Many are obsessing about the draft and while I agree that it is important, we have to keep in mind the fact that it is only one of at least five components to the offseason, though a very important component. 1. The draft: I think we did very well here, considering the number of picks we had. 2. Free agency: We were a bit hamstrung in this category because of the final 8 rules this season, but we still managed to pull in an important player (Jason Taylor) who is likely to do well in a part time specialized job. Don't forget that after July 22 the handcuffs come off and we can sign anyone still available. The are are some intriguing possibilities, such as Adelius Thomas or Sharper who could just be waiting for that date to roll around. We also did very well picking up cut players who didn't fall under the final 8 rules such as LT. 3: Trades: This is where a number of our draft picks went and the reason we only had four. We got Edwards, Holmes, Cromartie. Nuff said. 4. Undrafted Free Agents: The next part of the process. Tanny and Rex have historically done well in this category and it is still playing out., We are going to do well in this category, especially since players want to come here. 5. Addition by subtraction: This is an area where I think Tanny and Rex have done especially well. Leon was going to be a problem all year, and was likely not going to be able to play to his past standard. We got what we could and moved on. Faneca was becoming a liability and six months too soon is better than a year too late when moving on. I remember a certain linebacker tandem a while back that we kept too long and that crippled us for a season. Don't want to go there again. TJ was not getting better and it was time to move on there too. No one can judge this draft class for a few years so all the grades given now are pure speculation, but as far as I'm concerned we've had the best offseason in the league. We got stronger where we needed to get stronger and you can see that the FO is thinking ahead to resign the key, core young players we need to make a multi year run at the championship. While we didn't do much about the DL, no one knows defense and the team personnel as well as Rex and if he is comfortable with the people he has in there, I'm not going to pretend I know more than him, cuz I don't, not by long shot.
1. Agreed, I think we did a good job maximizing value at every pick and making safe picks on players who'll contribute in 2010 2. Don't forget LT. Jones was gonna be a backup (it's Greene's backfield now) and LT is more versatile as a backup than Jones. I really hope we can land A. Thomas still. He's versatile and played many different positions in Rex's defense in Baltimore. 3. We did really well on the trade market considering the level of players we got and what we gave up for them. 4. They already did well, landing Donovan Warren who at one point was a first round prospect 5. In order to succeed in the NFL, you need to make tough decisions and not emotionally hold onto players when you can get rid of them for the betterment of the team
The thing is, I love Faneca...But..what are the odds that he gets Sanchez Killed ? Odd, how none of the media boobs are pointing out that he had become a liability in pass protection, on the blind side.
