Is There A Chance Bruce Irvin Comes Back?

[AROS]

I would like to see Irvin back. He's not a top tier guy, but he certainly is a key player. A bit of a goofball mentally, but he's got a solid place in our scheme. 25 sacks in his career is not too shabby. Curry would have given his left nut to have Irvin's stats at this stage of his career.

Hard to say if he will be back though as he made it crystal clear last off season that he wanted to play for his hometown Falcons. Of course a pile of cash would entice him to stay here, but assuming we don't throw a bunch of money his way, I think he makes the move to Atlanta.

 

[flmmkrz]

He's gonna be chasing bank and I don't think his loss dramatically makes the defense worse so I don't think it's worth using up money to resign him that could be earmarked for the oline. I would love to see him back, but he's not consistently in the league of the other lb'ers so in terms of roi he may be expendable.

How would you used the money earmarked for the line?

Don't know, season just ended today I haven't dug into it but we're lb'er deep and we're oline deficient so that is my initial leaning. If Irvin could be had on a mutually beneficial contract, to the team and to himself I'd love to see him back but if he's going to bring in big fa money, I don't think it's the smartest use of money.

 

[Bigpumpkin]

It is probably safe to say that at least 20% of each starting Offense and Defense will have turnover.

 

[nash72]

He isn't good enough to pay. Horrible draft pick too. He's a pedestrian player at best.

 

[hawknation2015]

Very explosive player, excellent at setting the edge, the perfect SLB for our scheme. It would be a boon for the defense if they re-signed him. Unfortunately, that seems unlikely due to the salary cap. The team has only re-signed one unrestricted free agent after he had reached free agency, and that was Michael Bennett, who took less to stay.

If they don't re-sign Irvin, then it's going to be an interesting competition at OLB. Kevin Pierre-Louis would have the edge in experience as the backup at WLB, which might require moving K.J. Wright back to SLB. Mike Morgan could probably be re-signed for close to the veteran minimum. Brock Coyle could also probably play OLB.

 

[dino26]

I am not to familiar with our cap space but let's say we drop Lynch wouldn't that free up money for Bruce Irvin? I really like his tough guy persona. We need more bad MF's like him.

I agree we need more of that MF attitude I feel, though as someone previously mentioned I believe he is away to Atlanta.

 

[bjornanderson21]

With a salary cap the good teams CONSTANTLY have to be thinking about finding replacements for expensive vets.

Irvin is perhaps the easiest vet to replace on D without seeing too much of a dropoff.

The Hawks just need to find a guy who doesn't give up and plays to the whistle. Even after all these years Irvin still doesn't have pass-rushing moves. Almost all of his sacks in the NFL came from blown assignments or playing all the way to the whistle and getting to the QB on his second effort. It is a quality i respect because it brings about more success.

If the Hawks show new draftees clips of Irvin's second effort and we get a guy who buys in then Irvin will not be missed.

 

[Popeyejones]

I really don't see the scenario in which Irvin is brought back to the Hawks, but maybe they figure something out (although I seriously doubt it).

Reasons for this are:

1) He's already said he's going to Atlanta next year.

2) Per usual the pass rushing OLB FA market is really thin, and there's a general belief that Irvin could really excel if asked to do that more full time.

3) While at first glance the Hawks have a lot of cap room, they're also at the bottom of the league by a wide margin for players under contract for next year (they'll need to draft and sign a full third of their roster just to get back up to 53).

4) Even without all of this, the Hawks (like the 9ers and Ravens) love to play the comp pick game, and I think Hawks fans can at this point deduce that in Schneider's ideal world he has a net loss of three or four players in the formula who leave to go be overpaid on the FA market each year.

 

[UK_Seahawk]

We are due about 15 million back in cap space from players that have already left the team (Harvin, Williams, Unger, Miller). We could also cut Lynch and Graham saving another 15 million. If we let Okung, Mebane and Irvin walk that saves another 16 million.

That's 46 mill right there.

 

[Bwarren]

Bruce is heading home to Atlanta.

 

[Popeyejones]

We are due about 15 million back in cap space from players that have already left the team (Harvin, Williams, Unger, Miller). We could also cut Lynch and Graham saving another 15 million. If we let Okung, Mebane and Irvin walk that saves another 16 million.

That's 46 mill right there.

Yeah.

Just to simplify this though, dead money coming off and FAs coming off the books are already factored into cap space for next year, which is at 30 million.

The savings you're talking about which is not currently factored in would just be Lynch (saves 6.5 leaving 5 mil in dead cap) and Graham (saves 9 w/ no dead cap).

Then you'd be at the 46 mil you're talking about, with 19 players necessary to fill out to 53 (i.e. 36% of the roster as draft picks and FAs).

Or, put another way, without those cuts it's 30 million to refill 32% of the roster (17 guys), and with those cuts it's 46 million to refill 36% of the roster (19 guys).

I think the question really is 1) who is worth more to the Hawks than Lynch that can be had for 6.5 million w/out long-term future committments and 2) who is worth more to the Hawks than Graham that can be had for 9 million w/out long-term future committments (the rub is that unless you're willing to throw draft capital into the equation the long-term future commitment almost always comes along for the ride).

 

[dogorama]

This was Irvin's cap year, he tried to get in ever
y interview and promote himself as the the ultimate team guy on the same footing as our other two LB's. Great PR work but he won't be worth the money

 

[tmobilchawker79]

I see a lot of "he's not worth the money" on here. Are we talking about the same guy?

The Bruce Irvin that was third on the team in sacks with 5.5? Our LEO? Speed to cover a TE on a wheel route?

Where are you going to make up that production? KPL is still a work in progress and was replaced by Mike Morgan in the Carolina game when B Wags was out.

 

[jlwaters1]

I honestly don't get all the posts of "we can't afford him" does everyone seem to he's going to get top LBer money?

I don't think he's going to get top tier money, He had an decent year but wasn't brilliant, so I think it's quite possible that he comes back, I'm not sure the market will be as hot for him as many seem to imply.

 

[McGruff]

Bruce is older for a 2nd contract.

Bruce plays a position that is llow value and easy to replace.

Bruce is a mid ling FA. We don't typically re sign midline free agents.

Bruce loves sacks. He won't get sacks here.

Bruce wants to be a star. Too many of those here.

Bruce is from Atlanta. Bruce will sign with Atlanta.

 

[McGruff]

I see a lot of "he's not worth the money" on here. Are we talking about the same guy?

The Bruce Irvin that was third on the team in sacks with 5.5? Our LEO? Speed to cover a TE on a wheel route?

Where are you going to make up that production? KPL is still a work in progress and was replaced by Mike Morgan in the Carolina game when B Wags was out.

Bruce is not our Leo. Avril is our Leo.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

Bruce is the type of freak athlete player that I could see a couple teams over paying for.

So if I had to guess at this point in time? No, he's not back.

But if for some reason no one offers him a 1st or 2nd tier long term contract, and we can get him back on a 2-3 year deal for 3-5M a year? Yes, I could see him coming back.

 

[Happypuppy]

Bruce is going to get 7-8 mil due to versatility. Good but not great at anything. No significant injury Hx. I think he shops the market and we see the number if he not getting much attention we might be able to resign.

 

[mistaowen]

Browns will throw a 6 year $95 mil contract at him.

 

[Popeyejones]

But if for some reason no one offers him a 1st or 2nd tier long term contract, and we can get him back on a 2-3 year deal for 3-5M a year? Yes, I could see him coming back.

Definitely the dream scenario for the Hawks, but I just can't imagine a world in which he's doing that, TBH.

I think his doomsday scenario is he takes a one year prove it worth 3-5 million with a team that will let him be a pass rush specialist so he can get a big and longer term deal in his age 29 season.

Think Michael Crabtree, who is only two months older than him, and signed a one year prove it which he then six months later converted into a 4 year for 34 million upgrade.

If forced to guess I think he'll be getting in the four year at 7-8.5 APY range out the gate, and if not from Atlanta, then from someone else.

(I know I've predicted that the 9ers will target him, but I'm pretty agnostic to if that would be a good idea on their part or not; they just have a ton of cap room and need a pass rusher).