There's lots of depressing stuff to talk about with us right now so let's focus on a different aspect, our Cap space and salaries for next season.
So let's start cap space. Using overthecap, right now we have $61.5m free cap for next season (who knows if they'll increase the cap budget again). That's a pretty healthy figure to make some moves in FA and improve the roster.
Looking at potential free agents, there's not a lot to worry about. Cisco and Walker Little are the only names that stand out but neither is having a great contract year. The 12 players are
Mac Jones
Walker Little
Jeremiah Ledbetter
Caleb Johnson
Andre Cisco
D'Ernest Johnson
Luke Farrell
De'Shaan Dixon
Esezi Otomewo
Cole Van Lanen
Tim Jones
Patrick Murtaugh
I don't see Little getting overpaid like most FA OL players. Cisco has been poor this year but has been a solid starter for us. Maybe a new HC/DC will see him have a bounce back year.
Now looking at salaries, there's good and bad news. So let's just look at next year's top 5 earners and their dead money.
1- Kirk- $24.3m ($13.6m dead money, $10.7m cap)
2- Engram- $19.75m ($13.5m dead money, $6.25m cap)
3- Trevor- $17m ($133m dead money)
4- Josh- $15.4m ($68.1m dead money)
5- Scherff- $14m ($14m dead money)
I feel bad adding this one but it stings
Hamilton- $10.8m ($12m dead money)
Looking at the contracts, the bad news is there is very little cap savings to be made from cuts this year. Nearly every contract situation is a dead money hit with little to no cap savings. On one hand it's a settled roster, on another the roster has been hot garbage this year!
Let me prove the point. Here's our top 5 cap savings from cuts
1- Kirk-$24.3m ($13.6m dead money, $10.7m cap)
2- Engram- $19.75m ($13.5m dead money, $6.25m cap)
3- Logan Cooke- $3.5m (600k dead money, $2.9m cap)
4-Duverney- $4m ($1.2m dead money, $2.8m cap)
5- Dewey- $3.7m ($1m dead money, 2.7m cap)
6- Darby- $5m ($2.75m dead money, $2.25 cap)
So as you can see there's not much to make big chunks back. It's a few million here or there (and there's no way we're cutting Cooke). We have a good chunk of cap to use to strengthen but the new GM will have to hit on his FA and draft picks.
It's frustrating as we have a very settled roster for next year which is a good thing to have, sadly the way this year has gone I don't know if it's going to be a positive with how things are going. It will be a big task for the next GM and HC to get this roster producing and finding the key players to bring in.
What do you all think?
I mean Sherff is the only really frustrating one with the dead cap holds. But there were mild rumors about him possibly retiring. If not, he definitely has the mental makeup that would be great for young OL to learn from.
If D'Ernert Johnson or Farrell could be retained for cheap, I think they are good players to have for depth and overall team. Having said that you can generally find depth at TE and RB without having to prioritize them.
I still think someone offers Little a contract of like 3 year $45 mil with like $27 mil guaranteed or like 4 year, $52 mil, $30 mil guaranteed.
(11-18-2024, 06:05 PM)rpr52121 Wrote: [ -> ]I mean Sherff is the only really frustrating one with the dead cap holds. But there were mild rumors about him possibly retiring. If not, he definitely has the mental makeup that would be great for young OL to learn from.
If D'Ernert Johnson or Farrell could be retained for cheap, I think they are good players to have for depth and overall team. Having said that you can generally find depth at TE and RB without having to prioritize them.
I still think someone offers Little a contract of like 3 year $45 mil with like $27 mil guaranteed or like 4 year, $52 mil, $30 mil guaranteed.
Yeah Scherff is a bit of a frustration. He's on the down slope now but like you say has some valuable experience. As his money is basically paid it's worth keeping him on the roster.
Johnson and Farrell are solid depth but like you say are easily replaceable if we wanted. Can't think either would get big contracts.
Little is an interesting one. Some team may blink in FA and just take a punt, Oline is a weak point for a lot of teams. It he walked it would mean we need to replace him or move Harrison to LT and find a new RT.
Got a few decisions to make but got some options.
Cut Gabe Davis, I don’t care how much of a dead cap hit it is. He’s the worst starting wide receiver in the NFL.
Good news is that someone told me that all we need is a good HC and we will possibly be a top team.
Regardless of the cap situation, can't keep trying to build through free agency. Organization has been running on that hamster wheel for decades, expecting different results, only to fall on it's face countless times. Need to actually draft good players. I know that sounds crazy, but it's literally what all the good organizations do. Good organizations aren't constantly in reset mode every 3 years. How many times has this organization "won" the offseason?
Look at the team that just won 52-6 against this dumpster fire. A team that was right there with us as a dumpster fire back in 2021. St.Brown, Jamo, Laporta, Gibbs , 4/5 on the O-line- Decker, Glasgow, Ragnow, Sewell. Glasgow resigned back with the team, but was a hit by the FO regardless, and came back. A bona-fide core built through the draft, built also with a trade that acquired them Goff and multiple first round picks (which they hit on). Defensively - Hutchinson, Branch, Joseph, Arnold, McNeil, Pascal, Cambell, Onwuzurike, Rodriguez. All starters. A legit core of players built through the draft, coupled with good FA pick ups- Anzalone, Davis, Montgomery, Zeitler, and Reader. We are so far from being competitive it's not even funny, and people just want to keep up this "Nah, just a few FA pick ups away" BS. I don't have any hope that Khan will understand this, and continue to trust the process with Baalke and horrendous drafts coupled with moronic FA pick ups.
I have a hard time seeing Kirk come back next year. Depending on contract size you could sign Cisco, and Little at Backup-Tackle Money. You could franchise Cisco. Dont forget the team also lost Cam and RRH this year who need to be replaced. The biggest need imo is at DT where I think you need two players that can contribute right away. You lost RRH, you lost Fatusaki a while ago, both were not replaced in terms of production, even Gotsis was not replaced kind of, you signed Armstead as the most expensive backup-DE in NFL history and drafted a major project at DT in the 2nd round, basically you did nothing and you have Hamilton playing mediocre at best, which you could have foreseen after that mysterious injury.
Major breaking news Loserville loses to bye weak by a a score of 64 to 6.
(11-18-2024, 05:53 PM)JagFan81 Wrote: [ -> ]There's lots of depressing stuff to talk about with us right now so let's focus on a different aspect, our Cap space and salaries for next season.
So let's start cap space. Using overthecap, right now we have $61.5m free cap for next season (who knows if they'll increase the cap budget again). That's a pretty healthy figure to make some moves in FA and improve the roster.
Looking at potential free agents, there's not a lot to worry about. Cisco and Walker Little are the only names that stand out but neither is having a great contract year. The 12 players are
Mac Jones
Walker Little
Jeremiah Ledbetter
Caleb Johnson
Andre Cisco
D'Ernest Johnson
Luke Farrell
De'Shaan Dixon
Esezi Otomewo
Cole Van Lanen
Tim Jones
Patrick Murtaugh
I don't see Little getting overpaid like most FA OL players. Cisco has been poor this year but has been a solid starter for us. Maybe a new HC/DC will see him have a bounce back year.
Now looking at salaries, there's good and bad news. So let's just look at next year's top 5 earners and their dead money.
1- Kirk- $24.3m ($13.6m dead money, $10.7m cap)
2- Engram- $19.75m ($13.5m dead money, $6.25m cap)
3- Trevor- $17m ($133m dead money)
4- Josh- $15.4m ($68.1m dead money)
5- Scherff- $14m ($14m dead money)
I feel bad adding this one but it stings
Hamilton- $10.8m ($12m dead money)
Looking at the contracts, the bad news is there is very little cap savings to be made from cuts this year. Nearly every contract situation is a dead money hit with little to no cap savings. On one hand it's a settled roster, on another the roster has been hot garbage this year!
Let me prove the point. Here's our top 5 cap savings from cuts
1- Kirk-$24.3m ($13.6m dead money, $10.7m cap)
2- Engram- $19.75m ($13.5m dead money, $6.25m cap)
3- Logan Cooke- $3.5m (600k dead money, $2.9m cap)
4-Duverney- $4m ($1.2m dead money, $2.8m cap)
5- Dewey- $3.7m ($1m dead money, 2.7m cap)
6- Darby- $5m ($2.75m dead money, $2.25 cap)
So as you can see there's not much to make big chunks back. It's a few million here or there (and there's no way we're cutting Cooke). We have a good chunk of cap to use to strengthen but the new GM will have to hit on his FA and draft picks.
It's frustrating as we have a very settled roster for next year which is a good thing to have, sadly the way this year has gone I don't know if it's going to be a positive with how things are going. It will be a big task for the next GM and HC to get this roster producing and finding the key players to bring in.
What do you all think?
Kirk has failed to finish the last two seasons, I think Washington or [insert darft pick here] will replace him and we let him go to save the 10-11M.
Of our FA, I'd probably make offers to Little, Ledbetter, DEJ, CVL, and Tim Jones. I have a feeling Cisco will get a bigger offer than I'm willing to spend.
One thing not noted is that if we convert some of these guys to post-June 1 cuts, we can spread the dead money across two seasons to soften the blow. I can see Scherff and Ham fitting that bill, especially depending on how the darft or FA goes. IIRC, the fifth year on ETN is fully guaranteed salary, so if we darft someone early to replace him or think that Tank and ??? are enough, we could trade him to another team and save his entire cap hit.
If Darby is that cheap to let go, that is perfect. Smell ya later.
(11-19-2024, 10:16 AM)Mikey Wrote: [ -> ] (11-18-2024, 05:53 PM)JagFan81 Wrote: [ -> ]There's lots of depressing stuff to talk about with us right now so let's focus on a different aspect, our Cap space and salaries for next season.
So let's start cap space. Using overthecap, right now we have $61.5m free cap for next season (who knows if they'll increase the cap budget again). That's a pretty healthy figure to make some moves in FA and improve the roster.
Looking at potential free agents, there's not a lot to worry about. Cisco and Walker Little are the only names that stand out but neither is having a great contract year. The 12 players are
Mac Jones
Walker Little
Jeremiah Ledbetter
Caleb Johnson
Andre Cisco
D'Ernest Johnson
Luke Farrell
De'Shaan Dixon
Esezi Otomewo
Cole Van Lanen
Tim Jones
Patrick Murtaugh
I don't see Little getting overpaid like most FA OL players. Cisco has been poor this year but has been a solid starter for us. Maybe a new HC/DC will see him have a bounce back year.
Now looking at salaries, there's good and bad news. So let's just look at next year's top 5 earners and their dead money.
1- Kirk- $24.3m ($13.6m dead money, $10.7m cap)
2- Engram- $19.75m ($13.5m dead money, $6.25m cap)
3- Trevor- $17m ($133m dead money)
4- Josh- $15.4m ($68.1m dead money)
5- Scherff- $14m ($14m dead money)
I feel bad adding this one but it stings
Hamilton- $10.8m ($12m dead money)
Looking at the contracts, the bad news is there is very little cap savings to be made from cuts this year. Nearly every contract situation is a dead money hit with little to no cap savings. On one hand it's a settled roster, on another the roster has been hot garbage this year!
Let me prove the point. Here's our top 5 cap savings from cuts
1- Kirk-$24.3m ($13.6m dead money, $10.7m cap)
2- Engram- $19.75m ($13.5m dead money, $6.25m cap)
3- Logan Cooke- $3.5m (600k dead money, $2.9m cap)
4-Duverney- $4m ($1.2m dead money, $2.8m cap)
5- Dewey- $3.7m ($1m dead money, 2.7m cap)
6- Darby- $5m ($2.75m dead money, $2.25 cap)
So as you can see there's not much to make big chunks back. It's a few million here or there (and there's no way we're cutting Cooke). We have a good chunk of cap to use to strengthen but the new GM will have to hit on his FA and draft picks.
It's frustrating as we have a very settled roster for next year which is a good thing to have, sadly the way this year has gone I don't know if it's going to be a positive with how things are going. It will be a big task for the next GM and HC to get this roster producing and finding the key players to bring in.
What do you all think?
Kirk has failed to finish the last two seasons, I think Washington or [insert darft pick here] will replace him and we let him go to save the 10-11M.
Of our FA, I'd probably make offers to Little, Ledbetter, DEJ, CVL, and Tim Jones. I have a feeling Cisco will get a bigger offer than I'm willing to spend.
One thing not noted is that if we convert some of these guys to post-June 1 cuts, we can spread the dead money across two seasons to soften the blow. I can see Scherff and Ham fitting that bill, especially depending on how the darft or FA goes. IIRC, the fifth year on ETN is fully guaranteed salary, so if we darft someone early to replace him or think that Tank and ??? are enough, we could trade him to another team and save his entire cap hit.
If Darby is that cheap to let go, that is perfect. Smell ya later.
Rip the band aid and cut whomever you're going to cut taking the hit next year. There's no reason to push money out to when TLaw is going to cost more, do it now while you have some room. The problem is you can't do that on the big failures from this year's FA class because the hits would put us in the red on the cap, we have to keep our stud defensive end and Jerry Rice-like wide receiver another year no matter what.
(11-19-2024, 10:43 AM)flsprtsgod Wrote: [ -> ] (11-19-2024, 10:16 AM)Mikey Wrote: [ -> ]Kirk has failed to finish the last two seasons, I think Washington or [insert darft pick here] will replace him and we let him go to save the 10-11M.
Of our FA, I'd probably make offers to Little, Ledbetter, DEJ, CVL, and Tim Jones. I have a feeling Cisco will get a bigger offer than I'm willing to spend.
One thing not noted is that if we convert some of these guys to post-June 1 cuts, we can spread the dead money across two seasons to soften the blow. I can see Scherff and Ham fitting that bill, especially depending on how the darft or FA goes. IIRC, the fifth year on ETN is fully guaranteed salary, so if we darft someone early to replace him or think that Tank and ??? are enough, we could trade him to another team and save his entire cap hit.
If Darby is that cheap to let go, that is perfect. Smell ya later.
Rip the band aid and cut whomever you're going to cut taking the hit next year. There's no reason to push money out to when TLaw is going to cost more, do it now while you have some room. The problem is you can't do that on the big failures from this year's FA class because the hits would put us in the red on the cap, we have to keep our stud defensive end and Jerry Rice-like wide receiver another year no matter what.
I think a new regime would get rid of a lot of overpriced veterans, sign some offensive linemen, and build through the draft.
(11-18-2024, 05:53 PM)JagFan81 Wrote: [ -> ]There's lots of depressing stuff to talk about with us right now so let's focus on a different aspect, our Cap space and salaries for next season.
So let's start cap space. Using overthecap, right now we have $61.5m free cap for next season (who knows if they'll increase the cap budget again). That's a pretty healthy figure to make some moves in FA and improve the roster.
Looking at potential free agents, there's not a lot to worry about. Cisco and Walker Little are the only names that stand out but neither is having a great contract year. The 12 players are
Mac Jones
Walker Little
Jeremiah Ledbetter
Caleb Johnson
Andre Cisco
D'Ernest Johnson
Luke Farrell
De'Shaan Dixon
Esezi Otomewo
Cole Van Lanen
Tim Jones
Patrick Murtaugh
I don't see Little getting overpaid like most FA OL players. Cisco has been poor this year but has been a solid starter for us. Maybe a new HC/DC will see him have a bounce back year.
Now looking at salaries, there's good and bad news. So let's just look at next year's top 5 earners and their dead money.
1- Kirk- $24.3m ($13.6m dead money, $10.7m cap)
2- Engram- $19.75m ($13.5m dead money, $6.25m cap)
3- Trevor- $17m ($133m dead money)
4- Josh- $15.4m ($68.1m dead money)
5- Scherff- $14m ($14m dead money)
I feel bad adding this one but it stings
Hamilton- $10.8m ($12m dead money)
Looking at the contracts, the bad news is there is very little cap savings to be made from cuts this year. Nearly every contract situation is a dead money hit with little to no cap savings. On one hand it's a settled roster, on another the roster has been hot garbage this year!
Let me prove the point. Here's our top 5 cap savings from cuts
1- Kirk-$24.3m ($13.6m dead money, $10.7m cap)
2- Engram- $19.75m ($13.5m dead money, $6.25m cap)
3- Logan Cooke- $3.5m (600k dead money, $2.9m cap)
4-Duverney- $4m ($1.2m dead money, $2.8m cap)
5- Dewey- $3.7m ($1m dead money, 2.7m cap)
6- Darby- $5m ($2.75m dead money, $2.25 cap)
So as you can see there's not much to make big chunks back. It's a few million here or there (and there's no way we're cutting Cooke). We have a good chunk of cap to use to strengthen but the new GM will have to hit on his FA and draft picks.
It's frustrating as we have a very settled roster for next year which is a good thing to have, sadly the way this year has gone I don't know if it's going to be a positive with how things are going. It will be a big task for the next GM and HC to get this roster producing and finding the key players to bring in.
What do you all think?
Very good synopsis of the team's financial state. The toughest decisions to me are:
1. Walker Little: If he continues to play well, I'd have to offer him a new deal. He can play on the left or right side and hope Harrison improves. They may have to pay him more than they'd like, but it would also allow them to take the BPA in the draft rather than reach for a tackle out of need. If they do let him go, however, I'd move Harrison to left tackle and draft a right tackle in round 2. Just don't think they can count on Foster to make a huge leap in year 2.
2. Andre Cisco: How far he has dropped since the beginning of this season! Is his poor performance due primarily to a terrible defensive scheme or for other reasons? No doubt, this guy has a very good skill-set and if not re-signed is likely to go the route of many other ex-Jaguars who were prematurely given up on only to excel with another team. He is still only 24 years old so I'd try to keep him as long as he doesn't make totally unreasonable demands for his new deal.
3. Brandon Scherff: It wouldn't surprise me if he decides to retire. He wouldn't be bad to keep as a back-up if they could agree to a slightly lower price. If he doesn't I'd let him go as his best days are way in the past. Hodges showed some promise, especially as a run-blocker and could compete with a rookie draft pick.
4. Christian Kirk: Another tough choice. His inability to remain healthy is a big problem and the team would still take a pretty big cap hit if he's released. He also has a very good rapport with Lawrence and Gabe Davis was a terrible free agent who would make a poor #2 receiver behind Thomas. For that reason, I'd likely keep Kirk one more season and continue to give Parker Washington work in the slot to see if he could be a good replacement in 2026.
5. Most of the other players you mentioned are backups except Darby (let him go) and Duvernay (same). I'd keep Hamilton as his play has improved and the defensive tackle position is very poor.
(11-19-2024, 05:33 PM)jaglou53 Wrote: [ -> ] (11-18-2024, 05:53 PM)JagFan81 Wrote: [ -> ]There's lots of depressing stuff to talk about with us right now so let's focus on a different aspect, our Cap space and salaries for next season.
So let's start cap space. Using overthecap, right now we have $61.5m free cap for next season (who knows if they'll increase the cap budget again). That's a pretty healthy figure to make some moves in FA and improve the roster.
Looking at potential free agents, there's not a lot to worry about. Cisco and Walker Little are the only names that stand out but neither is having a great contract year. The 12 players are
Mac Jones
Walker Little
Jeremiah Ledbetter
Caleb Johnson
Andre Cisco
D'Ernest Johnson
Luke Farrell
De'Shaan Dixon
Esezi Otomewo
Cole Van Lanen
Tim Jones
Patrick Murtaugh
I don't see Little getting overpaid like most FA OL players. Cisco has been poor this year but has been a solid starter for us. Maybe a new HC/DC will see him have a bounce back year.
Now looking at salaries, there's good and bad news. So let's just look at next year's top 5 earners and their dead money.
1- Kirk- $24.3m ($13.6m dead money, $10.7m cap)
2- Engram- $19.75m ($13.5m dead money, $6.25m cap)
3- Trevor- $17m ($133m dead money)
4- Josh- $15.4m ($68.1m dead money)
5- Scherff- $14m ($14m dead money)
I feel bad adding this one but it stings
Hamilton- $10.8m ($12m dead money)
Looking at the contracts, the bad news is there is very little cap savings to be made from cuts this year. Nearly every contract situation is a dead money hit with little to no cap savings. On one hand it's a settled roster, on another the roster has been hot garbage this year!
Let me prove the point. Here's our top 5 cap savings from cuts
1- Kirk-$24.3m ($13.6m dead money, $10.7m cap)
2- Engram- $19.75m ($13.5m dead money, $6.25m cap)
3- Logan Cooke- $3.5m (600k dead money, $2.9m cap)
4-Duverney- $4m ($1.2m dead money, $2.8m cap)
5- Dewey- $3.7m ($1m dead money, 2.7m cap)
6- Darby- $5m ($2.75m dead money, $2.25 cap)
So as you can see there's not much to make big chunks back. It's a few million here or there (and there's no way we're cutting Cooke). We have a good chunk of cap to use to strengthen but the new GM will have to hit on his FA and draft picks.
It's frustrating as we have a very settled roster for next year which is a good thing to have, sadly the way this year has gone I don't know if it's going to be a positive with how things are going. It will be a big task for the next GM and HC to get this roster producing and finding the key players to bring in.
What do you all think?
Very good synopsis of the team's financial state. The toughest decisions to me are:
1. Walker Little: If he continues to play well, I'd have to offer him a new deal. He can play on the left or right side and hope Harrison improves. They may have to pay him more than they'd like, but it would also allow them to take the BPA in the draft rather than reach for a tackle out of need. If they do let him go, however, I'd move Harrison to left tackle and draft a right tackle in round 2. Just don't think they can count on Foster to make a huge leap in year 2.
2. Andre Cisco: How far he has dropped since the beginning of this season! Is his poor performance due primarily to a terrible defensive scheme or for other reasons? No doubt, this guy has a very good skill-set and if not re-signed is likely to go the route of many other ex-Jaguars who were prematurely given up on only to excel with another team. He is still only 24 years old so I'd try to keep him as long as he doesn't make totally unreasonable demands for his new deal.
3. Brandon Scherff: It wouldn't surprise me if he decides to retire. He wouldn't be bad to keep as a back-up if they could agree to a slightly lower price. If he doesn't I'd let him go as his best days are way in the past. Hodges showed some promise, especially as a run-blocker and could compete with a rookie draft pick.
4. Christian Kirk: Another tough choice. His inability to remain healthy is a big problem and the team would still take a pretty big cap hit if he's released. He also has a very good rapport with Lawrence and Gabe Davis was a terrible free agent who would make a poor #2 receiver behind Thomas. For that reason, I'd likely keep Kirk one more season and continue to give Parker Washington work in the slot to see if he could be a good replacement in 2026.
5. Most of the other players you mentioned are backups except Darby (let him go) and Duvernay (same). I'd keep Hamilton as his play has improved and the defensive tackle position is very poor.
I agree. There's some tough choices to make. Thankfully there's no major decisions this offseason.
1- This is I think the toughest decision. We let Cam go so we only really have Little and Harrison as starting Tackles. OL gets overpaid in FA so may be tempted to test it so like you say, may have to pay him a bit more if we want to keep him. I think that's a great point in regards the draft. If we let him walk, we now have to add a T. That may be on the new GM's list anyway but we'd need to find a starter so I'd guess 2nd Round pick or someone in FA. Does that stop you bringing in a potential starter elsewhere on the roster to fill that hole?
2- Cisco has had a bad year but I'd like to keep him. Maybe something like a 2 year deal that gives us the option to move on if he's still struggling and if he turns it around gives him the chance of a decent payday. He's still very young and had been taking those steps until this year. The fact the whole D has struggled makes me want to give him the benefit of the doubt that it's an off year.
3- It would certainly help if Scherff retired but he may want that $14m for one last year. I like him for his experience and seems a good locker room influence, we need to develop that leaders culture but I wonder if the new HC hire may sway him one way or the other.
4- Kirk is a real tough choice. Been so good for us but his struggle to stay healthy is a worry. He looked off from the start this year and BTJ has really stepped up. I like Washington and Kirk may survive as Gabe hasn't proven a trusted WR and Duverney has had limited snaps at WR. I'd like to see us make a move in FA or the draft for a WR but we have a lot of areas to improve. I agree with you I'd keep him for next season, have that experience for the younger WR's and hope he bounces back.
I'd like to think whoever is HC next year can get some more from what we have on the roster. I still maintain we have talent on this roster, it's not stacked or loaded but we have some pieces. We don't know what system or scheme they will want to run but they may fit into that so will have value.
(11-19-2024, 05:58 PM)JagFan81 Wrote: [ -> ] (11-19-2024, 05:33 PM)jaglou53 Wrote: [ -> ]Very good synopsis of the team's financial state. The toughest decisions to me are:
1. Walker Little: If he continues to play well, I'd have to offer him a new deal. He can play on the left or right side and hope Harrison improves. They may have to pay him more than they'd like, but it would also allow them to take the BPA in the draft rather than reach for a tackle out of need. If they do let him go, however, I'd move Harrison to left tackle and draft a right tackle in round 2. Just don't think they can count on Foster to make a huge leap in year 2.
2. Andre Cisco: How far he has dropped since the beginning of this season! Is his poor performance due primarily to a terrible defensive scheme or for other reasons? No doubt, this guy has a very good skill-set and if not re-signed is likely to go the route of many other ex-Jaguars who were prematurely given up on only to excel with another team. He is still only 24 years old so I'd try to keep him as long as he doesn't make totally unreasonable demands for his new deal.
3. Brandon Scherff: It wouldn't surprise me if he decides to retire. He wouldn't be bad to keep as a back-up if they could agree to a slightly lower price. If he doesn't I'd let him go as his best days are way in the past. Hodges showed some promise, especially as a run-blocker and could compete with a rookie draft pick.
4. Christian Kirk: Another tough choice. His inability to remain healthy is a big problem and the team would still take a pretty big cap hit if he's released. He also has a very good rapport with Lawrence and Gabe Davis was a terrible free agent who would make a poor #2 receiver behind Thomas. For that reason, I'd likely keep Kirk one more season and continue to give Parker Washington work in the slot to see if he could be a good replacement in 2026.
5. Most of the other players you mentioned are backups except Darby (let him go) and Duvernay (same). I'd keep Hamilton as his play has improved and the defensive tackle position is very poor.
I agree. There's some tough choices to make. Thankfully there's no major decisions this offseason.
1- This is I think the toughest decision. We let Cam go so we only really have Little and Harrison as starting Tackles. OL gets overpaid in FA so may be tempted to test it so like you say, may have to pay him a bit more if we want to keep him. I think that's a great point in regards the draft. If we let him walk, we now have to add a T. That may be on the new GM's list anyway but we'd need to find a starter so I'd guess 2nd Round pick or someone in FA. Does that stop you bringing in a potential starter elsewhere on the roster to fill that hole?
2- Cisco has had a bad year but I'd like to keep him. Maybe something like a 2 year deal that gives us the option to move on if he's still struggling and if he turns it around gives him the chance of a decent payday. He's still very young and had been taking those steps until this year. The fact the whole D has struggled makes me want to give him the benefit of the doubt that it's an off year.
3- It would certainly help if Scherff retired but he may want that $14m for one last year. I like him for his experience and seems a good locker room influence, we need to develop that leaders culture but I wonder if the new HC hire may sway him one way or the other.
4- Kirk is a real tough choice. Been so good for us but his struggle to stay healthy is a worry. He looked off from the start this year and BTJ has really stepped up. I like Washington and Kirk may survive as Gabe hasn't proven a trusted WR and Duverney has had limited snaps at WR. I'd like to see us make a move in FA or the draft for a WR but we have a lot of areas to improve. I agree with you I'd keep him for next season, have that experience for the younger WR's and hope he bounces back.
I'd like to think whoever is HC next year can get some more from what we have on the roster. I still maintain we have talent on this roster, it's not stacked or loaded but we have some pieces. We don't know what system or scheme they will want to run but they may fit into that so will have value.
Agree that there is talent on this roster and the new coaching staff just needs to utilize them better. Hopefully the new General Manager (Baalke must go) will prioritize the interior of both lines in free agency and the draft. The Lions have great skill players, but they wouldn't be nearly as productive if playing behind a line like the Jaguars. If they were going to spend a lot of money on one player in free agency, it would be Tre Smith.
(11-18-2024, 05:53 PM)JagFan81 Wrote: [ -> ]There's lots of depressing stuff to talk about with us right now so let's focus on a different aspect, our Cap space and salaries for next season.
So let's start cap space. Using overthecap, right now we have $61.5m free cap for next season (who knows if they'll increase the cap budget again). That's a pretty healthy figure to make some moves in FA and improve the roster.
Looking at potential free agents, there's not a lot to worry about. Cisco and Walker Little are the only names that stand out but neither is having a great contract year. The 12 players are
Mac Jones
Walker Little
Jeremiah Ledbetter
Caleb Johnson
Andre Cisco
D'Ernest Johnson
Luke Farrell
De'Shaan Dixon
Esezi Otomewo
Cole Van Lanen
Tim Jones
Patrick Murtaugh
I don't see Little getting overpaid like most FA OL players. Cisco has been poor this year but has been a solid starter for us. Maybe a new HC/DC will see him have a bounce back year.
Now looking at salaries, there's good and bad news. So let's just look at next year's top 5 earners and their dead money.
1- Kirk- $24.3m ($13.6m dead money, $10.7m cap)
2- Engram- $19.75m ($13.5m dead money, $6.25m cap)
3- Trevor- $17m ($133m dead money)
4- Josh- $15.4m ($68.1m dead money)
5- Scherff- $14m ($14m dead money)
I feel bad adding this one but it stings
Hamilton- $10.8m ($12m dead money)
Looking at the contracts, the bad news is there is very little cap savings to be made from cuts this year. Nearly every contract situation is a dead money hit with little to no cap savings. On one hand it's a settled roster, on another the roster has been hot garbage this year!
Let me prove the point. Here's our top 5 cap savings from cuts
1- Kirk-$24.3m ($13.6m dead money, $10.7m cap)
2- Engram- $19.75m ($13.5m dead money, $6.25m cap)
3- Logan Cooke- $3.5m (600k dead money, $2.9m cap)
4-Duverney- $4m ($1.2m dead money, $2.8m cap)
5- Dewey- $3.7m ($1m dead money, 2.7m cap)
6- Darby- $5m ($2.75m dead money, $2.25 cap)
So as you can see there's not much to make big chunks back. It's a few million here or there (and there's no way we're cutting Cooke). We have a good chunk of cap to use to strengthen but the new GM will have to hit on his FA and draft picks.
It's frustrating as we have a very settled roster for next year which is a good thing to have, sadly the way this year has gone I don't know if it's going to be a positive with how things are going. It will be a big task for the next GM and HC to get this roster producing and finding the key players to bring in.
What do you all think?
Thoughts on players under contract:
Kirk - It's a tough call, but I'm inclined to keep him. When we're comfortably under the salary cap and already have many holes to fill, I don't like creating new holes. I'm not 100% sold yet on Parker Washington as a starter. I would like see Washington do more prior to moving on from Kirk.
Engram - Keep. He's too valuable to this team.
Cooke - Keep. He's one of the best punters in the game and we definitely use our punter.
Duvernay - Cut. I haven't been impressed with him.
Dewey - Keep. He's good depth and great special teams and a leader in the locker room. The price isn't unreasonable.
Darby - Don't let the door hit you on the way out. He sucks.
Scherff - Can someone explain Scherff's contract to me? Spotrac is showing him as having a "void" year. There's a $13.8 million cap hit, but no base salary. Does that mean he plays for $13.8 million or is that $13.8 essentially dead money?
Thoughts on free agents:
Little - I would take him for the right price. I think he's a good swing tackle. However, I think someone is going to pay him good money to be a starter. As such, I think we let him go, move Harrison to left tackle and then acquire a right tackle which is much easier to find. I could easily see our second round pick going to a right tackle.
Cisco - This is tough. I thought he played well for most of his career, but he has struggled this year. It's probably the system. As such, I'd resign him if the price is right. If the price gets too high, let him walk. Safeties are one of the easier positions to find.
Johnson - I like him as depth, but it's a non-premium position, so don't break the bank for him.
Farrell - Ditto.
I feel the rest are just competition for backup spots. I only bring them back if there is little guaranteed money in their contract.
Not sure how anyone can say there is talent on this roster, because it's one of the weakest in the NFL. Horrible.
Cut Scherff. He's old and gets paid way too much for an IOL. Can't get any push in the run game. Doesn't have the agility left to pull either. The O-line needs to get younger and a lot more physical and Scherff doesn't fit the mold at this point in his career.
Cut Kirk. Way overpaid for what you get.
Cut Darby. Liability in coverage. Too old and slow.
Cut Duverney. Parker Washington is the better returner and he can actually play some WR.
Cut Hamilton. Suck up the dead money and just admit that he's no longer the same player he was 2 years ago.
Gabe Davis is horrible but not worth cutting for the dead money. Same with Armstead. Baalke just screwed the pooch on this entire FA class.
I think getting a new fresh set of eyes in here to look at this situation is needed. A new GM may see things more clearly and make some drastic cuts.
(11-19-2024, 12:51 AM)The_Franchise_QB Wrote: [ -> ]Regardless of the cap situation, can't keep trying to build through free agency. Organization has been running on that hamster wheel for decades, expecting different results, only to fall on it's face countless times. Need to actually draft good players. I know that sounds crazy, but it's literally what all the good organizations do. Good organizations aren't constantly in reset mode every 3 years. How many times has this organization "won" the offseason?
Look at the team that just won 52-6 against this dumpster fire. A team that was right there with us as a dumpster fire back in 2021. St.Brown, Jamo, Laporta, Gibbs , 4/5 on the O-line- Decker, Glasgow, Ragnow, Sewell. Glasgow resigned back with the team, but was a hit by the FO regardless, and came back. A bona-fide core built through the draft, built also with a trade that acquired them Goff and multiple first round picks (which they hit on). Defensively - Hutchinson, Branch, Joseph, Arnold, McNeil, Pascal, Cambell, Onwuzurike, Rodriguez. All starters. A legit core of players built through the draft, coupled with good FA pick ups- Anzalone, Davis, Montgomery, Zeitler, and Reader. We are so far from being competitive it's not even funny, and people just want to keep up this "Nah, just a few FA pick ups away" BS. I don't have any hope that Khan will understand this, and continue to trust the process with Baalke and horrendous drafts coupled with moronic FA pick ups.
I think everyone agrees that we need to find players in the draft that are our building blocks. We have so many high picks and may be adding a 3rd #1 pick to the roster soon so there's no reason we can't find those guys. The problem we have is developing those players to become elite, game changing and game winning players. We can argue it's the coaching, schemes, players not taking those steps but we have a long list of guys that should have been stars but haven't. That's the biggest thing this franchise needs to improve on going forwards.
Now you list a lot of Lions players and they've done a great job. They've identified guys that fit the system but also the culture they are building. That's the magic formula. The problem is that's a multi year approach. You can't fix all your problems in one draft and not every pick will work out. Will fans accept a 3-4 year rebuild through the draft at this point?
I agree FA isn't the answer to all our problems but it does give you a second avenue to improve your roster. I'm not saying we go on a spending spree but to just ignore as we've got our fingers burnt seems a route that makes your life harder (and we have had some FA successes)
To me, if you're looking for a silver lining, the team doesn't have to make many drastic cuts to have the cap space needed to improve the roster. Just a few.
Having 60 mil free before cuts - and then having the standard early round picks plus two picks in the third, and two picks in the fourth (which I'd package and trade up with) - that's a solid amount of capital already.
On defense they need two safeties, a starting #2 corner, a disruptive DT.
On offense they need to sign/draft a second tackle regardless of where they put Harrison, they need a new Z receiver (Davis should be gone IMO) and they need a guard that can play either side.
We can list other places to upgrade, sure, but these are the lynchpins causing most of the damage or slated to be missing pieces in 2025.
It's seven starters out of 22.
Very doable in one offseason.
I hope Gabe Davis never suits up for the Jags again.
In the long list of FA busts, he may be #1.