How Bout Some Free Agent Talk

[Reddog]

I wont get into signing our own except that we have a boat load of OTs becoming FAs and I doubt we want to write Levi a check for $17M so I assume our #1 is an OT. So lets assume we resign/extend any good FA like Campbell, who is out there that we could use?

OT Not much available other than Demetrius Bell or Max Starks for depth.
OG We seem to always have bodies here. Wonder what the plan is for Duece. Ben Grubbs and Carl Nicks will be available.

ILB Curtis Lofton could be solid with Washington

OLB Anthony Spencer - if Acho holds down one side and with Porter and Haggans likely gone he would be a nice addition. Last year proved you cant count on the draft to solve your LB problems

CB Brandon Carr is 6' and a little underachieving or Cortland Finnegan to add a little Ray Horton nasty to the secondary.

WR There are tons of them. Do we actually wise up and realize we don't have a solid tandem? Takes too long for rookies to develop so really see us going after a FA. Vincent Jackson, Wes Welker, DeSean Jackson, Dwayne Bowe, Steve Johnson, Marques Colston, Reggie Wayne Mike Wallace RFA.

 

[cardsfanmd]

I would be all over Finnegan but we dont have the money.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I wouldn't mind re-signing Brown for RT money and playing him there. We could use an upgrade over Hadnot but I doubt they'll spend big money on an OG. The guy I would love the Cards to sign is Vincent Jackson. Put him on the opposite side of Fitz and Doucet/Roberts in the slot and that's a very stong WR corp.

 

[nationsrj]

The second WR is doing about the same thru 11 games as we had all of 2010, so Im not sure that is as pressing a need some think. Fitz's receptions are down(on pace for 70 and over 1000 yards for the year).
We don't have the backups contributing at the WR position like we did last year.
What I noticed is that Tim Hightower was a significant contributor out of the backfield(21/136), and LSH has replaced TH's numbers(7/140/1TD) but the rest of the RBs have had minimal impact as pass catchers.
The TE has been used double from last year with better results.

 

[MadCardDisease]

#1 priority is getting Campbell signed before the FA period opens up.

#2 is to restructure Levi Browns contract to reflect his pay. Originally I wanted him cut. However I'm moving towards the restructuring as I doubt we will be able to replace both OT positions with starters next year. Brown is solid with the run game. He just sucks in pass protection. I would move him back to the right side and try to find a LT via FA.

 

[thephoenixson28]

Deason Jackson plz

 

[football karma]

#2 is to restructure Levi Browns contract to reflect his pay. Originally I wanted him cut. However I'm moving towards the restructuring as I doubt we will be able to replace both OT positions with starters next year. Brown is solid with the run game. He just sucks in pass protection. I would move him back to the right side and try to find a LT via FA.

This is the unemotional approach to it

i am not as hung up on LT vs RT anymore - it seems that teams move guys around to to get matchups, and it seems QBs fumble almost as much from the right side when hit as from the left.

you realistically cant upgrade both tackle positions in one offseason given the free agent crop. I also don't want the Cards in what seems like their annual "they must get a starting X in this draft".

Bring Levi back at a decent price for the level of ability -- even if you have to overpay for said level of ability.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

The second WR is doing about the same thru 11 games as we had all of 2010.

Not exactly the best comparision.

We need more production out of our #2 WR, and when I am talking production, I am talking about 2009, and 2008 numbers.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

We need safety depth very very badly.

 

[Cheesebeef]

This is the unemotional approach to it

i am not as hung up on LT vs RT anymore - it seems that teams move guys around to to get matchups, and it seems QBs fumble almost as much from the right side when hit as from the left.

you realistically cant upgrade both tackle positions in one offseason given the free agent crop. I also don't want the Cards in what seems like their annual "they must get a starting X in this draft".

Bring Levi back at a decent price for the level of ability -- even if you have to overpay for said level of ability.

we're now going to OVERPAY for Levi's horrific play? sorry... but there has to be journeymen out there just as awful as Levi at half the price.

I'd go after the Bills RT in FA and draft a LT in the first round. O-line's pretty much set at that point.

and someone said we don't have the money to go after finnegan... uh... why is that again? Porter's 6 million comes off the books and if this team is smart, they'll get Campbell signed to an extension before the season and actually use that 7 million bones in unused cap space to their advantage. there's no reason this team can't make another couple big moves next season with levi and Porter's contracts coming off the books.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

we're now going to OVERPAY for Levi's horrific play? sorry... but there has to be journeymen out there just as awful as Levi at half the price.

I'd go after the Bills RT in FA and draft a LT in the first round. O-line's pretty much set at that point.

and someone said we don't have the money to go after finnegan... uh... why is that again? Porter's 6 million comes off the books and if this team is smart, they'll get Campbell signed to an extension before the season and actually use that 7 million bones in unused cap space to their advantage. there's no reason this team can't make another couple big moves next season with levi and Porter's contracts coming off the books.

Plus, isn't the cap supposed to go up again and team now have to spend to at least 90%. Of course that may necessitate another signing like Bradley at 30 mill, but the money and cap room should both be there.

 

[redheat]

It scares me that we are relying on a rookie LT to save our Oline when Wiz likes to bring rookies on slowly...

 

[nationsrj]

The problem between 2009 and 2010 is mainly QB, not receivers, QBs were 391/594 in 2009, 285/561 in 2010. Not all of that is due to receivers.

 

[nationsrj]

KW sent most of his passes to the WR(1,2,4 in receptions, Tim H was 3).
Since he left, not as many to WR, more to RBs last year. This year more to TE than RB.

 

[Chopper0080]

I would like Finnegan since Marshall will be a FA again. Peterson, Finnegan, Toler, Jefferson and Adams would be a pretty stellar CB group.

We need to add a S. Might at least consider a vet depth signing.

I would like to see us take a run at a top OG. I don't think Hadnot is the answer, and while I would love to draft DeCastro in the first round, we probably will need to take a tackle.

A top WR is a must, and seems to be the easiest fit. They all come with some warts, but there is talent in that group.

As far as tackles, cutting and resigning Levi Brown to a 3 year deal might not be the worst option. Gives us a vet at tackle, and worse case, he gets beat out for the spot.

Ideally

Re-sign Calais Campbell
Cut/Re-sign Levi Brown
Re-sign Early Doucet

Sign top WR (preferably down field threat)
Sign Cortland Finnegan-CB
Sign Carl Nicks-OG
Sign depth S

Trade back in the first round of the draft
1-Whitney Mercilus-OLB (mid to late 1st rounder)
2-Mike Adams-OT (acquired 2nd rounder)
3-Vontaze Burfict-ILB (he will drop)
4-Nick Foles-QB
5-Nate Potter-OT (talk is that he will drop as well)
6a-Hebron Fangupo-DT
6b-DeOn'tae Pannell-OG
7-Najae Goode-ILB

(Obviously early for draft predictions, especially late rounders.)

Obviously a strong offseason showing by Burfict might raise him back up, but with his production this year and personality issues, talk is that he will fall to the back of the top 100. Especially with the depth at LB in this draft. With our 3rd being a early to mid pick, at this point, it is not out of the realm of possibility that he is available.

 

[sportznutt]

Deason Jackson plz

woohoo

 

[MrYeahBut]

It scares me that we are relying on a rookie LT to save our Oline when Wiz likes to bring rookies on slowly...

I've said before that I think we're screwed anyway because Levi's replacement isn't already on the roster. Pretty tough to start a rookie, even a high first rounder.

 

[Reddog]

I've said before that I think we're screwed anyway because Levi's replacement isn't already on the roster. Pretty tough to start a rookie, even a high first rounder.

Is Max Starks that much worse?

 

[MrYeahBut]

Is Max Starks that much worse?

I guess being a Steeler would give him the advantage.

 

[Stout]

I've said before that I think we're screwed anyway because Levi's replacement isn't already on the roster. Pretty tough to start a rookie, even a high first rounder.

At offensive tackle? They translate rather well. Much better than most positions, in fact. The problem is that our COACH doesn't LET rookies start, usually. Peterson has been the exception, and he didn't really have a choice there.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

At offensive tackle? They translate rather well. Much better than most positions, in fact. The problem is that our COACH doesn't LET rookies start, usually. Peterson has been the exception, and he didn't really have a choice there.

I don't remember for sure, but didn't Levi start from day 1?

 

[Chopper0080]

Yes. There was an article about it, Levi Brown, Daryl Washington and Patrick Peterson have all started since day 1. (Also Sherman, but he wasn't included)

 

[Stout]

I don't remember for sure, but didn't Levi start from day 1?

I couldn't say. Don't let's pretend that KW hasn't been really conservative with his rookies though.

 

[Cardsfanstl]

For free agents if the price is right why not go after Brandon Lloyd of the Rams. He could pair with Fitz as a good 1 - 2 combo. This solves one problem. Lets face it. We are probably going to pick around #10 and Justin Blackmon is not going to be available.

 

[Cardsfanstl]

#1 priority is getting Campbell signed before the FA period opens up.

I agree. This is priority #1.