Free agency hearthache but the draft leads to optimism

I've learned my lesson. No more big dreams. Total reealism on my part.

With only $13M available which is todays overthecap.com number after the draaft class i think we're going to preceive that we've had a have a terrible free agency period.

OK - we can cut Michael Carter III and add another $9M to our available funds. Jakorian Bennett, Ojukwu $1.1M saved, - That's a total of $23M.

We have 7 starters who are free agents. WR3 Dotson, TE1 Goedert, CB2 Adoree' Jackson, starting LB Dean, S Blankenship, Edge Phillips, Punter Mann. Call it 6 since we have ?Dean's replacement on the roster. Let's call Phillips, Goedet, and Blankenship the big 3.

We have 7 more contributers who are free agnets. OT Big Fred, OL Brett Toth, TE2 Calcaterra, Edge Uche, S Epps, TE3 Granson, LS Hughlett. Call it 6 with Cameron Williams replaceing Big Fred.

Other non-contributoes QB Howell, RB Dillon, WR Marshall, OL Pryor, Edge Ojulari, Edge Okoronokwo, Cb Nickerosn

How many of the 12 unreplaced starters and contributors can be retained with $22M? Probably 1 of the big 3 and 3 or 4 contributors.

So we keep:

Phillips $20M/yr, $10M cap hit, Mann $2M, Toth $2M, Uche $2M, Epps $3M

Free agent signings - TE Daniel Bellinger $2M (replaces Calcaterra)

The boards, WIP and the media overall will be wailing and gnashing their teeth.

Can't trade AJ due to a $49M cap hit. Can't cut Elliott due to a $6M cap hit. God forbit Lane retires pre-June 1 whiich would cause a $19M cap hit, or Landon with a $17M hit.

So we lose - starters WR3 Dotson, TE1 Goedert, CB2 Jackson, S Blankenship, LB Dean and contributors at OT Big Fred, TE3 Granson, LS Hughlett

And we have on ly 2 QB's on the roster. We need 4 - 3 active and 1 PS.

Draft -

1 - CB Colton Hood (replaces Jackson)

2 - WR Elijah Sarratt (replaces Dotson)

3 - Edge Dani Dennis-Sutton (replaces BG)

3 - TE Max Klare (replaces Goedert)

4 - S Jalon Kilgore (replaces Blankenship)

4 - OL Demetrious Crownover (replaces Pryor)

5 - QB Cole Payton (replaces Howell)

5 - LB Aiden Fisher (replaces Dean)

Undrafted free agents -

TE Bauer Sharp LSU (replaces Granson)

LS Veau Gardner Georgia (replaces Hughlett)

QB Tyler Van Dyke SMU (replaces Howell and is our practice squad QB)

WR Barrion Brown LSU (battles Wilson & Covey or replaces Marshall on PS)

OL Ryan Baoe Pitt (PS candidate battling Hinton and Pierce)

IOL Can Dewberry Alabama (PS candidate)

Edge Marvin jones Oklahoma (PS candidate replaced Okoronokwo)