Random FA Ideas

[Mojouw]

The discussions about Revis got me thinking. What are some other folks out there that might make some sort of sense that fall outside the normal conversation.

First off, this assumes that the Steelers take care of AB, Bell, AV, and still have a bit of cap room left over after setting some aside for the rookies.

1. Cordarrelle Patterson - WR/KR Vikings. Would instantly solve any return game issues. Never really launched as a WR. But is 6' 2" and 220 pounds. Runs like a gazelle. Never played with an NFL QB who can throw a decent deep ball. Likely won't cost much. 2 million per year to upgrade the return game and maybe have the Steelers WR reclamation machine churn out a terrifying red-zone weapon?

2. Want a more "polished" WR to help the depth chart? Let me introduce you (all over again) to Markus Wheaton. Seriously. Like is any team going to value him more than the Steelers?

3. Want to bring someone in to help with pass rush? Ingram and Perry too expensive? What about Damontre Moore as a consolation prize? Is only 24 years old. Has done a few things in the NFL. Has good size. Will come cheap. Drawbacks? Oh yeah -- he is likely a drunk and a knucklehead. Put him through Deebo's Reform School for Wayward NFL Pass Rushers?

4. Worried about heading into the draft with a hole at ILB? Not sure that Timmons is where you want cap dollars to go? What about Arthur Moats? How is he not already an inside 3-4 linebacker?

5. Markus Cooper - DB Arizona. Been discussed on another thread at length. May not be the greatest CB ever, but like the roster has so many options.

6. Justin Gilbert - KR/DB. If he didn't cost 2 million plus, I don't think he would have got cut. But maybe. Still what if was playing for peanuts?

Along with Revis, these are some of the lower cost fliers I would take if I had Colbert's job. They have one thing in common - mostly second contract players that will cost less than $4 million per year to sign. There is a certain team in the upper northeast that has been putting together some nice rosters for about a decade and a half doing similar things.

[86WARD]

Would love Patterson. Wheaton isn't a bad signing at all imo. He's better than Coates. I think I might take Bryant and Wheaton over Bryant and Coates at this stage. I like Nick Perry as a signing.
But h will probably cost $10M? John Simon isn't a bad sleeper free agent or you may be able to get a great deal on Jelani Jenkins...he could be really good or another Jarvis Jones.

[Born2Steel]

Patterson is another one trick pony. He would be a rerun of Wallace, IMO. I would use him as the decoy mostly. Returns definitely an upgrade. AB, Bryant(hopefully), and Patterson? That's a ton of speed.

I think Marcus Cooper would be a steal. Playing in a loaded secondary in AZ, his name doesn't get mentioned. He is big, fast, and has very good ball skills. I would rather get him than Revis, or a FA pass rusher.

[Shoes]

I think we would do better drafting a WR/returner. I wouldn't mind signing Wheaton, he at least makes an effort to go after the ball.

[st33lersguy]

Re-signing Wheaton on the cheap would solidify WR with AB, Bryant, and Wheaton all back plus with Rogers showing some promises.

[Psycho Ward 86]

Im just gonna copy and paste what i posted in another thread about OLB Nick Perry:

Maybe its just the free agency ho in me, but Nick Perry could end up being a great consolation prize. A lot of people will point to the whole "he finally played well because it's a contract year" argument, and thats a fair argument, but not all good players are good right away. I doubt he's able to command absurd money for that very reason.

That being said, heres my pitch on Nick Perry for those who are not a fan. Here me out:

For the 2016 season, 17 hurries, 11 sacks in only 12 starts (14 games) is pretty good no matter how you spin it. Did I mention the fact that Perry played with a broken hand bad enough that he was supposed to possibly miss the rest of the season? He played with one of those dummy clubs on his hand and STILL registered 4 sacks AFTER that injury in the next 4 games he played. He got those sacks in 2 MUST WIN divisional games and a playoff game).

For the 2015 season Perry played much of the season with a sprained AC joint but only missed 2 games, and snagged 2.5 sacks in a playoff game with that injury lingering (And then a sack and a forced fumble the following playoff game, although he wasn't on the injury report anymore). In 2014, Perry played most of the year with an injured shoulder that needed surgery in the offseason, yet he only missed 1 game and registered 1.5 sacks in a postseason game. 2013, Nick Perry got a sack in the packers lone playoff game. Kid seems to do that like clockwork.

This kid is an absolute warrior, productive when healthy, and still productive when he’s not. He was a 1st round draft pick for a reason. He’s not really on people’s radar anymore and on the surface looks like a one hit wonder (even though he’s not). Yeah, he has a bit of an injury history, but they just seem like unlucky injuries that don’t really cut into enough playing time to seem worrisome (kind of like Maurkice Pouncey). Those injuries also don’t seem to be lingering if his most recent season is any indication.

With Ingram all but off the board for us, what are everybody's thoughts on Perry?

[st33lersguy]

Nick Perry is a one-hit wonder who was productive for only 1 season

He played in 46 games from 2012-2015, he had 66 total tackles and 12.5 sacks, Steelers need productive players, not one-hit wonders looking for a large contract, particularly injury prone one-hit wonders

[Psycho Ward 86]

Nick Perry is a one-hit wonder who was productive for only 1 season

He played in 46 games from 2012-2015, he had 66 total tackles and 12.5 sacks, Steelers need productive players, not one-hit wonders looking for a large contract, particularly injury prone one-hit wonders

must have read only the last few sentences of my post. context of those sacks and tackles is important. sacks also arent everything. pressures are. By your logic, Bud Dupree had a very consistent and strong year on a play-to-play basis simply because he would have been on pace for double digit sacks had he played 16 games. Brandon Graham is one of the best edge rushers in the league He has never had more than 6.5 sacks in a season. With a straight face, would you have been able to tell James Harrison had an elite season as a pass rusher the past 2 seasons without ever watching a game?

[steelreserve]

1. Cordarrelle Patterson - WR/KR Vikings. Would instantly solve any return game issues. Never really launched as a WR. But is 6' 2" and 220 pounds. Runs like a gazelle. Never played with an NFL QB who can throw a decent deep ball. Likely won't cost much. 2 million per year to upgrade the return game and maybe have the Steelers WR reclamation machine churn out a terrifying red-zone weapon?

Every time we bring in someone to be the "return specialist" and possible WR, he ends up returning like 15 kicks for a 13.9 average and a costly fumble, and 1 catch for -3 yards as a WR. Even more so now that the kick returner's primary job is to watch the ball sail out of the back of the end zone. Brown can return punts; no, the "injury risk" on kick returns is for the other players, and for the return man himself, it's half the risk per snap of playing wide receiver. Well documented but apparently not to our coaching staff.

Wheaton might not be too bad if we could get him for cheap, but ufortunately I think someone WILL value him more than the Steelers. For the $4-5M a year that he's probably going to be offered, I don't think it makes sense to bring back a guy who has only ever succeeded as a #3 receiver, when we already have a more than capable replacement in Rogers.

Moats is all right and I think he's played both ILB and OLB, but Timmons is better and he shouldn't cost anywhere near what he was making before.

I do like either of those options at DB, or really any acceptable player with game experience at a reasonable price. It's clear we need one more guy on the roster, preferably someone with zone/man skills, and while would be nice if Golson steps up, that's not something I'm counting on.

[86WARD]

Patterson isn't a WR. He's just a really good KR.

[Mojouw]

Patterson isn't a WR. He's just a really good KR.

Definitely a totally flawed WR. But he is a weapon with the ball in his hands from anywhere on the field. He is actually everything that Haley wanted Rainey and Archer to be.

Watch some of his Vikings highlights and imagine a coordinator using him somewhere between how Haley tried to use Archer and how the Packers are currently using Montgomery.

Would it set the world on fire? Nope. But for a few million a season, I would sign up if it saved a draft pick.

[slashsteel]

Only players I want at WR in free agency is ones capable of being a true number 2.

I also have a strong desire to see OLBer and CB upgraded.

Bring in 1 or even better two upgrades, is needed now more than ever with Ben nearing the end. And the team close to greatness.

[DesertSteel]

Patterson isn't a WR. He's just a really good KR.

We don't need him then; we're all set at KR...

[/sarcasm]

[Mojouw]

Here is the trouble with the "true #2 WR" or basically anyone without major flaws.

Kenny Stills is reportedly looking at #12 million per season on the FA market. Due to his age, the rising cap, etc.

$12 million per year for Kenny Stills? Yeah. The Steelers aren't signing anyone in FA!

[Psycho Ward 86]

Ugh, why do i keep forgetting about Jabaal Sheard? Since Ingram is all but off the board, Id love to have Sheard, much more so than even Nick Perry. Sheard has been good even during his days with the browns. Patriots managed to get him for 2 years, $11 million. Im thinking sign him for around 3 years, $20 million and hes as good as ours. We could plug and play him immediately, and have a great pass rush platoon made up of Harrison, Dupree, Sheard, and a draft pick or 2. Hell, who knows if Chickillo keeps developing or not

[Bluecoat96]

I saw that the Chiefs are letting Poe hit free agency and are tagging Berry. Probably too steep a price, but just think of a front seven with Poe, Heyward, Tuitt, etc.....

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[Born2Steel]

I saw that the Chiefs are letting Poe hit free agency and are tagging Berry. Probably too steep a price, but just think of a front seven with Poe, Heyward, Tuitt, etc.....

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I brought up Poe a while back with the same idea. People on here informed me that Poe has bad knees apparently. I do love that idea, just not real sure how productive it could actually be. On paper though, it's a beautiful thing.

[Mojouw]

Where does Poe play? Does Hargrave go to the bench? If so, why?

[Born2Steel]

Where does Poe play? Does Hargrave go to the bench? If so, why?

We've had extensive conversation about DLine rotation. Nobody goes to the bench for long. Bit if Poe is damaged goods, it doesn't matter anyway.

[86WARD]

Poe has health issues as discussed here previously.

[Bluecoat96]

But he threw a touchdown pass! Surely Haley would want to sign him in order to do one of those shitty gadget plays that cost the team 10 yards while driving for a score, thus settling for a frustrating field goal?!?!

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[Psycho Ward 86]

I saw that the Chiefs are letting Poe hit free agency and are tagging Berry. Probably too steep a price, but just think of a front seven with Poe, Heyward, Tuitt, etc.....

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wheres his path to playing time?

[steelreserve]

Here is the trouble with the "true #2 WR" or basically anyone without major flaws.

Kenny Stills is reportedly looking at #12 million per season on the FA market. Due to his age, the rising cap, etc.

$12 million per year for Kenny Stills? Yeah. The Steelers aren't signing anyone in FA!

The price for free agent WRs is beyond insane - I mean, borderline #3 guys go for $4M or $5M, or double that if someone sees them as a potential #1 or #2, which is why we usually let ours go.

If they try to do add a decent receiver, it'll probably be through the draft; it wouldn't surprise me to see them use a third-round pick or so on that position again.


As for Poe - it's intriguing and I don't think we'd have a problem finding playing time for him ... our three starters can really play anywhere along the line. But bad knees on a 350-pound nose tackle are the kind of thing that mean one or two mostly ineffective seasons where you barely see the field and then that's the end of the road. Look at the typical outcome for those kinds of players and it's not pretty.

[Psycho Ward 86]

Ugh, why do i keep forgetting about Jabaal Sheard? Since Ingram is all but off the board, Id love to have Sheard, much more so than even Nick Perry. Sheard has been good even during his days with the browns. Patriots managed to get him for 2 years, $11 million. Im thinking sign him for around 3 years, $20 million and hes as good as ours. We could plug and play him immediately, and have a great pass rush platoon made up of Harrison, Dupree, Sheard, and a draft pick or 2. Hell, who knows if Chickillo keeps developing or not

Just found the answer to my own question...Didnt realize that the patriots are projected to have $62.5 million in cap space. Jesus, i hate these guys but you gotta hand it to them....they know what theyre doing in terms of personnel management. I feel like the Patriots will easily be able to keep all of their best/hard to replace free agents

The Patriots let go of 2 pro bowl pass rushers and still finished with the #1 defense. These moves would be exponentially less drastic and i hope we show a penchant to change it up from the norm these next few dwindling years with Ben

[Psycho Ward 86]

With the salary cap at $167 million, we officially have $23.5 million in salary cap space: http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/cap/

And yes, this is even with Antonio Brown's new contract since his cap hit stays exactly the same for the 2017 season.

Hopefully based on the most expensive RB contracts out there, Bell will get a contract somewhere between Adrian Peterson who is by far the highest paid ($14 million per year) and McCoy who is the 2nd highest ($8 million per year). Since most contracts are backloaded, perhaps a cap hit that will be $2-4 million less than the estimated franchise tag of $12.1 million will be in order? That would leave us with $13.5-15.5 million in cap space. Then what do we normally spend on rookie classes and money reserves incase of injury during the regular season? Like $3-5 million and $3 million respectively?

Suddenly cutting Mitchell and letting Timmons walk looks a little more tantalizing doesnt it?

[Mojouw]

Yeah. I always said that all this talk of cap room was getting way ahead of itself. Back out the draft class, the few vet FA depth signings they always do, an in season contingency, and all the suspected extensions -- boom. No real spending money.

[Shoes]

Top 101 free agents of 2017

http://www.nfl.com/freeagency#tab=rankings

[Psycho Ward 86]

Since were not sure about Senquez Golson's health, Nickell Robey-Coleman is an equally small midget (with production and experience though) that could be a target:http://www.steelersdepot.com/2017/03...nickel-option/


Personally would prefer we move away from smurfs if we want to get serious about being able to play man coverage..thanks. The guy is only 5'8'' 165lb, but according to PFF, he allowed a passer rating of 74.86 in the slot; 2nd best for slot CBs just behind Chris Harris Jr.

not sure how much i believe that. if its true i guess we should entertain the idea? and he was on a 2 year contract worth $4.1 million, so we could get him cheap.

[Mojouw]

You know who had a really good PFF rank?




Brandon Boykin. I couldn't help myself.

[BlackAndGold]

Torrey Smith would be a solid signing as a deep threat. Doubt he'll cost much. Didn't have a great year in SF, but a lot of that blame goes towards the QB play.