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?
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.
Also, drafting Eli's replacement now could lead to enough savings to keep an improved OL intact for 3-4 more years.
Free agents sometimes only sign 1 year. Players leave, sign new contracts, sign extensions - rollover is inevitable..
The Issue is they must play as a unit better....Not their contract status.
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".
Dammit Chip, you're right.
Flowers potentially has 3 years left since they can pick up his 5th year option.
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?
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.
Keep the quality down, keep the cost down. No problem.
Pugh has injury troubles, Richburg had a slump
Those who don't need to be replaced, and we'll be grateful there's no accelerated cap hits to eat.
Those who don't need to be replaced, and we'll be grateful there's no accelerated cap hits to eat.
Yes!
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.
If you want to worry about contracts, worry about OBJ, because only bad things happening will make him a cheap, easy re-sign.
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.