Mocking Free Agency and the Draft another view

by crack of the bat on Jan 30, 2012 7:57 AM EST

The weeks between the NFL elimination of the home team until pitchers and catchers report is considered the dead period for many fans. Here is how I decided to waste my time.

Falcons Off Season Focus

It has been suggested that the Falcons will have around $22M -$28M to spend on their 2012 roster. The obvious areas for improvement are on an offensive line that couldn’t gain a yard when it mattered and preparing for free agent attrition

Atlanta Falcons 2012 Free Agent and Draft

Top In house Priority

Re-Sign Curtis Lofton

5 year $25 M $5M/per

Lofton is the most important offseason retention. While he may be a 2.5 down player in a pass happy league he is still the keel of the defense. He will be deservedly paid and paired with Spoon.

Notable Players Not Retained.

(Abe, Grimes, HD)

Grimes has played his last down as a Falcon and his skill set is not one you want to pay big money for a 34 year old 5’8 corner who can’t jump anymore. Grimes’ injury late this season provided a tryout that several players seized. Owens, Sanders Dominique Franks and Darrin Walls did nothing to hurt their chances for playing time in 2012 and the draft will add quality depth. The Falcons are committed financially at CB to Dunta who is likely a better fit to the projected new defensive philosophy.

John Abraham has played well for the Falcons but his per snap to salary cap ratio is not appealing outside a one-year deal. With DC Nolan’s blended approach to 3-4 vs 4-3 defense we should se a few players excel with their hands out of the dirt. Candidates Kroy Beirman and Lawrence Sidbury.

Harry Douglas The rookie HD teased fans with promise but couldn’t stay on the field, now HD seeks #2 status and will find it on a bad team near a paper mill in Florida.

Notably Retained – Lofton ($5M) Beirmann ($750k), Snelling ($2.75M), McClure ($1M) Redman ($2.5) Long snapper ($500k) Weems ($500k)

Sum=$13M

Top Free Agent Target

Demetrius Bell (BUF) - Left Tackle

$5/27.5M

$5.25M/Per

(Release Sam Baker ($3.7M 2011- cap hit $2M – 2012 - Save $1.7M)

Net $3.5M

The Falcons must address the left tackle position, Svitek is a good rotational player, and Sam Baker is not. A healthy Mike Johnson will man the RG position, unless they add free agent stud, Carl Nicks. Adding Nicks and taking him away from protecting Brees’s knees is tempting, but the top lineman available will be expensive. But an OL of Bell, Blaylock, McClure, Nicks and Clabo could keep a QB quite comfortable and perhaps be able to gain a yard when needed. We’ll assume the Falcons will skip the Nicks sweepstakes to focus on the defensive line.

Bell is coming off a rookie contract and is young cornerstone and the premium Left tackle in Free Agency.

While DE is a glaring need there is only one player, Avril that would be a difference maker. The Falcons will check the price tag and look elsewhere to improve their line play by looking inside. The rest of the free agents DE’s are like getting another Edwards in that the available DE of note all played with strong DT’s. Hopefully the Falcons notice the correlation between DT play makes and DE sack totals.

Jason Jones (TEN) – DT

Replacing another Falcon first round bust, Jones is a proven beast in the middle. The Falcons have thrown a lot of picks at this position in the draft and haven’t come up with a disruptive force yet able to stuff the run and collapse the pocket. Peter and Babs are a good DT combination but not the disruptive force needed to get the QB of the spot in the NFL playoffs. Adding Jones to the DT rotation makes the DE’s better and the DB’s look competent.

$4/24M $6M per (Replace Peria Jerry: $845000)

Net 5.1M

Laron Landry

The original Honey Badger from LSU would bring a thump to the secondary when coupled with Moore and Dunta. DeCoud is a decent, league average player and likely will be back if Landry can’t be signed, but had the back of his jersey on TV too much this season chasing an opposing WR through the secondary.

$4/$16M $4M per

Free Agent Total Add $12.6M

Total $25.6M

Rookie Class

The Falcons deftly avoided paying first round money for draft bonuses leaving plenty to sign their 6 draft picks.

2012 Draft (Assuming a 4th round supplemental pick)

2nd TE Orson Charles (UGA) or Coby Fleener (Stanford)

Tony ain’t getting younger and two former basketball types at TE seem to help get your team to the Super Bowl. Orson Charles is well known in the southeast but the Falcons might be thinking Coby is their big smart graduate type.

3rd CB Brandon Boykin UGA

He’s got tangibles, intangibles and a gravitational pull to big plays.

Supplemental

4th DE Boise State Senior Shea McClellin

His name is fun to say and several opposing QB’s asked who was blocking him last year.

5th RB Jeff Demps, Florida

Speed in a package: how nice. Third downs and screen games could use a speed injection. Demps doesn’t look like he can handle blocking in the NFL, but neither did Warrick Dunn.

6th C Grant Garner Center Oklahoma State

Incumbent Todd McClure’s best asset at this point in his career is communication and will be the OLINE whisperer one more year. Garner protected the OSU offensive assault and would provide another potential heir to McClure should Hawley struggle.

How would you spend Uncle Blank’s money?

This FanPost was written by one of The Falcoholic's talented readers. It does not necessarily reflect the views of The Falcoholic.

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Comments

Laron Landry probably won't be happening

His Achilles is a mess and doctors are advising him to have surgery on it. He’s a good safety but signing him would be a waste of money if he tears that Achilles as those aren’t easy to overcome.

by leonw92 on Jan 30, 2012 12:07 PM EST reply actions

Totally agree with you on upgrading at DT

We just get no pocket disruption from the guys we have now. We need a disruptive force on clear passing downs in the DT rotation.

by leonw92 on Jan 30, 2012 12:12 PM EST reply actions

FYI Grimes is 28

Drafting two UGA guys with our first two picks is a pipe dream that is not going to happen. One, because Boykin will not last until the third round, and two, Charles is also unlikely to last until our pick in the second. I like the idea of bringing in a proven LT in FA, but only if the price is right. I disagree about bringing in an expensive DT, as Peters and Babs, with Walker as the backup is a solid rotation. At best, I would bring in another backup in case something were to happen to one of our top guys. I also would prefer if we dropped Redman because we are paying him too much to sit on the bench, and lets face it, if Matt goes down, the team is screwed anyways so a cheaper backup will be more economical than Redman.

"He has lived up to the legendary billing... And the legend is born in Calvin Johnson!" -Wes Durham

by sportsfan4life2012 on Jan 30, 2012 1:15 PM EST reply actions

Several mocks have Boykin and Charles as 3rd rounders

So us getting one or both of them (though highly unlikely) is not impossible. As far as DT, Babs and Peters did not offer much in the pass rush department so this is an area I really hope we address.

by leonw92 on Jan 30, 2012 1:47 PM EST up reply actions

leonw92

Yes, Laron may be a bargain as he holistically recovers from the injury.

And yes Grimes is 28 now but in his next contract he will approach the wrong side of 30.

On the DT front, Walker is gone as he costs more than his value. We need a stud up front and wouldn’t mind the DT form the Dolphins either.

by crack of the bat on Jan 30, 2012 2:49 PM EST reply actions

I’d like to bring in Finnegan assuming we lose Grimey. Carl Nicks would be wonderful but I don’t really see that happening. I agree with all of your in house decisions but I really don’t want Landry. I consider William Moore a poor mans Landry but the problem is they both are always hurt so we don’t want multiple back ups starting on a regular basis. I also don’t think we need to blow our second round pick on a tight end we could just sign someone to block and we could get a better receiving tight end in the later rounds.

by Falconzfan284 on Jan 30, 2012 3:57 PM EST reply actions

Finnergan slap fights

I seem to remember a similar maturity level in a DB MeHall that played for the Falcons and drove his own car to game since he couldn’t get “on the bus”. I think Finnergan is a good player but probably not gonna pass the Falcons filter with his antics.

by crack of the bat on Jan 30, 2012 6:51 PM EST reply actions

If boykin is on the board when we pick then we have to take him.

He was one of the best athletes in college ball during his stint. Put him in as a returner and CB.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Jan 31, 2012 6:00 PM EST via mobile reply actions

I think your numbers...

are a little low on the re-signings and as far as help on the OL I would much rather sign Nicks. THIS guy has the fire and attitude we need on that line and he would walk in being the leader of the group!!

"I'd run over my own mother to win the Super Bowl." - Joe Jacoby, formerly of the Redskins
"To win, I'd run over Joe's mom too." - Matt Millen, formerly of the Raiders

"We now have exactly the same situation as we had at the start of the race, only exactly the opposite" - Murray Walker, Sportscaster

by Blood_Talon on Jan 31, 2012 6:27 PM EST reply actions

Trade Turner, Roddy White, and Matt Ryan to Indy for the Colts' first pick.

Re-sign Grimes. HD. Release Dunta. Let Weems walk. Bye Bye Baker. Sayonara Lofton – he’s too weak in coverage and is a BIG reason the defense hasn’t been able to get off the field.

The locker room was not cohesive last year. One would think the newcomers had something to do with it. . . along with a disgruntled Clabo (should have kept Dahl instead), so don’t be surprised if Ray Edwards wears a different uniform next year.

Demetrius Bell would be a good signing but Buffalo will franchise him if they can’t work out a long term deal.

Laron Landry is a SS, William Moore’s position. Falcons need a stud FS and DeCoud is not he.

The most interesting camp battle will be between Svitek and Andrew Jackson for starting LT.

by DBFalcon on Feb 3, 2012 6:53 PM EST reply actions

honestly...

I hope that you are being satirical here. Trading Matt Ryan, the face of our franchise at the moment, the QB of our team’s future, is one of the most ludicrous ideas I have seen on this site yet. Especially for an untested draft pick. Plus his proven weapon Roddy White. “Yeah Let’s just help somebody else out.” Sorry dude I don’t agree with your post on this at all. Plus Lofton is a good all-around LB. He is a team leader. It is kind of like Ray Lewis and the Ravens, he may not be the most skilled LB out there but he is what is best for this team and what works for this team.

by that_falcon_fan on Feb 3, 2012 11:55 PM EST up reply actions