Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Having watched the Patriots brain trust up close for many years now, I have a pretty solid sense of how they do business---so I thought it might be interesting to apply the current Cardinals' off-season decisions to the Patriots' philosophy.
Parameters:
1. Personnel---layer salaries must be commensurate with the player's current value/production. Release players who are on the decline. Trade or try to extend players in their last year of contract. If cap space is needed get a core player or two to restructure their deals.
2. Offense---predicated on attacking the middle of the field via three waves of receivers. Thus, TEs, slot WRs and good receiving RBs are held at a premium.
3. Defense---add 1 stud FA, a couple of bargain mid-level FAs, and build added depth through the draft.
4. Draft---work the board so that if you can trade down to add extra picks without losing value, you do it.
Here goes:
Personnel:
Release:
DE Darnell Dockett
C Lyle Sendlein
WR Ted Ginn Jr.
OLB Lorenzo Alexander
Extend:
CB Jerraud Powers: 3 years/$12.5M/$5.4M guaranteed
DE Frostee Rucker: 3 years/$6.7M/$2M guranteed
Trade:
QB Drew Stanton to Buffalo for a 2015 5th round pick.
Restructure (if necessary):
DE Calais Campbell---convert $5M of his 2015 Base Salary ($9M) to guaranteed money (signing bonus).
Own FAs:
NT Dan Williams---will get more than willing to pay---gone.
TE Rob Housler---not good enough---gone.
DE Tommy Kelly---re-sign to 2 year/$4M/$1.5M g contract.
CB Antonio Cromartie---will be overpaid somewhere, but not here---gone.
2015 FA Acquisitions: (2 High Profile---in Bold)
OC Stefen Wisniewski (OAK)---becomes the captain of the interior.
OG Joe Reitz (IND)---good sized, aggressive guard who can also play tackle.
RB Roy Helu (WAS)---instant fit as all-purpose RB.
TE Charles Clay (MIA)---excellent in red zone, can block as H-back TE
WR/KR Eddie Royal (SD)---solid slot WR with RAC ability
QB Ryan Mallett (HOU)---becomes the new #2
NT Pat Sims (OAK)---good, space-eating NT, for half of what Dan Williams will make.
LB Akeem Ayers (NE)---has speed and blitzing ability from inside and outside.
CB Kareem Jackson (HOU)---top, young FA CB.
2015 NFL Draft:
Trade: The #24 pick to Colts for the #29 pick and their 4th round pick #125.
1. Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota. Becomes the feature TE and immediate threat over the middle, in the flats and up the seams.
2. Hau'oli Kikaha, OLB, Washington. Can develop into the Rob Ninkovich of the defense.
3. Rob Havenstein, T, Wisconsin. Big mauler for right side.
4. Lorenzo Mauldin, OLB/ILB, Louisville. Versatile LB a very good fit.
4. (from Colts) Ali Marpet, C/G, Hobart. Small college player with big potential.
5. (from Bills) Chris Harper, WR/KR, California. Makes first defenders regularly miss on RACs.
5. Tyler Varga, RB, Yale. STs ace, highly versatile RB/FB.
6. Damarious Randall, FS, Arizona St. Over the top FS in sub packages.
7. Deshazor Everrett, CB, Texas A&M. Aggressive, physical CB who needs to play a little more disciplined.
7 (comp). Kyle Emanuel, OLB, North Dakota St. Leader from a great program. Sleeper pick.
Parameters:
1. Personnel---layer salaries must be commensurate with the player's current value/production. Release players who are on the decline. Trade or try to extend players in their last year of contract. If cap space is needed get a core player or two to restructure their deals.
2. Offense---predicated on attacking the middle of the field via three waves of receivers. Thus, TEs, slot WRs and good receiving RBs are held at a premium.
3. Defense---add 1 stud FA, a couple of bargain mid-level FAs, and build added depth through the draft.
4. Draft---work the board so that if you can trade down to add extra picks without losing value, you do it.
Here goes:
Personnel:
Release:
DE Darnell Dockett
C Lyle Sendlein
WR Ted Ginn Jr.
OLB Lorenzo Alexander
Extend:
CB Jerraud Powers: 3 years/$12.5M/$5.4M guaranteed
DE Frostee Rucker: 3 years/$6.7M/$2M guranteed
Trade:
QB Drew Stanton to Buffalo for a 2015 5th round pick.
Restructure (if necessary):
DE Calais Campbell---convert $5M of his 2015 Base Salary ($9M) to guaranteed money (signing bonus).
Own FAs:
NT Dan Williams---will get more than willing to pay---gone.
TE Rob Housler---not good enough---gone.
DE Tommy Kelly---re-sign to 2 year/$4M/$1.5M g contract.
CB Antonio Cromartie---will be overpaid somewhere, but not here---gone.
2015 FA Acquisitions: (2 High Profile---in Bold)
OC Stefen Wisniewski (OAK)---becomes the captain of the interior.
OG Joe Reitz (IND)---good sized, aggressive guard who can also play tackle.
RB Roy Helu (WAS)---instant fit as all-purpose RB.
TE Charles Clay (MIA)---excellent in red zone, can block as H-back TE
WR/KR Eddie Royal (SD)---solid slot WR with RAC ability
QB Ryan Mallett (HOU)---becomes the new #2
NT Pat Sims (OAK)---good, space-eating NT, for half of what Dan Williams will make.
LB Akeem Ayers (NE)---has speed and blitzing ability from inside and outside.
CB Kareem Jackson (HOU)---top, young FA CB.
2015 NFL Draft:
Trade: The #24 pick to Colts for the #29 pick and their 4th round pick #125.
1. Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota. Becomes the feature TE and immediate threat over the middle, in the flats and up the seams.
2. Hau'oli Kikaha, OLB, Washington. Can develop into the Rob Ninkovich of the defense.
3. Rob Havenstein, T, Wisconsin. Big mauler for right side.
4. Lorenzo Mauldin, OLB/ILB, Louisville. Versatile LB a very good fit.
4. (from Colts) Ali Marpet, C/G, Hobart. Small college player with big potential.
5. (from Bills) Chris Harper, WR/KR, California. Makes first defenders regularly miss on RACs.
5. Tyler Varga, RB, Yale. STs ace, highly versatile RB/FB.
6. Damarious Randall, FS, Arizona St. Over the top FS in sub packages.
7. Deshazor Everrett, CB, Texas A&M. Aggressive, physical CB who needs to play a little more disciplined.
7 (comp). Kyle Emanuel, OLB, North Dakota St. Leader from a great program. Sleeper pick.
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