The 49ers 2015 Free Agent Class

flynhayn15 · 2015-10-15T00:23:41-07:00

If you are grading the free agent class by just looking at who we signed, they it looks real bad. However, if you look at the free agent class and the situation the team was in when free agency began, I would argue that there wasn't a possibility for Baalke to get an A grade from this class. Let's look at the available free agents. I am going to eliminate the free agents that resigned with their team from the previous year because unlike in madden, there are players that would actually give a hometown discount for family and team stability, or at the very least wouldn't leave unless they were given an offer they couldn't refuse. Then there are the players that go back to their original teams, (Revis and Cromartie) and the players that reunite with the coach that drafted them (Maclin). Again you would have to over pay for them to chose your team (an unknown) over the team/coach they chose (familiarity has value). Also, realize that when free agency started we had 2 starting OTs, 2 starting OLBs and 3 Starting ILBs. We were paying Davis 5.6 mil this season and Aldon 9 mil. So any top free agent at these positions would have wanted more than that just to be a rotational player/insurance policy, or they wouldn't have even considered signing with us because we couldn't gaurentee them a staring role. It would have been hard to get a top FA ILB because even Wilhoite asked to be traded because he didn't think that the team would bench Bowman or Borland. On top of that, the lose of Davis, Smith, and Borland gave is 16 Mil in cap space Baalke didn't know was available for spending until after the top free agents were signed. Next, let's consider the Comp picks. Say what you want about Baalke's philosophy of staying away from high priced free agents and going after players that were released instead, but it worked up to this point. Nobody was complaining when we signed Rodgers, Whitner, Goodwin, Moss, Dorsey, Cox, Skuta, and Lloyd. Ok, maybe people were complaining about Lloyd but that was more about taking reps away from the younger players which is what any high priced free agent would have done this year as well. Then from there, try to make a free agent class that would have given us players that would have changed our record in the 1st 5 games, and again, try to think real world instead of madden. Here are a couple things to consider. WR- Of all the available free agent WRs that don't fall into the criteria above, I would say Torrey Smith was the best available. You could argue that Percy Harvin was better. But he was also more expensive and signed a shorter deal. If Torrey Smith got frustrated with Kaep imagine what Harvin would have done and how that would not be beneficial for a young locker room. Plus, if you hate then Bush signing because of his injury history, then Harvin should not even be on your list. You could even argue that from the rest of the free agents Simpson would be at least in the top 5 WRs available. RB-Hyde was our starter, so the big names were not going to sign here. The signing was mainly just to add a screen potential/pass catching RB to the roster. You could argue that the 2 best available that fit that mold were Bush and Vereen. Bush is getting paid half of what Vereen is getting paid, and we don't even know that if we matched Vereen's contract, if he would have signed here anyway. The Giants RB situation was a bigger question mark than ours. Neither of them were taking many first and second down carries away from Hyde. And again, we would have lost out on a Comp pick. Dockett and Wright were signed as insurance stop gaps until the younger guys were ready to play and luckily for us they were ready sooner rather than later. Pears has a personal relationship with Tomsula, and was signed to be a backup GUARD in case Martin and Thomas weren't ready to start at GUARD. In today's NFL you want your backup OLinemen to be versitile because you don't have 10 OL active for every game. It was just like when we had Adam Snyder for all of those years. You didn't want him to ever start but you knew that if any OL went down he could be serviceable at 4 positions on the OL. When Davis retired it unfortunately moved him to the starting lineup which was not what he was signed for. He signed with us for half of the salary he was making in Buffalo which means he was planning to be a backup here. You don't sign starting NFL tackle free agents for 1.25 Mill a year. Then take a look at the rest of the available players that changed teams. Who could we have signed that would have made you satisfied with this class? Does Baalke get a pass? No. But, he was dealt a bad hand this offseason, so let's try not to judge Baalke's FA acquisition ability just based on this year. Maybe see what he does when he has a whole offseason to plan to fill his roster holes and when he actually knows how much cap space he has to work with. JMHO

Oct 15, 2015 at 12:44 AM

AB81Rules
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I have to strongly disagree with the insurance stop gaps for Wright and Dockett, they gave Dockett $2M guaranteed in his base salary, they either screwed up, or viewed him as a key part, or why sign him and give him so much guaranteed.

As for Wright, he had $250K in LTBE Incentives for play time, so they viewed him as the #2 CB, or at least active and playing, and they also wasted $2.6M on Wright for Zero games, Zero snaps, zero anything, Baalke screwed up big time.

Pears was a horrible signing IMO, it's shown, he is not that good.

And Bush seems like a waste also, have him $2.2M for what? 13 yards so far, not great value.

Baalke screwed this FA period up big time.

Oct 15, 2015 at 4:09 AM

flynhayn15
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Posts: 3,689

Originally posted by AB81Rules:
I have to strongly disagree with the insurance stop gaps for Wright and Dockett, they gave Dockett $2M guaranteed in his base salary, they either screwed up, or viewed him as a key part, or why sign him and give him so much guaranteed.

As for Wright, he had $250K in LTBE Incentives for play time, so they viewed him as the #2 CB, or at least active and playing, and they also wasted $2.6M on Wright for Zero games, Zero snaps, zero anything, Baalke screwed up big time.

Pears was a horrible signing IMO, it's shown, he is not that good.

And Bush seems like a waste also, have him $2.2M for what? 13 yards so far, not great value.

Baalke screwed this FA period up big time.

You may be right. However, it seems that you don't like how Baalke spent too much money on players that we didn't need to play, and too little money on a player we did. Should we have spent 3-5 mil with 2 mil guaranteed (instead of 1.25 mil total) on a OLineman that we would cut if Martin and/or Thomas was ready to start and Davis doesn't retire or should we have spent less on other players at CB and DT that have no business starting if we ever needed them? Again, please tell me who we should have signed instead if you don't like the signings.

With Bush, he was a big need and he wasn't hurt when we signed him, it's not like this calf injury was a chronic preexisting condition and the guy only missed 8 games in the past 4 years. Yeah he has a history of injuries, but you have to take a chance to improve your team and give your offense another dimension. And again he makes half of what Vereen makes, and Vereen isn't a pro bowl back, so a lot of these signing were just the going rate for proven veterans.

I already agreed with you that this FA class sucks, now tell me what Baalke could have done, with the cards he was dealt, that you would have been satisfied with?

Oct 15, 2015 at 4:17 AM

LottOfDefense
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Posts: 2,754

The only thing positive that can be said about this year's class is that other than Torrey, future salary was unaffected. Most fans knew they were going to suck this year, so at least there is no extra damage done.

Oct 15, 2015 at 5:28 AM

AB81Rules
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Posts: 34,073

Originally posted by flynhayn15:
You may be right. However, it seems that you don't like how Baalke spent too much money on players that we didn't need to play, and too little money on a player we did. Should we have spent 3-5 mil with 2 mil guaranteed (instead of 1.25 mil total) on a OLineman that we would cut if Martin and/or Thomas was ready to start and Davis doesn't retire or should we have spent less on other players at CB and DT that have no business starting if we ever needed them? Again, please tell me who we should have signed instead if you don't like the signings.

With Bush, he was a big need and he wasn't hurt when we signed him, it's not like this calf injury was a chronic preexisting condition and the guy only missed 8 games in the past 4 years. Yeah he has a history of injuries, but you have to take a chance to improve your team and give your offense another dimension. And again he makes half of what Vereen makes, and Vereen isn't a pro bowl back, so a lot of these signing were just the going rate for proven veterans.

I already agreed with you that this FA class sucks, now tell me what Baalke could have done, with the cards he was dealt, that you would have been satisfied with?

My issue is back in March, we didn't know if Acker(Who looks horrible), or Reaser would play over Wright, we brought Wright in to be the #2 CB

Dockett was seen as a pass rusher, and by the looks of it, our DL gets ZERO pressure, the guy who gets the most is Aaron Lynch, who is a OLB. The DL isn't that good to be honest, the defense is ranked 31st overall, that's downright horrible when we still have talent, like Bowman, Bethea, Reid, Brock, Lynch, Ian, etc....

Both the Wright and Dockett signings were to fill needs, as Justin Smith was likely retiring, and we needed to replace McDonald who was cut the year before. These two signings were a waste of cap room, which could have been used to carryover into 2016.

I understand signing Dockett, I don't get cutting him. As for Wright, this wasn't going to be Carlos Rogers again like 2011, Rogers, while not living up to his 1st rd status, was a good CB in Washington, Wright was horrible in SD. I don't buy Wright was an insurance signing, he had a lot of guaranteed money, and a LTBE for play time, which means they saw him as #2 CB or at worst #3 or #4(basically active each game), and not on the bench, inactive.

Bush, he's had so much injury issues in his career, I'm ok with this a bit, it was a 1yr deal, but it seems like a $2.2M waste right now.

Pears, I never would have signed, at least not for what he got, $500K bonus, $500K base guarantee, and a $1M LTBE for play time, they always viewed him as the RG or LG, or even RT, I'm pretty sure they knew Davis may retire.

Torrey Smith is the only signing worth the money, now if they would actually use him properly.

Bellore idk, I have no issue with him, small signing, little guaranteed money($30K).

What would I have done though? Idk to be honest, first off I never would have traded Derek Carrier, now knowing that Vernon is on the block, makes no sense, Carrier has talent, and could have been the starter down the road, and was signed cheap through 2017.

Oct 15, 2015 at 5:42 AM

MikeD
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Posts: 517

Huge turnover for the team, and some of it wasn't his fault.

Oct 15, 2015 at 6:27 AM

ayleswbj11
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Posts: 2,090

How can you understand signing Dockett! It's shows complete ineptitude on our GM , scouts an Medical staff that is supposed to be one of the best in the world at Stanford.

Dockett has not even sniffed a workout since being cut. He isn't healthy an we didn't know. Thats what pisses me off the most. He never should have been signed in the first place

Oct 15, 2015 at 6:37 AM

GolittaCamper
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Posts: 7,277

Originally posted by AB81Rules:
I have to strongly disagree with the insurance stop gaps for Wright and Dockett, they gave Dockett $2M guaranteed in his base salary, they either screwed up, or viewed him as a key part, or why sign him and give him so much guaranteed.

As for Wright, he had $250K in LTBE Incentives for play time, so they viewed him as the #2 CB, or at least active and playing, and they also wasted $2.6M on Wright for Zero games, Zero snaps, zero anything, Baalke screwed up big time.

Pears was a horrible signing IMO, it's shown, he is not that good.

And Bush seems like a waste also, have him $2.2M for what? 13 yards so far, not great value.

Baalke screwed this FA period up big time.

And his drafting seems pretty suspect lately too, I wonder if he has peaked. He made some smart moves when he first git the job, but now it seems like he is flailing, and getting nowhere.

Oct 15, 2015 at 7:01 AM

vermonator
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Posts: 3,303

I guess Baalke hasn't been given a good hand in a while. He got lucky in the past with a few low risk signings, but live by the sword, die by the sword. What about his drafting record of late? His philosophy has been to build through the draft not free agency. Well, they say the draft takes about three years to evaluate, so how is his 2012 draft doing?

Sorry, but it's not just his free agency signings that suck, his misses are monumental.

Oct 15, 2015 at 7:11 AM

evil
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Posts: 46,731

Originally posted by AB81Rules:
Pears, I never would have signed, at least not for what he got, $500K bonus, $500K base guarantee, and a $1M LTBE for play time, they always viewed him as the RG or LG, or even RT, I'm pretty sure they knew Davis may retire.

What would I have done though? Idk to be honest, first off I never would have traded Derek Carrier, now knowing that Vernon is on the block, makes no sense, Carrier has talent, and could have been the starter down the road, and was signed cheap through 2017.

How can you be pretty sure they knew Davis might retire ?

And Carrier is in his 4th season in the NFL, and has bounced around. Sure he can catch passes but his blocking is sub par and if Vernon goes, Carrier would not be the guy to supplant him as the starter. We are a run first team and DC's sub par blocking is not a scheme fit as a #1 TE here. DC will never be more than a 2nd or 3rd string TE in the NFL. Vance and Celek are both not the long term answers as our #1 TE unless the offense shifts itself towards minimizing the use of TE's in the passing game, and Bell is still very green and developing so tough to tell where his future sits.

Oct 16, 2015 at 9:41 AM

#10

AB81Rules
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Posts: 34,073

Originally posted by KRS-1:

Originally posted by AB81Rules:
Pears, I never would have signed, at least not for what he got, $500K bonus, $500K base guarantee, and a $1M LTBE for play time, they always viewed him as the RG or LG, or even RT, I'm pretty sure they knew Davis may retire.

What would I have done though? Idk to be honest, first off I never would have traded Derek Carrier, now knowing that Vernon is on the block, makes no sense, Carrier has talent, and could have been the starter down the road, and was signed cheap through 2017.

How can you be pretty sure they knew Davis might retire ?

And Carrier is in his 4th season in the NFL, and has bounced around. Sure he can catch passes but his blocking is sub par and if Vernon goes, Carrier would not be the guy to supplant him as the starter. We are a run first team and DC's sub par blocking is not a scheme fit as a #1 TE here. DC will never be more than a 2nd or 3rd string TE in the NFL. Vance and Celek are both not the long term answers as our #1 TE unless the offense shifts itself towards minimizing the use of TE's in the passing game, and Bell is still very green and developing so tough to tell where his future sits.

Maybe not pretty sure, but they had to have known he was thinking retirement, if not, they are completely morons.

Carrier has potential, more than Vance does. I never would have traded him, but that's me. Hopefully Bell turns into something special, I love that kid.

Oct 16, 2015 at 9:43 AM

#11

AB81Rules
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Posts: 34,073

Originally posted by GolittaCamper:

Originally posted by AB81Rules:
I have to strongly disagree with the insurance stop gaps for Wright and Dockett, they gave Dockett $2M guaranteed in his base salary, they either screwed up, or viewed him as a key part, or why sign him and give him so much guaranteed.

As for Wright, he had $250K in LTBE Incentives for play time, so they viewed him as the #2 CB, or at least active and playing, and they also wasted $2.6M on Wright for Zero games, Zero snaps, zero anything, Baalke screwed up big time.

Pears was a horrible signing IMO, it's shown, he is not that good.

And Bush seems like a waste also, have him $2.2M for what? 13 yards so far, not great value.

Baalke screwed this FA period up big time.

And his drafting seems pretty suspect lately too, I wonder if he has peaked. He made some smart moves when he first git the job, but now it seems like he is flailing, and getting nowhere.

Yeah his drafting is really suspect. Tank hasn't looks great, average really, and he was considered a steal. Hopefully some of these guys develop, but I think by that time Baalke is gone. He really blew some drafts, 2012, he messed up 2013 with Tank IMO, and Vance. And his all ACL picks were terrible, none have helped this team. Need to start trading up for impact players, I'm afraid if we get a top 5 pick and Baalke is GM, I have no faith in him making the right pick. He seems to go left field in rd 1.

Oct 16, 2015 at 9:49 AM

#12

mayo49
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Posts: 65,216

The draft is a crap shoot. You can only hope that these guys pan out. I'm tired of Baalke using picks on ACL patients and them not panning out. I agree with AB, we need to start trading up for players and not sit back and pick so so players.

Oct 16, 2015 at 10:46 AM

#13

AB81Rules
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Posts: 34,073

Originally posted by mayo49:
The draft is a crap shoot. You can only hope that these guys pan out. I'm tired of Baalke using picks on ACL patients and them not panning out. I agree with AB, we need to start trading up for players and not sit back and pick so so players.

I mean I like the Eli Harold and Jaquiski Tartt picks now more than I did in April, but man if we could have gotten a CB and WR in those rounds, we may be better off. But we didn't think Aldon could be even more of a dumbass, so the Harold pick looks like a genius pick, if he develops. Tartt is more for the future, but a 2nd rd Safety when we had Bethea, and Reid, plus Ward was questionable.

I remember rd 1, I thought DeVante Parker was gonna be at 15, then Miami took him, imagine Parker, Smith, and Boldin on offense. I also wanted a ILB badly, and it shows now, Wilhoite is getting exposed, and Bowman is NOT 100% or where he use to be, which sucks. I don't know if Bowman will ever be the elite ILB he use to be.