Galian Beast
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I think it's pretty important to replace Free in next year's draft not only because his salary is unsustainable going forward, or his declining play and pass protection, but because with the success the Cowboys have had on offense due to their investment in the offensive line, teams will take note and there may be a run on offensive linemen early.
In a run you have to head the run off, or you need to take advantage of it by picking up players who were at a disadvantage because of it.
It should be noted that the 49ers did this too, and before we did, but I don't think they had the level of success we've had, which is why the NFL hasn't really bent to them.
49ers have
Anthony Davis, Tackle - 1st round 2010
Mike Iupati, Guard - 1st round 2010
Joe Staley, Tackle - 1st round 2007
Like Leary, they have a guard who is undrafted in Alex Boone.
Similar to Free, they have a center who is a 5th round draft pick in Daniel Kilgore.
Seattle also has high round draft picks starting on their offensive line.
LT - Russell Okung - 1st round, 2014
LG - James Carpenter - 1st round, 2011
C - Max Unger - 2nd round, 2009
RT - Justin Britt, 2nd round, 2014
It's really difficult to say how much we should invest to replace Free.
I think we're going to need a cornerback and a defensive end next year in addition to a right tackle. The defense needs more help right now than the offense, but imagine what another first round draft pick tackle could do on this line. It would go that much further towards helping Romo. The other problem is as I stated earlier, if we don't get a tackle (or a guard who can move to Tackle, no I don't want to move Martin), then what happens when there is a run on them early?
Those 3 positions are the biggest needs this team has as of right now (assuming we basically bring everyone back) (note that we need to get a punter, but that is neither here nor there).
I would say that a defensive end is obviously more valuable than a corner, so I'd probably do this.
DE, RT, CB
Obviously as it relates to who is available though.
If we can improve this pass rush next year, we can ride with Scandrick, Moore, Claiborne, Patmon, 3rd round rookie CB for a year. In 2016, we can re-invest in the secondary.
We're actually pretty well positioned in 2016; here are our free agents for 2016:
Morris Claiborne - Gone, I'd say gone in 2015, but his contract is already guaranteed. At least it will be a contract year for him next year, so we should at least get the best out of him.
Mackenzy Bernadeau - High priced backup, which is fine and good right now, but he needs to be gone. We need to home grow cheaper depth.
Jeremy Mincey - Playing great for us right now, but similarly to Bernadeau, he needs to be replaced through the draft.
Amobi Okoye - Hasn't done anything yet, but age and position as of now, I'd say we have to keep drafting here to replace guys who aren't starters.
Tyrone Crawford - Might be the only one that hurts us in 2016. Might be smart to sign him this year as opposed to waiting for him to develop further.
Kyle Wilber - Probably let him walk.
Jack Crawford - Won't even be here in 2015.
Brandon Weeden - Hopefully Vaughan has developed more by then, I still don't see us drafting a replacement QB for Romo until at the earlier 2016 or 2017.
James Hanna - We're going to need to trade Hanna in 2015, or we're just going to lose him. I'd like to put his abilities on display so we can actually get something for him.
Lavar Edwards - See Crawford
Jakar Hamilton - Gone
Jeff Heath - Who knows
Keith Smith - Gone
2015 is the hardest year we have in terms of free agency.
2017 will also be a difficult year, but we can at least push 2017 free agents into a post Romo/Witten time frame for the cap. It'll be guys like Frederick, and Williams. May or may not keep Williams, depends on what we can get at WR in the mean time. Frederick has to be resigned though. Church is also a free agent, but we can upgrade by 2017. Probably the same with Wilcox. We honestly just need to keep this 2015 team in tact and keep drafting well.
In a run you have to head the run off, or you need to take advantage of it by picking up players who were at a disadvantage because of it.
It should be noted that the 49ers did this too, and before we did, but I don't think they had the level of success we've had, which is why the NFL hasn't really bent to them.
49ers have
Anthony Davis, Tackle - 1st round 2010
Mike Iupati, Guard - 1st round 2010
Joe Staley, Tackle - 1st round 2007
Like Leary, they have a guard who is undrafted in Alex Boone.
Similar to Free, they have a center who is a 5th round draft pick in Daniel Kilgore.
Seattle also has high round draft picks starting on their offensive line.
LT - Russell Okung - 1st round, 2014
LG - James Carpenter - 1st round, 2011
C - Max Unger - 2nd round, 2009
RT - Justin Britt, 2nd round, 2014
It's really difficult to say how much we should invest to replace Free.
I think we're going to need a cornerback and a defensive end next year in addition to a right tackle. The defense needs more help right now than the offense, but imagine what another first round draft pick tackle could do on this line. It would go that much further towards helping Romo. The other problem is as I stated earlier, if we don't get a tackle (or a guard who can move to Tackle, no I don't want to move Martin), then what happens when there is a run on them early?
Those 3 positions are the biggest needs this team has as of right now (assuming we basically bring everyone back) (note that we need to get a punter, but that is neither here nor there).
I would say that a defensive end is obviously more valuable than a corner, so I'd probably do this.
DE, RT, CB
Obviously as it relates to who is available though.
If we can improve this pass rush next year, we can ride with Scandrick, Moore, Claiborne, Patmon, 3rd round rookie CB for a year. In 2016, we can re-invest in the secondary.
We're actually pretty well positioned in 2016; here are our free agents for 2016:
Morris Claiborne - Gone, I'd say gone in 2015, but his contract is already guaranteed. At least it will be a contract year for him next year, so we should at least get the best out of him.
Mackenzy Bernadeau - High priced backup, which is fine and good right now, but he needs to be gone. We need to home grow cheaper depth.
Jeremy Mincey - Playing great for us right now, but similarly to Bernadeau, he needs to be replaced through the draft.
Amobi Okoye - Hasn't done anything yet, but age and position as of now, I'd say we have to keep drafting here to replace guys who aren't starters.
Tyrone Crawford - Might be the only one that hurts us in 2016. Might be smart to sign him this year as opposed to waiting for him to develop further.
Kyle Wilber - Probably let him walk.
Jack Crawford - Won't even be here in 2015.
Brandon Weeden - Hopefully Vaughan has developed more by then, I still don't see us drafting a replacement QB for Romo until at the earlier 2016 or 2017.
James Hanna - We're going to need to trade Hanna in 2015, or we're just going to lose him. I'd like to put his abilities on display so we can actually get something for him.
Lavar Edwards - See Crawford
Jakar Hamilton - Gone
Jeff Heath - Who knows
Keith Smith - Gone
2015 is the hardest year we have in terms of free agency.
2017 will also be a difficult year, but we can at least push 2017 free agents into a post Romo/Witten time frame for the cap. It'll be guys like Frederick, and Williams. May or may not keep Williams, depends on what we can get at WR in the mean time. Frederick has to be resigned though. Church is also a free agent, but we can upgrade by 2017. Probably the same with Wilcox. We honestly just need to keep this 2015 team in tact and keep drafting well.
