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Detroit Lions FA Thread

kmd47 said:
Chris Clemons, Thomas Decoud, DRC, Reed Doughty.... All secondary help that I would consider good talent that we should be looking at adding.
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I agree, all solid talent.

But would you rather have any of those guys, and face cap hell again in a few years, or just draft a young corner like Gilbert, and have breathing room every year?

Suh is the last of the huge rookie contracts we have to deal with. lets not keep spreading the cap hell out over multiple years.

Sooner or later, that bill comes due. We don't have so many needs this season that we HAVE to sign a bunch of guys. Pay the bill, draft your guys, and next year when there is a better crop of free agents, you have the money to work.
 
Agreed, get out from under one of the big 3 if you get the chance, even if it means choking on it this year. It was a stupid deal for the Lions in the first place, but that's what those deals were like back then, hence the rookie cap.
 
So in your guys' scenarios you just want to let Suh walk? Smart.....
 
Mitchrapp said:
We didn't say that..but a hugh big daddy type extension would be bad really bad.
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I pretty clearly stated to extend Suh, but do NOT restructure Suh. Eat the $22M this year and get him under a shiny new, cap friendlier, 4-5 year deal.

Point A) Our defense is built around our defensive line, which is build around Suh. He's our guy, and should be THE top priority going forward.

Point B) When you restructure a deal, a guy like Suh doesn't take less money. He shuffles money. Take $10m from pot A, put it in pot B. That is how the guy got a cap number this high.. he restructured for the team a few times, and now the credit card payment is due.

If we continue to push his money back a year, back another year, back another year... just to sign free agents in a lackluster class, in a few years, we're facing this cap hit and more.

Pay him the unreal amount of money he's owed this year, and get the extension worked out. Our team contractually agreed to pay him, it's owed to him, stop trying to stave off the inevitable and just pay it it a year we can afford to pay it.
 
Hmmm the point of extending him is to save the money to get someone that was my point all along. I never said restructure, you can't restructure a one year deal anyway at least I don't think so. If he doesn't start negotiations soon, I would for sure look for a trade.
 
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kmd47 said:
Hmmm the point of extending him is to save the money to get someone that was my point all along. I never said restructure, you can't restructure a one year deal anyway at least I don't think so. If he doesn't start negotiations soon, I would for sure look for a trade.
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An extension has no bearing what so ever on this year.

You restructure a one year deal as part of an extension, which means giving him more money, and more years, and then kicking some of this year's money into future years.

If you want his cap number down for this season, there are ONLY two ways to do that... cut him or restructure him.

An extension literally means what the name implies, we are extending the length of the contract. A restructure as part of that means you are changing how the money gets paid to free up space for this season.
 
swami45 said:
With Tapp signing I'd say they are done at DE till the draft. They don't have the cap space for those two either right now
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Nah, they still have plenty of wiggle room, but probably not for a major signing.

The lowest paid guys are in danger. Have a look at http://overthecap.com/teamcap.php?Team=Lions&Year=2014

Any one of those guys making low money this year can be released for the cap savings and replaced with a better veteran looking for work. That's how teams land bargain bin contracts every year.

So if we cut a guy like Whitehead (not saying he's on the block, just a name) and replace him with a veteran upgrade for $600K, we would be charged less than $100K against the cap.

Every year there are dozens upon dozens of veterans that are released and can't find new gigs that are better that the bargain basement guys on any roster.

They won't be big names, but I would look for five to six more signings in the coming weeks, even if Suh isn't restructured.
 
I could also see Lions drafting a DE at #10 or R2 instead of going CB or WR. They seem determined to have the best DL and that requires another really good DE. Get another fast, young DE who can get to the QB but can also play the run well like Ansah. Not saying that I want them to, just I can see it since it is a weakness at the moment and they seem very high on their younger CBs still, plus the Tate signing.
 
zyxt9 said:
I could also see Lions drafting a DE at #10 or R2 instead of going CB or WR. They seem determined to have the best DL and that requires another really good DE. Get another fast, young DE who can get to the QB but can also play the run well like Ansah. Not saying that I want them to, just I can see it since it is a weakness at the moment and they seem very high on their younger CBs still, plus the Tate signing.
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Hard to say what they put priority on right now.

Certainly Schwartz put a lot of focus on the D-line, and Mayhew and company drafted to suite the coaches needs. It was Jimbo who wanted the most dominating line he could put together, and Mayhew accommodated.

Caldwell may be saying "Hey, I think we have enough talent up front, let's get someone on the back end of this defense".

What we do know is that the coach in Detroit will tell the GM what he feels he needs to win, and Mayhew and Xanders take that into account on draft day, but we don't know if the priorities are the same.

I personally wouldn't mind a fearsome DE at #10 if there is one on the board. I believe in building to your strengths.
 
zyxt9 said:
I could also see Lions drafting a DE at #10 or R2 instead of going CB or WR. They seem determined to have the best DL and that requires another really good DE. Get another fast, young DE who can get to the QB but can also play the run well like Ansah. Not saying that I want them to, just I can see it since it is a weakness at the moment and they seem very high on their younger CBs still, plus the Tate signing.
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I think they are ok rolling with Houston and Slay. If Gilbert falls they may be looking at taking him.
 
SAFETY:
What’s changed: James Ihedigbo seemed close to signing a deal Thursday, but left the Lions facility without a definitive job in hand. He told reporters that he hopes to sign with the Lions and that an issue with his representation is part of the holdup.

Who is out there: Chris Clemons is still out there, but the Lions seem focused on Ihedigbo.

Chances something happens Friday: Highly possible if he can get things sorted in a timely manner.
 
so seems like they will focus the 1st rounder on a CB from the looks of Free Agency. Maybe a LB in the 2nd?
 
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