(03-12-2023, 12:33 PM)NYC4jags Wrote: Nuggets on Key and Taylor from an ESPN+ article on free agency rumors:

Quote:Defensive tackles getting paid

This isn't perceived as a great free agent class, but the top of the defensive tackle market could get pricey. Philadelphia's Javon Hargrave is expected to get a big-money deal from some team (probably not Philadelphia), but watch out for guys such as Denver's Dre'Mont Jones, Jacksonville's Arden Key and Arizona's Zach Allen, who have been mentioned several times to me as players expected to draw strong interest on the open market. Non-free agents such as the Jets' Quinnen Williams, the Titans' Jeffery Simmons and the Commanders' franchise player, Daron Payne, are watching this market closely as they think about their own potential long-term extensions. -- Graziano


Strongest retention efforts

The opening of the legal tampering window can spark urgency for teams that want to re-sign their priority free agents. That's the case with a couple of right tackles, Atlanta's Kaleb McGary and Jacksonville's Jawaan Taylor. Their teams would like to keep them and are making good-faith efforts. Jacksonville is also pushing to keep pass-rusher Arden Key with a clear goal of maintaining its promising core.

Yeah I've seen several articles from the mainstream nfl sites predicting Key will be one of those slightly under the radar guys who's market runs away ... Which while I certainly wouldn't begrudge the kid his payday ... Obviously wouldn't be a great situation for us!! All seems to have gone quiet on Smoot, I wonder which they'd prioritise if push came to shove!

Only minor consolation at losing Taylor is he's only had one really strong year and there has to be a steady chance of possibly recouping at least a 4th round compensatory pick next year. But It's another on which isn't ideal to lose.

It's out of our hands to a degree ... To be fair to Baalke and the front office they got a lot of their work done early with their restructures/cuts so they obviously had their ducks in a row and were working with a certain clarity of vision ... That's all you can really ask of them, even the best FO's can't keep them all, let's hope they can restock the losses and improve where they can.

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