abdul-Quddus are RFA and one or both are likely to be tendered. Nelson is also an ERFA and will likely be back. If one of these 3 don't step up and Harper and Jenkins aren't brought back, FS or SS will be a huge need next year likely to be addressed early in the draft or in FA.

This post was edited on 5/4/13 at 9:12 pm

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Posted by bonethug0108

Avondale

Member since Mar 2013

12690 posts

Posted on 5/4/13 at 2:14 pm to bonethug0108

Free Agents

ERFA
Higgins TE
Harris T(currently RT)
Nelson S(currently SS)

Sign all 3 to keep depth at those positions. Higgins is the most replaceable as he is the 3rd TE and we could find someone better. Nelson is no lock either.

RFA
Morgan WR
Parker WR
Collins FB
Olsen OG/C
Henry OG
Johnson NT/DE
Abdul-Quddus S(currently FS)
Bush S(currently SS)

Tender or sign long term Morgan, Collins, Olsen, Johnson, and Abdul Quddus, dependent on how well they play(I think they'll play their roles well enough to stick). Bush is a slight possibility also given our lack of signed safeties in 2014 and Harper potentially being cut. Parker and Henry are question marks. Not likely to be tendered, but they could come back for the minimum.

Key FA
Graham TE
De La Puente C

These are the only definite players we need to sign long term, which is a good thing given that we are already pressed close to the cap(likely to be between $124-126 mil; fingers crossed it's higher).

Secondary FA
Offense
McCown QB
Wallace QB
Roby WR
Brown T(currently LT)
Smith T(currently LT)
Strief RT
Defense
Smith DE
Coleman DE
Richardson DE
Vilma ILB
Herring ILB
Humber ILB
Jenkins FS
Leonhard S(currently FS)

What happens to all of these guys will depend on their play and/or the play of others. We could use depth at all of those positions(maybe even starters), but we have younger players that could take their place.

It will also depend on how much money these guys are asking for. I can only see most of them being brought back for vet minimum or close to it.

For the QBs, I only see us bringing back this year's winner, unless Griffin beats out both of them.

Roby will only be brought back if he makes the team this year(and maybe not even then). If he doesn't it means a young guy already beat him out.

T is the most interesting spot as you have 3 guys that could start at both T spots(Strief only at RT; Brown and Smith at either). If the young guys don't show enough and 1 or 2 of these guys win the job(s) it's likely we bring the starters back. If the young guys show enough, even if they don't start, one, two, or all of them could be gone.

At DE you have some potential starters this year at 1 spot that are FA(though not likely to start in 2014). Smith could command a slightly higher salary from some 4-3 team hoping he has a bit left, but it's possible all 3 could be had for vet minimum to help bolster depth. I don't think we resign all 3, but 1 or 2 is possible.

Moving to ILB, you have 3 guys that could bolster depth and are likely to be had for cheap. Vilma might command a slightly higher salary, but like the DEs, all 3 might be attainable at the minimum. Also like DE, I think we may resign 1 or 2.

Moving to S you have 1 guy that may be kept for depth in Leonhard and then you have Jenkins. I'm still not 100% on him making the roster this year, but he is going to have to have a career year to be brought back as he'll likely want more than the minimum.

2013 UDFA
Offense
Ryan Griffin QB
Keavon Milton TE
Josh Hill TE
Shawne Alston HB
Elliot Mealer C
Tim Lelito OG
Defense
Glenn Foster DE
Kevin Reddick ILB
Eric Martin OLB
Ray Shipman OLB
Chase Thomas OLB
Rod Sweeting CB
Ryan Lacy CB

I see Griffin, Reddick, Thomas, and Sweeting as the most likely to crack the 53, or at least make the PS.

Potential Cap Casualties
Sproles HB
P. Thomas HB
Hawthorne ILB
Chamberlain ILB
Greer CB
Robinson CB
Harper SS

Harper by far is the biggest target here. He must extend(w/retsructure) or restructure or he will be cut. Greer is probably the next most likely given how much he'll save. It might be tough to keep both Sproles and Thomas given their cap hits. Hawthorne, Chamberlain, and Robinson are more about play but save enough to take a look at.

2014 Reserves Likely to be Cut and/or Put on the Practice Squad
Lee C
Tiller C/G
Givens WR
Tanner WR
Fayson WR
Hakim WR
Turner CB
Steed CB
Davis CB
Johnson LB
Romeus LB

I think Tiller, one of the WR, and one of the CB have a good chance at beating out who I currently have projected at those positions, but the guys on my depth chart are my current favorites to take those jobs.

This post was edited on 5/5/13 at 12:02 am

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