Originally Posted by
Mojouw
Right. Which is what my post was talking about. It all depends on where you set the numbers. If the Chickillo signing is a "good signing" @ $4 million than it is hard to simultaneous argue that the Dupree signing @ 9 million is terrible. If the Dupree signing is terrible, then so is the Chickillo signing.
I think Chickillo is the Matakevich of outside linebackers. He tries real hard and plays a great ST role. But he just isn't playable in base defense for more than a snap here or there. Why he was resigned over almost anyone else...I don't really know. I mean I do know...no holes on the roster prior to the draft...solid veteran... blah blah blah.
Look, we can all argue about individual player evaluations but what remains to be seen and it will crystalize in the next 3 weeks or so, what is the cost for a back-up OLB not on a rookie deal? We assume it is less than $4 million. Perhaps that needs recalibrated. Same with a mediocre starting OLB not on rookie deal. We assume it is far south of 6 million. Maybe that isn't the case any longer.
And I reject the argument that it isn't about who you can or can not sign in FA. You have to back-fill any roster holes you create by cutting players for performance, attitude, or salary reasons. So what filling that position costs is a massive part of the overall evaluation. I mean we can talk about imaginary players that are unproven roles of the dice all day long. But you have to get one or three of them on your roster. And that costs something either in draft picks or cap dollars. Attempting to judge what that would be is an important consideration.
I really think that Barrett, Ray, and the Green Bay duo will be excellent measuring sticks for the Steelers OLB decisions. If Dupree equals or exceeds the pressures and sacks that either one of the GB duo generates, then he is a bargain. If he falls flat - then it was a large scale overpay. If Barrett and Ray sign for 7 million or under and outproduce Dupree, then it was a waste of resources. If they sign for 4 million or under and outproduce Chickilllo, then we are really talking about a series of terrible decisions.
If Toledo Alphabet Soup pushes hard for snaps and emerges as a holy terror off the edge, then the whole thing is a moot point and the team wasted a great deal of cap space.
However if Dupree has about 8 sacks and isn't a complete liability in the run game, then the Steelers got themselves a solid bargain.