Free Agency & Draft - Improving the roster

[DanA]

Re-sign: D.Lawrence, R.Smith, LP Ladouceur
Cut/Let-go: C.Beasley, T.Austin, S.Lee, T.Williams, D.Wilson, D.Irving, J.Swaim, J.Olawale
New Contracts: A.Cooper, D.Prescott, J.Smith, B.Jones

Line up before FA & Draft

RB: Z.Elliott
QB:D.Prescott
XWR: Cooper TE: B.Jarwin YWR: Gallup RT: L.Collins RG: Z.Martin OC: T.Frederick LG: C.Williams LT: T.Smith
QB: M.White, C.Rush
FB/RB: R.Smith, D.Jackson
WR: Hurns, N.Brown
TE2: D.Shultz
Backup OL: Su'a Filo, Looney
Needed: FB, OT, TE, RB, SWR, QB

LE: D.Lawrence 3T: L.Collins 1T: A.Woods RE: T.Crawford
LB: J.Smith LB: L.Vander Esch
CB: B.Jones CB: C.Awuzie
SS: J.Heath FS: X.Woods
CB: A.Brown, J.Lewis, CJ Goodwin
S: K.Fraizer
LB: J.Thomas, C.Covington
DL: R.Gregory, T.Charlton, D.Armstong
Needed: DT, S, LB

Free Agents:
M.Burton (FB) - A minor position in our scheme but a significant upgrade on Olawale who isn't a great lead blocker. Burton is much better as a lead blocker and will be a weapon that will do a better job leading the way for Zeke.

G.Jarrett (DT) - We need a game changer at DT and rather than keep spend cap space on C.Beasley, T.Austin, S.Lee in backup roles, or sign Earl Thomas. I'd rather put money into a player that will be consistently on the field and a big upgrade as a starter.

Draft Need:
- Upgraded Starting TE
- Swing Tackle
- Slot WR
- Punt Returner

Draft
2nd Round: TJ Hoekensen (TE) - A good blocking all around TE that shows good hand use and release and the ability to highpoint the ball. A little underutilized at Iowa, he's young and will need to develop a little but a really good fit in a Jason Garrett run-first scheme and good value.

3rd Round: Parris Cambell (WR) - Not as productive as was hyped to be but has loads of speed and ability to return punts, play out of slot, run bubble screens, reverses and jet sweeps. I think he could be really effective and well utilized by us in a specialty/impact role.

4th Round: Marcus Norman (OT) - Longer than I wanted to wait for an OT but with limited options outside the 1st round it's not easy. It may be worth playing Connor Williams at RT/Swing tackle and having Su'a Filo/Looney compete at OG.

4th Round: Paddy Fisher (LB) - A backup for LVE & Smith is needed replacing Lee/Wilson. Fisher is a good option in a similar mold to LVE (raw) but not quite as talented. 3rd choice LB will probably start out as Thomas but looking for Fisher to work into that role and also play SAM.

Padding out the roster with some DL, WR and LB options later in the draft.

 

[Longboysfan]

I'll not agree on everything here.

First off - resign Beasley 2 years.

Cut Jeff Heath - he does not make big plays.

1 - Get a Safety in the draft.
2 - Get back up OT in the draft.
3 - Get a back up RB - punisher - in the draft.

 

[exciter]

Beasley will be a priority resign, most likely something backloaded that they can walk away from the last 2 years! Absolutely no reason to resign Dak until his rookie contract is up...if then! If Hockerson is available at the end of the 2nd then I'm dreaming!

 

[cnuball21]

I’d say that’s a perfect offseason.

Wouldn’t mind the double down approach at DT though, get Jarret and draft a kid in the 2nd.

We could use help at both spots.

 

[Mr_437]

Who the heck is FB M. Burton?

I'd DAL would do more in the trenches...like adding a NT w/ a high draft choice or starter level money in FA. Also, I see OT as more of a need than a TE...but we all see things differently.

Good layout Dan!

 

[DanA]

Who the heck is FB M. Burton?

I'd DAL would do more in the trenches...like adding a NT w/ a high draft choice or starter level money in FA. Also, I see OT as more of a need than a TE...but we all see things differently.

Good layout Dan!

He’s the Chicago Bears FB. I agree OT is a big need but they tend to go early in the draft and I felt it was unlikely we’d find a good one by the time we get to draft.

Beasley will be a priority resign, most likely something backloaded that they can walk away from the last 2 years! Absolutely no reason to resign Dak until his rookie contract is up...if then! If Hockerson is available at the end of the 2nd then I'm dreaming!

I don’t think Beasley is a priority at all. He limits the offense because he can’t play outside, has limited deep threat, is too slow to run a jet sweep, and too small to block. As I said I’d rather spend the money on a quality DT.


I agree Hockenson would be a steal but there are quite a few good TE’s in the 3rd round. If Irv Smith and him are gone I’d probably grab one there.

 

[exciter]

Most slot receivers fit that description. Beasley's role in converting 3rd downs is where they place value on him. Too valuable to their limited qb!

Cant see them being too interested in Irv Smith with they're over emphasis on blocking from that position! Hockenson is one player to watch for them moving up for if he falls out of 1st 3rd of 2nd!

 

[darthseinfeld]

He’s the Chicago Bears FB. I agree OT is a big need but they tend to go early in the draft and I felt it was unlikely we’d find a good one by the time we get to draft.



I don’t think Beasley is a priority at all. He limits the offense because he can’t play outside, has limited deep threat, is too slow to run a jet sweep, and too small to block. As I said I’d rather spend the money on a quality DT.


I agree Hockenson would be a steal but there are quite a few good TE’s in the 3rd round. If Irv Smith and him are gone I’d probably grab one there.

You can play Cooper in the slot alot. I think we may need another really good outside WR to move him around like that. But Cooper can play all over the field

 

[DanA]

I’d say that’s a perfect offseason.

Wouldn’t mind the double down approach at DT though, get Jarret and draft a kid in the 2nd.

We could use help at both spots.

In terms of preference in the 2nd round I probably would have gone:
1. OT as a swing tackle replacing La’el in 2020
2. A DT any, I’d be happy with a position flex Crawford type or Snacks Harrison run stuffer or anything in between.
3. An OG road grader type moving C.Williams to compete with La’el for RT/swing tackle knowing Tyron Smith isn’t 100% reliable fitness wise and Su’a Filo can be a short term starter. Connor the long term option at RT.

When I went through the draft it looked like the O-line/D-Line positions had been picked bare and it was TE, WR and corner that offered value. But as the senior bowl and more draft analysis occurs and I learn more names that might change. As it stands there’s 5-6 TE’s I like with 1/2 or 2/3 grades and I think one will fall to us either in the 2nd or 3rd

 

[cnuball21]

In terms of preference in the 2nd round I probably would have gone:
1. OT as a swing tackle replacing La’el in 2020
2. A DT any, I’d be happy with a position flex Crawford type or Snacks Harrison run stuffer or anything in between.
3. An OG road grader type moving C.Williams to compete with La’el for RT/swing tackle knowing Tyron Smith isn’t 100% reliable fitness wise and Su’a Filo can be a short term starter. Connor the long term option at RT.

When I went through the draft it looked like the O-line/D-Line positions had been picked bare and it was TE, WR and corner that offered value. But as the senior bowl and more draft analysis occurs and I learn more names that might change. As it stands there’s 5-6 TE’s I like with 1/2 or 2/3 grades and I think one will fall to us either in the 2nd or 3rd

I actually think Williams showed pretty good progression throughout the year at G. Last night he held his own against the best in the business. I think he’ll be solid, but you do have the option of swapping him and Collins.

 

[DanA]

Most slot receivers fit that description. Beasley's role in converting 3rd downs is where they place value on him. Too valuable to their limited qb!

Cant see them being too interested in Irv Smith with they're over emphasis on blocking from that position! Hockenson is one player to watch for them moving up for if he falls out of 1st 3rd of 2nd!

I feel like a TE will fall in our laps, just the way this draft is shaping up there looks like there are options in every round. Maybe not Hockenson but I also like Kaden Smith Isiacc Nauta and a few others. I also think Irv Smith is an underrated blocker who should be in consideration if he falls to us in the second.

 

[DanA]

I actually think Williams showed pretty good progression throughout the year at G. Last night he held his own against the best in the business. I think he’ll be solid, but you do have the option of swapping him and Collins.

I have no problem keeping Williams at guard. It was more that Looney and Su’a Filo looked decent and it’s sometimes easier to find a guard in the 2nd round than OT. It feels like it’s an option that could be explored maybe more so than should be explored.

 

[exciter]

I feel like a TE will fall in our laps, just the way this draft is shaping up there looks like there are options in every round. Maybe not Hockenson but I also like Kaden Smith Isiacc Nauta and a few others. I also think Irv Smith is an underrated blocker who should be in consideration if he falls to us in the second.

I'll take Hockenson or K Smith. Not familiar with Nauta yet. Irv Smith just strikes me as a player they're going to pigeon hole early!

 

[DanA]

You can play Cooper in the slot alot. I think we may need another really good outside WR to move him around like that. But Cooper can play all over the field

I quite like Hakeem Butler as a WR prospect that offers something a bit different to what we have. If he was available in the 4th I’d jump on him as an option.

We also have Hurns who is both a slot and outside option. Good but not great player and may not be worth his 6m salary but if we keep him (and we might be forced too with the injury) he’s an option.

 

[beware_d-ware]

I actually think Williams showed pretty good progression throughout the year at G. Last night he held his own against the best in the business. I think he’ll be solid, but you do have the option of swapping him and Collins.

Position swapping can be tricky, we've seen it get messed up with Byron and La'el Collins.

I think it'd be one of those things where I'd have to see him on the practice field and break him down in the film room with an OL coach or something: you'd have to judge his potential to add bulk and strength at G (without sacrificing too much mobility) vs his potential to block speed rushers at RT. Just seeing him in game, I think he looks like a better fit at RT than guard, but you have to weigh what he can do now and what he may be able to do later.

 

[beware_d-ware]

Dan, I like your offseason, but one change I'd make is to resign Swaim. He was easily the best TE we had when healthy (not that that's saying much) and he shouldn't cost too much to bring back. Jarwin also showed some potential as a receiving option, but I just don't see it at all with Schultz or Rico.

So ideally I'd offer Swaim something like 2 years $5 million just in case we can't find a good replacement, keep Jarwin as the #2, and make Schultz the #3 and have him compete for a roster spot if we bring a new guy in.

 

[TasteMyScythe]

The Falcons #1 priority is resigning Jarrett...so you can mark him off the wish list.

 

[DanA]

Dan, I like your offseason, but one change I'd make is to resign Swaim. He was easily the best TE we had when healthy (not that that's saying much) and he shouldn't cost too much to bring back. Jarwin also showed some potential as a receiving option, but I just don't see it at all with Schultz or Rico.

So ideally I'd offer Swaim something like 2 years $5 million just in case we can't find a good replacement, keep Jarwin as the #2, and make Schultz the #3 and have him compete for a roster spot if we bring a new guy in.

Fair enough. There’s a lot of factors to consider which can color an opinion. Personally, every time I do a mock draft it seems like a TE is the best player on the board by a margin in each the 2nd and 3rd rounds. So my think has been to grab the talent and throw them in the deep end, Swaim is a progress stopper in this scenario. But if you have a higher opinion of Swaim or different view on how the draft will fall I can very easily see Swaim as worth re-signing.

It’s a risk but I’m thinking along the same lines of what we did with Carr and Hitchens. It’s the position I want to gamble on this year.

 

[bodi]

Max Scharping, G/OT, Northern Illinois
Height: 6-6. Weight: 315.
Projected 40 Time: 5.25.
Projected Round (2019): 3-5.

1/5/19: Scharping had a solid senior year. It will be important for him to play well at the Senior Bowl.

8/28/18: According to NFL teams' preseason data provided by team sources, Scharping checks in at 6-foot-6, 315 pounds. He is said to run the 40 in 5.25 seconds. His arms measure at 33.5 inches, his hands at 9.88 inches, and his wing span at 80 inches.

The Huskies right tackle has good size to him and has been a steady blocker for them. NFL sources say they are projecting Scharping to move inside to guard at the next level, but entering his senior year, he is being projected to go in the first four rounds of the 2019 NFL Draft.

 

[Daygoboy6191]

No way Grady hits the market. The Falcons have such a poor defense they aren't letting one of their best young players go.

Also, you can guarantee Hurns will be among those who are cut.