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  • in reply to: Wagoner, mailbag parts 1 & 2 … 3/12-13 #40549
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    Looking at next step for Rams in free agency

    Nick Wagoner

    http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/27587/looking-at-the-next-step-for-rams-in-free-agency

    EARTH CITY, Mo. — The offseason is here for the Los Angeles Rams, and now that we know where they’ll be playing their home games for the long-term, things have settled down enough to spend our weekends answering a few of your Twitter questions.

    As always, you can find me on Twitter @nwagoner and fire away with any Rams-related questions you might have. Please use hashtag #RamsMail so I can see them.

    On to your questions.

    WineGuyDavid ‎@WineguydavidCom
    @nwagoner Snead said re-signing DB’s was #1 priority. I would say he failed since we lost 2 starters. What’s his next priority?

    @nwagoner: There’s no doubt the Rams were disappointed to lose Janoris Jenkins and Rodney McLeod. Both were players they wanted back, though I believed (and wrote) that Mark Barron and William Hayes were highest on the priority list after the team put the franchise tag on Trumaine Johnson. So the Rams didn’t completely fail in that they were able to keep three of their top five targets. They also probably had a good idea that they would lose the cornerback they didn’t tag given what the market would bring and were prepared to do that given their depth at the position. Again, that’s not to say that Jenkins’ loss won’t be felt. That’s an important loss and we still need to see how E.J. Gaines bounces back from injury. McLeod’s departure might be harder to cope with since solid free safeties who can play single-high coverage as much as he did are hard to find. I got the feeling his price just went beyond what the Rams were comfortable spending. As of Friday, the Rams had about $25 million in cap space with about $8-10 million of that set aside for a draft class and injury contingencies. We’re also past the first wave of free agency, which means now is the time to find potential bargains and players with something to prove. It’s how the Rams landed defensive tackle Nick Fairley last year. They have needs for depth all across the defense, and could use substantial help at quarterback, receiver and tight end. Given what’s left on the market, the depth is more likely to be found than the substantial help. It’s also possible the Rams could use some of that money to sign players they want to keep who aren’t free agents yet, such as linebacker Alec Ogletree and defensive tackle Michael Brockers.

    Victor Aldaco ‎@VAS039
    @nwagoner between Joyner, Davis and Alexander, who do you see taking McLeod’s spot? Or does it get filled early in the draft?

    @nwagoner: The early read on this year’s draft is that it actually has a pretty solid amount of free safety options, so it would seem that’s probably the first place to look for a potential replacement for McLeod. I broke down the in-house and free-agent options the other day in this piece. Cody Davis is the closest thing to a true free safety on the roster, and it’s possible they will take a look at him there. The thing the Rams have working for them is that defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is excellent at adapting to the players he has rather than trying to force square pegs into round holes. He can figure out the best 11 guys he has and figure out a way to get them on the field together. I don’t get the impression that want to move Lamarcus Joyner based on head coach Jeff Fisher’s comments in the past, though I suppose that could change. I’m sure they will be taking a long look at the draft prospects at that position over the course of the next month and a half.

    in reply to: Demoff, "Rams have been really crappy in free agency" #40548
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    Maybe it is his way of blaming his minions, cause he was away working on other things? But, then his minions work for him. I read that there was someone else doing a lot of the contract work.

    I don’t think it was the contracts per se. I think that’s just a substitute term for signing the player, and the issue is the player. So I signed a lot of bad contracts to me just means we signed a lot of bad players.

    in reply to: Demoff, "Rams have been really crappy in free agency" #40545
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    after quarterback Sam Bradford tore his ACL for the second straight year during a 2014 preseason game in Cleveland. Demoff “jumped on a plane” the next morning for San Francisco for a meeting about stadium development at the Hollywood Park site in Inglewood. Because the Rams’ season was “about to be a trainwreck,” Demoff welcomed the opportunity to “focus on something else.”

    I will say, we’ve been really crappy in free agency. I’ve written a lot of bad deals. We just haven’t found a lot of success in free agency. And so I think there’s a buyer beware in all of that, in terms of going out and buying other people’s players, that we just haven’t figured out.

    Well, it’s the exact opposite of Zygmunt, but, I have this wince-filled feeling he is being TOO forthright.

    in reply to: Demoff, "Rams have been really crappy in free agency" #40544
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    Rams COO: Move to LA in the works since summer of 2013

    By Ron Clements

    http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl-news/4698245-rams-move-to-los-angeles-team-coo-kevin-demoff-tells-high-school-students-decision-made-september-2014

    The Rams decided to move back to Los Angeles before the 2014 season, according to team executive Kevin Demoff.

    Demoff, the executive vice president of football operations and chief operating officer, spoke March 1 at Harvard-Westlake High School in the northwest L.A. suburb of Studio City. He said the franchise’s official announcement on Jan. 12 “was two-and-half years in the making.”

    Demoff, who was a senior at Harvard-Westlake when the Rams moved from Los Angeles to St. Louis in 1995, admitted to being “guarded” during his web-streamed presentation, but said he would privately tell those interested the “unadulterated truth.”

    Demoff gave the same presentation he gave to the NFL in January. He began by explaining the process, which began with an early morning phone call from owner Stan Kroenke in the summer of 2013. Demoff was in St. Louis for training camp when he got a call from Kroenke, who said he was driving around possible sites near Hollywood Park in Inglewood.

    “When you get a call from your boss at 7:15 and you know they’re on the West Coast, it’s either something really great or you’re going to be fired,” Demoff said. “He said, ‘This is an unbelievable site. Do we think this can really happen?'”

    Following a two-hour conversation, Demoff said it was the first time he believed a move back to Los Angeles “could really happen.” Kroenke purchased a 60-acre portion of land in the area in January of 2014, beating a bid from the NFL. The Rams then “very quietly” began exploring options to acquire the other 240 acres in Hollywood Park.

    Demoff blamed the city of St. Louis for not upgrading the Edward Jones Dome into a first-tier stadium by the end of the 2014 season, meaning the Rams “became a free agent in March of 2015.”

    But the Rams had already begun piecing together the project in April of 2014. Demoff and Kroenke met in Denver that summer with other investors and the HKS architectural firm that was “stealthily” brought in to build the football stadium in the 298 acres of land Kroenke now owned.

    By the end of that meeting, the decision to move back to Los Angeles was essentially made. Demoff said the motto over the next two years was, “Do not undersell this opportunity. You only have one chance to move back to Los Angeles and only one chance to do it right.”

    “We were starting to see this thing come to fruition,” Demoff said. “We worked on this for months and months.”

    Demoff even used the L.A. stadium project as a distraction after quarterback Sam Bradford tore his ACL for the second straight year during a 2014 preseason game in Cleveland. Demoff “jumped on a plane” the next morning for San Francisco for a meeting about stadium development at the Hollywood Park site in Inglewood. Because the Rams’ season was “about to be a trainwreck,” Demoff welcomed the opportunity to “focus on something else.” The Rams went 6-10 in 2014 and finished their St. Louis tenure with a 7-9 campaign last season.

    By September of 2014, the NFL had created its Los Angeles committee and in November of 2014, the first official presentation was made to the league in a meeting in Atlanta that also included the Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers. The Rams tried to move to L.A. for the 2015 season, but were blocked by the league — but the process was well on its way.

    Demoff praised Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones for being one of the project’s “champions” to get the move done.

    “It was a tremendous opportunity for the NFL and I was fortunate enough to work for Stan Kroenke, who had a tremendous vision in how we could bring the NFL back to Los Angeles and solve this riddle of 20 years,” Demoff added. “He was the first person to have the team, have the real estate acumen to get it done, pair those two and then we could go to the league and say, ‘This is what we can do for you.'”

    Demoff admitted relocating an NFL franchise is necessarily difficult, but was happy to be the “storyteller with a terrific vision” to pitch to the league.

    in reply to: Rams retain Sims #40541
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    Rams re-sign Eugene Sims

    Josh Alper

    Rams re-sign Eugene Sims

    The Rams re-signed defensive end William Hayes early in free agency and they’re holding onto another member of their defensive line as well.

    Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the Rams have re-signed defensive end Eugene Sims. It’s a three-year deal worth up to $10 million with $3.75 million in guaranteed money.

    Sims joined the Rams as a sixth-round pick in the 2010 draft and has been a regular in the lineup since his rookie season. He appeared in 13 games last year, starting nine times, and had 24 tackles, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and an interception. He has 9.5 sacks over his entire career.

    The Rams now have Hayes and Sims to go with Robert Quinn at the top of the depth chart at defensive end. They released Chris Long before free agency.

    in reply to: Demoff, "Rams have been really crappy in free agency" #40535
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    Los Angeles Rams: Hesitancy in Free Agency a Result Of Being “Really Crappy” In It, Says Demoff

    By Brandon Bate Mar 13

    http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2016/3/13/11213878/los-angeles-rams-2016-nfl-free-agency-demoff-says-rams-are-crappy

    Los Angeles Rams’ COO Kevin Demoff was recently at his former high school, Harvard-Westlake School, giving what was, essentially, the same presentation on the Inglewood project that he’d provided at the NFL Owners meetings.

    The majority of the presentation, which lasted an hour and 26 minutes, was simply Demoff speaking on the how the project came to be, the stadium and it’s amenities, and what’s in store for the team until it’s built.

    The last few moments [starting at the 58:00 mark] were a Q&A with the audience, and the questions were not relegated to their move to Los Angeles or the stadium.

    Demoff spoke openly about the Rams’ approach to free agency this year, and provided some insight on why they’ve not been so active in the early goings:

    What Was The Plan To Spend $60 mil?

    We have a lot of free agents of our own that we’re trying to re-sign. We always planned – when we started this process – that with the youngest team in the NFL, when it came up for contracts, we wanted to be able to re-sign all our own. So of our $60M, almost all of it is earmarked for our own guys.

    What About Next Year?

    [And then] starting to re-sign Tavon Austin and Michael Brockers. Aaron Donald, when he comes up, is not going to be cheap, and I don’t even have to preface that by saying it. He knows it, I know it. We all know it.
    Really, most of our money, because we have $60M this year…right now we’re scheduled to have about $75M next year, all of it is so we can re-sign our own guys, and keep drafting and developing and moving forward.

    Why So Quiet In Free Agency This Year?

    I will say, we’ve been really crappy in free agency. I’ve written a lot of bad deals. We just haven’t found a lot of success in free agency. And so I think there’s a buyer beware in all of that, in terms of going out and buying other people’s players, that we just haven’t figured out.

    When Might The Rams Start Making Move in Free Agency?

    When you get in the second wave, and I’ll say the one thing at the Combine last week, the number of agents that came up to us and said ‘my guy really wants to play in Los Angeles,’ and it was a player we’d never considered, we plan to take full advantage of that.

    Once the first wave kind of starts, players who are looking for a home who want to be here, we’ll be aggressive in going after them and trying to get them come. But in terms of other free agents, I wouldn’t expect a ton from us.

    Any Interest In A Free Agent Quarterback?

    My favorite free agent quarterback is Case Keenum.

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    You know that thing where some links turn into a box that adverts the source?

    Some people don’t mind it in their posts when they post, some do.

    YOu can get rid of it though if you don’t. The link just has to be on the same line with some text. (For example, I write “link”).

    Example

    with text

    link: http://fansided.com/2016/03/03/2016-nfl-free-agency-will-zach-miller-sign/

    without

    2016 NFL free agency: Who will Zach Miller sign with?

    That of course is up to the poster, which one they would rather do or if they care at all either way

    .

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    http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago-bears/post/_/id/4702199/tight-end-zach-miller-scheduled-to-visit-rams

    Miller has familiarity with several members of the Rams’ coaching staff. Los Angeles hired former Bears wide receivers coach Mike Groh to be its passing game coordinator/receivers coach, while Rams offensive coordinator Rob Boras, used to coach tight ends in Jacksonville.

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    AND

    new offensive coach Mike Groh came to the Rams from Chicago

    in reply to: tweets for 3/12… RG3, #40509
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    Don’t recall if this one was posted?

    Jim Thomas ‏@jthom1 Mar 11
    The 2-year deal for Rams safety Cody Davis is worth $2.91 million, w/805K guaranteed; it can max out to $5.1 million w/incentives, escalator

    in reply to: 10 Cloverfield Lane #40506
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    Isn’t this a sequel? The first “Cloverfield”

    No not a sequel. It’s not made by the same people and does not take place in the same fictional universe. In fact they’re not very much alike. The title of this one is just a deliberate homage to the earlier one.

    in reply to: 10 Cloverfield Lane #40502
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    Documentaries don’t interest me that much, frankly.

    I felt the same way when I saw Close Encounters.

    in reply to: Foles gets a 6 M roster bonus today #40498
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    His entire salary is guaranteed tomorrow. He might get cut today. That would save the Rams 1 million.

    Plus give them 12+ M in 2017, which would help with any remaining signings.

    in reply to: Rams retain Sims #40493
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    Great move by the Rams to retain a key part of that DL rotation.

    I dunno. I wasn’t impressed by Sims last year. Once he entered the regular rotation to replace Quinn, IMO he got exposed. He can make plays, it seems to me, when he is a rotational guy who can play with some energy because he doesn’t have to pace himself. Once he was out there for multiple snaps, he was lacking. JF even referred to him as “improving”…which is a bad sign for a 5 year vet (which he was last year). 1.5 sacks in 9 starts? I think if he had that much to offer, he would have gotten snapped up in free agency.

    in reply to: former Rams in free agency (Barksdale, JL, Givens, etc.) #40491
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    Free agent LB James Laurinaitis has scheduled visits with seven teams.

    The news was delivered by Laurinaitis’ dad, aka Animal from the Road Warriors of WWE fame. Laurinaitis has already visited the Saints, will visit the Falcons early next week, and also has visits scheduled with the Bears, Redskins, Patriots, 49ers and Giants. A durable veteran, Laurinaitis should be able to latch on somewhere soon.

    http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/5220/james-laurinaitis

    in reply to: reporters assess/discuss Rams free agency … 3/9- ? #40490
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    We could talk about if we should have kept Mcleod or not. In the end, we have numbers at safety.

    1. Rodney McLeod, FS, Eagles
    Five years, $37 million ($17 million guaranteed)
    Quietly for the past two years with the Rams, McLeod has been the rangiest centerfield safety in football not named Earl Thomas. His speed translates as effectively east and west as it does north and south. And when he goes north and south, he’s a willing and able hitter. Coaches who have to scheme against McLeod have told me they think he’s in Thomas’s class.

    Benoit is good, but, then he’s good at seeing things. I am not sure how much McCleod he watched. Compare what he says to this stuff from 2012:


    note: this is from Mike Franke’s archive. Mike summarizes/condenses all available info on Rams draft picks and UDFAs each draft. This is part of his 2012 report on McLeod.

    Sunday, July 8, 2012

    Rookie free agent profile: Rodney McLeod, DB, Virginia

    Rodney McLeod 5’10” 183
    DB, Virginia

    http://ramview.blogspot.com/2012/07/rookie-free-agent-profile-rodney-mcleod.html

    Sources: Pro Football Weekly, NFLDraftScout, University of Virginia athletics, Sports Illustrated, College2Pro.com, Tom Melton Scouting, Ourlads

    Pro day stats: (NFL Combine DB averages in parentheses)
    4.60 40 (4.59)
    1.55 10-yard split (1.56)
    36.5” vertical jump (Would have been in top 10 DBs at Combine. Average: 34.5”)
    10’1″ broad jump (10’0″)
    6.50 3-cone drill (Would have been best time at the Combine by a DB. Average: 6.92)
    4.12 20-yard shuttle (4.16)
    15 bench press (16)

    Positives: Tough, physical, aggressive and always around the ball. Strong competitive streak. Plays faster than his timed speed. Has fluid hips, good feet and a smooth backpedal. Reads plays well and doesn’t blow assignments. Good instincts, gets to the outside well to make plays and battles hard to defend passes. Good wrap-up tackler who breaks down well. Good short-area quickness, good deep speed, good lateral quickness. Excellent hand-eye coordination. Has some potential as a zone DB.

    Negatives: Undersized and athletically limited. Struggles in man coverage. Doesn’t locate the ball well and is usually a half-second late making a play. Lacks a good closing burst. Looks good in practice but it doesn’t translate to the field. Had a bad missed tackle to give up a TD in the Shrine Game. Multiple knee injuries.

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    in reply to: Free agency around the league #40478
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    Pete Prisco

    http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/pete-prisco/25512333/quarterback-roulette-teams-without-sustainable-qbs-are-in-full-panic-mode

    More Musings

    Chicago Bears
    One of the things I like about the Bears signing of Cardinals tackle Bobby Massie is that it allows Kyle Long to go back to guard. He did a nice job at right tackle last season, but he was kind of thrown into it. He is a dominant guard. Massie will play right tackle next to Long. They know each other well from working out together at OLine Academy in Arizona, the place run by former NFL player LeCharles Bentley. Long was thrown in at right tackle last year in camp, and made the most of it. But back at guard he should again become one of the best at his position.

    Cincinnati Bengals
    Mohamed Sanu was the third receiver for the Bengals, a good player but not much more than that. Yet the receiver-needy Falcons gave him a five-year, $32.5-million deal Thursday that will make him the No. 2 receiver opposite Julio Jones. Sanu can do a lot of things — including throw it and run it on reverses — but that’s a lot of money to pay a third receiver with hopes he can be a No. 2. Keep an eye on Justin Hardy, who didn’t do a lot as a rookie last season but has a lot of potential.

    Oakland Raiders
    The Raiders badly needed help at corner and signing Sean Smith gives them a nice player who can play press-man. Smith isn’t a star, but the Raiders need a lead corner on their defense, and he will fill that role. I like the signing for Oakland, which is putting together a nice, young team. The Raiders are coming fast.

    Kansas City Chiefs
    The league slapping tampering penalties against the Chiefs is a joke. Every team does it. To single out one team is terrible. The Chiefs got caught tampering with receiver Jeremy Maclin last year, and will lose two draft picks because of it. One is a third this year. That’s absurd in a league where every team tampers.

    in reply to: reporters assess/discuss Rams free agency … 3/9- ? #40477
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    MMQB

    Evaluating the Opening Free-Agent Moves

    Andy Benoit

    http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/03/11/evaluating-nfl-free-agency-osweiler-daniel-forte

    Our film maven examines the quarterback fallout (Kaepernick to Denver? Daniel as Philly’s starter?), the big-money plays, the top bargains so far and the best of who’s still out there

    First things first: Let’s not get too caught up in analyzing the financial windfalls of this year’s free agents. NFL contracts, and especially ones from the 32-team open market, are inflating rapidly due to salary cap growth. Compare these new salaries to the existing salaries across most NFL rosters, and it will appear almost every free agent has been overpaid.
    But we can still compare contracts between players who were signed this year. We’ll do some of that. But the main point of this article is to shine light on the acquisitions that are most important from a pure football standpoint. Naturally, we’ll start with….

    The Quarterbacks

    Brock Osweiler’s caution flag

    Starting quarterbacks who are barely old enough to rent a car at regular price are almost never obtained in free agency. The Texans are hoping they’ve found theirs in Brock Osweiler, 25. Their leadership brass will talk about how Osweiler was the guy they wanted all along and how they believe he has all the tools, etc. etc. In truth, a meaningful portion of this move was made on conjecture. Osweiler has made only seven NFL starts since being drafted in the second round by Denver in 2012. In those starts, he had a few more ups than downs, but his performance was also slanted by the defensively driven Broncos’ conservative offensive approach.

    Houston, too, has a top-tier defense. It’s not Denver’s D, but it was enough to carry the Texans to an AFC South title. Maybe coach Bill O’Brien believes he can win while keeping a leash on Osweiler—at least early on. O’Brien’s quick-strike passing game and zone-intensive rushing attack are conducive to quarterback leashing.

    Nevertheless, there’s still a large red flag with Osweiler, which is that the Broncos weren’t willing to spend big for him. They reportedly offered $16 million a year, $2 million less than the Texans and almost $4 million less than the QB franchise tag value. (They used their tag on Von Miller.) Never would an NFL team that’s entirely sold on a young quarterback let him get away for the difference of $2 million. That Denver did is telling, because unlike the Texans, the Broncos did not have to rely on much conjecture in evaluating Osweiler. They’ve seen him in practice and in the film room for four years. Ostensibly, they feel he has limitations and flaws.

    This smells like Matt Flynn all over again. Recall that before Flynn signed a three-year, $20 million deal that he never came close to living up to in Seattle, his longtime offensive coordinator with the Packers, Joe Philbin, passed on him in Miami. Philbin knew more about Flynn than anyone. Just as John Elway knew more about Osweiler.

    As for what the Broncos do now….
    I’ll admit, I did not consider the possibility of Colin Kaepernick joining Gary Kubiak’s offense when I wrote last week that Kaepernick would be out of the league before he won another 10 games. I still don’t believe Kaepernick is a quality pro quarterback, but the idea of him in Kubiak’s move-oriented zone scheme gives me some pause. I didn’t anticipate the Broncos letting Osweiler get away. A scheme like Kubiak’s, which features a lot of crossing routes, half-field reads and either-or passing options, can naturally instill discipline in a player. That said, this pertains to the more constricted side of Kubiak’s scheme. To run his full-fledged offense, Ryan Fitzpatrick would make more sense for Kubiak. Fitzpatrick is not necessarily a pro’s pro—he can be erratic in ball placement and decision-making—but he’s still an experienced veteran who’s shown some capacity for consistently playing within the pocket. He’d be a sounder, smarter signing than Kaepernick. (And a much, much sounder, smarter signing than RG3.)

    There’s one more quarterback worth discussing. In fact, he signed …

    The most interesting contract of 2016 free agency

    That’d be Chase Daniel, getting three years and $21 million to be the backup in Philadelphia. That’s an average salary of $7 million. The league’s next highest annual backup salary belongs to Mark Sanchez at $4.5 million (for now; the Daniel deal could mean Sanchez’s termination in Philly). After that, it’s Chad Henne in Jacksonville at $4 million.

    Is Daniel nearly twice as valuable as Henne? Not, not even under an inflated cap. Unless… you’re thinking Daniel might become your starter. New Eagles coach Doug Pederson has said the starting job belongs to Sam Bradford (whom Philly recently re-signed for two years and $36 million. In reality, it’s now a wide-open competition. Daniel, having spent the past three years under Pederson and his schemes in Kansas City, could actually have the edge. This is the inverse of Denver’s Osweiler situation. Pederson knows Daniel better than any other head coach in the league, save for maybe (and only maybe) Andy Reid. The fact that Pederson has invested so heavily in the 29-year-old Daniel speaks volumes.

    That’s all for the quarterbacks (for now). There are plenty of other free agent moves worth highlighting. Let’s start with:

    Best Bang-for-Buck

    1. Rodney McLeod, FS, Eagles
    Five years, $37 million ($17 million guaranteed)
    Quietly for the past two years with the Rams, McLeod has been the rangiest centerfield safety in football not named Earl Thomas. His speed translates as effectively east and west as it does north and south. And when he goes north and south, he’s a willing and able hitter. Coaches who have to scheme against McLeod have told me they think he’s in Thomas’s class.

    2. Cedric Thornton, DL, Cowboys
    Four years, $17 million ($9 million guaranteed)
    The former Eagle has only four sacks in four NFL seasons, so there’s a perception that he’s a lower-tier signing. Not true. On first and second down, Thornton is as good as almost any NFL D-lineman. He has brute strength, lateral mobility and a knack for locating the ball. He can also penetrate against the run. The only hesitation with him in Dallas is, Where does he play along the 4-3 front? As a 3-4 end with the Eagles, Thornton was great because he could two-gap or one-gap, depending on the formation. The only position that calls for two-gapping in a 4-3 scheme such as Rod Marinelli’s is the nose shade. Thornton has never played there full-time, and at 6-3, he might be a tad tall for the role. The other option: playing him at 3-technique, where he’d rotate with Tyrone Crawford on base downs and maybe get a few more nickel pass-rushing opportunities than he did in Philadelphia. However Thornton winds up being used, let’s not lose sight of the bigger picture: The Cowboys got a very good player.

    3. Matt Forte, RB, Jets
    Three years, $12 million ($8 million guaranteed)
    Forte, 30, has yet to slow down as a ball-carrier. He remains a patient, smooth runner with surprisingly deft lateral agility. Considering he’ll get just 12 to 15 rushes a game ahead of Bilal Powell and former Saint Khiry Robinson in New York’s three-back rotation, Forte might stave off Father Time another two or three seasons. Even better: Where he’s most valuable to New York is as a receiver—not just out of the backfield, but split wide. That’s critical in a Jets offense that employs a lot of three- and four-receiver spread sets. In those sets, where the running back lines up determines where the mismatch will be—either for the back himself or for a wideout. A back with diverse receiving skills like Forte makes the mismatch variables more dynamic.

    These are the good bang-for-buck players. But how about the big-money guys, about whom you’re asking…

    Are They Worth It?

    Olivier Vernon, DE, Giants
    Five years, $85 million ($52.5 million guaranteed)
    Is Vernon really worth J.J. Watt money? Of course not. But remember, the contracts have been inflated by the soaring salary cap. So we really should ask: Is Vernon, at $52.5 million guaranteed, that much better than Bruce Irvin at $19 million guaranteed? Irvin, so far, is the only other clear-cut starting edge defender who has garnered a significant long-term deal. (Tamba Hali re-signed with the Chiefs for only three years, Jason Pierre-Paul with the Giants for one. The suspended Aldon Smith is still available. And Mario Williams, who is no longer in any of these players’ class, signed with Miami for two years.)’

    Vernon, 25, is a very fine player. The former Dolphin can bend the corner as a pass rusher, chase down ball-carriers in short areas from behind and, though relatively slight-framed 275 pounds, hold ground at the point of attack in run defense. That said, he’s not three times the player Irvin is. The Giants have been plagued by an awful pass rush the past few seasons. They (desperately) overspent to correct that.

    Malik Jackson, DT, Jaguars
    Six years, $85.5 million ($42 million guaranteed)
    Vernon cashed in because the Giants (and presumably other teams bidding behind the scenes) weren’t comparing him to other edge players in this year’s market. They were comparing him to Malik Jackson, this year’s most expensive interior defensive linemen. Outside defensive lineman will almost always garner more than inside defensive linemen.

    It must also be asked: Is Jackson worth this much? He became the darling of this free-agent class because people saw what an unheralded but crucial piece he was along Denver’s dominant four-man front. He also got progressively better against the run, culminating in an overwhelming first- and second-down performance in Super Bowl 50. The Jaguars run a pure 4-3 scheme with minimal blitzing and lots of stunts and twists along the D-line. Stylistically, Jackson is a perfect fit. That said, it’s healthy to be leery of fast-rising free agents who already have a Super Bowl ring and, now, financial security for their life and that of their children, grandchildren and maybe even great-grandchildren. It’s not fair to speculate whether a player in Jackson’s position will maintain his fire. There’s no evidence from Jackson’s four years in Denver that he won’t. He’s always played hard. But we must take a wait-and-see approach here. Credit to the Jaguars for structuring Jackson’s deal in a safe, responsible fashion. They can get out of it after two years, $31.5 million (there’s another $10.5 million guaranteed for injury).

    Oh, and one other thing: The Jaguars had a significant advantage in bidding for Jackson because they’re one of six NFL teams that play where there’s no state income tax (the others are Seattle, Dallas, Houston, Miami and Tampa Bay). Which makes their $85 million worth more than, say, the Raiders’ $85 million. That’s something fans and media rarely talk about. But you can be assured that agents and front-office executives do.

    Janoris Jenkins, CB, Giants
    Five years, $62.5 million ($29 million guaranteed)
    The Giants weren’t only snake-bit by their bad pass rush. They’ve also been iffy in the secondary the past few years. And so they spent a king’s ransom on the ex-Ram Jenkins, one of the league’s more unique man-to-man corners because of how he plays off-coverage and takes so many chances breaking on balls. Jenkins grew more disciplined last season and was significantly less vulnerable to double moves. But given how he played in Years 1 through 3, it’s not smart to assume he’ll always remain the player he was in Year 4. Plus, the Giants’ secondary woes have had more to do with safeties than cornerbacks. Jenkins, a predominantly right-side corner, is simply replacing Prince Amukamara (unsigned), who had a stellar 2015. The Giants have taken a very big gamble on a player who could be prone to gambling too much himself.

    Going back to offense, as for the other big signings….

    Alex Mack, C, Falcons
    Five years, $45 million ($28.5 million guaranteed)
    Good, solid move by the Falcons here. They’ve had significant and costly issues at center since Todd McClure retired following the 2012 season. They’ve also had reverberating issues off and on at both guard positions. Mack is steady in all facets and adroit and smart enough blocking on the move to fit offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan’s zone system.

    Kelechi Osemele, LG, Raiders
    Five years, $58.5 million ($25.4 million guaranteed)
    A little costly? Perhaps. But the Raiders were in the unique position of being compelled to spend big due to cap space and the NFL’s salary floor. (This, by the way, if not managed wisely could present some difficult scenarios a few years from now, when young stars like Derek Carr, Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper are due for second contracts.) The bottom line: Osemele was the best guard on this market. His arrival upgrades Oakland’s other guard position, which will now be filled by the rising Gabe Jackson, who himself should improve by operating on the right side. Osemele and Jackson can both play on the move—Osemele more as a zone-blocker and Jackson more as a puller for gap-scheme runs like “power” and “counter.”

    Mohamed Sanu, WR, Falcons
    Five years, $32.5 million ($14 million guaranteed)
    Sanu is lithe, lanky and versatile. He’ll be an upgrade over a decaying Roddy White. The only drawback: The Bengals never considered him an every-down player. They preferred Sanu as a No. 3 who primarily operated out of the slot. That wasn’t just because. Sanu, they felt, was more effective in short spurts where his energy expenditures could be paced. Now the Falcons are paying him to be a bona fide No. 2.

    Marvin Jones, WR, Lions
    Five years, $40 million ($17 million guaranteed)
    It’s obvious, and maybe unfair to say, but here it goes: Jones is a nice player—acrobatic downfield, effective near the sidelines and light-footed enough to run almost a full route tree. Unfortunately, he’s replacing Calvin Johnson, which means the Lions have forked over big cash to a player who, even at his best, will be a clear downgrade.

    Coby Fleener, TE, Saints
    Five years, $36 million ($14.6 million guaranteed)
    It’s totally justified that Dwayne Allen, who was drafted by the Colts one round behind Fleener and placed one spot behind him in the tight end pecking order, wound up getting the bigger contract and staying in Indy. Allen is a stronger, more reliable all-around player. In fact, Fleener, with his propensity for dropped passes and miscalculated routes, can be downright aggravating to watch on film. Fortunately, he joined the one offense that could fit him best. The Saints make stars out of tight ends (see 35-year-old Ben Watson and his 825 yards last season) because their system does so much with multireceiver route combinations, particularly down the seams and near the hash marks. Drew Brees is the best back-shoulder thrower in football in this part of the field. If Fleener can learn to catch those passes—and you can bet they’ll be repped religiously in practice—he has a chance to be an 800-yard tight end.

    So Who’s Left?

    Plenty of fine players, and probably at bargain values at this point. Some of the best—discounting the major red-flag uber-talents like Greg Hardy and Aldon Smith—include…

    Defensive linemen Nick Fairley, Akiem Hicks and Terrance Knighton.
    Fairley and Hicks were among my top 10 free-agent dark horses. And the thunderous but light-footed Knighton would have been on there if my editors had allowed me to make the top 15.

    Eric Weddle, S, formerly of Chargers
    At this point in his decorated career, Weddle wants to go to a contender that will have him for the next few years. He’d make great sense for a team that runs a multifaceted, disguise-oriented scheme. The challenge is finding a team like that. Most of the contenders don’t have a ton of cap space (probably not a coincidence), and teams that makes the most sense, like, say, the Steelers and their pressure-driven zone coverage rotations, don’t typically sign older free agents.

    Casey Hayward, CB, formerly of Packers
    It’s shocking he wasn’t scooped up on Day One of free agency. Hayward is one of the few corners on this year’s market who can play man and zone coverage both outside and in the slot.

    Russell Okung, LT, formerly of Seahawks
    He and Donald Penn have not found homes because the teams with the most cap space coincidentally do not need a left tackle—and this year’s draft is pretty rich in tackles. Okung might be had at a bargain rate now. When he’s healthy, you can ask him to spar with defensive ends one-on-one for much of the game.

    in reply to: opinions on keeping Saffold? #40475
    Avatar photozn
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    What would it cost to cut him?

    They would save $2,656,250. Or, in the preferred tongue, 2.5+ M.

    Avatar photozn
    Moderator

    the claim he is running on his own money is a lie.

    Okay.

    Avatar photozn
    Moderator

    from off the net

    ==

    Kind of Blue/Gold

    Case Keenum – Week 15 Bucs

    Highlights

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whNplfU6IPw

    Keenum v. Foles

    No doubt, there are lowlights. I hope we add an RG3 for upside, or better, draft a QB like Goff or Lynch. A few things that stood out from my vantage point, particularly being able to see him immediately after Foles for ease of comparison purposes, he was noticeably more decisive and had a quicker release (sort of a double advantage), Foles couldn’t pull the trigger if his life depended on it (and some of those times receivers were open, so maybe he wasn’t seeing the field), and his feet and movement skills were incredibly ponderous. When things broke down, he looked robotic and incapable of improvising. At his best last year, Keenum seems to process things quickly (where the ball needs to go, coverages, etc.), along with having a quick release. He looks like he would be effective on quick hitting plays like bubble screens to Austin and screens to Gurley, and even hit some intermediate (Cook) and downfield plays (Britt TD) above. I’d still like an upgrade, a young, developmental QB with greater talent and upside (again, Goff, Lynch, possibly MSUs Cook). The run game will take pressure off him and deflect defensive attention. If the OL matures and can stay healthier (a chronic, habitual issue in recent years), that will help a lot. And the flip side of the offense helping the defense, the defense can help the offense, if they can get the ball back sooner and more often.

    in reply to: Barron signs #40461
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    Breaking down Mark Barron’s new contract

    Nick Wagoner

    http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/27555/breaking-down-mark-barrons-new-contract

    EARTH CITY, Mo. — The Los Angeles Rams made retaining linebacker/safety Mark Barron a top priority this offseason and followed through with their checkbook as free agency opened.

    Barron signed a five-year, $45 million deal with the Rams this week, a deal that includes $20 million in guarantees and a $5 million signing bonus.

    Here’s a breakdown of the deal, according to ESPN Stats & Information:

    2016

    Base salary: $5 million (fully guaranteed)
    Signing bonus proration: $1 million
    Roster bonus: None
    Cap charge: $6 million
    Cash: $10 million

    2017

    Base salary: $5 million (guaranteed for injury at signing, fully guaranteed on third day of 2017 league year)
    Signing bonus proration: $1 million
    Roster bonus: $5 million (fully guaranteed, to be paid on third day of 2017 league year)
    Cap charge: $11 million
    Cash: $10 million

    2018

    Base salary: $7 million
    Signing bonus proration: $1 million
    Roster bonus: $2 million (paid on third day of 2018 league year)
    Cap charge: $10 million
    Cash: $9 million

    2019

    Base salary: $8 million
    Signing bonus proration: $1 million
    Roster bonus: None
    Cap charge: $9 million
    Cash: $8 million

    2020

    Base salary: $5.5 million
    Signing bonus proration: $1 million
    Roster bonus: $2.5 million (paid on third day of 2020 league year)
    Cap charge: $9 million
    Cash: $8 million

    in reply to: How Liberals Tried to Kill the Dream of Single-Payer #40454
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator

    Ok, so, its Bernie or Stein. I’d sooner swim with Great White Sharks, while spear fishing, than vote for Clinton, though. She’s no reformer. She’s just a system-politician.

    w
    v

    I agree about what Clinton is. But if it comes down to her or Trump, I will shrug and vote for her. LePage won in Maine with 37% of the vote because there was an independent splitting the vote. Living under LePage has taught me, in case I didn’t already know, that there are greater and lesser devils—and I don’t have to like it but the lesser devils are better.

    in reply to: Rams still can find free-agent bargains #40453
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator

    from off the net

    [colr=red]#1RamsJunkie[/color]

    1. Ryan Fitzpatrick — Only starting-caliber QB left. Still seems likely to stay in NYJ.
    2. Russell Okung — Quality LT starter when healthy. 13 missed games last 3 years.
    3. Prince Amukamara — Giants moved on by signing Janoris Jenkins. Linked to NYJ.
    4. Sean Smith — Plus-sized press CB. Update: Signed with OAK on Thurs. morning.
    5. Reggie Nelson — Coming off 8-interception season. Entering age-33 campaign.
    6. Eric Weddle — Turned 31 in January. Market has been surprisingly quiet so far.
    7. Donald Penn — Will turn 33 in April. Still a high-end pass-protecting left tackle.
    8. Robert Ayers — Can play DE & DT. 9.5 sacks in 2015. Visited Bucs on Wednesday.
    9. Jerrell Freeman — Turns 30 in May. PFF’s No. 2-graded inside linebacker in ’15.
    10. Greg Hardy — 22 sacks in last 27 games. Market silent due to character issues.
    11. Kelvin Beachum — Undersized LT (6’3/303) coming off ACL tear. Turns 27 in June.
    12. Nick Fairley — Turned 28 in Jan. Rotational DT only, but can dominate in spurts.
    13. Casey Hayward — Ascending 26-year-old slot corner. Not expected back in GB.
    14. Chris Long — Injuries have limited Long to three sacks over his last 16 games.
    15. Cedric Thornton — Run-stuffing 3-4 end. Does not help in passing situations.
    16. Patrick Robinson — Had career-best year with Bolts. Can cover slot & outside.
    17. Louis Vasquez — 29. Cut by Broncos. Should interest power-blocking teams.
    18. Akiem Hicks — Mammoth 6’5/318 DE/DT. Expected to visit Chicago this week.
    19. Rashad Johnson — Had 5 INTs in 2015. Cards replaced him with Tyvon Branch.
    20. Walter Thurmond — Ex-slot CB had breakout year at safety. Turns 29 in August.
    21. Anquan Boldin — Going on age 36. Can still contribute as possession receiver.
    22. Mohamed Sanu — Overrated gadget WR with poor hands. Linked to ATL & NE.
    23. Arian Foster — Will turn 30 in August. Tore his Achilles’ tendon last October.
    24. Brandon Boykin — Underappreciated 25-year-old slot CB. Market quiet so far.
    25. Zach Miller — Going on age 32. Posted a 34-439-5 receiving line last season.
    26. Terrance Knighton — 3-4 NT. Pot Roast disappointed last year with Redskins.
    27. Geoff Schwartz — In 2nd tier of free agent OGs. Good player, bad injury luck.
    28. Mike Wallace — Turns 30 in August. Ravens reportedly have some interest.
    29. Jahri Evans — Cut by Saints. 6-time Pro Bowler running on fumes. 33 in August.
    30. Leon Hall — Has extended career by successfully transitioning to slot corner.
    31. Courtney Upshaw — 26-year-old 2-down edge-setter OLB. Not a pass rusher.
    32. Evan Mathis — PFF’s No. 1 run-blocking G in ’15, but poor in pass pro & 34yo.
    33. Stefen Wisniewski — Replacement-level C gets pushed around in run game.
    34. Brent Grimes — Cut by Miami due to off-field concerns, declining on-field play.
    35. James Laurinaitis — Big name, small game. Falcons, Saints have nosed around.
    36. Rueben Randle — Big and athletic, but has a lazy streak. Underachieving WR.
    37. Zach Brown — Injury-riddled 4-3 weak-side LB with sideline-to-sideline speed.
    38. Robert Griffin III — Broncos rumored to have interest. Would fit in Kubiak’s O.
    39. Tahir Whitehead — Fierce run defender/special teamer. Can play all 3 LB spots.
    40. Nick Perry — Former first-round bust had solid ’15 season as rotational 3-4 OLB.
    41. Will Beatty — Missed all of 2015 to injury. Was above-average starting LT in ’14.
    42. Bilal Powell — Versatile RBBC back has been connected to DAL, NE, BAL, NYJ.
    43. B.J. Raji — Consistent tendency to start fast, wear down as seasons progress.
    44. Jason Jones — Base-defense LE can also play inside. 9.5 sacks last 2 seasons.
    45. Mike Neal — Swiss-army-knife role player. Better run stopper than pass rusher.
    46. Jason Hatcher — Can still disrupt QBs, but reportedly considering retirement.
    47. Jermaine Kearse — Career highs in catches/yards/TDs in ’15. Only had 4 drops.
    48. Sean Weatherspoon — 28-year-old WLB disappeared after 2014 torn Achilles’.
    49. James Starks — One of the league’s better No. 2 RBs. Shouldn’t cost much $.
    50. Aldon Smith — Eligible for reinstatement from suspension in November 2016.

    in reply to: How Liberals Tried to Kill the Dream of Single-Payer #40450
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator

    Yeah, I imagine Trump would be real annoying
    and cause a lot of Racial unrest, and he bluster about
    this and that and he’d be a pompous ass

    That’s not the issue. It’s nowhere near that shallow. We’re talking something far worse than that here.

    I am not sure why you’re not seeing it. Read around on Trump. He’s not just this dismissable noise-maker with some annoying soundbites. He is genuine trouble in a way we have not seen for a few decades.

    Here’s some examples:

    in his 2011 book “Time to Get Tough,” he talked about cutting taxes, including eliminating corporate taxes altogether.

    Trump used to be pro-choice but said last month that he was “pro-life with exceptions” for rape, incest and the health of the mother.

    Trump has called global warming “bulls–t.”

    Trump’s organization issued a statement maintaining his opposition to the “destructive proliferation of wind turbines” around the world. Trump also opposes other renewable energy sources, such as solar power. Instead of focusing on renewables, Trump has, in the past, suggested that the US steal oil fields from countries in the Middle East as “spoils” of war.

    it seems unlikely that Trump will advocate for campaign finance reform: he was quick to take advantage of the McCutcheon decision, which lifted campaign donation limits on free speech grounds. Less than a month after the decision, Trump was among the billionaire donors who had already spent past the prior limits.

    There should be surveillance on US mosques. Trump believes Muslims should be tracked by law enforcement as a counterterrorism initiative. He has walked back some comments about keeping a database on all American Muslims, but says he doesn’t care if watching mosques is seen as “politically incorrect”.

    He wants to build a “great, great wall” between the US and Mexico. In some of his earliest campaign comments, Trump suggested that Mexicans coming to the US are largely criminals. “They are bringing drugs, and bringing crime, and they’re rapists,” he said. A wall on the border, he claims, will not only keep out undocumented immigrants but Syrian migrants as well. He also believes that Mexico should have to pay for the wall, which a BBC analysis estimates could cost between $2.2bn and $13bn.

    in a position paper on gun rights, Trump revealed he has a concealed carry permit and that when it comes to gun and magazine bans, “the government has no business dictating what types of firearms good, honest people are allowed to own”. He would also oppose an expansion of background checks.

    Trump mocks Democratic candidates like Martin O’Malley for apologising to members of the protest movement against police brutality and casts himself as a pro-law enforcement candidate. “I think they’re looking for trouble,” he once said of the activist group. He also tweeted a controversial graphic purporting to show that African Americans kill whites and blacks at a far higher rates than whites or police officers. However, the graphic cites a fictitious “Crime Statistics Bureau” for its numbers, and has been widely debunked using real FBI data.

    Trump says he favours repealing the president’s Affordable Care Act, which aims at extending the number of Americans with health insurance, but he believes that “everybody’s got to be covered”. A spokesman for Trump told Forbes that he will propose “a health plan that will return authority to the states and operate under free market principles”.

    in reply to: Free agency around the league #40447
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator

    Michael Silver ‏@MikeSilver
    The 49ers have reached out to OT Russell Okung, joining the Seahawks, Lions & Giants in pursuit of the unrestricted free agent @nflnetwork

    in reply to: Rams Could Have Interest In Ryan Fitzpatrick (or…not) #40441
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator

    from Jets doing right thing by not overpaying for Ryan Fitzpatrick
    NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Thursday, March 10, 2016, 7:24 PM

    http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/mehta-jets-not-overpaying-ryan-fitzpatrick-article-1.2560576?utm_content=buffer8cdcc&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=mmehta+twitte

    The Rams don’t have real interest in making a significant financial investment in Fitzpatrick either, according to sources.

    in reply to: Free agency around the league #40437
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator

    It works. It is just slow to load. For me, anyway.

    You;re right.

    .

    fwiw I copied & posted the entire list here too: http://theramshuddle.com/topic/wagoner-rams-still-can-find-free-agent-bargains/#post-40436

    in reply to: Rams still can find free-agent bargains #40436
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    Moderator

    http://www.nfl.com/freeagency#tab=rankings

    RANK 8
    EricFS ERIC WEDDLE

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    Weddle might have taken a step back from his All-Pro level, but he’s still a dynamic centerfielder that can do a little bit of everything for a defense.

    17
    Okung, RussellT
    RUSSELL
    OKUNG

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    SF, DET, NYG, SEA
    He is coming off shoulder surgery and is representing himself as an agent. This could get interesting.

    20
    Amukamara, PrinceCB
    PRINCE
    AMUKAMARA

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    JAX
    There just aren’t enough capable starting cornerbacks in today’s NFL. Amukamara is one of them.

    22
    Nelson, ReggieFS
    REGGIE
    NELSON

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    So many teams are looking for a reliable “center fielder” at safety like Nelson to improve the team’s last line of defense.

    23
    Fitzpatrick, RyanQB
    RYAN
    FITZPATRICK

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    He has more value to the Jets with Chan Gailey running the show than he would in any another city.

    25
    Long, ChrisDE
    CHRIS
    LONG

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    WAS
    He only has four sacks over the last two injury-ravaged years, yet Long should still have some quality seasons left. He was a top-20 defensive end as recently as 2013.

    26
    Fairley, NickDT
    NICK
    FAIRLEY

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    He stayed out of trouble and quietly was effective as a rotational player in St. Louis. Can he be effective playing more? There is boom or bust potential here.

    30
    Foster, ArianRB
    ARIAN
    FOSTER

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    The downside: He has missed 23 of his last 40 games. The upside: He ran harder than just about any running back in the league in 2014, when he was a top-five player at his position. He’s worth a shot to see if you get one last big year.

    32
    Ayers, RobertDE
    ROBERT
    AYERS

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    TB
    It makes no sense that a former first-round pick that played in New York is so under the radar.

    34
    Smith, AndreT
    ANDRE
    SMITH

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    It’s a red flag he’s coming off such a down year after the Bengals maxed out his skill set for much of his career.

    36
    Beachum, KelvinT
    KELVIN
    BEACHUM

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    NYJ
    He would be ranked in the top 20 if he wasn’t coming off a torn ACL.

    37
    Thurmond, WalterSS
    WALTER
    THURMOND

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    Injury prone for much of his career, Thurmond was part of perhaps the best safety tandem in the league with Malcolm Jenkins in Philadelphia.

    41
    Freeman, JerrellILB
    JERRELL
    FREEMAN

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    He’s great in coverage for an inside linebacker, which is worth a premium.

    43
    Penn, DonaldT
    DONALD
    PENN

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    An up and down career is back on the rise after a steady turn protecting Derek Carr.

    44
    Hayward, CaseyCB
    CASEY
    HAYWARD

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    He has been a solid starter for the Packers, yet the team looks set to let him walk away. He can play outside and in the slot.

    45
    Smith, AldonOLB
    ALDON
    SMITH

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    He is suspended until at least the middle of November and it’s possible he won’t be reinstated (or signed) until 2017. With all that said, Smith is eligible to sign with a new team and represents a rare top-10 pass rusher talent available at a reduced price. Someone will give him a third chance.

    48
    Raji, B.J.NT
    B.J.
    RAJI

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    He can still clog up the middle of a defensive line, with the upside that he’ll turn back the clock one of these years.

    51
    Hardy, GregDE
    GREG
    HARDY

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    Based purely on talent and 2015 play, Hardy would be in the top ten of this list. But you have to sign the person that goes with the talent, and most teams will smartly decide Hardy isn’t worth the trouble.

    54
    Boldin, AnquanWR
    ANQUAN
    BOLDIN

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    He doesn’t need to be open to make catches. He’s found a way to stay productive throughout his 30s and is a great locker room addition.

    56
    Knighton, TerranceDT
    TERRANCE
    KNIGHTON

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    He signed for one year in Washington last year, hoping for a bigger payday this time around. He should get it.

    58
    Johnson, RashadFS
    RASHAD
    JOHNSON

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    He got lost in the shuffle in Arizona’s star-studded secondary but Johnson can do a lot of things well at the safety position.

    59
    Morris, AlfredRB
    ALFRED
    MORRIS

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    He can’t catch a pass, but Morris is a rugged early down running back that can top 1,200 yards without breaking down.

    61
    Mathis, EvanG
    EVAN
    MATHIS

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    Mathis is an accomplished veteran two years removed from All Pro-caliber play, but he’s nearing his mid-30s, coming off of surgery and limited to zone-blocking schemes.

    62
    Wallace, MikeWR
    MIKE
    WALLACE

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    Wallace has a limited skill set but getting deep in the NFL is still worth something. He’s been overpaid the last few years but makes sense as a role player.

    68
    Evans, JahriG
    JAHRI
    EVANS

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    BUF
    Once the highest-paid guard in the league, Evans can still help a team out as a quality starter.

    70
    Neal, MikeOLB
    MIKE
    NEAL

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    He’s a high effort player that can play anywhere from outside linebacker to defensive tackle. A good rotation player.

    71
    Galette, JuniorDE
    JUNIOR
    GALETTE

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    Although highly productive when healthy, Galette is a coach-killer with character concerns and health questions.

    72
    Harvin, PercyWR
    PERCY
    HARVIN

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    It’s easy to forget that Harvin outplayed Sammy Watkins early last season before injuries resurfaced, begetting thoughts of early retirement. With his football future in question, Harvin won’t land a contract commensurate with his talent level.

    74
    Freeney, DwightLB
    DWIGHT
    FREENEY

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    Freeney is purely a situational edge rusher at a stage of his career in which he will only play for a Super Bowl contender. His last two months in Arizona were his most effective in nearly half a decade.

    75
    Tulloch, StephenMLB
    STEPHEN
    TULLOCH

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    A stop-gap option for a team needing leadership and snaps at inside linebacker.

    76
    Upshaw, CourtneyOLB
    COURTNEY
    UPSHAW

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    If he couldn’t make it in Baltimore as anything more than a run-stuffing specialist, he isn’t likely to develop elsewhere.

    77
    Blount, LeGarretteRB
    LEGARRETTE
    BLOUNT

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    There is a fear he’ll turn into a pumpkin away from Bill Belichick.

    78
    Hall, LeonCB
    LEON
    HALL

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    Paying aging cornerbacks is rarely good business, but Hall can still help out as a role player in the right situation.

    80
    Robinson, PatrickCB
    PATRICK
    ROBINSON

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    The former New Orleans Saints cornerback has come on strong the last two years as a feisty cornerback.

    82
    Hicks, AkiemDE
    AKIEM
    HICKS

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    NE
    Acquired in a trade with the Saints, Hicks flashed impressive ability late in the season.

    84
    Wisniewski, StefenC
    STEFEN
    WISNIEWSKI

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    Serviceable starting center, will travel.

    85
    Carroll, NolanCB
    NOLAN
    CARROLL

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    He wasn’t exactly a solution for the Eagles’ defense last season, but he wasn’t a problem either. Snaps eater.

    86
    Brown, ZachILB
    ZACH
    BROWN

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    He has insane pursuit skills but was never fully trusted in Tennessee.

    87
    Powers, JerraudCB
    JERRAUD
    POWERS

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    He’s played a lot of snaps for some very good teams over the last five years.

    90
    Laurinaitis, JamesMLB
    JAMES
    LAURINAITIS

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    ATL
    Known as a good leader, Laurinaitis just didn’t make enough plays the last few years in St. Louis. He’s a stop-gap pickup. Laurinaitis told Albert Breer he will be visiting the Falcons Monday and Tuesday.

    93
    Randle, RuebenWR
    RUEBEN
    RANDLE

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    Drawing single coverage opposite Odell Beckham, Randle had one of the cushiest gigs in the league last season. Rather than establishing himself as the long-term Robin to Beckham’s Batman, he remained frustratingly inconsistent.

    94
    Miller, ZachTE
    ZACH
    MILLER

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    A quarterback at Nebraska-Omaha, Miller has always been among the league’s most athletic receiving tight ends. He just couldn’t the injury bug since entering the league with the Jaguars all the way back in 2009. That changed in the second half of last season, when he emerged as a reliable playmaker for Jay Cutler.

    95
    Jenkins, JarvisDE
    JARVIS
    JENKINS

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    Jenkins flashed as one of Chicago’s best defensive players early last season before his effectiveness waned in the second half.

    98
    Bruton, DavidSS
    DAVID
    BRUTON

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    Bruton had been a premier special teamer before last season, when he made a series of big plays in the Broncos’ secondary.

    99
    Griffin, RobertQB
    ROBERT
    GRIFFIN

    INTERESTED TEAMS:
    There was a time not so long ago when Robert Griffin III was considered the brightest young star in football.

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