FREE AGENCY:DE Olivier Vernon - 4 years 56 million - Transition Tag be damned.. Miami can't match our offer if we invest 14m per year. The way I see it, in just a few years Jameis will be earning 20+ million.. That gives us the next 4 years to 'take a shot' if you will, on a big money signing.. Some may want Mario Williams more, and I understand. Super Mario has been a beast, but he is significantly older than Vernon.. The question here is do you take a more established veteran who may give you 3-4 good seasons, or do you opt for the younger guy with a higher ceiling and who may be able to contribute for the next decade?S Tashaun Gipson - 4 years 30 million - There will be a bidding war for Gipson. Rightfully so. He is a prototypical center fielder who doesn't seem to get the recognition he has earned over the last few seasons. A rangy ballhawk is just what this defense needs in the back end to keep quarterbacks in check with the deep balls. 7.5 million may be a bit rich for the blood of many, but considering we signed Dashon Goldson to an 8 million dollar contract in 2012 this doesn't appear to be too bad a deal. Not quite Earl Thomas.. but then again not many people are on that type of level.. Gipson is definitely in that second tier of today's top NFL safeties.RB Doug Martin - 4 years - 22 million - Mike Florio has reported that the market value on Doug Martin should be around 4 million. This is due to Philadelphia being burned on the signing of Demarco Murray last year. That said, I believe at least one team is willing to go to 5 million, perhaps Doug's hometown of Oakland? We will have to aim just north of 5 annually, but even still that's a pretty decent value for the Dougernaut.WR Mohammad Sanu - 2 years - 11 million - 5.5 million is about the highest I expect Sanu to go for. He is a pretty damn good 3rd WR and could potentially succeed VJAX as the number two. That's why I sign him on the higher price tag on a two year trial run. If he becomes the eventual number two WR great! But at the very least he provides the missing piece and reliability our WR group needs considering both Murphy and Bell are coming off of injuries, and the latter has yet to catch an NFL pass. We definitely need a proven commodity and Sanu provides the perfect value. Personally I'm very high on the kid. Don't think he's always gotten a huge amount of opportunities in Cincinatti. In his rookie year they had Andrew Hawkins killing it with speed and AJ Green was the best WR in football at that time. Marvin Jones has always been the number two when healthy, throw in Tyler Eifert and it's clear to see that the surface has barely been scratched with Sanu. Some would question paying a WR 5.5 million, but in a couple years we very well could be paying him nearly double.Smaller level resignings: DE Jaq Smith, S Keith Tandy, CB Jude Adjei-Barimah, RT Demar Dotson, WR Adam Humphries, WR Russel Sheppard, LB Danny LansanahPRE DRAFT DEPTH CHART:QB: Winston, Glennon, GriffinRB: Martin, Sims, JamesFB: LaneTE: ASJ, Brate, StockerWR: Evans, Jackson, Sanu, Murphy, Bell, Humphries SheppardOT: Smith, Dotson, Cherilus, PamphileG: Mankins, Marpet, PamphileC: HawleyOffensive Holes: OL depth.. We need a RT that can play as early as 2017 considering Cherilus and Dotson are not true answers for the position going forward. We also need depth at the guard position where the only competent backup we have is Pamphile, and he will be the starter in the event Mankins retires. Fullback is also a position that needs addressing after Lane's second season in a row ends with a nasty leg injury.DE: Vernon, Smith, Gholston, FatinikunDT: McCoy, McDonald, SpenceLB: David, Alexander, Carter, Lansanah, KeyesS: Gipson, McDougald, TandyCB: Vernor, Banks, Adjei-BarimahHOLES:Our starters are pretty well-balanced throughout. Depth is going to be the key here. We could certainly use another pass rushing DE to rotate with Vernon and Smith. A DT is less necessary but also worth consideration. LB is solid, but could use a young guy or two with upside for the Sam position considering Lansanah will probably be signed by a team like Miami or Jacksonville. The secondary is solid for now provided Mike Smith can get the most out of our corners, but we certainly could stand to use another CB who can push Vernor/Banks, and a safety to compete with McDougald would be a good pickup as well..TEAM NEEDS:At this point the team is set up pretty well. No one position is screaming for immediate attention, which allows us to truly go after BPA at every pick in the draft. In order of preference I would rank our needs as CB, OL, DL, S, K, P, LB, FB, RBDRAFT: 1 - CB - VERNON HARGREAVES IIIThis is a major crapshoot at this point.. It's impossible to tell who will fall to our pick and who will not. Considering our biggest area of concern is depth throughout the roster, it would be great to trade back a few spots and pick up extra draft picks. However, if we stay put at number nine I think it's going to come down to Hargreaves/Spence.. unless Bosa or Ramsey somehow fall to us which isn't likely. I'd be happy either way, but at this point I have to lean towards Hargreaves. I truly believe in Olivier Vernon, I think he and Jaq can combine for 20 each year between the two. Hargreaves would instantly be our number one corner and would allow Vernor to remain in the slot giving us a pretty damn good lineup at CB.2 - DL JONATHAN BULLARDJust contemplating who may be available in round 2, it is clear that it is nearly impossible to speculate on who will be there and who won't. Especially this year. But I'm hoping this guy will be on the board for us in round two. I watched quite a bit of FL this year and the one guy who kept jumping off the screen at me was Bullard. Whether coming off the edge or lining up on the interior, this guy gets to the quarterback. Also very solid against the run. An all around, do it all DL who brings it every play and has all the upside in the world. I think he's really flying under the radar at this point and would be a steal in round two. He's the prototypical run stopping 4-3 DE who can line up inside next to McCoy on passing downs and get upfield. Could very well be the missing link after Olivier Vernon that reinsates the tradition of a feared DL in Tampa Bay.3- S Vonn BellMight be a bit of a stretch to get Vonn Bell in round 3. Then again, there are a lot of safeties in this year's draft that could go higher [Ramsey, Joseph, Cash, Killebrew, etc]. Bell would be great value, and would pair very well with Tashaun Gipson as the Thunder to Gipson's Lightning. Bell is a big hitter but also a smart player with great instincts which can't be overlooked at the S position. Reminds me of a more refined Mark Barron. Better technique. Takes good angles, tackles well. The kid isn't perfect but with some good NFL coaching he could develop into a very solid starting S. Probably outshines McDougald from the get-go to earn the nod at starting SS.4 - LB Eric StrikerPass rushing Sam backer.4 - K Roberto AguayoThis pick is made by virtue of a trade. We ship out LB Bruce Carter and our 6th round pick.5 - OT Pearch Slater Sleeper RT for developing the next two years.6 - RB Keith MarshallSpeed!!!!!!!!!!!
