Today a better evaluation period starts as they put on pads. Hopefully we'll see the same performance from guys like Harris, Raekwon, and DVP as we did in mini camps. Of course, as pads and intensity increase, so does the risk of injury. I am really hoping we can avoid those, as we are perilously thin at some positions (DL, LB). Jarvis' contract. I don't remember the last time there have been so many X factors in a negotiation. We not only have JL's skill set and production to consider, but also what else we have (and are paying) at the position. Stills is getting 8 mil a year. If Parker breaks out, next year, he's due to get paid. In a strange kind of way, we are having to thread a needle between Jarvis' contribution (catches, presence-intensity, blocking, attitude, locker room) and ceiling vs what Parker potentially brings to the team. We don't need one of the young WRs to be the next Jarvis Landry...we need them to be the next Davone Bess--Our QB is becoming the leader of the team, esp the offense. Salary cap doesn't allow us to have over $30M in 3 WRs. Or does it? I am concerned about LB depth. I like Hull and Hewitt, and we may need them to contribute meaningful snaps. Its unrealistic to think our top 3 guys will be healthy 16 games, esp when teams are probably going to attack us between the tackles--based on last year. Interior OL--not as concerning--IF Pouncey can play, I think we'll be good. If he can't, I think we'll at least be as good as last year (good enough to make the playoffs). OT--if something happens to one of our tackles, we could be in deep doo-doo. I wonder how Spencer Drango is going in Cleveland? They added a lot of bodies and big money to their Oline in FA--and they drafted heavily there too to past couple of years. I might be keeping a very close eye on their depth chart, waiver wire, and have some agents on speed dial. I like the move of Julius Warmsley to DT. If Warmsley and William Hayes work out, Our Dline has some flexibility against passing teams to go with DTs who can get after the QB...and we play the Pats twice, NFC South, Oakland, and SD--that's eight teams that can light you up in the passing game. I like our depth at DB, WR, RB, and QB. I like both kickers, and I like what we have on STs in both return game and coverage units. This is a great time of year!
I won't get into the contract situation, but it is concerning. I will comment that Rashad comes back, Parker and Thomas are healthy, Tannehill is back, and we upgraded at LB, all from a 10 win team. I know there are concerns at depth. However, There will always be a drop off in depth, because the cap can't handle anything else. The football gods have to have mercy on injuries this year. Last year was a disaster with injuries.
Nice post! I'm not nearly as positive as you are on our roster at the moment. That being said, I think that we can get to a place where I could feel more comfortable by week one. LB - Between Hewitt and Hull, I am not sold. I am willing to see them through the preseason. If either one appears like they have turned the corner, I could live with standing pat. I would be monitoring other teams' LB corps. OL - Call it a hunch, but I think that OL (guard especially) will be a need going into the draft next year. I wish we had just signed Ronald Leary and paid him big bucks. It just seems like we are perpetually swinging and missing at guard in the draft. Pouncey's hip scares me. I would be able to commit a decent amount of money really to any position on the OL if someone became available. I want to add depth. DT - This is the one position that keeps me up at night. First of all, I think that the front office has no idea what they have in Jordan Phillips. I think he is a massive man that will always be best served as a rotational guy. I think he would be better and more consistent if he played fewer plays. I know that Jordan Phillips gets a lot of attention on this board and rightfully so, but I keep thinking about the man standing next to him. What if Suh blew out his ACL in training camp? I honestly think that our season would be shot. Whereas LB, I am willing to be patient, and OL I am looking for depth, I think we need to be aggressive at trying to acquire DT talent. I would be willing to give up draft picks to add depth here because I would expect significant playing time from a DT. I agree with you that we are pretty solid at: WR, RB, QB, and S. I think CB will work itself out by the start of the season. We have enough guys that have showed enough flashes that I feel okay. I don't know about the rest of you guys, but I hold my breath every time Franks kicks. I'd be down for an open competition. Okay finally, the Landry situation. Honestly, I am infuriated that the Dolphins have not offered him a contract. Furthermore, I get so frustrated when I see people reducing Landry down to measurables. I understand examining his physical traits when evaluating him as a college player entering the pros, but we no longer have to project what he will be at the next level. There are plenty of players that have entered the league that are bigger, taller, and faster that have nowhere near the production of Landry. I personally find it humorous that prior to the draft, "Trade Parker for a bag of peanuts and a draft pick" was all the rage, and now suddenly, Parker is our long term answer and Landry is one foot out the door. Don't get me wrong, I think Parker can be really special, but Landry is a proven commodity. Honestly, anyone who has that mentality is putting the horse ahead of the carriage. We should extend Landry, and cross Parker's bridge when we get there. If it turns out that Parker is the next AJ Green and we have a lot of money already tied up at WR, that is a high quality problem to have. If that was truly the case, I don't think that it would be difficult to find a trading partner for Stills or Landry. If one of those two players had to play on the franchise tag, I would prefer it to be Parker. For one, Landry has been consistent; Parker is still on the come. Secondly, Landry has been significantly underpaid; Parker has 1st round money. Landry deserves financial security for himself and his family TODAY. Remember Dustin Keller. It would be sickening if Landry never got a payday due to some freak injury.
If I were in charge of negotiations, I would walk into the room with a few contracts in mind to frame our negotiations around. Here are my thoughts on a few of them: Keenan Allen signed a 4 year/$45 mil/$20 gtd in 2016 - I think that this is the most comparable player to Landry $11.25 mil average Doug Baldwin signed a 4 year/$46 mil/$24 gtd in 2016 - I do think that Landry is much better than Baldwin $11.50 average Emmanuel Sanders - 3 year/$33 mil/$20 gtd in in 2016 - Sanders is older but comparable in playing style and talent $11 mil average The final contract that I would bring in is : TY Hilton signed a 5 year/$65 mil/$10 gtd in 2015 $13 mil average We could work off the first three contracts + raise for inflation and offer something in the neighborhood of: 4 years/$50 mil/$22 mil gtd If he felt more comfortable with the TY deal, I would be comfortable with: 5 years/$70 mil/$11 mil gtd I have zero problem with allowing him to bet on himself while at the same time giving the team the freedom (low guarantee) to walk away from the deal. The final deal would be center around Landry's mindset. Does he was the security of a high guarantee or the attempt to maximize his value? The higher amount of guaranteed money that he wants would cost him in terms of max contract value. Less guaranteed money would result in a higher maximum value.
