Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Agent's Take: How familiarity could impact 19 teams' free-agency plans - CBSSports.com

(excerpt from article)

http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/80x80/NO.pngNew Orleans Saints

It's hard to imagine the Saints being aggressive in free agency because of poor results with high-end signings in recent years and quarterback Drew Brees' league high $30 million cap number as another restraint. Assistant general manager/college scouting director Jeff Ireland drafted cornerback Sean Smith and defensive end Olivier Vernon, who may be franchised, when he was Miami's general manager. Both players are probably out of the Saints' price range.

Offensive guard should be addressed after Jahri Evans' refusal to take a pay cut led to his release. Incognito got the richest deal of his career at $4.3 million per year in 2011 during Ireland's tenure with the Dolphins.

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Broncos offering Malik Jackson more than $10 million a year | ProFootballTalk

Sheesh... I don't know if Malik Jackson is worth getting into a bidding war with Denver. I think I'd rather save a few million and aggressively pursue Damon Harrison.

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

:shock:!

Agreed on Damon. Bring him back home.

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

We could match that offer, and it'd be worth it...

But the smart money will be that the Saints sign three five mil/year guys, filling as many holes before the draft gets here...

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Saints shock the world and bring Matt Forte home.

I am still stuck on "prove it" money contracts like
Mark Barron and Tahir Whitehead

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Excerpt from ProFootball Focus

10 BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYERS ABOUT TO HIT FREE AGENCY...

1. Alshon Jeffery, WR, Bears (94.4)...

2. Cordy Glenn, LT, Bills (88.7)...

3. Kelechi Osemele, LG, Ravens (89.0)
The long-time Raven is entering the prime of his career—and playing as well as ever after a slow start to 2015. Osemele has already proved to be one of the best run blockers in the entire league, with his ability to win at the point of attack setting him apart from other NFL guards.

4. Doug Martin, RB, Buccaneers (91.5)...

5. Kelvin Beachum, LT, Steelers (79.4)...

6. Donald Penn, LT, Raiders (87.1)...

7. Evan Mathis, G, Broncos (88.2)
Mathis might be the oldest guard in the league, but age is but a number, especially for a player who spent his earlier years on the bench instead of on the field. Injuries the past two season are a reason for concern, but he’s provided the kind of injection of immediate talent the Broncos desperately needed on their offensive line, and his ability to do the same elsewhere can’t be overlooked.

8. Lamar Miller, RB, Dolphins (82.4)...

9. Richie Incognito, G, Bills (91.6)
One of the comeback stories of the year, none of us are qualified to examine the incidents that led to Incognito taking an enforced year sabbatical, or whether he can stay out of off-field controversies. But we are qualified to say that Incognito, at 31 years of age, is playing the best football of his career, and has plenty of good moments on the field ahead of him.

10. Michael Crabtree, WR, Raiders (80.7)...

Source: https://www.profootballfocus.com/blo...t-free-agency/

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Of those three guards I would prefer Oselme. I don't want Mathis because of his age and I'd like us to stay as far away as possible from Incognito.

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Three NFL teams roll more than $20M of salary-cap space into 2016 - CBSSports.com

(excerpt)

...Three NFL teams -- the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Cleveland Browns and the Tennessee Titans -- rolled more than $20 million in space into the coming league year.

The Jags were by far the leader in the clubhouse, rolling over more than $32 million in space. They're already in a position where they literally have to spend (in order to hit a spending floor established in the last CBA), which means Dave Caldwell is going to feel like Warren Buffett shopping at Christmas when the free-agency market opens.

Per the union, every single team elected to roll cap space over. Three teams -- the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints -- did not roll over the maximum amount of cap space they were allowed...

...Here's the carry over amount for every single NFL team:

TEAM	CARRY OVER	CAP SPACE
New Orleans Saints	1,400,000	7,551,494

Salary cap source: spotrac.com

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

I am guessing a rookie pool of some 9 million for 2016
we got some work still to do but we are close

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

After all the restructuring we should have 12-18 million depending on what they do with Brees. Resigning our UFA's will be huge. Leito, Wilson, Sanford, Watson, Hill, Kelemete and Cadet need retained IMO. Thats roughly 10 Million right there. After signing rookies you will not have a ton to spend on FA's unless the contracts are back loaded. I would love to see Ruben Randle and Osemele signed. Stay away from any big name defensive players and shore up those holes in the draft. I would also resign Forbath. No way we sign a high dollar kicker. Draft one late and let them fight it out.

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

RG Tim Lelito, TE Ben Watson, TE Josh Hill are the only guys I'd be worried about on that list...

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Sign...

DE Malik Jackson is going to command Cam Jordan numbers...

NT Damon Harrison is going to between 5 to 6 mil per year....

Got to get bigger, stronger on the defensive line...

If Drew wants Guards, let him follow Brady's example...

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Maybe we finally realize a 3-4 defense?!?

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Well there are a few NT in the draft. 34DE also. wish they would make up their minds. 34 DL in the first?

Jarran Reed, DT/DE, Alabama 6034 313 5.14

and kick the table over for trading Akiem Hicks.

After Reed I really do not like the 34 defense options in round 1. loaded with 43 DE that think they can be 34 OLB.

stick with 43 and have Laurinaitis play mentor for the most part. strong side LB? then what would you do with Kikaha?

mentor and 3 down MLB

cut Dannell Ellerbe who has no dead money and always in the tub? pretty much an even swap

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

+1. Hopefully it's only a 'visit' and nothing more.

Per PFF Laurinitis graded at 2nd worst in pass coverage, slow and poor against the run. Isn't this why Hawthorne was shown the door?? He is also a PURE MIKE like Stephone (why move him?). I simply don't understand why the Saints front office keeps wheeling guys in to NO that are past their prime. Maybe he comes super duper cheap or added depth.

Stay young, faster, stronger. PASS.

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Really expect Ellerbe to bounce back for us this season; wouldn't mind drafting a WLB (Myles Jack in a perfect world) to mentor this season...

Bama's Jarran Reed and LaTech's Vernon Butler are the only really good fits I see at DT/DE for the Saints in the first round this season...

And even then the rookies will be limited in their first seasons as rookies with inexperience and adjusting to the strength, speed of the NFL...

That's why I'd prefer we go all out and sign Free Agents Malick Jackson and Damon Harrison and have known quantities at need positions...

Thereby given us the flexibility to maximize the best possible moves and selections in the NFL draft...

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

I have been reading that Malik's agent is wanting ridiculous money to retain his services in 2016. Broncos could save franchise tag for DE Malik Jackson

I think he is off our radar however Damon could be another story ... he can be had.

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

It appears to me that this isn't the FA or draft to really be able to start contending in this thread.

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

What the saints defense needs is a repeat 2006 off season in which the LB corp got settled for the most part.

Scott Fujita, Scott Shanle,

solid veterans that were hungry and wanted to start. hate them or not they were just what this club needed.

that is why i look at platers like Mark Barron and Tahir Whitehead to man the WLB position

a repeat in the draft would be good too.

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Now for the right price THAT would be a signing I could get on board with!

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Wiliams was bad in Ryans 3-4 defense. (entire defense was bad) Before that he was great. If we don't swich to 3-4 defense then this is solid signing.

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Yes sir :bng:. I remember towards the latter part of the 2015 season Mario complained about being dropped in coverage & doing things he wasn't use to. I think scheme had a lot to do with his play last year.

Definitely worth a look.

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Sam Bradford gets new 2 year deal worth 40mil, 26mil guaranteed. lol

Bad year for Drew extension. But it needs to be done.

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Hagan...we've got linebackers...good ones, and they're gonna be great...

Ellerbe's injury required patience; hip injury are more serious than all parties wanted to realize...

However, We DO need to draft another linebacker in the 2016 selection slate...

In fact, we should be drafting at least one linebacker or defensive end every year...

In free agency, I really wanted us to go after Trevathan...

After looking at the market initially and what it'll take to get a match to Cam Jordan (i.e. Malick Jackson) on the other side; there's no way we could afford Trevathan and it was best to lock down Ellerbe and back him up with a draft selection...

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

ILB Danny Trevathan

Current Falcons defensive coordinator Richard Smith is Trevathan's old position coach in Denver. Per McClure, "word is" the Falcons are willing to pay $5 million to $6 million per year to upgrade their linebacker corps. Atlanta is expected to face competition from the Bears for Trevathan's services.
Danny Trevathan - Denver Broncos - 2016 Player Profile - Rotoworld.com

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Bring him back, Matt Flynn QB

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Yeah, when we reworked the deal with Dannell Ellerbe, Trevathan was off the table for us...

Which could signal (hope) that our free agent targets are DE Malick Jackson and NT Damon Harrison...

Then if Drew walks in wanting help at guard, we have the leverage to get a Tom Brady/Team First deal...

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Sean Weatherspoon - veteran minimum?
Derrick Shelby - DE for depth?
Ian Williams - solid NT?

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

While we may be slightly challenged with depth at linebacker, our biggest challenge is the lack of size, skill on the defensive line...

We've got to spend and the top two targets for us in free agency has got to be DE Malik Jackson and NT Damon Harrison...

Signing those two studs up front changes everything...

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Or how about this guy ? ...

Panthers cut veteran defensive end Charles Johnson | ProFootballTalk

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Top 16 NFL free agents in 2016: Jackson, Osweiler lead class

Nate Davis, USA TODAY Sports 10:26 a.m. EST March 3, 2016

The NFL deadline to apply franchise and transition tags has now passed, so players with expiring contracts can now focus on negotiating new deals with their teams. Barring that, they can begin talking with other clubs Monday and sign elsewhere starting March 9. Here are our top 15 potential free agents, excluding those receiving tags:

1. DE Malik Jackson, Denver Broncos...:bng:

2. QB Brock Osweiler, Broncos...

3. OL Kelechi Osemele, Baltimore Ravens...

4. CB Sean Smith, Kansas City Chiefs...

5. RB Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers...

6. T Mitchell Schwartz, Cleveland Browns..

7. CB Janoris Jenkins, Los Angeles Rams...

8. LB Danny Trevathan, Broncos...

9. TE Coby Fleener, Indianapolis Colts...

10. NT Damon Harrison, New York Jets...:bng:

11. RB Lamar Miller, Miami Dolphins...

12. DE Jason Pierre-Paul, New York Giants...

13. T Russell Okung, Seattle Seahawks...

14. C Alex Mack, Cleveland Browns... (Unger to Guard?!?)

15. RB Chris Ivory, Jets...

16. DE Mario Williams, Buffalo Bills...

Injury Prone/Red, Cautionary Flags

Source: Top 16 NFL free agents in 2016: Jackson, Osweiler lead class

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Chargers let this guy (Donald Butler) go yesterday ... kind of surprising. Got paid and lost desire? Maybe they have a lot of confidence in Denzel Perriman?

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

If Drew gets his extension and we sign Jackson,Harrison,and Mack ( Unger to guard) and draft Treadwell...I would be so frickin happy. I think extending Drew two more years could make that possible. The only problem is other teams have a lot more money to throw at those guys...

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

You are funny Riation.

I'd settle for just signing one impact player this Free Agency. Got a feeling the Saints will target a Mid Tier/smaller name type guy for 2016.

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

I am sure Drew wants protection

Locking Max Unger in would not be a bad idea either then go shopping

(LG) Kelechi Osemele, Ravens
Projected Value: 5 years, $37-41 million

(LG) Alex Boone, San Francisco 49ers
Projected Value: 4 years, $21-25 million

(LG) Evan Mathis, Broncos
Projected Value: 2 years, $8-10 million

(RG/RT) Jeff Allen, Kansas City Chiefs
Projected Value: 4 years, $17-21 million

others
Brandon Brooks, Houston
Ramon Foster, Pittsburgh
Richie Incognito, Buffalo
Manny Ramirez, Detroit
Mike Harris, Minnesota
J.R. Sweezy, Seattle
Craig Urbik, Buffalo

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Incognito plays pretty well. If I went after a OG to set next to Unger it would be him and draft Alexander to shore up 4 out of 5 on the O-line and if Peat can take Striefs spot things will be good.