Our Defensive Future

I am not assuming Anderson is ready to start. I am just throwing that possibility out there. We did draft him relatively high and he has a year in the system now. I did not even see most of today's game so I am not biased by what he did or did not do.

I really think we need to bring Draft back because he can play all three positions. If we do start Anderson and he falters it is not a disaster as long as we have Draft to plug in.

 

Didn't really know where to fit this...

so I guess here's as good as anywhere.

Who'll cash in? Freeney leads list
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Jay Glazer / FOXSports.com
Posted: 8 days ago

Although 18 teams were in the hunt for a playoff spot going into Week 16, half the league is already beginning to focus upon improving next season. There are two ways to pull this off — the NFL Draft and the always action-packed free agency bonanza.

The draft? It's still way too early to tell who will go where and which juniors will bolster the crop. But free agency? It's never too early to take a look at the potential options that could be had for the right price.

The following is a look at the Top 10 unrestricted free agents slated to hit the open market in the off-season. Granted, many could be hit with the franchise tag while others have already begun negotiations to remain in town. But as of now, all are scheduled to hit the market the first day of the new league year.

Please note as well that the overall list will be bolstered with salary cap casualties and restricted free agents (such as Atlanta QB Matt Schaub), but we will only focus on the UFA's for now.

Colts DE Dwight Freeney — The Colts Pro Bowl pass rusher tops the list because of his position and his play prior to 2006. An injury has severely limited his performance this season but when healthy, Freeney has shown to be unstoppable at times (just ask the Ravens' future Hall Of Famer Jon Ogden). Freeney is an offensive game plan gone bad in waiting. Can we see the Colts letting him go? Not really. Make that move, they'd be nuts. Pass rushers are a huge premium in this league and command more cash on the open market than most other positions.

Bills CB Nate Clements — Corners are a premium and Clements is outstanding. There will be a huge, make that HUGE, run at this young man. He's fantastic in coverage and isn't afraid to get his hands dirty against the run. Terrific potential to immediately upgrade anyone's secondary. He's in line for an enormous pay day and the Bills cannot franchise him.

Bears LB Lance Briggs — Briggs wants to run his own show somewhere and it won't happen while he's playing alongside Brian Urlacher. The Bears made a strong run at him last year but it wasn't enough to lock him up. They could elect to franchise him but he'll make a huge stink if they take this route. Very solid player but an even better locker room guy. Some teams will question how much of his plays would be made without Urlacher but regardless the two-time Pro Bowler has produced quite the resume.

Falcons DE Patrick Kerney — He's started talks with the Falcons and told FOXSports.com he wants to retire a Falcon if possible. Plus, he's coming off a torn pec injury. But if those talks don't go anywhere he'll have a strong market. He's the ultimate lunch pail, hard hat guy; plays the run as well as the pass and has a non-stop motor. The type of warrior the 31 other coaches in the league would love to have in their locker room.

Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez — The best pass-catching tight end of all time has age working against him but doesn't seem to be slowing down at all. Plus, the fact remains that the receiving crop in the free agent market is awful. Terrible. The draft is stocked with young wideouts but some teams looking to bolster their overall receiving options are looking hard at Gonzo. The Chiefs have been in talks with him for months, but those talks have led nowhere. He's told FOXSports.com he'd love to stay, but remains a realist and knows these next few games could be his last as a Chief. He's willing to leave. Has had a better career than everyone else on this list. Many think he and Kerney could be a little high on this list because of their ages, but neither guy is showing any signs of it and players at their positions have shown not to put too much stock into the number 30 when it relates to age.

Chargers guard Kris Dielman — A tough, nasty 310-pound SOB. Probably the least well-known of the players on our list but every team we talked to absolutely loves this guy. Can't argue with the fact that he's been part of the most remarkable run by a RB in the history of this league. He'll be paid like Steve Hutchinson was a year ago and will immediately inject the type of attitude many lines sorely need. Love this player in the open market.

Ravens LB Adalius Thomas — Considering how many teams "stem," meaning they jump back and forth right before the snap from one front to another, Thomas is perfect for many. However, because he'll play different roles in different schemes he won't be right for others. Still, his production cannot be questioned. Thomas has shined for Rex Ryan's blitz-happy system and has been in talks with the Ravens for a new deal, but those talks have not produced anything concrete. Unbelievable special teams player and now a Pro Bowl linebacker as well.

Bengals guard Eric Steinbach — He's rated this high because Steinbach will have a market at both guard and tackle. When Mike Wahle signed with the Panthers a couple of years ago he was paid tackle money even though he was primarily a guard who could swing to the outside. Steinbach will get more attention as a tackle than Wahle did and considering the tackle market is weak, his stock is strong.

Bengals DE Justin Smith — Former first-round pick works his tail off and plays a position that is always a premium. Considering how hard it may be to pry away Freeney and Kerney, Smith becomes the best available option for a team looking for a punch in the pass rush. Younger than Kerney, too.

Colts LB Cato June — June has been a tackling machine the last three years for Indy. Lacks ideal size but last year he was a highlight waiting to happen (five picks and two TDs). The Colts defense has been much-maligned this year, but June can't be blamed for this. He'll find a nice market for his services.

Honorable mention: Patriots DB Asante Samuels — He'll get some serious coin because of his ability to play corner.



Discuss.

 

Just a hunch....

Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez — The best pass-catching tight end of all time has age working against him but doesn't seem to be slowing down at all. Plus, the fact remains that the receiving crop in the free agent market is awful. Terrible. The draft is stocked with young wideouts but some teams looking to bolster their overall receiving options are looking hard at Gonzo. The Chiefs have been in talks with him for months, but those talks have led nowhere. He's told FOXSports.com he'd love to stay, but remains a realist and knows these next few games could be his last as a Chief. He's willing to leave. Has had a better career than everyone else on this list. Many think he and Kerney could be a little high on this list because of their ages, but neither guy is showing any signs of it and players at their positions have shown not to put too much stock into the number 30 when it relates to age.

 

I'd never happen but watching Peppers and Freeny as bookends would be awesome. I would like to take Kerney from the Falcons to hurt them but I get a Chuck Smith cringe when I think about it.

I really think all those guys are out of our price range. Maybe we would spring for one of the linebackers.....

I would like to see us take a look at Eric Johnson of the 49ers. They will probably cut him loose since they have Davis at tight end. Johnson is a good pass catching tightend though.

 

Where is this $3.3 million savings number coming from?

He was re-signed 8/05 through 2010 and handed a $6 million signing bonus. He also got a $4 million roster bonus this year but there is no proration from it. Anyway, we will still have $4 million of the proration from the signing bonus hanging over us. Even if we were to wait until after June, he still would hit us for $3 million due to the $2 million roster bonus due in March and another hit for $3 million in 2008. His base salary is listed as $750K so I really don't see where cutting Dan will free up any money unless the original $6 million signing bonus was actually a roster bonus eliminating any proration. Then we would save his salary for 07 + the $2 million roster bonus + whatever additional bonuses are hidden in there which could amount to roughly the $3.3 million savings.

 

If he retires due to injury doesn't that help with the salary cap?

 

If we bring Draft back, it should be to start, IMO. He wasn't a bad MLB for us down the stretch. To bring him back to demote him to WLB insurance probably isn't going to get him back. Getting someone for that insurance is a good idea, sure. I don't think they took Anderson to replace him before they actually used him. He needs to earn the spot, though, and I find it curious that he spent his time at SLB. Don't know if it hindered him, but unlike Davis, I don't think he's the type player to pull that off long term.

 

The Observer, so it could certainly be incorrect. Looking at it more closely, it definitely appears to be wrong. With his base only being 750k next season there's no way that cutting him would save much money, if any, regardless of the roster bonus. That again reinforces the idea that he'll be back, that we'll hope that he can start, and that we'll probably fail to adequately address the need for a replacement.

 

:newsmile47:

 

It looks like Darren Sharper might be on the outs in Minny. He might be just another clone of Minter though at this point, but I have historically liked his game. If we can get him for a good deal and draft the rookie, Landry, I think it would bring young talent as well as additional veteren leadership to the secondary. I'd have to consider how he would mesh with Minter though.

I'd love to get Cato June or Lance Briggs in FA and draft the best available MLB in the 2nd round.

It looks like a couple of decent Gs are going to be on the market too. One of those certainly wouldn't hurt.