I agree.  I have seen other people post on this forum that it is almost a for gone conclusion that the Phins are resigning Vernon.  However here is their salary cap problems

http://www.hngn.com/articles/171920/2016...agency.htm

 

So the Fish are about over the salary cap with the 41 players signed for next season.  So they have to get under the cap and get to 45 players without giving Vernon a big raise.  What I am reading is that Vernon could get any where from $10-12 million/year.  There is no way Miami is getting that far under the cap.  Their problem is due to the fact they gave Suh almost no money last year with a $800k base salary to fit him under the salary cap but this year he is due a $28million cap hit.  So now they are going to sign another D-Lineman to a big contract.  I just can't see it happening. 

I think what's funny in that article is the writer is making a case that the Phins are going to have a tough time coming up with enough money to pay him a $6-7m per year contract, citing Wake and Bennett deals.  However, the latest deal that other analysts are stating Vernon's agent will use as a "floor", is the $12m per year (with incentives) contract that Cameron Jordan got with the Saints.  If they try to franchise tag Vernon, that will cost the Phins about $15.5m this year.  

 

I don't think Miami planned for Wake going down, allowing Vernon to step into the key role and have a big-time contract year.   

---

This is a list of possible free agents this year, compiled by Yahoo sports.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/2016-free-a...NlYwNzYw--

 

If we assume Miller, Vernon, Malik Jackson and Muhammad Wilkerson were to be retained by their teams, the list of likely free agent defensive linemen would look like this.

 

Muhammad Wilkerson

Malik Jackson

Ian Williams

Nick Fairley
Derek Wolfe (Re-signed 4-year, $36.7M deal with DEN)

Jaye Howard

Damon Harrison

Haloti Ngata

Terrance Knighton

Cedric Thornton
Vinny Curry (Re-signed 5-year, $47.25M deal with PHI)

Robert Ayers

Brandon Mebane

Adrian Clayborn

Akiem Hicks

Steve McLendon

B.J. Raji

Jason Jones

Tyrunn Walker

Mike DeVito

Henry Melton

Kevin Williams

Al Woods

Letroy Guion

Antonio Smith

Jared Crick

Kendall Reyes

Ahtyba Rubin

Cullen Jenkins

Sammie Lee Hill

Leger Douzable

Billy Winn

Kyle Love

Kedric Golston

Alex Carrington

Pat Sims

Brandon Thompson

Mitch Unrein

Red Bryant

Tony McDaniel

Cam Thomas

Kenrick Ellis

Corey Wootton

Jarvis Jenkins

Stephen Bowen

Greg Scruggs

Ricardo Mathews

Mike Martin

Jermelle Cudjo

Da'Quan Bowers

Barry Cofield

Demarcus Dobbs

Jack Crawford

Clifton Geathers

Edge Defenders

Von Miller

Jason Pierre-Paul
Olivier Vernon

Greg Hardy
Aldon Smith (Suspended)

Tamba Hali

Bruce Irvin

William Hayes

Nick Perry

Courtney Upshaw

Dwight Freeney

Kroy Biermann

Wallace Gilberry

Mike Neal

Junior Galette

Darryl Tapp

Jeremy Mincey

Derrick Shelby

Andre Branch

Eugene Sims

Sam Acho

LaMarr Woodley

Calvin Pace Quinton Coples

Albert McClellan

Justin Trattou

Frank Zombo

Chris Carter

Larry English

Frank Alexander

Anthony Spencer

George Selvie

 

Of these remaining, I would strongly consider, besides Mario Williams:

 

Haloti Ngata-yes he is in his 30s, but interior DTs-especially space eaters, have been proven to play at a pretty good level into their 30s.

BJ Raji, Bruce Irvin (naturally), Nick Perry, and Cam Thomas

 

Thoughts on these names are welcomed, especially from D6 on Ngata.

 

 Bullseye,  in large part,  the type of season Haloti Ngata had with the Lions reflected the season the team had.  Ngata suffered a hamstring injury before the start of training camp and was put on the Non Football Injury List.  He missed a number of weeks of practice and was kept out of all 4 pre-season games.   This was a huge setback because Ngata was playing in a different system than the one in Baltimore.   Adjusting to the one gap attacking mode approach Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin uses took a while.   Especially,  because of the hamstring injury setback and a calf injury that kept Ngata out of 2 games in the first half of the season.  Ngata's first half of the season and the team's 1st half of the season ( 1-7 ) were a huge disappointment.

 

 In the 2nd half of the season,  Ngata was a major reason the Lions run Defense looked like it did in 2014 in most of the final 8 games.   Ngata was getting more than his share of penetration and push.   The Lions won 6 out the remaining 8 games  ( it should have been 7 ) and Jim Caldwell ended up keeping his job despite a new G.M. ( Bob Quinn ).   If not for Ngata's vast improvement,  this probably wouldn't have happened.

 

 The Lions and Ngata reportedly have a bridgeable gap in terms of a new contract.   Though plenty can happen in negotiations  ( the Orioles saw that firsthand after a contract agreement with OF Dexter Fowler fell through last week ),   I think the Lions and Ngata want to work out a new contract.   

---

 Bullseye,  in large part,  the type of season Haloti Ngata had with the Lions reflected the season the team had.  Ngata suffered a hamstring injury before the start of training camp and was put on the Non Football Injury List.  He missed a number of weeks of practice and was kept out of all 4 pre-season games.   This was a huge setback because Ngata was playing in a different system than the one in Baltimore.   Adjusting to the one gap attacking mode approach Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin uses took a while.   Especially,  because of the hamstring injury setback and a calf injury that kept Ngata out of 2 games in the first half of the season.  Ngata's first half of the season and the team's 1st half of the season ( 1-7 ) were a huge disappointment.

 

 In the 2nd half of the season,  Ngata was a major reason the Lions run Defense looked like it did in 2014 in most of the final 8 games.   Ngata was getting more than his share of penetration and push.   The Lions won 6 out the remaining 8 games  ( it should have been 7 ) and Jim Caldwell ended up keeping his job despite a new G.M. ( Bob Quinn ).   If not for Ngata's vast improvement,  this probably wouldn't have happened.

 

 The Lions and Ngata reportedly have a bridgeable gap in terms of a new contract.   Though plenty can happen in negotiations  ( the Orioles saw that firsthand after a contract agreement with OF Dexter Fowler fell through last week ),   I think the Lions and Ngata want to work out a new contract.   

Thanks for the insight.

 

Is it your contention that Ngata is still a viable player and has multiple good years left in him?

 

Would you want to see Ngata remain a Lion?  Do you assert a Ngata signing by the Jaguars would be beneficial to the Jaguars?

---

 

Worst to 1st.  Curse Reversed!

Thanks for the insight.

 

Is it your contention that Ngata is still a viable player and has multiple good years left in him?

 

Would you want to see Ngata remain a Lion?  Do you assert a Ngata signing by the Jaguars would be beneficial to the Jaguars?

 

 

 My pleasure. 

 

 Being that Haloti Ngata will be entering his 11th season and turned 32 in January,  I'm reluctant to say that Ngata has multiple good years left.  Especially,  since he suffered two significant injuries in 2015.   If Ngata can stay relatively healthy for the most part,  I think he will have a good 2016 season and there's a pretty good chance he can be an asset in 2017 as well.   The concern is injuries are more frequent with older players and they often take longer for them to recover.   Ngata is a great athlete but he's a huge man.  

 

  I would like Ngata to remain a Lion for at least one more season.    In addition to what Ngata can provide on the field when relatively healthy,  he brings impressive intangibles with him.  UCLA DT Kenny Clark's comments about Ngata jump out.   Being that the Lions have multiple needs at DT  (  as the list you provided indicates, Tyrunn Walker is also an UFA ),  Ngata would be an excellent mentor for Clark or another DT the Lions could end up with in the top 3 Rounds of the Draft:

 

 http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/201...i_nga.html

 

 http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/li.../81086204/

 

 At the very least,  Haloti Ngata would be an excellent addition in the Jaguars locker room and in the team's D-Line meeting room.   As a player,  Ngata still demands plenty of extra attention,  is strong against the run,  is good at knocking down passes,  and can force the QB from where he wants to make the throw because of his brute strength.    As long as he's not dealing with a significant injury,   I'm pretty confident Ngata can perform like he did in the 2nd half of 2015 for at least one more season.

---