Sit bit relax: It is going to be a few days

[Shane]

I honestly don't know. I'm not sure that the free agency market is what the team was expecting; guys are handing out crazy deals right now. It's just madness out there.

I wouldn't be surprised to find out that the Cards signed an ILB like Pat Angerer, Dan Connor, Rob Francois, etc. Someone younger. If the Cards were really caught flat-footed by Dansby's deal with Cleveland, maybe they just bring Jasper Brinkley back.

I agree with Chopper that they probably would prefer to bring back Matt Shaughnessy. If he's not amenable quickly, they'll look at Neal.

I expect they'll bring in a handful of cornerbacks, but that market is H-O-T right now, so I don't know how agents are handling expectations. Similar with safeties.

I really can't predict. Who would've thought that Lorenzo Alexander and Jerroud Powers would be two of our top FA targets last year? Basically, I'm looking halfway down rankings at positions that we need and seeing if someone is youngish.

Brinkley already signed back with Minny. FYI

 

[Catfish]

Nice job Muffin-----Landing Veldheer has a calming effect on the whole Cardinal Nation. I can't stress enough how important this signing is to this franchise. The fact that it was done immediately is great. Even better is the depth and breadth of the contract. Disner worked his magic on this one, and it clears the way to prepare for extending PP. This was a hugely successful catch by our Front Office. While Albert may be the better LT right now, Veldheer is younger and has huge upside by comparison. He is faster, stronger, has quicker feet, and has the trust of Carson Palmer, whom he protected in Oakland. While there might be a little learning curve to scale, Arians has the right people in place to do the teaching. Veldheer has the wonderlic to be able to gobble up all the technique and strategy that this coaching staff can provide to a willing student.

While there will be more FA's to sign, as you said, there is now no rush to get it done. Now it is a matter of waiting for the right player at the right price to fall to us. This roster just took a huge step toward being sound, and that will not be lost on prospective free agents who are smart enough to see ALL the benefits of playing for the Cardinals.

Nice work my you Muffin on the thread, and even better work by our Front Office.

 

[kerouac9]

My point is, why sign Captain Munnerlyn for 1 or 2 mil to fill a role vacated by Antoine Cason (15% of D snaps) and have it affect your comp picks when you can sign a player like Mike Jenkins for near vet min to fill that same role and avoid the comp pick qualifier? And if you are targeting and going to spend on a potential replacement for Powers, why not target Antonio Cromartie who won't affect your comp picks. Sign Peppers vs Jared Allen (not a Cardinals idea but an example) unless you see a huge difference between the two. Sign Lance Moore to be a 3rd or 4th WR and potential deep threat vs. Ted Ginn/Golden Tate/Jacoby Ford. Signing Carlson vs Brandon Pettigrew unless Pettigrew's price is bottom dollar.

Maybe, but let's compare apples to apples here. I have no problem with Jenkins over Munnerlyn. I have no problem bringing Antoine Cason back. But sketching a 3rd DB in for 15% of snaps is ignoring the value of that real position.

I don't expect that Matthieu is going to be back for training camp. I don't expect that Keim and Disner are banking on their hopes that he might be. With Matthieu out of the lineup, Cason played around 80% of defensive snaps. That's a guy where you need a player, not just a body.

I expect that the Cards'll go into the draft for WR, RB, and maybe TE. Mostly for cost on the first two; largely for quality on the third.

I get what you're saying that the final tiebreaker for the Cards could/should be waved vs. free agent status. I just hope/expect that's pretty far down the list.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Basically, I'm looking halfway down rankings at positions that we need and seeing if someone is youngish.

Not a bad idea there.

BTW - I think Jasper Brinkley resigned with the Vikings, IIRC.

Brinkley already signed back with Minny. FYI

Beat me to it.

 

[Chopper0080]

Maybe, but let's compare apples to apples here. I have no problem with Jenkins over Munnerlyn. I have no problem bringing Antoine Cason back. But sketching a 3rd DB in for 15% of snaps is ignoring the value of that real position.

I don't expect that Matthieu is going to be back for training camp. I don't expect that Keim and Disner are banking on their hopes that he might be. With Matthieu out of the lineup, Cason played around 80% of defensive snaps. That's a guy where you need a player, not just a body.

I expect that the Cards'll go into the draft for WR, RB, and maybe TE. Mostly for cost on the first two; largely for quality on the third.

I get what you're saying that the final tiebreaker for the Cards could/should be waved vs. free agent status. I just hope/expect that's pretty far down the list.

My point is that it should be A deciding factor even if it isn't THE deciding factor.

Re: Mathieu, if I am a GM (which I am not of course) and I am going to sign a CB, I only go one of two directions this offseason. I either sign a CB like Antonio Cromartie who can beat out Powers for the #2 CB spot OR a #4 CB who can fill the #3 CB spot until Mathieu gets back. With the draft being as deep at CB as it is, my choice would be to sign a #4 CB spot and then draft a better CB to possibly beat him out for playing time this year and then challenge Powers for the #2 spot next year. So if that is the my plan, why sign a guy who will affect my ability to gain an extra draft pick when I can sign one who won't. It has to be a consideration for these more marginal roles and of course shouldn't be for the more prominent ones.

Personally, I think S is a bigger priority because I believe the Cardinals are viewing Mathieu as more of a CB than S in the future. With that in mind, I would prefer adding a more versatile S who can play both positions and settle opposite of Johnson or Jefferson, whomever shows to be the longer term option.

 

[kerouac9]

My point is that it should be A deciding factor even if it isn't THE deciding factor.

Re: Mathieu, if I am a GM (which I am not of course) and I am going to sign a CB, I only go one of two directions this offseason. I either sign a CB like Antonio Cromartie who can beat out Powers for the #2 CB spot OR a #4 CB who can fill the #3 CB spot until Mathieu gets back. With the draft being as deep at CB as it is, my choice would be to sign a #4 CB spot and then draft a better CB to possibly beat him out for playing time this year and then challenge Powers for the #2 spot next year.

Personally, I think S is a bigger priority because I believe the Cardinals are viewing Mathieu as more of a CB than S in the future. With that in mind, I would prefer adding a more versatile S who can play both positions and settle opposite of Johnson or Jefferson, whomever shows to be the longer term option.

I don't know. I think that even with some of these crazy deals going around, there are going to be excellent values at defensive back available in five to ten days. DRC isn't signed yet; wouldn't it be great to get him back and move Powers into the slot in nickel situations like we did with Cason?

I think the draft philosophy is that you can weight the bottom of your board for need, but you have to take BPA for the first three rounds. That means that 100 of your top 150-200 players are going to be guys you like semi-regardless of need.

Is this a deep draft class of DBs? I have no idea yet, although it doesn't seem particularly top-heavy. What I do think is that you can develop guys on your roster, but this is a scouting group who identified Jameel Flemming and Rashard Johnson. I'd rather have someone on the roster I know can play 40-60% of the defensive snaps, just in case.

 

[kerouac9]

Chopper: Let's agree on someone

I feel like we agree 85% on this issue, and we're just nibbling around the edges because we're bored. Let me throw you a piece of meat:

Cortland Finnegan.

5'10", 179 lbs. Just turned 30. Capable of playing in the slot and on the outside. Probably is going to be pushed down in this market, but was a player who was cut so won't damage any potential compensatory picks in 2015.

Great technique player, maybe has lost a step, but brings a feisty attitude to the field.

Would you rather have him or Mike Jenkins for a $1.5M contract?

 

[Chopper0080]

I feel like we agree 85% on this issue, and we're just nibbling around the edges because we're bored. Let me throw you a piece of meat:

Cortland Finnegan.

5'10", 179 lbs. Just turned 30. Capable of playing in the slot and on the outside. Probably is going to be pushed down in this market, but was a player who was cut so won't damage any potential compensatory picks in 2015.

Great technique player, maybe has lost a step, but brings a feisty attitude to the field.

Would you rather have him or Mike Jenkins for a $1.5M contract?

Finnegan because of his toughness. He is a borderline dirty player which bugs me because it leads to costly penalties, but he is also a fighter which I love having in the NFC West and is great to have around Peterson. I would sign him to a 1 or 2 year deal only, but that would be a solid stop gap and addition to the team. Finnegan vs Baldwin or Boldin or Jordy Nelson or Roddy White or Maclin is a pretty good matchup if you ask me. Also, if he can't beat out Powers, you aren't commited long term.