The "If I were GM" thread.....

[noletime95]

I'm looking forward to the next few days.....we should see some movement with Flo and Hamlin, then FA starts in less than 2 weeks. There are several scenarios I would be in favor of:

1) Safety: Keep Hamlin, either by a long term extension or Franchise him. I think franchising him would cost around $4.5 Mil a year, which probably isn't that far off from what his average annual cost would likely be with any extension. Ultimately, Hamlin is very valuable both as a FS next year and his versatility that could allow him to move to SS down the road if need be.

-Draft a safety on day one that can push Roy.

2) WR: Bring in a vet. I'd love Roy Williams or Fitz, just like everyone else. If the price is too high or a a long term deal is too expensive, then L. Coles wouldn't be a bad option. I like Berrian, but I fear he'll be overpriced for the level of player he is. I think drafting a WR on day one would be wise also. Certainly if an older WR like Coles is brought in as a stop gap to replace Glenn, but even if a younger guy is brought in since TO will be 35 soon.

3) CB: This one is less complicated.....draft a CB in round 1. If the scouts are in love with somone, then trade up and get the guy they want at 15 or so. Obviously, this player becomes the nickel back immediately and eventually Henry's replacement. Its a deep CB draft, so I'm not adverse to bringing in 2 CB's this year depending on how the draft falls.

4) RB: Draft a backup RB for Barber in the first 4 rounds. Sign a vet also to replace TT-there should be plenty out there, including W. Dunn who could be a nice fit.

Now for the big wild card in all of this.....Flo. I just have to throw my hands up with this one, as I don't think I've got enough info on Free or even Mcquinsten to make an edjucated decision. I will say this. I don't want him franchised a cost of $9 Mil. Just too much cap space. I also don't want Dallas signing him to a 5-6 year deal with a massive signing bonus. Outside of that criteria, I'm on board w/ whatever the powers that be decide and then just wait and see if they were right.

Go Cowboys! :starspin

 

[Nightman]

That's a very reasonable plan. Use FA for depth at RB, ILB, #3 WR and #2 QB.
Draft CB, BPA, then look for future WRs, RBs and LBs contributors. I defintely wouldn't mind trading down with one of our firsts, as this draft is pretty deep.

 

[iceberg]

i'd fire myself and make everyone happy till the next time they needed to whine.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I like it, except for I'm on the fence about paying Hamlin big-time money, and this class for safeties is pretty weak, I think we can wait till later in the draft to try and find Roy's replacement, although his contract will preclude us for doing anything w/ him for quite some time, at the least we'll need a S to maybe replace Keith Davis on special teams

 

[noletime95]

I like it, except for I'm on the fence about paying Hamlin big-time money, and this class for safeties is pretty weak, I think we can wait till later in the draft to try and find Roy's replacement, although his contract will preclude us for doing anything w/ him for quite some time, at the least we'll need a S to maybe replace Keith Davis on special teams

I believe Dallas is in the back on R. Williams contract beginning next year....Honestly, I'm thinking two years down the line....maybe Watkins or Brown could slide into FS and Hamlin SS, however, neither is the player RW is right now so my hope is to find that potential player in this draft. The reason I'm suggesting a day one pick is the lack of depth at the position this year-of course, one could certainly argue it makes more sense to wait til next year to find a more talented player at safety instead of reaching now....all depends on how our scouting dept feels about somone like K. Phillips, who I would not be adverse to drafting in round 1....

 

[Zimmy Lives]

i'd fire myself and make everyone happy till the next time they needed to whine.

I'd fire everyone else and give myself a raise.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I believe Dallas is in the back on R. Williams contract beginning next year....Honestly, I'm thinking two years down the line....maybe Watkins or Brown could slide into FS and Hamlin SS, however, neither is the player RW is right now so my hope is to find that potential player in this draft. The reason I'm suggesting a day one pick is the lack of depth at the position this year-of course, one could certainly argue it makes more sense to wait til next year to find a more talented player at safety instead of reaching now....all depends on how our scouting dept feels about somone like K. Phillips, who I would not be adverse to drafting in round 1....

I like this kid Jonathan Hefney out of Tennessee, super fast S who can cover slot receivers, not very big, but he can take you down

or someone like LSU's Craig Steltz in round 4 or 5, or Boston College's Jaime Silva in rounds 5 or 6, the highest I would go for a safety in this draft would be Notre Dame's Tom Zibkowski in round 3

 

[Zimmy Lives]

I like it, except for I'm on the fence about paying Hamlin big-time money, and this class for safeties is pretty weak, I think we can wait till later in the draft to try and find Roy's replacement, although his contract will preclude us for doing anything w/ him for quite some time, at the least we'll need a S to maybe replace Keith Davis on special teams

Only way I (as the GM, that is) spend big money on Hamlin is if Williams goes and we all know that isn't going to happen. Hamlin is an asset but there are already too many big contracts in the secondary and I'm not going to tie up a lot of money in another safety.

I'll let Hamlin walk if he chooses not to give me a discount and take my chances with Watkins and Brown. It would be nice to have three Pro Bowlers in the secondary but it's not going to get the defense over the top if depth at CB is not addressed.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

I like this kid Jonathan Hefney out of Tennessee, super fast S who can cover slot receivers, not very big, but he can take you down

or someone like LSU's Craig Steltz in round 4 or 5, or Boston College's Jaime Silva in rounds 5 or 6, the highest I would go for a safety in this draft would be Notre Dame's Tom Zibkowski in round 3

Steltz reminds me of the guy in Philly -- Considine. I like him in the 4th.

 

[burmafrd]

Hamlin actualy is the second most important player we have back there next to Newman. He called the secondary signals VERY well this last year- and he should get better as he learns the other players abilities. So what if we have a lot of money tied up in the secondary- in the NFL today you are going to have to have real players back there or you are dead meat.

 

[cobra]

The era of the Smallish Linebacker at Safety is over.

Too many teams are running 3 Wide and/or have a ridiculously atheletic tightend. Quite simply, you cannot have anyone who is a liability in coverage or they will get exposed.

I would be happy to move Hamlin to Strong Safety (I think he is near perfect for that spot) and bring in a centerfielder free safety to compete with Watkins back there. The only guys early in the draft who I would look at for that kind of position would be Reggie Smith and (I'm sorry Hos) Antoine Cason. I'd even look at a guy like Quentin Demps out of UTEP in the later rounds.

But I would much rather have Hamlin at SS than Roy at this point. I've lost all confidence in Roy.

I'd take a look at Roy Williams and Fitz at WR, but I would ultimately balk at the price.

If I'm GM, I haven't hammered down my draft board yet. So what I am about to say is an example of what we could do with a draft.

But I would think we might get lucky with something like this:

Hamlin resigns go to SS. Roy goes to situational player. Dime MLB? Goaline something? I dunno.

Draft
1a. McKelvin or DRC to backup CB, future starter (compete with starter)
1b. Felix Jones to backup RB, split carries with MBIII
2. Antoine Cason to FS to compete with Watkins
3. Roy Schuening to Backup G
4. Jordy Nelson to 3rd WR. Guy has a bright career as a 3rd WR in the slot
5. Owen Schmidt (Near impossible to talk intelligent as to who will be here at this point in the process, but I threw this guy in to make Hos happy)
6. Too early to tell who will be here at this point

A draft that went something like that would set us up for awhile.

Our defense would be good to go for a long time. The only issues we would have left would be to get WRs (although I think we would be good here for the next couple of years; I think Owens has 2 left, and Crayton is pretty good. Jordy Nelson would be a helluva slot/possession WR and I still like Hurd and Austin's skills) and the consistent need to get new OL (but we have nice depth with some definite starting potential with McQ/Free/Marten/Schuenig).

Just one way. I could throw out several plans, but that is one.