- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
The Dangers of the FA Splurge...
Posted on 1/29/14 at 12:20 pm
Posted on 1/29/14 at 12:20 pm
and Why We Shouldn't draft for perceived need.
Earlier today I did a little research for a reply, and I was surprised by what I came across. Two years ago, the team when berserk in free agency, re-signing a few key pieces, and bringing in some new players.
The more I look at our free agency splurge from two years ago, the more uncomfortable I get about future years.
Brees
Evans
Grubbs
Bunkley
Hawthorne
Lofton
Colston
All of these guys are under contract until 2017, and when you take out Drew's outlier, they average ~$8mil a year. That's frighteningly high.
This is why it makes sense to invest in a guard, wide receiver, and inside linebacker early in the coming drafts. We're going to need guys that can step in once these players become too expensive.
I got my salary data from here in case you want to look for yourselves.
ETA: I added Jahri Evans to the mix as well.
Earlier today I did a little research for a reply, and I was surprised by what I came across. Two years ago, the team when berserk in free agency, re-signing a few key pieces, and bringing in some new players.
The more I look at our free agency splurge from two years ago, the more uncomfortable I get about future years.
Brees
Evans
Grubbs
Bunkley
Hawthorne
Lofton
Colston
All of these guys are under contract until 2017, and when you take out Drew's outlier, they average ~$8mil a year. That's frighteningly high.
This is why it makes sense to invest in a guard, wide receiver, and inside linebacker early in the coming drafts. We're going to need guys that can step in once these players become too expensive.
I got my salary data from here in case you want to look for yourselves.
ETA: I added Jahri Evans to the mix as well.
This post was edited on 1/29/14 at 12:40 pm
4
Posted on 1/29/14 at 12:34 pm to Zoombop
quote:
This is why it makes sense to invest in a guard, wide receiver, and inside linebacker early in the coming drafts. We're going to need guys that can step in once these players become too expensive.
I agree 100%. I think you can add OLB to that list too....Butler's contract is up after 2014.
Posted on 1/29/14 at 12:35 pm to Zoombop
quote:
I got my salary data from here in case you want to look for yourselves.
Facts...who needs them. We speculate here.
I agree that the team needs to be built through the draft. FA are just too expensive.
Posted on 1/29/14 at 12:47 pm to kyledavis
The alltime highest paid guard duo is my biggest scare.
We're paying $20.1mil for them in 2014 and virtually uncuttable. That's more than Brees' cap hit.
2015 they are a tad more in cap hit and still not an attractive cut. For 2015 you could save $9.6mil of cap to cut them but the cap hit would still be higher at $11mil.
I see no relief from this cap pain. These guys will be 31 & 32 in 2015.
An ideal draft pick this year would be a center who has the skills to slide over to guard when one of these cap monsters can be slain.
We're paying $20.1mil for them in 2014 and virtually uncuttable. That's more than Brees' cap hit.
2015 they are a tad more in cap hit and still not an attractive cut. For 2015 you could save $9.6mil of cap to cut them but the cap hit would still be higher at $11mil.
I see no relief from this cap pain. These guys will be 31 & 32 in 2015.
An ideal draft pick this year would be a center who has the skills to slide over to guard when one of these cap monsters can be slain.
Posted on 1/29/14 at 12:49 pm to blueslover
I'm not worried about Jahri honestly. Moreso about Grubbs. Hopefully he can benefit from better C play, a healthy Jahri, and Armstead not being the revolving door Brown was
Posted on 1/29/14 at 12:51 pm to Zoombop
I said this in another thread about FA. With the new rookie salary cap, teams will become top heavy with fewer veterans making large amounts of money (Brees, Evans, Lofton, etc.), a few role playing veterans (Watson, PT, Hawthorn, etc), and a bunch of guys on rookie contracts (Ingram, Jenkins, Jordan, Hicks, Armstead, Stills, K. Robinson, etc.)
Posted on 1/29/14 at 12:53 pm to blueslover
Agreed, especially considering Grubbs's number is going up to $9.1mil next season after having perhaps the worst year of his career.
I think regardless of if his play was due to poor tackle and/or center play, his contract is just too high.
I do really like the idea of grabbing a center early on that can move around the line. I'm a big fan of Weston Richburg who seemed to be the best interior lineman at the senior bowl.
I think regardless of if his play was due to poor tackle and/or center play, his contract is just too high.
I do really like the idea of grabbing a center early on that can move around the line. I'm a big fan of Weston Richburg who seemed to be the best interior lineman at the senior bowl.
Posted on 1/29/14 at 12:58 pm to Zoombop
Grubbs
Bunkley
Hawthorne
Lofton
These I would consider FA "slurges". The rest being in house splurges.
Certainly a down year for the performances of the guards.
Hawthorn was healthy this year and played better than I thought he could.
Lofton i think has played exactly like he was imagined.
With our deep DT's Bunks contract is hurting.
I won't doubt Mickey's magic tricks till they stop
Posted on 1/29/14 at 1:17 pm to goatmilker
quote:
These I would consider FA "slurges".
They scream from the rooftops "WIN NOWWWWW!!!"
Posted on 1/29/14 at 2:08 pm to Zoombop
quote:
They scream from the rooftops "WIN NOWWWWW!!!"
and that as fine as long as you do win
The key is keeping fresh young and cheap talent rolling in while you do. Much of the team struggles have been from reduced number of draft picks and too many whiffs on the ones selected. The 2013 class was needed badly. Vaccaro, Amstead, Jenkins, and Stills ALL either started or contributed significantly.
Whiff review
PRob- might show sumpin still but certainly less than a C even for a #32
Chas Brown- Armstead immediately looked like what we hoped Brown would
Jenkins- He might approach a C grade from versatility and leadership. I'd use the same phrase: Vaccaro IS what we hoped Jenkins would be
Fatass Ellis- hard to imagine how you could have two such (+Sullivan) giant busts of Top 7 players at the same position. The dude collected $33mil here then retired. frick Ellis along with Fried Chicken Sullivan
Meachem- a role player, would have liked him as a 4th Rd pick
That's the high end. There is some void from these no-scores but that is prolly not far from the NFL norm-
Toon, Tiller, Marcel Jones, Martez, Johnny Patrick, Al Woods, Tennant, Vaughn, Arnoux, Pressley, Usama, etc
Posted on 1/29/14 at 4:50 pm to blueslover
I think the team really put less of a premium on the draft in years past, angling more towards getting good free agents.
Teams around the league have been getting contributors from all rounds while the latest we've found contributors is the 5th round. What's worse is that we miss pretty often in between there too.
Hopefully, last year's draft was a sign of things to come and we're done with reaching for players, or grabbing guys that "should have gone earlier." The only time that has actually worked out for us is Cam Jordan. Jenkins was, as you said, a whiff.
Teams around the league have been getting contributors from all rounds while the latest we've found contributors is the 5th round. What's worse is that we miss pretty often in between there too.
Hopefully, last year's draft was a sign of things to come and we're done with reaching for players, or grabbing guys that "should have gone earlier." The only time that has actually worked out for us is Cam Jordan. Jenkins was, as you said, a whiff.
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News