Depth Chart, Re-signings, Free Agency and the Draft

[Bummie]

Much like last year, getting the off-season right could not only get us above .500, but into the playoffs next year. I think we can largely attribute our decline in the second half of the season to injury, and with those players back this year, we are poised to finally turn the corner.

 

Below (or wherever it appears - I'm on my phone so I have no idea where it will end up) is the depth chart as I see it, including those I think we should re-sign and go out and get in free agency.

 

To my understanding, our available cap space is $48.8 mil. I think we can re-sign the free agents we want to keep for around $18 mil. I imagine Suh to cost around $17.5 mil a year (hopefully less), Bulaga around $4.5 mil and year, and Smith around $1.5 mil. That would leave us $7.3 mil heading into the draft.

 

With our first four pick we should go WR, DE/OLB, DE/OLB, WR, with Kevin White at 12 and possibly Green-Beckham in the 3rd. Take BPA DE/OLB with 19 and our 2nd round pick, and possibly trade up to make sure we get potential day one starters at those positions.

 

There isn't a QB available that I'm interested in, and feel Hoyer will produce as an average (15-20 rank) QB if our line holds for the year. I have a lot of interest in seeing how Jones for OSU does this year. With any progression in his game, I think he'll be my number one target in next year's draft.

 

If we can make the above happen, I think we'll compete with most next year and push to at least be an above .500 team. I'd like to break this down more, but I'm at work and wanted to get this out to hear some thoughts. If I was a GM, this would be the direction I would initially consider. I'd also take Justin Houston and draft Shelton at NT in the first round. There are some big name free agents coming available this year, many of which could help us on D.