WFT Free Agency

[Scalper]

Originally Posted by AnonEmouse

Looking at what we've done in FA, I think it's been about giving us more freedom in the draft; reducing the outright need to draft any one position. The only 3 positions I see as not being properly addressed so far are LT, LB and FS. Everything is covered with pickups that will be immediate starters (Fitz, Samuel, Jackson) or depth where we're thin/allowed guys to walk (Roberts, Mayo, Humphries). I think they're placing themselves where any team really wants to be, able to draft BPA with every pick. Given where we pick and the mocks suggest the same, #19 is going to be an LT or LB. I can see us therefore looking to round out depth with a few more FA signings, probably after we see what the draft gives us. Someone like Fisher, if still available, if we don't get the OL we want. Seems a sound approach to FA and the draft so far.

You could nitpick, and I still hate the Fitz signing even though I think Fitz is solid for a senior citizen who has never won when it counts and never once led a team to the playoffs, but these are at least the moves of a professional FO rather than the clown show of the last quarter century. I concur with your assessment, and this philosophy has been directly stated by the FO. That being said, there are still some needs, the three you identified, plus we almost have to draft a QB and at least one TE.

I still look at at from the big-5 high-leverage positions perspective: QB, LT, DE, CB, WR in that order. Find a franchise QB. Protect him as no sense paying a guy $40M a year to be on IR, LT. Get a guy that destroys the other teams QB. I put CB above WR simply because there are far fewer shutdown CBs than dominant WRs. We have DE and CB locked up, CB at least 3 years. I still don't view McL as true #1WR, more #1.5, lacks size. Assuming five QBs go before us, as expected, QB with #1 pick no sense. So you would hope that BPA coincides with LT or WR. In a deep LT class, with hopefully 5 QBs before us and also lots of good WRs, you hope a top-10 LT most years drops to us this year and we button that position up and can keep whoever is QB healthy long term. I would be gritting my teeth if we pass on a franchise LT to draft a MLB or FS, even though we have needs there. Then maybe next year a WR or QB 1st round, and the other year after, you have your high-leverage positions locked up long term and can start having honest discussions about being a contender.

The exception would be a true stud 4.3 speed kind of FS, Earl Thomas. If one of those sitting there first round any year, you pounce.