They have 4 vested experienced vets in McClain, Lee, Wilber, and Gachkar. All are making more than vet minimum. Then they have a 3rd year player in Hitchens who has started a majority of games his first two seasons. Then they have two 2nd year drafted players who fill out the 6th & 7th spots on the roster. If Jaylon gets heathy that's 8. They had every opportunity to re-sign Bruce Carter for the minimum - showed no interest. Justin Durant the same and still available - showed no interest. That is not thin, not even close. One position they've been able to build on depth is LB. Maybe because the LB coach is so good.
Reasonable answer. However it is not, IMO, ridiculous to consider this:
1. Lee has a history of not playing thru the season. He's Pro Bowl when healthy though.
2. McClain is a whim away from not playing for whatever reason and he takes time to get ready albeit not as long as some think. He's inconsistent.
3. Wilber is a starter type here but in reality he's a backup and situational player and core STs
4. Gachkar see above although he's more a backup and ST
5. Hitchens is still unproven after last year which I'll chalk up to sophomoritis. He is starting material with an asterisk.
6. Everyone else is unproven as well.
We ARE thin at LB. And CB. And S. You can add in DL although I suspect it will be adequate this year....marginally so.
