The Falcons Should Pursue Free Agent Receiver D.J. Hackett
by Dave the Falconer on Mar 20, 2009 8:00 AM EDT
in Editorial
30 comments
via www.panthers.com
You're reading the title of this post and shaking your head, aren't you? You must think ol' Dave the Falconer is crazy as Terrell Owens in outer space, huh?
Well, you're absolutely right, but hear me out regardless.
D.J. Hackett is a guy who barely managed to get on the field last year for the Panthers. He was hurt for a good chunk of the year--just like the season before--and when he was there the team basically ignored him. He's drawn virtually no interest in the free agent market this off-season, too. And that's exactly why we should go get him.
Hackett will cost us virtually nothing. He's a big target with good hands who is an effective receiver when he's on the field. We can't count on Brian Finneran forever and Laurent Robinson--as much as I hate to admit it--may turn out to be a bust. While I'm pretty comfortable with Roddy White, Mike Jenkins and Harry Douglas as our top three, it never hurts to add a guy with some upside when you can get him for virtually nothing.
Worst case scenario is that he's hurt again and simply does nothing, at which point we can cut ties with him a year later. Best case if that he actually provides some value at receiver, which despite last season's extreme awesomeness we could still use.
Your thoughts?
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if the falcons do aquire him
then I will officially believe that this blog affects the decisions of this team…
it is so far fetched that we’d pursue him. However, I do agree with your points. He would be a very cheap and potentially beneficial aquisition.
by MentallyMIA on Mar 20, 2009 11:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm going to toe the line and go w/ the standard response:
It’ll depend on the terms he’s seeking. But to be honest, if TD thought Finn and L-Rob wouldn’t get it done, I think he’d use a late-round pick on someone who could potentially mirror Finn circa 2005 (read: possession receiver w/ great leaping ability).
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)
by FrankyWren on Mar 20, 2009 11:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i answer the same about everyone
they can sign whoever they want for minimum money, theres no risk, they get cut in pre season if they dont cut it…
go hard or go home
by TO falcon on Mar 20, 2009 12:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I wish...
…they would sign me for minimum money.
by Jesse28 on Mar 20, 2009 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
unfortunately
millions of people worldwide dont want to watch us do our jobs….
go hard or go home
by TO falcon on Mar 21, 2009 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Content?
well that leads down a nasty path.
You ALWAYS sign talent, and let the details work themselves out. We stayed relatively healthy at WR last year, but chances are that may not be the case this year.
" No, I think I'll sit in the balcony " - Abe Lincoln
by tapate50 on Mar 20, 2009 1:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I say give it a whirl.
Offer him a modest contract. If he signs, he signs. We can’t have too much depth at any position and maybe we can use some of his insider’s knowledge against the Panthers.
Falcon Fans UNITE!
by Blue Falcon on Mar 20, 2009 4:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
DJ Hackett
If you sign him, you can get him for the five or six practices the Panthers got him for and he may even appear in a game or two. If he catches a pass, maybe he’ll fall down as he turns upfield like he did for the Panthers. Regardless he will say that he got a bad rap about being injured because he said the exact same thing about the Seahawks. He blamed the Seahawks for holding him out two years ago, saying he never was hurt and that it was all the Seahawks…he say the same about the Panthers, so good luck if you sign him!
by Mbeam28 on Mar 20, 2009 5:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Welcome to the site!
And yeah, injuries have held him back considerably. It’s probably 50/50 that he’s healthy in 2009, but I’m a believer in his ability if he is.
by Dave the Falconer on Mar 20, 2009 9:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You’re kiddin’, right?
Why would you have another somebody sitting around as dead weight, and never contributing to the team other than keep the trainers busy?
I’d rather see that money spent on a draft pick than another waste of time like him.
…just my thoughts
Can I taste it?
by ATLi3n on Mar 20, 2009 5:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Perfectly legitimate
I wrote this post thinking I’d like someone who could potentially contribute immediately. If Hackett is healthy, I think he’s talented enough to make a difference for us next year. I know that’s kind of a huge if.
I haven’t dug into the draft too deeply at wide receiver. You have anybody in mind for the last few rounds?
by Dave the Falconer on Mar 20, 2009 8:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Late Round Wide Receiver
Check out Ramses Barden from Cal Poly, unbelievable size speed and ability with great hands. Kind of like a D2 version of Randy Moss, minus the attitude. Or if you want a D1 prospect you could always check out Nate Swift from Nebraska. Hes got good size but isn’t a blazer, kinda like Finn but he has great hands. Yeah whenever I scout a receiver or a tight end the first thing I check is the hands because a 7 yard catch in traffic is better than a 50 yard wide open drop. Both of those receivers could be had from near the end of the 5th round and lower
by blueverinefan on Mar 21, 2009 12:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Welcome to the site!
Both Barden and Swift would fit with the possession receiver role I’m looking for, though I believe Barden is starting to move up the ranks a bit.
by Dave the Falconer on Mar 21, 2009 1:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I disagree
Not that I have anything against DJ Hackett but, where would he fit? You already named five of our receivers one of them is a super star now the other one a solid number two and Douglas can break out in games. Hackett wouldn’t sign with us because he has no where to go but ride the pine. If I were DJ Hackett I would look at the Minnesota Vikings or Green Bay Packers and see if I can get a decent one year deal out of them for my last big deal. I agree with someone contributing immediately but, I don’t see him as being our guy. Now if you tell me to pick up Samari Rolle for a Nickelback position for cheap? I’d be all over it.
by SquallCloud on Mar 21, 2009 2:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
hes 27? last big deal?
go hard or go home
by TO falcon on Mar 22, 2009 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Last Big Deal
Your right he’s only 27 so if he plays one season he will be 28 most receivers only get one more decent deal out of that. So what I mean is he plays one year right? Then let’s say he puts up numbers of 60 and 800 yards. That’s good for a three year deal probably. After that he’s not a big time enough receiver to get a bigger contract than that.
Look at players like Deion Branch or Antonio Bryant. They are practically same category players. First they have a year that is incredible (remember Branch is a former Super Bowl MVP) then they get a big contract six year 39 million. Branch then became injury proin and last year had 30 receptions for 412 yards and 4 touch downs
Antonio Bryant was out of football in 2007 if you remember. So he gets a veteran minimum to play for the Buccaneers and makes catch of the year with a 9 catch 200 yard game on MNF. That is ontop of a 83 catch 1248 yard game and then gave him a franchise tag making him the average of the Top 5 highest paid receivers in football.
Like I said Hackett has one more contract that could be big.
by SquallCloud on Mar 23, 2009 6:06 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
By the Way
On March 10th 2009 DJ Hackett was signed by the Washington Redskins
by SquallCloud on Mar 23, 2009 6:06 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Oh snap ...
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)
by FrankyWren on Mar 23, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah ...
I couldn’t find anything on that either, which is really really really odd (assuming it is true).
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)
by FrankyWren on Mar 23, 2009 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm pretty sure he hasn't signed anywhere yet
And I agree with Dave that he would be cheap, and if healthy (big if) would upgrade our WR’s. When he is healthy he is a very good receiver. But he is not healthy very often. It would definitely be an all-or-nothing signing. One problem is that your 4th/5th WR’s usually need to contribute on special teams, and I don’t know if he can do that (or that they could further risk an injury). But it sure is an interesting possibility.
by orang3b on Mar 24, 2009 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
what about...
we could try and get Matt Jones. he would be cheap considering all the problems hes had and he seems to be cleaning up his act.
by TheFranchiseis#2 on Mar 23, 2009 2:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I don't know ...
given the compelled exodus of players w/ “character issues” over the last 2 years, I don’t think TD would go there. If he hadn’t violated his parole w/in the past month, it might make sense. But he doesn’t seem to be on “the right track” just yet.
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)
by FrankyWren on Mar 23, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
pointless risk
Seems a bit pointless when he only brings more negatives than positives. Plus he won’t come all that cheap and there are far more pressing needs than at WR this season.
by napoleon dynamite on Mar 23, 2009 7:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think he'd come fairly cheap ...
but you’re right, the risk seems to really outweigh any benefits.
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)
by FrankyWren on Mar 23, 2009 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry
Sorry guys it looked like he was heavily pursued by the Redskins. Reports are saying he’s back in Carolina and ESPN still has him listed as Carolina. I thought there was a report but, I am wrong I only have links of him strongly pursued and I think Wikipedia said that he was signed by the Redskins. My mistake
by SquallCloud on Mar 26, 2009 4:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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