Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Is there a great DE still out there? If we can find that guy, it could really make Hagan's dream come true.

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Dont think anyone great is still there

Connor Barwin if the money is right

Could see what someone like Mario Williams wants
While nowhere near his best anymore still plays the run well

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Those left

Connor Barwin, DE/OLB, Eagles. Age: 30.
Connor Barwin collected 14.5 sacks in 2014, and he tallied seven sacks the year after. His production fell off a cliff this past season, however, as he was miscast as a 4-3 defensive end. That, and the near-$8 million cap savings are the two reasons Barwin was released. Barwin can still play though, and he would be wise to sign with a 3-4 team.

Datone Jones, DE, Packers. Age: 27.
Datone Jones was drafted to be a five-technique, but was moved to outside linebacker. He did well there in 2015, but regressed a bit in 2016. He still has a ton of talent as a former first-round pick, however, and perhaps he'll improve once his role becomes fully defined.


DeMarcus Ware, DE/OLB, Broncos. Age: 35.
DeMarcus Ware will be in the Hall of Fame one day, but he struggled this past season. An ailing back forced him to miss six games, and he accumulated just four sacks. Perhaps he'll rebound a bit in 2017, but he turns 35 in July, so it's not looking very good.


Trent Cole, DE/OLB, Colts. Age: 34.
Trent Cole dealt with a bothersome back injury this past season, limiting him to seven games. He wasn't bad when on the field, but he clearly wasn't the same player as he once was. Turning 35 in October, Cole doesn't have much time remaining in the league.

Paul Kruger, DE/OLB, Saints. Age: 31.
Paul Kruger has steadily declined over the past couple of years. He logged 11 sacks in 2014, but hasn't really been the same since, thanks in part to a back injury he suffered this past season.

Devin Taylor, DE, Lions. Age: 27.
I'm not sure what happened to Devin Taylor. He's had some quality seasons - he recorded seven sacks in 2015, for instance - but he was awful this past year.

Chris Long, DE, Patriots. Age: 32.
Chris Long was still an effective player for the Patriots this past season, but he's clearly not the dominant defender he used to be. Long turns 32 in March, and he probably has one more year as a somewhat decent starter remaining.

Dwight Freeney, DE, Falcons. Age: 37.
Dwight Freeney played about half of Atlanta's defensive snaps in 2016, serving as a situational pass-rusher. He did a good job in his reduced role, collecting three sacks. Freeney told the media that he's not considering retirement quite yet.

Mario Williams, DE, Dolphins. Age: 32.
Mario Williams was terrible in 2015, and he wasn't any better this past season. He notchd just 1.5 sacks, and he was ultimately a healthy scratch at the end of the year. Williams has lost all of his pass-rushing ability, but still happens to be decent versus the run. If he can stomach signing a deal for the minimum and being a two-down run specialist, that might be the only way he can continue his career.


Rob Ninkovich, DE, Patriots. Age: 33.
Margus Hunt, DE, Bengals. Age: 30.
Ethan Westbrooks (RFA), DE, Rams. Age: 26.
Alex Okafor, DE/OLB, Cardinals. Age: 26.
Wes Horton, DE, Panthers. Age: 27.
Armonty Bryant, DE, Lions. Age: 27.
Tourek Williams, DE/OLB, Chargers. Age: 26.
Sam Acho, DE/OLB, Bears. Age: 28.

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Paul Kruger makes the most sense to sign as:

• he's now had a year in D.A.'s scheme
  
• he improved after being signed late, in Week 1
  
• he a mature veteran who can help transition a younger player
  
• he can provide excellent depth for a position that needs rotation
  
• he's now had a full offseason to recover from his back injury

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Daryl Tapp too

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

DeMarcus Ware

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Saintfan still not signed...


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Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

I actually think that's a good idea. Either him or Barwin. 1 year deal that's affordable and fair.

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Barwin was cut because he's much better as a 3-4 pass rusher than he is as a 4-3 DE. Kruger played okay, but if we want somebody who can really get to the QB it's DeMarcus Ware on a 1 year deal as a rotational pass rusher.

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Datone Jones, DE, Packers. Age: 27.
Datone Jones was drafted to be a five-technique, but was moved to outside linebacker. He did well there in 2015, but regressed a bit in 2016. He still has a ton of talent as a former first-round pick, however, and perhaps he'll improve once his role becomes fully defined.

Let him bulk back up and move him back to his natural 43 DE position and call the 34 OLB experiment a failure. He also has a proven track record on special teams.

Devin Taylor, DE, Lions. Age: 27.
I'm not sure what happened to Devin Taylor. He's had some quality seasons - he recorded seven sacks in 2015, for instance - but he was awful this past year.

might be some what of a steal after a down year

Roll the dice on young bucks at lower cap hits and load up camp. Not like we have a ton of quality DE as it is. Old dogs dragging themselves on the field just aint cutting it