Here is my thinking of what I would currently like to see in free agency


cut Shawn Andrews, this may be a big call, but I don't think his health can be relied upon. Andrews is worth $6.5m (2011: $3 million (+ $3.5 million roster bonus due on 30th day of "league year") which is better invested in other players

cut Rocky Bernard, While not hugely expensive, Bernard isn't the dominant player we want and he isn't a potential starter. Better to give his reps to Joseph and Austin. This frees up around $2.5m to reinvest elsewhere.

rework Jacobs contract. He isn't playing up to it at the moment.

cut Madison Hedgecock

resign Steve Smith

Cofield, Kiwanuka, Bradshaw, Boss get better deals elsewhere.

sign

FB Vonta Leach (Houston) - the Bulldozer RB we badly need.

RB DeAngelo Williams (Carolina) - Bush is another option, but we need a difference maker here. This is a wildcard, but it could happen.

TE Zach Miller (Oakland) - a good all around TE, Miller is another quality weapon and good blocker. Miller and Leach basically make the Oline better

DT Tommie Harris (Chicago) - not the player he used to be, but he can be a valuable disruptive DT for us. He will have the help on the Dline he has never had.

MLB Paul Poslunzy (Buffalo) - the stud MLB we need

OLB Rocky McIntosh (Washington) - he can play either outside spot for us and would be good value. He could push Boley to the bench.

S Dashon Goldson (San Francisco) - with Grant gone, we need veteran safety depth and special teams play.

sign udfa safety Jeron Johnson (Boise State) - depth and special teams, other good options include Deandre McDaniel, Deunta Williams, Jerrard Tarrant and Joe Lefeged

sign udfa center Tim Barnes (Missouri) - a developmental center. Other options include Zane Taylor, Jake Kirkpatrick and Alex Linnenkohl

this is roughly how I ideally would like to see our roster shape up.

QB (2) - Eli Manning, Sage Rosenfels

RB (3) - DeAngelo Williams (fa), Brandon Jacobs, DJ Ware

FB (1) - Vonta Leach (fa)

WR (6) - Hakeem Nicks, Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, Ramsees Barden, Jerrell Jernigan, Domenik Hixon / Derek Hagan / Victor Cruz / Duke Calhoun

TE (3) - Zach Miller (fa), Travis Beckum, Bear Pascoe

OT (4) - Kareem McKenzie, David Diehl, Will Beatty, James Brewer

OG (3) - Chris Snee, Rich Seubert, Mitch Petrus/ Jamon Meredith

OC (3) - Shaun O'Hara, Adam Koets, Tim Barnes (udfa)

DE (4) - Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Jason Pierre-Paul, Dave Tollefson

NT (2) - Chris Canty, Linval Joseph

UT (2) - Tommie Harris (fa), Marvin Austin

SLB (2) - Michael Boley, Clint Sintim/ Adrian Tracy

MLB (3) - Paul Poslunzy (fa), Jon Goff, Greg Jones/ Phillip Dillard

WLB (2) - Rocky McIntosh (fa), Jaquain Williams

CB (5) - Corey Webster, Terrell Thomas, Prince Amukamara, Aaron Ross, Bruce Johnson

S (5) - Antrell Rolle, Kenny Phillips, Dashon Goldson (fa), Tyler Sash, Jeron Johnson (udfa)

K (1) - Lawrence Tynes

P (1) - Matt Dodge

LS (1) - Zak DeOssie

Thats a good plan but I can't imagine us being able to afford all those players. Miller will demand top 5 TE money. DeAngelo will get top 10 RB money. Pos will be paid top 10 LB money and Leach will be the leagues highest paid FB. Goldson isn't a backup, I can't imagine him signing here to be one. On top of all that sign McIntosh and Harris (both of whom won't come cheap) and resign Steve Smith... I think thats pushing it.

Pizan wrote:Thats a good plan but I can't imagine us being able to afford all those players. Miller will demand top 5 TE money. DeAngelo will get top 10 RB money. Pos will be paid top 10 LB money and Leach will be the leagues highest paid FB. Goldson isn't a backup, I can't imagine him signing here to be one. On top of all that sign McIntosh and Harris (both of whom won't come cheap) and resign Steve Smith... I think thats pushing it.

possibly, but at the same time there is savings of $10mil with Andrews/Bernard. there was just under $10mil invested in the RFA tenders of Bradshaw, Kiwanuka, Boss, Smith, Tollefson and Cofield


top TE money isn't that huge, McIntosh is pretty much purely a 4-3 WLB, which will limit his likely destinations


as far as Harris, if he is too expensive, we would keep Bernard.

I would predict around 6-7 mil a year for Pos, Miller, Williams
maybe 5-6m a year for Smith and maybe 4-5m a year for McIntosh, Goldson

My money is on one free agent LB, with Poslunzsy the preferred option.


Goff would slide outside to SLB splitting time with Sintim.

Poslunzsy is an ideal fit for us at MLB (and I believe at the top of our
free agency wish list), plus he knows Fewell and Fewell's schemes. You
have to think Poslunzsy would love to play behind our Dline and for a
team with legitimate playoff aspirations.

If you look over our draft history, we haven't prioritised LB, but we
have been willing to spend money in free agency, such as Mike Barrow,
Lavar Arrington and Antonio Pierce.

Other than that, we won't be too active, either resigning our current guys or finding their replacement.