Potential 2017 roster bubble players

Discussion in 'Tennessee Titans and NFL Talk' started by JCBRAVE, Jan 12, 2017.

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  1. Gut

    Gut Pro Bowler

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    Multiple teams are ALWAYS after the better players in free agency...so someone is going to get them. The only unrealistic thing is if we could get the exact players we want. Odds are that won't happen, even if we targeted each of them.

    According to NFL.com, here's a list of the top 25 FA's for 2017.

    Top 25 2017 Unrestricted Free Agents
    1) Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers running back
    2) Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs safety

    3) Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins quarterback
    4) Kawann Short, Carolina Panthers defensive tackle
    5) Chandler Jones, Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker
    6) Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears wide receiver
    7) Melvin Ingram, Los Angeles Chargers outside linebacker
    8) Calais Campbell, Arizona Cardinals defensive end
    9) Brandon Williams, Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle
    10) Jason Pierre-Paul, New York Giants defensive end
    11) Jamie Collins, Cleveland Browns outside linebacker
    12) Kevin Zeitler, Cincinnati Bengals guard
    13) Stephon Gilmore, Buffalo Bills cornerback
    14) A.J. Bouye, Houston Texans cornerback
    15) Dont'a Hightower, New England Patriots linebacker
    16) Dontari Poe, Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle
    17) Martellus Bennett, New England Patriots tight end
    18) DeSean Jackson, Washington Redskins receiver
    19) Terrelle Pryor, Cleveland Browns receiver

    20) T.J. Lang, Green Bay Packers guard
    21) Nick Perry, Green Bay Packers outside linebacker
    22) Trumaine Johnson, Los Angeles Rams cornerback
    23) Tony Jefferson, Arizona Cardinals safety
    24) Ricky Wagner, Baltimore Ravens tackle
    25) Barry Church, Dallas Cowboys safety


    I expect the top 5 to stay on their teams except for maybe Berry and Short. But both of those probably have a better shot at staying than becoming free agents.

    I would look at Jamie Collins who might be cheaper considering how NE dumped him and if the Browns are willing to let him walk. Leary was my more realistic and cheaper alternative to Zeitler though Id look at them both (along with Lang). I'd definitely look at Bouye and keep an eye on Gilmore, Kirkpatrick, and Johnson at cb. You might notice Ryans isn't even on this top 25 list. Also keep an eye on DeSean Jackson though I wouldn't be targeting him and Tony Jefferson as a potential backup plan to Berry.

    So I have 2 players on my list in the top 25 and 2 who aren't. With guys like Berry it's always a crap shoot whether they can get free or get franchised. IMO, the Chiefs will franchise him again, let Poe walk.

    I think you look at certain players/positions and target specific players as well. We will know soon enough who is franchise tagged and removed as a possibility. But the point of free agency is to come away with some serious talent, upgrades, and to fill a couple of holes. At this point, it's better to fill our holes with serious talent and upgrades and use the draft and roster cuts later to fill in any backup depth we might need on the cheap for the vet min.
     
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  2. JCBRAVE

    JCBRAVE goTitans 2019 Survivor Champion

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    need to sign all the CB's
     
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  3. HurrayTitans!

    HurrayTitans! Useless trivia knowledge champion

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    With that list, the names you had don't seem as unrealistic. Thanks. Just a matter of how many of those actually become FA which may push other guys higher than they need to be.
     
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  4. Ant Howard

    Ant Howard Starter

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    I would love this scenario, but that is why i think we need to trade back the 5th pick to get a second rounder, depending on what is done in free agency...we need the corners no doubt, but we need the inside backer who can cover the tight end almost as much...
     
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  5. Ant Howard

    Ant Howard Starter

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    In a word...Exactly
     
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  6. Mitch86

    Mitch86 Pro Bowler

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    My first comment was about McCourty maybe being able to stick around as having to try upgrade 3-4 players at 1 position is unrealistic.
    Yeah, teams sometimes go on spending sprees and sign 3-4 players to big contracts...it rarely works out and puts those teams in cap hell in a few years. That's just not a smart way to build a team.

    Signing a top CB and maybe 1 "second tier" CB plus drafting one...depends on what they think of guys like Sims and Reed too tho. Can only keep so many at the position.
     
  7. Gut

    Gut Pro Bowler

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    Look at it this way. You are creating windows of opportunity. You can't keep everyone for 10 years...that's not how the system works. But we are in a window of opportunity we have already started using up. We have a ton of cap space because we don't have to pay Mariota $20mil/yr. Once, we do, our windows will be shorter and less maneuverable.

    This is viewed as a successful year because we had a winning record and did much better compared to where we were last year and the year before (though not from 2013). It is an unsuccessful year in terms of our real goal - winning the Super Bowl.

    Point is, we have the cap space to make a good jump in on the field talent. We don't want to spend 3 years waiting for someone to develop. Make the jump now and develop players so they are ready to take over in a few years when we need to jettison high priced vets who are no longer worth their contracts (McCourty being an example...except we didn't develop anyone behind him...let alone next to him!).

    Teams get into cap hell because they DONT manage the cap well and don't draft and develop players well. Look at the Giants who basically went on a care free shopping spree because they have drafted so poorly the last few drafts that they had no new nucleus of talent to fill in...which is why they had a depleted roster and ended up firing Coughlin (though that doesn't make sense either when the Owner says it's the GM's fault but the GM keeps his job).

    I agree, we don't necessarily need 3 NEW cb's, but we probably need 2. The best defenses usually have 3 good cb's since they all play so much. If we think Sims or Reed can be an above avg nickel, fine. This draft also has a lot of 1-3 round cb's. Lots of ways to do this. But it doesn't help us to go into a season having $20-50mil in cap space. That means other teams have more money on the field which theoretically means more talent!

    Since we aren't gonna have a coaching advantage, we need to at least close the personel gap.

    If you're goal is to have a winning record and 'see what happens,' we can keep doing what we're doing. If we want to win a Super Bowl, we need to be able to beat a NE or Atlanta type team. We won't do that with an offense that doesn't score, and a defense that can't defend the pass well and by being beaten in nearly every game in special teams!!!
     
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  8. Mitch86

    Mitch86 Pro Bowler

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    I get where you're coming from, the windows are small. But, it has also been proven time and time again that spending big money doesn't equal success. How often do players flop after recieving record contracts?(non QBs especially) Just spending big doesn't guarantee you're getting a better team on the field.

    I think Robinson did a hell of a job with what he had to work with last off season. It will be interesting to see the moves he makes now that he has had more time to adjust things to the way he wants them done.

    I just don't think Robinson will go out and spend a ton of money to try to "win now".

    Again, I know McCourty isn't very good... But getting rid of him just for the sake of getting rid of him won't help the team. He's barely better than some of the others, but he would likely be replaced by the same caliber player, on a cheaper contract. You want to blow the cap anyway, so McCourty who knows the system etc.. at a few mil more isn't hurting. You just can't replace every player with a superstar. That's fact. McCourty is just good enough to hold a spot til he can be replaced.
     
  9. xpmar9x

    xpmar9x The Real Slim Shady

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    I could see us not signing any "big name" FA CBs. JR might take the build through the draft approach and spend money elsewhere. CBs ain't cheap!
     
  10. ICBW

    ICBW MILF Hunter

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    Could understand the draft approach, but we really have no other positions to spend on other than CB.
     
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