2015 FA Thread - OP Updated - Signings: Paea, Knighton, Culliver, Johnson, McCoy, Hill, Goldson

[DogofWar1]

So, I saw this guy on FB ask "what if Fitzgerald came to the Skins" [some exclamation marks omitted], and got to thinking about it.

 

So, to commemorate the rumors that Larry Fitzgerald might leave Arizona and the "expanded role" AJ Smith will play...

 

[Skinsinparadise]

The front office have been finding people. It's the coaches to put these guys into the right scheme.  If you listen to the redskins, they always talk about developing a good team, but never developing a solid organization. That's the problem. The scouts have no idea what the coaches are looking for and vice versa. 

 

I recall when they drafted Josh Leribeus in the third round, all the collective draft geeks wondered who?  Most had him rated as an undrafted FA, to a lessor degree the same thing happened with Spencer Long this year in the third.   While am not in love with this coaching staff, I don't have a lot of faith in the FO in the draft especially in the later rounds.  It would be one thing if one coaching staff struck out but under Scott Campbell if I recall he had 4 coaching staffs over his tenure. 

 

Unless am forgetting someone, the last hits with the O line in the draft after the first round goes as far back as Jansen. 

[carex]

I recall when they drafted Josh Leribeus in the third round, all the collective draft geeks wondered who?  Most had him rated as an undrafted FA, to a lessor degree the same thing happened with Spencer Long this year in the third.   While am not in love with this coaching staff, I don't have a lot of faith in the FO in the draft especially in the later rounds.  It would be one thing if one coaching staff struck out but under Scott Campbell if I recall he had 4 coaching staffs over his tenure. 

 

Unless am forgetting someone, the last hits with the O line in the draft after the first round goes as far back as Jansen. 

 

Leribeus was rated 3rd to 5th round from what I saw

 

And Derrick Dockery was a third round pick

[worldpost]

I'm sure this has been posted before.. but here you go  credit John Keim  ESPN..

 

Unrestricted: 

Colt McCoy, QB 
Leonard Hankerson, WR 
Santana Moss, WR 
Niles Paul, TE 
Roy Helu, RB 
Tyler Polumbus, OL 
Jarvis Jenkins, DE 
Chris Neild, NT 
Brian Orakpo, LB 
E.J. Biggers, CB 
Ryan Clark, FS 
Brandon Meriweather, SS 

Restricted: 

Trenton Robinson, FS 
Kai Forbath, PK 
Justin Rogers, CB

[Long n Left]

From above list, I'd not even offer Hank, Moss, Polumbus, Biggers, Clark, or Meriweather.

The others should not command high dollars outside of Orakpo. And I would only offer him a short term, cap friendly contract.

[JamesMadisonSkins]

Read Rich Tandler's article on cap space and got to thinking ... wtf are we doing that other teams aren't? 

How do the Colts, Bengals and Broncos have so much cap room?

 

I get it ... the teams with $40+ million in space are all awful ... Raiders, Titans, Jags, etc. But how are they fielding rosters with that much space? Why are we always up against the cap? How were we $30 million under the cap last year heading into FA yet we still "barely" got through the season under the cap and still went 4-12? I get some of that was DeSean Jackson and the Hatcher deal ... but otherwise we just pieced together scraps ... Andre Roberts ... Tracey Porter ... Shawn Lavao? How the hell did we get away with that?

 

I just don't understand it. 

 

Obviously some of this is the product of bad drafting and not having really any ability to add through the draft over the last few years ... so that's part 1 ... and having to compensate via FA by overpaying what you would be spending on rookie deals ... but I still can't see it.

 

I guess we have a lot of money tied up in Garcon, Cofield, Bowen, Hall, Lavao and Chester .... but there aren't players on this roster getting paid $10+ million outside of Trent ... so how is it possible that a 4 win team has so much in committed salaries?! Ugh.

[steve09ru]

Booo

Before Garcon last year and Jackson this year Hank was this teams most productive WR. I understand if your saying that his health concerns dont warrent signing but not his production. I would post the numbers but you can look them up yourself

Grant does not give us anything we dont already have. He is 6 foot tall, and Hank is 2 inches taller. This team needs a big body WR. So either they sign Hank or they draft someone. With the multiple issues on the team it makes more sense to sign him then to draft someone. They cant continue to not have a red zone threat receiver and thats exactly what Gruden needs. IMO

Are these the stats you are talking about?

 

2011 - 13 for 163 and 0 tds (4 games)

2012 - 38 for 543 and 3 tds (16 games)

2013 - 30 for 375 and 3 tds (10 games)

[darrelgreenie]

We haven't built and developed through the draft.

So were paying people millions through FA when other teams are paying ~500,000 from the same production from draft picks.

I think of FA signing as paying for a "developed" player because we can't/haven't successfully developed their position. It's okay for a couple of key position for a team that is set at other positions....but it's an ineffective way to " build" a team.

[Master Blaster]

I recall when they drafted Josh Leribeus in the third round, all the collective draft geeks wondered who?  Most had him rated as an undrafted FA, to a lessor degree the same thing happened with Spencer Long this year in the third.   While am not in love with this coaching staff, I don't have a lot of faith in the FO in the draft especially in the later rounds.  It would be one thing if one coaching staff struck out but under Scott Campbell if I recall he had 4 coaching staffs over his tenure. 

 

Unless am forgetting someone, the last hits with the O line in the draft after the first round goes as far back as Jansen. 

 

 

The FO definitely seem to act like the "smartest guys in the room" when making some of these picks, yet they never pan out....

Tre Johnson sprung to mind.  I think he was after Jansen.  Maybe not though.  I agree with your overall point.

[Est.1974]

Read Rich Tandler's article on cap space and got to thinking ... wtf are we doing that other teams aren't? 

How do the Colts, Bengals and Broncos have so much cap room?

 

I get it ... the teams with $40+ million in space are all awful ... Raiders, Titans, Jags, etc. But how are they fielding rosters with that much space? Why are we always up against the cap? How were we $30 million under the cap last year heading into FA yet we still "barely" got through the season under the cap and still went 4-12? I get some of that was DeSean Jackson and the Hatcher deal ... but otherwise we just pieced together scraps ... Andre Roberts ... Tracey Porter ... Shawn Lavao? How the hell did we get away with that?

 

I just don't understand it.

Brian Orakpo

[JamesMadisonSkins]

Brian Orakpo

Forgot about that tag. Makes a little more sense. Still ...

 

I guess we're at the back-end of quite a few long-term/backloaded deals as well. Garcon/Cofield/Bowen/Chester I think account for something like $30 million.

[Est.1974]

Forgot about that tag. Makes a little more sense. Still ...

 

I guess we're at the back-end of quite a few long-term/backloaded deals as well. Garcon/Cofield/Bowen/Chester I think account for something like $30 million.

This year we've got Trent at about 14mil and Kerrigan about 7mil.

I hope we extend both this offseason.

[GhostofAlvinWalton]

Read Rich Tandler's article on cap space and got to thinking ... wtf are we doing that other teams aren't? 

How do the Colts, Bengals and Broncos have so much cap room?

 

I get it ... the teams with $40+ million in space are all awful ... Raiders, Titans, Jags, etc. But how are they fielding rosters with that much space? Why are we always up against the cap? How were we $30 million under the cap last year heading into FA yet we still "barely" got through the season under the cap and still went 4-12? I get some of that was DeSean Jackson and the Hatcher deal ... but otherwise we just pieced together scraps ... Andre Roberts ... Tracey Porter ... Shawn Lavao? How the hell did we get away with that?

 

I just don't understand it. 

 

Obviously some of this is the product of bad drafting and not having really any ability to add through the draft over the last few years ... so that's part 1 ... and having to compensate via FA by overpaying what you would be spending on rookie deals ... but I still can't see it.

 

I guess we have a lot of money tied up in Garcon, Cofield, Bowen, Hall, Lavao and Chester .... but there aren't players on this roster getting paid $10+ million outside of Trent ... so how is it possible that a 4 win team has so much in committed salaries?! Ugh.

 

Don't over think it...it's just part 1.

 

Every team has super high paid players.  The Skins have been bringing in Gs/CBs/DL/WR - two at a time...plus signing multiple guys to play ST.  That will kill your cap.  At least half of those positions need to be filled by drafted players.

[DC9]

I'll update the futures in the OP when I get home from work today

 

[ToaCommander]

I thought we also signed Isaako Aaitui (DT) to a future contract. Must have misread the article on facebook.

[darrelgreenie]

Self Scout Defense Projection: (Okie)

 

CB1-Amerson-2nd year-Below average (sophmore slump or true colors?)

CB2-Bashaud Breeland-Rookie-Serviceable Average

FS-None

SS-None

 

OLB1-Ryan Kerrigan-Pro-Bowl Caliber

RDE-Jason Hatcher-Above Average (but old)

WILB-Keenan Robinson-Average Starter

NT-Cofeild-Poor this year due to injury but average to above average when healthy

SILB-Perry Riley-Serviceable Starter

LDE-Chris Baker-Serviceable Starter

OLB2-Trent Murphy- Serviceable Starter

 

Nickel Package-

NB-None

DL Pass Rush Specialist-None

[carex]

This year we've got Trent at about 14mil and Kerrigan about 7mil.

I hope we extend both this offseason.

 

 

it would be great, though I don't know if we can lower Kerrigan's cap number.  He's on the option year of his rookie contract

I thought we also signed Isaako Aaitui (DT) to a future contract. Must have misread the article on facebook.

 

that was the first wave when we signed most of the guys off the practice squad. 

 

we've got a big receiver, a big bod for the nose and a Cromartie for the secondary.  Maybe some of this years street free agents can do something

[DC9]

I thought we also signed Isaako Aaitui (DT) to a future contract. Must have misread the article on facebook.

 

Nope, you were right.

 

Last week, the Redskins announced the signing of eight players to Reserve/Future contracts, including:

• NT Isaako Aaitui
• T Edawn Coughman
• TE Chase Dixon
• TE Je'Ron Hamm
• WR Colin Lockett
• WR Rashad Ross
• NT Robert Thomas
• CB Trey Wolfe

[MartinC]

Cofield is a 4-3 DT; which he was with the Giants

 

I don't think people really understand the differences and similarities between a 4-3 front and a 3-4 front - in terms both of fronts and roles within fronts. I'd argue there are a lot more similarities than differences and the real difference is between playing 1 gap or 2 gap.

 

So lets take Cofield. In a 4-3 you have two DTs one who normally lines up in a 1 technique (inside shoulder of the guard) and a 3 technique (outside shoulder of the other guard). Cofield played both roles with the Giants in their 4-3 but was probably more often in a 3 technique than 1 technique. The 3 technique is more of penetrating pass rush get in the backfield role.

 

In a 3-4 you have a NT who plays zero (head up on the centre) or a 1 technique. Then two DEs who normally play 3 or 5 technique (5 technique is head up on the tackle). If your 2 gapping then you will more see players head up (0 and 5) if your 1 gapping you will see more shading (1,3, and 4 techniques - 4 being inside shoulder of the tackle)

 

So for Cofield in our 3-4 he often lines up in a 1 or 3 technique just like he did in a 4-3. Many of us have been arguing for a while that the problem with how we have used Cofield is we have used him mainly in zero or 1 NT in our base 3-4 when many feel he would have been much more disruptive and effective lined up as a 3 or 5 technique DE. 

 

Its much more about the 1 gap versus 2 gap and the specific role within the scheme than the odd or even front IMO.

 

Cofield can still play a role IMO as a 5 in the base set moving to a 3 or 1 when we go nickel. Whether that role and production are worth his cap hit and salary is another matter. Even with him and Hatcher we need to get younger and better along that front.

[JamesMadisonSkins]

Some interesting things I found from the roster breakdown:

48 players currently under contract - $122 million ... Top 5 position groups ...

1. Wide Receiver: $23.72 million for 5 contracts

2. Defensive End: $15.15 million for 4 contracts

3. Offensive Tackle: $14.275 million for 2 contracts ($13.7 million Trent)

4. Nose Tackle: $10.677 million for 2 contracts 

5. Offensive Guard: $10.66 million for 5 contracts

 

Very easy to shed money via re-structures, extensions and releases. One area that might be interesting is Wide Receiver. We can't move Jackson, as he has nearly $12m in dead money and I think we want to keep him. Garcon has $4.4m in dead money if we cut him but would free up $5m. Likely could reach a restructure there as well, lowering his number significantly. Roberts has $3m in dead money and would only free up $750k if cut. It's certainly an expensive position ... and even #3 WRs can demand quite a bit of money ... so it's hard to complain even about Roberts $3.75m hit. Garcon's needs to come down a bit though.

 

Otherwise, just cut the dead weight. Once you get down past Darrel Young and Nick Sundberg (making about $1.1m range), every player on the current roster of 48 (so the bottom 27 or so players) make less than $800k a year. Those are the guys you need to build this roster around, i.e. cheap draft picks. Unfortunately most of the guys we currently have on the roster aren't capable and simply placeholders.

[carex]

just because they're cheap doesn't mean they can be built around.  Some are guys brought in to fill roster spots after injuries

 

As for Roberts, I wonder if Arizona would take him back.  I've seen several players over the years leave one team, not do well and then end up back on their original team where their performance improves.

[JamesMadisonSkins]

just because they're cheap doesn't mean they can be built around.  Some are guys brought in to fill roster spots after injuries

 

As for Roberts, I wonder if Arizona would take him back.  I've seen several players over the years leave one team, not do well and then end up back on their original team where their performance improves.

I just don't think Roberts got much of a shot this year, between the QB issues and being behind Jackson and Garcon. He could still do well here.

[darrelgreenie]

Self Scout Offense Projection:

 

WR1-DeSean Jackson- Above Average Starter

WR2-Garcon-Serviceable Starter

WR3-Roberts-Below Average Starter

 

TE1-Jordan Reed-Serviceable Starter

TE2-Niles Paul-Serviceable Starter

TE3-Logan Paulsen-Below Average

 

LT-Silverback-Pro Bowl Caliber

LG-Lauvao-Below Average Starter

C-Kory Lichtensteiger-Above Average Starter

RG-Chris Chester-Below Average Starter

RT-Compton-Poor

 

QB- Griffin/Cousins/McCoy-If you have 3 QBs you don't have 1. But this isn't a position to upgrade via FA its a position to fix internally.

RB-Alfred Morris-Near Pro-Bowl Caliber

[carex]

Garcon is servicable?  A season after having over 100 catches.

 

Your standards are to high

[darrelgreenie]

Garcon is servicable?  A season after having over 100 catches.

 

Your standards are too high

I weigh my assessment heavily on this season more then the previous 2 seasons. This season Garcon's production is in the small tier as some rookies and players like Brandon LaFell, Kenny Brit, Mo Sanu. Weighing heavily on last year would boost players like Barry Cofield who was top 10 in QB hurries.

I could see a bump to Average Starter but not much more.