Top free agents for next season

top four needs, rb, rt, s, olb, not in any order.

m.lynch or hillis would be ideal.

 

We may not need an elite defense, but wouldn't you like one? With an elite defense, we could win a SB or two even with only a slightly improved offense under Sparano and Sanchez. Again, if I have an elite coach, I don't want to have to work him to death to get results. Why not give him topflight talent and let him "unleash the hounds"?

In actuality, I don't think we should stop trying to improve the offense. What we should be improving is the Scouting Dept. and the GM position. Still, I think the offense should be improved under Sparano and with the upgrading of the RT position. With a year's experience Kerley will be better. If the Jets get contributions from Joe McKnight and Powell on offense, it will be better. If Cumberland comes back from his injury and start performing as I believe he is capable, the offense will be better. If Keller is still here, I think the offense will be better because Sparano surely will take advantage of the mismatches that Keller and Cumberland offer. Getting rid of Burress and his cancerous attitude will be addition by subtraction. Turner started coming on at the end of the year. I think Erron Riley has some real potential, and if he can realize even half of his potential, the team will be a lot better. Add in a WR in the draft, and maybe a RB that's a camp cut, and the offense could improve.

So you see, I'm not advocating ignoring the offense, but It hink it's time to even the odds a little and focus more on the defense this year.

I generally agree that BPA is the way to go, but with 10-11 picks in this draft, I think the Jets will have the ability to get 2 OLBs. Look at this way, 2 OLBs, 2 Safeties, WR, RT, TE, P, OG, ILB, RB. That's something for every Jets' fan. Of course, it probably won't wind up that way, but it could. I'm not saying that they should reach for a player, either. That's never good. Often times, however, two players are rated very closely. One may be rated a fraction higher. If the player that's rated a fraction lower plays a more important position, then he should be the pick imo. Also, obviously some positions are more important than others, and even if a player at a less important position is rated more than a fraction more than the player at a more important position, then again I think the player at the most important position should win if the rating differential isn't big.

I understand why you don't want the Jets to think they have to draft two OLBs. That's liable to make Tanny go crazy trading up. I do want them going into the draft thinking that they have to get one in the first 2 rounds if at all possible. They can stay put or trade down, anything but a trade up.

 

True. I wasn't trying to say that it was a given or something we could count on, only that it was possible. With Tanny and the Jets' Scouting Dept., the chances are less likely, but hey that could be true for any position that the Jets need to address.

As for Kerley, I think he was starter material. His progress was held up by Mason taking reps that Kerley could and should have received. That's why as a rule, I don't really like stopgap veteran players. I understand why coaches and GMs want them, but imo they just slow the development of younger players. The key issue, however, is having young players with real potential that can be developed.

I do think Keller should be traded, but I'm not convinced that the Jets will see things that way. They may see a need to keep him because he wasn't properly utilized under BS or for continuity's sake for Sanchez. I hope they will trade him. I agree that he hasn't been very dependable. If however, he is still here, he can get downfield. With different offensive coaches, perhaps he will become more dependable, will get open more often and drop fewer passes. The latter is something that can definitely be fixed. I still hope he is traded, however.

You'll get no argument from me on this point. The thing is that there are no guarantees. Even if they drafted a WR with the #1 pick, he could bust or take a while to develop, or get injured. I hope they can and will bring back Braylon. If not, I have to hope that Holmes, Kerley, the WR they draft and Turner, plus Cumberland and possibly Keller will be able to get the job done. There's also the chance that Erron Riley will develop. With the Jets new WR coach, I think the chances are good.

I understand that, and agree that they can't count on it, but they still can't count on it even if they draft a WR with the #1 pick.

I agree that Pouha should be brought back. The only reason I wouldn't is if some other team offers him $5 million or more a year. I just don't think the Jets can afford that capwise. It would hurt like hell to lose him, but they may have no choice. If that happens, then maybe they can get Soliai for less. He's not as good vs the run, but may be better vs. the pass.

 

Of course I would like an elite defense, I would also like a Red Ryder BB gun. There's one, maybe two defenses in the history of the league that have carried teams with poor offenses to championships. Right now we have a poor offense IMO.

I think you're putting A LOT of stock into guys that probably won't be big contributors in the NFL, ever. Cumberland is coming off a torn Achilles and was never a good blocker, thus doesn't fit the scheme in much the same way Keller doesn't. Turner is never going to be anything more than a possession receiver in this league IMO - we'll probably never get anywhere near the production out of him as we did from Burress last year who you think is addition by subtraction. Riley only made it off the practice squad for the first time in his career because the Jets scouting department thought he was worth signing off another teams practice squad. He has nice measurables, but there's a good reason he hasn't seen the field in the NFL with those measurables. Maybe he's stupid, maybe he has a bad work ethic, I don't know, but SOMETHING is keeping him from getting on the field.

I think we're more in agreement than not.

 

I generally agree with all of this. More as a matter of emphasis I would add the following:

Keller. I think he's already hit his ceiling. He is what we have seen. He's not going to get a lot more receptions. His contract situation and other considertaions add up to he should be traded, but I agree he probably won't be. If we see improvement in performance from the TE position, it will more likely come from Cumberland.

Wideout. I hear your points and we do agree about Edwards, but imo even if Edwards does not come back, they need to add someone to the existing players. Just not enough talent presently on the roster. I understand your point about preferring use of a draft pick, but the notion of trying to develop a rookie at wideout at the same time the Jets have to fill a number of other holes some of which will be easier fits with rookies, have a huge question mark in Mark Sanchez and a new OC just seems like too many moving parts. A vet would be preferable for this particular piece of the puzzle.

 

With Finley signed to a new 2 year deal looks very likely Packers are going to tag Flynn so its probably going to cost the Phins or someone else at least a 2nd rounder to get him.

 

It's actually an interesting situation. If the Packers tag Flynn they may not get a 2nd round pick for him. Everybody else will know that the Packers have to move him so the market will settle at the cheapest possible position.

Also Flynn may choose to sign the tender quickly causing a major breakdown in the Packer's strategy. The Packers only have about $11 million in cap space right now and if Flynn signed the $14.4 million tender they'd have to clear cap space almost immediately to accommodate his cap number.

 

If I was Flynn I would be tempted just to sit tight, collect $15m for warming the bench and then move on as a UFA next year

 

it would only be the cheapest possible option if only one team was interested in flynn. otherwise, they'd have to outbid each other and there's a high chance that ends up in the 2nd round pick range. at least a 3rd i think. if a guy like kolb fetched a 2nd round pick and a starter.. i would have to assume flynn would be around the same price range.

also.. the packers aren't going to tag him knowing that him accepting the tag will destroy their offseason plans.. you're not giving the gb front office enough credit if you think him signing early will cause a "major breakdown."

 

What, and risk having to pay Flynn $16m?? ;-)

 

Weren't you the one just a couple of days ago who said I was nuts for even suggesting that GB might tag Flynn and risk having to pay him $16m this year?

 

I just had an awful thought. What if Kyle Orton ends up on Miami?

 

Jarrett Johnson of the ravens would be a major upgrade at olb and would relatively cheap...sets the edge, can play in coverage and rush the passer...basically a mobile B Thomas

 

and he is 31. Pass.

 

Qb

Dude I was kidding about Vinny, he's gotta be in his late forties. The fact that Henne knows Sporano is the problem. It screams controversy when an OC comes over to a team with his starting qb, when the new team has a starting qb already. McElroy would be a much better backup. The Jets should sign a journey man to compete with him for the #2 spot.

 

Who is this Pats fan from Texas everyone seems to love?

 

Who said he'd be relatively cheap? That's a big assumption. IMO he's only a marginal upgrade from Thomas and would be totally the wrong move.

 

OK, thanks for the clarification on Vinny.

I don't agree that it necessarily screams controversy if the Jets brought in Henne. All it says is that Henne is familiar with Sparano and his philosophy and the Jets think Henne could be a decent, cheap backup. Sparano wasn't the OC in Miami, so the system could be totally different. Henne hasn't shown enough to challenge anyone for a starting job, even if he signed with Jacksonville.

I'm not saying that I think Henne is that good, and I'm also not saying that I want the Jets to sign him (I don't). I was just saying that it would be a logical move as that kind of thing happens.