I know that you and I have had our differences in the past, but your post here ^^is spot onStill plenty early. Draft coming up, good players being released for cap reasons later on. Plenty of work to do. Still expecting it to take a couple years. Much like it did way back when Pete took over. Whoever wrote that has a right to their opinion, even if's still a meh burger. At least TO ME it is.
To me it is worse. He signed a bunch of one year prove it type contracts. What that means is IF they pan out and have good years they will want good sized raises and will either eat the cap or move on. There is no foresight of who they think will be good players that they would sign for 2 years or an option year where we had them at a discount after giving them a chance. It feels like maybe we would be the developmental team. I agree on high priced mediocre players but I thought we cleared enough to have a top 5 cap space and ended up with possibilities, question marks, JAGS and projects.These lists are often loaded with bottom dwellers at the top. I'm very glad John didn't spend prime money on mediocre players.
^I wouldn't go as far as saying it's still "early" because teams have all made their significant cuts to get under the cap. Yes, patience pays off, but any glaring holes that a team hasn't addressed by now, there should be some level of urgency if they don't want to be depending on rookies.
Looking at NFL.com's "Top 101 Free Agents of 2024", here's who is still left, listed by overall ranking with age in parentheses:
16. CB Stephon Gilmore (33)
32. EDGE Jadeveon Clowney (31)
35. S Julian Blackmon (26)
37. S Justin Simmons (30)
50. DE Calais Campbell (38)
51. OG/C Connor Williams (27)
55. CB Steven Nelson (31)
58. CB Adoree' Jackson (28 somehow) - feels like he has been around forever
59. QB Ryan Tannell (36)
77. WR Odell Beckham (62 - knees) (31 - rest of body)
80. RB JK Dobbins (25)
81. WR Tyler Boyd (29)
87. S Micah Hyde (33)
88. DT Teair Tart (27)
92. OG Andrus Peat (30)
94. CB Ahkello Witherspoon (29)
95. EDGE Emmanuel Ogbah (30)
98. OT Donovan Smith (31)
100. OG Dalton Risner (29)
101. WR Michael Thomas (Archie Manning was Saints QB when he last played)
Others of note
CB Xavien Howard (30)
WR Josh Reynolds (29)
S Kyle Dugger (28)
EDGE Bud Dupree (31)
OT Chris Hubbard (33)
OG Laken Tomlinson (32)
PK Blair Walsh (Just curious who's still reading)
EDGE Kyle Van Noy (33)
OC Mason Cole (28)
RB Ezekiel Elliot (33)
OT David Bakhtiari (shockingly only 32)
WR Hunter Renfrow (28)
OT Mekhi Becton (25)
CB Tre Herndon (28)
OT Charles Leno (32)
WR Michael Gallup (28)
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (25)
OG Mark Glowinski (32)
LB Krys Barnes (26)
DL William Gholston (33)
EDGE Randy Gregory (31)
A little out there still, but not great.
I understand that. But we are building. Some replacements for vets that were signed might be on the roster or drafted this year. This team isn't there yet. If any of these one year deals click, there will also be some space. We will be out from under some big contracts next year and the year after.To me it is worse. He signed a bunch of one year prove it type contracts. What that means is IF they pan out and have good years they will want good sized raises and will either eat the cap or move on. There is no foresight of who they think will be good players that they would sign for 2 years or an option year where we had them at a discount after giving them a chance. It feels like maybe we would be the developmental team. I agree on high priced mediocre players but I thought we cleared enough to have a top 5 cap space and ended up with possibilities, question marks, JAGS and projects.
The great thing is that we aren't overpaying for JAGs and pretending they are all-pros.Sounds about right though. I don't know how its going to work out, but it seems like nothing but a bunch of JAGs have been signed so far.
Words of wisdom.To me it is worse. He signed a bunch of one year prove it type contracts. What that means is IF they pan out and have good years they will want good sized raises and will either eat the cap or move on. There is no foresight of who they think will be good players that they would sign for 2 years or an option year where we had them at a discount after giving them a chance. It feels like maybe we would be the developmental team. I agree on high priced mediocre players but I thought we cleared enough to have a top 5 cap space and ended up with possibilities, question marks, JAGS and projects.