Please LOCk

[h1]NFL free agent list: Clay Matthews, Matt Ryan top 2014 list[/h1]
Clay Matthews, OLB, Green Bay Packers - In four seasons with the Packers, Matthews has accumulated 42.5 sacks and four trips to the Pro Bowl. A dominant pass rusher, Matthews has certainly earned a contract to rival the six-year, $96 million deal given to Mario Williams in 2012, the only question is whether or not the Packers have the cap room to make it happen. They've made moves to clear some space, but are also looking to re-sign Aaron Rodgers long-term.

Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons - Postseason jokes aside, Ryan has consistently improved since he was drafted with the third pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. In 2012, he finished with his best season in every facet and helped lead the Falcons to the NFC Conference Championship. All that means it would be very surprising for the Falcons to allow Ryan to leave in free agency, especially after the team released some veterans to clear cap space earlier in the offseason.

Geno Atkins, DT, Cincinnati Bengals - Atkins may not be the house-hold name that the first two on the list are, but he may be the best of the three. A fourth round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, Atkins quickly developed from a backup into a dominant force on the Cincinnati defensive line. In 2012, he finished with 12.5 sacks, the sixth-most in the NFL, and he did so from the interior. The Bengals have a ton of cap space and are expected to make a long-term deal for Atkins one of their top priorities.

Brian Cushing, LB, Houston Texans - The 2009 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year has been a very good player in the middle of the Texans defense, but went down with an ACL tear mid-way through the 2012 season. Considering his injury, a suspension he had earlier in his career and limited cap space, Cushing may be a case of a player that is allowed to play out his final season in 2013 before the team decides what his long-term future is.

Jairus Byrd, S, Buffalo Bills - A Pro Bowler in his rookie season, Byrd hasn't earned another trip back, but it hasn't been due to a regression. While his interception numbers haven't reached the nine that he hauled in during the 2009 season, he's developed into one of the better safeties in the NFL and the Bills used the franchise tag to ensure he didn't go anywhere during the 2013 offseason. However, that puts pressure on the team to come to a long-term deal because the franchise tag likely isn't a feasible option in 2014.

Brian Orakpo, OLB, Washington ******** - After three very promising seasons as a pass rusher for the ********, Orakpo played in just two games in 2012 before he tore a pectoral muscle in Week 2 and was forced to head to the injured reserve. While the ******** are expected to try and sign Orakpo long-term, they don't have a ton of cap space and the injury could cause the two sides to value his play differently.

Ryan Clady, OT, Denver Broncos - Another player that drew the franchise tag in 2013, Clady has started all 80 regular season games for the Broncos since he was drafted in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft. A two-time First-Team All Pro, Clady isn't a player that the Broncos will want to lose, but they don't have the greatest cap situation and an offseason shoulder surgery could be concerning for Denver.

Jimmy Graham, TE, New Orleans Saints - Graham has 25 touchdown receptions and 2,648 receiving yards in just three seasons with the Saints and earned a trip to the Pro Bowl in 2011. However, the Saints gave Drew Brees a huge deal in 2012 and have other players on roster like Jahri Evans and Will Smith with huge contracts. There's only so much money to go around and the talented pass-catching tight end could be on the outs.

Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars - The Jaguars and Jones-Drew had a public disagreement regarding his value in 2012 as he held out from training camp and was relegated to the bench in Week 1. The NFL's leading rusher in 2011, Jones-Drew has proven himself as a player that can carry a heavy load for a team, but he had a season-ending knee injury in 2010 and a season-ending foot injury in 2012. There's a very real chance that the rebuilding Jaguars could move on without the 2006 second round pick and allow the back to hit the open market.

Let us day dream
laugh.gif


I'm dreaming of a Clay Matthew and Brian Orakpo & MJD (if we can't keep DMAC) as a Raider for 2014
laugh.gif
 
Last edited:
definite pass on MJD. I like him, but he'll be around 30 with a lot of usage and he hasn't been durable lately
 
lol. Day dreaming huh? hmmmm.....


Cutler(if Flynn and Pryor flop), Graham and Cushing.
 
Carson may have taken more blame than was fair, but there was no way we could have expected to keep him another two years while rebuilding everything else on the team and have him perform like an elite. He came at the wrong time, simple as that.
 
i kinda feel bad for the guy. Bengals, Raiders and Cardinals :lol dude cant catch a break


Ehhh...if he pulls his skirt up one more year in Cincy, he's throwing the ball to AJ Green right now on a young/contending squad.
 
I think more importantly than our cap space is what we can do with the #3 pick this year. If we can parlay that into additional picks, we have something going. I trust Reggie and Co.'s eye when it comes to finding talent in the draft, but we have to have the ammunition first. A part of me believes we haven't flat out released Rolando yet because we're looking to trade him on draft day for a mid-low rounder. The cap space is nice, but I doubt we get any major free agents similar to how Green Bay's last two noteworthy free agents were Charles Woodson (ironic?) and Reggie White.
 
I think more importantly than our cap space is what we can do with the #3 pick this year. If we can parlay that into additional picks, we have something going. I trust Reggie and Co.'s eye when it comes to finding talent in the draft, but we have to have the ammunition first. A part of me believes we haven't flat out released Rolando yet because we're looking to trade him on draft day for a mid-low rounder. The cap space is nice, but I doubt we get any major free agents similar to how Green Bay's last two noteworthy free agents were Charles Woodson (ironic?) and Reggie White.

Thing is, both of those FA's kinda put them over the top if you think about it.

Woodson was DPY the year they won right?

And Reggie was Reggie. BEAST. You arguably had the best offensive and best defensive player as bookends on both teams.


I'd love to trade back and get a 2nd and more. I think theres still a good chance we do that.


As much as I'd like to get a late rounder for SloLando, it'll also entail someone taking over his rookie salary which is still super high for almost no production. Thats the biggest hiccup. Rolando was the last of the crazy rookie deals.
 
Thing is, both of those FA's kinda put them over the top if you think about it.

Woodson was DPY the year they won right?

And Reggie was Reggie. BEAST. You arguably had the best offensive and best defensive player as bookends on both teams.


I'd love to trade back and get a 2nd and more. I think theres still a good chance we do that.


As much as I'd like to get a late rounder for SloLando, it'll also entail someone taking over his rookie salary which is still super high for almost no production. Thats the biggest hiccup. Rolando was the last of the crazy rookie deals.

Agreed about Reggie/C-Wood. Both of those guys had excellent years with GB. But as you said GB waited until they found the right FA's that could get them to the next level...they didn't just go free agent shopping each year to simply add to their roster. They coveted the select few. Judging by every move Reggie has made so far, the GB blueprint is also our roadmap. We will be stockpiling young, sustainable talent through the draft until we're in a postion where 1 or 2 FA's put us over the top. So again, the $70 mill in cap space is nice, but I doubt we'll be major players in that market. Not to overly simplify matters, but we get a QB (Clowney perhaps?) and we rebuild with draft picks.
 
Back
Top Bottom