Free Agents Discussion

[Wyatt]

@AdamSchefter 21s21 seconds ago
Falcons gave former Chiefs' DT Dontari Poe a one-year, $8 million deal that could increase to $10M with incentives, per source.

[sherck]

Originally Posted by Wyatt

@AdamSchefter 21s21 seconds ago
Falcons gave former Chiefs' DT Dontari Poe a one-year, $8 million deal that could increase to $10M with incentives, per source.

I am honestly glad that we did not sign him to terms like that.

We are not one year away from being competitive. We are more like 2 or 3 years away from having a good defense.

I would rather sign "NFL average" guys now like Woods, Hunt and Mingo for modest contracts while biding my time to nab good players (Sheard, Simon) and difference makers (1-15 pass rusher?) in the draft and free agency.

In 2 or 3 years when we are ready to compete? Yeah, that is the time to splurge on big contracts.

But now? Keep filling the roster with "competition" so that we can at least get to the middle of the pack defense.

Chees,

[rcubed]

Originally Posted by sherck

I am honestly glad that we did not sign him to terms like that.

We are not one year away from being competitive. We are more like 2 or 3 years away from having a good defense.

I would rather sign "NFL average" guys now like Woods, Hunt and Mingo for modest contracts while biding my time to nab good players (Sheard, Simon) and difference makers (1-15 pass rusher?) in the draft and free agency.

In 2 or 3 years when we are ready to compete? Yeah, that is the time to splurge on big contracts.

But now? Keep filling the roster with "competition" so that we can at least get to the middle of the pack defense.

Chees,

I agree in general. One year contracts are not where we are at. That's for a last push to get over the hump. Signing the average guys to build a foundation is a good start, but it would have been nice to land a bouye or hightower in FA. Hopefully we draft well given how deep this year is supposed to be.

[sherck]

Originally Posted by rcubed

I agree in general. One year contracts are not where we are at. That's for a last push to get over the hump. Signing the average guys to build a foundation is a good start, but it would have been nice to land a bouye or hightower in FA. Hopefully we draft well given how deep this year is supposed to be.

That is what I am hoping for.

I hope that the defensive talent it deep enough that we can, with our six picks in the first four rounds, get 4 or 5 guys that become starters or quality depth guys in the next 2-3 years.

Sort of like we drafted 3 offensive linemen in 2016 that might end up being starts in 2017.

2 drafts like that in 2017 and 2018 along with solid free agent signings will get our defense into the top half of the league.

And with our offense, that is really all we need in the short term.

Cheers,

[Dam8610]

Originally Posted by rcubed

I agree in general. One year contracts are not where we are at. That's for a last push to get over the hump. Signing the average guys to build a foundation is a good start, but it would have been nice to land a bouye or hightower in FA. Hopefully we draft well given how deep this year is supposed to be.

I think getting Zach Brown or Gerald Hodges would elevate the overall talent level of the ILB position and the LB corps in general.

[sherck]

Originally Posted by Dam8610

I think getting Zach Brown or Gerald Hodges would elevate the overall talent level of the ILB position and the LB corps in general.

That is the signing that I am waiting on.

Brown, Hodges or Minter (along with bringing Butler back) would round out what I think we will be doing in free agency prior to the draft.

Not that I think we signed world-beaters at any position but:

NT Addressed = Woods upgrading Kerr in the NT rotation
DE Addressed = Hunt adding to the mix of Anderson, Langford, Jones, Ridgeway and McGill
OLB[EDGE] Addressed = Simon upgrading on Walden
OLB[RUSH] Addressed = Sheard, Mingo upgrading on Mathis, Cole
ILB Addressed = No
CB Addressed = Not really but re-signing Butler will help
Safety Addressed = Again, no but re-signing Butler will help
O-Line addressed = Schwenke replacing Harrison as primary depth pushing for starting at RG
Punter addressed = Locke

Of our needs, ILB and CB are wide, gaping holes that need veteran talent thrown at it to stabilize them.

Brown / Hodges / Minter do that at ILB

Butler does that at CB (and Safety)

Get it done, Ballard!

Cheers,

[njcoltfan]

Originally Posted by sherck

That is the signing that I am waiting on.

Brown, Hodges or Minter (along with bringing Butler back) would round out what I think we will be doing in free agency prior to the draft.

Not that I think we signed world-beaters at any position but:

NT Addressed = Woods upgrading Kerr in the NT rotation
DE Addressed = Hunt adding to the mix of Anderson, Langford, Jones, Ridgeway and McGill
OLB[EDGE] Addressed = Simon upgrading on Walden
OLB[RUSH] Addressed = Sheard, Mingo upgrading on Mathis, Cole
ILB Addressed = No
CB Addressed = Not really but re-signing Butler will help
Safety Addressed = Again, no but re-signing Butler will help
O-Line addressed = Schwenke replacing Harrison as primary depth pushing for starting at RG
Punter addressed = Locke

Of our needs, ILB and CB are wide, gaping holes that need veteran talent thrown at it to stabilize them.

Brown / Hodges / Minter do that at ILB

Butler does that at CB (and Safety)

Get it done, Ballard!

Cheers,

You keep asking Ballard to " get it done ", I don't think he's listening. I want him to get Hankins signed, again he's not listening.

[Wyatt]

@JordanRaanan
Reached out to sources around league and found that DT Johnathan Hankins is asking for A LOT of money. A lot as in more than $10M per year.