Levi Brown actually gave up 7 sacks, which is the same total as his 2009 at right tackle.
The way I'd rebuild the team is the same way we built it before: Keep a strong foundation of your core players (when Denny came in it was Adrian Wilson, Gerald Hayes, and Anquan Boldin), build through smart drafting (in this case it was Fitz, Karlos Dansby, Darnell Dockett, Deuce Lutui and Antonio Smith), and make smart, responsible free agent acquisitions (Warner, Bertrand Berry, Chike Okeafor, Robert Griffith, Kendrick Clancy, etc.).
I would not rather go 5-11 two years in a row and hope that you can draft 9 starting-caliber players with 9 picks in one draft, especially in a draft that I think is as relatively talent-poor as this one. I think this is a team that can go 5-11, 8-8, and then fight for playoff contention. Ask the Buffalo Bills if even 4-12 will get them their franchise quarterback. Heck, ask the Carolina Panthers if 2-14 is going to do it.
I think that this team make a mistake in not recognizing Dansby as a core player and securing his services. The question now is who are those core players on your roster? For me, it's Fitz, Dockett, Wilson, DRC, Lutui, L. Brown, and Calais Campbell. I'd add Beanie Wells to that list, but he has to earn his starting job from the thoroughly mediocre Tim Hightower. I think that you can go 8-8 or better with those guys.
So who are the other veterans on your roster that you can win with? I've already mentioned Tim Hightower. I'm trusting Krang that you can win with Rex Hadnot; I think you can win with Lyle Sendlein. I'm sure you can win with Kerry Rhodes, and I'm pretty sure about Greg Toler. I think that Brandon Keith is coming along, and I think that Paris Lenon is a good depth player who can contribute as a spot starter and on special teams. Clark Haggans has another good year left in him, and Will Davis and O'Brien Schofield can both become solid players or maybe better. Daryl Washington we've committed to at WILB, and Dan Williams looks very promising at NT. LaRod Stephens-Howling is a dynamic kick returner and may develop into a Darren Sproles-type back in the next year.
Those are 21 players on the 53 not counting special teams (Leach and Feeley are going to be back, I'm not sure about Graham). With those, we have 23. Of those, 16 are starters. You also have developing or solid backup players in guys like Rashard Johnson as a 3rd safety/nickel back and Jim Dray as a 2nd TE. Add those guys in and we're at 26. What we're missing is a rush WOLB (to compete with Schofield), SILB (starting), 3rd DT, backup NT, 3rd CB, TE, #2 WR, and, unfortunately, quarterback.
What's interesting about this offseason is that free agency will likely follow the draft. When usually you fill roster holes through free agency and then take the best players available at need positions in the draft, we have enough needs that we'll almost be able to take the best players available and slide them into need positions and still fill needs in free agency.
I don't think you'll be able to unload the 5th overall pick in this draft to anyone. I wouldn't unload Larry Fitzgerald for literally anything less than a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback.
I think you can address the rush linebacker, inside linebacker, and tight end positions in this draft as starters. I think you can probably get the 3rd DT or backup NT, as well, along with some offensive line depth. I don't think you can address the QB position in this draft.
What I do think you can do is get more help in free agency. I'd sign QB Alex Smith (San Francisco) to a three-year contract for $25 million with $18 million guaranteed and another $12 million in incentives (for performance and playing time). I'd also sign QB Brodie Croyle (Kansas City) to a two-year, $8 million contract with $4 million guaranteed. I think that this gives at least some stability to the quarterback position for the next two years.
You have to do something more than draft at the rush linebacker position. I'd love to throw money at Ray Edwards to come over from Minnesota, but I don't think that's happening. Same with Mathias Kiwanuka of the Giants. I think that Tamba Hali is going to get a huge deal from the Chiefs. I'd pursue Manny Lawson (San Francisco) or Kamerion Wembley (Oakland) to compete with Schofield and a draft choice. I think you could get either of them for four years, $30 million, $12 million guaranteed. You have to overpay for pass rushers, but $7.5 million per season for a proven pass rush specialist isn't too much to pay.
I wanted Jimmy Kennedy (Minnesota) last year, and I hope to get him this year. He could backup at NT or DT.
We also have to get a #2 WR who is a cheaper alternative to Steve Breaston. I don't think we need a guy to Sharpie in at the position, but I want someone to compete with Early Doucet and Stephen Williams (a UDFA rookie who showed a lot of promise but got lost in the shuffle). Malcolm Floyd would be tasty if you can get him for four years, $22 million, $10 million guaranteed. I'd probably settle for giving Limas Sweed a chance on a two-year, $5 million contract with $1.5 million guaranteed. The free agent market is going to be glutted with big names. It'll be interesting to see how it shakes out if there is free agency this year.
With those moves, I think you get to 8-8 or better with solid coaching. Unfortunately, there's no way that any of them come to pass, and I think we'll be looking at a bad season next year and a head coaching search.
