Jurecki: G Colledge likely cap casualty

[kerouac9]

This team needs a legitimate LT and FA is one of the best ways to shorten the learning curve when acquiring one.

In terms of cost, it's either a priority or not. Personally, I think we saw the best our current roster can be last year even if we re-signed all the players. My question is what additions make this team better? IMO, LT and TE are 1 and 2. Both positions see significant snaps and both positions were manned by players who played above their talent level.

By the way, I would rather acquire Albert and risk losing Dansby than not. Let's not forget Dansby isn't young and has a very short amount of time left in this league. Albert has 7 years and plays a more premium position. I would rather have Albert and Minter than Sowell and Dansby. That isn't to say there isn't any middle ground but it is limited.

Carson Palmer is the key to the Cardinals making the playoffs, and Carson is a playoff QB when he has a nice pocket to throw in. Albert does more tohelp that than Dansby.

I agree with all of this, but I think that acquiring Branden Albert is a total pipe dream. I also think that Bradley Sowell as your 2014 starter at left tackle is less likely than Branden Albert being acquired. That's a false difference.

Would you rather have Anthony Collins and Dansby or Jared Veldheer and Minter? I think that's the closer issue. The Oakland Raiders may have control over the Cards 2014 left tackle, because they have more free agency money than anyone and no one to man the left tackle position.

D'Brickashaw Ferguson might be the closest comparison to what Albert may get on the open market. His contract was signed in 2012 and averages $10M a year. Jason Peters signed with the Eagles as the top LT in 2011 and his deal averages over $12.8M per season.

 

[WildBB]

I agree with all of this, but I think that acquiring Branden Albert is a total pipe dream. I also think that Bradley Sowell as your 2014 starter at left tackle is less likely than Branden Albert being acquired. That's a false difference.

Would you rather have Anthony Collins and Dansby or Jared Veldheer and Minter? I think that's the closer issue. The Oakland Raiders may have control over the Cards 2014 left tackle, because they have more free agency money than anyone and no one to man the left tackle position.

D'Brickashaw Ferguson might be the closest comparison to what Albert may get on the open market. His contract was signed in 2012 and averages $10M a year. Jason Peters signed with the Eagles as the top LT in 2011 and his deal averages over $12.8M per season.

How much do you estimate Collins and Veldheer would get? Gross could possibly come cheaper as he's a bit older as well.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

How much do you estimate Collins and Veldheer would get? Gross could possibly come cheaper as he's a bit older as well.

I hope K9 answers this because he is pretty good at estimating a salary, but if it is not obvious, Anthony Collins is going to come cheaper than Veldheer. Collins wasn't even a starter at LT or RT for the Bengals, but with all the injuries he ended up playing a lot, and playing pretty well.

This LT situation in free agency makes me a little bit nervous. It feels like the QB situation with Kevin Kolb all over again, in the respect that the risk is paying big money to a guy that gets here, and turns out to be worthless.

Dare I say the Cardinals could miss in the draft for a LT, but it would be a disaster if they missed on a LT in free agency.

 

[Totally_Red]

This team needs a legitimate LT and FA is one of the best ways to shorten the learning curve when acquiring one.

In terms of cost, it's either a priority or not. Personally, I think we saw the best our current roster can be last year even if we re-signed all the players. My question is what additions make this team better? IMO, LT and TE are 1 and 2. Both positions see significant snaps and both positions were manned by players who played above their talent level.

By the way, I would rather acquire Albert and risk losing Dansby than not. Let's not forget Dansby isn't young and has a very short amount of time left in this league. Albert has 7 years and plays a more premium position. I would rather have Albert and Minter than Sowell and Dansby. That isn't to say there isn't any middle ground but it is limited.

Carson Palmer is the key to the Cardinals making the playoffs, and Carson is a playoff QB when he has a nice pocket to throw in. Albert does more to help that than Dansby.

I agree with the bolded statements.

And a tall physical safety who can cover tight ends is a close third IMO. I'm not sure how strong this draft is in safeties, but the Cardinals need one somewhere in this draft.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Agreed.

I am on the fence about paying big money in free agency, but LT is so important for this team right now, that I am warming up to the idea.

As for money, I disagree with the idea that finding the money would really hurt this team.

Who are you going to lose of impact ? Why would it cost us Dansby ?

Players who the Cardinals can cut and gain cap space:

Daryn Colledge
Jasper Brinkley
Sam Acho
Lyle Sendlein
Jerraud Powers
Drew Stanton
Rashad Johnson
Ryan Williams
Rob Housler
Lorenzo Alexander

That is 15 million right there in cuttable players to produce money. None of them, in my humble opinion, are going to make or break a team.

So cutting 2 starters from your oline doesn't break your team. Interesting..

 

[Reddog]

By the way, I would rather acquire Albert and risk losing Dansby than not. Let's not forget Dansby isn't young and has a very short amount of time left in this league. Albert has 7 years and plays a more premium position. I would rather have Albert and Minter than Sowell and Dansby. That isn't to say there isn't any middle ground but it is limited.

The prospects of Miter waiting in the wings makes this feasible. I like Dansby alot and he can really help us but your argument is compelling if you had to choose only one, he or a solid LT. I really think Dansby's future rests in BASK's confidence in Minter. When you look at how we are strapped by the Fitz contract I am starting to doubt we resign Dansby.

 

[kerouac9]

How much do you estimate Collins and Veldheer would get? Gross could possibly come cheaper as he's a bit older as well.

I don't know. Anthony Collins made about $2M this year. Jake Long's deal from last year averages $8.5M per year. He'll make much less than that.

I imagine that a deal between $4M-$6M per season is probably fair for Collins.

Veldheer's coming off a rookie contract that paid him very little; he made $1.3M last year. He's going to be looking for a bit of a payday after starting 48 games over the last four years. I'd guess he'll get between $5M and $8M per season.

Gross is a more proven commodity than either guy. He could reasonable argue that he'd be giving Carolina a discount at $7M per season. I don't think he's going to leave the Panthers.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I don't know. Anthony Collins made about $2M this year. Jake Long's deal from last year averages $8.5M per year. He'll make much less than that.

I imagine that a deal between $4M-$6M per season is probably fair for Collins.

Veldheer's coming off a rookie contract that paid him very little; he made $1.3M last year. He's going to be looking for a bit of a payday after starting 48 games over the last four years. I'd guess he'll get between $5M and $8M per season.

Gross is a more proven commodity than either guy. He could reasonable argue that he'd be giving Carolina a discount at $7M per season. I don't think he's going to leave the Panthers.

Agreed with it all, but Gross is 33 years old...............says the guy who was touting Jeff Backus no less than 2 years ago.

......OK, sold. Gross should be on the radar. I think he would be a really good fit too. But, he would be a 2/3 year bandaid, not like there is anything wrong with that.

 

[BW52]

Here`s another name to consider at LT.......Roger Saffold from the Rams.He graded out as the 5th rated LT behind Gross,Monroe,Collins and Albert.Saffold made 1.6 million in 2013.

 

[cardncubfan]

Here`s another name to consider at LT.......Roger Saffold from the Rams.He graded out as the 5th rated LT behind Gross,Monroe,Collins and Albert.Saffold made 1.6 million in 2013.

Saffold is hurt a lot I believe.

 

[PDXChris]

Saffold is hurt a lot I believe.

Missed 17 games in 4 seasons and played RT, LT, RG and LG last year in 12 games, 9 starts. Considering Jake Long only missed one game, his time at LT very very limited, so his rating is exaggerated. No thank you.


http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SaffRo20.htm

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Saffold is hurt a lot I believe.

I have seen enough of Saffold to say, I'd rather put Bradley Sowell out there again.

Not a player I would want the Cardinals to pay big money to. No way.

 

[BW52]

I have seen enough of Saffold to say, I'd rather put Bradley Sowell out there again.

Not a player I would want the Cardinals to pay big money to. No way.

So its pretty much Brandon Albert,Eugene Monroe,Anthony Collins and maybe Jared Veldheer as FA options.
Pardon me but I would rather draft a LT.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

So its pretty much Brandon Albert,Eugene Monroe,Anthony Collins and maybe Jared Veldheer as FA options.

Pardon me but I would rather draft a LT.

+1.

 

[BigRedRage]

So its pretty much Brandon Albert,Eugene Monroe,Anthony Collins and maybe Jared Veldheer as FA options.
Pardon me but I would rather draft a LT.

+1.

Assuming their is supreme talent available at 20. If not, you have sowell again.

I would love to have an elite OL for once. We already have an elite DL. If you can be tops in those spots, EVERYONES jobs become easier.

 

[kerouac9]

Assuming their is supreme talent available at 20. If not, you have sowell again.

I would love to have an elite OL for once. We already have an elite DL. If you can be tops in those spots, EVERYONES jobs become easier.

We may have had an elite OL with the Shelton-Kendall-Gruttadauria-Davis-Clement unit in 2001, but we'll never know because of the clowns operating the offense and a defense that couldn't stop anyone. Also, IIRC that was the season where Plummer handled every snap despite playing with a hand injury the whole year.

There isn't a Bradley Sowell or Alan Fanika on that unit.

I think that you can safely say that anyone drafted in the first three rounds will be a talent upgrade over Bradley Sowell--possibly and player drafted at all. It may not be the immediate quantum leap that adding a player like Branden Albert would be, but it'd still be a huge upgrade.

Thinking about it, I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Cards signed someone like Roger Saffold to a 1- or 2- year contract for $2-4M per season as they look for a longer-term solution at the position through the draft. It'd be the moral equivalent of signing Lorenzo Alexander or Jasper Brinkley.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

So its pretty much Brandon Albert,Eugene Monroe,Anthony Collins and maybe Jared Veldheer as FA options.
Pardon me but I would rather draft a LT.

I'd be fine with Cyrus Kouandjio at 20. I just think the Cards can greatly improve themselves with an established LT via free agency and then grab, maybe Ebron, at 20.

Matthews is the most polished of the OT's in the draft but Kouandjio and Robinson probably have the highest ceilings out of all of them. But, all of them have question marks. A guy like Albert or Monroe lets you know that you're getting a guy you know can play the position.

 

[Cheesebeef]

So its pretty much Brandon Albert,Eugene Monroe,Anthony Collins and maybe Jared Veldheer as FA options.
Pardon me but I would rather draft a LT.

really? those are all pretty damn good solid options at LT, who are young and won't have deal with the learning curve and if we got one, would allow us to go BPA in the draft.

 

[Denny Green Fan]

Dont the Raiders have $50-60 million in salary cap space? So why is there

talk of Jared Veldheer going anywhere else? I wish the Cards could get

him for 5 years $30million.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Dont the Raiders have $50-60 million in salary cap space? So why is there

talk of Jared Veldheer going anywhere else? I wish the Cards could get

him for 5 years $30million.

+1

Not a fan of the guy, but for that price....sure!

That would be less or close to what we pay Colledge right now.

 

[Denny Green Fan]

I wonder if Keim will ask Palmer about Jared? Would Palmer put in a good

word?

 

[BW52]

really? those are all pretty damn good solid options at LT, who are young and won't have deal with the learning curve and if we got one, would allow us to go BPA in the draft.

Really.Thats my choice.I would rather draft a LT.I just prefer drafting a kid who would be a upgrade over Sowell and Potter without costing a great deal.Collins isn`t a world beater but he had a decent year.Veldheer got injured and wasn`t doing that great anyway.Albert is going to want big dollars .Monroe probably will get big money either in Baltimore or another team.Rumor says Oakland might Franchise Veldheer so options are probably going to drop.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Really.Thats my choice.I would rather draft a LT.I just prefer drafting a kid who would be a upgrade over Sowell and Potter without costing a great deal.Collins isn`t a world beater but he had a decent year.Veldheer got injured and wasn`t doing that great anyway.Albert is going to want big dollars .Monroe probably will get big money either in Baltimore or another team.Rumor says Oakland might Franchise Veldheer so options are probably going to drop.

I'd get this if we were drafting in the top 5 or 10 where blue chip LTs might be available, but locking yourself into having to draft a LT at 20 just seems like we're reaching for need for second tier talent. why make the possibly Levi Brown mistake again when you might be able to take care of the position before the draft and then continue to add to the team at 20?

 

[clif]

That's why I said go with the number one guy at another position at 20. I believe the number 1 guard, number 1or 2 TE, or even the top S or DT can be had at that position over the 4th or 5th T.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Chopper0080]

I agree with all of this, but I think that acquiring Branden Albert is a total pipe dream. I also think that Bradley Sowell as your 2014 starter at left tackle is less likely than Branden Albert being acquired. That's a false difference.

Would you rather have Anthony Collins and Dansby or Jared Veldheer and Minter? I think that's the closer issue. The Oakland Raiders may have control over the Cards 2014 left tackle, because they have more free agency money than anyone and no one to man the left tackle position.

D'Brickashaw Ferguson might be the closest comparison to what Albert may get on the open market. His contract was signed in 2012 and averages $10M a year. Jason Peters signed with the Eagles as the top LT in 2011 and his deal averages over $12.8M per season.

I agree with you that it isn't as simple as Albert/Minter or Sowell/Dansby, but for me, I am not sure I would sign Veldheer or Collins because of risk vs cost. Both would likely run about 7 mil per year and neither has proven much to me. If I am the Cardinals, I either grab one of the top LTs in FA or I use that money elsewhere and draft an OT in the first couple rounds of the draft. It isn't ideal but I believe Kouandjio will give you similar production to Veldheer or Collins at a fraction of the cost.

There are plenty of free agents who woulld fill holes on this roster and I don't feel pigeonholed into thinking our money has to go to the LT spot. Talib, Jarius Byrd or Dennis Pitta would all look nice in Cardinal red and fill a pretty big hole.