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Cap management quesiton

C

Coach

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Is now the time to spend a lot of money in free agency? As they say, mortgage the future, to get another ring in the present?

I'm sold on the offensive being super bowl quality. The Defense, however, must be upgraded.

I'm leaning toward Yes push cap dollars back and sign for the defense NOW. Besides, who knows how much the cap will go up in five years.

For a bit of fun:


Move #1 Sign S Eric Weddle.

Age: 31

2015 Salary: $7.5 million

2015 Team: San Diego Chargers

According to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego Chargers safety Eric Weddle will never figure out why the last few weeks of the season went the way they did because, as he said, "I probably won't ever speak to them again." Toward the end of the season, Weddle watched his daughter during a halftime show instead of going in with the Chargers for a halftime meeting; a rift seemed to appear afterward. In 2015, Weddle ranked inside the top seven in terms of coverage grades, according to Pro Football Focus. After Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry, it's safe to say that Weddle will be the best available safety.

>>>With this move we get a cerebral playmaker at safety. A huge upgrade over Allen.

Move #2

Sign CB Sean Smith

Age: 28

2015 Salary: $4.25 million

2015 Team: Kansas City Chiefs

Like the division rival Denver Broncos, the Kansas City Chiefs also have a ton of decisions to make this offseason when it comes to their own free agents. One of those free agents is cornerback Sean Smith.

In 2015, Smith finished with a grade that put him inside the top 20 among all cornerbacks in the NFL.

Smith will be an above-average fallback option for team's that miss out on Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman and Los Angeles Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins.

>>>With him, and Gay re-signed, the upgrade will be gargantuan as Blake will be out.
 
I'm no against trying to win now while we have Ben
 
Lloyds legend said:
Josh Norman.
Click to expand...

I think he's either franchised or goes for 9-12 million a season. I'd rather have Weddle and Smith over Norman for close to the same amount of money. My thinking is to buy a competent secondary with free agency ( rookies take time to develop ), then draft Pass rushers and DL In rounds 1-3, OL in round 4, and use two of our 7th round picks on a top kick return man and punter.
 
we dont need Josh Norman, Sean Smith or Eric Weddle. all are at/over 30.

Trumaine Johnson, Rams CB, 6-2, 208. 26 years old.
that's who we should go get.
 
You asked if now was the time to spend a lot of money.

Josh Norman will definitely require that.

I go Norman based on age and performance. Dude held Hopkins, Hilton, Bryant, and Julio Jones to 9/98. That being said I believe he will be franchised too.
 
I'd also go for Jaye Howard, NT from KC
6-2, 310, 27 years old
 
Ben probably only has a 4-5 year window of elite QB proficiency and a history of getting beat-up. I'm all for betting the farm for a chance at another ring. Have to strike when you get that franchise QB. Go secondary in Free Agency and if you grab one/two...go best available OL or DT in the draft.
 
IMO we can't afford to wait on draft picks to get up to speed for our Secondary, we need to find guys that can play now in FA
 
I would probably be more interested in Sean Smith just because of his age but who really cares because we are up against the cap and have DeCastro, Foster, Beachum, Blake, Gay, Golden, Allen, Spence, McLendon to sign of our own. I feel we will have to let a few walk like Foster, Beachum, McLendon because of their fair market value vs our cap then re-sign the ones we can afford, Gat, DeCastro, Golden, and yes I know but I have a feeling we will Blake.
 
I would like to go after Weddle and Jenkins/Smith. The time is now. Sign them to deals that we can get out of in 2-3 years and then draft their replacements this year, or at least one of their replacements. Norman will be franchised and re-signed.
 
We discussed this a few times already. Yes, if the Steelers plan to win another SB anytime in the near future, they better be active in this years free agency, even signing a potential top tier free agent or two 2nd tier free agents. Ben's window is closing fast. When he is gone, you can expect a SB drought until they are bad enough to get a high draft pick to select their next franchise QB unless they get lucky like the Cheatriots did with Brady.
 
Hell to the no. We may have the best offense in the league. Why mortgage the future when minor adjustments may do. Draft well and add where applicable and bring the D up. They finally began to step it up, no need to crash the truck going forward.
 
Weddle could very well come at a discount. He plays the same position as Mitchell though right?

I think Weddle would be a great addition for a run at the title. That beard would look good in black and gold.

Smith is going to get a fat contract. Why? There's not a lot of CBs who will hit the open market this year in that upper echelon, which means guys like him will get overpaid.

If one of these mid-tier free agents is willing to come at a competitive market rate then I would jump at it. A mid-tier corner for us would be top-tier for our secondary. Gotta hope Golson gets on the field and makes an impact this season as well.
 
Is Weddle the second coming of Troy and I missed it? The guy has 3 picks the last 3 seasons and presumably has lost a step or two. He's a better-tackling Will Allen, which yes is a slight upgrade, but hardly one to take the D to the next level. I mean I know we're desperate but I have yet to see one reason why Weddle is the answer to the secondary issues other than just because he's available.

The Steelers are known for dumping aging vets, not signing them.

I like Supe's suggestions.
 
nitsuj1225 said:
Is Weddle the second coming of Troy and I missed it? The guy has 3 picks the last 3 seasons and presumably has lost a step or two. He's a better-tackling Will Allen, which yes is a slight upgrade, but hardly one to take the D to the next level. I mean I know we're desperate but I have yet to see one reason why Weddle is the answer to the secondary issues other than just because he's available.

The Steelers are known for dumping aging vets, not signing them.

I like Supe's suggestions.
Click to expand...

Kevin Greene was 30 when we signed him. Kemo Von O was up there in age as well. Just saying... We don't need to break the bank for Weddle, but he could quickly upgrade us.
 
Johnson and Howard would give us instant upgrades and allow us to focus the draft on finding gems to shore up that talent.
Signing Johnson would give us a much better secondary.
Howard would be a true NT, which would lessen some pressure on Heyward and Tuitt.

Golden and Mitchell could form a better Safety tandem next year.
Johnson and Gay (a joke there somewhere) would be better too.
 
Coach said:
Kevin Greene was 30 when we signed him. Kemo Von O was up there in age as well. Just saying... We don't need to break the bank for Weddle, but he could quickly upgrade us.
Click to expand...

That's 2 guys in 25 years lol Kevin Greene is headed to the HoF...hardly on par with Weddle. I'll give you the Kimo comparison though. Weddle has been declining for the past couple seasons which is why the Chargers are letting him walk. Hell, some fans were mad we kept Troy too long and he was one of the greatest to ever play the position.
 
Meh, signing a player like Weddle is a roll of the dice. If you sign him to short contract and he kills it (like Greene did) then he is gone after 1-3 years because his price goes way up. If you sign him to a longer deal he could tank and you are stuck with dead money or a player like Cam Thomas. I would keep a guy like Will Allen, who has proven himself in our system, over Weddle and then draft someone. If it's gonna be the FA route to fix the secondary then we need to target younger players.
 
steelerscotty said:
Meh, signing a player like Weddle is a roll of the dice. If you sign him to short contract and he kills it (like Greene did) then he is gone after 1-3 years because his price goes way up. If you sign him to a longer deal he could tank and you are stuck with dead money or a player like Cam Thomas. I would keep a guy like Will Allen, who has proven himself in our system, over Weddle and then draft someone. If it's gonna be the FA route to fix the secondary then we need to target younger players.
Click to expand...

We are in the 1-3 year window now. Upgrading Blake, W. Allen and J Jones with just average to slightly above average NFL starters would greatly increase our defense. I really believe that. Slightly above average free agent starters don't break the cap.
 
Superman said:
we dont need Josh Norman, Sean Smith or Eric Weddle. all are at/over 30.

Trumaine Johnson, Rams CB, 6-2, 208. 26 years old.
that's who we should go get.
Click to expand...

I would go after the Jets NT as well instead of Mclendon.

That would be a upgrade at CB and a upgrade at NT.

Then you draft BPA with a pass rushing LBer and a SS in mind.

But I would besides resigning Gay and Foster.... bringing in a upgrade at corner should be priority number 1.
 
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