Everybody wants the Jags to sign Brian Bulaga - ORT - Packers in Free Agency, but what if he re-signs with the Packers before the start of Free Agency or is tagged?

 

One option is to sign Doug Free - ORT - Cowboys and another option is to sign this guy, who is the subject of this post>

 

Joe Barksdale - ORT - Rams - 27 Yrs Old (Jan 1988 BD) - 6'5" 326 lbs - College: LSU

 

Barksdale is a former 3rd Rd Pick (Pick 92) by the Oakland Raiders

 

If signed he would be competing with Brennan Williams - ORT - former 3rd Rd Pick of the Texans (Pick 89).

 

Many on this site have written off Joe Barksdale for the poor year he had in 2014 based upon the scoring of ProFootballFocus, but as always, there is more to the story.

 

Here is how Joe Barksdale rated in both 2013 and 2014.

 

2014: -5.9 overall in 1031 snaps (-9.4 in pass protection. +5.6 in run blocking) Barksdale allowed seven sacks. He was playing next to Davin Joseph (picked up from Tampa after the Bucs cut him). Davin Joseph graded out at -24.6 overall, so perhaps playing next to Davin Joseph adversely impacted Barksdale performance.

 

2013: +9.2 overall in 838 snaps (+8.2 in pass protection, -1.2 in run blocking) Barksdale surrendered four sacks in 2013. Barksdale generally played next to Rodger Safford (+6.9 overall rating) or Shelley Smith (+7.2 overall rating).

 

If the 2014 run blocking score of 5.6 were added to 2013 pass protection score of 8.2, his overall score would be 13.8, which is pretty good for an ORT.

 

Clearly, Joe Barksdale will cost less to sign than Brian Bulaga, but that only matters if Bulaga is available and in this scenario we are assuming that he is off the market.

 

Thus Barksdale, based upon the information presented above, is a viable candidate.

 

The Rams want him back. Both the Giants and the Broncos are said to have interest in him.

 

There is no guarantee that the Rams will not re-sign him, but probably not before his agent determines his worth on the open market.

 

Your thoughts and comments are appreciated.

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I know many people don't mind Barksdale, but I really think he would be a nice consolation if we can't get Bulaga. Barksdale would be considered a tier 2 type of player, but most think those are the only types of guys we will be able to attract. He did really good opening lanes for Mason in the run game, but his pass protection wasn't the greatest, but I'm hoping that was because the guard play sucked.

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Don't be surprised if the Redskins trade RGIII to the Texans for 2 - Rd 2 picks prior to the draft.

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Don't be surprised if the Redskins trade RGIII to the Texans for 2 - Rd 2 picks prior to the draft.

 

So they'll have Fitzpatrick, Mallett, Savage, Case Keenum, Thad Lewis, and possibly RG III?  Hey, throw enough poo against the wall and eventually something will stick.

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“Motivation alone is not enough.  If you have an idiot and you motivate him,now you have a motivated idiot.” Jim Rohn

 

So they'll have Fitzpatrick, Mallett, Savage, Case Keenum, Thad Lewis, and possibly RG III?  Hey, throw enough poo against the wall and eventually something will stick.

I know Mallett is headed towards free agency, and I don't think Keenum is under contract for next year (though he might be a restricted FA). Savage isn't ready, Lewis is a career backup and Fitzpatrick may well be done.

 

But yeah, poo-flinging would be an adequate description of this move.

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So they'll have Fitzpatrick, Mallett, Savage, Case Keenum, Thad Lewis, and possibly RG III? Hey, throw enough poo against the wall and eventually something will stick.

Fitzpatrick and Mallet are free agents so its possible. With that said RG3 isn't the type of QB BOB likes. He prefers pocket passers.

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"Before you criticize a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry, he's a mile away and barefoot."

Mike Reiss of ESPN is speculating that Shane Vereen could be a Jaguars FA target.

<a class="bbc_url" href='http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/2352875-shane-vereen-latest-news-rumors-and-speculation-surrounding-free-agent-rb'>http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/2352875-shane-vereen-latest-news-rumors-and-speculation-surrounding-free-agent-rb</a>

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"Before you criticize a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry, he's a mile away and barefoot."

Mike Reiss of ESPN is speculating that Shane Vereen could be a Jaguars FA target.

<a class="bbc_url" href='http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/2352875-shane-vereen-latest-news-rumors-and-speculation-surrounding-free-agent-rb'>http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/2352875-shane-vereen-latest-news-rumors-and-speculation-surrounding-free-agent-rb</a>

We could certainly do worse than Vereen. Decent running back, good blocker for a RB, and a really good receiving threat. Cheaper, young, experienced, championship pedigree. I certainly like this idea.

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I still believe Randall Cobb will end up remaining with the Packers.   Yet,  regardless of where Cobb does land,  he won't come cheap:

 

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/201...on-a-year/

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I still believe Randall Cobb will end up remaining with the Packers.   Yet,  regardless of where Cobb does land,  he won't come cheap:

 

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/201...on-a-year/

Wow, we had completely different takes on this. I was about to post an article stating he only wanted 9 million, yes please. http://www.bigcatcountry.com/2015/2/16/8...ct-jaguars And you post an article saying he won't be cheap with the same figure. To be honest, I was expecting much worse than 9 million.

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Wow, we had completely different takes on this. I was about an article stating he only wanted 9 million, yes please. http://www.bigcatcountry.com/2015/2/16/8...ct-jaguars And you post an article saying he won't be cheap with the same figure. To be honest, I was expecting much worse than 9 million.

 

If a bidding war occurs,  it's realistically possible that Cobb could average eight figures,    But even with the salary cap expected increase,  I still believe that an $ 9 million average would quite a haul for Randall Cobb if he gets that offer.   Especially,  when considering the contract that Eric Decker signed with the Jets and Golden Tate signed with the Lions last March.   Decker received a little over $ 7 million per season from the Jets.  Tate received a little over $ 6 million per season from the Lions.

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If a bidding war occurs, it's realistically possible that Cobb could average eight figures, But even with the salary cap expected increase, I still believe that an $ 9 million average would quite a haul for Randall Cobb if he gets that offer. Especially, when considering the contract that Eric Decker signed with the Jets and Golden Tate signed with the Lions last March. Decker received a little over $ 7 million per season from the Jets. Tate received a little over $ 6 million per season from the Lions.

It wouldn't surprise me if Cobb gets a $9mil or more on his next contract. He's 2 years younger than Tate and had similar production yardage wise last year while scoring 8 more TDs. 3 years younger than Decker and was way more productive last season. (Granted Cobb had Rodgers and Decker had Vick/Smith.) Cobb undoubtedly will also be asked to contribute more on ST than Tate (who I'm aware does contribute to ST) and Decker thus upping the price tag on him a little more IMO.

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Jaguars Fundamentalist

If Cobb does hit the market I believe he will have a bidding war to raise his price tag. I think we would try but someone else would spend more. Then again I also believe he stays with the Pack.

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:thanks: Extra Life 2016 is 11/05/16 :thanks:

It wouldn't surprise me if Cobb gets a $9mil or more on his next contract. He's 2 years younger than Tate and had similar production yardage wise last year while scoring 8 more TDs. 3 years younger than Decker and was way more productive last season. (Granted Cobb had Rodgers and Decker had Vick/Smith.) Cobb undoubtedly will also be asked to contribute more on ST than Tate (who I'm aware does contribute to ST) and Decker thus upping the price tag on him a little more IMO.

 

While you are correct regarding of the age differences of the WRs,  when Golden Tate and Eric Decker signed their contracts,  they were a year closer to the age that Randall Cobb will be when he signs his contract.

 

Good point regarding Cobb's TD and overall production.   My guess is Cobb will be used more often on Punt Returns than the Lions used Tate in his first season with the team.   I only recall Tate being used once the entire season as a Punt Returner and that was early in the road playoff game vs. the Cowboys.

 

Though I believe that Cobb will get more lucrative contracts than Decker and Tate did,  even when factoring in the % of the salary cap increase,  I think it's more likely that Cobb averages $ 9 million or less per season than he averages over $ 9 million.    My gut feeling is Cobb will get between $ 8.5 million and $ 9 million per season,  which would be quite a jump from Cobb's rookie contract as a late 2nd Round pick.

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In an effort to examine alternate candidates that the Jaguars might consider signing in Free Agency, the idea of signing a DE-Leo, just in case Leonard Williams falls to the Jags at Pick 3.

 

Recently, I have been promoting the signing of

 

Derrick Morgan - DE/OLB - Titans - 6'3" 261 lbs - 26 yrs old

 

Morgan can play the Leo DE with his hand in the dirt or play OLB/Otto and this kind of flexibility is something that I feel the Jags may find appealing.

 

Here are Derrick Morgan's stats over the past three years

 

2012: 59 TT - 6.5 Sacks - 6 PD

2013: 35 TT - 6.0 Sacks - 2 PD

2014: 63 TT - 6.5 Sacks - 7 PD

 

As can be seen Morgan is very active against the run, which is what the Jags need from their edge setters.

 

What we see from Morgan is that his team will get approximately 60 TT and 6 sacks from him every season.

 

The Titans may attempt to re-sign Derrick Morgan but all indications are he will test the Free Agent market.

 

Look for a contract in the range of  6 to 6.5 Mil per year

 

Now another player that I wish to compare to Derrick Morgan is

 

Jabaal Sheard - DE/OLB - Browns - 6'3" 264 lbs - 26 yrs old

 

Like Morgan, Sheard can play the OLB position, but his most success came when he played DE in 2011 and 2102

 

Here are his stats over those two years

 

2011: 55 TT - 8.5 Sacks

2012: 53 TT - 7.0 Sacks

 

His stats fell off when they moved him to OLB and now the Browns are going to let him walk in Free Agency.

 

I don't think that Sheard is as sure a thing as Morgan but he may actually have a higher ceiling as a DE-Leo.

 

I think he will command similar money to Morgan perhaps a little less in a "Prove It" contract.

 

Still Jabaal Sheard is an interesting option for the Jags if they are looking for that Sleeper Leo-DE to help in the pass rush rotation.

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I prefer Sheard to Morgan, and it's not even close. Morgan is a straight-up bust, and in the NFL, one man's trash is generally another man's...well...trash.

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I wanted to compare and contrast Morgan to Sheard. Personally, both are 2nd Tier type players but both could be the type of player that the Jags can attract. I feel that the Jags need to invest in more pass rushers and utilize them as they did this past year in waves. I also want to see the Otto Lb position to include a specialized Designated Pass Rusher that had the ability to drop into coverage as needed. I still believe that Morgan is just finding himself, which is something that Sheard has lost somewhat since he has been moved to OLB. I would not be disappointed if either player were signed in the upcoming Free Agent period.

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Mike Williams - WR - 6'2" 212 lbs - College: Syracuse, formerly of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 2010 through 2013, formerly of the Bills - 2014, released by the Bills and can now sign with any club

 

His time with Tampa coincides with Josh Freeman as QB and with Greg Olson as the Offensive Coordinator.

 

His time with the Bills coincides with Marrone and Hackett as his coaches.

 

His agent is lining up interviews during the Combine, will one of these interviews be with Gus and Dave?

 

Will there be some interest based upon the inside information the Jags have inhouse?

 

I guess we will see.

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Morgan and Sheard.... to me they are just guys that would get lumped in with Branch, Davis, and Smith behind Clemons at Leo.  I don't see them as Ottos or impactful Leos.  I had high hopes in the draft for Morgan, but he has just been mediocre to date. 

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I wouldn't expect glowing reviews of Williams from Marrone or Hackett. If Olson loves him to death, maybe he gets consideration, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it.

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