http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/john_lopez/07/19/afc-free-agency-guide/index.html?xid=cnnbin&hpt=hp_bn10 (Article is too long so I'm just posting AFC East FA) The longest work stoppage in NFL history presumably is about to end. And that will lead to the shortest window of opportunity to sign free agents in history. There will be no time for window shopping and little time for haggling. Smart shoppers will prevail. Here's a team-by-team Shopper's Guide to get the most out of the NFL's version of the day after Thanksgiving at the local mall. We're focusing here on the AFC. Click here to check out the Shopper's Guide to the NFC. AFC EAST Buffalo Bills Money is no object: If the Bills are going to break the bank anywhere, it must be on left tackle Doug Free or tackle Jared Gaither. The line is a mess and needs an anchor around which to build. If they want to spend big on the defensive side, it should be on end Ray Edwards, who would be a perfect fit. Smart shopper: Thomas Howard could fit in the 3-4 and would be a front-line player at less than a king's ransom. Perhaps an even better value as a fix for the defensive issues in Buffalo could be Vernon Gholston, who may also be a target of Cleveland's. Miami Dolphins Money is no object: If you're going to have a question mark at quarterback, you'd better not have one protecting up front. Marshall Yanda could be the best interior offensive lineman on the market. And if it's not Yanda, it could be Atlanta's Harvey Dahl. The Dolphins must take a run at one of them. Smart shopper: If Matt Leinart becomes an unrestricted free agent, he'll be a risk worth taking. After not panning out in Arizona, Leinart drew raves as Matt Schaub's backup, working under Gary Kubiak. Carolina's Matt Moore could be another under-the-radar QB. New England Patriots Money is no object: With Randy Moss gone and Deion Branch aging, the Pats must put Braylon Edwards and more likely Sidney Rice on their priority call list. Edwards' baggage won't bother the Pats and Rice is young and explosive. Smart shopper: Tampa Bay's Barrett Ruud is the prototype Patriots linebacker target. He's coming off a bad season, but extremely talented, still young and a sure tackler that could be reborn in the Pats' system. New York Jets Money is no object: Rest assured, Rex Ryan will go for it with guns a'blazin. Contacting cornerbacks Johnathan Joseph and Ike Taylor should be a priority, as will be putting another playmaking receiver on the field. Plaxico Burress with Rex Ryan? Yeah, sure. Smart shopper: If Josh Wilson hits the market, he's exactly the type of corner that could thrive and improve on a good 2010 season under Rex Ryan. On the receiver front, T.J. Houshmandzadeh could bring experience and consistency at a value price.
Wilson I like. Taylor no. Plax/Moss no. Jonathan Joseph is going to get a monster contract. Why is he even mentioned?
When I read it I initially thought it was Peter King with the Edwards to the Pats crap but no it's some other know nothing. That being said Sidney Rice with Tom Brady scares the life out of me. I don't know why but I don't see the Jets signing Ike Taylor or Joseph but Josh Wilson would be a good signing. TJ Housh? Does he have anything left?
WR: Housh would be a bad pick up. He is a possession receiver and we already have Cotchery. The Ravens main problem last season was that they had 3 possession receivers and no playmakers. We need a playmaker. Edwards resigning is ideal with Kerley in the slot being groomed for a Holmes-type role. Lance Moore, Mike Sims-Walker, Malcom Floyd, or another young, tall, and quick receiver would be my second choice as our offense doesn't need an elite receiver, but a reliable playmaker. Burress, Ochocinco, Owens, and Moss all have too much baggage and too much wear and tear to be elite, so why bother with them? CB: Joseph will be making big bucks. We are better off trying to keep Cro then going after Joseph or Aso. Josh Wilson was great in Baltimore so why not bring him up here? Honestly, I do not think the Jets will spend big at CB with so many other needs. They will offer Cro something reasonable, but not expect it to be high enough. Maybe they resign Drew Coleman or bring in another dime corner.
Yeah, one part of me wonders if Tanny will overpay Cro to get him to sign so it doesn't look like we traded a 2 for a 1 year player. On the other hand, I do like the idea of Wilson.
For once it actually wouldn't surprise me to see the Patriots go after a big, fast, down-the-field-type guy. The very effective - downright brilliant, really - game plan Ryan had against them in January was predicated on the notion that the Jets could pretty much ignore anyone running deep down the sidelines. Or at least leave them in single coverage so they could move more bodies inside to clog up the middle. It worked, obviously! I did see a rumor today that the Patriots are going to talk to the Chargers about Vincent Jackson, and supposedly were going to offer a package of picks. But I have a hard time believing that one.
See I don't think that Tanny thinks about it that way. He sees it as he traded a 2nd and a 4th for Cromartie and Holmes. If we sign holmes and lose cromartie oh well. Its a calculated risk.
We went into last season with a "win now" mentality and with good reason. Usually 2nd and 4th rounders don't contribute significantly until there 2nd or 3rd year. Trade the picks for players who will contribute now is can be very effective as we saw last season, but if you don't win and those players don't stick around, then it is wasted. I admire Tanny for taking the risk, but now he has to figure out how to get us back and hopefully not take two or three years to do it.
