First Time Poster...
Let me know what you guys think.
Absolute needs:
1 DE - Only 1 because of the lack of guys available. We will have to rely on the tag team of Gholston (run downs) and Spence (passing downs) to take on opposing RTs.
1 DT - Baker was a bum, we need a partner for McCoy at the nose position. Stevie T should provide solid depth but we need a veteran starter here imo.
2 CB - Whether it's Grimes and Gaines or Gaines and another FA/rookie, we need two outside corners. VH3 belongs at nickel and the rest of our guys are depth players at best.
1 SS - Here's to hoping Justin Evans continues to progress. If he can build on his solid rookie year we should be set at FS, but we still need a SS. I'm not willing to rely on Tandy/Conte, and with this free agent class we shouldn't have to.
2 G - Sweezy cannot be relied on given his injuries and weak campaign in 2017. Pamphile should be resigned but only as a backup, primarily a backup RT. We should sign a plug-and-play veteran and draft a guy to compete moving forward.
1 RB - If we resign Chuck Sims and give a heavier load to Peyton Barber we only need 1 RB that can compete and eventually take over as the starter.
So.. we need 8 guys who can contribute right away.
[DE, DT, CB, CB, SS, LG, RG, RB]
We own 4 of the top 105 or so players in the draft as is. That said, if Licht can repeat 2015 (Winston, Smith, Marpet, Alexander) or last year (Howard, Evans, Godwin, Beckwith) we should come away with 4 out of the 8 players needed.
Free Agent Priorities:
G, SS, CB, DL
G- There happens to be a solid number of guards available this year, so we need to come away with one. It won't be Norwell, he looks to be headed to the Giants. I would push for a guy like Josh Sitton or Justin Pugh.
SS- As with the guard position, there are several quality safeties available this year. Whether it's Tyvon Branch, Morgan Burnett, or Tyrann Mathieu we should sign one and round out our safety group.
CB- I believe Grimes wants to play next season, but due to his asking price we will let the market determine his value. Ultimately he will probably resign on a 1 year deal making 9 million. EJ Gaines has also been rumored to us and I think that is a great signing. Grimes and Gaines on the outside with VH3 at nickel should upgrade our CB group tremendously. I would still look to draft a CB though.
DL- The toughest area to address based on the lack of available players. I would go after a NT in free agency such as Justin Ellis or Daquan Jones. Shouldn't be too expensive and will help our run defense greatly. Outside chance we sign Adrian Clayborn as well just to give us depth at DE. Certainly helps that he is familiar with our division. I doubt there is any way we ignore DE in the draft. Clayborn would be a decent bridge player until the rookie is ready to take over.
Free Agent signings:
CB EJ Gaines and resign Brent Grimes
G Justin Pugh (recently relocated his family down to FL, maybe he knows something we dont)
SS Tyvon Branch
DT Justin Ellis
DE Adrian Clayborn
Remaining needs:
RB, DE, CB, G
Draft:
1- DE Bradley Chubb
Trade: Bucs #7, 2018 4th round pick, 2019 2nd round pick, for #4 overall.
CLE should go QB #1, followed by Barkley to the Giants. I strongly believe Buffalo or Miami will trade up to #3 for a QB, leaving Chubb available at #4 where we would move up. A 3 spot jump would likely cost us a 4th round pick and a 2nd in 2019.
2- RB Derrius Guice
We should be in great spirits seeing Guice is still available in round 2. His production and abilities, imo, are right on par with Leonard Fournette. Guice should be a 3 down back and will give us the bruising, smash mouth, bellcow RB we need for this offense to take off.
3- G Braden Smith
Solid, well rounded guard prospect. Needs to add a little more strength, as do most rookie lineman, but should be an instant upgrade over Sweezy/Pamphile. Winston should be better protected with Smith and Pugh at guard.
5- WR Antonio Callaway
Late picks are worth burning on potential studs at the next level. Despite the off field issues, Callaway can be a dynamic playmaker. At the very least, he can upgrade our special teams, particularly as a return man.
6, 7a, 7b- BPA (FB, K, Special Teams)
New additions recap:
CB EJ Gaines (Resign Grimes)
G Justin Pugh, Braden Smith
SS Tyvon Branch
DE Bradley Chubb, Adrian Clayborn
DT Justin Ellis
RB Derrius Guice
WR Antonio Callaway
Gaines, Chubb, Branch, Ellis, and Clayborn will dramatically improve our defense.
Pugh, Guice, and Smith will dramatically improve our run game.
QB Jameis Winston, Ryan Fitzpatrick
RB Derrius Guice, Peyton Barber, Charles Sims
FB Allen Cross
TE OJ Howard, Cameron Brate, Antony Auclair
WR Mike Evans, Desean Jackson, Chris Godwin, Adam Humphries, Antonio Callaway
OL Donovan Smith, Justin Pugh, Ali Marpet, Braden Smith, Demar Dotson, Kevin Pamphile, Caleb Benenoch, Leonard Wester
DE Bradley Chubb, Noah Spence, Adrian Clayborn, Will Gholston, Robert Ayers
DT Gerald McCoy, Justin Ellis, Clinton McDonald, Stevie Tui'kolavatu
LB Lavonte David, Kwon Alexander, Kendall Beckwith
CB Brent Grimes, EJ Gaines, Vernon Hargreaves, Ryan Smith, Javien Elliott
S Justin Evans, Tyvon Branch, Keith Tandy, Chris Conte
