Preston Smith

Hatcher is probably the one I'd think about moving on from.

add Roberts, Riley, Jeron Johnson, and Kory Lichtensteiger

renegotiate D Hall

Hatcher is probably the one I'd think about moving on from.

You're right. A good 3-4 DE can be found in the draft in the late rounds....and this particular football player would have a much higher motor than Jason Hatcher!

add Roberts, Riley, Jeron Johnson, and Kory Lichtensteiger

renegotiate D Hall

Roberts for certain.

Steiger, no way I get rid of him. The difference in the run blocking with and without him is drastic. I wouldn't sit tight at center, I might draft one and see how the competition shakes out. But he's a savvy vet who can make a lot of adjustments and is still fairly agile.

Jeron Johnson is a minimum salary player. Or close to it. You don't save anything by cutting him. I have no idea why you'd do anything but bring him into camp and let him compete for his job.

Riley, I could see cutting him but only if you think Martrell Spaight and Mason Foster are your depth behind Compton.

Hall's salary is already low. I don't see a need to do anything there. Versatile player who is highly respected in the locker room.

Hatcher is solid but not worth his cap number next year (8.75M) and releasing him saves 4.5M. So, yeah, he is likely gone unless he takes a significant pay cut. I don't really see any point in a restructure given the numbers involved, the production shown, and his age/injury factors. If he wants to come back he will have to make that happen.

Riley, maybe, maybe not. He has a 5M cap hit and releasing him saves 4M. He was pretty clearly outplayed by Compton and Foster. He really brings little to the table except experience and Compton already shows better instincts. He may be back, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him cut if Spaight steps up.

To me, Steig, Hall, Johnson pretty much no brainers for a return. Maybe restructure/extend DHall & Steig but they have manageable hits and are under contract for two years. No need to dick around with their k's. Both are signed through 2017 for manageable numbers (Stieg = 4M/yr; DHall = 5M/yr).

As an aside - much crow to eat on the DHall conversion to safety and impact of Johnson. Preseason, I was not in favor of DHall conversion; I did not think he had the skill set for it or the appropriate mind-set. I was wrong - DHall has been solid and improving in the position. Also, thought JJohnson was going to be a sneaky good impact signing by Scotty McC. Again, I was wrong; Johnson has really made little impact - even on special teams which were supposed to be his forte'.

As far as hatcher goes, you should be able to renegotiate with him...I'm fairly certain he has graded out as our top dline man. He been good. I'd like to see him back at s lower number.

No way Kory L is back with us. He was terrible and not a fit with Callahan. I'd look for a draft pick or a free agent. Leribus is gone too. There are some interesting free agents at center as well as depth in the draft. Quake mentioned a good one at Norte dame; Missouri, Wisconsin, Michigan st, and I believe Iowa has solid prospects.

Roberts is an easy cut.

D Hall u bring into camp and see if he makes it out.

I really like this Kearse kid at Clemson at strong safety, 6-5 220 lb.
Coce42VjWNM

Roberts for certain.

Steiger, no way I get rid of him. The difference in the run blocking with and without him is drastic. I wouldn't sit tight at center, I might draft one and see how the competition shakes out. But he's a savvy vet who can make a lot of adjustments and is still fairly agile.

Jeron Johnson is a minimum salary player. Or close to it. You don't save anything by cutting him. I have no idea why you'd do anything but bring him into camp and let him compete for his job.

Riley, I could see cutting him but only if you think Martrell Spaight and Mason Foster are your depth behind Compton.

Hall's salary is already low. I don't see a need to do anything there. Versatile player who is highly respected in the locker room.

Cutting Jeron Johnson would save about a 1/2 million over a rookie.

Cutting Riley saves $4 million, However, Compton is a Free Agent

Hall is scheduled to make $5 million in 2016

As far as hatcher goes, you should be able to renegotiate with him...I'm fairly certain he has graded out as our top dline man. He been good. I'd like to see him back at s lower number.

No way Kory L is back with us. He was terrible and not a fit with Callahan.


kory's better than his replacements, and they liked him enough that he'll be back on the active roster and on the field for the playoffs, according to all accounts (short term IR).

one thing to keep in mind is you shouldn't get rid of people without some kind of replacement plan in place. you cut kory and replace him with who? a rookie 4th round pick? and then what, you just hope it works out? I imagine he'll be back at camp and starting next year unless/until someone else steps up.


hall probably stays, especially since you're going to want to restructure goldson down from 8m base salary in 2016. 13m for safeties just seems like a lot for guys that aren't bad, but aren't gamechangers.

hatcher... i don't know that keeping him makes sense, cause he costs a lot and he's had injury issues (which get worse with age). if he goes you probably need to draft or sign someone, but it doesn't have to be an 8m/year player.

Yeah that's the thing here, we have to switch our mindset a bit. It's been a while since we've been anything other than building from scratch. We're now in the mode of building momentum, we can't just cut players without a strong replacement plan. If we resign Compton that could be a good plan for Riley, but only if we think the backups can replace him.

And with Steiger the last thing you do is play a rookie (unless the rookie is a sure fire first rounder). You have to give Cousins an even stronger run game next year so he can keep developing. Experience is meaningful when you're competing to go deep in the playoffs in 2016.

too me it makes zero fucking sense in one breath to say hey let's keep the weak link on the Oline and in the other breath say hey lets get rid of our best d-lineman.

Kory was awful this year and lerebius was even worse. I find it hard to believe we can't find a better replacement with an entire offseason to work with. Yes hatcher is old but he is still producing...you got a replacement there? No. Sure we have decisions to make, but we are not anywhere close to having cap issues, so I have less of a problem keeping hatcher with his cap number when he is producing at a high level than keeping Kory l around when play has steadily declined each year.

Dhall is playing strong safety and our CB situation has been riddled with injuries. Now think about this for a moment. No, shut up and think about it. A WR turned db, wil Blackmon free agent off the street....still thinking? Good. Dhall hasn't been very good at strong safety other than the scoop/score play. Highly unlikely he is back.

Goldson...wow. I guess our memories are short on the last ten years of free safety play. Unfuckingbelievable. You make every effort to bring him back next year.

I'd send him back to the practice squad. Let him know who's boss.

Maybe we can get a conditional 7th for him. If we are lucky.