Seattle Seahawks Dynasty (FOF9)

[canuxrok]

John's Journal




Mar 12th, 2024 -

Well, back in Seattle and it's a rainy March Seattle morning. Time to sit down with my Starbucks and get to work for next season. Time to dive deep into the draft soon but first I'll have to deal with corporate about some logistical stuff. Figure out the ticket prices, etc, etc, blah, blah.

We're projected to have -$30 Million in Cap Space next year, so some cuts are sadly going to be in order. Cutting Quandre Diggs saves us $11 M so that's going to happen for sure. He was effective for us on passing downs but he lost his starting role to Julian Love and we can't be spending $15 M on a backup safety. NT Bryan Mone is another no-brainer, we save $5.9 M by releasing him and he didn't play many snaps for us this past year. Dee Eskridge will be released because his spot could be filled easily enough by an undrafted rookie on a minimum contract.

A couple of more difficult decisions will be career Seahawk and fan favourite Tyler Lockett and star safety Jamal Adams. Adams was our top safety last season but he's on the downswing of his career and we can save $16.5 M by letting him go. Lockett was incredible last year but can Jaxon Smith-Njigba replace him for much more reasonable money? We would save $16.9 M by releasing Tyler. Nwosu would be a consideration for release but that would only save us $1.64 M because of how his contract is structured.

I'm looking forward to getting all this figured out so we can focus on the draft and molding this roster.

[canuxrok]

NFL Draft 2024 Preview

March 20th, 2024 -

This draft has a franchise quarterback slated to go first overall and a consensus top 3 who will all be studs. It's a good year for Texas A&M as the Aggies have four players who are likely to go in the top 20, including two of the top 3.

We'll go over the top six players talent wise in the draft, there's some amount of agreement on who they are, and then touch on a couple of the best at each position in this preview. First, the top six.

Pretty much everyone has Aggies QB Case Rosas as the most talented player in the draft. Terms like generational have been thrown around cas-ually but he is likely to at least be a franchise level quarterback despite some red flags in the character/personality department. He has an accurate arm and doesn't throw a lot of interceptions. He relied on the short game a lot in college, which is one of the few knocks on him but NFL teams believe that was a schematic thing and not an arm talent thing. If he has a weakness it is either that he doesn't have a real gunslinger mentality to take deep shots or that he was in a good scheme and system in college and he may not be ready to read NFL defenses. He's athletic and he just completes passes and moves the ball down field with exquisite rhythm, he throws with accuracy and good touch and he grades out as easily the best player in this class.

The first defensive player off the board is in all likelihood going to be Kansas State DT Kenneth Shoemaker. The 6-3 3/4", 310 pound fits best as a one-tech and he wrecks backfields. Whether it's against the run or the pass he just destroys blockers. He has the technique and the power in pass rushing situations, he clogs holes and brings down rushers in the backfield against the run game and he is incredibly intelligent to read the play and react accurately. You'll rarely see him fooled on a playaction or option or reverse, he reads the field so well from his position. He also has the stamina to be an every down lineman in this league. What's not to like? Well not much at all actually. Some have complained that for such a talented player he didn't take much of a leadership role on that defense, and some have noted in their medical exams that he may be susceptible to foot or ankle injuries but his actual on field play has no real holes in it, just like a running play to his gap.

The consensus best offensive lineman in the draft and second Texas A&M product on our list is 6'6" LT Devan Arrington. At 20 years old Arrington is young and has room to improve still but is as close to a sure thing as you'll get. He could still work on his technique and footwork blocking for the run but his pass blocking is already NFL worthy, his power is so good that he'll be knocking pros over in no time and he has the intelligence to quickly learn new schemes and concepts and understand a lot of the nuances of his position already. He never seems to tire out there. The one thing critics have on him is that his arms are a bit short for what you want to see and that could cause him to struggle against elite edge rushers with length in the NFL.

The best of the rest, the next tier of three players who have a leg up on their competition begins with RB Tomas Baumgartner from Clemson. The 5'9" runningback may be one of the more unpredictable first round picks as far as whether he'll hit in the NFL but the talent is there. Despite his short stature he has the power to run you over like a bowling ball. With both power and speed he dominates college linebackers, combining his physical skills with elite hole recognition, reading his blockers and timing his cuts impeccably. He's also a great receiver out of the backfield and has the endurance to be an every down back. He doesn't fumble the ball either. As long as everything translates there's not much there to critique, he seems durable and likable and displayed great leadership for that Clemson offense.

Philip Beckworth is a LT out of Florida who would probably grade out higher if he wasn't so lacking in height. He has long arms for his frame which makes up for it to some extent. Despite being only 6-2 and weighing only 287 pounds his standout characteristic is his physicality and strength in blocking. He is technically sound in the run game and in pass pro, though some scouts think his run blocking fundamentals and footwork are so good that it may be worth moving him to RT in the NFL. He has the football IQ to pick up whatever blocking schemes or concepts you want to teach. He's definitely a wild card because of his size but if a team bets on him and he hits his potential they could have a top OT in the NFL for years to come.

Last of the top six most talented prospects in this draft is CB Stephen Rexford out of Miami. He's 23 already and he's short at 5-8. That's it, that's the knocks against him. He was the best cover corner in the NCAA last year and excels in every aspect of pass defense. You want a guy to play zone? He's him. Lockdown the opponent's best receiver in man coverage all game? Rexford's your guy. Looking for a clutch interception to swing the momentum? He's the ballhawk who's going to come up with it. Despite his small frame he also helps out really well against the run, stepping up and tackling in the open field and reading the play very well. Oh yeah, he can also return punts with the best of them, running two back for touchdowns this past season. As long as his frame can stand up to NFL football this guy will have a high ceiling and could be locking down the NFL's best receivers as soon as next year.

At quarterback, after Rosas there are really only two first round talents available this year, Chris Cloward out of Furman and Chase Munguia of Louisiana State. Cloward is notably a great leader and he can make all the throws. He can move pretty well but he struggles to improvise when a play breaks down. Munguia has the physical measurables that NFL GMs want at 6'5" but he doesn't throw a good deep ball, doesn't demonstrate great prowess at reading the defense or improvisation and isn't all that athletic. He does have a high ceiling while still being fairly safe in that what you see is what you get.

The top two runningbacks after Baumgartner are Stanford's Colton Pinkham and Kansas' German Garrett. Pinkham is a very high floor prospect. At 24 he's pretty much fully developed and whoever drafts him can be pretty confident about what they're getting. He can pick up blitzes, catch passes out of the backfield, do all the little things you want a third down back to do plus he runs with a lot of power. Garrett is a straight ahead runner who picks his holes with conviction and hits them full speed. He runs fast and strong and reads his blocks well. He doesn't have the same polish when it comes to his utility as a blocker or on special teams or with running routes out of the backfield but he can be at least part of tandem in the NFL.

There's not a lot of top end talent at wide receiver this year but there are two players who should go in the first round, Sammie Yager of North Texas and Dee Aguon from Akron. Yager has the elite speed and hands that you need to be an every down receiver in the NFL but his route running needs more polish. At only 6'0" he wins matchups with power and physicality, constantly beating the press and winning difficult contested catches in traffic. A bit of a polarizing prospect in that some see him as merely a first round talent who is overrated because of a dearth of high end receivers in this draft while other NFL scouts we've talked to consider him a top 5 or even top 3 selection. Aguon profiles as a similar receiver but not quite as prolific. He has speed and hands, but his route running is sloppy and he also struggles to adjust to poorly thrown balls. He has the stamina to play every snap though.

Alabama's D.J. Alaniz is the consensus top TE in the draft. At 6'2 3/4" he's not the biggest at his position by any stretch but he excels at every facet of the position. He runs sharp routes and has great hands. He can catch in traffic and is fearless over the middle. He can block in the run game and in the pass game, he can pick up blitzes, just every play you want him to make he can make. He has shown a tendency to fade at the end of games which is probably the biggest knock against him. Rolando Klaus from Wyoming has had some injury problems but he does have the size at almost 6'5" and 260 pounds, he's an amazing blocker and has good hands. He doesn't have explosive speed and he has no real acumen for special teams.

Besides Tackles Devan Arrington and Philip Beckworth the best O-Linemen in the draft include RT Winfred Clifton (Texas A&M), LT Clifton Sahota (Washington), RT Alfred Delia (Nebraska), LT Ezra Weber (Grambling State), OG Johnny Rico (Alabama), OG Kendall Janikowski (Purdue), OG Taylor Queener (Iowa State) and C Russell Meyer (Texas Christian). Clifton has great footwork and technique but lacks pop and doesn't pick up blocking schemes quickly. He also tires by the end of a game or even the end of a half. Delia is similar where his technical ability is very good but his strength and football IQ are lacking. Ezra Weber is a freak and a bit of a wild card at 6'9" at LT. He has some room to improve his footwork but has good strength and intelligence. If he can translate his game to the NFL and compete against professional edge rushers he could be amazing but he could also flop at the next level. OG Johnny Rico is undersized but comes from a great program and has elite footwork and technique when blocking for the pass. He is considered to have fairly volatile potential for development, a bit of a boom or bust at the next level. Janikowski has great technique but for being 339 pounds his blocking power is underwhelming to say the least and he is poor at best when it comes to picking up blocking schemes. Queener has great pop and intelligence. His footwork has room to improve but he will likely develop and is possibly the most sure thing at guard this year. Meyer is the one center who could sneak into the first round though he's likely to go early or mid second. There's a lot to like about his technique, he's balanced between being good at pass and run blocking, he's one of the smartest O-Linemen in the draft when it comes to scheme acquisition but his strength isn't the best. His arm length is also shorter than ideal. He could go either way, become an NFL starting quality center or a career backup, depending on how well he can handle NFL interior linemen.

After standout Kansas State star Kenneth Shoemaker there are a handful of interior defensive linemen who could go in the first round. Of these some of the best options are any of a trio of linemen who profile ideally as 3-4 defensive ends. Salvador Dean (Washington), Kareem Carroll (Arizona State and Asante Porras (North Carolina). Dean is a quarterback's worst nightmare and probably the best pass rushing interior D-Lineman in the draft. He didn't participate in the combine and there is some volatility to how he will translate in the NFL. His run defense leaves something to be desired, which could be a red flag to NFL coaches who are looking for a potential every down lineman. He is a great leader and should go in the top half of the first round simply based on his pass rushing prowess. Even as a rotational piece on passing downs he should be a difference maker at the NFL level. Carroll is a charismatic personality who is a great leader and on the field he is probably almost the opposite of Dean. He is elite at stopping the run. He fills his gaps and dominates his blockers consistently. He has also shown some ability to occasionally drop back into coverage. His ability to rush the passer isn't great but he can generate some pressure still. Porras doesn't have great pass rushing technique or a deep repertoire of moves but he can bullrush and power his way to the QB with the best of them and his run stopping is at the top of his class. He isn't great at reading the play and he may not have the stamina to play every down. If you're a team looking for an interior lineman that's a natural fit in a 4-3 front you might be waiting until round two unless you trade up for Shoemaker. Probably the best option after him is Morgan Medina, a 3-tech from Indiana. Medina is a great run stopper who also shows elite pass rushing technique but lacks the strength to overpower NFL offensive linemen. He also has poor football IQ and lacks the endurance to maintain his quality of play throughout the game. The best available Nose Tackle is Cooper Crow, a 323 pound tackle from Kent State who has great pass rushing power and gets to the QB but struggles against the run and doesn't have the stamina to play in the NFL every down.

There's no high end edge rushers in this draft but there are a bunch who could go in the back half of the first round. Roland Gray out of Washington State and Sedrick Legros from Miami would fit best in a 3-4 scheme. Gray is a pretty sure thing, not only does he have excellent technique rushing the passer but he sets the edge and defends the run very well even by pro standards. He may not grow much more but the team drafting him can be confident in who they are getting. Legros played inside linebacker in college but projects to be more of an outside linebacker in the NFL. He plays the run very well and has great move and technique on the pass rush but his rushing strength is very poor and he may be manhandled at the next level. Simon Marquardt (Alabama - Birmingham), Javon Jaffe (Nevada - Las Vegas) and Dustin Kettler (Georgia) are all good fits for a 4 man front. Marquardt is a great pass rusher with powerful moves but his run defense is mediocre and he doesn't have the endurance to play every down. Jaffe is a balanced and skillful edge who can play against the run or pass with equal proficiency but he will wear down over the course of a game if he is playing most of the snaps. Kettler isn't a great rusher but he's decent against the run and reads the play very well. He has had some injury issues which may concern some teams considering him.

When it comes to off-ball linebackers Martin Rasmussen of Louisville is probably the cream of the crop. Frank Craft out of North Carolina and Khalil Trejo from Virginia Tech are probably the next tier. Rasmussen fits as the Mike in a 4-3 system, he's a great leader and his teammates rave about him and he excels in almost every aspect of the game. There are no real weaknesses apparent in his play on the field but he has been very injury prone and if he falls in the draft it will be because teams don't want to waste a premium pick on a player who could spend more time on the injury list than on the field. Craft is a good leader who defends the run very well and is great in man coverage but sub par in zone. He isn't great at pressuring the QB. He would fit best as one of the inside linebackers in a 3-4 front. Trejo probably fits best as a Sam in a 4-3. He is great against the run and can also get pressure effectively when blitzed. He is good in coverage and excels in man to man. He is very durable and is at least competent in every aspect of his position.

After Rexford there are a couple other corners who could go in the first round. Alexander Summers (Nichols) is an elite athlete with incredible burst and acceleration whose coverage skills in both zone and man are top of his class. He is dangerous in the return game. He doesn't read offenses well and can be fooled on playaction and trick plays. Arturo Dennison (Fresno State) isn't great in coverage but he is probably the best corner in this draft class against the run and he excels in press coverage. He is a ballhawk who comes up with big interceptions on a regular basis.

Harry Alvarado (Texas A&M) is the top safety in this class and likely the only one who will go in the first round. He's susceptible to lower body injuries but there's a lot to like in his game. He probably fits as a strong safety or maybe as a nickel. His man to man coverage skills are elite and he has great hands. He is also a force against the run and a good open field tackler. He won't excel as a pass rusher but almost every other aspect of his play is high end. He reads offenses and quarterbacks very well and can play every snap without tiring. He's also shown tremendous proficiency on special teams.

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Seattle Seahawks make final roster decisions before Free Agency


LB Devin Bush looks to be spending another three years in Seattle as he aims for a larger role with the team.



March 22nd, 2024 -

On the eve of Free Agency the Seahawks announced a trio of signings, re-signing linebacker Devin Bush, tight end and special teams specialist Tommy Hudson and center Evan Brown. Brown signed for 2 years and $5.05 million. Bush extended for 3 more years and $8.28 million and Hudson re-signed for another 2 seasons. Bush was a depth linebacker last year for Seattle, he played 486 snaps and made 45 tackles. Evan Brown started every game for Seattle at center. He allowed 4 sacks and made 29 successful key run blocks in 85 opportunities. His footwork is mediocre but he blocks with above average power. They bring him back for a fairly reasonable price and will look for him to mentor Olu Oluwatimi while filling the center role for another couple seasons. The veteran of six years wanted to stay with the Seahawks and said he loves the community and his teammates and spoke highly of the organization. Hudson was signed mid-season and provided decent depth but didn't get many offensive plays. He was stellar on special teams, getting 187 special teams plays, making 6 tackles and forcing a fumble in coverage.

Seattle GM John Schneider confirmed that the remaining players without contracts would not be extended before free agency.

Seattle players whose contracts will expire:

• QB Carson Wentz
• QB Matt Barkley
• RB DeeJay Dallas
• WR Cody Thompson
• TE Noah Fant
• OG Phil Haynes
• DE Mario Edwards
• DE Myles Adams
• OLB Darrell Taylor
• LB Jordyn Brooks

The Seahawks also announced that they have released WR Tyler Lockett and SS Jamal Adams for cap purposes. Lockett spent his entire career with Seattle and was the second leading receiver all-time with the team behind legend Steve Largent. Jamal Adams had a lot of injury challenges and ups and downs in Seattle since being acquired in a much maligned trade but at the end he was a casualty of the cap more than anything else. The Seahawks will still have to be creative and can't afford to be big spenders in free agency, they have an estimated $11.72M available cap space after draft picks are accounted for.

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49ers make massive cuts after another playoff exit




March 22nd, 2024 -

This time of year is always interesting as teams trim their rosters of quality players in the interest of gaining breathing room under the salary cap and having some measure of roster flexibility in the off-season. There have been plenty of noteworthy cuts already announced today, from Nick Chubb to T.J. Watt, but the one team what went all in on releasing a swathe of key contributors was San Francisco. The 49ers let arguably their top three pass targets go, cutting Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle. They also released star CB Charvarius Ward. Superstar DE Nick Bosa won't be returning either.

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2024 NFL Free Agency Preview

March 22nd, 2024 -

With a lot of big names being cut today the free agency pool is loaded with talent. We'll go through the top available targets in each position in this preview.

QUARTERBACK
Brandon Allen (SF) backed up Brock Purdy last season and though his numbers won't blow you away he did impress a lot of people with his tape. He threw for 1138 yards, 8 TDs and 8 INTs. In games he started while Purdy was out his team went 3-1. He isn't a great fit in Kyle Shanahan's west coast style offense though, excelling as more of a gunslinger who doesn't do a great job of throwing short routes with timing but loves to go over the top. After watching his performance this past year some of the pro scouts in this league think he could be a starting QB in this league. Baker Mayfield (TB) had an eye opening playoff run, impressing with his clutch performances through two games before being shut down in a stormy Conference Championship Game against Dallas. Mayfield has the confidence to trust his arm and make all the throws and he excels under pressure and runs a crisp two minute drill. He is also somewhat prone to turnovers but his showing in the post season likely earned him another starting opportunity even if not with Tampa Bay. Mason Rudolph (PIT) struggled with injuries, inconsistencies and interceptions last season. He earned enough respect around the league that a QB needy team will likely give him a chance to earn a starting role. In 10 games he was 6-4, throwing for 2199 yards and 11 TDs but also 9 INTs.

RUNNINGBACK
There are some big names available at runningback and despite the league's hesitancy around the position it is likely most of them will get paid in the competitiveness of free agency. Josh Jacobs (LV) led the league in rushing yards with 1550. He has the stamina, power and athletic ability to be the feature back but his receiving skills leave something to be desired and he can be a bit fumble prone. Austin Ekeler (LAC) is another every down back with the endurance and the balance between athleticism and power to contribute in so many ways. He is also a dangerous receiver out of the backfield. He had a down season, partly due to missing a couple games to injury, but at 28 he should have a couple good years left to give. Aaron Jones (GB) ran for 1220 yards and 8 touchdowns last seaason. He can still be a number one running back in this league as long as he can stay healthy. Nick Chubb (CLE) led the NFL in rushing TDs with 13 and ran for 1379 yards. He isn't much of a threat as a receiver but he can give you 20-25 good carries a week still. Dalvin Cook (NYJ) saw limited usage with the Jets but still gained 958 yards on the ground and six TDs. He also caught 44 passes for 377 yards and is a viable third down option as a threat in the passing game or as an extra blocker to pick up the blitz.

WIDE RECEIVER
There are a lot of star receivers available in free agency. Terry McLaurin (WSH), Tyler Lockett (SEA), Deebo Samuel (SF), D.J. Moore (CHI), Mike Evans (TB), Tee Higgins (CIN), Michael Pittman (IND), Brandon Aiyuk (SF) and Jerry Jeudy (DEN) headline an elite class of wideouts. McLaurin has great hands, caught 103 passes for 1180 yards last season and as a true number one receiver in this league. He also has shown great ball security and fearlessness is going for balls over the middle and in traffic. Lockett has good hands and is very elusive, also having utility as a returner. He made clutch plays throughout his career in Seattle, finishing last season with 1190 receiving yards. Samuel is a versatile and dangerous weapon. get him the ball either through the air or on the ground and he can make defenders miss and find open field for big plays. He caught 98 passes for 1284 yards and 10 TDs. D.J. Moore struggled with injuries last season and came short of 1000 yards but he has top end skills and at 26 he should have a lot of productive years ahead of him provided he stays healthy. Evans was underutilised in Tampa but he excels in traffic and contested catch situations. He can defeat jammers at the LOS and come up with big catches in the middle of the field even with linebackers and safeties bearing down on him. Tee Higgins wasn't happy with his usage last season, being targeted only 85 times. He still gained 855 yards on 58 catches but he has the ability to do a lot more if he is featured in an offense. He has great hands and can haul in passes all over the field but he also brings big play ability. Pittman was a star in Indianapolis. He caught 7 touchdowns last season. He's reliable as a receiver and routinely makes difficult catches in traffic. Aiyuk is a big play threat, he gained 949 yards on 82 catches and hauled in 8 touchdowns last season. An explosive receiver with great hands, he was a cap casualty in San Francisco but will be appreciated wherever he goes. Jeudy is always dangerous with the ball and he caught an impressive 117 passes for 1161 yards and 9 touchdowns last year. Denver went through a lot of injuries and therefore a revolving door of QBs last season but Jeudy was a constant, consistently making the catches he needed to make.

TIGHT END
George Kittle (SF) is the big fish at the tight end position after being a victim of the numbers game in San Fran. The 8 year veteran battled injuries and struggled statistically but his reputation precedes him and his hands in the receiving game are some of the best in the league. He blocks hard as well and will become an integral part of whichever offense signs him on. T.J. Hockenson (MIN) and Hunter Henry (NE) are the next best options, Hockenson is an elite receiving tight end who is also a physical blocker. He was injured for parts of last season and only accumulated 334 receiving yards but look for him to have a bounce back season with a new team. Henry is the best blocking tight end available but he is also an offensive weapon, with 62 catches for 838 yards and 8 touchdowns for the Patriots last year.

INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE
Ryan Jensen (TB) is the top guard available. He is an elite run blocker with the versatility to play any position on the interior offensive line but he is weaker than average in pass protection. At 32 there may also be concerns about how long he can sustain his level of play. Wyatt Teller (CLE) is in the same tier as Jensen. He can play most positions on the line and blocks with power. He is a great run blocker but only average as a pass blocker. Still, he allowed only four sacks while making 58 key run blocks for the Browns last season. Michael Onwenu (NE) is also available. He is well rounded (in more ways than one at 350 pounds), blocking for the pass or run with equal ability. The 26 year old shows good strength in his blocking and is good at scheme acquisition. Jordan Roos (TEN) is a great pass blocker on tape. He did allow 6 sacks last season and he is slow to learn new blocking schemes but is still a quality NFL starter at his position. Connor Williams (MIA) and Mitch Morse (CAR) are the two best centers available. Morse was cut near the end of the year by the Bills and Carolina jumped in to sign him for the rest of the season. The 10 year veteran struggled, allowing 8 sacks, but his still has good technique in his pass protection and has good power in his blocks. He is intelligent and will fit in well wherever he signs. Williams had some injury struggles but he did perform decently when healthy, allowing only 3 sacks for the Dolphins. He is balanced as a blocker, though on tape his run blocking technique is a touch better than his pass protection. He picks up new blocking schemes quickly and smoothly and should command a good contract on the open market.

OFFENSIVE TACKLE
Charles Leno (WSH), Taylor Decker (DET), David Bakhtiari (GB), Braden Smith (IND) and Trent Brown (NE) are the top tackles available. All played LT except Smith. Leno was a cap casualty in Washington but he is a great pass protector who will be one of the most coveted free agents in the NFL. He doesn't tire at all and has a high football IQ. Detroit's Taylor Decker struggled last season, allowing 9 sacks, but he's still a good pass blocker and an intelligent lineman with 9 years of NFL experience and the versatility to play either side. The 32 year old Bakhtiari can also play either tackle position or guard. He seemed to slow down at the end of games and near the end of the season his play trailed off. He's not great as a run blocker but he protects his QB well and is still a starting calibre LT. Brown suffered a major ACL tear and any team signing him will want to do their due diligence to be assured that he will make a full recovery but provided he rehabs well they will be getting a starting LT with 10 years of experience who allowed only one sack in four games played last year. Smith is the only RT in that group but he has the versatility to play tackle or guard on either side. He's solid as a run blocker but struggled in pass protection last season. He blocks with good strength and will pick up any team's blocking scheme quickly.

DEFENSIVE LINE (INTERIOR)
D.J. Reader (CIN), Grady Jarrett (ATL), Christian Wilkins (MIA) and Justin Madubuike (BAL) are some of the top available interior defensive linemen. Reader is great in run defense but also can pressure the QB, generating 7.5 sacks last season for the Bengals. He has incredible football IQ and reads the offensive play very well but his stamina isn't up to par and he won't be able to play every snap without losing effectiveness. Jarrett lost about half of his season to injury but still made a total of 48 tackles and 3 tackles for a loss. He rads the play well, has the strength to overpower blockers and is solid in run defense. The question with him will be how long can he sustain an elite level of play now that he's on the wrong side of 30? Wilkins only played in 9 games last season but if he's healthy he will be a quality starter for whoever signs him. He is capable of pressuring the QB or filling his gap and stopping the run. Madubuike is great at getting to the QB, he has good technique and good power on the pass rush but he struggles at times against the run. He accumulated 12.5 sacks in Mike Macdonald's defense last year.

EDGE RUSHER
Nick Bosa (SF) headlines a group that includes Trey Hendrickson (CIN), Josh Sweat (PHI), John Franklin-Myers (NYJ), Josh Allen (JAX) and Chase Young (WSH). Bosa is the big fish in all of free agency this year, he could command a king's ransom if he so desires. The 49ers couldn't afford to keep the 26 year old perennial DPOTY candidate and now a lot of teams will be vying for his services. He has elite pass rushing ability, generating a league leading 67 pressures and the second most sacks in the NFL at 14.0. Hendrickson fits best as a defensive end in a 4-3 front. He has brilliant technique rushing the passer but not elite strength or run stopping. He had 6.5 sacks and 26 pressures last season. Sweat had 10 sacks for the Eagles last year and at 26 he still has a lot of football ahead of him. He has great pass rush technique but is not strong against the run and doesn't have the stamina to play every down. Franklin-Myers wins matchups consistently, using a balance of power and finesse to get to the quarterback, picking up 11.5 sacks last year for the Jets and is also solid against the run. Allen is a star who had 9 sacks and an interception last season. He can defend against the pass or the run and he can rush the passer with the best of them. Young was hampered by injuries last season but he has the skills to be at least a rotational piece who can do a bit of everything. He has very good technique rushing the passer and also sets the edge well against the run. He can get into the backfield and throw off an offense.

LINEBACKER (OFF BALL)
Denzel Perryman (HOU) is probably your best bet if you're looking for a starting quality inside linebacker. Shaquille Leonard (IND), Isaiah Simmons (NYG) and Dorian Switzer (LV) are also high end off ball linebackers who will be available. Perryman is an elite tackler, shutting down the opponent's run game and also being a capable contributor on special teams. He isn't great as a rusher or in coverage though. He battled injuries last season and is on the wrong side of 31 but can be a quality starting middle linebacker in this league still. Leonard fits best as an outside linebacker in a 4-3 front. He is above average in coverage and also solid against the run. He can generate some pressure on the blitz but it's not a strength. He had 65 total tackles, an interception and 5 PD in 13 games last season. He reads the play well and could start on almost any team in the league, he's good at most aspects of his position but not elite in any one area. Simmons played outside linebacker for the Giants but his ideal fit would probably be as an inside linebacker in a 43 defense. He is great against the run. He's a good pass rusher, though he is more finesse than strength with his moves, and accumulated 6 sacks last year. His coverage skills aren't great but he has a knack for coming up with interceptions and had 2 last season. He has mediocre football IQ and for a linebacker he doesn't read and react very well. Switzer is 33 and missed 6 games last season but he still brings a lot to the table. The 11 year veteran has elite coverage skills as a linebacker and is a solid pass rusher, relying on power more than finesse in pressuring the QB. He's capable in run defense as well and had 72 solo tackles in 11 games. His stamina is declining and whether he can play every down and every game at this point is certainly the biggest question mark on him.

CORNERBACK
The top three at cornerback are pretty clearly Charvarius Ward (SF), Kendall Fuller (WSH) and L'Jarius Sneed (KC). Ward is one of the top corners in the game, he excels in man to man and in press coverage but also has good range and instincts in zone coverage. He reads the play very well and can lock down his side of the field. He had 5 INTs and 14 PD last season. Fuller excels in zone coverage though he's no slouch in man to man. He's good at stepping up to help against the run and can also step in on special teams if needed. The 9 year veteran had 72 tackles and 17 passes defended last year. Sneed is better in man coverage but also above average in zone. He has good hands but quarterbacks rarely throw his way these days. He has good instincts to step up against the run and is great on special teams. He had 12 passes defended for the Chiefs last year.

SAFETY
There are five quality safeties hitting free agency, Justin Simmons (DEN), Kevin Byard (TEN), Kyle Dugger (NE), Antoine Winfield (TB) and Budda Baker (ARI). Simmons was a first team All-Pro who was second in the NFL in interceptions with 7. He also was credited with 15 passes defended and picked up an impressive 138 solo tackles. He's great in zone coverage and obviously has elite hands and instincts to come up with interceptions. He's also solid in run defense and a good open field tackler. Some team will be excited to sign him as their last line of defense. Byard racked up 120 tackles and came down with 4 interceptions last season for the Titans. He can defend in zone or man and reads the play well. He has great hands and timing for coming up with interceptions and he is a factor against the run as well. Dugger maybe doesn't get his due credit playing on a struggling Patriots squad but his ability to defend the run as a safety is second to none. He's only average in pass coverage and depending on how he fits with whoever signs him he could either have a breakout season or drop off depending on how well he meshes with the defensive scheme. Winfield had six interceptions and is a versatile defensive back. At 25 he is young and has a lot of good football still ahead of him as well. He's a bigtime playmaker and a difference maker on defense who played a huge role in Tampa Bay's playoff run that exceeded all expectations in going to the conference championship game. Budda Baker had a great statistical year for the Cards at Strong Safety. He was the captain of their defense and has a very high football IQ. He's a good run stopper and while he isn't elite in coverage he's above average and he did come up with five interceptions.

[canuxrok]

John's Journal

Mar 23rd, 2024 -

Well it's a big day for some teams today. Probably not for us. Despite cutting loose key guys I like (Tyler, Jamal) we're the third worst team in the NFL for projected cap space right now. We have $11.72 M of estimated room and only 30 players under contract for next season plus our seven draft picks who are accounted for in that projection. That means that I have about $12M to spend on 16 roster spots. Most of those will have to be undrafted rookies we pick up for depth. Basically I'll have to make some more last minute cuts here if I want to go for anybody in free agency.

This is sort of how I see our roster shaping up so far:

At quarterback we will run it back with Geno and Lock backing him up. For the third stringer we'll either pick a guy early if we like him so he can sit a year or two behind Geno or, more likely, we'll swing on a guy in the later rounds or as an UDFA and he can be depth for a while and if he surprises us then great and if not no big loss.

At runningback I'm happy with the trio of Walker, Charbonnet and McIntosh. Maybe an UDFA for depth on a cheap deal. Maybe we find a cheap FB to replace Bellore or maybe not.

Dissly and Parkinson is a great duo to have at tight end and Hudson is solid depth and good on special teams. I'd be excited to enter the season with that tight end room but we are going to have to cut Dissly for cap space and make Colby TE1 and find a cheaper but still serviceable TE2.

At WR D.K. and JSN should be a good duo as long as JSN can take another step in his development and step up with the greater opportunity. It would be nice to add somebody inexpensive to play the slot to keep Bobo as the WR4 but I can't afford to spend much for a big name.

We re-signed Evan Brown at C for the familiarity. He's not a high end piece but hopefully he can be a glue guy on that O-Line and also mentor Olu or whoever we bring in from the draft if we go that route. At guard we need to either draft somebody who can start day one or else spend for a starter in free agency. I'm not comfortable with Bradford as a starter next season. We're set at tackle with Cross and Lucas and Forsythe is passable as a backup so guard will be the only priority this offseason for the offensive line.

When in comes to the interior D-Line we have Jarran Reed who can play 1-Tech for us but nobody else really to play DLT in the 3-Tech. Cameron Young and Mike Morris can work as backups at DT but we need to find a starting 3-T DT in free agency or the draft. Maliek Collins definitely overachieved last year with 10.5 sacks but he is an intriguing option. Probably going to be too expensive for my taste though.

At edge we will have Boye Mafe playing DE on our four man front. Derick Hall will back him up. For DLE we will probably be releasing Dre'Mont Jones for cap reasons. We'll also need a backup at DLE and they'll have to be cheap. Hopefully either through the draft or in later free agency our scouts can find some affordable talent for depth there.

Our off ball linebackers need some work. At OLB we have Devin Bush and Uchenna Nwosu starting and we're going to have to be good with that. Rhattigan and Smith will be their backups. We have no inside linebackers rostered so we'll need to find a starter and a couple backups. This is one position I'd potentially use our first round pick on or else our second if there's a good guy still available. I love Martin Rasmussen I'm just not sure if I should risk drafting him in the first round with how injury prone he is. I really like Winston Evans and if I can get him in the third round or later that might be a more savvy pick. I'm not a huge fan of the free agent class at middle linebacker. The big name guys are too old to be spending big money on them. I may try to get a B or C tier guy as insurance in case the draft doesn't fall the way I want.

We're set at cornerback with Riq and Spoon. Spoon seems to have recovered well from his MCL injury and the training staff tell me it shouldn't affect his play or limit him in any way. We'll have to be aware that he could be more vulnerable to knee injuries in the future and I'd like to find some insurance at corner later in the draft. For now I'm pretty happy with the group of five we have. Coby Bryant was good as a nickel last year and Tre Brown stepped up and made some big plays for us. Kyu Blu Kelly still has a lot of potential according to our scouts and coaches.

At safety I'm content trotting Julian Love out to start but I'd like to find another quality starter. Jerrick Reed is good as a depth guy but he needs to develop if he's going to be a starter and he'll likely never be a big difference maker. I want to find a guy who moves the needle. I'd prefer to go the draft route with this, and if he's still there when we pick my favourite choice in the first round for us is Harry Alvarado. He's not totally a sure thing, there's some volatility in projecting him in the NFL but if he hits he could be great. He made a lot of plays for the Aggies this year. But if Justin Simmons were affordable enough in free agency it could be hard to pass him up with his 7 interceptions last year.

Well, time to get to work and see how things play out!

[canuxrok]

NFL Free Agency 2024

DE Nick Bosa signs with the Broncos for 3 years, $66.65 M. Bosa had 14 sacks last season as was a DPOTY candidate. This is a huge signing for Denver and puts them into the conversation as a legitimate contender.

DE Grady Jarrett signs with the Panthers for 2 years for $39.79 M. The Falcons will miss Jarrett on their D-Line but Carolina fans should be excited for the impact he can make for them. Ejiro Evero is a highly respected Defensive Coordinator who should get the most from Jarrett and as long as he can stay healthy this is a great signing.

WR Terry McLaurin signs a 5 year contract with the Titans worth $84.77 M. He gives them an elite weapon at receiver and is instantly their unquestioned #1. Whether it's Tannehill or Levis under center next year they will have a legitimate target to throw to.

DT D.J. Reader signs with the Texans for $34.88 M for 3 years. Reader had 7.5 sacks last season and bolsters Houston's defense considerably as one of the consensus top five NFL free agents.

LT Charles Leno signs a 2 year, $26.47 M contract with the New England Patriots. The 32 year old had a solid year for Washington and will move to New England to protect the blindside of whoever comes out of camp as the starting QB. Leno was the top graded offensive lineman available in free agency.

CB Charvarius Ward put pen to paper on a 3 year deal in Arizona worth $47.38 M. Ward was considered the best corner available and will bring his elite cover skills to the desert, playing with the division rivals of his former team.

LT Taylor Decker signs with Kansas City for 3 years and $50.12 M. He joins a quality O-Line and will be responsible for protecting the blindside of one of the best quarterbacks in football.

S Antoine Winfield re-signs with the Buccaneers for 5 years for $50.64 M. Winfield was a key part of Tampa's secondary and the leader of their defense and with their cap situation looking clearer they commit to him long term.

WR Tyler Lockett signs a 2 year, $29.31 M pact with the Buccaneers. Lockett broke the 1000 yard mark with Seattle last season and will give Tampa a receiving weapon after losing Evans and Godwin to free agency this year.

DE Trey Hendrickson signs a 3 year contract worth $35.09 M with the Commanders. The 8 year veteran had 6.5 sacks for the Bengals last season and adds an elite pass rusher to the Commanders' line.

RB Josh Jacobs goes to New England on a 3 year contract that will pay him $35.21 M. Jacobs was the NFL's top rusher last season and the Patriots offense should have more breathing room with him consistently pounding defenses with 20+ carries a game.

WR Deebo Samuel signs for $72.17 M for 5 seasons with the Bears. Justin Fields has an elite offensive weapon to work with and their offense should be exciting to watch this year.

RB Austin Ekeler went to Baltimore on a 2 year deal worth $18.22 M. Ekeler should really help Lamar Jackson by giving him a legitimate weapon in the backfield. The Ravens are only going to be even more dynamic next year.

WR D.J. Moore signed with San Francisco for 3 years for $29.41 M. The 49ers move on from two more expensive options in Samuel and Aiyuk but get a legitimate number option in Moore who caught 60 passes for 928 yards for the Bears in 13 games last season.

DE Josh Sweat signed a 4 year, $42.87 M deal to play for the Vikings. Minnesota adds an elite edge rusher, hoping to bolster their defense and make it even farther than they did last year. He had 10 sacks last season with Philadelphia and he's only 26 years old.

CB Kendall Fuller signed a 3 year contract for $33.87 M with the Bengals. He instantly becomes their top cornerback and should play across from Cam Taylor-Britt. Cincinnati is looking to have a strong season with Joe Burrow back and Fuller should be able to lock down one side of the field for their defense.

RB Aaron Jones is signed by the Chiefs to a 2 year deal for $11.21 M. This is a good deal for Kansas City who acquire the 29 year old who rushed for 1220 yards and 8 touchdowns for less than $6 M per year.

RB Jonathan Taylor is re-signed by the Colts for 3 years for $45.56 M. Taylor is one of the top running backs in the league and he gets his bag here with an APY of over $15 M. He needs to stay healthy but even with missing 3 games last season he still ran for 1278 yards and 7 touchdowns. He will stay in familiar surroundings and likely continue to have similar success.

RB Antonio Gibson was re-signed for 3 years and $20.74 M by the Commanders. Washington decides to stick with Gibson who wasn't especially productive for them, running for 718 yards, but he also didn't get many touches, averaging less than ten carries per game. Gibson may see more usage now that he's being paid but if not at least his body will last longer in a very physical position.

OG Jordan Roos re-signed with the Titans for 3 years for $28.9 M. Roos was one of the top five guards on the market but he goes back to Tennessee. He's an excellent pass blocker and has the versatility to play anywhere in the interior of the O-Line.

RB Nick Chubb signs a 3 year, $18 M contract with the Packers. Green Bay replaces Aaron Jones with Chubb, a solid choice going with the NFL's rushing TD leader from last season. Chubb is powerful and game breaking and can carry the load as an RB1.

DE Justin Madubuike signed a 5 year deal with the Lions for $153.52 M. Madubuike was one of the biggest fish available, and though he was graded a bit lower than interior linemen D.J. Reader and Grady Jarrett his star is on the rise and a lot of NFL GMs consider him as a tier above and his statistics last year speak for themselves, picking up 12.5 sacks in a season that saw sacks and pressures down around the league. He comes away with the most total money of any free agent and the highest APY, however only $16 M of it is guaranteed.

[canuxrok]

NFL Free Agency 2024


More Signings (former team) - new team, yrs, $
CB L'Jarius Sneed (KC) - HOU, 2 yrs, $8.1M
LT David Bakhtiari (GB) - CIN, 1 yr, $10.73M
RT Braden Smith (IND) - NYJ, 3 yrs, $28.74M
DE John Franklin-Myers (NYJ) - CHI, 4 yrs, $43.14M
DT Sheldon Rankins (HOU) - MIN, 2 yrs, $17.96M
OG Michael Onwenu (NE) - NE, 5 yrs, $55.02M
OG Ryan Jensen (TB) - IND, 1 yr, $15.46M
DT B.J. Hill (CIN) - NYJ, 3 yrs, $42.82M
QB Brandon Allen (SF) - TEN, 2 yrs, $9.57M
WR Chris Godwin (TB) - MIA, 3 yrs, $14.72M
DE Chase Young (WSH) - ARI, 4 yrs, $42.16M
RB Dalvin Cook (NYJ) - HOU, 2 yrs, $6.45M
DE Sam Hubbard (CIN) - NYG, 3 yrs, $50.65M
CB Jaylon Johnson (CHI) - CAR, 2 years, $6.14M
OG Wyatt Teller (CLE) - CIN, 2 yrs, $29.14M
OLB Josh Allen (JAX) - DET, 3 yrs, $59.26M
S Kevin Byard (TEN) - LV, 3 yrs, $32.42M
RT Morgan Moses (BAL) - MIA, 1 yr, $2.93M
WR Mike Evans (TB) - ATL, 1 yr, $10.52M
WR Marquise Goodwin (CLE) - SF, 1 yr, $4.47M
WR Brandon Aiyuk (SF) - PIT, 5 yrs, $63.95M
DT Grover Stewart (IND) - JAX, 2 yrs, $18.66M
RB Cordarrelle Patterson (ATL) - LV, 1 yr, $10.66M
DE Leonard Williams (NYG) - MIN, 1 yr, $10.3M
CB D.J. Reed (NYJ) - LAR, 2 yrs, $16.56M
WR Michael Pittman (IND) - SF, 4 yrs, $20.41M
RB Saquon Barkley (NYG) - BAL, 3 yrs, $25.56M
WR Jerry Jeudy (DEN) - NYJ, 3 yrs, $39.85M
LB Denzel Perryman (HOU) - HOU, 2 yrs, $4.58M
LT Cam Robinson (JAX) - DET, 2 yrs, $23.67M
QB Baker Mayfield (TB) - TB, 3 yrs, $14.15M
S Justin Simmons (DEN) - SEA, 2 yrs, $17.75M
QB Mason Rudolph (PIT) - PIT, 3 yrs, $13.17M
CB Mike Hilton (CIN) - JAX, 2 yrs, $14.16M
WR Keenan Allen (LAC) - TB, 1 yr, $3.73M
WR Adam Thielen (CAR) - ATL, 1 yr, $11.59M
WR Ty Montgomery (NE) - LV, 2 yrs, $7.71M
CB Joshua Kalu (MIA) - NYG, 2 yrs, $6.02M
OLB Isaiah Simmons (NYG) - NYG, 3 yrs, $16.53M
WR Sterling Shepard (NYG) - ARI, 2 yrs, $9.2M
OLB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (CLE) - DEN, 4 yrs, $74.97M
DT D.J. Jones (DEN) - ATL, 2 yrs, $16.38M
CB Chidobe Awuzie (CIN) - LAR, 2 yrs, $5.7M
CB Cameron Sutton (DET) - TB, 2 yrs, $6.18M
DE Zach Allen (DEN) - PHI, 4 yrs, $42.77M
WR Darnell Mooney (CHI) - CIN, 3 yrs, $13.59M
CB Marcus Peters (LV) - KC, 1 yr, $7.73M
CB Kenny Moore (IND) - DET, 2 yrs, $6.45M
CB Steven Nelson (NOU) - LV, 1 yr, $7.38M
DE Yannick Ngakoue (CHI) - MIA, 2 yrs, $13.28M
DE Carl Lawson (NYJ) - BAL, 2 yrs, $15.92M
DT Bilal Nichols (LV) - TB, 2 yrs, $5.08M
ILB Frankie Luvu (CAR) - CHI, 2 yrs, $35.83M
DT Harrison Phillips (MIN) - DEN, 2 yrs, $4.76M
OLB Joey Bosa (LAC) - HOU, 3 yrs, $38.41M
ILB Dorian Switzer (LV) - NE, 1 yr, $10.09M
DT Michael Pierce (BAL) - CIN, 2 yrs, $5.32M
DT Poona Ford (BAL) - ARI, 2 yrs, $4.93M
CB Rock Ya-Sin (BAL) - IND, 3 yrs, $23.21M
CB Adoree Jackson (NYG) - TEN, 2 yrs, $16.55M
WR D.J. Chark (CAR) - NYJ, 3 yrs, $9.92M
WR Curtis Samuel (WSH) - DEN, 2 yrs, $6.96M
DE Jonathan Greenard (HOU) - HOU, 4 yrs, $37.76M
DT Teair Tart (TEN) - TEN, 3 yrs, $60.86M
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (KC) - HOU, 2 yrs, $8.1M
RB Tony Pollard (DAL) - ARI, 2 yrs, $4.78M
LT Donovan Smith (KC) - LAC, 2 yrs, $5.76M
CB Byron Murphy (MIN) - NE, 3 yrs, $9.72M
WR Darius Slayton (NYG) - WSH, 3 yrs, $12.97M
CB Bobby McCain (NYG) - DET, 1 yr, $3.23M
WR Donovan Peoples-Jones (CLE) - CAR, 4 yrs, $15.67M
RB Raheem Mostert (MIA) - DEN, 1 yr, $2.47M
CB Jonathan Jones (NE) - NE, 2 yrs, $5.76M
CB Cameron Sutton (DET) - TB, 2 yrs, $6.18M
OLB T.J. Watt (PIT) - TEN, 3 yrs, $54.69M
LT Dion Dawkins (BUF) - BAL, 2 yrs, $5.7M
WR Calvin Ridley (JAX) - BAL, 2 yrs, $6.54M
WR Nelson Agholor (BAL) - LAC, 2 yrs, $7.93M
OLB Khalil Mack (LAC) - SF, 1 yr, $9.16M
WR Jamal Agnew (JAX) - JAX, 2 yrs, $8.4M
CB Emmanuel Moseley (DET) - DEN, 2 yrs, $14.93M
TE George Kittle (SF) - NE, 3 yrs, $38.88M
OG Cody Whitehair (CHI) - TB, 2 yrs, $11.66M
DT Tim Settle (NO) - CIN, 3 yrs, $25.71M
RB J.K. Dobbins (BAL) - PHI, 2 yrs, $5.9M
OLB Oren Burks (SF) - LV, 2 yrs, $4.12M
S Terrell Edmunds (PHI) - TEN, 3 yrs, $6.84M
WR Marquez Callaway (LV) - LV, 2yrs, $10.16M
WR Chase Claypool (CHI) - CHI, 3 yrs, $15.61M
CB Jeremy Chinn (CAR) - CAR, 3 yrs, $20.42M
OG Kevin Dotson (LAR) - LAR, 4 yrs, $23.7M
OG Jonah Jackson (DET) - DET, 3 yrs, $21.52M
OLB Akeem Davis-Gaither (CIN) - CIN, 4 yrs, $41.39M
S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (DET) - DET, 2 yrs, $4.98M
OLB Haason Reddick (PHI) - GB, 2 yrs, $12.69M
RT Andrew Wylie () - GB, 3 yrs, $21.71M
OLB Shaquille Leonard (IND) - IND, 2 yrs, $18.67M
DE Zach Sieler (MIA) - ATL, 2 yrs, $17.9M
DE Romeo Okwara (DET) - TB, 2 yrs, $11.85M
RT Jonah Williams (CIN) - GB, 4 yrs, $9.18M
DT Quinton Jefferson (NYJ) - NE, 2 yrs, $15.36M
WR Tyler Boyd (CIN) - TB, 2 yrs, $7.19M
LT Garett Bolles (DEN) - CAR, 2 yrs, $20.08M
S Eddie Jackson (CHI) - KC, 2 yrs, $14.38M