Suh's contract

[brewer229]

Since the team is essentially done in FA already, and we don't need the cap space right away, it may not be a terrible idea to let Suh play it out. That's not to say they should let him go, just finally get rid of the specter of the old rookie scale contracts. We can always franchise him (DT will be about 10 million, very viable) in order to work out something long-term next year. And with it being a completely new contract, rather than extension or restructuring, it will be easier to design a contract that actually fits well within the team salary structure.

If we restructure now, Suh has greater leverage (holding that 20 million over our heads). Signing him next year puts the ball back in our court, where Suh has to decide between taking 10 million (less than he could get in a long term contract and no long-term stabilty) or something longer but more team friendly.

The franchise rage is the average if 5 highest or 120% previous year cap number. That would make his 2015 franchise tag number 26 million with a 35 million cap number. The tag is not an option.

 

[tomdalton22]

The franchise rage is the average if 5 highest or 120% previous year cap number. That would make his 2015 franchise tag number 26 million with a 35 million cap number. The tag is not an option.

I saw that his cap number goes down to $15M next year. Is he under contract or is that just his cap hit even if he leaves via free agency?

 

[brewer229]

I saw that his cap number goes down to $15M next year. Is he under contract or is that just his cap hit even if he leaves via free agency?

We have between 9-10 million cap hit in 2015 if he is on the team or not. There is nothing we can do about that. We can not restructure or extend to move that money.

 

[LKP]

but his track record isn't that of a top 16 safety....he had one good year. We have seen this before. If he was truly the 16th best safety in the league he wouldn't taken the deal he got from the Lions....there would have been a demand for his services.

There was a demand for Ihedigbo. Three other teams. Safeties aren't high priority and Byrd got overpaid. I'd take Ihedigbo over Mitchell and Jenkins and he is equal to Clemons. Ward would have been nice but he was hell bent on playing Denver. Plus Ward has a 7 million cap number in 2015 (backloaded).

 

[tomdalton22]

There was a demand for Ihedigbo. Three other teams. Safeties aren't high priority and Byrd got overpaid. I'd take Ihedigbo over Mitchell and Jenkins and he is equal to Clemons. Ward would have been nice but he was hell bent on playing Denver. Plus Ward has a 7 million cap number in 2015 (backloaded).

It depends on what sites you look at but most have him in the bottom 1/3 of the free agent safties that were available.

 

[LKP]

It depends on what sites you look at but most have him in the bottom 1/3 of the free agent safties that were available.

Some sites are concerned he is 30. Ihedigbo was not bottom third of anything though based on his play.

 

[tomdalton22]

Some sites are concerned he is 30. Ihedigbo was not bottom third of anything though based on his play.

He has had one good year and he has been in the league for 6 years.

(From a guy that covers the Ravens)

He'll line up opposite Glover Quin as the last line of defense for Detroit as the team tries to improve a secondary that struggled toward the end of last season. So they replaced Louis Delmas for Ihedigbo, but what are the Lions getting? Here are some thoughts from colleague Jamison Hensley, who covers the Ravens.

"Ihedigbo wasn't expected to start last year after the Ravens signed Michael Huff in free agency and drafted Matt Elam in the first round. But he turned into one of the biggest surprises on defense. Playing nearly every snap on defense, Ihedigbo finished second on the team with a career-best 99 tackles.

"He's basically a lesser version of Bernard Pollard. Ihedigbo is solid at coming up to make the hit but he doesn't make enough plays in coverage. All three of his interceptions last season came against Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton. Excluding the two games against Cincinnati, Ihedbigbo broke up only seven passes in 2013.

"Ihedigbo wasn't in the Ravens' plans in 2014. General manager Ozzie Newsome said the team needed to add a more athletic safety. The Ravens also plan to move Elam to Ihedigbo's strong safety spot, which is the first-round pick's natural position.

"Basically, he's a great special teams player and an average safety."

 

[Mitchrapp]

We need more help back there. A S for a S is not near enough.

 

[LKP]

He has had one good year and he has been in the league for 6 years.

(From a guy that covers the Ravens)

He'll line up opposite Glover Quin as the last line of defense for Detroit as the team tries to improve a secondary that struggled toward the end of last season. So they replaced Louis Delmas for Ihedigbo, but what are the Lions getting? Here are some thoughts from colleague Jamison Hensley, who covers the Ravens.

"Ihedigbo wasn't expected to start last year after the Ravens signed Michael Huff in free agency and drafted Matt Elam in the first round. But he turned into one of the biggest surprises on defense. Playing nearly every snap on defense, Ihedigbo finished second on the team with a career-best 99 tackles.

"He's basically a lesser version of Bernard Pollard. Ihedigbo is solid at coming up to make the hit but he doesn't make enough plays in coverage. All three of his interceptions last season came against Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton. Excluding the two games against Cincinnati, Ihedbigbo broke up only seven passes in 2013.

"Ihedigbo wasn't in the Ravens' plans in 2014. General manager Ozzie Newsome said the team needed to add a more athletic safety. The Ravens also plan to move Elam to Ihedigbo's strong safety spot, which is the first-round pick's natural position.

"Basically, he's a great special teams player and an average safety."

Tell that guy to talk to Harbaugh who raved about him.

 

[LKP]

And I found it funny we are looking at more than 2013 now with Ihedigbo. But with Houston it's all about 2013 and you all ignore his good play in 2011/2012. Very funny indeed.

 

[inkfreq]

Let's just ask this question....

Would any of you be happier rolling into the draft with an absolute NEED at Safety?

I for one am never happy with that scenario. I'd rather draft out of desire than need.

 

[atxlion82]

So worst case scenario we went from a "weakness" in Delmas to no safety to "average" and people are complaining.

We now can focus on other needs and draft a developmental safety and people are upset.

 

[mhughes0021]

ill only be upset if we overpaid for yet another 1 year wonder on a contract year. We needed safety depth. If he was cheap I have no problem with him as our starter. And in the draft ill have no issues if we upgrade and replace him.

 

[atxlion82]

ill only be upset if we overpaid for yet another 1 year wonder on a contract year. We needed safety depth. If he was cheap I have no problem with him as our starter. And in the draft ill have no issues if we upgrade and replace him.

I thought i read somewhere it was going to be 2 years around 4 million

 

[mhughes0021]

I thought i read somewhere it was going to be 2 years around 4 million

Good deal if thats the case. Cheap enough to shelf him if we get an upgrade in the draft. Nice cheap starter if we dont.

 

[atxlion82]

I thought i read somewhere it was going to be 2 years around 4 million

http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2014/03/hard-hitting_safety_james_ihed.html

 

[atxlion82]

The Ravens tried to re-sign Ihedigbo, but the Lions made a two-year offer they were not prepared to match. Terms of the deal remain unknown, but it's believed to be worth almost $4 million.

 

[mhughes0021]

The Ravens tried to re-sign Ihedigbo, but the Lions made a two-year offer they were not prepared to match. Terms of the deal remain unknown, but it's believed to be worth almost $4 million.

I read they weren't interested in resigning him at all because they were moving Elam to SS this year. The article you posted sums it up perfectly. Hes 30 and is a solid starter. Draft someone and let him be their mentor the way he did Elam.

 

[cheeno]

I read they weren't interested in resigning him at all because they were moving Elam to SS this year. The article you posted sums it up perfectly. Hes 30 and is a solid starter. Draft someone and let him be their mentor the way he did Elam.

I like Deebo but I'm all for drafting a safety.

 

[tomdalton22]

And I found it funny we are looking at more than 2013 now with Ihedigbo. But with Houston it's all about 2013 and you all ignore his good play in 2011/2012. Very funny indeed.

no...both players have a history of mediocre with one good year. We are ignoring the one good year.