Free agent priority #1: Alex Mack - Cleveland - C

[Chopper0080]

You all know I am a huge proponent of building a solid offensive line and prioritize it greatly. In 2014, I think the Cards need to continue to upgrade the talent up front and it should start in free agency. Most probably believe we should start at LT, but I would contest we need to start at C. Alex Mack is scheduled to be a free agent and will likely NOT get the franchise tag because it would pay him the avg of the top 5 OL over the past 5 years NOT the top 5 C's. Because of this, his tag cost would be over 9 mil and I can't see Cleveland doing that. Mack IMO, would finally give the Cards some strength up the middle which I feel would be huge vs. the NFC West. It would allow us to set the pocket up front in the passing game and get some push on inside runs which would lessen the beating on Ellington.

Just a quick thought on a Sunday night. 5 years 35 mil.

 

[football karma]

Sendlein may not be a pro bowler, but he isn't a burning platform either. I would put all four other o line positions as a higher priority

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Sendlein does fine, IMHO.

I think there are other positions to address instead.

 

[40yearfan]

This team has won 4 games in a row thanks to a revived offense and beat a good team today by the score of 40 to 11 and you want to talk about changing an offensive line that's finally starting to jell. Why not just enjoy the win and see what happens for the rest of the season before we worry about changing personnel?

 

[Garthshort]

Doesn't matter what I think, but from what I gather BASK like Sendlein.

 

[NMCard]

The team has been building chemistry. Enjoy the moment. They are winning.

 

[Chopper0080]

The teams that aren't looking for ways to get better are falling further behind. Our interior line is an issue expecially vs power which is what our division is now known for. Sendlein gets beat up inside and needs to be upgraded preferably with a Pro Bowler like Mack.

I love the win, but I am always focused on winning for years on not for a single season. I am not going to apologize for it either. Our offensive line is ok at best and will need to be infused with better talent if we are going to be successful for years past this one. Those who don't see that are getting blinded by wins and are not seeing that we are overcoming our offensive line rather than winning because of it.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Free Agent priority is one person and one person only:

KARLOS DANSBY

 

[BullheadCardFan]

The teams that aren't looking for ways to get better are falling further behind. Our interior line is an issue expecially vs power which is what our division is now known for. Sendlein gets beat up inside and needs to be upgraded preferably with a Pro Bowler like Mack.

I love the win, but I am always focused on winning for years on not for a single season. I am not going to apologize for it either. Our offensive line is ok at best and will need to be infused with better talent if we are going to be successful for years past this one. Those who don't see that are getting blinded by wins and are not seeing that we are overcoming our offensive line rather than winning because of it.

Totally agree. We need to keep improving the team and the Oline needs improving.

All for this move. Bring him in and sign him up.

 

[Chopper0080]

Free Agent priority is one person and one person only:

KARLOS DANSBY

He won't make it to free agency. Neither will shaughnessy IMO.

 

[Cheesebeef]

He won't make it to free agency. Neither will shaughnessy IMO.

i've got my doubts, but I would hope not.

can't keep telling Los to test the open market. Dude's been the biggest playmaker this defense has had for 10 years. Give him a solid "we want you" contract for two years and solidify this defense for another two years.

they're very good now...another year of seasoning under Bowles, maybe a pass rusher in the 1st or 2nd and they can be truly dominant. like BEYOND dominant.

 

[BirdMan21]

i've got my doubts, but I would hope not.

can't keep telling Los to test the open market. Dude's been the biggest playmaker this defense has had for 10 years. Give him a solid "we want you" contract for two years and solidify this defense for another two years.

they're very good now...another year of seasoning under Bowles, maybe a pass rusher in the 1st or 2nd and they can be truly dominant. like BEYOND dominant.

Agree 100% Cheese....somehow Bowles has been able to create a defense that runs with two WILB in a 3-4, I love the athleticism Los and Washington bring with it. If we got a true pass rusher to put more pressure on, learn some tricks from Abraham, and this defense will be top 5 easy for the foreseeable future. Plus think of all the LBs we have lost to injuries as well.

 

[Buckybird]

i've got my doubts, but I would hope not.

can't keep telling Los to test the open market. Dude's been the biggest playmaker this defense has had for 10 years. Give him a solid "we want you" contract for two years and solidify this defense for another two years.

they're very good now...another year of seasoning under Bowles, maybe a pass rusher in the 1st or 2nd and they can be truly dominant. like BEYOND dominant.

 

[Buckybird]

Given the Cards cap situation, I see no way Mack can be added to this team.

 

[Cardiac]

I commend BA for the job he is doing with this Oline. OC is not our biggest need IMHO. As I have posted countless times, Sendlein is not the biggest issue but I would like to see the position upgraded. I believe the OC is as important as any along the Oline sans LT. I'd prefer to do this through the draft because it's cheaper.

 

[Chopper0080]

Given the Cards cap situation, I see no way Mack can be added to this team.

It isn't terrible. We can add one large contract and several low end ones which is what we should do. Winston is 2 mil, won't re-sign. Mendenhall is 2.5 mil, won't re-sign. Jeff King is 1.8 mil off the books. Cason is 1.5 off the books. That is 7.8 mil to offset contract increases. Now the cuts. Cutting Jasper Brinkley saves us 2 mil and costs only 200k. Ryan Williams is also gone, saving us 1 mil and costing 500k. That's 3 mil saved and only eating 700k. Cutting Colledge saves us 5 mil and cutting Sendlein would save us 3 mil. There, I have saved you 11 mil by cutting Ryan Williams, Jasper Brinkley, Daryn Colledge and Lyle Sendlein, which is more than enough to sign Alex Mack and some veteran roster filler.

 

[Mulli]

Draft a guy in the third round. Cheap and easy.

 

[Cardiac]

Draft a guy in the third round. Cheap and easy.

Yep.

 

[Bodha]

Sendlein does a good job


and theres alot of stud Cs in this years draft

Bryan Stork, Swanson and westenburg will all be options. Probably floating around in the 2nd or 3rd. Any of them are A+ picks



no reason digging in the wallet for non-major impact player


Whos that C that was picked up by either the titans or Broncos. Or maybe the titans cut him. Vasquez? I forget, but he was available for us and we passed and hes currently grading out as a top 5 C this year, I heard a week or 2 back

point is Keim likes Sendlein. I do too. Lets focus on the major needs like RT and LT

 

[Chopper0080]

Sendlein does a good job


and theres alot of stud Cs in this years draft

Bryan Stork, Swanson and westenburg will all be options. Probably floating around in the 2nd or 3rd. Any of them are A+ picks



no reason digging in the wallet for non-major impact player


Whos that C that was picked up by either the titans or Broncos. Or maybe the titans cut him. Vasquez? I forget, but he was available for us and we passed and hes currently grading out as a top 5 C this year, I heard a week or 2 back

point is Keim likes Sendlein. I do too. Lets focus on the major needs like RT and LT

I don't see those drafties as studs. The best C's in the game are almost all 1st or 2nd rounders. Mack, Mangold, Wood and Pouncey, all first rounders. Kalil, and Unger 2nd rounders. Also consider that Mack is 28 and makes 5 mil a season, offering him 6 mil per year is just under 3 mil more than we already offer Sendlein. I would rather pay 6 mil to Mack and have a top player in the middle of our line than 3 mil to an average guy who gets pushed back in the pocket as often as not.

If I was GM, I would sign Alex Mack in FA, and draft Brandon Scherff OT Iowa in round 2 if South Carolina's Corey Robinson or Auburn's Greg Robinson don't come out. Sowell, Potter, Massie and Scherff to battle at OT, Cooper, Fanaika and Watford to battle at OG and Mack at C. Plenty of young, cheap talent to develop around a Mack and, hopefully, Cooper. If the coaches don;t like Massie or Sowell that much, you can still draft a tackle in round 1 or 3 well OR sign a vet FA like Winston again.

 

[BigRedArk]

If we can ever improve our OL (including improving our starting C) to the point that it can become more consistent in taking control and winning the Line of Scrimmage, won't that make our D better?

With this kind of OL seems like we might have a better 3rd down conversion percentage, i.e. fewer 3 and Outs, and perhaps fewer Turnovers. Seems like we might have a better chance at longer Offensive time of possession as well should Arians want that in the course of a game.

If we have the ball and keep it, then the other team can't score.

Just my .02 cents worth.

 

[MWOOD92]

I'm all in

 

[BACH]

You all know I am a huge proponent of building a solid offensive line and prioritize it greatly. In 2014, I think the Cards need to continue to upgrade the talent up front and it should start in free agency. Most probably believe we should start at LT, but I would contest we need to start at C. Alex Mack is scheduled to be a free agent and will likely NOT get the franchise tag because it would pay him the avg of the top 5 OL over the past 5 years NOT the top 5 C's. Because of this, his tag cost would be over 9 mil and I can't see Cleveland doing that. Mack IMO, would finally give the Cards some strength up the middle which I feel would be huge vs. the NFC West. It would allow us to set the pocket up front in the passing game and get some push on inside runs which would lessen the beating on Ellington.

Just a quick thought on a Sunday night. 5 years 35 mil.

Severel routes to go this off season. Upgrading the OL is a must, but if we are to add a starter through free agency my choice would be OT Jared Veldheer from the Raiders

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Mack would be a great addition and can be afforded. There's not many guys to spend FA bucks on this year.

Didn't we pay Al Johnson 8 mill for 1 year? Good ole Rod .

 

[Garthshort]

Cbus, good point about Al Johnson. DON'T shell out $$$$ for a center.