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Post by Chirpn’time on Nov 30, 2023 9:41:17 GMT -7
A top 5 IOL will be a FA in 2024 Connor Williams. He was seeking about 10-12M per year from the Dolphins and due to other signings were unable to get an extension done so far.
Even a contract of up to 15M per year seem like a great value for the Cards with the need to improve OL depth.
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Post by Dry Heat on Nov 30, 2023 11:57:45 GMT -7
A top 5 IOL will be a FA in 2024 Connor Williams. He was seeking about 10-12M per year from the Dolphins and due to other signings were unable to get an extension done so far. Even a contract of up to 15M per year seem like a great value for the Cards with the need to improve OL depth. We just freed up a good chunk of that cap space by releasing Zach Ertz.
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Post by cardinalsins on Dec 2, 2023 19:28:28 GMT -7
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Post by cardinalsins on Dec 2, 2023 19:49:59 GMT -7
Of note, we can nake a significant upgrade at center. Williams has a PFF grade of 86.4. The Dolphins don't have CAP. Then again...the CAP is a myth. The same can be said on the opposite side of the line...I doubt that they pay Christian Wilkins...Definitely not both. The Ravens will also need to pay Zeitler at guard, Madibuike and Pierce at IDL, Queen at LB, and a fee other guys. I'll take some of these please. At DE...chase Young's rental will likely end soon. He has a PFF grade in the mid 70s.
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Post by Dry Heat on Dec 2, 2023 21:30:26 GMT -7
Of note, we can nake a significant upgrade at center. Williams has a PFF grade of 86.4. The Dolphins don't have CAP. Then again...the CAP is a myth. The same can be said on the opposite side of the line...I doubt that they pay Christian Wilkins...Definitely not both. The Ravens will also need to pay Zeitler at guard, Madibuike and Pierce at IDL, Queen at LB, and a fee other guys. I'll take some of these please. At DE...chase Young's rental will likely end soon. He has a PFF grade in the mid 70s. Helpful, I hadn’t seen this one yet. The cap isn’t a myth but it’s also a system that can be massaged, but never beaten. I too want to upgrade C in FA, and Williams would be a prime target. I’d like to revamp our entire interior Oline with 25-27 yr old vets. Upgrade the lower salary positions with our cap in places vets do well, like C, G, ILB, TE, S, ST studs. Spend big on a vet at CB and Dline or OLB as well. Then load up on the expensive positions in the draft…tackles, stud TE, . OLB, DE/DT, WR, CB and a QB2. With a small trade down we could get a top 100 player at each of these positions.
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Post by Dry Heat on Dec 2, 2023 22:40:11 GMT -7
First do everything possible to get CB Jaylon Johnson from the Bears. Everything! Then try and land S Winfield Jr and if successful trade Budda for draft pick(s).
Get C Williams in FA, then fellow Miami G Hunt or G Dotson from the Rams and then T who plays G well Onwenu from the Pats. That’s upgrades at G and C, and one can play T in a pinch. Oline upgraded and done until draft. Get a tackle high in the draft.
Next try and get RB Zach Moss for high RB2 money to eventually take over for Conner. If can’t, get RB in middle rounds.
Back to defense, go get old man Bobby Wagner to mentor the LB’s. Guy is still killing it. Two year contract. Add another ILB in draft.
Finally, go after Chase Young at Edge and Bengals DI Reader up front. Add DT in draft Round three or earlier.
Won’t be able to do it all, but $80-100 million will buy a lot of the ones who aren’t re-signed. And it would set us up well for going tackle, top 5 QB, WR, DT, CB, Edge in top three rounds, all high dollar positions and top 100 guys. Then finish draft with TE, RB, LB, S and BPA’s or special teamers
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Post by devongent on Dec 3, 2023 1:44:15 GMT -7
Won’t be able to do it all, but $80-100 million will buy a lot of the ones who aren’t re-signed. Expect to see Monti use the funds judiciously, perhaps three big money signings through the door (should the right target player's be available). I am taking the previous 'rumor' at face value, so the positional Free Agency 'big spends' I believe will be at Left Guard, Defensive Tackle and Cornerback. BTW; any of listed Quarterbacks tickle anyone's fancy...?
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Post by End Zone on Dec 3, 2023 4:37:03 GMT -7
I'd like MO to use some of the 2024 FA money to sign a couple of nasty interior DLs, a smart, fast, and tall LB, and maybe a younger RB who is poor and unhappy somewhere else. That is easily $50M blown right there.
How about Leonard as an option? He is focused on playing for a playoff team right away. But that doesn't mean he can't be enticed to play for a team that can pay him in 2024 and 2025. The Cowboys and Eagles are looking for short-term LB fixes for the 2023 playoff runs. Leonard walked away from PHI and DAL offers this week.
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Post by CardsFanQC on Dec 3, 2023 5:01:17 GMT -7
I'd like MO to use some of the 2024 FA money to sign a couple of nasty interior DLs, a smart, fast, and tall LB, and maybe a younger RB who is poor and unhappy somewhere else. That is easily $50M blown right there. How about Leonard as an option? He is focused on playing for a playoff team right away. But that doesn't mean he can't be enticed to play for a team that can pay him in 2024 and 2025. The Cowboys and Eagles are looking for short-term LB fixes for the 2023 playoff runs. Leonard walked away from PHI and DAL offers this week. DL - Justin Madubuike unless the Panthers would trade Derrick Brown to Cards for a 3rd, Budda (select safety Nubin of Minnesota at pick #34) and you can throw in Rondale Moore. Of course Brown would need to sign an extension for about $22M/APY with Cardinals as condition of trade. CB - Jaylon Johnson Bears LG - Mike Onwenu or Ezra Cleveland NOTE: Monti is familiar with Titans DL - Teair Tart
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Post by jeffcardinalfan on Dec 3, 2023 6:43:05 GMT -7
Won’t be able to do it all, but $80-100 million will buy a lot of the ones who aren’t re-signed. Expect to see Monti use the funds judiciously, perhaps three big money signings through the door (should the right target player's be available). I am taking the previous 'rumor' at face value, so the positional Free Agency 'big spends' I believe will be at Left Guard, Defensive Tackle and Cornerback. BTW; any of listed Quarterbacks tickle anyone's fancy...? there too that I like. Huntley from the Ravens played very well when he was forced into duty and menace would be a quality backup for any team in the league. I think it's going to be very interesting to see what happens with Kirk cousins. If it's a great stats but doesn't win playoff games. No I'm sure that Tampa and New Orleans will at least consider him
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Post by Redbirdfan62 on Dec 3, 2023 16:58:14 GMT -7
I'd like MO to use some of the 2024 FA money to sign a couple of nasty interior DLs, a smart, fast, and tall LB, and maybe a younger RB who is poor and unhappy somewhere else. That is easily $50M blown right there. How about Leonard as an option? He is focused on playing for a playoff team right away. But that doesn't mean he can't be enticed to play for a team that can pay him in 2024 and 2025. The Cowboys and Eagles are looking for short-term LB fixes for the 2023 playoff runs. Leonard walked away from PHI and DAL offers this week. I Could see one Wr being paid in free agency and a few guys will get paid for our front 7. I think they draft a Qb, wr's that are not midgets, they will address interior oline, front 7 and cb in the draft. I can see them keeping the Rb's we have.
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Post by Dry Heat on Dec 5, 2023 21:21:06 GMT -7
On March 13th, the beginning of the 2024 NFL season:
1. Quietly pursue trades for Budda Baker, but don’t give him away. The goal is to free up $14.6 additional cap room and acquire a more desirable player/contract for our team or a day 2 draft pick. Shop him, but only if the return is worth it. A pre or post June 1 cut or trade in Budda’s case would all equal a $14.6 million cap savings, so no need to do anything now.
2. Free agency begins with approx $83 million cap available, assuming no team free agents re-signed yet. We don’t have many pricy ones to sign except for guys like Hollywood, who I would let test free agency. 1. Extend WR Greg Dortch to reasonable contract. 2. Sign C Colon to cheap contract 3. Sign LB Kris Barnes to cheap contract 4. Sign CB Antonio Hamilton to one year contract
3. All the above can be done without affecting the cap with a few releases, like WR Zach Pascal and CB Marco Wilson and K Matt Prater ($6.5 million)
4. Begin spending with vet CB, G, C and Dlineman. Put up to $50 million here 1. CB Jaylon Johnson PLEASE!, or Kendall Fuller 2. C Connor Williams PLEASE!, or Lloyd Cushenberry 3. G Kevin Dotson, Robert Hunt or T Mike Onwenu converted to G (emergency T) 4. DI Christian Wilkins, DJ Reader, Justin Madubuike, Leonard Williams, Grover Stewart, Michael Pierce (2 year contract). Lots of options.
5. $33 million remaining, plus $14.6 million from Budda possible, and $5 million from DHump restructure possible. OverTheCap estimated rookie cap pool for 2024 is $11.7 million so we will set that aside. Remaining cap is then $21-41 million. None of these guys are top 3 free agents at their position so should find some value. 1. WR: I’m counting on a tall WR (Harrison Jr?) in the first 6 picks of the draft and not re-signing Hollywood. That leaves us with Wilson, Dortch and maybe Moore plus a rookie. I’d like to look at a taller WR2 type guy in FA. Someone like DJ Chark or Gabe Davis. 2. S: tons of safeties that would get us bigger (and who grade as well or better) than Budda, who I would trade if possible. DeShon Elliot, Geno Stone, Jordan Fuller, Xavier McKinnney, Grant Delpit, Julian Blackmon, Camren Kurl, Kyle Dugger. Be patient and sign for value, as there are lots of good safeties in the draft as well. 3. RB: I’d take a shot at Zach Moss if reasonable. Otherwise go with what we have plus a rookie in 3rd-6th rounds. 4. T: take a shot at one of the young, former 1st round tackles who have “busted” if reasonable, and see if a change of scenery helps. Becton, Jonah Williams, or Austin Jackson. I’d also draft a tackle with one of our top three picks to prepare for moving beyond DHump. 5. LB: Oren Burks, Blake Cashman, Patrick Queen. Or go after old Bobby Wagner for a final 2 year contract. Still doing his thing! Like S, plenty of talent so be patient or wait for draft/after draft. 6. OLB: I feel like we are fair with lots of similar, young, decent guys but it would be nice to get a stud. Probably won’t, but if there is an opportunity for a guy like Young or Burns, be open to it. These guys are top 3 at their position. 7. TE: I think we are ok but would pick one up in the draft.
6. This would set us up nicely for the draft, upgrading our major needs at DI, CB, and Oline with the big signings and then getting us upgrades or depth at other positions and giving us flexibility for the draft. In my current mocks I go WR, QB and OT in the first and second round, in any order. I also try to trade down our first pick. In third I load up on 2 defensive players up front and a guard. Then BPA/need combos from then on. Good RB’s, S’s, ST’s, LB’s in round four and later.
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Post by CardsFanQC on Dec 6, 2023 6:55:04 GMT -7
DH - I agree with 97% of your long detailed post. These are the facts about the 2024 draft -- very deep but it does have its position strengths while other positions are deficient in top talent. Deep, Talented Positions - WR, OT and QB as the 2025 QB draft class will be weak unless both McCarthy and TX Ewers go back to school Deep but missing elite talent - CB, Safety, RB Deficient in Elite or Deep players - IDL, IOL The Strategy should be:1) Based on the above - it would seem FA for the Cards should be laser-focused on Center, Left Guard, IDL, backup vet QB and a top end CB. More Cap $$ can be made available by Hump getting a pay CUT which MUST happen. 2) Draft -- Assuming #1 above yields very good 27 or under talented players at the aforementioned positions. - MHJ at #3 or trade down to gather more picks.
- Use Top 3 picks on WR, OT and BPA
- Use the 3 picks in Rd #3 - DL depth, CB/Safety depth & RB
- Rd #4 - possibly TE (look at one of the 2 Iowa TE's who put up with terrible QB play and were injured) or BPA.
3) 2024 Draft is BETTER than the 2025 Draft will be -- so trades of 2025 picks to gain extra top 4 rounds in 2024 Draft. - Possibly Budda and a 2025 4th or 5th rounder to get a top 50 pick in 2024.
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Post by Dry Heat on Dec 6, 2023 11:54:25 GMT -7
DH - I agree with 97% of your long detailed post. These are the facts about the 2024 draft -- very deep but it does have its position strengths while other positions are deficient in top talent. Deep, Talented Positions - WR, OT and QB as the 2025 QB draft class will be weak unless both McCarthy and TX Ewers go back to school Deep but missing elite talent - CB, Safety, RB Deficient in Elite or Deep players - IDL, IOL The Strategy should be:1) Based on the above - it would seem FA for the Cards should be laser-focused on Center, Left Guard, IDL, backup vet QB and a top end CB. More Cap $$ can be made available by Hump getting a pay CUT which MUST happen. 2) Draft -- Assuming #1 above yields very good 27 or under talented players at the aforementioned positions. - MHJ at #3 or trade down to gather more picks.
- Use Top 3 picks on WR, OT and BPA
- Use the 3 picks in Rd #3 - DL depth, CB/Safety depth & RB
- Rd #4 - possibly TE (look at one of the 2 Iowa TE's who put up with terrible QB play and were injured) or BPA.
3) 2024 Draft is BETTER than the 2025 Draft will be -- so trades of 2025 picks to gain extra top 4 rounds in 2024 Draft. - Possibly Budda and a 2025 4th or 5th rounder to get a top 50 pick in 2024.
Only disagreement I see here is I wouldn’t pursue a vet QB in FA and would take one with our Houston or 2nd round pick to be developmental QB2 over Tune.
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Post by devongent on Dec 7, 2023 2:01:29 GMT -7
3. All the above can be done without affecting the cap with a few releases, like WR Zach Pascal and CB Marco Wilson and K Matt Prater ($6.5 million)Notwithstanding his higher salary cost I don't think the FO will wish to give up on a reliable kicker. I thought Prater had being doing good this season? As we have witnessed in the past an unreliable kicker (especially one that chokes in pressure situations) will lose you games.
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