jeanpierre

Via WalterFootball.com



New Orleans Saints:

2/6: Ben Watson told the media that he has had "good conversations" with the Saints' front office. -

2/5: Brandon Browner indicated that he's being cut by the Saints. -

2/4: Drew Brees on ESPN about contract extension: "If conversations are to be had, they haven’t happened yet." - Christopher Dabe, NOLA.com

2/3: Re-signing Terron Armstead is the Saints' No.1 priority this offseason. - Mike Triplett, ESPN

2/1: The Saints are expected to "downsize" at running back, and C.J. Spiller counts $3.25 million against the cap. - Mike Triplett, ESPN

Read more at NFL Rumors

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

hagan714

What are we talking a Tyron Smith contract here?

eight-year contract reportedly worth $98 million.
when all is said and done an extension for 9 years at a payout of about $100 million.

which after 10 years might be the going rate for a LOT.

jeanpierre

I'd be real careful with the guaranteed money, long term offer...

Evans wasn't nearly the same player after year one into the Big MO...

I'd offer some lucrative incentives tied to All-Pro, not ProBowl, but All-Pro...

other lucrative incentives I'd add are playing time, effectiveness...

the delayed signing bonus is another one that Loomis needs to rethink...

jeanpierre

Well, we may not be able to sign as many, but these are my five (5) priorities for the Saints in NFL free agency:

(1) NT Damon Harrison - Harrison is literally the biggest secret defensive weapon in football and the guy who could shut down the interior running lanes and push the pocket for the edge rushers...

(2) LB Danny Trevathan - guy is entering his prime and the cover linebacker the Saints have lacked; he's coming off a Superbowl win and can bring alot to a defense that needs confidence and pride...

(3) TE Ben Watson - a leader and a complete tight end, the Saints have been a model of consistency on offense and Watson fits neatly into that philosophy...

(4) OG Ted Larsen - a great locker room and team leader, he can bring alot to young offensive linemen Armstead, Peat and Lelito and was sorely missed when injured during the Patriots playoff push...

(5) CB Tracy Porter - his best years were with Dennis Allen and a reunion could yield great results with respect to depth; Porter could spell Westbank while recovering from another surgery or possibly replace Lewis if he's unable to make it back...

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

jeanpierre

WalterFootball.com: 2016 NFL Free Agents - Top 90

jeanpierre

Was looking at the free agent guards for 2016...

With the exception of Free Agent Patriot Ted Larsen, all the other guards are 'built' the same way...

Big, strong and tall, and we have a guy like that who could be kicked inside, Zach Strief...

One problem is, as a guard he wouldn't be able to pull and get to that second level as he's not the most nimble guy, but we pull with our tackles more than our guards...

The other is his height which could be a problem for Brees...

Guard is now a very big acquisition priority whether Free Agency, Draft or Trade...

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

jeanpierre

Spotrac has updated the projected cap numbers for 2016, with the official releases and moves (not including Browner) and we have ~1.8mil in cap space now available...


Browner has a a 6.3mil cap number with just over 5.3mil of that in dead money...

Browner must have really pulled a 180° in the locker room for the Saints to take that kinda hit...



Thomas Morestead has nearly a 4.5 mil cap number, with only 1.2 mil of that as dead money...

Dannel Ellerbe has a 5.9 mil cap number with no dead money attached...

Releasing Morestead and Ellerbe gives you add'l cap room of 9.2 mil which give you the space to sign Armstead to an extension (before he earns added leverage, i.e. All-Pro, ProBowl honors) and to upgrade that WLB position with Danny Trevathan or sign TE Ben Watson...

To gain another interior defensive lineman and an offensive guard before the draft, they'll need to have some visits with the agents for Drew (which Loomis probably should handle for fear of further butt-hurt) and Cam Jordan...

And releasing Jairus Byrd doesn't look like an option at the moment, but who knows...

Source: New Orleans Saints 2016 Salary Cap Table | Spotrac

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

jeanpierre

Geeez, we waste money in Free Agency like the New York Yankees!!!

2016 Saints Dead Cap Money

*As of 11 Feb 2016

Player Name	POS	Base	Sign Bonus	Roster Bonus	Option Bonus	-	Restruct Bonus	Misc	Dead Cap	Cap Hit	Cap %
Junior Galette	OLB	-	$2,100,000	-	-	-	$10,000,000	-	-	$12,100,000	7.78
Jahri Evans	G	-	$3,600,000	-	-	-	$1,500,000	-	-	$5,100,000	3.28
David Hawthorne	ILB	-	$760,000	-	$750,000	-	$750,000	-	-	$2,260,000	1.45
Brodrick Bunkley	DT	-	$900,000	-	-	-	$712,500	-	-	$1,612,500	1.04
Erik Lorig	FB	-	$500,000	-	-	-	-	-	-	$500,000	0.32
Stanley Jean-Baptiste	CB	-	$482,448	-	-	-	-	-	-	$482,448	0.31
Ramon Humber	OLB	-	$167,000	-	-	-	-	-	-	$167,000	0.11
Ronald Powell	OLB	-	$84,432	-	-	-	-	-	-	$84,432	0.05
Sean Hickey	T	-	$6,667	-	-	-	-	-	-	$6,667	0.00
Cyril Lemon	G	-	$4,000	-	-	-	-	-	-	$4,000	0.00
Marcus Pierce-Brewster	LB	-	$4,000	-	-	-	-	-	-	$4,000	0.00
R.J. Harris	WR	-	$3,600	-	-	-	-	-	-	$3,600	0.00
Ashaad Mabry	DT	-	$3,600	-	-	-	-	-	-	$3,600	0.00
Harold Spears	TE	-	$3,600	-	-	-	-	-	-	$3,600	0.00
Total Cap Figures	-	-	$8,619,347	-	$750,000	-	$12,962,500	-	-	$22,331,847	14.34

Source: http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/new-orleans-saints/cap/

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

brees84

Erik Lorig FB - dead cap money $500,000

Fullback!!! lol

jeanpierre

I know; I'd like to see the Saints FA internal memos, notes and scouting reports that went into that signing...