Jikkle wrote:Harry Palmer wrote:Would you guys agree that there seems to be an organizational shift in terms of recognizing the need for depth of serviceable depth and STs over a big name or two and trusting our coaches to rebuild disappointing or injury-question bargains?
There is a shift but I don't see it as a philosophical one but one out of necessity.
The magic carpet ride of paying a QB at way below market value is just about run its course so they just can't afford any more big names when they want to resign Aiyuk who will make just about top of the WR market and Purdy who if he continues to play at a high level is going to make over 45 million a year average.
The 2nd thing is all our star players are returning sans Armstead who was debatable as being labeled a star. The team is heavy on top end talent what it needed was to raise the floor and get some guys that are consistent and durable along with a couple that do have some upside.
I tend to agree. Other than adding the one impact guy they have the past couple years (well, would-be impact guys in the case of Hargrave last year, unfortunately...), the FA period has been pretty similar to their recent MO: add guys on reasonable contracts who shore up your most obvious holes so you go into the draft without a clear need.
They're being a bit more aggressive this year about addressing some of those holes, but as said, I think that's a practical adjustment. In past years, we might have had younger players stepping into some of those roles. We just don't have the depth any more. Once Armstead was gone, and , we basically only had Hargrave who could be relied upon to handle NFL starts. I still hope Kalia Davis can show something, but he sure hasn't to date. No one else on the roster even had NFL snaps. Similarly, it's pretty clear we can no longer rely on Drake Jackson (going into last season, that was the plan), and Beal barely played either. There literally weren't other players on the roster.