Thread: Free Agent WR News and Rumors

Originally Posted by WindyCity

Report: Bills won't franchise tag Stevie Johnson - CBSSports.com

And now, the Bills reportedly won't be using the franchise tag on Johnson if they can't reach a long-term deal before March 5. That's according to Rodney McKissic of The Buffalo News, who reports that the "franchise tag option hasn't been discussed during negotiations" between the team and Johnson.

I read about that too but Larry Mayer said the same thing about the Bears and Forte. I don't believe the Bears won't tag Forte but who knows what Buffalo might do. I haven't looked up their cap situation yet.

Here's some news that may put a player we can use on the open market. The Chiefs have money if they want to keep him but it's unlikely he stay for less than Flowers or Routt make. Carr would make a nice pickup to play alongside Peanut.

Brandon Carr and the cornerback market

February, 20, 2012By Kevin Seifert





As we noted from the start, there was never any indication that free-agent cornerback Stanford Routt would land with one of the NFC North's cornerback-deficient teams. But could Routt's decision to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs put another player on our division map?

Conventional wisdom suggests the Chiefs won't break the bank on re-signing cornerback Brandon Carr, 25, who has started every game for them in the past four years. I'm not sure if that's a safe bet, considering the Chiefs had a monstrous $67 million in salary-cap space before Routt signed a three-year deal that will pay him $11 million in 2012.

In other words, the Chiefs can keep Carr if they want him. We'll soon find out if they do. If he reaches the open market, however, Carr will be an attractive option for the Minnesota Vikings, who need multiple layers of help at the position, and the Chicago Bears, who might be looking for an upgrade alongside Charles Tillman. It's hard to imagine the Detroit Lions finding the salary-cap space to sign Carr, assuming they retain defensive end Cliff Avril in one way or another, but stranger things have happened.

Originally Posted by WindyCity

I do not like the CB market in this draft.

I would prefer to sign Brandon Carr and sign a 2nd tier WR and focus on WR in the draft.

Not impossible to do both but I would agree with you if it came down to this. I think we need to upgrade at WR not remodel the entire WR core. Find Jay his 6'2" or taller guy who can get open 80% of the time. Somebody who'll fight for the ball if that's Meachem fine or Colston whatever but paying $50 mil for VJax or DJax or anything even near that makes no sense.

Tice and Bates should have one agenda as far as the passing game is concerned and that's to put Cutler in the best position to win that they can. No more running Knox on 8 yard slants, no more Hester at Flanker, play Earl Bennett more often than just 3rd down. Martz never bent his system around the talent on hand and essentially made players look worse than they are at times. I still think Hanie was victimized by Martz in order to justify his opinion of him. He never prepared him like a #2 should be. He just claimed he did.

That era is over and we need to restock on the fly not tear down and rebuild. There are salvageable receivers on this team just as there are salvageable lineman. If Tice will operate within the skill level of these guys most will improve and those that don't will be replaced. Like Cutler said. You need to be constantly bringing in weapons on offense and now that Emery is here hopefully that will get done.

Windy, I really like your analysis in the other thread on Reuben Randle. I don't remember a whole lot about him from his days at LSU because the Fighting Tigers had a horrible quarterback in Jordan Jefferson. But I'm going to play a little Devil's Advocate with you. For instance, LSU in the past ten years or so has been almost solely a defensive-minded team, with the exception of a few notable players (Jamarcus Russell, Dwayne Bowe). Les Miles has always sported a great defense, but not always a good offense. So what you have here is the possibility that Randle might not be as far along in his development as one might think. It might be that he's extremely raw and can learn quick; who knows? But is he going to be a case of someone that we would draft and just wouldn't have a very effective year playing receiver? What are your thoughts on that?

Originally Posted by WindyCity

I think that he is raw and will need some time, because of the QB play and the terrible offense. I thinik Randle needs to be paired with a free agent that can carry the load while he develops.

He might take a year, but in year 2 he might be the best WR in this draft.

Randle would be a great 2nd round pick but he probably won't last that long. For us to take him it only works if, as you point out, we have a vet to work in front of him until Randle gets a better handle on his game. The teams who usually can take a shot at guys like him are the ones who have good receivers but may be losing one in a year or so and they draft Randle with that in mind.

Originally Posted by WindyCity

I think if we sign Meachem we can draft Randle.

Meachem and Bennett would provide Jay with consistent targets while Randle develops in the #2 role on the outside running a couple of routes.

But in 2013 watch out because I think that Randle will be better than everyone outside of Blackmon.

Could or should? Right now we don't know exactly where Randle will be positioned in the draft and we don't know whether or not Meachem hits FA, Colston hits FA, or both. If Randle ends up as a 1st round prospect and we assume that we sign Meachem then why spend another first on Randle? Before I did that I'd sure try to get Wallace out of Pitt for two 2nds or simply trade them the first, Wallace > than Meachem and Randle. Then use a later pick for a WR.