FA Thoughts from The Athletic

[Harry]

Sheil Kapadia, whose written for ESPN, The Philadelphia News and Radio.com has an opinion on free agency worth noting. Don’t go big on RBs or 2 down LBs or DTs. History argues against the RBs. It gives one pause on Drake and as I previously posted I wouldn’t go over $5 mil a year. There’s no question he’s a fit for the offense, but mostly what he’s done is show what style of runner fits this offense.

As for the defensive slots mentioned, these players usually come out on passing downs. With more passing first offenses this limitation seems self evident. This style of player can often be found among last minute cuts.

 

[juza76]

Sheil Kapadia, whose written for ESPN, The Philadelphia News and Radio.com has an opinion on free agency worth noting. Don’t go big on RBs or 2 down LBs or DTs. History argues against the RBs. It gives one pause on Drake and as I previously posted I wouldn’t go over $5 mil a year. There’s no question he’s a fit for the offense, but mostly what he’s done is show what style of runner fits this offense.

As for the defensive slots mentioned, these players usually come out on passing downs. With more passing first offenses this limitation seems self evident. This style of player can often be found among last minute cuts.

There are some runner in the draft with the skill set of drake?

 

[Chopper0080]

Sheil Kapadia, whose written for ESPN, The Philadelphia News and Radio.com has an opinion on free agency worth noting. Don’t go big on RBs or 2 down LBs or DTs. History argues against the RBs. It gives one pause on Drake and as I previously posted I wouldn’t go over $5 mil a year. There’s no question he’s a fit for the offense, but mostly what he’s done is show what style of runner fits this offense.

As for the defensive slots mentioned, these players usually come out on passing downs. With more passing first offenses this limitation seems self evident. This style of player can often be found among last minute cuts.

That sounds accurate. This is something that I have not understood for a long time now. Why invest heavily in a RB if you are not going to use him 90% of the snaps. Why invest heavily in defensive players who are not going to play 60+ % of snaps.

That is probably the #1 area where I can understand people not liking taking a DT high in drafts or spending big in free agency. Spend your money and invest heaviest in the players who are on the field the most.

 

[kerouac9]

That's a good take. People were pretty high on Philon last offseason, but Kerr was fine, and whomever else we bring in will be fine, as well. I think you want a guy who's going to be able to play 15 games and know what he's doing. You'd love a guy who can be A+ for you, but that contribution is only going to matter on a small portion of your snaps.

To be fair at RB, Drake was in on 411 snaps as a Cardinal, and carried or was targeted on 148 of them. That's a usage rate of over 38% — not counting contributions as a pass blocker. I think that most coaches would prefer to have a bell-cow back who doesn't have to be taken off the field. GMs will pay a small premium for that, but not a huge one.

 

[Krangodnzr]

That sounds accurate. This is something that I have not understood for a long time now. Why invest heavily in a RB if you are not going to use him 90% of the snaps. Why invest heavily in defensive players who are not going to play 60+ % of snaps.

That is probably the #1 area where I can understand people not liking taking a DT high in drafts or spending big in free agency. Spend your money and invest heaviest in the players who are on the field the most.

I totally agree.

Spend on high snap players and have strong depth on the other positions.

My thoughts are you spend on players that either stop the QB or support the QB. OL, receivers, CBs, pass rushers.

This board has an extreme fixation on fixing ILB, but the OLB position hole is much larger. Having another good pass rusher across from Chandler Jones would be a huge benefit to the entire defense.

 

[JeffGollin]

That sounds accurate. This is something that I have not understood for a long time now. Why invest heavily in a RB if you are not going to use him 90% of the snaps. Why invest heavily in defensive players who are not going to play 60+ % of snaps.

That is probably the #1 area where I can understand people not liking taking a DT high in drafts or spending big in free agency. Spend your money and invest heaviest in the players who are on the field the most.

You can't know in advance who'll be injured.

 

[Goldfield]

I totally agree.

Spend on high snap players and have strong depth on the other positions.

My thoughts are you spend on players that either stop the QB or support the QB. OL, receivers, CBs, pass rushers.

This board has an extreme fixation on fixing ILB, but the OLB position hole is much larger. Having another good pass rusher across from Chandler Jones would be a huge benefit to the entire defense.

Ok I completely agree except on ILB the best D we ever had was with Dwash and Dansby together. The Panthers killed the league with two probowl ILBs

 

[Cardsmasochist]

You can't know in advance who'll be injured.

Yet now that Humphries has his $ I wonder if he’s sticking with his Pilates training and can stay healthy for 16+ games.


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[Jetstream Green]

That's a good take. People were pretty high on Philon last offseason, but Kerr was fine, and whomever else we bring in will be fine, as well. I think you want a guy who's going to be able to play 15 games and know what he's doing. You'd love a guy who can be A+ for you, but that contribution is only going to matter on a small portion of your snaps.

To be fair at RB, Drake was in on 411 snaps as a Cardinal, and carried or was targeted on 148 of them. That's a usage rate of over 38% — not counting contributions as a pass blocker. I think that most coaches would prefer to have a bell-cow back who doesn't have to be taken off the field. GMs will pay a small premium for that, but not a huge one.

I really liked what Kerr offered... you could depend on him

 

[Cardsfaninlouky]

I really liked what Kerr offered... you could depend on him

He should be resigned for depth. He did a good job in the middle of the DL, those last 4 games he was a beast against the run. He also played really well from the DE position. I thought he was too big & slow for DE but he proved me wrong.

 

[WildBB]

I'd throw the money Littletons way, then let the chips fall.

 

[Stout]

You can't know in advance who'll be injured.

Not so with Keim signing oft-injured OL.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

Not so with Keim signing oft-injured OL.

Sure seems to go that way.

 

[Chopper0080]

You can't know in advance who'll be injured.

True and so if you are investing more resources in those high-snap positions you are likely to have better depth to lessen the impact.

 

[Chopper0080]

Ok I completely agree except on ILB the best D we ever had was with Dwash and Dansby together. The Panthers killed the league with two probowl ILBs

Josh Norman, James Bradberry, Kawaan Short, Julius Peppers, and a slew of other dudes would argue that they contributed as well.

The best part of Dansby and Washington was that neither cost a first round pick.

 

[Chopper0080]

Crap...now I am thinking I might prefer Okudah over Derrick Brown...but only if Vance decides to use three CBs more in nickel.

 

[AZCrazy]

Those are two of the four defensive gems in the draft. Wouldn't go wrong either way.

 

[kerouac9]

Crap...now I am thinking I might prefer Okudah over Derrick Brown...but only if Vance decides to use three CBs more in nickel.

If Okudah fell to us you'd have to take him. I think that the use of additional safeties in multi-DB packages was more from necessity than preference.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

If Okudah fell to us you'd have to take him.

+1

 

[DVontel]

Crap...now I am thinking I might prefer Okudah over Derrick Brown...but only if Vance decides to use three CBs more in nickel.

You weren’t in the first place?

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Chopper0080]

You weren’t in the first place?

You must be registered for see images attach

I have liked Derrick Brown since last year, think he is going to be special, and believe he filled a much larger need...sorry, not sorry. I also think this is a loaded CB draft so I also like Wirfs more than Okudah.

I will also say this...a nickel package of

LB - Jordan Hicks
LB - Corey Littleton
S - Justin Simmons
S - Budda Baker
S - Jalen Thompson
CB - Patrick Peterson
CB - Byron Murphy

...is pretty exciting...especially when base defense looks like this

ILB - Jordan Hicks
ILB - Corey Littleton
S - Justin Simmons
S - Budda Baker
CB - Patrick Peterson
CB - Byron Murphy

Now I don't have confidence that Vance would implement this, but I like the looks of it a lot. A lot of size and speed as a group.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Crap...now I am thinking I might prefer Okudah over Derrick Brown...but only if Vance decides to use three CBs more in nickel.

You weren’t in the first place?

You must be registered for see images attach

No way would I ever consider taking Brown over Okudah.

Teams find good DTs in round 4 sometimes, but it is exceedingly rare to find a CB of Okudah's ability after the top 15 picks.

 

[BACH]

No way would I ever consider taking Brown over Okudah.

Teams find good DTs in round 4 sometimes, but it is exceedingly rare to find a CB of Okudah's ability after the top 15 picks.

CB is one of the positions Where there is much positive correlation between draft status and Star quality.

Very few highly drafted CBs are busts.

 

[Krangodnzr]

CB is one of the positions Where there is much positive correlation between draft status and Star quality.

Very few highly drafted CBs are busts.

Yep. You are rarely going to find a top corner past round one and the best generally are top ten picks.

Unless you plan on having a top ten pick every few years, you draft a CB if you have the chance. The only positions I draft over corner if I have a need is QB, maybe LT, maybe edge rusher.

Since you can basically play three corners on many downs, it doesnt hurt to have three really good ones.

 

[jf-08]

CB is one of the positions Where there is much positive correlation between draft status and Star quality.

Very few highly drafted CBs are busts.

Tommy Knight disagrees with you.