Rumor: Jared Veldheer Expected to Sign with Cardinals

[Reddog]

If this happens, hopefully this new trainer can talk him into calming down on the weight training jus a bit. You don't have to look like Mr Universe to play football. It's funny how the guys that tear biceps/triceps are always the guys that look like they're on PED's. I love Adub and he swore he was clean, but when he tore that bicep, he was looking pretty ridiculous.

It almost makes you think that's a side effect of HGH. You didn't really hear much about torn biceps and triceps until HGH got popular over the past few years. Unless I just wasn't paying attention. I guess when you're doing HGH, you recover faster, so you're lifting more frequently. Some guys take it to the extreme. Maybe it's as simple as that.

I did a image search and he does not look that freakish in most photos just that one that everyone photoshops green. Big dude no doubt but looks normal big in the shots I saw. I hope we get this kid. I think he will end up being a much better pick long term both in terms of money and ability. Imagine him, Cooper and a huge stud TE on that left side.

 

[Denny Green Fan]

I think it's a steal. He's young and just entering the upper echelon of LTs, but was injured much of last year (first time in his career). Veldheer is the best long-term solution.

Monroe and Veldheer are my two favorites. My third choice is Collins when

you factor in he would be younger and cheaper than Albert. I have a gut

feeling somebody is going to get burned by getting Albert. He wants too

much money and turns 30 in November.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I see alot of people touting Veldheer because he's younger and cheaper. For me, I prefer the guy(s) who is better. There's a reason Veldheer is cheaper, he's not as good as Monroe or Albert.

Sure, he's younger but so is Sowell and I don't want him at LT over Albert or Monroe either. If I had a choice of Veldheer at 7.5 mill/year or Monroe at 9.5 mill/year, I'm taking Monroe every time. I'd be a bit more hesitant with Abert because of his injury potential but I'd still pay Albert more because he is, without question, the better player, as is Monroe.

 

[crisper57]

Sounds like Albert is off the table. Miami has the desire to land him and will blow any competing offer out of the water. Taking a page out of Daniel Snyder's playbook. We don't need to pursue a guy in that situation, it just wastes time and allows other LT's to get snatched up.

So if this is our fallback, I guess it is okay. He played with Palmer before, so I am sure Carson would have something to say about landing him. I just hate LT/G's as starters. For depth, they are awesome. But we aren't paying him to provide depth. And that means we will likely be deficient at our historically worst position once again.

 

[Denny Green Fan]

The Raiders fans are all over Reggie Mckenzie. They are saying he is a fool

and probably has not realized Veldheer is a free agent yet. Many claim

he is going to be another Matt Millen.

 

[crisper57]

The Raiders fans are all over Reggie Mckenzie. They are saying he is a fool

and probably has not realized Veldheer is a free agent yet. Many claim

he is going to be another Matt Millen.

Or Rod Graves, if he isn't realizing that FA is passing him by.

 

[Jay Cardinal]

My issue would be if you sign him you better be very sure you have a clause in the contract that if he tests positive for PED's you get some financial savings out of it. I have no idea if he ever has in the past but if you were to draw up a list of most likely suspects he'd be very high on the list.

Anything is possible, but Veldheer takes fitness very seriously. He definitely spends more time in the gym than the nightclub. http://powerstrengthpro.com/hulkaraider-the-jared-veldheer-story/

Veldheer to AZ is all over twitter right now. I can hardly wait until free agency starts tomorrow. I would feel really solid about the Cards offseason if we can lock up a LT right away. Peter King is saying the Dolphins offered $10-11 million per year to Albert. I prefer Albert but if Veldheer signs for around $7.5 million, I think we are in better shape financially. Plus Veldheer is only 26 years old, while Albert is 29.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Sounds like Albert is off the table. Miami has the desire to land him and will blow any competing offer out of the water. Taking a page out of Daniel Snyder's playbook. We don't need to pursue a guy in that situation, it just wastes time and allows other LT's to get snatched up.

+1.

And Albert was my #1 choice to bring in for the LT position.

I would rather Collins than Veldheer, and I am not, and never was a fan of Monroe.

If the Cardinals end up with Jared Veldheer at around 7.5/year, then I would be happy with that move. Daryn College made $7,275,000 against the cap last season, so Veldheer would be taking Colledge's salary spot, more or less. Again, I am good with that.

Veldheer is better than Levi Brown or Bradley Sowell, thus it is a good upgrade at the position, but I think people should watch some of his tape to see that Veldheer is not going to be a shut down LT so expectations should be tempered. Again, he will be an improvement but he is not a top 10 guy.

 

[crisper57]

If dropping pursuit of Albert and signing Veldheer for $4 million less per year helps us afford an offer that retains Dansby, then I am all over it.

 

[Denny Green Fan]

If dropping pursuit of Albert and signing Veldheer for $4 million less per year helps us afford an offer that retains Dansby, then I am all over it.

You took the words right out of my mouth. If we get Albert or Monroe we

can say bye to Dansby. We dont have the cap room to afford Albert and

Dansby. Unless Dockett takes a big cut.

 

[Totally_Red]

Anything is possible, but Veldheer takes fitness very seriously. He definitely spends more time in the gym than the nightclub. http://powerstrengthpro.com/hulkaraider-the-jared-veldheer-story/

Veldheer to AZ is all over twitter right now. I can hardly wait until free agency starts tomorrow. I would feel really solid about the Cards offseason if we can lock up a LT right away. Peter King is saying the Dolphins offered $10-11 million per year to Albert. I prefer Albert but if Veldheer signs for around $7.5 million, I think we are in better shape financially. Plus Veldheer is only 26 years old, while Albert is 29.

Agree! Sounds like the same old-same old with the Dolphins. I'm not sure if they have to overpay for talent because they are a dysfunctional franchise or they are just a dysfunctional franchise. But if you look back over the years, that is a franchise that has repeatedly been out-bid for coaches and talent with Jim Harbaugh just one example. So if they're willing to over-pay B.A. 2-million per year, the Cardinals are wise to walk away and pursue Plan B.

Jared Veldheer seems to be an ascending talent {based on the 2011 & 2012 seasons} and with the coaching staff the Cardinals have in place and with his apparent 'passion for football', there really is the chance he could develop into an elite left tackle.

This isn't the old regime where signing Adam Snyder and re-signing Levi Brown were the big offseason O-line 'solutions'.

 

[GuernseyCard]

I'll take Veldheer at whatever price Mike Bidwill on advice from Keim deems reasonable.

 

[kerouac9]

I see alot of people touting Veldheer because he's younger and cheaper. For me, I prefer the guy(s) who is better. There's a reason Veldheer is cheaper, he's not as good as Monroe or Albert.

Sure, he's younger but so is Sowell and I don't want him at LT over Albert or Monroe either. If I had a choice of Veldheer at 7.5 mill/year or Monroe at 9.5 mill/year, I'm taking Monroe every time. I'd be a bit more hesitant with Abert because of his injury potential but I'd still pay Albert more because he is, without question, the better player, as is Monroe.

I just cross-checked Veldheer's metrics from the 2012 season in the FO Annual. 1078 snaps, 6 penalties, 3 sacks, 17.5 blown pass blocks, 4 blown run blocks. Their write-up on Veldheer is such:

At left tackle, Jared Veldheer has developed well enough after entering the league as a fouth-round pick from tiny Hillsdale four years ago, but he's not a dominant enough force to survive against upper-level talent one-on-one for long durations.

$7.5M a season feels like a lot for a fairly replaceable piece, but that's what happens when you dip into free agency to staunch gaping wounds that you couldn't develop on your own roster. I'll see if we sign him and the value before passing a final judgement.

I'd like to watch some tape. Veldheer apparently struggled in the zone-blocking schemes that the Raiders tried to run in 2012, and he looks like he might be a good system fit for a power running scheme.

What I will say is that Oakland has more money than anyone, and they're letting this guy leave. Perhaps Bill Barnwell is correct in saying that Oakland is having to face a "Loser's Tax" on their own players, who are looking for outside opportunities to be successful. But I hope we're not going to pay this guy like a top tackle, because he's always seemed like a pretty average guy to me.

Ross Tucker thinks that Veldheer is the best available free agent tackle.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Adam Schein: Logical matches in free agency

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap20...tate-to-browns-logical-matches-in-free-agency

8) Jared Veldheer to Arizona Cardinals


Oakland has the cap room to keep the offensive tackle. So why hasn't a deal happened yet?

Last season, I penned a column that called the Cardinals the most fascinating team in football. They are dangerously close. And I liked last week's acquisition of tight end John Carlson. Still, Arizona has a huge need at offensive tackle. Branden Albert would also make sense, but Veldheer has more upside.

If you are Veldheer, would you rather re-up in Oakland -- where they could fire another coach with another subpar year -- or become entrenched along the line for Bruce Arians' rising team?

 

[Russ Smith]

Anything is possible, but Veldheer takes fitness very seriously. He definitely spends more time in the gym than the nightclub. http://powerstrengthpro.com/hulkaraider-the-jared-veldheer-story/

Veldheer to AZ is all over twitter right now. I can hardly wait until free agency starts tomorrow. I would feel really solid about the Cards offseason if we can lock up a LT right away. Peter King is saying the Dolphins offered $10-11 million per year to Albert. I prefer Albert but if Veldheer signs for around $7.5 million, I think we are in better shape financially. Plus Veldheer is only 26 years old, while Albert is 29.

So does every guy that uses PED's though. That's a misconception that guys who use PED's are just looking for a shortcut. They still have to put the time in it just gives them a boost or faster recovery time etc.

I don't know if he does or doesn't, I do know the general perception last year when he got hurt was people were surprised it hadn't happened earlier because he is SO big they just assumed he's on something and that tends to lead to injuries.

 

[PDXChris]

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet ·31m
Players expected to be changing teams: Jared Allen, Branden Albert, Jared Veldheer, Rodger Saffold, Arthur Jones, James Jones.

.

 

[crisper57]

.

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet ·31m
Players expected to be changing teams: Jared Allen, Branden Albert, Jared Veldheer, Rodger Saffold, Arthur Jones, James Jones.

Conversely, players expected to stay on the same team include Tom Brady, Larry Fitzgerald, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees. Thanks, Captain Obvious!

(Ian, not Banky)

 

[TJ]

If dropping pursuit of Albert and signing Veldheer for $4 million less per year helps us afford an offer that retains Dansby, then I am all over it.

I think the two situations are mutually exclusive. IMO, Keim has a price in mind for Los, and probably won't be very flexible.

I think the extra cap space will be used to pursue other avenues, such as a quality safety.

 

[CardsFan88]

Reggie McKenzie has had quite an unusual start to his GM career.

He's cut alot of guys, but given where the Raiders were, it was quite a mess he inherited.

He traded Palmer to us for a case of miller lite. He traded two much higher picks for Matt Flynn, cut him, and now Flynn is on his 2nd team since then.

Tons of cap space, yet hasn't signed this guy? Normally I'd agree this would signal something, but with this GM, I can't say that. We have reports that they want him. We have reports they want someone else. We have reports the fans are mad at him.

The guy has made questionable moves, and we profited from it. Perhaps Reggie has an idea of what he wants and is just trying to get there with any player he can trade or cap space he has.

Interesting note, because of the state tax differences in CA and AZ, if we offer him 7 mill a season, the Raiders would have to offer 7.5 just to match the take home pay after taxes. Take cost of living differences into account and where the Raiders are at and have been since the tuck rule and it wouldn't surprise me if we have an inside edge.

Not to mention he knows Palmer, Palmer knows him, and who is he going to block for in Oakland if he stays. McGloin and Pryor? Someone else? The position is still in flux.

I'd also like to see what our multitude of line coaches could do with him by coaching him up. If they could make Sowell passable, what could they do with this guy?

But we also have to understand how big of a hole we have and how many years it's screwed us by having one of the worst manning the position while asking them to play against the best across from them.

Plenty of crazy deals in free agency, and while what is rumored is a bit high, it's fully within sanity imo given our need.

Sure I'd ideally take Monroe, but some of the advanced stats (yeah who knows how well they apply) suggest he's right around top 10, by rating him 10th or 11th in 2011 and 2012.

 

[Chopper0080]

I just cross-checked Veldheer's metrics from the 2012 season in the FO Annual. 1078 snaps, 6 penalties, 3 sacks, 17.5 blown pass blocks, 4 blown run blocks. Their write-up on Veldheer is such:



$7.5M a season feels like a lot for a fairly replaceable piece, but that's what happens when you dip into free agency to staunch gaping wounds that you couldn't develop on your own roster. I'll see if we sign him and the value before passing a final judgement.

I'd like to watch some tape. Veldheer apparently struggled in the zone-blocking schemes that the Raiders tried to run in 2012, and he looks like he might be a good system fit for a power running scheme.

What I will say is that Oakland has more money than anyone, and they're letting this guy leave. Perhaps Bill Barnwell is correct in saying that Oakland is having to face a "Loser's Tax" on their own players, who are looking for outside opportunities to be successful. But I hope we're not going to pay this guy like a top tackle, because he's always seemed like a pretty average guy to me.

Ross Tucker thinks that Veldheer is the best available free agent tackle.

A couple areas that I believe are interesting re: Veldheer.

1-He is a better run blocker than pass blocker. It strikes me as odd the Cardinals would rank a player who is better vs the run over others who are better vs the pass, but it also makes sense if you believe your QB directly influences your tackles success rates.

2-His age. It is not often you find OTs that are as good as Veldheer hitting free agency at his age. Now, as K9 pointed out, Veldheer isn't a dominating player, but a young upgrade over what we have for around 7 mil isn't bad. Again, free agents generally have warts.

3-The Ross Tucker ranking. While Tucker can sometimes come off as a bit of a blowhard, he is also a former lineman in the NFL. That doesn't make him a scout, but I do believe it makes him qualified to evaluate current OL.

4-The Palmer angle. At his age, I have a tough time seeing Palmer endorsing a guy who is going to get him killed.

#

I, like others, would prefer Monroe...but I am good with Veldheer until he shows that he isn't worth the money. And all this being said, Albert has injury issues, Collins has limited film and Monroe w/ Baltimore last year was way better than Monroe was with the Jags in 2012 (motor question). All these guys have warts, but Veldheer might have the least in some ways.

 

[Chopper0080]

Reggie McKenzie has had quite an unusual start to his GM career.
He's cut alot of guys, but given where the Raiders were, it was quite a mess he inherited.

He traded Palmer to us for a case of miller lite. He traded two much higher picks for Matt Flynn, cut him, and now Flynn is on his 2nd team since then.

Tons of cap space, yet hasn't signed this guy? Normally I'd agree this would signal something, but with this GM, I can't say that. We have reports that they want him. We have reports they want someone else. We have reports the fans are mad at him.

The guy has made questionable moves, and we profited from it. Perhaps Reggie has an idea of what he wants and is just trying to get there with any player he can trade or cap space he has.

Interesting note, because of the state tax differences in CA and AZ, if we offer him 7 mill a season, the Raiders would have to offer 7.5 just to match the take home pay after taxes. Take cost of living differences into account and where the Raiders are at and have been since the tuck rule and it wouldn't surprise me if we have an inside edge.

Not to mention he knows Palmer, Palmer knows him, and who is he going to block for in Oakland if he stays. McGloin and Pryor? Someone else? The position is still in flux.

I'd also like to see what our multitude of line coaches could do with him by coaching him up. If they could make Sowell passable, what could they do with this guy?

But we also have to understand how big of a hole we have and how many years it's screwed us by having one of the worst manning the position while asking them to play against the best across from them.

Plenty of crazy deals in free agency, and while what is rumored is a bit high, it's fully within sanity imo given our need.

Sure I'd ideally take Monroe, but some of the advanced stats (yeah who knows how well they apply) suggest he's right around top 10, by rating him 10th or 11th in 2011 and 2012.

I have read some McKenzie love after the offseason by NFl folks and I don't get it. He inherited an awful roster, but he has also done very little to improve it. I don't see the team being any better than when he got there.

 

[crisper57]

I have read some McKenzie love after the offseason by NFl folks and I don't get it. He inherited an awful roster, but he has also done very little to improve it. I don't see the team being any better than when he got there.

He was in cap hell. $49 million in dead money last year. This is his first "real" season to make any moves with flexibility and it looks like he is blowing it.

 

[MadCardDisease]

I have read some McKenzie love after the offseason by NFl folks and I don't get it. He inherited an awful roster, but he has also done very little to improve it. I don't see the team being any better than when he got there.

Addition by subtraction. He managed to get that team out of Cap Hell in a very short amount of time. So they are basically starting this year with a clean slate.

 

[Totally_Red]

Oakland is on the verge of losing arguably their two best players in free agency, DE Lamarr Houston & Veldheer, the #5 & 6 ranked available free agents {as of 2/27} accoring to nfl.com. Or if you prefer Peter King, the #16 and #13 rated free agents. If you're an Oakland fan and you know you're sitting on $60-million of cap space, it's hard to get excited about what he is doing.


http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000329702/article/top-101-nfl-free-agents-for-2014

5) Lamarr Houston, DE, Oakland Raiders: Houston is hardly a household name, but he's a young, scheme-versatile lineman capable of pushing the pocket and stopping the run. That's a rare NFL commodity.
6) Jared Veldheer, OT, Oakland Raiders: Measuring in at a towering 6-foot-8, Veldheer is athletic enough that he was tried at center early in his career. With a projected $65 million in cap space, theRaiders have no excuse for letting him get away.​

16. LAMARR HOUSTON

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Edge, Oakland (Age 27)

A rare blend of size, strength and speed makes him a load to handle at the point of attack. Can play standup OLB, DE and DT. Right fit might be 4-3 tackle. Best fit: Bucs. They could use help at left end and tackle next to Gerald McCoy. Houston could man either spot.
13. JARED VELDHEER

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OT, Oakland (Age 27)

Played final five games after triceps surgery and wasn’t his best, but showed in 2011-12 that he’s a good left tackle. Best fit: Raiders. Veldheer wants to stay but was frustrated by lack of progress. That’s how GM Reggie McKenzie does it, just like mentor Ted Thompson.

 

[kerouac9]

I have read some McKenzie love after the offseason by NFl folks and I don't get it. He inherited an awful roster, but he has also done very little to improve it. I don't see the team being any better than when he got there.

I don't want to pile on you here. But MCD and crisper are right that Schneider wasn't in building mode when he arrived. I think you have to start evaluating his team's ability to build a roster starting now, because he had to purge so much off their roster. They had more than $50M in dead money on their cap in 2013--almost as much as the entire payroll of their stadium-mates the Oakland As.