How the Niners were built

Originally posted by MadDog49er:
The greatest challenge for the team in 2012 is dealing with the avalanche of free agents after this season is through. I have highlighted guys who are currently starting, or on the 46 man game roster. The list is lengthy:
Alex Boone
Ahmed Brooks
Braylon Edwards
Ted Ginn
Dashon Goldson
Josh Morgan
Moran Norris
Chilo Rachal
Carlos Rogers
Alex Smith
Reggie Smith
Adam Snyder

This doesn't even include Larry Grant, Blake Costanzo, and CJ Spillman, who are fixtures on the game day roster.

Players like Alex Smith, and Carlos Rogers are in line for a big payday, so making the cap work will be a grand challenge.

I don't know if it's been started elsewhere, but watching this list may merit its own thread. Smith, Ginn, Edwards, and Rogers are the highest priority for me. Smith for obvious reasons. Rogers because I think he's a legit corner. I want Ginn because we searched too long for a ST specialist, and we finally have a top flight one. He hasn't done enough as a WR to command top dollar in the market, so we should be able to keep him. Edwards is still a top talent at WR, so I'm leaning toward wanting him back, pending his performance this year. I'd rather not have to focus a high draft pick on an Edwards-esque talent when he's sitting on the roster.

Originally posted by OnTheClock:

Originally posted by MadDog49er:
The greatest challenge for the team in 2012 is dealing with the avalanche of free agents after this season is through. I have highlighted guys who are currently starting, or on the 46 man game roster. The list is lengthy:
Alex Boone
Ahmed Brooks
Braylon Edwards
Ted Ginn
Dashon Goldson
Josh Morgan
Moran Norris
Chilo Rachal
Carlos Rogers
Alex Smith
Reggie Smith
Adam Snyder

This doesn't even include Larry Grant, Blake Costanzo, and CJ Spillman, who are fixtures on the game day roster.

Players like Alex Smith, and Carlos Rogers are in line for a big payday, so making the cap work will be a grand challenge.

The bolded, I feel, are the most expendable (although you could add Boone and Snyder, but I think they'll be back because of the depth they bring). I hate to admit it, but unless Edwards lights it up, he probably won't come back. If he does light it up late in the season, he may look for a bigger payday elsewhere.

Obviously Chilo (terrible), Reggie (slow), and Norris (nothing left in the tank) won't and shouldn't come back.

Goldson may be easily replaced by a draft pick or FA.

I could see BE and a number of those players coming back if we do well in the play-offs even without big paydays. Some players value winning over getting paid. We will have to see. Aren't we like 10 million under the salary cap?

Originally posted by IWasWrongRubber:

Originally posted by qnnhan7:
Demarcus Dobbs has a good chance to eventually replaced Justin Smith.

Demarcus Dobbs is a beast of a player. I can't understand how that kid went undrafted. Did you see him destroy San Diego's offensive line during preseason? My Bolt lovin' brother certainly did. He's pegged him for future greatness. I can't disagree.

I agreed with Nolan's philosophy to "tear it all down" and start over. After all, that's exactly what Walsh did. He cut away the underperformers and drafted, molded and coached new talent. Nolan certainly does have an eye for NFL talent. The 49er roster is stocked with it. But as previous posters have mentioned, he can't coach. Do you see how bad and bland Miami's defense looks? I think Mike Nolan has just about coached his way out of the NFL.

But you've got to give him credit for one thing. He wasn't afraid to tear it down and start all over. Harbaugh didn't have to do that. He came to a team stocked with more talent than most of us realized. What's he has done, is what other coaches could not do, is bring that talent out at full force. The Niners are a tough, young team playing smart football.

You know people said Harbaugh is a perfect fit for us. But what we have in our players fits pretty good for what his preferences are in offense and defense. Perfect match and meant to be. When he turned down Miami, it only occurred to me that he did it because of Baalke and Jed, and the Walsh connection at Stanford, and then the distance local. But knowing Harbaugh now and what type of person he is in regard to details, he most likely had done his research on our team. He probably realized quickly that with the players we have we fit him well.

Originally posted by Jakemall:
I could see BE and a number of those players coming back if we do well in the play-offs even without big paydays. Some players value winning over getting paid. We will have to see. Aren't we like 10 million under the salary cap?

I think it might be even more than that:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/04/updated-cap-numbers-as-of-monday/

Those numbers are from the beginning of October, but since most teams do not many more big player acquisitions now (well, except the Raiders ), the Niners cap number for this year should be roughly around that older estimation. The only player movement we did after that should be putting Morgan on IR and signing Swain and that did not move the cap in any significant way. So we should have around $17.5 million in cap money left, enough to sign an extension or two as the season progresses.

Also, in this mini-interview here:

http://www.csncalifornia.com/blog/niners-talk/post/QA-with-49ers-president-Jed-York?blockID=580002&feedID=2800

Jed York is asked about player extensions and mentions that Harbaugh and Baalke are talking about it and since they already did some extensions like the one for Frank, they would be open to it. He leaves those decisions to Jim and Trent, though. Sounds good enough for me

Well you need to win in all phases on the field, O, D, ST. Off the field you need to win, scouting, drafting, and coaching.

Originally posted by MadDog49er:
The greatest challenge for the team in 2012 is dealing with the avalanche of free agents after this season is through. I have highlighted guys who are currently starting, or on the 46 man game roster. The list is lengthy:
Alex Boone
Ahmed Brooks
Braylon Edwards
Ted Ginn
Dashon Goldson
Josh Morgan
Moran Norris
Chilo Rachal
Carlos Rogers
Alex Smith
Reggie Smith
Adam Snyder

This doesn't even include Larry Grant, Blake Costanzo, and CJ Spillman, who are fixtures on the game day roster.

Players like Alex Smith, and Carlos Rogers are in line for a big payday, so making the cap work will be a grand challenge.

Let the rest walk

Keep ginn for cheap if possible

Originally posted by Shorteous:
Keep ginn for cheap if possible

I mean, I would even want to keep him if it wasn't particularly cheap. He's not a great WR; purely a return guy. Let the market decide what a pure return guy is worth. Why should we not be willing to pay it?

Originally posted by OnTheClock:

Originally posted by MadDog49er:
The greatest challenge for the team in 2012 is dealing with the avalanche of free agents after this season is through. I have highlighted guys who are currently starting, or on the 46 man game roster. The list is lengthy:
Alex Boone
Ahmed Brooks
Braylon Edwards
Ted Ginn
Dashon Goldson
Josh Morgan
Moran Norris
Chilo Rachal
Carlos Rogers
Alex Smith
Reggie Smith
Adam Snyder

This doesn't even include Larry Grant, Blake Costanzo, and CJ Spillman, who are fixtures on the game day roster.

Players like Alex Smith, and Carlos Rogers are in line for a big payday, so making the cap work will be a grand challenge.

The bolded, I feel, are the most expendable (although you could add Boone and Snyder, but I think they'll be back because of the depth they bring). I hate to admit it, but unless Edwards lights it up, he probably won't come back. If he does light it up late in the season, he may look for a bigger payday elsewhere.

Obviously Chilo (terrible), Reggie (slow), and Norris (nothing left in the tank) won't and shouldn't come back.

Goldson may be easily replaced by a draft pick or FA.

Everyteam will be in this situation, one year contracts were rampant this past offseason. Of those player only Rogers and Goldson would command a salary that could be considered daunting by league standards. Brooks could get a nice payday as well. But nothing about that list is all that challenging, and with this coaching staff and front office... they have a plan, right MD?

Originally posted by Shorteous:

Originally posted by MadDog49er:
The greatest challenge for the team in 2012 is dealing with the avalanche of free agents after this season is through. I have highlighted guys who are currently starting, or on the 46 man game roster. The list is lengthy:
Alex Boone
Ahmed Brooks
Braylon Edwards
Ted Ginn
Dashon Goldson
Josh Morgan
Moran Norris
Chilo Rachal
Carlos Rogers
Alex Smith
Reggie Smith
Adam Snyder

This doesn't even include Larry Grant, Blake Costanzo, and CJ Spillman, who are fixtures on the game day roster.

Players like Alex Smith, and Carlos Rogers are in line for a big payday, so making the cap work will be a grand challenge.

Let the rest walk

i would include ginn too. hes making an impact in returning.

Yeah, I guess I don't see why people are worried about Edwards being "overpaid." Overpaid compared to what? If he proves himself to be a top-flight WR, then yeah, he'll command top WR dollars. And why shouldn't we pay top WR dollars?? We've been wanting a top WR for ages.

Originally posted by Jakemall:

Originally posted by OnTheClock:

Originally posted by MadDog49er:
The greatest challenge for the team in 2012 is dealing with the avalanche of free agents after this season is through. I have highlighted guys who are currently starting, or on the 46 man game roster. The list is lengthy:
Alex Boone
Ahmed Brooks
Braylon Edwards
Ted Ginn
Dashon Goldson
Josh Morgan
Moran Norris
Chilo Rachal
Carlos Rogers
Alex Smith
Reggie Smith
Adam Snyder

This doesn't even include Larry Grant, Blake Costanzo, and CJ Spillman, who are fixtures on the game day roster.

Players like Alex Smith, and Carlos Rogers are in line for a big payday, so making the cap work will be a grand challenge.

The bolded, I feel, are the most expendable (although you could add Boone and Snyder, but I think they'll be back because of the depth they bring). I hate to admit it, but unless Edwards lights it up, he probably won't come back. If he does light it up late in the season, he may look for a bigger payday elsewhere.

Obviously Chilo (terrible), Reggie (slow), and Norris (nothing left in the tank) won't and shouldn't come back.

Goldson may be easily replaced by a draft pick or FA.

I could see BE and a number of those players coming back if we do well in the play-offs even without big paydays. Some players value winning over getting paid. We will have to see. Aren't we like 10 million under the salary cap?

My top 5 priorities.

1. Rogers
2. Brooks
3. Morgan
4. Ginn
5. Costanzo

6 would be Braylon

rest are minor. Boone is a ERFA, so he is a lock since he cant sign anywhere else.

Snyder, Norris shouldnt be back

Smith(Reggie), Grant, Gooden are up in the air.

Alex and Dashon I just dont know yet

So in reality, of our FAs to be, only really 5-7 are a signing. And rogers and Brooks are toughest IMO. Braylon if he does well rest of season.

My wants

Give Rogers 6yr deal thru 2017, around 18M guaranteed
Give Brooks 5yr deal thru 2016, around 10M guaranteed
Ginn 2yr deal(2013), Morgan 4yr deal(2015) with 4.5M guaranteed and Costanzo, 2yr deal(2013)

So, if those 5 are signed this gives us the these signed thru thus;

2013:
DE J.Smith
SS D.Whitner
C Goodwin
PK Akers
ST/ILB Costanzo
ILB Bowman
RB Dixon
WR Ginn
WR Williams
TE Byham

2014:
RB Gore
WR Crabtree
OLB A.Smith(Could be thru 2015, which is likely)
LG Iupati
RT Davis
QB Kaepernick
RB Hunter
CB Culliver
FB Miller
LS Jennings

2015:
WR Morgan
TE Davis
DE McDonald

2016:
ILB Willis
OLB Brooks

2017:
LT Staley
CB Rogers

Guys I can see cut, Brown(2013) and Haralson(2013)

As you can see, 2014 is a key year, a bunch of FAs again.

And signed thru 2012, P Lee, TE Walker, NT Sopoaga, CB Spencer and NT RJF

Of those, only spencer shouldn't be back.

Why is Costanzo so high on your list?

Originally posted by tohara3:

Originally posted by Rubberneck36:
Nice post. It was nice to see it all laid out there like that.

This

Very cool

Originally posted by LieutKaffee:
Why is Costanzo so high on your list?

guy is a ST stud, one of our best FA signees in the offseason.