A couple of things real quick, I won't get into numbers as the biggest re-signs will be Smith and Rogers(ballpark of 15-20 mill) and the free agents, with one exception, are all low invest, high reward types just like this season(Carlos and Braylon both signed 1 year deals while Whitner signed a 3 year $12M deal) . So we'll be well below the salary cap. I've been inspired by the ever present idea that JH wants to be versatile, use multiple TE's on the field at the same time, and I've decided to carry 4 TEs and 4 WRs, not saying this is what will happen but it looks like we could head down this road.
Franchise:
Dashon Goldson - At $6.5 million for one year we'd have him back at a near bargain. It also provides a good jumping point for a long term deal.
Re-sign:
Alex Smith
Carlos Rogers
Adam Snyder
Josh Morgan
Blake Costanzo
Tavares Gooden
CJ Spillman
Tramaine Brock
Not Retained:
Ahmad Brooks - Colts, Jets, Ravens, and most importantly the always overspending Redskins will all be in the market for new OLBs this off season someone will over pay him.
Brett Swain - Wont shock me if he doesn't play in the league next year.
Madieu Williams - Being a stand up guy wont always get you a job, especially when you're on the wrong side of 30. Save for that crushing blow he got flagged for early in the season I don't think he did anything for us.
Justin Peele - Nothing more then an emergency signing, shouldn't be re-signed especially with the idea of us drafting a TE and/or promoting Reuland.
Reggie Smith - Already been reported that the hers and his agent have agreed to amicably part ways.
Moran Norris - Insert same reason as Madieu Williams.
Chilo Rachal - A complete waste, if only Harbaugh's praise had worked on him like it on Alex…..A bit of Apples and Oranges but you get the point.
Larry Grant - Wish we could but he will likely be offered a gig by the Lions, Redskins, Vikings, Cowboys, Giants or Ravens.
Will Tukuafu - A career back up who spend nearly the whole season on IR. Just trimming the fat and starting over with a new, younger guy.
Cut:
Shawntae Spencer - He was inactive for playoffs, that alone says he is on the way out. He also sang the tune of wanting a new start during end of season interviews, we'll cut or trade him before the draft.
Rick Jean-Francois - I like RJF but he is a career back up and I'm taking the opportunity to make the team younger with the idea that Ian Williams takes a big step forward during a full off season.
Nate Byham - I've used this example to go down the round of a 4TE/4WR type offense. Byham loses out because we draft Fleener and again I'm running with the idea that Reuland has improved his blocking.
Kyle Williams - Not trying to force this one but I'm going with the idea that he was the 5th WR during this previous season and naturally we will cut the 5th WR when going to a 4TE/4WR offense.
Free Agent Signings:
WR Marques Colston - A solid big bodied target over the middle and in the redone.
OLB Erin Henderson - A younger less proven version of Brooks, might require a bit of large deal to pull him away from the Vikings but nowhere near what we'd have to pay Brooks to retain him.
RG Ramon Foster - Very under the radar. Surrendered just 3 measly sacks all season long.
SS Chris Hope - Another aging veteran but he is more able bodied than Madieu.
***Practice Squad***
Chase Beeler
Derek Hall
Kyle Wilson
Joe Hastings - Could lose his spot to Dontavia Bogan during camp.
Michael Wilhoite
Cory Nelms
Mark Legree
Curtis Holcombe - Takes Reuland's spot.
Draft:
1. Coby Fleener TE - Going with the idea that JH wants to use more 2 TE maybe even 3 TE sets. Fleener will know the system on day 1 and be able to contribute immediately.
2. Cam Johnson OLB - Played the bulk of his college days in a 34 scheme and looked great doing it. He might not win the starting job out of the gate but I like his future.
3. Brian Quick WR - Someone knocked on me when I pointed out that he might need a little bit to learn a full playbook, look how that turned out for Vernon with our system. Also Marques Colston seems like the perfect mentor for Quick.
4. Ryan Steed CB - Instinctive and athletic, also a high character guy, this years Curtis Holcombe for our team.
5. Travian Robertson DE - Just a great depth pick for our DL. Could step in and compete against Demarcus Dobbs for the #3 or 4 gig.
6. Jerrell Young FS - Depth purposed pick but he has some potential if he ever needs to see the field.
7. David Snow C - He can compete against Beeler for the back up job and both can apprentice underneath Goodwin.
***Key Players To Invite To Camp***
If these players go undrafted I would really want us to invite them to camp.
QB: Darron Thomas Oregon
RB: Jeremy Stewart Stanford
WR: Dyrell Roberts VTech
TE: Brandon Barden Vanderbilt
OT: Daron Rose North Alabama
OG: Ken Plue Purdue
OC: Jeremiah Hatch Kansas
DT: Terrell Rosonno Missouri
OLB: Darius Nall UCF
ILB: Brian Hendricks Wyoming
CB: Cliff Harris Oregon (Surprised? He very likely could completely tumble off boards, he's smaller then Desean Jackson and has "character issues" beyond words.)
FS: Janzen Jackson McNeese State
SS: Corey Mosley Virginia
*** 2012 Depth Chart ***
QB: Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick, Scott Tolzien
RB: Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter, Anthony Dixon
FB: Bruce Miller
TE: Vernon Davis, Delanie Walker, Coby Fleener, Konrad Reuland
WR: Marques Colston, Michael Crabtree, Josh Morgan, Brian Quick
LT: Joe Staley, Alex Boone
LG: Mike Iupati, Daniel Kilgore
OC: Jonathan Goodwin, David Snow
RG: Ramon Foster, Adam Snyder
RT: Anthony Davis, Mike Person
LDE: Ray MacDonald, Demarcus Dobbs
NT: Isaac Sopoaga, Ian Williams
RDE: Justin Smith, Travian Robertson
LOLB: Aldon Smith, Parys Haralson
MLB1: Patrick Willis, Tavares Gooden
MLB2: Navarro Bowman, Blake Costanzo
ROLB: Erin Henderson, Cam Johnson
LCB: Carlos Rogers, Chris Culliver, Ryan Steed
RCB: Tarell Brown, Tramaine Brock
FS: Dashon Goldson, Jerrell Young, Colin Jones
SS: Donte Whitner, Chris Hope, CJ Spillman
K/PR: Kendall Hunter, Jerrell Young
K: David Akers
P: Andy Lee
LS: Brian Jennings
***CONCLUSION***
I'll do one more take after the combine but this was mix of my thinking plus some other point of views around the zone (i.e. OTC's thread on draft a TE). Once again a bit of reminder that this is very hypothetical and I'm just trying to illustrate that having a 4TE/4WR team can work.
As usual comments and criticism are very welcome.
[ Edited by sfout on Jan 28, 2012 at 8:38 PM ]