Team Needs & Roster Rankings

[akay47]

Evan Silva, of Rotoworld, wrote an article on where teams rank in the NFL according to their team needs.....

1. San Francisco 49ers

K: You're in pretty good shape when your most glaring offseason need is a kicker. David Akers is likely to be released after turning in a league-worst season with a $3 million non-guaranteed salary. The draft's top placekicker is expected to be Dustin Hopkins out of Florida State.

WR: The Niners will expect bigger things from 2012 first-rounder A.J. Jenkins, but only he and Michael Crabtree return as probable 2013 receiver contributors. Randy Moss is a free agent, and Mario Manningham figures to be a cap casualty owed $3.95 million coming off two torn knee ligaments. To maximize Colin Kaepernick's cannon arm, the 49ers need another field stretcher.

LB: This isn't quite a pressing need -- Parys Haralson's return should add depth behind starters Aldon Smith and Ahmad Brooks -- but even great teams know they can never have too many pass rushers. San Francisco's 2012 pass rush was exposed as a bit one-dimensional down the stretch when Smith wasn't harassing quarterbacks. This year's draft is rich at the position.

DT: Starting nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga's contract is up and he's going on age 32. Top reserve Ricky Jean-Francois is undersized and best suited for a utility role. This is a position on which San Francisco may very well spend its top draft pick. Alabama's Jesse Williams, Georgia's John Jenkins, and Missouri Southern's Brandon Williams could be late first-round options for the 49ers.

2. Denver Broncos

DT: Mitch Unrein, Malik Jackson, and Sealver Siliga are Denver's only defensive tackles signed for 2013. Justin Bannan, Kevin Vickerson, and Ty Warren are all free agents. The Broncos defended the run surprisingly well in 2012 despite fielding a rag-tag group on the interior, but they could really use a difference-making, building-block type. Expect this to be a focus in the draft.

LB: While Wesley Woodyard and Von Miller are obviously entrenched on the outside, middle linebacker is a question mark for Denver's 2013 defense. Injured Joe Mays could be a salary cap casualty after losing his starting job to Keith Brooking, the latter of whom is a free agent. The top in-house candidate to take over would be Nate Irving, who's been a special teamer to this point.

OG: Left tackle Ryan Clady will likely return on the franchise tag, and right tackle Orlando Franklin is signed through 2014. Center J.D. Walton returns from an ankle fracture. Left guard Zane Beadles is a stud, but right guard Chris Kuper is owed a $4.5 million base salary after two major ankle surgeries in as many years. The Broncos need to start contemplating Kuper's heir apparent.

WR: This isn't a position of pressing need, but it could be soon with Brandon Stokley headed for free agency and Eric Decker entering a contract year. No. 4 wideout Andre Caldwell is more of a special teamer. The Broncos will probably address wide receiver in the late rounds of April's draft.

3. Green Bay Packers

RB: DuJuan Harris, James Starks, and Alex Green are role-player backs. All have been given opportunities to run with Green Bay's feature back job, but only Harris has somewhat consistently produced and he is viewed internally as a scatback. It's time for GM Ted Thompson to take this position seriously. Thompson is a longtime admirer of Steven Jackson, who may hit free agency.

OT: Bryan Bulaga's return should fortify right tackle for Green Bay, but maddeningly inconsistent left tackle Marshall Newhouse needs to be on the hotseat. While 2011 first-round pick Derek Sherrod is due back from a broken leg, he projected to right tackle or guard before the injury. The Packers are on the verge of committing a boatload of money to quarterback Aaron Rodgers. In order to make good on that investment, they'll need improved blind-side protection.

S: Charles Woodson is owed $10 million in 2013 and will likely be a cap casualty. Free safety Morgan Burnett enters the final year of his rookie deal. While M.D. Jennings and Jerron McMillian both flashed promise in 2012, it's unclear if Thompson views either as a candidate to start.

QB: The Packers luckily made it through 2012 without an injury to Rodgers, despite the pass-protection woes. Had Rodgers been hurt, incumbent backup Graham Harrell may have torpedoed Green Bay's season. Thompson needs to prioritize a competent No. 2 signal caller this spring.

4. New England Patriots

WR: The Pats risk losing Wes Welker and Julian Edelman to free agency, leaving Brandon Lloyd and special teamer Matt Slater as New England's only remaining receivers to have caught an NFL pass. Welker's subtraction can be minimized if Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez stay healthy, but another explosive outside receiver would add a new dimension to Josh McDaniels' attack. I have a gut feeling McDaniels and Bill Belichick are going to love Tennessee’s Cordarrelle Patterson.

CB: The Patriots gambled by sending the Buccaneers a fourth-round pick for Aqib Talib before the trade deadline without a contract extension in place. So he could conceivably be one-and-done in Foxboro. While New England did well to unearth seventh-round gem Alfonzo Dennard, Talib and slot guy Kyle Arrington's free agency leave the depth chart dangerously thin at cornerback.

OT: Talib and right tackle Sebastian Vollmer are the Pats' two prime franchise tag candidates. Retaining Vollmer would turn tackle back from a potential weakness into a strength. The franchise number for offensive linemen is $9.66 million. The cornerback franchise number is $10.67 million.

S: Devin McCourty is shaping up as New England's long-term answer at free safety, flourishing there after an early-season conversion from cornerback. Strong safety is more up in the air after impending free agent Pat Chung fell out of favor in 2012. Steve Gregory would ideally be a third safety and special teamer. Last year's second-rounder Tavon Wilson was an obvious draft reach.

5. Seattle Seahawks

DE: Coach Pete Carroll has pinpointed defensive end as Seattle's biggest offseason need, which especially makes sense after Chris Clemons' ACL and meniscus tears. 2012 first-rounder Bruce Irvin is an explosive nickel rusher, not a viable starter. Red Bryant will return as the Seahawks' run-stopping left end, but he isn't a pocket pusher and Seattle covets another one of those.

WR: While Sidney Rice, Golden Tate, and Doug Baldwin make up a formidable three-receiver set, the latter two are entering contract seasons and depth is a concern. If the Seahawks are going to open up the passing game in Russell Wilson's second season, they'll need a true vertical weapon.

OT: Russell Okung has panned out as a top-ten left tackle, but the right side could use an influx of competition after Breno Giacomini's poor year. While Giacomini holds his own as a run blocker, he struggles mightily with speed off the edge. The Seahawks have settled on 2011 first-rounder James Carpenter as a long-term guard. Line coach Tom Cable's zone-blocking scheme should allow Seattle to address right tackle affordably in free agency or in the middle rounds of the draft.

LB: The Seahawks need to move on from weak-side 'backer Leroy Hill following his latest off-field incident. Hill is a free agent and likely facing a multi-game suspension. Seattle is strong at middle linebacker (Bobby Wagner) and on the strong side (K.J. Wright), but thin on the weak side.

6. New York Giants

OL: Left and right tackles Will Beatty and Sean Locklear are free agents. 32-year-old David Diehl's effectiveness has evaporated and he's a surefire cap casualty on a $4.475 million base salary. Center David Baas is entering his age-32 season, right guard Chris Snee is coming off hip surgery, and left guard Kevin Boothe's contract is up. GM Jerry Reese has compiled intriguing young front-five depth in the draft, but there will likely be major changes on an aging Giants line.

CB: Sagging pass rush contributed to the 2012 secondary deficiencies, but cornerback was still a huge weakness. Oft-burned supposed top corner Corey Webster is a release candidate on a $7 million salary. Rookie slot man Jayron Hosley was up and down in his first season. Likely to cut Webster, the G-Men need to find at least one starting cornerback via free agency or the draft.

LB: Strong-side maven Mathias Kiwanuka is the Giants' only surefire linebacker starter for 2013. Weak-side incumbent Michael Boley is expected to be cut, and pedestrian middle man Chase Blackburn has run his course. In-house options include Mark Herzlich and Jacquian Williams.

TE: Reese is high on 2012 fourth-round pick Adrien Robinson, but he was drafted as a height-weight-speed project and played three snaps as a rookie. The Giants can feel good at tight end if they keep free agent Martellus Bennett and use 2013 as another development year for Robinson.

7. Houston Texans

WR: Much like the Panthers with Steve Smith, the Texans should feel lucky Andre Johnson is still going strong. They've done literally nothing to help him in terms of complementary wideouts. Kevin Walter is an offseason release candidate, and 2012 third-rounder DeVier Posey tore his Achilles' in the playoffs. Lestar Jean has starred in preseason, then vanished in real games.

OT: Duane Brown remains among the league's elite left tackles, but the Texans put too much faith in their scheme in 2012 after releasing stalwart right tackle Eric Winston. Derek Newton was an abject failure in the role, getting knocked around in the run game and racking up penalties. If Houston doesn't find a wide receiver it deems worthy of the 27th overall pick, a tackle should do.

S: Stud free safety Danieal Manning is signed through 2014, but underrated strong safety Glover Quin's contract has run out. The Texans do not have a viable in-house alternative. Quin is a top-notch run-support safety and often matches up with opposing tight ends. He'd be tough to replace.

NT: Incumbent starter Shaun Cody is entering free agency, and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips has never felt comfortable playing undersized Earl Mitchell full time despite annual glowing offseason reports. If the Cowboys release Jay Ratliff, he'd make sense in a reunion with Phillips. In addition to safety and nose, the Texans' defensive is needy at inside linebacker next to Brian Cushing.

8. Atlanta Falcons

OT: Atlanta is solid at right tackle with steady veteran Tyson Clabo, but left tackle Sam Baker and top reserve Will Svitek are both free agents. The Falcons have become a pass-first team under second-year offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, so protecting quarterback Matt Ryan is critical. Atlanta is also expected to break the bank on a contract extension for Ryan this offseason.

DE: John Abraham probably has one year left as an impact pass rusher and Kroy Biermann was an important movable chess piece in defensive coordinator Mike Nolan's first season. Abraham is going on 35, however, and he’s still Atlanta's only legitimate down-to-down sack threat. If the Falcons can come up with enough salary cap space, Cliff Avril would look awfully good in Red and Black.

RB: Owed an impractical $6.9 million base salary, declining 31-year-old feature back Michael Turner is likely to be an offseason cap casualty. Diminutive scatback Jacquizz Rodgers averages under 4.0 yards per carry and isn't the answer for Atlanta's run game woes. The Falcons have the 30th overall pick and should seriously consider Alabama's Eddy Lacy if he's still on the board.

TE: GM Thomas Dimitroff and Roddy White are lobbying Tony Gonzalez to opt against retirement, but the future Hall of Famer's mind seemed made up late in the year. Chase Coffman, Michael Palmer, and Tommy Gallarda round out the depth chart. The Falcons field arguably the NFL's premier wideout duo in White and Julio Jones, but replacing Gonzo's production underneath would be an almost impossible task.

We were ranked #15.

15. New Orleans Saints

LB: Back from suspension, coach Sean Payton is hellbent on turning his defense into a 3-4. Perhaps the most critical 3-4 component is outside-edge rushers capable of harassing the quarterback from a two-point stance. Junior Galette and Martez Wilson are in-house options, but neither has experience at the position. Look for the Saints to draft two rush 'backers in April. The Saints should be fine at inside linebacker with thumpers Curtis Lofton and David Hawthorne back.

DT: Cameron Jordan and Akiem Hicks are ready-made 3-4 defensive ends; they both spent time there in college. At 6-foot-2, 306, incumbent 4-3 nose tackle Brodrick Bunkley is undersized to play the position in a 3-4. New Orleans got kicked in the mouth in the running game in 2012, so acquiring a lane clogger might be GM Mickey Loomis' top priority from a pure need standpoint.

OT: This wouldn't be a need if left tackle Jermon Bushrod were under contract for 2013. Bushrod is indeed a free agent, however, and Loomis is unlikely to break the bank to retain him. Charles Brown might be an in-house replacement if he could stay healthy. So far in his career, he can't.

DB: While the lack of pass rush made the entire unit appear worse than it really is, the Saints' defensive backfield didn't hold up its end of the 2012 bargain. Patrick Robinson was a frequent burn victim, and safeties Malcolm Jenkins and Roman Harper turned in career-worst years. The Saints need to add competition in the secondary. These guys seem to be getting complacent.

Great read, he's an amazing writer and analyzer. http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nf...-rankings?pg=2

[jayjay33]

1. We really need a solid LT to replace bushrod.

2 . legit NG who can clog it up.

3 . I would like to move white to safety and replace harper, he MUST go.

4. A CB pat rob is the horrible, he need to go as well. damn i miss tp

5. We could really use another athletic "passing catching" TE. Payton could wreak havoc with the formations.

.

[MT3279]

1. We really need a solid LT to replace bushrod.

2 . legit NG who can clog it up.

3 . I would like to move white to safety and replace harper, he MUST go.

4. A CB pat rob is the horrible, he need to go as well. damn i miss tp

5. We could really use another athletic "passing catching" TE. Payton could wreak havoc with the formations.

.

We are in a horrible position to fill all of our needs, especially with the impending change in defensive personnel and a ****** cap situation.

1. I'm thinking someone in the 3rd round may be available (Chris Faulk) but I doubt it. I hate to say it, but we may just have to find a way to re-sign Bushrod. Besides Clady and Long, I don't see a LT in FA...and those guys are going to command top dollar.

2. A few of us are of the mindset that NG is probably the highest priority in this draft. I want John Jenkins in the first or Kwame Geathers later in the draft.

3. Depending on the type of 3-4 we run, White might be best kept at CB (Man Press, like the Steelers run). Harper wasn't the worst problem, last season, it was Jenkins. I'd consider getting rid of Harper because of his cap hit, I believe it's around 7mil. Jenkins is in the last year of his deal and hasn't shown me any reason to retain him.

4. It's hard for me to judge Robinson's performance when no one was doing their job well. We weren't getting a pass rush, Safeties weren't providing any support...it was just a serious mess. He was ****ing up, too...so I don't want people thinking I'm defending him, it has just been really hard for me to be mad at Greer, Rob, White and the other CBs when Jenkins was ****ing up left and right and Harper (who had a decent year) wasn't fairing much better in coverage support. He's still on his rookie deal, and until that deal runs out, I don't think we should cut him.

5. I wouldn't mind following the NE model. I don't know who we can get in the later rounds though...and I wouldn't dare address TE until the 6th or 7th round, considering the rest of the holes we need to fill.

[neovenator250]

I honestly would be down to blow up parts of this roster (cut a few guys we aren't expected to that would save us some room along with the restructurings and expected release candidates) to add an influx of talent. In order to grow in this league and get better, you can't just stay the same. Things have to change

[MT3279]

I honestly would be down to blow up parts of this roster (cut a few guys we aren't expected to that would save us some room along with the restructurings and expected release candidates) to add an influx of talent. In order to grow in this league and get better, you can't just stay the same. Things have to change

My only hangup with that is the cap issues. As great as Loomis is, he's pretty much ran a Ponzi scheme with our salary cap. There are a few guys I just want to trade or outright release...Will Smith, Jon Vilma, Roman Harper, Zach Strief, Chris Chamberlain, Broderick Bunkley and Jabari Greer. I just don't know how much space this would save us, especially with players like Bunkley and Greer, who just got new deals or extensions.

[TheGeneral]

My only hangup with that is the cap issues. As great as Loomis is, he's pretty much ran a Ponzi scheme with our salary cap. There are a few guys I just want to trade or outright release...Will Smith, Jon Vilma, Roman Harper, Zach Strief, Chris Chamberlain, Broderick Bunkley and Jabari Greer. I just don't know how much space this would save us, especially with players like Bunkley and Greer, who just got new deals or extensions.

I like that list MT, if you think of our defense next year just with our current personnel, are we any worse if all of those guys listed are not on the team. I really don't think so. I could see Harper or Greer possibly holding trade value but thats about it. And Strief is just a good backup OL, nothing more.

My biggest thing is that I want us to get something for one of our 4 RB's. We can't go through another year keeping 4 RB's that all hold value and not trading one of them.

[BIGBREED]

Good stuff MT and The General!

Drew has 2-3 yrs left for max performance, meaning the SAINTS are a win now franchise. We don't have (father)time on our side. We have to move quick, but accurate with our draft selections.
We can't miss on draft picks guys!

FYI:
If KeKe, Jarvis, and Milliner are gone @ 15, I'm trading down in the 1st RD, drafting eithe Jesse Williams or John Jenkins and gaining more picks in the later RDs. Bcuz we needs lots of draft picks from this draft through this 3-4 defensive transition!

[MT3279]

Lets also keep in mind that we "should" get compensatory picks for, at least, Nicks, if not Meachem as well. Not sure how signing Grubbs will play into that.

[TheGeneral]

Lets also keep in mind that we "should" get compensatory picks for, at least, Nicks, if not Meachem as well. Not sure how signing Grubbs will play into that.

We shouldn't be getting any picks. You have lose more FA's than you sign, plus other factors($, PT, accolades) to be eligible. We signed Grubbs, Lofton, Bunkley, and Hawthorne and they all got nice deals and had good playing time. We went kinda nuts with our defensive signings this past offseason. I'd be surprised if we got anything.

[neovenator250]

We shouldn't be getting any picks. You have lose more FA's than you sign, plus other factors($, PT, accolades) to be eligible. We signed Grubbs, Lofton, Bunkley, and Hawthorne and they all got nice deals and had good playing time. We went kinda nuts with our defensive signings this past offseason. I'd be surprised if we got anything.

^this

[MT3279]

We shouldn't be getting any picks. You have lose more FA's than you sign, plus other factors($, PT, accolades) to be eligible. We signed Grubbs, Lofton, Bunkley, and Hawthorne and they all got nice deals and had good playing time. We went kinda nuts with our defensive signings this past offseason. I'd be surprised if we got anything.

I thought it had to do with talent/position. ****.

Thanks General.

[Underdogz∞]

If nothing else at least we could field a younger Defense and grow em. Hoping the Offense continues to carry the team.

[jayjay33]

[QUOTE=MT3279;25304097]We are in a horrible position to fill all of our needs, especially with the impending change in defensive personnel and a ****** cap situation.

1. I'm thinking someone in the 3rd round may be available (Chris Faulk) but I doubt it. I hate to say it, but we may just have to find a way to re-sign Bushrod. Besides Clady and Long, I don't see a LT in FA...and those guys are going to command top dollar.

I agree here, I worry about brees. cant have just anyone watching the franchises back.

2. A few of us are of the mindset that NG is probably the highest priority in this draft. I want John Jenkins in the first or Kwame Geathers later in the draft.

Yep.....NG or LT

3. Depending on the type of 3-4 we run, White might be best kept at CB (Man Press, like the Steelers run). Harper wasn't the worst problem, last season, it was Jenkins. I'd consider getting rid of Harper because of his cap hit, I believe it's around 7mil. Jenkins is in the last year of his deal and hasn't shown me any reason to retain him.

I hate harper, he MUST go. But I think jenkins is solid, he was victim of a very bad pass rush.

4. It's hard for me to judge Robinson's performance when no one was doing their job well. We weren't getting a pass rush, Safeties weren't providing any support...it was just a serious mess. He was ****ing up, too...so I don't want people thinking I'm defending him, it has just been really hard for me to be mad at Greer, Rob, White and the other CBs when Jenkins was ****ing up left and right and Harper (who had a decent year) wasn't fairing much better in coverage support. He's still on his rookie deal, and until that deal runs out, I don't think we should cut him.

Robinson has some of the worst instincts. An he is not physical either. Don't need him

5. I wouldn't mind following the NE model. I don't know who we can get in the later rounds though...and I wouldn't dare address TE until the 6th or 7th round, considering the rest of the holes we need to fill.

I would go as high as 5th. Unless someone I had rated higher fell.

[MT3279]

I agree here, I worry about brees. cant have just anyone watching the franchises back.

2. A few of us are of the mindset that NG is probably the highest priority in this draft. I want John Jenkins in the first or Kwame Geathers later in the draft..

Yep.....NG or LT

3. Depending on the type of 3-4 we run, White might be best kept at CB (Man Press, like the Steelers run). Harper wasn't the worst problem, last season, it was Jenkins. I'd consider getting rid of Harper because of his cap hit, I believe it's around 7mil. Jenkins is in the last year of his deal and hasn't shown me any reason to retain him. .[/QUOTE]


I hate harper, he MUST go. But I think jenkins is solid, he was victim of a very bad pass rush.

4. It's hard for me to judge Robinson's performance when no one was doing their job well. We weren't getting a pass rush, Safeties weren't providing any support...it was just a serious mess. He was ****ing up, too...so I don't want people thinking I'm defending him, it has just been really hard for me to be mad at Greer, Rob, White and the other CBs when Jenkins was ****ing up left and right and Harper (who had a decent year) wasn't fairing much better in coverage support. He's still on his rookie deal, and until that deal runs out, I don't think we should cut him. .[/QUOTE]

Robinson has some of the worst instincts. An he is not physical either. Don't need him

5. I wouldn't mind following the NE model. I don't know who we can get in the later rounds though...and I wouldn't dare address TE until the 6th or 7th round, considering the rest of the holes we need to fill.[/quote]

I would go as high as 5th. Unless someone I had rated higher fell.[/QUOTE]

Something messed up in your response.

LT won't be a position of quality when we are picking. Joeckel and Fisher will already be off the board. That's why I'm saying NG should be top priority (maybe rush linebacker, but eh...as much as I love Mingo, we need fat bodies more). If Fisher fell, then I could see us taking LT, and I'd be happy with the selection. I do not want to reach on the boy from OU, though (Johnson I think?).

Jenkins was the worst DB we had, he just made one good play and people are giving him a pass. His hips are awful, he can't cover and he bites on damn near every playfake ever. How is Jenkins the victim of the pass rush but Robinson isn't? Robinson is the guy that has to actually cover players, Jenkins job is to make sure they don't get behind him. He sucks at that. If they do catch the ball, he's supposed to tackle them...he doesn't tackle well and takes horrible angles.

And Greer is worse than Robinson and makes more money...how do you feel about him?

I'm cutting Harper due to financial, you just hate him, either way, he should go.

The more I think about it, the less I want a TE. Just too many needs. We need a Tackle because even if we re-sign Bushrod, Strief is still a ****ing terrible player. Need 2 NG/DE types. Need, at least, 1 Linebacker, maybe 2. And that's before we draft replacement DBs for all the ones we've cut.

[TheGeneral]

I agree its hard to evaluate our CB's because of the way they rely on safeties, other than the fact that our safeties were bad in coverage. That being said there isnt a CB that I like that much more than the others so I'd just default to age, go with the young guys and get a good DB coach in here.