48 million to spend and only 7 mil of that will go to our rookies.

IMO opinion the players we are most likely to resign are...

Starks & Fasano.

Beyond those two I think we will make an attempt to resign Hartline as long as he doesn't get a crazy offer from another team. I also think Clemons is an option unless Ireland has his sights on a big FA like Goldson or Byrd. A few of the lower tier players like Garner may be resigned as well unless Ireland plans on a total makeover of the o-line.

I also think Sean Smith is likely to walk.

My question is....how much can Ireland realistically do? and how much will he do?

I believe Bush is gone (to Cincy) and we will not come close to matching his offer.

I think the only RFA we tender will be Devlin and maybe a low rounder on
Sanford.

Realistically we could resign Hartline, Fasano and Starks.

Hartline 4m, Fasano 3m & Starks 5m. That would be roughly 12 for them and 7 for our rookie signing pool = 19m leaving us 29 mil to spend. That's still a pretty heft sum and we may also cut a few players like Marshall, Patterson or Dan Carpenter.

That leaves us with holes at T, G, WR, TE, CB, CB, DT & (potentially) DE to fill through the draft and FA and/or trades.

Can Ireland address all these positions? Will he address them all?

We have all been frustrated as hell in the past watching the offseason go by with little or no movement....ala last years draft and no top round WR, dumb moves like signing Columbo and bad FA pickups.

Ireland says this abundance of cap space was by design and he plans on making a splash. Do you buy it?

So...29 million to spend in FA....

Who do we draft and who do we sign as a FA?

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“I'm here" You're welcome!" - Kenny Powers

I'm glad you're not running the show.

I'm glad I don't give a shit what you think.

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“I'm here" You're welcome!" - Kenny Powers

Now, now. You guys are on the road to acting like me and.....

Also glad I don't think about sex when I talk about running backs and quarterbacks...

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“I'm here" You're welcome!" - Kenny Powers

me and LT

You mean you and you then because you are LT.

Ok.

I don't want to overpay for Starks. Can't we put Odrick in at his spot?

Fasano is a barely above min type $$ player. If he take that I am happy to have him back. If he wants more than see ya. Fasano is not a priority IMO.

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The beatings will continue until morale improves.

Odrick is nowhere starks level of play. At least yet.

but i think he played inside in a 4 man front in college. he's been playing out of position as a 3-4 and 4-3 end here. let's see what he can do inside full time. If retaining starks means giving him 8mm per year I don't want to do that.

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The beatings will continue until morale improves.

I think Odrick is a step down from Starks but IMO If Starks comes back it will be for a deal similar to what Soliai got. 2 years 12 mil.

Kendall langford got a similar deal (6m per year) from STL but it was for 4 years with 12 mil guaranteed.

Red Bryant (Seattle) signed a 5 yr 35m deal last year.

Starks is very good but there are better DT's avaialble according to PFF. Henry Melton would be a huge FA pickup. He is among the best in the league.

A former Dolphin draftee, Kevin Vickerson has a +4.0 rating compared to Starks' +3.5 but will probably get less money.

Jason Jones (Seattle) had a +5.6 rating. Vance Walker (ATL) had a +7.6

I think there are plenty of options this year in FA for DT's with a possibility to upgrade for short money.

Tony McD is also a FA this year and has been a huge part of the rotation. I think Odrick could take over for him in the rotation but I would not depend on him as a full time starter.

FA seems to be deep in quality OT, DT, WR, FS & CB. Beyond that it is not a bad market for DE & OG.

(I guess you were right ChyrenB...about using FA for C

By way of comparison...

Sean Smith had a -3.5 rating.

Players at the top of the FA list.....

#1 Adam Jones +11.1 (Kevin Coyle pupil)
Sam Shields +10.9
Terrance Newman +8.6 (Kevin Coyle pupil)
Sheldon Brown +7.5
Chris Houston +7.4

There are many that outplayed all of our CB's. (Brian McCann from Miami had a +1.3) 23 players had a positive grade.

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“I'm here" You're welcome!" - Kenny Powers