Quote:
Originally Posted by VeveJones007
The answer to your first question is "signing true difference-makers." Teams like Denver and NYG have shown that you can be effective targeting high-end free agents who make a real difference for your team.
Keep in mind that some of my desire to do that is because of the "use it or lose it" nature of the cap. They don't have to save much cap space to re-sign guys on expiring rookie deals over the next two years, so they will have a lot of money to spend...otherwise it's gone and a lost opportunity.
To maximize this mini rebuild, Ballard needs to
1) Hit on draft picks
2) Make smart mid- to low-tier UFA signings to stabilize the roster and create depth
3) Utilize his excess cap space in 2018-2019 to sign a couple real difference makers via UFA
#3 is pretty simple: either Ballard allocates that cap space via UFA, or it's money in Irsay's pockets. There are only so many guys you can sign to $3-5MM deals when your roster is bereft of expensive contracts.
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Good answer. Much truth in this but I still think that Ballard will avoid signing the "big" free agents from other teams. Why?
2018 = Vontae Davis (turns 30 before 2018 season), Donte Moncrief (turns 25 before 2018 season), Jack Mewhort (turns 27 before 2018 season). Clear cut starters all of whom will probably be somewhere between "above average NFL starter" to "superstar" on the NFL talent spectrum. All will demand contracts north of $5m a year average who will require "big money" to retain.
2019 = Henry Anderson, Clayton Geathers, Denzell Good, David Parry. Who knows if these guys will be starters or not but they have all shown the ability to be so.
Depending on how the next 2 years go, we could have a lot of guys that the team wants to re-sign. This also does not count folks who, I think, could emerge in 2017 like Rashaan Melvin, Brian Schwenke or Kamar Aiken.
We will see but I think there are a lot of guys whom Ballard could end up wanting to retain that are going to take bigger contracts to do so.
Cheers,