Thinking about our team and the offseason we have had to this point, I realize that free agency has possibly brought us as many as six new starters (but more likely four):

 

Julius Thomas

Jermey Parnell

Jared Odrick

Davon House

Dan Skuta

Sergio Brown

 

That is a staggering number in itself, but then you consider the ascent of some rookies last year (i.e. Marqise Lee, Aaron Colvin), and you figure at least two guys from this upcoming draft if Caldwell is accurate in his evaluations and the draft falls right:

 

Our first round pick (if we don't trade down, possibly a DL-Fowler, Williams) and a RB sometimes later.

 

Conservatively speaking, we could see TEN (10) new starters.

 

Now if Caldwell reasonably replicates the degree of success he had last year, that number could go higher, especially if he trades down and gets a big return.

 

From opening day last year to opening day this year we could see changes at

 

QB:  Henne to Bortles

RB:  Gerhart to ...???

TE:  Marcedes to Thomas

WR:  Shorts to Robinson, Lee or Hurns and/or...draft pick

RT:  Pasztor/guy we cut to Parnell

LE:  Bryant to Odrick

DT:  Marks (possibly initially due to the ACL recovery) or Miller to possibly Williams.

LEO:  Clemons to possibly Fowler or Beasley

Otto: ???     to Skuta or draft pick

WLB:  From Hayes to Telvin Smith

CB:  Gratz to possibly House or Colvin

FS:  Guy/Evans to Brown or possible draft pick.

 

 

I know Caldwell has indicated there is no pressure to acquire starters in this draft, but doesn't it seem possible that over half -maybe 12 or 13- of our starting 22 from last year, could be new guys?  This doesn't even factor in an unexpected steal somewhere in the draft or UDFA.

 

Can anyone else recall a time (aside from an expansion team) where a team could have THAT many new starters from one year to the next?

 

While we went 3-13 last year, will that many new faces hurt the development of the team while it takes time to gel, or will the infusion of talent pay immediate dividends?

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