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

[DC9]

Titus Young released by Lions.

Titus Young, Sr?

Nah. I'll pass on that action.

---------- Post added February-4th-2013 at 08:30 PM ----------

OK.

There is plenty of room to do this. Again, I just hope we clear out some payers first.

Rufus... you woke up on the wrong side of the bed today, mate.

If you have to have an answer to your question right now (that no one knows right now) check this out:

http://www.hogshaven.com/2013/1/10/3...or-2013-season

From Kevin Ewoldt

Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan will again have some tough decisions to make this off-season. With the $18 million cap penalty hindering them for a second straight year, the Redskins will need to get creative. Teams guard their actual cap room number very closely, but ESPN is reporting the Redskins are currently $4 million over the cap. Where will the Redskins free up some money? Cutting bait with some expensive vets.

My best guess is the following players will be cut or restructured (stats via thehogs.net):

Jammal Brown - 2013 cap hit ($5 million) - cut
London Fletcher - 2013 cap hit ($6.2 million) - cut/resign
DeAngelo Hall - 2013 cap hit ($8.3 million) - cut/restructure
Brandon Meriweather - 2013 cap hit ($3.5 million) - cut
Santana Moss - 2013 cap hit ($6.3 million) - cut/resign
Trent Williams - 2013 cap hit ($6.6) - restructure
Roy Helu - 2013 cap hit ($670K) - cut
Dezmon Briscoe - 2013 cap hit ($575K) - cut

Of course... as he's says... this is just a guess. Just like everyone on here, brother.

What would you do?

[Rufus T Firefly]

Rufus... you woke up on the wrong side of the bed today, mate.

If you have to have an answer to your question right now (that no one knows right now) check this out:

I've explained my point multiple times, man. I'm not going to go over it again.

[Skinsinparadise]

Will be? In FA or in the draft? With an early draft pick or a late pick?
I don't understand what news that tweet tells us that wasn't already apparent. *shrugs*

He didn't say draft versus FA. The way I took the tweet is some people think the team will go nuts on defense acquisitions whether draft or FA, but don't be surprised when they are focused more on offense acquisitions.

[darrelgreenie]

He didn't say draft versus FA. The way I took the tweet is some people think the team will go nuts on defense acquisitions whether draft or FA, but don't be surprised when they are focused more on offense acquisitions.

Again, to me, without defining draft/FA or even where in the draft the tweet doesn't say much.
Mike Shanahan almost always drafts a RB, most WCO usually draft a developmental QB late, and like most FO BPA will determine the draft. FA is really the only place where personnel decisions can be predetermined.

---------- Post added February-5th-2013 at 08:01 AM ----------

If he is saying the FO is going to prioritize WR over SAF in FA or early in the draft (if both prospects have equal grade) then it would be surprising to me; and I wouldn't believe it either.

[Laxpunk2006]

Again, to me, without defining draft/FA or even where in the draft the tweet doesn't say much.
Mike Shanahan almost always drafts a RB, most WCO usually draft a developmental QB late, and like most FO BPA will determine the draft. FA is really the only place where personnel decisions can be predetermined.

While I think this generally should be true we did see Shanahan and Co. go out and say pass rusher was the #1 priority and that is exactly what we did in the first round after trading down.

[darrelgreenie]

While I think this generally should be true we did see Shanahan and Co. go out and say pass rusher was the #1 priority and that is exactly what we did in the first round after trading down.

Drafting Kerrigan isn't a counterexample at all. Passer rushers are a premium, they are on everyones draft board. And Kerrigan was the BPA. If it had been predetermined they wouldn't have traded down first.

[DC9]

He didn't say draft versus FA. The way I took the tweet is some people think the team will go nuts on defense acquisitions whether draft or FA, but don't be surprised when they are focused more on offense acquisitions.

That's what I'm saying too. I'm sure there is a plan to upgrade on both sides. We will know more about that plan on 12 March (draft vs FA).

---------- Post added February-5th-2013 at 08:41 AM ----------

If he is saying the FO is going to prioritize WR over SAF in FA and early in the draft (if both prospects have equal grade) then it would be surprising to me; and I wouldn't believe it either.

I would be suprised if we drafted a WR (save for the kid from Baylor) in the 2nd round if we didn't have a starting Safety already in FA.

[Skinsinparadise]

Again, to me, without defining draft/FA or even where in the draft the tweet doesn't say much.
Mike Shanahan almost always drafts a RB, most WCO usually draft a developmental QB late, and like most FO BPA will determine the draft. FA is really the only place where personnel decisions can be predetermined..

Will see if it plays out this way but if it does i don't see it as not saying much. Yeah I agree every team pretty much doesn't devote all their picks and signings to exclusively upgrade one side of the ball.

There is a sentiment with some on this board (borderline me too on this point) that the Redskins will go nuts in the draft and free agency on defense whereas on offense they will do little outside of possible upgrading RT. I could be wrong but I take that tweet as him saying that sentiment is likely to be wrong -- expect them to focus more on offensive upgrades than defense.

Edit: If I had to extrapolate (and I again I might extrapolate wrong) on what the insiders hear its the FO doesn't think the defense is as bad as some think it is and conversely the offense isn't set yet. I recall shanny saying around midseason that he thinks this is a top 5 defense when healthy. If he genuinely believes that (I don't) than maybe that won't be his prime focus. I am personally obsessed with fixing the secondary and I am on the upgrade defense first bandwagon.

But to play devil's advocate, TE isn't set it stone. Achilles injuries aren't easy to come back from, maybe they move on from Davis? LL56 if I recall in another tweet earlier talked about the Redskins perhaps looking for a RB with speed who can catch. We all know RT could be a problem, though if I recall LL56 said they like Compton. I don't think we have an established WR who can go deep.

[KDawg]

My guess is that we target defensive NEEDS in FA.

Draft will be a BPA situation with it slightly weighted towards positions of need that weren't addressed in FA, but not too weighted. Meaning, we'll take the best guy available unless we're set at the position. (Which, off the top of my head, looking at our FAs and team, I'd say QB is the position we're most set at when it comes to early round talent...)

[SkinsGuy]

I don't think we can afford him either but he would definitely get at least close to the number of starting snaps he got this year if we used him as we should which would be lining up in the backfield with Morris and also in the slot and also on punt and kickoff returns. He would have a lot of touches and chances to impact the game and would definitely make life easier for Morris and Griffin

No way will the Redskins go after or pay someone like Reggie Bush.

Shanahan sees himself (and probably deservedly so) as a running back guru. Last year, he went and got someone in the 6th round out of Florida Atlantic (I believe) named Alfred Morris who became the second leading rusher in the NFL.

Shanahan seems to always get obscure RBs and turn them into productive players. No way will he pay top dollar for a RB in FA. Especially one with an inconsistent history like Bush.

[DC9]

Breakfast nuggets from rotoworld.com"

Coach John Harbaugh said the Ravens will "work like crazy" to get impending free agent Ed Reed re-signed.
"We had that conversation on the bus ride away from the stadium actually," Harbaugh said. "He and I both agreed that we want him back. I want him back, and Ed wants to come back." The problem is that the cap-strapped Ravens probably won't be able to afford market value for the future Hall of Famer. Although he'll be 35 in September and has a numerous injury red flags, Reed is expected to attract significant interest around the league. The Colts, Patriots and Saints are all possible suitors.


For Titus Young, Sr fans:
Former Lions WR Titus Young recently told his high school coach that he's better than Calvin Johnson.
"He did tell me he thought he was just as good Megatron," E.C. Robinson recalled late last month. "I said, 'Titus, come on.' I said, 'Come on, man. Who you talking to?' I said, 'Come on, you’re as good as that guy? This guy is the real deal.' And he really believes this. And he was sincere about it. 'Ah man, I'm better than him.'" If Young is unwilling to play second fiddle to this generation's greatest wideout, he's going to have a hard time fitting in many receiving corps around the league. He'll need to at least fake an attitude adjustment before signing on with a new team.

The Cowboys are not expected to put in a waiver claim for former Lions WR Titus Young.
The news comes via Cowboys.com's Bryan Broaddus, who is very plugged into the team's intentions. Young might be considered by Dallas if he clears waivers and avoids offseason trouble ahead of training camp, but the Cowboys won't put in a claim. We tentatively expect no teams to claim Young off waivers.

CSN Philly's Geoff Mosher is confident the Eagles will release RCB Nnamdi Asomugha this offseason.
Mosher suspects Asomugha wouldn't be kept even if he slashed his $15 million base salary all the way down to $3 million. He's that representative of what went wrong with the Eagles the past two seasons. Going on age 32, Asomugha will draw some interest when he hits free agency from teams that play press-man coverage in the back end. Asomugha needs to get his confidence back, though.

[Laxpunk2006]

Drafting Kerrigan isn't a counterexample at all. Passer rushers are a premium, they are on everyones draft board. And Kerrigan was the BPA.

Both of those statements are conjecture. Neither of us know if everyone was looking for a pass rusher or if Kerrigan was the BPA on the board.

I do however agree that pass rushers are at a premium. So are play makers. In the past two drafts we've seen teams move up for Julio Jones, Trent Richardson, and Justin Blackmon all in the top 6 picks.

If it had been predetermined they wouldn't have traded down first

4 of the next 6 picks after trading down were for pass rushers. It is very possible we were comfortable with multiple players (it was said we were high on Robert Quinn at the time), and felt some combination of players there were similar enough in talent/fit that we could add value while still addressing our primary goal.

[darrelgreenie]

Will see if it plays out this way but if it does i don't see it as not saying much.

Just based on how much interpretation and extrapolation the tweet requires and the general vagueness imo speaks to how little that tweets says.

The surprising tone of the offseason will be the #Redskins adding weapons to the offense vs loading up on D.

What does this mean? FA or Draft? Early in the draft or late in the draft? What does loading up on defense mean FA or draft and how many picks? Why would loading up on defense preclude adding weapons on offense?

There is a sentiment with some on this board (borderline me too on this point) that the Redskins will go nuts in the draft and free agency on defense whereas on offense they will do little outside of possible upgrading RT. I could be wrong but I take that tweet as him saying that sentiment is likely to be wrong -- expect them to focus more on offensive upgrades than defense.

Now we're kinda getting into the weeds on this topic...I have no idea about the overall sentiments on this board.
But, assuming LL is saying the team will focus more on offensive upgrades then defensive upgrades what does that mean? The draft is ultimately not a matter of choice but a matter of reaction/adjustment. You could want a particular position in a particular round but if the draft is fluid and uncertain.
Like I was saying before the FO has much more of choice through FA, so if I were looking from your viewpoint then I would believe that LL's tweet indicates the FO will make offensive moves in FA.

But, I don't think the tweet is making a strong statement one way or another.
Saying the offseason(FA/draft) won't be exclusively be on defense isn't saying a lot imo.

[pjfootballer]

Oh god, Nnamdi Asamough is being released? Cue the SHOULD WE threads in 3,2,1,....

Seriously, I really hope some nitwit in here doesn't suggest we sign a 32 year old press CB, but you know someone will.

[MartinC]

I would be suprised if we drafted a WR (save for the kid from Baylor) in the 2nd round if we didn't have a starting Safety already in FA.

I would be stunned if we drafted a WR in the 2nd round unless it was clearly a BPA pick. Although its early in the process all the analysis I have read on this draft class says its deep on D Line. O'Line (especially guard) and D'Line are the positions that are deep - safety and running back are not. Its impossible to know what will be on the board when we pick but its at least likely that the best value will be at DLine or OLine and you can never have enough good players in those positions.

I'd expect to see us address safety in free agency.

---------- Post added February-5th-2013 at 09:59 AM ----------

Why would loading up on defense preclude adding weapons on offense?

Salary cap space being tight means if you sign a free agent with a reasonably high cap number on offense that limits what you can do signing players on defense and visa versa. Its has no impact on the draft of course. I agree with you though I dont think that tweet was saying anything really. We need to add talent on both sides of the ball were we can within the limits of cap situation.