We all hope for major changes on defense what i didn’t realize is just how many free agents we have one defense.

with Barnett, McLeod, Harris, Nelson, Avery all free agent starters 

and Singleton a RFA starter 

plus Ridgeway 

 

there could be a huge amount of turnover this year. that’s not even mentioning anyone’s opinion on a possible trade of Cox

Yes I think its a good thing. Clean house and get some young new talent in. As for Cox, he's not going anywhere because it actually costs more to trade or release him than it does to keep him from a cap standpoint.

Well if you have a lot of possible losses on def to FA that would be the year to let Gannon go and let a new Def Coach come in and mold a new culture and scheme .  Take of Gannon up for Hc position for some teams.  Not sure if they saw any of our games this year but hey save Howie and Laurie the uncomfortable conversation.  

I don't see them trading Cox but Howie's always looking for a deal.  DT is the only position where I'd be comfortable bringing back the same group without changes.

They need to let Barnett walk, let someone overpay for him.  They really need to draft a DE with one of the 1st round picks and pair that player with Sweat, Brandon Graham returning to give whatever he has left in the tank and maybe even draft another DE at some point as well.  

Of McLeod and Harris, one will be gone not sure which they would keep.  Saftey and corner are also positions they should be drafting.

They really just need to draft defensive BPA in almost every round and maybe an offensive pick with a WR in mid to late rounds or an O lineman but I'm hoping this is a defense heavy draft.

Also:

Comp picks!  

I remember on the old board some guy said having comp picks was the key to the Patriots winning the Super Bowl and we needed more comp picks.

52 minutes ago, NOTW said:

Also:

Comp picks!  

I remember on the old board some guy said having comp picks was the key to the Patriots winning the Super Bowl and we needed more comp picks.

yes comp picks are always nice i could see maybe getting a couple from this group depending on who all we let go and who/when we sign anyone ourselves... i know after a certain point signing players no longer counts against the comp picks.

32 minutes ago, Cheesteakitis said:

yes comp picks are always nice i could see maybe getting a couple from this group depending on who all we let go and who/when we sign anyone ourselves... i know after a certain point signing players no longer counts against the comp picks.

Yeah there's an offset with your own signings.  Apart from a veteran WR, I would expect some depth players or maybe a replacement stop gap starter perhaps at safety.  But they should be low spenders in free agency and focus on the draft.

On 1/25/2022 at 11:58 AM, Cheesteakitis said:

We all hope for major changes on defense what i didn’t realize is just how many free agents we have one defense.

with Barnett, McLeod, Harris, Nelson, Avery all free agent starters 

and Singleton a RFA starter 

plus Ridgeway 

 

there could be a huge amount of turnover this year. that’s not even mentioning anyone’s opinion on a possible trade of Cox

Keep Singleton for depth. Keep one of McLeod or Harris, draft a safety to replace the other. Keep Avery on what should be a reasonable deal. The others can go. 

On 1/25/2022 at 11:58 AM, Cheesteakitis said:

We all hope for major changes on defense what i didn’t realize is just how many free agents we have one defense.

with Barnett, McLeod, Harris, Nelson, Avery all free agent starters 

and Singleton a RFA starter 

plus Ridgeway 

 

there could be a huge amount of turnover this year. that’s not even mentioning anyone’s opinion on a possible trade of Cox

Well, IF Gannon stays (I tend to think he will ... I don't think he'll get hired on as a HC just yet and I don't think Sirianni is going to can him), then perhaps part of the reason our defense didn't play as well as hoped is because we just didn't have the right personnel for this scheme.  So maybe it is good that we have a decent amount of turnover.  Also, I am hoping for a defense heavy draft and that many will be given opportunities to see significant play time as rooks.  I'd like to see a young defensive unit grow together (not filled with band aids like Harris or Nelson).  Those young, hand picked players are usually hungrier.  So count me in for letting them all walk and replacing them with young draft picks.

On 1/25/2022 at 12:19 PM, NOTW said:

Also:

Comp picks!  

I remember on the old board some guy said having comp picks was the key to the Patriots winning the Super Bowl and we needed more comp picks.

Baltimore too!  Comp picks are life.  Without comp picks, what's the point of even getting up in the morning?  

4 minutes ago, hputenis said:

Baltimore too!  Comp picks are life.  Without comp picks, what's the point of even getting up in the morning?  

You don't wanna find yourself:

 

It would be great to get some young and talent all over

On 1/25/2022 at 9:10 AM, John Blutarski said:

As for Cox, he's not going anywhere because it actually costs more to trade or release him than it does to keep him from a cap standpoint.

That's not really the way I would put it.

Trading or releasing him does not actually cost more, it just forces their hand to instantly apply to the salary cap any dollars they have already spent on him.  The economics of it are not really all that complicated -- every dollar you spend on a player is a dollar that has to be accounted for under the salary cap, no more and no less.  There is nothing magical about that.  The only question is what year you allocate each dollar to the cap.

In Cox's case, they've paid him about $41 million more than they have applied to the salary cap so far, so all of that would have to be applied instantly to this year's salary cap year if they trade or release him.  His contract is where they have played a lot of games with deferring salary cap allocation, largely because they have expected to keep him.

But, yeah, the conclusion is right -- that big of a chunk hitting the salary cap this year in one fell swoop would make for some difficult salary cap management, rather than it gradually hitting it in smaller chunks over several years if they keep him.

I don’t think our defense is as bad as some make it out to be.

Yes, we could do with another starter at almost all positions (all if you think Cox is done), which is tough.

On the other hand the defense did look good at times and we do have a core of players even though aging.

Still, let’s assume we draft DE and CB, add some more depth in the draft and find at least one ‘splash’ FA (safety?): Then we might see a very competent unit next year.

Not saying we are good right now and all will be well but if we get this offseason right this can turn around pretty fast. We do have character and leadership, the two components that are hardest to find.

58 minutes ago, Infam said:

On the other hand the defense did look good at times and we do have a core of players even though aging

I think the problem is a lot are going to be another year older and a few aren't going to be back. 

I mean right now Barnett is gone (good riddance but he's a starter). Kerrigan is gone (no loss but a body). Nelson is a FA, Harris is a FA, McLeod is a FA. Ridgeway is a FA. I think Singleton is too isn't he?

It's a defense that lacks talent, is getting older and is going to lack numbers going in to the off season. 

1 hour ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

I think the problem is a lot are going to be another year older and a few aren't going to be back. 

I mean right now Barnett is gone (good riddance but he's a starter). Kerrigan is gone (no loss but a body). Nelson is a FA, Harris is a FA, McLeod is a FA. Ridgeway is a FA. I think Singleton is too isn't he?

It's a defense that lacks talent, is getting older and is going to lack numbers going in to the off season. 

Meh, all those guys are not even worth being around for the depth except McLeod

4 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

I think the problem is a lot are going to be another year older and a few aren't going to be back. 

I mean right now Barnett is gone (good riddance but he's a starter). Kerrigan is gone (no loss but a body). Nelson is a FA, Harris is a FA, McLeod is a FA. Ridgeway is a FA. I think Singleton is too isn't he?

It's a defense that lacks talent, is getting older and is going to lack numbers going in to the off season. 

singleton is RFA i’m sure we offer him a tender sheet… also Avery is a FA…. that’s a good amount of starters it would be great to improve in all of those areas plus some this off-season hahaha

5 hours ago, Infam said:

On the other hand the defense did look good at times and we do have a core of players even though aging.

Don't be fooled, the defense looked good against terrible QB's. This defense needs a lot of work.

basically all they added to defense last year was harris in free agency and some players in the draft but no one till round 3… Milton Williams…. i like the flashes he has shown.

round 4 was Mcphearson which i can say i noticed much on defense outside of a few flags thrown his way, he was decent on special teams though. 

hopefull either with or without Gannon this is the year they can pick out players they want for their system.

26 minutes ago, Perforator said:

Don't be fooled, the defense looked good against terrible QB's. This defense needs a lot of work.

I don’t believe it’s that easy in the NFL.

This season is just more proof of that.

37 minutes ago, Perforator said:

Don't be fooled, the defense looked good against terrible QB's. This defense needs a lot of work.

yes, directly from years of neglect...

6 hours ago, Infam said:

I don’t think our defense is as bad as some make it out to be.

Yes, we could do with another starter at almost all positions (all if you think Cox is done), which is tough.

On the other hand the defense did look good at times and we do have a core of players even though aging.

Still, let’s assume we draft DE and CB, add some more depth in the draft and find at least one ‘splash’ FA (safety?): Then we might see a very competent unit next year.

Not saying we are good right now and all will be well but if we get this offseason right this can turn around pretty fast. We do have character and leadership, the two components that are hardest to find.

Our defense looked a group of high schoolers against any QB that isn't garbage. Stop it.

Gannon is not going anywhere unless he gets a HC job. I don't think he will be judged on this past season alone. I believe he was held back by the personnel he had to work with. I think we see a lot more when he has players that he feels can execute his schemes. I find it hard to believe what we saw this year is what were going to get once he has more of his personnel in place.

Good to see people are starting to look at the current state of our defense a bit closer rather than just focusing on the QB. We have major needs on our defense that can't be ignored or fixed by bringing in a better QB. Seems a lot of people gloss over the amount of churn we are facing that needs to be addressed.

Cox is very likely here next year because of the cap hit and having so many other more immediate needs.

10 hours ago, Infam said:

I don’t think our defense is as bad as some make it out to be.

Yes, we could do with another starter at almost all positions (all if you think Cox is done), which is tough.

On the other hand the defense did look good at times and we do have a core of players even though aging.

Still, let’s assume we draft DE and CB, add some more depth in the draft and find at least one ‘splash’ FA (safety?): Then we might see a very competent unit next year.

Not saying we are good right now and all will be well but if we get this offseason right this can turn around pretty fast. We do have character and leadership, the two components that are hardest to find.

They played mostly garbage teams, their best players are older especially guys Andy Reid drafted. They need young drafted talent badly.

All those guys suck. Nelson had a solid year and McLeod is old