Free Agency I don't know how much any of this will cost... Resign Hartline, Fasano, and Starks, etc. Sign Greg Jennings Sebastian Vollmer Kenny Phillips Chris Gamble Draft "With the 12th pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select..." 1. Xavier Rhodes CB 2. Quinton Patton WR 2b. Cornelius "Tank" Carradine DE 3. Gavin Escobar TE 3b. Brian Winters OG 4. Ryan Swope WR5. Brandon McGee CB 7. Dustin Hopkins K 7b. George Winn RBRoster RB: Miller, Thomas, Thigpen, Winn OL: Martin, Winters, Pouncey, Incognito, Vollmer TE: Fasano, Escobar, Clay, Egnew WR: Jennings, Hartline, Patton, Bess, Swope, Matthews DL: Carradine/Shelby, Starks, Soliai-Odrick, Wake/Vernon CB: Gamble, Rhodes, Marshall, Carroll, McGee K: Hopkins *Bye Carpenter*
At this point I wouldn't draft Rhodes at 12. Especially if we've signed Gamble. I like the rest of that draft though a lot.
The more I go through draft and free agency stuff, the more important I realize it is to include the numbers. I understand why you didn't. It's a lot of extra work, but it determines a lot of the decisions on who stays, who goes, who we sign etc. I like some of what you've got. On some things I differ. I assume Long is gone, thus Vollmer and Martin as bookends. I would keep Long if possible... Though Ireland lacks the charm to do that at anything but the highest price, sadly. Not on board with Chris Gamble, and would prefer Dustin Keller to Fasano. Also, would not resign Hartline as he'll just end up keeping a rookie WR with more TD potential off the field. I haven't watched Rhodes, but people seem to be high on him. I do like nabbing a top notch CB at 12, if he's good enough. I watched Banks and Milliner and was leaning towards Banks if his shuttle time is good at the combine. I wouldn't quibble with Quinton, though I prefer Stedman Bailey in the second. I think Tank is gone around pick 31-40 so I doubt we get a crack at him unless Ireland actually targets him and makes some moves in the draft. I love Tank, though. Winters sounds like a smart choice and maybe around the right spot though I have seen some people claim he'll go lower. Escobar is nice, though I'd prefer Reed (in a lot of these cases, you're taking the guy I like second-best at spots). I also think I can get Reed with my lower third (it's not that much lower though, is it). I wish people would stop calling for Swope. I think he's due to be a dud. I know nada about the other seventh rounders. Not a bad draft. Better than Ireland will muster.
Barry, when you watch Xavier, it won't take you long to fall totally in love with him. That's my guess anyway. All the praise he's gotten here is well deserved.
You sure? I'd say the CB position is our biggest need after another competent receiver. With Smith possibly leaving and Patterson likely getting cut we'll be left with Nolan Carroll, Richard Marshall, Bryan McCann, Jimmy Wilson, and the FAMU CB, all 3rd-6th options at best or in other words not starting material. You bring in Gamble(start), Rhodes(start), and Taylor(push Carroll and Marshall for playing time) and it's instantly upgraded.
IMO, that is not likely. I've seen it speculated here and that is all. Knowing Ireland, I'd guess he figures he got a starting quality and at least a good nickel corner for $4 mill a year contract. I think the most likely MO for Ireland is let Smith go, keep Patterson and Marshall, maybe sign a middle tier corner, and draft one in the top 5 picks and roll like that.
If Ireland at least hits on the first two he can receive praise, but as you said he'll probably do the opposite. Are you saying you'd prefer Keller instead of Fasano? Keller may be a seam threat, but a lot of Jets fans say that he's a bad blocker and isn't that reliable moving the chains. Not to mention he's 6'2; please don't bash me on height . I initially wanted Jared Cook, good blocker and more athletic than both, but the Titans are going to franchise him. I'm a little on the fence with Martin at LT also. We'll just have to see if he progresses or not, remember he was a rookie playing out of position for most of the season. Everyone bashes Hartline's production but how many times was he targeted in the red zone? I can count maybe 1 instance this year. We can talk about the little Hartline doesn't produce but we also have to remember Hartline hasn't had a Brady or Manning throwing to him but a Henne, Moore, and Tannehill. He could have had 3-4 TDs yet Tannehill overthrew him a couple of times so all the blame for his little production isn't warranted. A rookie alongside two veterans isn't just going to produce TDs that easily anyway. Gamble seems like the most likely choice as we'll spend a wad on Wallace/Jennings along with maybe finding some veteran help on the OL leaving Gamble, who isn't expecting much, the best CB available. Cox is getting franchised, Talib is old, Grimes may be a possibility, DRC is going to be pricey, Houston is also a possibility, Williams is going back to the Ravens, then there is a drop off imo. Rhodes is the real deal; aggressive, physical, plays the run really well, and has good speed. My perception of him was blinded at first as he played for my favorite college's rival but after assessing him, I was hooked. A lot of people will fear Tank's injury and back away from until the end of the 2nd or early 3rd imo. I would've chose Reed also, you have to excuse my infatuation with tall TEs. The only reason I chose Swope was because I was unsure of we needed a RB then. Mike Gillislee was my initial pick there. Hopkins was one of the best kickers in college football (Caleb Sturgis a close 2nd). Winn has gained some attention lately but I had Joe Vallano at DT before I made that pick.
