Here is how I want the team to approach our in house free agent class; Main Priorities OGBAH- Lock him up for 3 years. He has been the key to our defensive line. Consistent player. We know what we are getting… which is important. Back up the brinks truck. GEISIKI- Franchise tag is a no brainer for me. Estimated 10.8M for 1 year. Hooper, Henry and J Smith were all getting more than that on longer term. Keeps us flexible. For all his uniqueness, he just isn’t a complete tight end. I think it’s smart to not overcommit since we don’t have to right now. Rules are in our favour. Take advantage. NEEDHAM - Underrated guy and has killed it in the slot for us. Think he gets more $$$ then people expect. Hope we are the ones paying it…. Bring him back. SMYTHE - Well rounded player. Better in the passing game then he gets credit for. Probably gets a little too much credit for his blocking. Want him back, but the price is more of a concern. Adios/Sayonora/See ‘Ya Fuller, Brissett, Albert Wilson, Malcolm Brown, Michael Palordy, Preston Williams, Salvon Ahmed. (Without comment) Flores’ Guys Elandon Roberts, Jason McCourtey and Justin Coleman. These guys seem like Flores guys and may not want to come back. That said I would throw some $$$ at Roberts and try to change his mind. He brought an attitude to the defense… played noticeably better with him. Not concerned with the other two. Yes, Why Not? Hollins, Eguodeven and Scarlett- All 3 are good special teamers and decent depth at their actual positions. Duke Johnson- Played inspired down the stretch. Not a 1A plan. But good depth at a positional weakness. (and RB FA class is awful) The Rest Duke Riley, Greg Mancz, John Jenkins, Philip Lindsay, Elijah Campbell. Nothing here really interests me.
I have Hollins as a main priority. Not for too much money but he is our special teams' leader and he is good at it. Plus he is a fine 5th WR off the bench. Honestly, should play more of a Gisecki role in the offense since he can block as well. Also, Needham is an RFA, so I would sign him as one of those with at least a 2nd round tender
I would offer Ogbah the same 2 year/18 mil deal he got before from us. If he takes it, great. If not, then let him test free agency. He's a solid player, but I don't think that he's worth more than that. Needham is a RFA. I'd offer him the top amount for that rate (2.5m ish), and see how he plays next year in a new system. I would not offer Gesicki a big contract. He just isn't worth what the guys at the top of the pay scale at his position are making, and I haven't seen him get better over the last three seasons. More involved, but not better. Tyler Higbee is the 7th highest paid TE, at about 7.5m a season. I'd offer that and let him think about it. If he tests free agency, then that's fine. I would see if I could resign Smythe at a fair rate for a #2 TE. 2.5-3m per season. If Gesicki walks, then I'm fine seeing if he can be the #1 for a short time while we look for a long term solution. I'd much rather use the money on a UFA WR than on Gesicki. I would offer Duke Johnson a contract similar to what we have Malcom Brown this past year. Basically a one year 2.5 mil deal with a second year option. I'd bring him back as depth and veteran insurance, but ideally as our #3 back next season. I'd offer Lindsay a smaller contract to come to camp and compete for a role. Maybe some incentives if he earns playing time and does well that could make it bigger. Mack Hollins money value is difficult to put a finger on. There are very few veteran WRs in the league who are doing his role any more. Most are first contract guys. I would probably see if I could sign him for about 2m a season. I'd let everyone else walk.
I think you are a little early on this post. We gotta wait for a new coach + new staff. I've been through a few of these. First thing is first, we could see small or drastic changes in offense, defense, or both. The new coach will also bring in some of "his guys." Finally, there will be some surprise departures who do not fit the new vision. Don't kill the messenger. This is just how these things work.
Its never too early. This is what fans do. I mean, if we aren't here to talk about football and the Dolphins, why are we here? We could have ten of these threads by the time the league year starts, and that would be ok.
I think you may be a little optimistic on the Ogbah number. I’m expecting north of 11M. You’re Hollins number is probably spot on. That’s about what veteran special teams aces get. We payed Fejedelum and Carter 2.5M each last year. Hollins outperformed both.
I probably am being optimistic, but I don't think that he's worth a lot more than that. He's a 28-year old role player and could very well be changing defenses next season. He's certainly useful, but even though his 18.0 sacks the last two seasons are solid numbers, he rarely gets to the QB otherwise, with 5 more total QB hits over the same time. I see him as a bridge to an eventual long term answer more than an essential piece himself.
Agreed. He’s been extremely effective with pressures and batted balls. Very underrated player and hope he stays in Miami. He’s been our most consistent pass rusher.
How do you move forward with signing players until you know what the new coach wants as far as scheme fit, etc.?
"I would not offer Gesicki a big contract. He just isn't worth what the guys at the top of the pay scale at his position are making, and I haven't seen him get better over the last three seasons. More involved, but not better. Tyler Higbee is the 7th highest paid TE, at about 7.5m a season. I'd offer that and let him think about it. If he tests free agency, then that's fine." I would try to trade the Rams Geisicki for Higbee.
If Roberts and Egueveon are anything more than ST guys and bench warmers next season, our LB unit is going to suck yet again. IMO, we need two new starters alongside Baker.
That is what Eguevon was. He was a bench guy who would come out every once in a blue moon. He is fine. I 100% agree with Roberts. MLB is the most upgradable position on defense.
I just don't think he's worth it. Did you watch Dalton Schultz play for Dallas this past weekend? That was a fairly typical game for him, and he looked better than Gesicki has in almost all of his career games. Everything Mike does just looks so challenging and awkward. It's never smooth or routine.
The first thing you do is not sign Mike Gesicki. If you're going to build the offense around Tua, you need Jaylen Waddle types who can create separation in the short area and use agility and elusiveness to get YAC and achieve the necessary pass efficiency. Mike Gesicki is incompatible with that. If Gesicki could play inline and block adequately like a traditional tight end, that would be a different story, because he could create favorable matchups by making opposing defenses stay more honest against the run in terms of personnel and calls. Without that however he simply allows opposing defenses to insert another DB and anticipate the pass, while providing far too little of the YAC ability needed to complement Tua. Gesicki essentially becomes a slow, lumbering slot receiver, and certainly not the type you want existing alongside Tua. This is a good article that explains why players like Gesicki are incompatible with players like Tua: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...-rodgers-out-of-yac-and-mediocre-quarterbacks
The part you're missing here is that Gisecki is not a tight end...he never has been. In 2021, the vast majority of his snaps came at slot and we should re-sign him as a slot receiver. Why? Because past Waddle, we didn't have a healthy starting receiver all year. To me, Gisecki is a big upgrade over Mac Hollins (the only other guy who stays healthy). You don't get rid of a pass catcher when you don't have enough healthy pass catchers to start a typical game. Gisecki has to be re-signed as a slot receiver OR we need to be very active in free agency/draft for receivers.
Yeah I'm not saying you let Gesicki go and replace him with nothing. I'm saying you let him go and replace him with another Jaylen Waddle type whose physical characteristics enable him to get the YAC required with a QB like Tua. What you don't want is a player absorbing a significant percentage of the salary cap whose contribution in the all-important area of pass offense isn't consistent with his salary. The fact that Gesicki is not a tight end is precisely his weakness. If he were a traditional tight end he would inspire opposing run defense personnel, formations, and calls that could be exploited with the passing game. In the absence of that he's a glorified slot receiver, and not one whose physical characteristics complement Tua. Tua needs YAC players at receiver, not slow, lumbering types.
I completely agree- Tua needs separation receivers (sadly, think NE) and not guys like Parker/Williams who play for jump balls with a defender all over them. We have a big problem with people getting open in general. But at the same time, Gisecki is clearly better than our 4th and 5th stringers filling in from special teams...that's all I meant. What I don't want to see is us letting Gisecki walk and then maybe getting one "splash" receiver like Will Fuller...who doesn't work out and we're left with nothing. That's happened over and over and over again at RB and WR. In my mind, we upgrade the line through free agency, and we draft all offensive skill players in this draft. Maybe R1 is a MLB, I'm cool with that, but we have to stock the ranks of dependable, everyday receivers that are ready to compete. Brian Hartline....that's what I want. Give me three of him. Not flashy, but dependable in staying healthy, getting open and hauling in the football. Of course, we'd love to have three more Waddle's...but we're not going to get that, LOL.
I want to completely change the offense. It wasn't working so far as it was. Take the focus off of the RPO, build up the OL to give him more time to scan the field, and try to just get the ball into the hands of the open man. Don't over commit to any one kind of WR. Focusing on YAC guys is just going to blow up in our face.
Was hoping to see Dean from Georgia filling one of those spots, but San Fran’s late surge put an end to that.