THIS Years Free Agent Class Is Incredible!!

[Schneed10]

In the interests of addressing the fact that we're $20 million over the cap next year, here's a post I wrote about a month ago in another thread:

I'm going to list the ways to get the cap number down. You can debate the merit of making certain moves on this list, but if we don't cut a certain player, you can bet we'd restructure them, which would also save some money.

Expected Roster Cuts:
Phillip Daniels - $3.0 million saved
Mark Brunell - $3.4 million saved
Total Savings for Cuts: $6.4 million

Keeping These Players, Restructuring 2008 Base Salary, Prorating over Remaining life of Contract:
Randy Thomas - $4.3 million saved
Clinton Portis - $3.8 million saved
Jon Jansen - $3.7 million saved
Chris Samuels - $3.4 million saved
Cornelius Griffin - $2.8 million saved
Santana Moss - $2.4 million saved
Casey Rabach - $1.8 million saved
Total Salary Restructure Savings: $22.2 million

Keeping These Players, Restructuring 2008 Roster Bonuses, Prorating over Remaining life of Contract:
Ladell Betts - $1.7 million saved
Clinton Portis - $0.4 million saved
Andre Carter - $1.9 million saved
Antwaan Randle-El - $1.2 million saved
Total Bonus Restructure Savings: $5.2 million

So I see ways to reduce our 2008 cap number by about $34 million. So do I think armageddon is coming next year? NO.

But I wouldn't go making ALL of the moves I listed above, either. We're starting to push a little too much into the future. And if we get rid of Brandon Lloyd, that move will eat up some more space.

Bottom line, we won't have to dismantle the team, but we won't have lots of flexibility, either. We'll need to draft very well.

I don't think large free agent moves are in our future.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by NFLNetwork

I know its early, but there are 3 very good corners on the market this upcoming season (Marcus Trufant, Asante Samuel, & D'angelo Hall)...Should we look to invest considering Spring is prob gone after this season?? More importantly, will we have enough to invest in one of these guys with our current cap situation

New England is $10 million under the cap right now. If they really want to keep Samuel, they can pay him more than we can.

The Falcons are under the cap and can keep Hall if they really want.

Seattle also is $10 million under the cap, so they can keep Trufant if they want.

If these guys even hit the market, other teams will outbid us (unless we're stupid).

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by NFLNetwork

I know its early, but there are 3 very good corners on the market this upcoming season (Marcus Trufant, Asante Samuel, & D'angelo Hall)...Should we look to invest considering Spring is prob gone after this season?? More importantly, will we have enough to invest in one of these guys with our current cap situation

I don't want any of these guys. We need a pass rusher and we need some O-line help.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

I don't want any of these guys. We need a pass rusher and we need some O-line help.

Given that we have money tied up in Rogers and Smoot over the next few years, and given that Springs is still a Redskin at this point, I agree that it seems very inappropriate to spend lots of money on a corner.

If we do ANYTHING at corner, it would make most sense to draft somebody and bring along as a replacement for Spings.

But even that would be inappropriate in my opinion. We have other needs. Our depth along the offensive line, in addition to the age of our linemen, makes that priority one for me. I'd take a WR over a CB, too.

And given the fact that it makes all the financial sense in the world to cut Phillip Daniels, we're going to need a DE. Unless Daniels wants to drop his salary, then we could keep him, but even that is a stopgap because he's so old.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

In the interests of addressing the fact that we're $20 million over the cap next year, here's a post I wrote about a month ago in another thread:

I'm going to list the ways to get the cap number down. You can debate the merit of making certain moves on this list, but if we don't cut a certain player, you can bet we'd restructure them, which would also save some money.

Expected Roster Cuts:
Phillip Daniels - $3.0 million saved
Mark Brunell - $3.4 million saved
Total Savings for Cuts: $6.4 million

Keeping These Players, Restructuring 2008 Base Salary, Prorating over Remaining life of Contract:
Randy Thomas - $4.3 million saved
Clinton Portis - $3.8 million saved
Jon Jansen - $3.7 million saved
Chris Samuels - $3.4 million saved
Cornelius Griffin - $2.8 million saved
Santana Moss - $2.4 million saved
Casey Rabach - $1.8 million saved
Total Salary Restructure Savings: $22.2 million

Keeping These Players, Restructuring 2008 Roster Bonuses, Prorating over Remaining life of Contract:
Ladell Betts - $1.7 million saved
Clinton Portis - $0.4 million saved
Andre Carter - $1.9 million saved
Antwaan Randle-El - $1.2 million saved
Total Bonus Restructure Savings: $5.2 million

So I see ways to reduce our 2008 cap number by about $34 million. So do I think armageddon is coming next year? NO.

But I wouldn't go making ALL of the moves I listed above, either. We're starting to push a little too much into the future. And if we get rid of Brandon Lloyd, that move will eat up some more space.

Bottom line, we won't have to dismantle the team, but we won't have lots of flexibility, either. We'll need to draft very well.

I don't think large free agent moves are in our future.

Good post. What about better luck with injuries, gettting better performances out players like Lloyd (LMAO), having our young Qb progress and having a good draft?? I like this idea over chasing more free agents trying to get paid.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

Good post. What about better luck with injuries, gettting better performances out players like Lloyd (LMAO), having our young Qb progress and having a good draft. I like this idea over chasing more free agents trying to get paid.

Agreed 100%.

[birdz4gibbs]

Originally Posted by Bill B

How about the Skins stay out of the free agent market for a year and stick with what they got and build through the draft? I know this is not the popular route and "winning the offseason championship" creates excitement, but if we restructure the contracts to get under the cap and start the youth movement by rebuilding through the draft I think the team will be in a better position in the long run.

i would love to see that happen myself but we all know good ole danny boy will sign everybody under the sun ..

but thats my thinking as well.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by birdz4gibbs

i would love to see that happen myself but we all know good ole danny boy will sign everybody under the sun ..

but thats my thinking as well.

I don't think that's fair to Snyder, he hasn't spearheaded that kind of spending spree in a long time. The last few forays into free agency have been of Gibbs' doing.

[Bill B]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Given that we have money tied up in Rogers and Smoot over the next few years, and given that Springs is still a Redskin at this point, I agree that it seems very inappropriate to spend lots of money on a corner.

If we do ANYTHING at corner, it would make most sense to draft somebody and bring along as a replacement for Spings.

But even that would be inappropriate in my opinion. We have other needs. Our depth along the offensive line, in addition to the age of our linemen, makes that priority one for me. I'd take a WR over a CB, too.

And given the fact that it makes all the financial sense in the world to cut Phillip Daniels, we're going to need a DE. Unless Daniels wants to drop his salary, then we could keep him, but even that is a stopgap because he's so old.

Bingo! Schneed you hit it right on the bullseye with your posts.

My personal opinion is we draft Calais Campbell - DE - Miami with our first round pick. Than we go to offensive line and draft the best available lineman (prefer guard over tackle but if a preimere tackle is available first go with talent over position- maybe the guard Eric Young of Tennessee?). Than go with a WR/CB next - whoever is the best available at the time.

I am not too high on switching Springs to safety because he is already getting injured a lot and isn't Safety a much more high impact position as far as hitting goes?

[redsk1]

If the way we do things is that much different than all of the other 31 teams in the league one could either say we're innovative or a failure. I'll give it another year under Gibbs and if we have the same results its been a failure. Then blow it up (for the most part) and start building thru the draft.

This philosophy of paying more $ than anyone else in the league hasn't done anything for us. I'm sure our Capologists at Redskins park knows all of the #'s and has a game plan together, that's really not my worry. My worry is winning. I'm all about being aggressive and spending some $. Let's spend some money wisely though.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

See, I like moves like getting London Fletcher. Let's be fiscally responsible for once, use these draft picks to our advantage and make some shrewd decisions in FA and let's get the team under the cap where it can make moves in a couple of years.

I'm with SS, I'd love to get Talib if he's available.

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Given that we have money tied up in Rogers and Smoot over the next few years, and given that Springs is still a Redskin at this point, I agree that it seems very inappropriate to spend lots of money on a corner.

If we do ANYTHING at corner, it would make most sense to draft somebody and bring along as a replacement for Spings.

But even that would be inappropriate in my opinion. We have other needs. Our depth along the offensive line, in addition to the age of our linemen, makes that priority one for me. I'd take a WR over a CB, too.

And given the fact that it makes all the financial sense in the world to cut Phillip Daniels, we're going to need a DE. Unless Daniels wants to drop his salary, then we could keep him, but even that is a stopgap because he's so old.

I hope we can keep Daniels. I think he's played really well this year & has stayed healthy too. He is old & doesn't have the speed to get to the passer on most plays but he still manages to if the coverage is there & he's stout v. the run. The rotation w/him moving to DT in passing downs & Wilson or MW at DE has worked pretty well, but you're right that we do need a future every down DE.

[freddyg12]

We're going to sign at least a couple guys during the f. agency period. It's a question of how much is the danny going to spend. I like this past year's signings as well as 05. In those years we picked up a couple starters but didn't break the bank & try to buy a title.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

I'm with everyone wanting OL though. I think we need to spend a low round pick on an elite prospect. I think we need to go guard without a doubt.

[Bill B]

Originally Posted by freddyg12

I hope we can keep Daniels. I think he's played really well this year & has stayed healthy too. He is old & doesn't have the speed to get to the passer on most plays but he still manages to if the coverage is there & he's stout v. the run. The rotation w/him moving to DT in passing downs & Wilson or MW at DE has worked pretty well, but you're right that we do need a future every down DE.

I know it has been said a thousand times with other players - if we cut Daniels or restrcuture would he do it "for the vet minimum"?