2017 Free Agency/Off Season

helimachoptor wrote: »

Could they go all in on a draftee?

I think they'd be mad to start any of the QBs coming out of this class, but you'd never know!

jack presley wrote: »

Is that the end of the Cousins rumours then or is Hoyer more of a backup?

Even more leverage for the 49ers if they go to trade discussions

Lions signing OT Ricky Wagner, which means they're moving on from Reiff presumably.
Rumoured that he will make $9m per year. Not a bad deal I suppose.

It amazes me how much money players get in FA every year when anyone with a bit of a brain knows that teams that normally succeed are built through the draft. I just don't get why we get players getting huge contracts every single offseason when it's clearly not the right way to do things.

The 49ers should not be going after Kirk Cousins, they need to build a team and a QB isn't exactly necessary this year because there is no chance of them having a great season even if they get one. They need to improve in a lot of positions and they should take a chance in the second or third round on a QB and hope they hit pay dirt. They can suck it up for a year while they improve other areas in their team like WR. In order for a QB to work out you need players who can catch a ball.

There is every chance they could get Mike Williams in the first round and get Watson maybe in the third and you have a pair right there who know each other. Watson could turn out to be a great one too.

They could go out and sign a veteran WR for reasonable money and somebody to plug the gap at ILB while they develop a draft pick. There is no use rushing to try and get back to the top immediately because all that does is drive up your cap numbers moving forward and leave you having to be careful with your wage bill in a year's time.

HigginsJ wrote: »

By all accounts Hackenburg developed well last year, the Jet's didn't want to risk him in a bad situation.

I've read a lot of conflicting reports on Hack, some saying he couldn't hit a barn door with a banjo, while others are saying he's developing nicely. Even if he has developed well, he's never even dressed for an NFL game, so imo you'd be mad to start him this season with what is going to be a pretty poor team. Also with Gailey retiring and the QB coach Kevin Patullo being fired was bad news for Hack, never great for a young needy QB to have a turnstile at OC/QB coach.

eagle eye wrote: »

Giants made the playoffs but were never realistically going to win the NFC and while I haven't checked I'd imagine you are in a world of hurt with the cap this season?

7m left after signing Marshall, but that's with JPP receiving the franchise tender of 17m.

If he gets resigned, we're probably OK, although we've big contracts on the horizon for Pugh, Richburg and OBJ.

MrKingsley wrote: »

Yeah the teams that consistently challenge are clearly built through the draft but FA is definitely a chance for GMs/HCs, who are on their last legs, to show some promise to the owners.

FA is also the opportunity to add the final pieces of a championship puzzle. It's fine (and true) to say you have to build through the draft, but look back at SB winning teams and you'll generally find a few key players that came in through FA. I would say however that usually they're not the splashy signings and the successful teams are those that draft and sign according to their needs - no point signing the league's best 4-3 linebacker if you intend to play 3-4 and he doesn't fit the scheme.

Interesting to have a think about the FAs who contributed to SB wins - here's 4 starters from the last 5 champs - some teams have a few more than others obviously, but there are always a handful of them sprinkled through even the franchises who really focus on draft & develop.
Pats: Hogan, Long, Amendola, Bennett
Broncos: Manning, Mathis, Daniels, Ware
Pats: Amendola, Blount, LaFell, Revis
Seahawks: Lynch, Tate, Avril, Miller
Ravens: Boldin, Jones, Graham, Williams