Poor OL free agency class

[az jam]

The offensive line class in free agency is poor. This is a fact. Bentley and Hutchinson are the best and Hutchinson has the transition tag. Seattle has money and can match any offer. Many teams have a strong need to improve their offensive line. As Card fans all we can hope for is that we sign perhaps two that have potential and further improve the OL in the draft. The good news is that this is a good year for OL in the draft. We did sign Milford Brown and he does have promise. I'm sure we will sign another but don't criticize the Cards on this as everybody is rushing to sign an OL and giving large contracts for average players.
If we do sign E. James, we will need to get some blocking for him.
Perhaps one solution is to sign one of the older free agents that have been cut to a one year contract (i.e. Shields from KC, Mawae from the Jets, etc.)
Additionally, use the #10 pick to draft Winston Justice and let him develop into a starter.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Additionally, use the #10 pick to draft Winston Justice and let him develop into a starter.

This is exactly what I would do if we sign James and Young isn't available.

 

[Snakester]

I think we should make a run at Hutchinson. Just offer the biggest contract that we feel comfortable with and see what happens. The worst is he doesn't sign with us and Seattle has to match a huge contract to keep him. If they don't match then we get the best guard in free agency if not the NFL. Then take Winston Justice in the first round and our line will look great.

 

[Reddog]

I think Justice at ten makes sense because he can play either side. Based on the demand and few FA options I think the OL will go higher than expected. It doesn't appear Brick will drop past four at this point (I once thought there was at least an outside shot) so does anybody see any merit in trading up for him and moving Davis inside or could you do the same with Justice?

 

[Snakester]

I think Justice at ten makes sense because he can play either side. Based on the demand and few FA options I think the OL will go higher than expected. It doesn't appear Brick will drop past four at this point (I once thought there was at least an outside shot) so does anybody see any merit in trading up for him and moving Davis inside or could you do the same with Justice?

If we traded up for Brick, I think the best thing to do would be to move Davis over to the right tackle position. From the day Big was drafted I thought he should have been put at right tackle. With his size and strength I figured it would have been a no-brainer. Dave McGinnis put him at guard then Dennis Green put him at left tackle. I don't agree with ether of those moves, but no matter what I would leave him at tackle. I can see moving him to guard after maybe his tenth season when he is getting older.

Another thing to think about is this is Big's last year on his contract. Will we even be able to re-sign him. If we don't, we have no good tackles at all right now other than him. It would make alot of sense to draft a top tackle now just in case.

 

[Cardiac]

If we traded up for Brick, I think the best thing to do would be to move Davis over to the right tackle position. From the day Big was drafted I thought he should have been put at right tackle. With his size and strength I figured it would have been a no-brainer. Dave McGinnis put him at guard then Dennis Green put him at left tackle. I don't agree with ether of those moves, but no matter what I would leave him at tackle. I can see moving him to guard after maybe his tenth season when he is getting older.

Another thing to think about is this is Big's last year on his contract. Will we even be able to re-sign him. If we don't, we have no good tackles at all right now other than him. It would make alot of sense to draft a top tackle now just in case.

I agree 100% with everything you posted. I will add that if Big is a Pro Bowl alternate at LT he should be a PB starter at RT.

 

[Redrage]

I think we should make a run at Hutchinson. Just offer the biggest contract that we feel comfortable with and see what happens. The worst is he doesn't sign with us and Seattle has to match a huge contract to keep him. If they don't match then we get the best guard in free agency if not the NFL. Then take Winston Justice in the first round and our line will look great.

No way to lose in this scenerio. We can either steal the keystone of their line or run up the price on him so the Seahags sign him to a prohibitivly expensive contract.

 

[joeshmo]

No way to lose in this scenerio. We can either steal the keystone of their line or run up the price on him so the Seahags sign him to a prohibitivly expensive contract.

Huge way to loss in that scenerio.

The contract for Hutch will have to be a 8+ Mill cap hit the first year of the contract for Seattle to even think about not matching the offer since they already have that much tied up in him already concerning the cap.

Also if we made the offer we wont be able to use that 8+mill. for a whole week while the Hawks think about matching it or not, which means we will loss out on multiple FA's during that week since are money is tied up in a player that will most likely get matched anyways.

 

[Stout]

Huge way to loss in that scenerio.

The contract for Hutch will have to be a 8+ Mill cap hit the first year of the contract for Seattle to even think about not matching the offer since they already have that much tied up in him already concerning the cap.

Also if we made the offer we wont be able to use that 8+mill. for a whole week while the Hawks think about matching it or not, which means we will loss out on multiple FA's during that week since are money is tied up in a player that will most likely get matched anyways.

Your last concern is indeed a good one, but the former I wouldn't worry about. If we sign James and sing Hutch to a deal with a mammoth first year hit, I'd be thrilled.

 

[ThunderCard]

The price for moving up and grabing Brick is going to be way to high. I do agree we need blocking help, but I also think Winston Justice is not the answer we are looking for.

I believe we should trade down with the Broncos and hope Marcus McNeil and Max Gean Giles are available. I have heard to many stories on Justice being Unmotivated and overweight to draft him in the top 10.

 

[HookemCards]

The price for moving up and grabing Brick is going to be way to high. I do agree we need blocking help, but I also think Winston Justice is not the answer we are looking for.

I believe we should trade down with the Broncos and hope Marcus McNeil and Max Gean Giles are available. I have heard to many stories on Justice being Unmotivated and overweight to draft him in the top 10.

Even though we signed Clancy, I think we are in the market for a BIG DT. If we were to make that trade we could go OT/OG with the first pick, Gabe Watson with the 2nd first rounder, and another OT/OG with our 2nd.

 

[ajcardfan]

Even though we signed Clancy, I think we are in the market for a BIG DT. If we were to make that trade we could go OT/OG with the first pick, Gabe Watson with the 2nd first rounder, and another OT/OG with our 2nd.

Why does everyone think Pendergast wants a big fatty at DT? He cut the big bodies he inherited and every DT we ever brought in since is not a Gilbert Brown or Sam Adams type.

 

[HookemCards]

Why does everyone think Pendergast wants a big fatty at DT? He cut the big bodies he inherited and every DT we ever brought in since is not a Gilbert Brown or Sam Adams type.

Because he liked Davis somewhat apparently and there was a rumored interest in Kemoeatu. I see Clancy spelling Dockett some, playing next to him some, but on run plays I would imagine he's going to want some more beef up the middle. Just my opinion.

 

[Snakester]

The price for moving up and grabing Brick is going to be way to high. I do agree we need blocking help, but I also think Winston Justice is not the answer we are looking for.

I believe we should trade down with the Broncos and hope Marcus McNeil and Max Gean Giles are available. I have heard to many stories on Justice being Unmotivated and overweight to draft him in the top 10.

I would love to get Gilles. He is my favorite guard prospect in this years draft. If we didn't sign Hutch which is probably not going to happen. ( Either Seattle matches or Minnesota is putting together a huge contract to get him away from Seattle.) I would like to see us draft Winston in the first and Gilles in the second. I think Gilles will go late first round, but if he lasted until our pick in the second I would be thrilled.

I think Winston is by far the best prospect after D'brickashaw. There is the chance that we go after Jon Runyan so there still are other possibilities at this point. The main signing I want to see is Edge. If we get him signed everything else is gravy.

 

[JeffGollin]

Fortunately, the draft class (a) has talent and (b) is deep - particularly in Rounds 2 - 4.

Assuming the interior studs like Jean-Gilles and Mangold are gone, how about someone like Deuce Lutui at #41?

 

[ThunderCard]

I would love to get Gilles. He is my favorite guard prospect in this years draft. If we didn't sign Hutch which is probably not going to happen. ( Either Seattle matches or Minnesota is putting together a huge contract to get him away from Seattle.) I would like to see us draft Winston in the first and Gilles in the second. I think Gilles will go late first round, but if he lasted until our pick in the second I would be thrilled.

I think Winston is by far the best prospect after D'brickashaw. There is the chance that we go after Jon Runyan so there still are other possibilities at this point. The main signing I want to see is Edge. If we get him signed everything else is gravy.

I agree !! After Edge everything really is gravy ! It would be great to get Max gean Giles, but I don't think he will be there in the 2nd where we pick. I have him on the board for either a late 1st or coming off in the first two picks in the second. If we do get Edge trading down with the Broncos for there 2 1st's would be a great idea. Also only if Vernon Davis, Brick, Hawk and a few other are definitly off the board at #10.

In a way I am also hoping that we sign Edge and Vince Young falls to us. I know not to many people on the board like VY, but he would make a great QB for the future..

 

[joeshmo]

I think the best course of action for this OL climate we have right now. Weak OL FA group, Strong OL Draft group we are going to have to do one thing.

Sign the so called overaged guys for a year or 2 such as the Mawae, Runyan, Fabini, and so on. Then draft guys to play behind them and learn for a year. I think that is going to have to be the best route to take concerning the now and the future.

 

[ThunderCard]

I think the best course of action for this OL climate we have right now. Weak OL FA group, Strong OL Draft group we are going to have to do one thing.

Sign the so called overaged guys for a year or 2 such as the Mawae, Runyan, Fabini, and so on. Then draft guys to play behind them and learn for a year. I think that is going to have to be the best route to take concerning the now and the future.

you hit the nail on the head !!!! This O-Line REALLY needs leadership. I thought Big was going to bring some last year, but it was no where in site. Mawae would bring the best leadership abilities to this team even though he is 35.

 

[Twist18]

Fill your holes in FA, draft your future. Davin Josepth and Charles Spencer would be 2 other in the draft to look at.

 

[BigDavis75]

As far as trading down for Brick at 5, I would much rather keep next year's first and draft Justice. Justice can play both sides and is the best pass-blocking RT in the draft (aka a huge problem last year). Also, what about Whitworth in the 3rd??

 

[Snakester]

Fill your holes in FA, draft your future. Davin Josepth and Charles Spencer would be 2 other in the draft to look at.

Joseph is solid. Very good athlete for a guard. Spencer doesn't have great feet and isn't very good at the second level, but he has great size and strength to dominate at the LOS.

 

[vinnymac]

giles is on my wish list. over all just get some players in here that can help the cardinals win.

 

[Snakester]

As far as trading down for Brick at 5, I would much rather keep next year's first and draft Justice. Justice can play both sides and is the best pass-blocking RT in the draft (aka a huge problem last year). Also, what about Whitworth in the 3rd??

I agree about Justice. I like Whitworth in the third as well. I think he would be good value there. Because he played his whole career at left tackle he might need a year or two to get use to the right side, but he is a good enough athlete to become a good right tackle. Plus you gotta love the attitude he plays with. He fights hard on nearly every play.

 

[joeshmo]

I agree about Justice. I like Whitworth in the third as well. I think he would be good value there. Because he played his whole career at left tackle he might need a year or two to get use to the right side, but he is a good enough athlete to become a good right tackle. Plus you gotta love the attitude he plays with. He fights hard on nearly every play.

The Cardinals like him as well. He was one of their longest interviews at the combine, they also had really long interviews with Daniel Bullocks and Gabe Watson. Nto sure how they went but they were the longest out of 55 guys interviewed.

I really think they may be targeting Bullocks in round 2 and Whitworth in round 3.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Fortunately, the draft class (a) has talent and (b) is deep - particularly in Rounds 2 - 4.

Assuming the interior studs like Jean-Gilles and Mangold are gone, how about someone like Deuce Lutui at #41?

deuce is my number one choice witht the number two pick....

i think a tackle is more needed though so winston out of UM or scott out of UT works for me too....