The guy who knows best about Cro and what he could bring to the Jets is Bowles. So if the Jets don't sign him it means that Cro decided to either stay put or take another offer. Or Bowles just doesn't want him.
Here's another under-the-radar name I've seen mentioned a couple times and I could get on board with: Cecil Shorts. He wouldn't cost an arm and a leg at all and is still a good, dynamic player. Maybe pair him with a 2nd or 3rd round pick who would compliment Decker/Kerley/Shorts/(Amaro) well.
Cro would be a decent signing if he comes at a similar price to 2014. i don't think you can expect him to lock down top receivers anymore tho, and he certainly doesn't like to tackle. if we sign him, i'd still look to add another capable starter (whether it oustide or in the slot). McPhee is very interesting suggestion. i thought he was more of a situational pass rusher, but i haven't followed him closely. even if just a situational guy, would be a way to get younger from Babin, so i'm still interested. just wouldn't pay him much unless they thought he could be a 2 way player/starter.
you are making good suggestions! we can afford a big name or two, but the value moves is how we'll round out this team. Shorts has been injury bit recently, but he's a fiery weapon when healthy, and should come fairly cheap. i'd be down with that. how bout a 2way TE? who you got for that? i like Spaeth, although he's more a blocker. but hey, we really need a blocker.
I would love to have Shorts on board, and with his injury history he will probably come cheap. The problem is... his injury history. The guys got hamstrings like Milliner's.
On TEs there is a slew of them. I like: Julius Thomas, Denver Broncos Jordan Cameron, Cleveland Browns Charles Clay, Miami Dolphins Owen Daniels, Baltimore Ravens To name a few, probably in that order.
I agree about value moves as long as talent isn't significantly compromised. I would guess McPhee will come a lot cheaper than Worilds and would still be a very good player. I also feel Orlando Franklin could be a better all-around player than Mike Iupati and command less money. That's the value I'm looking for. A typical Jet move, IMO, would be signing Rob Sims instead I'd much rather have Shorts at like 3-5M with limited guarantees and then paired with another draft pick rather than having to give Torrey Smith too much money. For TEs, I don't think Cumberland is worth 1.9M as he's not much of a blocker or receiver (one of PFFs worst). Spaeth would be a good option at about 1M or so if Pitt lets him go. I don't think I'd feel good about paying a bigger-name TE since they just drafted Amaro unless they love 2-TEs sets, which I don't see evidence of. Maybe Arizona's TE Rob Housler, who was a bit of a disappointment there, but could probably be had for under 1M and could compete with Sudfeld and Pantale (wonder if he could be the blocking specialist)
The more I think about it, the more I think the smartest move would be to let Harvin walk, use his big cap figure on CB and OL, then draft a WR or 2 to compete for the spot opposite Decker, draft a couple LB's, a S and OL too, and maybe also sign a FA safety. There are a lot of good CB and S options on this FA list btw.
If we can land Dorsett in the third while signing Shorts, that would be a nice little WR corps. Especially if Harvin restructures.
I feel like if Harvin restructures he is the WR we go after in free agency not him and blank. Definitely still draft a receiver later on to go along with him.
CB Byron Maxwell: Still 26 years old and could be had for about the same price is Cromartie. Get another solid corner in the draft like a Marcus Peters for example and I think we could have great cornerback depth come training camp. Maxwell-Peters-Milliner-Williams-Walls. G Orlando Franklin: I think he's a better all around lineman than Iupati and the fact that he could slide over to tackle if needed intrigues me. TE Charles Clay: Great blocker and can go out and catch the pass. At 6'3 and 255 pounds, he can line up anywhere on the field. FS Chris Conte: Nobody really screams out at me in either the draft or free agency. I know Conte has the injury history going against him, but a one year contract with a second year option isn't horrible. Could draft a player to develop in the later rounds like Kyshoen Jarrett. Another option could be a Dwight Lowery reunion. *WR Michael Crabtree: I put the asterik there because we might not need him if we draft a receiver in the first or possibly the second round. RT Doug Free: Give Free a 2-3 year contract while you groom a high potential/raw draft pick to hopefully step in. Free is a good guy for the locker room as well. Slide Giacomini inside to guard and see how he performs. Backup QB/competition guy: I'd be content with any one of Mallett, Flynn, Moore, McCoy, or Yates.
Ugh, everytime I watch Gresham on the Bengals he's either dropping passes, getting hurt, or otherwise sucking....no thanks!
Huge no thank you to Gresham. I think Gailey's spread offense is going to suit Amaro pretty well. It's similar (not exactly the same) to the offense he set records playing in at TT. If we are going to look at a tight end, it should be Clay because he can do a little of everything.
I agree, I had Clay as third on my list but since Thomas is unlikely and Cameron is a better pass catching TE which we already have then Clay is the better choice given his versatility.
What about Orakpo? Yes he has an injury history but he is very good when healthy. He had double digit sacks in 2013 and 40 in his career but seemed to regress in 2014 which yes he was hurt again. I think he can really benefit from a change of scenery and he won't break the bank because of his injury history. He's only 28 and a three time pro bowler.
From what I understand Gresham has a good reputation as a pass blocker. We already have Amaro to catch passes.
