ESPN: Of the top-50 FA's, they have Melton at #2!!!

I like Melton, but I didn't think he'd be rated #2 overall of the NFL free agents in 2013. Did you guys?

I will only post the link to this article, since it's an "Insider" article (LINK). But they have Joe Flacco 1st, and then Melton.

The list has some heavy-hitter FA's to say the least. Guys who they rank lower include LT Ryan Clady of Denver, Victor Cruz of NY, Wes Welker, Greg Jennings, LT Jake Long, and many other great players.

Don't have a subscription so I can't see the article.

If the teams value him at #2 there is a good chance he doesn't resign w/the Bears. There are a couple of heavy hitters in FA w/a ton of cap space and he'll get theres if the money has any say in it(don't be fooled it almost always does).

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Originally Posted by Riczaj01

If the teams value him at #2 there is a good chance he doesn't resign w/the Bears. There are a couple of heavy hitters in FA w/a ton of cap space and he'll get theres if the money has any say in it(don't be fooled it almost always does).

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Opens the door for a tag and trade scenario though.

True that BDM, maybe we tag/trade him and get some picks....or at least keep him for another year....but that adds to the list of needs a DL, which ups an already growing list of needs outside the OL.

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Originally Posted by Riczaj01

True that BDM, maybe we tag/trade him and get some picks....or at least keep him for another year....but that adds to the list of needs a DL, which ups an already growing list of needs outside the OL.

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Melton will be FT'd by Emery. Count on it. He's not going anywhere.

Man, this is going to start costing a lot of money/cap space.

I have faith in Cliff Stein and I still think Peppers is a HUGE asset to us, but his contract is gonna hurt us more than his talent helps us in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, that is not a statement on his play, but how huge his cap hit is and there is no way out of it. If we tag Melton and combine him with some of the other Defensive numbers, we will be very tight.

With all that said, am I the only one that thinks major changes are coming? We may see some trades for pics although it wont be Melton.

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Originally Posted by 4DaBERS

Man, this is going to start costing a lot of money/cap space.

I have faith in Cliff Stein and I still think Peppers is a HUGE asset to us, but his contract is gonna hurt us more than his talent helps us in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, that is not a statement on his play, but how huge his cap hit is and there is no way out of it. If we tag Melton and combine him with some of the other Defensive numbers, we will be very tight.

With all that said, am I the only one that thinks major changes are coming? We may see some trades for pics although it wont be Melton.

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I'm thinking the same thing 4D.

It hammers the point home - to me - how important it will be, as we move forward with the Emery era, to build primarily through the draft, rather than overpaying for FA players.

There just isn't the money to sustain a great team, if you spend too much money on FA's. It should be the "last resort" and not something you take lightly. All the more reason you simply can't have many draft "misses" .... if your franchise isn't a stellar talent evaluating team, they you're screwed.

Wow.... must be a pretty weak FA class. That or some really idiotic talent evaluators.

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Originally Posted by The Benjamin

Wow.... must be a pretty weak FA class. That or some really idiotic talent evaluators.

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this

and Melton will get the Tag