Jacksonville Jaguars Fan Forums

Quote:How soon into free agency do you see the Jags signing a player? Quickly. Very quickly. 
 And what Major player do you see signing first with a new team? 

 

Which major player goes first is tough to pin down.  Guys like McCourty, Cobb and others are reportedly still trying to work deals with their former teams...

 

I'd guess Suh will sign elsewhere pretty quickly if not retained. Maybe in Jax. 

So lets play the "Dave Game" and suppose that Suh was a luxury target.

Who are the #2 & 3 DE/DT left as of today in FA.

McCourty is numero uno DB, who is 2 & 3.

Bulaga, etc, etc,etc.

 

What if your plan is to sign 2 to 4 very good players that with their combined play

instantly make everyone else better.

The TEAM aopproach vice the "big splash" "big Name" approach.

Or one splash and an excellent set of complementary players.

 

Would I like to see Suh?

Would I settle for #2, McCourty, Bulaga and some one else?

Would I draft a top 4 DE/DT in the first round?

Does the Pope sleep in the Vatican?

 

Yes the contracts will be front loaded, with diminishing outlay years 3-5.

We will have long term contracts to negotiate by then.

 

HeadSlap

 

If I'm Dave Caldwell, I'm calling people in this order:

 

Devin McCourty

Ndamukong Suh

Bryan Bulaga

Julius Thomas

 

And then we would see from there, but those 4 are my top targets based on needs and talent levels.

This is probably the best discussion I've seen on the board in a while. Maybe I haven't been paying attention but this is good stuff folks.

It will reveal if the perception has changed where we can get top free agents to become Jags.

Quote:There is an axiom that everyone is a contender in March.

 

The axiom speaks to the hope-often false-that is a new season, with the chance to add that missing piece or two that will lead to glory in the fall and early winter.

 

However, this particular off season-the free agency period in particular-will be more reflective of the degree of hope this team actually has than past free agency periods.

 

The obvious reason for hope is that a successful free agency season for this team will be an acknowledgement that ownership and management are willing to spend what it takes to attract big name players here.  Too often, fans and outside observers have dismissed the Jaguars as being too cheap/broke to spend money on talent.  One can only wonder what impact this perception has had on players who may have otherwise been interested in playing here.  However, while this may reflect a reason to hope, and while money is a huge factor, I don't think it is the most important factor in this analysis.

 

To me, the most important and not so apparent reason has little to do with money.

 

One of the great fears fans have of free agency expenditures is what I call the Hugh Douglas factor.  One the signed player has his lucrative deal, his incentive to play hard for the team disappears.  He mails in his effort, wrecking an otherwise healthy salary structure and offering nothing on the field or in the locker room to the team.

 

It stands to reason, then, that the kind of player fans would want in free agency are those who are not necessarily motivated by money.  While they want to be paid, their competitiveness and desire to win are not extinguished by the big payday.  Ultimately, they bust their butts on the field, and are good in the locker room.

 

There is a challenge, however, in luring the guys in this desired group to come here.  They have to be convinced they have a shot to win here.  They have to be convinced the team wants to win, and they have to be convinced the team is headed in the right direction.  Jaguars fans were absolutely giddy in the immediate aftermath of last year's draft.  We landed what we believe to be a franchise QB, some good young WRs for him to throw to, a couple of good interior OLs, a 5th round steal at LB in Telvin Smith, and Aaron Colvin, who, after returning from the torn ACL flashed some of the ability that had him projected to be a first round pick before the injury.  Outside observers in the media almost universally lauded the Jaguars for their draft.  But despite all of the enthusiasm and optimism spawned by the last offseason, it did not translate into a winning season for the team-resulting again in another top 3 draft choice.  I think players that want to win want to share in the enthusiasm the fans had last year.

 

However, if the winners that hit the market come here, it would be something of a confirmation of the excitement the fans had.  These guys may have played against them at some point, and saw how hard they played despite the bad record.  They may have seen first hand the potential some of these young guys displayed, or they may have heard from their friends in the league about those things.  Whereas they may have cringed at the thought of playing with Gabbert, they may be more open to playing with Bortles.  

 

If that plays into the decision at all, it would be a rousing endorsement of the direction Khan, Caldwell and Bradley have taken this team.   To me, that is the exciting possibility this free agency period represents.  The possibility that the hope every fan entertains about this team winning in the season to come is actually legitimate hope.

1. McCourty

2. Suh (wild card!)

3. Cobb

4. Thomas

5. Buluga


Dave has to sign 2/5 of these names to have success in free agency. The stars are aligning. He must strike while the iron is hot. The more the merrier: he should try to sign them all.

I will say I have seen many different spellings for Bulaga. Hopefully, if we do get him, we can learn his name. ha.

I think it will reveal that while we are committed to growing this team via the draft, that perhaps we should have made better use of f/a's in critical positions (aka-offensive line) until our rookies were 'up to speed'. Among other words, if we couldn't 'stomach' the kind of losing seasons we've been experiencing as a result of being so rookie heavy, then we should have been making better use of f/a's before now. As a result, it's possible that the Jags may be agreeing to some of the biggest contracts in the history of the NFL to get the help needed here.

 

I just hope we get what we're paying for when we do pull out the checkbook. 

Quote:I think it will reveal that while we are committed to growing this team via the draft, that perhaps we should have made better use of f/a's in critical positions (aka-offensive line) until our rookies were 'up to speed'. Among other words, if we couldn't 'stomach' the kind of losing seasons we've been experiencing as a result of being so rookie heavy, then we should have been making better use of f/a's before now. As a result, it's possible that the Jags may be agreeing to some of the biggest contracts in the history of the NFL to get the help needed here.

 

I just hope we get what we're paying for when we do pull out the checkbook. 

I view this differently.

 

The one message that has never waivered is build through the draft.

Establish a core and then suppliment with FA. It is time to suppliment.

 

With the Roster nuked in year 1, the build through the draft began.

FA was used judiciously to stop gap but not staunch the bleeding.

We drafted again.

Now that a foundation of sorts is solidifying for the future, it

is time to be active in FA.

 

Homework done, I can't see Caldwell and Co pursuing players with culture values

that don't align with what is building here in JAX.

 

HeadSlap

What this free agency will reveal about the Jaguars? Remember last season when all the talk was how Gerhart signed here without visiting? How Beadles was so hyped up?

 

Now we're really gonna find out just how strong the Gus Juice is.

 

Gus, Dave, and Khan IMO, will have to have their A+ game in selling this franchise to these top FA.

 

I say dinner at Kismet with Gus on the Power Point controls, with Dave and Khan ready for the open checkbook should do it.

The teams can talk with player agents on March 7th, and can begin deals at that time.  However, they can not sign the deals officially until March 10th.  I think you'll hear some quick "have come to an agreement" on either March 7-8th on a number of players.  I think Caldwell will have certain guys targeted and will not wait to go aggressively at them.  Having Idzik onboard during this period will allow the team and Caldwell to do more at once simultaneously.  

Quote:I view this differently.

 

The one message that has never waivered is build through the draft.

Establish a core and then suppliment with FA. It is time to suppliment.

 

With the Roster nuked in year 1, the build through the draft began.

FA was used judiciously to stop gap but not staunch the bleeding.

We drafted again.

Now that a foundation of sorts is solidifying for the future, it

is time to be active in FA.

 

Homework done, I can't see Caldwell and Co pursuing players with culture values

that don't align with what is building here in JAX.

 

HeadSlap

Dave said himself that he 'regretted not having made better use of f/a sooner'. Of course, this doesn't negate what you said. I too hope that the f/a's brought in here will be a good fit and not just 'names' that might be more trouble than they are worth. We'll see.

This free agency will show if Dave Caldwell is worth his mettle or not. As Kyjaggy always likes to point out, their are many teams out there with loads of cap space targeting pretty much the same players we are. Dave has already showed he understands half the talent battle by drafting very good players even in the later rounds. Now it is time for him to show off the other half. He needs to show that if he wants a player in FA he is going to get him. He can't afford to target players like Devin McCourty and get players like Isa Abdul-Quddus(yes there actually is an NFL safety with that name.) Caldwell needs to show that if he wants a player, he's going to get him.

Quote:Dave said himself that he 'regretted not having made better use of f/a sooner'. Of course, this doesn't negate what you said. I too hope that the f/a's brought in here will be a good fit and not just 'names' that might be more trouble than they are worth. We'll see.

 

This is a quote from the article I posted earlier in the thread:

 

Quote:The biggest spenders in free agency usually don't succeed. Last year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers spent more than $143 million on unrestricted free-agent contracts and ended up at the top of the draft after a 2-14 season.

 

 

The Jags FO needs to learn from the Bucaneers, and make solid value-based additions but not splashy use of the FA market just to make the ESPN front-page. In my mind Suh might fall into this category, the FO needs to be absolutely sure that this guy won't be a negative to the locker room--particularly when the Jaguars are completing the rebuild--before making him the highest paid defensive player in the NFL.  Look at Albert Haynesworth FA to see what could become the worst possible outcome, if due diligence isn't performed.

Suh is nothing like Haynesworth.


Fat Albert was fat and lazy.


Suh had like 40m guaranteed the moment he was drafted and still remained very moment. He seems to be internally motivated to be the best DT of all time (I'm not saying he is).


Suh would be a great pickup.

Quote:This is a quote from the article I posted earlier in the thread:

 

 

 

The Jags FO needs to learn from the Bucaneers, and make solid value-based additions but not splashy use of the FA market just to make the ESPN front-page. In my mind Suh might fall into this category, the FO needs to be absolutely sure that this guy won't be a negative to the locker room--particularly when the Jaguars are completing the rebuild--before making him the highest paid defensive player in the NFL.  Look at Albert Haynesworth FA to see what could become the worst possible outcome, if due diligence isn't performed.

 

Suh may be a headline grabbing acquisition if it happens, but it's also representative of a massive upgrade to the defensive line.  He's arguably one of the best defensive linemen in the game today.  Haynesworth doesn't come even remotely close, and was a problem long before he hit free agency or even entered the league.  Comparing him to Suh is like putting a Corvette up against a Chevette. 

Quote:Suh is nothing like Haynesworth.


Fat Albert was fat and lazy.


Suh had like 40m guaranteed the moment he was drafted and still remained very moment. He seems to be internally motivated to be the best DT of all time (I'm not saying he is).


Suh would be a great pickup.

 

I'm not saying that Haynesworth = Suh, but keep in mind that Albert didn't get the fat and lazy moniker until after he signed his $100 million dollar contract.  Just saying that the FO needs to dedicate a lot of time to making sure he's the perfect fit with the Jaguars.

 

Edited: Just to not, which was my original intention.

Quote:I'm just saying that Haynesworth = Suh, but keep in mind that Albert didn't get the fat and lazy moniker until after he signed his $100 million dollar contract.  Just saying that the FO needs to dedicate a lot of time to making sure he's the perfect fit with the Jaguars.

 

That's not true.  Haynesworth had that reputation when he came into the league.  That's one of the reasons the Jaguars selected John Henderson in that same draft instead of taking the more highly touted Haynesworth.

 

I'm fairly certain this front office will do their due diligence in properly vetting every player they're considering in free agency.  That's what they're being paid to do.

 

In no universe is Haynesworth = Suh in any way other than the position they play.

Quote:That's not true.  Haynesworth had that reputation when he came into the league.  That's one of the reasons the Jaguars selected John Henderson in that same draft instead of taking the more highly touted Haynesworth.

 

I'm fairly certain this front office will do their due diligence in properly vetting every player they're considering in free agency.  That's what they're being paid to do.

 

Yep, Haynesworth got that moniker because he underachieved after he was drafted, turned it on for two years leading up to his big contract, then cruised.

 

Suh is not Haynesworth.

If they don't bring Suh here with all that damn money it's all I need to know about Caldwell and Kahn. One of the top 3 defensive players in the league is up for signing and you don't attempt to grab him is a problem. This guy is on a trajectory to be a hall of famer and is in his prime so it would make no sense not to. They have so much money to spend that they can structure a contract where his number is irrelevant to the cap in three years.