careful what you wish for as far as FA's go.

[Hawknballs]

People keep throwing out our cap number being good as a reason to pick guys up.

That's fine but realize that our cap space now is going to turn dangerously slim in the coming couple of years.

We've had good drafts but that's going to come with some issues - namely that several guys are going to be looking to re-do contracts in the same year, or in back to back years. That cap space is going to vanish very quickly if we want to retain guys.

There are going to be the people that will say who cares? We are good enough to win now, lets get the pieces we need and win next year! And I really can't argue with that. But you also need to realize this - any FA's we sign this offseason is likely going to mean a young player on the roster now that will be walking away from us later. And that's fine, maybe that is a fair trade-off.

personally I'd rather be frugal with FA's and continue to trust pete and john to build through the draft and find guys who are going to work well with what we have gong on even if they aren't the big name guys.

That being said I'd have a hard time NOT being excited if we picked up a Mike Wallace or Percy Harvin. But you have to be realistic - signing anyone that will demand the kind of contract those guys will means one of our other young hawks will be walking away in the next 2-3 years.

Just thought I would bring that up. There's a reason Pete and John have given us the cap room we have and haven't scrambled to max it out.

 

[Missing_Clink]

No doubt. Sherm and Earl's coming max deals (just to name 2) will not be possible if we pick up a bunch of pricey free agents on multi year deals now. Reality is we probably won't be able to keep everyone regardless.

 

[Veilside]

I think the only higher priced FA's we should really be looking at are at DT, DE and maybe TE. I'd rather focus on WR and LB in the draft. There should be some good options still late in the early rounds.

 

[DavidSeven]

Agreed. I think high-priced FAs are worth a look if you're looking to build the core of your team (as we were when we picked up Miller, Rice, traded for Lynch, etc.), but we're in a position to be great with the pieces we have now. As mentioned, the only glaring holes where we really could use an immediate upgrade is the D-Line and maybe a second TE. We have a ton of draft picks and can probably package them to get the exact players we want now or stockpile for the future.

 

[sutz]

I'm pretty sure that Pete and Schneid agree with you. I know I do. I'm confident that if there is a way, they will improve the team, but that high priced FA are not a big part of the deal. It's how they've talked all along. Chances are real good that they will be saving that cap space for our own guys when their deals come up.

Frankly, it would surprise me if we pick up anything other than a couple of journeyman players this offseason in FA. They'll want to save the heavy lifting for the draft. I know that will disappoint a lot of folks around here, but not me. FA are nearly always over rated in fan's eyes.

 

[seahawksTopGear]

I would be disapointed if we did not bring in two mid level DL free agents this offseason. Anything else seems extravagant considering the number of draft picks we have.

Bringing in a ten million dollar man sounds like a recipe for disaster for this team. .

 

[SalishHawkFan]

People are going to get stressed when they see that we won't be resigning many of our guys in FA. It's not how Schneider's philosophy works. Look at GB. Only guys like Wilson will get resigned. The rest get let go and the team reloads with a constant stream of incoming rookies. That's why the FO values draft picks so much. Their goal is to have 10-12 picks each draft. They'll never trade up, they'll often trade down for more picks. They won't resign guys the fans expect them to and that will cause great distress, but the team will just put the next guy in. That's their philosophy, that's even how the players understand it. The backups are expected to step right up. The players who go on to be FA's will get their paydays elsewhere.

 

[HawkHack]

People are going to get stressed when they see that we won't be resigning many of our guys in FA. It's not how Schneider's philosophy works. Look at GB. Only guys like Wilson will get resigned. The rest get let go and the team reloads with a constant stream of incoming rookies. That's why the FO values draft picks so much. Their goal is to have 10-12 picks each draft. They'll never trade up, they'll often trade down for more picks. They won't resign guys the fans expect them to and that will cause great distress, but the team will just put the next guy in. That's their philosophy, that's even how the players understand it. The backups are expected to step right up. The players who go on to be FA's will get their paydays elsewhere.

Some while ago, someone posted a chart purporting to show the "Green Bay System" where you rely on young (cheap) guys for the majority of your team and slowly push the older guys out the door, even if they're still relatively productive. That system only allowed for a few choice FAs. I'd love to see how our current team stacks up according to that system.

 

[hawksfansinceday1]

People are going to get stressed when they see that we won't be resigning many of our guys in FA. It's not how Schneider's philosophy works. Look at GB. Only guys like Wilson will get resigned. The rest get let go and the team reloads with a constant stream of incoming rookies. That's why the FO values draft picks so much. Their goal is to have 10-12 picks each draft. They'll never trade up, they'll often trade down for more picks. They won't resign guys the fans expect them to and that will cause great distress, but the team will just put the next guy in. That's their philosophy, that's even how the players understand it. The backups are expected to step right up. The players who go on to be FA's will get their paydays elsewhere.

Agree with this and Browner's going to be an example of what you're talking about IMO. Kam may be eventually as well. ET and Sherm will stay I believe and of course Wilson, maybe Okung, probably Unger but otherwise I think we'll see a pretty hefty turnover in the next 5 or so years. It's the only way to not get in cap trouble really. And as much as I salivate at the thought of a guy like Wallace coming in, it ain't gonna happen I'm afraid unless they could trade Rice and his entire salary and restructure Miller and even then he may be too expensive.
As others here have said, it's likely our JS grabs a lower level d-lineman and/or LB and that's about it.

 

[Bipolar]

if we can trade Matt Flynn, everything is possible.

 

[sutz]

The way I look at it is much like a college program. You just assume that you will lose 20-25% or your roster every year and you have to restock from what's available. Now, in the NFL it's a little different, because you can keep the players for more than 4-5 years if you can sign the contracts, but the "GB System" or what Schneider appears to be setting up, no, you don't spend a lot of time worrying about losing players, even top notch ones. You just go out and find new ones.

It really turns the typical fan mindset on its ear. Fans run around screaming "We gotta keep that guy!" Meanwhile, P&J are looking for his replacement. What was said above is correct, IMHO. We will be losing quite a few players that we fans think of as irreplaceable. Hopefully, P&J will prove that mindset incorrect.

 

[Hawks46]

I'd disagree with Browner, and maybe most of the OL. The OL is one area where you need continuity, and constantly shuffling it really only hurts it. Look at GB's model, and how they're very well stocked at the skill positions, and guys like Cobb step up and make guys like Jennings expendable. Now look at their OL. It's never been a strength of that team, and it hurts them come playoff time, every year.

There's a reason our CB tandem is the biggest in NFL history. You don't really find players like Sherman or Browner that often. I don't see him getting a huge contract, but he's already gone to the Pro Bowl. He doesn't put up gaudy numbers, but that's because he literally erases his guy at the line of scrimmage and QBs don't target him as often. He's also somewhat schematic dependent and gets killed playing zone coverage. I can really only see him going to a 3-4 team that gets a ton of pressure and plays a lot of press/man on the outside. I'm hoping that JS can him to sign a reasonable contract and get him to stay here for another 4 years.

 

[DavidSeven]

People are going to get stressed when they see that we won't be resigning many of our guys in FA. It's not how Schneider's philosophy works. Look at GB. Only guys like Wilson will get resigned. The rest get let go and the team reloads with a constant stream of incoming rookies. That's why the FO values draft picks so much. Their goal is to have 10-12 picks each draft. They'll never trade up, they'll often trade down for more picks. They won't resign guys the fans expect them to and that will cause great distress, but the team will just put the next guy in. That's their philosophy, that's even how the players understand it. The backups are expected to step right up. The players who go on to be FA's will get their paydays elsewhere.

This is what made the Atlanta loss especially heartbreaking for me. Yeah, this is a young team, but I knew this particular group wasn't going to stick together too long. I think Aaron Rodgers made a comment along these lines after their loss in San Francisco.

I know JS/PC are going to continually do the best thing for this program, and for that, I am extremely grateful. I just wanted to see these specific guys win one.

 

[Sac]

Okung, Unger, Sherman, and Earl will probably all get big second contacts. 2 on offense and 2 on defense. Of course Wilson is probably a ' Hawk for life.

 

[Decimation]

I don't really care about any FA signings. I want us to continue building from the draft, and extend some of the great players we have to a better contract (Okung, Sherman, Chancellor, etc.)

 

[hawksfansinceday1]

I'd disagree with Browner, and maybe most of the OL. The OL is one area where you need continuity, and constantly shuffling it really only hurts it. Look at GB's model, and how they're very well stocked at the skill positions, and guys like Cobb step up and make guys like Jennings expendable. Now look at their OL. It's never been a strength of that team, and it hurts them come playoff time, every year.

There's a reason our CB tandem is the biggest in NFL history. You don't really find players like Sherman or Browner that often. I don't see him getting a huge contract, but he's already gone to the Pro Bowl. He doesn't put up gaudy numbers, but that's because he literally erases his guy at the line of scrimmage and QBs don't target him as often. He's also somewhat schematic dependent and gets killed playing zone coverage. I can really only see him going to a 3-4 team that gets a ton of pressure and plays a lot of press/man on the outside. I'm hoping that JS can him to sign a reasonable contract and get him to stay here for another 4 years.

Your arguement for Browner is a good one, but I still see him gone because I think they'll find a guy that's a bit better and will cost less but be nearly as big. Just a hunch man and I wouldn't be surprised to be wrong either.
Agree with you on o-line, mostly anyway. Okung and Unger are long haul guys for sure and if Carp ever gets healthy he may be as well.