Let’s Play GM, Part 1

[Harry]

You may think it’s early but I believe the clock is already ticking on next season. Any upcoming Cards’ free agents that they want to keep should be re-signed now. They have an exclusive window and if they get the key ones done now they’ll know where they stand before going into the open market. Contracts are tricky, but I think this list includes all the ones I want.

Wetzel
Boone
Niklas
K. Williams
Penny
T. Williams
Goodwin
Bynes
Martin
Branch

Let me know if I missed anyone. Thought about Gabbert just for safety sake. Tomorrow I’ll list who I’d cut.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

A great resource: https://overthecap.com/free-agency


John Wetzel
He is an EFRA, so the is as good as re-signed. Has played enough tackle that one could say he is a Cardinals starting tackle. I say you resign him because he is good depth, and can start need be. If Wetzel started 2018 as the starting right tackle, I would not complain.

Jaron Brown
I do not see any reason not to resign him, bring him into camp, and have him compete. He is a good 5th WR and good on special teams.

Josh Bynes
Easily the second best ILBer the Cardinals have on the team. Plays special teams, is good depth, and can start need be.

Kareem Martin
Good player, but he has to be paid for the role he will play. Some team may sign him, like they did Alex Okafor, and I would be OK letting him walk under those conditions.

Tramon Williams
I am completely on the fence with Williams. His play speaks for itself, but the drastic way cornerback's abilities can drop off a cliff has me wary.

Other players on am on the fence with: Kerwynn Willliams, Alex Boone

*There is not much risk in putting a low tender on the RFAs the Cardinals have, and the majority of ERFA are players that have potential to be good depth players. I would try to re-sign most if not all, and then you can have them compete in camp for a roster spot.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

None of those guys are a must sign in my book.

 

[iLLmatiC]

I really like Kareem Martin and think he makes an excellent backup OLB, other then that I'm not too enamored with the rest.

 

[Mitch]

Wetzel---yes---he can challenge for the RT position
Boone---no, we have to sign a FA guard like Andrew Norwell or Lane Taylor and get younger and stronger up front.
Niklas---at the veteran minimum plus playing time incentives, yes. Otherwise, no.
K. Williams---yes, veteran minimum with incentives
Penny---for sure
T. Williams---yes. Adding another CB via FA and/or the draft would be good---hope that Ronald Zamort can come back and pick up where he left off
Goodwin--yes, we need cover guys with length
Bynes---yes...can't see keeping Bucannon at $8.7M
Martin---wish he was a better edge rusher, very good run stuffer, though, so if the price is right, yes.
Branch---yes...we need his length and speed in coverage, plus not sure what will happen with Tyrann Mathieu---they can't be serious about $14M a year.

Jaron Brown---depends on FA and if we can sign one or two WRs.
John Brown---no
Rucker---still could contribute in situational role---good leadership---he agrees to modest salaries anyway
Dansby---no
Stanton---no
Gabbert---no
Watfrod---yes, won't command much more than minimum and he can go back to being the swing G/T

In my opinion, regarding high priced veterans:

Carson Palmer---no
Adrian Peterson---no
Mike iupati---no, too high a price tag
Jared Veldheer---no, we have to build a good, younger OL
Jermaine Gresham---ugh, $7.2M per year, really?
Tyrann Mathieu---no, not at $14M per

 

[juza76]

Wetzel is a good backup and should be cheap
Bynes is the best Ilb on the roster so i would extend his contract
Martin doesnt give much as s pass rusher but outplayed Reddick and he is pretty good against the run
We need to have some players back and these 3 are the best of the group of free agents we have

 

[b8rtm8nn]

If BA returns with some minor staffing changes for one more year, and then you likely get Palmer, Fitz and AP for one year, so I keep Veldheer and Iupati (cause you aren't going to get a same cost upgrade), pursue a vet WR and ILB, and...

Top Priority - would try for contracts over next two weeks
T. Williams - yes (need some stability at CB2, still draft a CB)
Wetzel - yes (need a backup T)
Bynes - yes (Dansby is gone, Buc should be too and save over 8.7 mil)
Boone - yes (starting RG)


Second Tier - would really like them back, but not necessary
Martin - yes (great depth)
Niklas - yes (only low cost)

Negligible - don't care, happy to wait all off-season
K. Williams
Penny
Goodwin
Branch

 

[oaken1]

Iupati spends all his time in the tub..when was the last time he played a full game??
JV is slightly costly but we should keep him,...put him in Iupati's spot at LG,...makes the left side solid with he and hump and if hump goes down its easy to just slide him out and insert a backup guard... backup guards are easier to find than backup tackles. Iupati has never been a good pass blocker, but even the past couple years his run blocking has regressed...JV can do both in that spot... whoever is playing QB needs a solid left side so he aint always looking over his shoulder.
Hell,...if we dont draft a QB in round one... draft McGlinchey, then Ragnow in the third... go into next season with

Humphries
Veldheer
Shipley
Ragnow
McGlinchey

By mid season that could be the best line in the nfl even with Shipley starting at center. I am pretty sure Veldheer's retirement talk was due to moving him to the right side,...he is only thirty and can still be an effective player for a few more years at guard. Joe Thomas is still pretty good at 33....if we dont like JV's cap hit,...extend him two more years...he aint the problem.

 

[Jetstream Green]

You may think it’s early but I believe the clock is already ticking on next season. Any upcoming Cards’ free agents that they want to keep should be re-signed now. They have an exclusive window and if they get the key ones done now they’ll know where they stand before going into the open market. Contracts are tricky, but I think this list includes all the ones I want.

Wetzel
Boone
Niklas
K. Williams
Penny
T. Williams
Goodwin
Bynes
Martin
Branch

Let me know if I missed anyone. Thought about Gabbert just for safety sake. Tomorrow I’ll list who I’d cut.

Olsen Pierre

 

[WindCardinal]

Olsen Pierre

Pierre is a RFA so will be easy to retain

 

[cardncubfan]

I think a line of Hump, Iupati, Ship, Boone, & Veldheer would be a good line if they all stay healthy. You would need quality back ups. Keep Wentz, Boehm, & Watford then draft a couple of OL's to compete in camp.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I think a line of Hump, Iupati, Ship, Boone, & Veldheer would be a good line if they all stay healthy. You would need quality back ups. Keep Wentz, Boehm, & Watford then draft a couple of OL's to compete in camp.

Shipley, and both guard positions can all be upgraded.

Boone may suffice as a RG, but I would like to see the LG upgraded.