2013 FA Thread (Updates on OP) New: Merling, Brace, Pashos, Trueblood, EJBig, Tapp, White, Williams, MATTHEWS; Re-up: Rex, Hall, Davis, Paulsen, DY, RJax, Lich, Sundberg, Baker, Sav, Golston, Kehl, Polumbus; Paycuts: Carriker, Moss, BMeri, J. Wilson

[ConnSKINS26]

I still don't see a reason to re-sign Davis. He's a known quantity--above average at everything and recovering from a serious injury. If he signs for cheap, or signs a "prove-it" contract, then fine. But his skill-set isn't special and we were a top-5 offense without him. I'd like a player who can make a larger impact and have a more defined role on this offense, personally.

Jared Cook is a good option, and hasn't reached his potential on a bad Titans team...he's exactly the kind of guy you sign in FA for less than he's worth going into his prime.

I'd drop Davis for Cook in a second. He brings another element to this offense that Davis just can't, and you avoid the injury questions with Davis this way as well. We let our own FA's go for other teams' stars for so long, with negative consequences, that Skins fans seem to actually think its NEVER a good idea now.

[Skins199021]

It's still 18M. Unless top FAs are taking IOUs, we still need to dish out some cash for them this year.

Especially because the last thing we want to do is backload a bunch of deals and then find ourselves in cap hell for several years when the money comes due. We've already got some backloaded deals right now like Garcon.

Yes but like I said that Cap comes back next year, no more penalties after this season. One way or another Brown, Hall, Fletcher, and Moss's contracts are all coming off the book over th next 1-2 years, and again we do not have a first round pick for the next 2 years that we will have to pay.

[DogofWar1]

DC9, do you or anyone else know anything about this random Armond Armstead fellow?

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/88...-radar-sources

Former USC DT, wasn't really a sack machine in college, but might have turned into one if not for medical problems. Went to CFL, has been pretty dominant there. Teams are giving him looks now. He's 6-5, 300 lbs, so he has the body of a 3-4 DE. I have no idea about his skills though.

He's probably not a good fit, but if someone knew more maybe they could speak to that.

[DC9]

DC9, do you or anyone else know anything about this random Armond Armstead fellow?
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/88...-radar-sources
Former USC DT, wasn't really a sack machine in college, but might have turned into one if not for medical problems. Went to CFL, has been pretty dominant there. Teams are giving him looks now. He's 6-5, 300 lbs, so he has the body of a 3-4 DE. I have no idea about his skills though.
He's probably not a good fit, but if someone knew more maybe they could speak to that.

I'm not sure I've heard of him and I'm a Notre Dame fan (so ND plays USC each year... and I was never afraid of him). Brandon Browner was in the CFL for a few years, and he has panned out so far, so it's never a bad thing to bring in competition. And Adam Carriker coming off an injury.... I mean, I don't question his work ethic or production as a Redskin so far... but we don't know how he is going to pan out.

Do you want me to add him to the OP?

---------- Post added January-13th-2013 at 09:00 PM ----------

I'd drop Davis for Cook in a second. He brings another element to this offense that Davis just can't, and you avoid the injury questions with Davis this way as well. We let our own FA's go for other teams' stars for so long, with negative consequences, that Skins fans seem to actually think its NEVER a good idea now.

I like Fred Davis... a lot. But I also think tight end is one of the more interchangable positions in the NFL game. I mean, obviously Paulsen isn't going to scare anyone, but he was damn effective when we needed him to be.

I am in the Jared Cook fan club, too. I love a bigger tight end. Davis is almost small enough to play WR.

---------- Post added January-13th-2013 at 09:06 PM ----------

Po will be in a contract year in '13. I'm sure Orakpo will be back and will at least compete and probably play. It's just me probably, but I don't like the injury history on that pec.

He's scheduled to make:
2013: $2.81 million (+ $884,000 workout bonus),
2014: Free Agent

That's a far cry from the estimated 8 million roto just speculated with on Kruger. And could you imagine the outcry from the bourgeois segment of the fanbase? To preemptive toss Rak to the side for a splash free agent from Baltimore. The average fan would be pissed.

LL already said that re-upping Rak is going to be the #1 offseason priority. So I'm not worried about that. With Kruger... he was non-existant as a pass rusher without Suggs. Kind of reminds you of someone doesn't it?

[DogofWar1]

Do you want me to add him to the OP?

I can't say. If someone with more experience looking at guys wanted to vouch for him being a decent fit for the 3-4 then sure, but I can't say.

Some videos I found on youtube, you or someone like Monk can probably get more out of these than I could:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZjbbph7O-g
Versus UCLA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHjx5M10Pl4

I am in the Jared Cook fan club, too. I love a bigger tight end. Davis is almost small enough to play WR.

Davis is 6'4" while Cook is 6'5". I didn't think one inch was a ton, and they weigh the same, is their build drastically different? Looking at photos they don't look hugely different.

[ConnSKINS26]

Wikipedia is incorrect, Davis is 6'3", and unfortunately he doesn't play big. He plays like a less athletic Hernandez, who is 6'1", but he's less explosive after the catch, and we don't use him the same way.

And not that photo evidence really matters, but google image search them both. Cook looks huge in comparison.

[rk3025]

Thought we still owed Rak $2,885,000 for 2013 on contract?

[morpheusmeyers]

The Merling pick up doesn't excite me. He was in the same draft class as Rak and Calais Campbell. There was a lot if hype surrounding us and that pick.

Merling and Campbell were in the 08 draft, but Orakpo was in the 09 draft. Merling went just a couple picks ahead of where we took Devin Thomas with our first 2nd rounder. We didn't have a first that year after trading down...we then took Orakpo with our 1st the following year.

As for Merling, he's got ideal size (6'5" 315) for a 3-4 DE. Maybe he's insurance in case Carriker isn't 100%?

[MrJL]

Thought we still owed Rak $2,885,000 for 2013 on contract?

Hopefully we'll extend him, with a nice signing bonus that lowers his cap number for next year.

[skinny21]

I can't say. If someone with more experience looking at guys wanted to vouch for him being a decent fit for the 3-4 then sure, but I can't say.

Some videos I found on youtube, you or someone like Monk can probably get more out of these than I could:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZjbbph7O-g
Versus UCLA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHjx5M10Pl4



Davis is 6'4" while Cook is 6'5". I didn't think one inch was a ton, and they weigh the same, is their build drastically different? Looking at photos they don't look hugely different.

I loved how much Davis seemed to improve as a blocker. His production could have been better, but Griffin was really spreading the ball around and Davis didn't have the benefit of Garçon to take attention from him.

Just hope he recovers well and doesn't demand outrageous money (and with the injury I'm not sure he commands it). Perhaps we franchise him, but that's an awful lot to pay a guy who's health is in question.

[MrJL]

Merling and Campbell were in the 08 draft, but Orakpo was in the 09 draft. Merling went just a couple picks ahead of where we took Devin Thomas with our first 2nd rounder. We didn't have a first that year after trading down...we then took Orakpo with our 1st the following year.

As for Merling, he's got ideal size (6'5" 315) for a 3-4 DE. Maybe he's insurance in case Carriker isn't 100%?

If I had to guess Merling is just there because he's cheaper than Golston would be. The Skins seemed satisfied with Worthington and Golston rotating in, and if Neild is healthy we might rotate Cofield out some. So I'd say if Merling actually does something it might make us let Carriker go.

[SkinsTillIDie]

Wikipedia is incorrect, Davis is 6'3", and unfortunately he doesn't play big. He plays like a less athletic Hernandez, who is 6'1", but he's less explosive after the catch, and we don't use him the same way.

And not that photo evidence really matters, but google image search them both. Cook looks huge in comparison.

Davis definitely isn't as tall as Cook, but I disagree about issues with FD's overall talent. Davis, lest we forget, had 800 yards receiving in just 12 games in 2011. His 2011 season total was 8th in the league, despite playing 4 games less than most of his competitors, and that total would've been good for 7th in the league this year.

As far as yards per game in 2012, he outproduced Cook, Antonio Gates, Branden Pettigrew, Vernon Davis, among others. He was 11th in the league, without the benefit of garbage-time stats that players like Brandon Myers and Greg Olsen could accrue.

Among tight ends with 20 or more receptions on the year, he was 5th in yards per reception -- only Delaine Walker, Anthony McCoy, Rob Gronkowski, and Tony Moeaki had more YAC.

One can slice and dice numbers any which way, but simply put -- Fred Davis has produced for us. He's just entering his prime as one of the most dynamic tight ends in football.

I disagree that Davis doesn't play big -- he's been the only receiver in recent years that has "climbed the ladder" to catch overthrown balls. He's been far and away our most physically imposing receiver, the player we've most frequently gone to to make tough catches over the middle. He's an athletic TE that can get down the field and run the seams, get yards after the catch, can outrun linebackers on play-action crossing routes and can box-out safeties. He's also become a consistently dependable blocker.

There's been a lot of talk about upgrading our receiving corps this offseason, and I don't think it's going to happen. (Probably too few resources, too much committed to the position already, too many needs elsewhere). But Fred Davis is our second best receiver, a true "#2 possession receiver" who simply does most of his work on the inside. He's a known commodity in Washington, one of the better and younger Tier 2 tight ends in the league, and we're fortunate to be able to lock him at a discount rate coming off of an injury.

If there's been two major transformative elements to the NFL in the last 2 or 3 years, I think it's the emergence of the modern tight end and the emergence of the modern mobile QB. We're fortunate to have young assets in each department.

All that being said, in each offseason thus far, Shanahan has shocked with unforeseen moves in the draft and free agency. I wouldn't be totally surprised if we made an expensive effort to sign both Fred Davis and Jared Cook, to help adopt/steal from the Belichick-McDaniels 2TE offense. I'm curious to know if anyone else sees this as a feasible possibility.

And regarding Logan Paulsen -- he's a great backup. But he'll never be anything more really than check-down receiver, while Fred Davis creates mismatch problems and is a playmaker in the passing game. We need as many of those players as starters if we're going to beat exceptionally talented defenses like Seattle's and San Francisco's in the playoffs for the foreseeable future.

[sebestian]

I am not sure if I can post this, mods if it has to be deleted please do so with my apologies. I. like many of you also consider a change of pace back/receiver/punt returner a priority this offseason. I think that if we could add a Sproles like player, I mean the dynamic that he brings to the offense would be dramatic in my opinion. He could spell Alfred and he can play on third downs etc. The guy I am thinking about is/was playing in the CFL this past year for the champion Toronto Argos. He went to Hawaii and I believe played under June Jones. He just broke the all purpose yardage record in CFL history this past season and was voted most outstanding player.

Now, I understand, that players in the CFL do not get hit like you would if you play in the NFL, its just not as fast and not good enough athletes as a sum. However, their are jems to be found if you look close enough. All I am saying is that we sign him to a tryout contract?? If he dopes not pan out, thank you for your effort and have a nice day. Toronto will pick him back up in a heartbeat.

The player I am talking about is Chad Owens.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad_Owens

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N1vOvLf8dA

I understand that he is not young. I understand that he is not a running back by trade. Hopefully we could coach him up and maybe could solve some problems with the kick return game. He is a veteran in terms of age and playing in other leagues, however all I am advocating is bringing him in, see if he can handle the pressure.

P.S. The Sproles comparison is regarding his body type as opposed to position. I do not think he can play WR in the NFL, however, I think with some work, at the very least he is an instant upgrade to Banks in regards to kick return game. I know we have Crawford and he is explosive. I also understand that if he can only return kicks, then it eats up a precious roster spot, thus the reasoning that maybe he can be that scat back, complete change of pace back that reminds of Sproles except that he is not a running back.

I guess I am wondering if you think he is worth a looksee. Sorry if this does not belong in this thread.

Great topic by the way, I have not been able to read any other threads other than this one.

On a side note, the CFL has a lot of x-college players in it. Does anyone know if MFL teams actually have scouts that watch these games to look for maybe some talent.

Thanks guys.

[skinny21]

If I had to guess Merling is just there because he's cheaper than Golston would be. The Skins seemed satisfied with Worthington and Golston rotating in, and if Neild is healthy we might rotate Cofield out some. So I'd say if Merling actually does something it might make us let Carriker go.

Did you mean let 'Golston' go? Don't see any reason Carriker is released unless he can't stay healthy. I'm assuming Merling is just a low-risk option to improve at DE.

[MrJL]

Did you mean let 'Golston' go? Don't see any reason Carriker is released unless he can't stay healthy. I'm assuming Merling is just a low-risk option to improve at DE.

I figure Merling will at least mean Golston won't be re-signed. But if he comes on I could see Carriker being gone. Money matters this season and that may mean some guys we want to keep could be gone