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While I'm not saying we should abandon our past management model, I feel like there are an unusual number of solid players that have reached free agency. Not superstars, but not scrap-heap reclamation projects, either.
The best strategy is to target the guys who have only the UFA-minimum 4 years under their belt. (I believe this is what we did with Pickett.)
Here are a few guys I'd like to suggest as under-the-radar solid position players:
DL: Desmond Bryant - Oakland Raiders - raw
I don't know what kind of contract this guy will be seeking, but he was a backup until this last season. He was a 2009 rookie free agent, so there's not a lot of pageantry surrounding him. He played very well once Seymour went down and he got playing time -- perhaps even outperforming the level Seymour set. He's got the ideal body and a 300 lb playing weight. Plus he's very intelligent. I hope we consider offering him a contract. Other than his play at the end of last season, he's unproven, and given that they're in a bind with regard to the cap, the Raiders are in no position to franchise him.
LB: Kaluka Maiava - Cleveland Browns - physically limited
Still young at 26, Maiava is an unspectacular, quality player. He played the outside for Cleveland last season when they ran the 4-3, but would play inside in the 3-4. I don't know if he would want to make that switch, or if the Browns want him to try. They will definitely not franchise him.
G: Geoff Schwartz - Minnesota Vikings - injury prone
He missed 2011 with a hip injury, and started the summer of 2012 with a sports hernia. The Vikings went with a different player as a starter in 2012 when the season began, though Schwartz did fill in and played about 300 snaps. He wants to be a starter, and it won't be for the Vikings, so he should be on the way out. He made $1.5 million in 2012, and probably wouldn't get much more on the open market. He might take another one year deal to try and prove he can play at his 2012 level for an entire season and stay healthy. The team that signs him will get a bargain if he can avoid the injury list.
RB: Mike Goodson - Oakland Raiders - physically limited
He's a good back, pretty good at everything but not stylish. The Raiders would be crazy to let him walk considering Darren McFadden's injury issues. However, they are in no position to franchise him, so he'll be seeing the open market. He had 35 carries for 221 yards, and 19 receptions for 195 yards. He's also a good blocking back.
What do you guys think? Do you have any suggestions for value-level players that can be capable starters?
The best strategy is to target the guys who have only the UFA-minimum 4 years under their belt. (I believe this is what we did with Pickett.)
Here are a few guys I'd like to suggest as under-the-radar solid position players:
DL: Desmond Bryant - Oakland Raiders - raw
I don't know what kind of contract this guy will be seeking, but he was a backup until this last season. He was a 2009 rookie free agent, so there's not a lot of pageantry surrounding him. He played very well once Seymour went down and he got playing time -- perhaps even outperforming the level Seymour set. He's got the ideal body and a 300 lb playing weight. Plus he's very intelligent. I hope we consider offering him a contract. Other than his play at the end of last season, he's unproven, and given that they're in a bind with regard to the cap, the Raiders are in no position to franchise him.
LB: Kaluka Maiava - Cleveland Browns - physically limited
Still young at 26, Maiava is an unspectacular, quality player. He played the outside for Cleveland last season when they ran the 4-3, but would play inside in the 3-4. I don't know if he would want to make that switch, or if the Browns want him to try. They will definitely not franchise him.
G: Geoff Schwartz - Minnesota Vikings - injury prone
He missed 2011 with a hip injury, and started the summer of 2012 with a sports hernia. The Vikings went with a different player as a starter in 2012 when the season began, though Schwartz did fill in and played about 300 snaps. He wants to be a starter, and it won't be for the Vikings, so he should be on the way out. He made $1.5 million in 2012, and probably wouldn't get much more on the open market. He might take another one year deal to try and prove he can play at his 2012 level for an entire season and stay healthy. The team that signs him will get a bargain if he can avoid the injury list.
RB: Mike Goodson - Oakland Raiders - physically limited
He's a good back, pretty good at everything but not stylish. The Raiders would be crazy to let him walk considering Darren McFadden's injury issues. However, they are in no position to franchise him, so he'll be seeing the open market. He had 35 carries for 221 yards, and 19 receptions for 195 yards. He's also a good blocking back.
What do you guys think? Do you have any suggestions for value-level players that can be capable starters?
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