Any names of guys you feel could sign with us after camp? I know we've been in a rush to go all in to sign guys who we've never heard of, but if that's how they want to do things that's fine. Would a guy like Linval Joseph who has ties to Zim be an option.
He's an older guy, who surely doesn't want to go through camp, cut could help us out and could help MAZI also! Please give your thoughts
Suppose you can always argue that we can't know who might get cut that could shockingly become available, and similarly, we can't know what better talent might be put on the trade block... but assuming nothing earth-shattering emerges...
I can't see us doing that now that we've seen the signings of the past week, all honesty, short of an injury or an off-field issue or someone completely somehow regressing big-time instead of progressing. (And me, I've been among the consistent advocates we should be adding at least one, if not two, if not three... an experienced pass rusher and an experienced tree stump on defense, and an experienced blind side protector on offense... because, indeed, there seemed to be some legitimate options on the market still.)
Here's why.
First, they'd replaced Armstrong effectively by drafting Kneeland, but they'd never replaced Fowler. Then, they lost Sam Williams, of course.
So that's two down, not just one, in terms of pass rusher inventory. It would appear that they've chosen to address that situation by letting recent draftees Fehoko and Wheat compete with 2023 UDFA Durrell Johnson and the recently signed Al-Quadin Muhammed and Shaka Toney... and let that shake out however it's going to shake out.
Second, they've given no reason to believe they're not fully prepared to go into the season with Guyton or Edoga starting at LT, and even if one of those were not to start in Cleveland, they give every appearance that they feel confidence in Asim Richards for now.
Third... in the spot that gave me most anxiety and still does really but they've done what they've done... they signed a guy, Albert Huggins, who was listed as ATL's 2nd string nose tackle for pretty much all of last season. That says something significant. It says they've deliberately chosen to add a competitor at that position... but not to Mazi... rather, to Justin Rogers (and Carl Rogers if you really think he's still an option, which I do not).
That translates as "We're all-in on Mazi." The only question now is who gets the snaps that Mazi does not, whatever that number ends up being.
I haven't mentioned C because I think there's wide agreement that they're content with Hoffman, though also wouldn't mind to see Beebee make a charge in the upcoming preseason games to overtake him for the job.
I haven't mentioned RB because I've reviewed the likely candidates for being cut, given the depth chart and given contract/dead money considerations... it would appear your plausible options could be Alvin Kamara (NO) and Izzy Abanikanda (NYJ) and that's about it. We have 8 RBs in camp... ordinarily, that would only be 5, maybe 6. Feels pretty certain that our 4(?) RBs are already on the roster.
Reality is, we would seem to be set... no new additions.
Me, I still think we're taking too big a chance at LT. I still think we're taking too big a chance at DT-1.
Had Stephen taken my advice, we'd have already picked up
David Bakhitari to replace Edoga, and give Guyton legitimate competition from the git-go. And we'd have already picked up
Lawrence Guy to replace Carl Davis, and give Mazi legitimate competition from the git-go. (
Linval Joseph, based on these last seasons' numbers, just doesn't appear to be anything but a name at this point.) But that's just me.
