FA Targets

[ajaX82]

So we obviously have a few needs to address still, namely LB and DB. We won't know about how FA will work until the new CBA, but just for talk now, who should we target?

Stephen Tulloch seems like a real target. I think he would be a FA and coming from Tennessee he obviously knows Schwartz. I read somewhere he was complimentary in some tweets about our draft too, so it seems like a real chance. He had 159 tackles last year, so he can play, and he is only 26. Put him in the middle and slide Levy outside and you have 2/3 of a decent LB group

Other thoughts? You like Tulloch?

[Lionlifer]

I didn't want to be the first to say it, but I will......

Aso baby!

But in reality, if we could get Tulloch would be a god send for our LB corps. And as a bonus, he is young enough for a long contract and should be around in his prime for some playoff runs in a year or two

[ajaX82]

^ Unfortunately I'm not sure Aso is a realistic target. And playoff run in a year or two? I'm talking this year, we will compete to win the North dangit!

[Bartender]

James Anderson out of Carolina..... Nice option at LB.

[Icness]

No interest in any QBs, RBs, or TEs, our 2-deep is stocked nicely.

WRs I'd look at:
Laurent Robinson
Malcolm Floyd
Lance Moore
Brian Finneran. Those are all possession-type guys, most have good size.

OL:
Harvey Dahl or Davin Joseph at guard, which IMO is the biggest line need
Rashad Butler is an intrigiung tackle, outplayed Duane Brown when Brown was suspended last year.
I don't suspect any will come cheaply and the Texans realy want to keep Butler
Jonathan Scott will be free...again!

CBs:
Jonathan Joseph
bring Chris Houston back
Richard Marshall, though I strongly suspect he's going to Denver
bring Nate Vasher back
Kevin Dockery
Josh Wilson
that's pretty much in my priority order. Nnamdi will be the highest-paid player in the NFL, period. That's not going to happen in Detroit, sorry...

DE:
Victor Abiamiri fits nicely
Brain Robison brings speed
Charles Johnson would be the big splash but I thikn he'll stay in CAR

LB:
Barrett Ruud would be a great pickup. Starts in the middle, moves Levy to SAM, and it guts the rival Bucs
James Anderson is a strong idea, he was great last year. Thomas Davis from CAR can be had too, he can start at WLB right away and brings safety speed.
Will Herring
Ben Leber
Thomas Howard

There is good quality there. Nothing earth-shattering but a lot of solid starters that can help this team right away. Better get at least one

safety:
the big question is, do you go after Tanard Jackson? If y'all want nothing to do with Talib, then you really don't want this guy. Best actual player on the market though.
I want a coverage guy, so someone like Paul Oliver or Usama Young fit the bill

[TSE]

I also like for potential CBs:

Brent Grimes, Carlos Rogers, and Cromartie. If we get desperate there's a lot of other guys to look at too, maybe Eric Wright.

[ajaX82]

if we could get a couple of those LBs, with Levy, thats actually not a bad LB core. At all. Not going to blow anyone away but safe and solid across the board. With the D-line as good as it is, thats all we need.

I definitely want to bring back Houston too, he was pretty good last year

[Piston Pete]

LB Targets: Tulloch and James Anderson

CB Targets: Nnamdi, Cromartie, Carlos Rogers, Joseph, Talib, and/or bring back Houston.

[Liqourish]

Tennessee drafted two LBers in the draft this year. Even Titans fans think Tulloch wants to come to Detroit. He does have a history with Jim Schwartz and was tweeting about Detroits defensive line during the draft.

Cincinatti doesn't really want to bring back Johnathan Joseph, but they did tender him. So if another teams signs him, they get compensation for it. I believe it's a 1st and 3rd. I don't know if Detroit would give that up for him. We might be better off throwing a ton of money at Nnamdi and hoping he bites. If not, we're not out anything and can still go after another corner.

Alot will depend on free agency rules.

[Lionlifer]

Nnamdi will be the highest-paid player in the NFL, period. That's not going to happen in Detroit, sorry...

For reals? You think he will get more money than Manning will get when he re-ups with the Colts?

[Icness]

Nnamdi will be the highest-paid player in the NFL, period. That's not going to happen in Detroit, sorry...

For reals? You think he will get more money than Manning will get when he re-ups with the Colts?

I do. Might not get the length but he'll get a higher avg/year for the first couple anyways. Dallas will easily give him 3 yrs/$70M and Washington or Houston might outbid them. Manning gets what, $22M/yr on average with his latest deal IIRC.

[Lionlifer]

Nnamdi will be the highest-paid player in the NFL, period. That's not going to happen in Detroit, sorry...

For reals? You think he will get more money than Manning will get when he re-ups with the Colts?

I do. Might not get the length but he'll get a higher avg/year for the first couple anyways. Dallas will easily give him 3 yrs/$70M and Washington or Houston might outbid them. Manning gets what, $22M/yr on average with his latest deal IIRC.

Slightly unrelated, but I think this will have a big impact on Revis, as he never seems to be happy with his contract, and wants to be the highest paid player/CB in the NFL as far as I can see. Should be interesting to see how that plays out.

[cochiseuofm]

Revis was justly unhappy with his contract last year. His own coach said he had the most impact any corner has ever had in the NFL. In any other occupation, someone who has severely outperformed his salary would demand a raise or look for another job.

But he has a pretty fair deal right now, 46 million over 4 years, with 32 of it guarenteed.

[TSE]

Peter King just listed his top 5 of most likely teams for Asomugha: Cowboys/Eagles/Texans/Lions, and the Jets only if there is no salary cap this year.

[Icness]

Peter King just listed his top 5 of most likely teams for Asomugha: Cowboys/Eagles/Texans/Lions, and the Jets only if there is no salary cap this year.

Peter King also "guaranteed" the Lions would take Prince Amukamara and that Christian Ponder would not be a 1st round pick. He happens to be an old acquaintance and he's thrown me some bones along the way, but he's the least credible "insider" in the business unless it deals with the AFC East.

[Piston Pete]

How is it that the Cowboys and Eagles always seem to have space under the cap enough to go after prime FA's every offseason?

Hopefully our D-line acts as a recruiting tool and helps attract quality DB's and LB's.

[Icness]

How is it that the Cowboys and Eagles always seem to have space under the cap enough to go after prime FA's every offseason?

Hopefully our D-line acts as a recruiting tool and helps attract quality DB's and LB's.

Dallas would have to trim some contracts (read: Marion Barber, Roy Williams, Terrance Newman) but they might have been doing that anyways.

Philly is exceptional at knowing when to let players walk if they ask for to much or aren't earning their deals anymore. It drives Eagles fans crazy sometimes but you almost never see them give a lot of money to a player that just might be on the downside. Nobody does it better.