Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
The first question is...how many of yesterday's signings would have been wise for the Cardinals to make, given the numbers?
1. CB Nate Clements @ 8 yrs/$80M? This contract is insane. There is no way I would have paid Clements $10M per. And it's contracts like this one that totally screw up free agent signings now and for years to come.
2. G/T Derrick Dockery @ 7 yrs./$49M. The Cardinals apparently were coveting Dockery...but, they would have had to be convinced that he could be the answer at LT to pay him this kind of money. This is a Leonard Davis scenario all over again...because Dockery is best suited to play guard. In light of these numbers...it's just as well that Buffalo signed him.
3. G/T Eric Steinbach @ 7 yrs./$49.5M. This is a contract I would have accepted because Steinbach is a leader and a highly versatile player. I am disappointed the Cardinals didn't make him their number one priority.
4. FB Ovie Mughelli @ 6 yrs./$18M. Mughelli has really had one good year as a starter...in fact this is what Lindy's said of Mughelli going into last season: "Solid special teams player who has never developed into reliable fullback." Apparently Mughelli becomes the first FB to make $3M a year. Atlanta better hope this risk reaps the right rewards.
5. OLB Adalius Thomas...not sure of the exact numbers yet, but apparently he has $20M in guaranteed money heading his way. This is interesting because the Patriots paid big money three years ago to sign the most highly coveted UFA OLB at that time, Roosevelt Colvin...and due to injuries, Colvin has not been the player he was in Chicago and has really only turned in one full season (this past year). Guaranteeing $20M is a high risk, regardless of who the player is.
The only one of these contracts that would have made sense to me is Steinbach's.
Now...what's in store for the Cardinals?
C Al Johnson who lost his starting job to Andre Gurode is the most attractive prospect. Johnson was slowed by injuries in Dallas, which opened the door for Gurode and Gurode slammed that door shut. Adding Johnson to the mix would solidify the Cardinals depth in the middle. To get Johnson, however, the Cardinals will likely have to offer $2.5-3M a year, which would be over twice the salary C Nick Leckey will make next year ($1.3M). Signing Johnson for competition and depth would be nice...but it's quite possible that Johnson would be collecting his $3M on the sidelines if Leckey retains the job...which I believe he would and should.
Wouldn't it be better for the Cardinals to draft a good young center for depth behing Leckey?
I am still hoping that the Cardinals can make a draft day trade to acquire C Ryan Kalil of USC. The Cards will likely have to move up from #38 to the 28-32 range to snag Kalil.
T Mike Gandy? Call me crazy but I think Brandon Gorin is as good or better than any of the tackle prospects out there right now. Gorin, with the right coaching and motivation, will be a pleasant surprise. Just the same, it's looking more possible by the day that T Joe Thomas will be sitting there for the Cardinals to pluck at #5.
CB Roderick Hood is an attractive prospect, IMO. He's an aggressive young player who has been well taught in Philadelphia. I also think that CB Travis Fisher might be a steal if he can stay healthy. If the Cards could sign Hood to a three or four year deal and sign Fisher to an incentive laden deal, I would feel better about the Cardinals depth at CB. I also remain high on 2nd year man Darrell Hunter because of his great speed.
At FS the player I like the best is Kevin Kaesviharn because of his range...we need cover 2 safeties with range...this kid has it and picked off 6 passes last year to attest to it. He and Aaron Francisco would form a good one-two punch. I am still, however, enamored with LaRon Landry...but with Joe Thomas looking more of a possibility at #5 it would be wise to add a FS with range and ballhawking skills in free agency.
Funny how thus far we have heard of no TE or OLB action...two critical areas for the Cardinals to address.
Is anyone else suprised that TE Adam Bergen and RB Roger Robinson were let go? Both are very good athletes who, with good coaching, could make a solid contribution...and it wouldn't have cost much to keep them...close to the minimum, in fact.
1. CB Nate Clements @ 8 yrs/$80M? This contract is insane. There is no way I would have paid Clements $10M per. And it's contracts like this one that totally screw up free agent signings now and for years to come.
2. G/T Derrick Dockery @ 7 yrs./$49M. The Cardinals apparently were coveting Dockery...but, they would have had to be convinced that he could be the answer at LT to pay him this kind of money. This is a Leonard Davis scenario all over again...because Dockery is best suited to play guard. In light of these numbers...it's just as well that Buffalo signed him.
3. G/T Eric Steinbach @ 7 yrs./$49.5M. This is a contract I would have accepted because Steinbach is a leader and a highly versatile player. I am disappointed the Cardinals didn't make him their number one priority.
4. FB Ovie Mughelli @ 6 yrs./$18M. Mughelli has really had one good year as a starter...in fact this is what Lindy's said of Mughelli going into last season: "Solid special teams player who has never developed into reliable fullback." Apparently Mughelli becomes the first FB to make $3M a year. Atlanta better hope this risk reaps the right rewards.
5. OLB Adalius Thomas...not sure of the exact numbers yet, but apparently he has $20M in guaranteed money heading his way. This is interesting because the Patriots paid big money three years ago to sign the most highly coveted UFA OLB at that time, Roosevelt Colvin...and due to injuries, Colvin has not been the player he was in Chicago and has really only turned in one full season (this past year). Guaranteeing $20M is a high risk, regardless of who the player is.
The only one of these contracts that would have made sense to me is Steinbach's.
Now...what's in store for the Cardinals?
C Al Johnson who lost his starting job to Andre Gurode is the most attractive prospect. Johnson was slowed by injuries in Dallas, which opened the door for Gurode and Gurode slammed that door shut. Adding Johnson to the mix would solidify the Cardinals depth in the middle. To get Johnson, however, the Cardinals will likely have to offer $2.5-3M a year, which would be over twice the salary C Nick Leckey will make next year ($1.3M). Signing Johnson for competition and depth would be nice...but it's quite possible that Johnson would be collecting his $3M on the sidelines if Leckey retains the job...which I believe he would and should.
Wouldn't it be better for the Cardinals to draft a good young center for depth behing Leckey?
I am still hoping that the Cardinals can make a draft day trade to acquire C Ryan Kalil of USC. The Cards will likely have to move up from #38 to the 28-32 range to snag Kalil.
T Mike Gandy? Call me crazy but I think Brandon Gorin is as good or better than any of the tackle prospects out there right now. Gorin, with the right coaching and motivation, will be a pleasant surprise. Just the same, it's looking more possible by the day that T Joe Thomas will be sitting there for the Cardinals to pluck at #5.
CB Roderick Hood is an attractive prospect, IMO. He's an aggressive young player who has been well taught in Philadelphia. I also think that CB Travis Fisher might be a steal if he can stay healthy. If the Cards could sign Hood to a three or four year deal and sign Fisher to an incentive laden deal, I would feel better about the Cardinals depth at CB. I also remain high on 2nd year man Darrell Hunter because of his great speed.
At FS the player I like the best is Kevin Kaesviharn because of his range...we need cover 2 safeties with range...this kid has it and picked off 6 passes last year to attest to it. He and Aaron Francisco would form a good one-two punch. I am still, however, enamored with LaRon Landry...but with Joe Thomas looking more of a possibility at #5 it would be wise to add a FS with range and ballhawking skills in free agency.
Funny how thus far we have heard of no TE or OLB action...two critical areas for the Cardinals to address.
Is anyone else suprised that TE Adam Bergen and RB Roger Robinson were let go? Both are very good athletes who, with good coaching, could make a solid contribution...and it wouldn't have cost much to keep them...close to the minimum, in fact.
