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OL Roster Analysis and Free Agency...

Just looking at our OL and when they hit FA.

Potential starters - yrs left under contract:
Flowers - 2
Pugh - 1
Richburg - 2
Jerry - 3
Fluker - 1
Hart- 2

Key reserves:
Gettis - 2
Jones - 1

Longshots to contribute:
Wallace - 1
Bowie - 1
Halapio - 2
Holmes - 1

This is a big problem, imo. Regardless of who you think is deserving of another contract, we simply have to sign or draft AN ENTIRE TEAM worth of OL within 3 years, with 50% of the OL becoming FA after next year, and another 42.5% within two years.

I know some of these guys will not become UFA, but many of them are not expected (at this point) to be key contributors either.

With quality Tackles getting around $11MM a year, quality Guards now getting around $8.5MM, and quality centers getting at least $5MM, buying an OL would require a commitment of close to $44MM. I don't believe we're structured to afford that.

We have two things we need to do: Develop talent, and lock them into favorable contracts. Of course we're all hoping this year's OL will be much improved, and a case can be made that Reese has brought in high level talent to work with, but that doesn't leave us with an affordable OL in 2019.

The only solution I see is to draft 1 or 2 quality OL in the top rounds over the next two years REGARDLESS of how this OL fares. Of course, we could spend a lot more on OL if we find a cheaper replacement for Eli before this OL hits FA and we're willing to let him go so we can resign our own guys.

I wonder if this is part of the front office's plan. Thoughts?


I've mentioned this in posts  
mrvax : 8:08 pm : link
myself. With big contracts ahead for guys like Collins, Beckham, Pugh and Richburg, they can't keep them all.

This would be a good year to grab 2 in the draft that maybe ready in a year and add 2 more from the UDFA pool.

I'm sure they see this coming.


You and I thinking alike...  
if they can get four good years out of a solid G they draft this year it would make things easier cap-wise next year.

Also, drafting Eli's replacement now could lead to enough savings to keep an improved OL intact for 3-4 more years.
Unnecessary panic. Rookie  
section125 : 8:18 pm : link
contracts only last 4 years. So by year 2, those players are only 2 years from a new contract. Big deal. Much ado about nothing.
Free agents sometimes only sign 1 year. Players leave, sign new contracts, sign extensions - rollover is inevitable..
I see nothing unusual........  
We have had this core for a couple of years....

The Issue is they must play as a unit better....Not their contract status.
RE: I see nothing unusual........  
mrvax : 9:05 pm : link
In comment 13409915 George from PA said:
Quote:
We have had this core for a couple of years....

The Issue is they must play as a unit better....Not their contract status.


As a GM, he has to bare in mind that Pugh & Fluker are on a 1 year deal and Flowers & Richburg are only signed for 2. If you believe that should be ignored, not sure what to tell you.

The NFL never implemented my "80% cap count for your own drafted players rule".
Richburg only 1 year unsigned for 2018  
Chip : 9:06 pm : link
The interior three have 1 year left.
RE: Richburg only 1 year unsigned for 2018  
mrvax : 9:11 pm : link
In comment 13409947 Chip said:
Quote:
The interior three have 1 year left.


Dammit Chip, you're right.
Every team has contract issues  
SGMen : 9:31 pm : link
Look, if Eli continues to regress we have a bigger hole to fill than just the OL.

Minor nits  
giants#1 : 10:04 pm : link
Richburg only has 1 season remaining as pucks in Rds 2-7 only get 4 year deals.

Flowers potentially has 3 years left since they can pick up his 5th year option.
Good Christ  
Joey in VA : 10:14 pm : link
You people worry about some inane shit. You think about contract lengths and who may or may not leave via FA and it makes you want to turn to BBI for emotional support? Sweet fancy moses, I wish my life was that perfect that I could ponder such utter shit
RE: Good Christ  
In comment 13410023 Joey in VA said:
Quote:
You people worry about some inane shit. You think about contract lengths and who may or may not leave via FA and it makes you want to turn to BBI for emotional support? Sweet fancy moses, I wish my life was that perfect that I could ponder such utter shit


Who's looking for emotional support Joey? I'm just noticing how are OL issues are two-fold. We don't know for sure who's worth investing in, and we're running out of time to figure it out. There's a lot of concern because next contracts can be expensive. If we don't determine who's worth it this year we might be in a lot of trouble.

I don't need any emotional support about this - it doesn't make me emotional in the slightest.

Sorry your life isn't more perfect I guess?
RE: Minor nits  
In comment 13410014 giants#1 said:
Quote:
Richburg only has 1 season remaining as pucks in Rds 2-7 only get 4 year deals.

Flowers potentially has 3 years left since they can pick up his 5th year option.


Yeah - thanks for picking up on that. I was just going by Eric's roster page. The Richburg thing was obviously a mistake on my part.

Lots of other options to consider as well.
Reese already has this figured out.  
GmanND : 3/29/2017 12:19 am : link
Quote:
With quality Tackles getting around $11MM a year, quality Guards now getting around $8.5MM, and quality centers getting at least $5MM, buying an OL would require a commitment of close to $44MM. I don't believe we're structured to afford that.


Keep the quality down, keep the cost down. No problem.
.....  
CoughlinHandsonHips : 3/29/2017 8:41 am : link
The gmen have the cap room. A lot of these expiring contracts have more to do with them not being sold on any of our current players.

Pugh has injury troubles, Richburg had a slump
OL prospects all need to play much better and earn a second contract  
JonC : 3/29/2017 8:51 am : link
If they don't, NYG moves on. Pugh needs to stay healthy, Richburg needs to rebound, EF needs to solidify his grasp at LT, etc.

Those who don't need to be replaced, and we'll be grateful there's no accelerated cap hits to eat.
I know it's going to be a good day...  
Racer : 3/29/2017 8:55 am : link
...when we get JonC and Joey playing good-cop bad-cop before 9am.
RE: OL prospects all need to play much better and earn a second contract  
Victor in CT : 3/29/2017 9:13 am : link
In comment 13410285 JonC said:
Quote:
If they don't, NYG moves on. Pugh needs to stay healthy, Richburg needs to rebound, EF needs to solidify his grasp at LT, etc.

Those who don't need to be replaced, and we'll be grateful there's no accelerated cap hits to eat.


Yes!
I am more worried about their subpar play  
Rudy5757 : 3/29/2017 10:13 am : link
than their contracts. Look at the Cowboys issues on their OL. Next season their top 2 OL go from a cap figure of just over $13M in 2017 to almost $30M in 2018 for just 2 players. And that is not including Martin who is their best OL, they are going to have over $40M into their 3 OL next season or they will have to tear it up.

Every team has issues with OL, if you have a great OL how are you going to pay them? If you have a crappy OL like us you most likely can find cheaper alternatives or pay a stud. Our key is Ereck Flowers, if his light turns on our OL will be much better. The left side of Flowers, Pugh can be great. I am excited about the possibility as I am not as down on Flowers as some here. Most kids his age would just be coming out in the draft. Fluker cant be any worse than we had last year on the right side. If they suck at least we are not stuck with bad contracts and can move on.

Looks like a poorly designed argument for drafting o-linemen  
Bob in Newburgh : 3/29/2017 11:11 am : link
and only o-linemen.

If you want to worry about contracts, worry about OBJ, because only bad things happening will make him a cheap, easy re-sign.
Only Pugh and Richburg are better than JAGs. Slightly better.  
Ivan15 : 3/29/2017 2:11 pm : link
Unless someone steps up to the point where their free agency is an issue, I wouldn't worry about it.
RE: Looks like a poorly designed argument for drafting o-linemen  
Dan in the Springs : 3/29/2017 2:24 pm : link
In comment 13410475 Bob in Newburgh said:
Quote:
and only o-linemen.

If you want to worry about contracts, worry about OBJ, because only bad things happening will make him a cheap, easy re-sign.


Excellent point re: OBJ, but I wasn't trying to make a case to only draft OL. Just saying we need to find some quality OL and can't afford to do it through FA alone. Since our OL is getting ready to hit FA, they either look good and some move on or they don't, and we move on from them. Either way, it seems we need some pieces that are cheap and under contract for a while.
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