2015 Team Needs (Pre Free Agency)

[john h]

ILB jumps out
NT jumps out
OLB another pass rusher or two.
FS who can play centerfield
CB who can start if needed.
a solid 3rd QB with a real future.
More Dline depth

We need big time help at RB. Ellington is very good but not big enough to take a beating day in and day out. WE need depth at RB also.

 

[john h]

But the question is where do you get the biggest upgrade for the cost?

Depth is needed at pretty much every position...not sure it is unique to OL, DL, LB.

How much are you willing to pay or invest in a "big RB" who will be a substantial upgrade over Taylor?

What pick are you going to spend on a "QB to develop" who has better tools or a higher ceiling than Thomas? And will his contract be up before he even gets a chance to play with Palmer already at QB?

How much do you spend on CB help when yo uhave Powers, and will pay him 5 mil nest year?

This is what I mean when I say that most people think we have a ton of holes when we have a few glaring ones, and then just a need to upgrade the bottom of the roster in general.

There will be a lot of good RB's in the draft. We just need to be smart enough to draft one. Probably a good one in 2nd or 3rd rd.

 

[Catfish]

I looked at Harris and Ayers, but I watched the Super Bowl, and I didn't see the Patriots using Ayers to run Wilson down, or cover TEs. At 250+, I'm sure he is an upgrade over Minter, but I'm not suyre if he is the 3 down LB we are looking for, and our defense employs. Same point with Harris, though I have liked him as a player.

You can argue that ILBs who can run, cover, and chase Wilson/Kaep down are more important than an OLB who can rush outside. There is a need for both, but I could argue I would add two athletic ILBs before I would add a rush OLB if given the chance.

One LB that I would spend decent money on is Justin Durant of Dallas. He is the OLB who can rush outside AND the ILB that can run, cover, and chase in the 3/4 base that we play. There hee would compliment D-Wash, (if and when he comes back), but more importantly he would replace him while he is gone. We could still use a high draft pick on a LB who can run, chase, and cover, to pair with D-Wash inside, when we slide Durant outside to rush. He is quite capable of chasing Wilson, Kaepernic etc. yet can cover TEs across the middle. If Dallas doesn't resign him, he could help us tremendously and really help to make our LB corps talented AND deep. There is reason to believe that Dallas will not try to retain him because of the good younger LB's they already have, and one veteran returning from injury.

Talented or not, I would steer clear of Orakpo due to the fact that he is coming back from his third torn pectoral in the recent past. Incentive laden contract or not, he is just not that reliable anymore. I know that Durant is coming off a torn bicep, but he has no previous injury record to speak of other than the occasional ankle turn etc. and he has a talent level that nearly matches Orakpo's.

I believe that signing Durant, THEN drafting Kendricks #1, and Harold #2 would make our LB corps very talented AND very deep, irrespective of D-Wash's return.

While we are on free agency, I would like to see us pursue Stefan Wisniewski, Center from Oakland to anchor our O-line. Sendlein could then compete with Cooper, Larsen, and Watford for the guard positions, with the unsuccessful two becoming our depth inside.

Massie could retain his RT position and we could draft a RT later in the draft, say round 5.

Meanwhile we could draft a CB at round 3, and a WR/KR/PR at 4, (or vice/versa).