DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum 2019 Free Agency Part II

Burfict isn't good anymore. That's the actual problem.

He lacks the lateral movement and gets exposed with the passing game

Texans agreed to terms with QB A.J. McCarron, formerly of the Raiders.

McCarron joins his fourth team in the last 12 months and will be Deshaun Watson's backup in Houston, replacing Brandon Weeden, who is a free agent. Once talked about as a potential starter during his Bengals days, McCarron has proven time and again being a clipboard-holder is his NFL ceiling.

RELATED: Oakland Raiders
SOURCE: Ian Rapoport on Twitter
Mar 19, 2019, 9:18 PM

Rams signed OLB Clay Matthews, formerly of the Packers, to a two-year contract.

Edge pressure is a big need for a Rams team that is paying Dante Fowler $12 million this season. Fowler has never been a sack master, but Matthews' addition should help in a big way, even if Matthews is embarking on his 33rd birthday (in May) and coming off a 3.5-sack season. Matthews was near the bottom of Pro Football Focus' pass-rush productivity grades last season, generating just 30 total pressures on 356 snaps rushing the quarterback. Matthews and Samson Ebukam will team with Fowler off the edge for L.A.

RELATED: Green Bay Packers
Mar 19, 2019, 8:56 PM

aiders signed LB Vontaze Burfict, formerly of the Bengals, to a one-year contract.

Predictable. Raiders DC Paul Guenther was Burfict's longtime defensive coordinator in Cincinnati before taking the Oakland gig last season. Burfict is still just 28, but his body is breaking down due to his violent nature. He's nowhere near the player he was early in his career. The Raiders have one of the weakest linebacker corps in the league, so Burfict should not only make the team but also play heavy snaps for the Silver and Black.

RELATED: Cincinnati Bengals
SOURCE: Tom Pelissero on Twitter
Mar 19, 2019, 8:25 PM

Link for the above posts, and the next one

https://www.rotoworld.com/sports/nfl/football

Vikings re-signed K Dan Bailey to a one-year, $1 million contract.

Once one of the most accurate kickers in the league, Bailey's decline continued last season as he converted just 21-of-28 field goal attempts including only 5-of-11 from 40 yards or more in 14 games with the Vikings. It would not be a surprise if the Vikings brought in some competition.

SOURCE: Tom Pelissero on Twitter
Mar 19, 2019, 11:02 AM

Thanks for posting all that.

McCarron seems like a somewhat odd backup to Watson. I suppose he is an upgrade over Weeden, though.

Why is he an odd backup for Watson? Teams don’t usually matchup they style of their starter and backup.

He also wallows in his own on-field nonsense and cheap shots. Self-destructs.

How about Dawson?

I think ideally they would match styles. You're right that they often don't.

So many bad QBs still lingering around as backups. Weeden just now replaced? Sanchez played for the Redskins last year.

I think the thought of having McCarron here as the starter instead of Baker colors my opinion of him some possibly. He would definitely not have been my choice if I were looking for a backup for Watson... or anyone else most likely.

NBC Sports Boston reports the Patriots have made progress in contract talks with free agent Stephen Gostkowski.

The Patriots didn't franchise Gostkowski, but re-signing him has always been in their plans. Gostkowski's asking price has been the sticking point. Gostkowski signed a four-year, $17.2 million extension back in 2015 but the Patriots are hoping to bring him back for less.

SOURCE: NBC Sports Boston
Mar 21, 2019, 7:39 PM

Colts signed EDGE Justin Houston, formerly of the Chiefs, to a two-year, $24 million contract.

The Colts easily had the most cap space available, and they are using some of it to fill one of their top offseason needs. Houston has struggled a bit with injuries in recent years, but he recorded nine sacks in 719 snaps last year and has 18.5 over the last two years. Even if just in a rotational role, Houston should be a big upgrade to Indy's pass rush.

RELATED: Kansas City Chiefs
SOURCE: Adam Schefter on Twitter
Mar 21, 2019, 3:57 PM

Bengals re-signed CB Darqueze Dennard.

Dennard tested the market, even taking a visit with the Chiefs, but he will return to the team which selected him in the first round of the 2014 draft. He will step right back in as the Bengals' slot corner.

SOURCE: Tom Pelissero on Twitter
Mar 21, 2019, 2:20 PM

Cardinals signed DT Darius Philon, formerly of the Chargers, to a two-year, $10 million contract.

The deal includes $5 million guaranteed. It is a good deal for the former sixth-round pick, who has come on strong the last two seasons with 8.5 sacks. Philon should step into a starting role on Arizona's defensive line.

RELATED: Los Angeles Chargers
SOURCE: Tom Pelissero on Twitter
Mar 21, 2019, 11:40 AM

Saints signed TE Jared Cook, formerly of the Raiders.

The deal is not yet official, but both ProFootballTalk and NFL Network have reported it is going to happen. Cook set career-highs last season with the Raiders and will now play a prime role in a Drew Brees-led offense. Saints tight ends have mostly disappointed since Jimmy Graham left for Seattle, but Cook will be a good bet for a TE1 campaign.

RELATED: Oakland Raiders
SOURCE: Ian Rapoport on Twitter
Mar 21, 2019, 10:26 AM

This was a guy I was really hoping we'd grab. 2 years/$10 million isn't a huge contract. I think he would have been a great guy to rotate inside.

The Cleveland Browns have signed free agent OL Bryan Witzmann.

Witzmann is 6-7, 320 pounds and is officially entering his fifth NFL season out of South Dakota State. Originally signed by Houston as an undrafted free agent in 2014, Witzmann has started 20 of his 37 career games with Kansas City (2016-17) and Chicago (2018). He started seven games at right guard for the Bears in 2018. Witzmann is a native of Houlton, Wis.

https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-sign-ol-bryan-witzmann

I like bringing guys with experience in behind Corbett to push him.

Sound move, nothing ventured nothing gained. It's the additions / upgrading to the middle and lower half of the roster that will eventually bear fruit when inevitably we lose guys to injury or free agency.

I'm starting to feel like maybe they aren't 1000% sold on Corbett and we're taking a "kitchen sink" approach to backfilling Zeitler. Isn't this guy like the third new interior OL in the last three to four weeks?

I think we are just upgrading depth. I mean a good GM should be looking at upgrading every position on the 53 man roster and creating competition at every position. I don't think Dorsey created a need he had to find a solution for. I think he had a solution in place so he didn't have a need.

Took the words right out of my mouth

Another solid oline move. Glad we're building depth in the trenches.

purple, I do not think there is a snowball’s chance in heck that we would have traded zeitler unless we were absolutely confident that Corbett could step in and perform at a high level.

I think they have their guy in Corbett, but they also just traded away (arguably) the best guard in football so they brought in a guy that has started a bunch of games. Kinda like with Robinson and Harrison, but feels a bit more intentional.

55 people can like that post and they can build a statue to Dorsey but it won't change what the team really has.

So, there might not "necessarily" be a need where Zeitler left, because you have Corbett,
and now you have, Lamm, and Cush, and Wiz..--er, something.

But if you have it figured out you don't go keeping to try and figure it out.

Just look at the case of when the Browns had "Quarterback from the Jersey", and it was so solid they brought in many more Quarterbacks, until they found one,
But when you actually find one you stop looking.

I really, really tried to understand what point you're trying to make.

I was lost after the first seven words

I think he was saying that if we felt so strongly about Corbett, we wouldn't keep bringing in other guards.

I see it was insurance. That and who is to say these guys won't be better than the guys we currently have on the team.

Now the part about the Qb from Jersey has be stumped.

Guard or tackle by committee? We seem to be collecting the mammoths.

Also, to keep this whole thing going it will require moving older players with larger contracts and replacing them with younger, cheaper ( and hopefully more talented) players. I think a prime candidate to move on in the next off season is Tretter. They may be planning on Corbett eventually moving over to center, who knows. I would not be surprised if an interior O lineman is taken in the draft.Maybe Tretter is being shopped now. At some point we are going to have to rework OBJ's deal and do something with Hunt. JD has got to plan for the future.

Everybody's aware of the famous Jersey of Tim Couch with the name crossed out and a dozen names under it and also crossed out. "quarterback from the Jersey".

Why are we going to have to rework OBJ's deal?

I am sure that he will want a new deal soon. If he plays like the best WR in the NFL he is going to want to be paid like it (and he may have a solid point). Not saying I agree with it but I am very certain that it will have to be addressed.

The best translation I could get out of it was that he thinks because Dorsey is addressing depth on the OL it must mean Corbett isn't the answer to fill in Zeitler's role. He thinks these quality depth signings are related to Corbett not being ready.

It actually scares me that I'm beginning to think I know what he actually means in some of his posts.

J/C

I'll take correction if necessary. But last season's interior line depth was Corbett, Wolford and Kalis, right? If Corbett steps up and Wolford has been released and there's only Kalis who inspires no confidence, at least in me. These signings are sound roster moves.