And the timing couldn’t be better. A worthy topic to get us looking ahead and our minds off that playoff loss.
Where to start?
I find myself largely in agreement with my esteemed fellow posters on most players and positions.
Here’s my 2 cents view from 30,000 feet.
Brown probably remains our backup RB. Only so many picks and FA dollars and there are bigger needs. Dunbar is a goner.
Sully probably gets extended. He’s solid and should be affordable. He would eliminate a hole that that otherwise might need fixing.
Whit situation is tricky. It would be prudent to acquire his eventual replacement this year. But there has to be the value at our picks when doing so. Another FA as “insurance” seems unlikely. But if Whit gets hurt or dramatically declines, we’re in a fix without a quality LOT. Like I said, tricky. And important.
I’m inclined to think that they roll with their current TE group. Higbee is starting to flash and Everett deserves an opportunity to justify their faith in him. Plus I suspect that McVay has seen something in Hemingway that he really likes. Too many other priority needs, anyway. So, TE is on backburner this offseason, I think.
Watkins? Could go either way. Probably just depends on his demands. $10 million is my personal upper limit. But what do I know?
A new NT seems likely. Draft or FA, I dunno. But our run D needs bolstering. High priority, IMO. Gotta trust Wade here.
Quinn? Again, could go either way. I make it 60% that he now stays.
Don’t know if Ebu is ready to start. Rush OLB might get some early attention in the draft, depending on who falls.
I make it 75% that TruJo walks. Might not be a bad thing, either. CB is gonna be a high emphasis in both the draft and FA, at least IMO. BTW, we shouldn’t count on Webster’s availability next year due to the Achilles. I predict 2 new starting CB’s for ‘18. I think they extend Troy Hill, btw. Heck, he might even be a starter. Don’t laugh.
NRC will very likely be extended. I like him, btw.
Joyner gets extended unless he pulls a TruJo/Jenkins. I’ll be both stunned and disappointed if Joyner gets away.
Somehow, some way, I see Wade coming out of this offseason with an improved run D and 2 CB’s that he trusts for man coverage. Believe it or not, I think our pass rush will be improved, too. With or without Quinn.
I guess I’m seeing more starting personnel changes on D than most others do. In ‘17 Wade had to “make do” while converting to his 3-4 D. Most resources had to be devoted to the O last season, for obvious reasons. But this year, I think it’s Wade’s turn. Big Time. Lol.
