Free Agency Thursday

Imagine having to start a team from scratch and you could only sign available free agents, while staying under the salary cap. That is the challenge I have taken this morning.

Important Numbers:

46 Active players on a gameday NFL Roster (I am only naming my starting 22)
123 Million = Salary Cap
500,000= Average league minimum for 1st/2nd year players

My goals: Sign all 22 starters for 90 Million dollars or less

Rules:

For sake of simplicity, all salaries will be split evenly between the number of years in contract
(If contract is 4 yrs for 20 Million, it is assumed each year will receive equal 5 Million payments)

For every position that I choose a player, the top remaining player of that same position (according to NFL.com rankings) will be forfeited to another team

All players must sign contracts for more yearly salaries than they had previously, as is typical when signing of free agents.

We are assuming I am allowed first priority at all players.

I will sign the players in order of importance which will effect certain decisions depending on money.

Building My Roster:

Remaining Budget: 90 Million

OT: Sebastian Vollmer (2012 salary: 650,000)
Contract: 4 yrs, 12 Million Dollars
Player Lost: Jake Long
Analysis: This decision came down between Vollmer and Long but the opportunity to get a player of the same age who is not coming off of injury for drastically less money (Long made 11 million last season) could not be passed.

Remaining Budget: 87 Million

WR: Mike Wallace (2012 Salary: 2.742 M)
Contract: 3 yrs 21 Million
Player Lost: Wes Welker
Analysis: Again I went with a cheaper option but I also got a playmaker who is much younger than Welker and one that I am willing to pay 7 million annually too and do not have to worry about him breaking down in a few years. Wallace is only 27.

Remaining Budget: 80 Million

S: Dashon Goldson (6.2 M)
Contract: 3 yrs 24 Million
Player Lost: William Moore
Analysis: This was a tough decision because there are certainly cheaper options at safety but Goldson is too good of a talent to overlook. I want a hard hitting safety to anchor my defense.

Remaining Budget: 72 Million

OLB: Paul Kruger (565,000)
Contract: 5 yrs 30 Million
Player Lost: Phillip Wheeler
Analysis: Despite having to spend 6 million a year on Kruger, this is a steal. Kruger is coming off his rookie contract and is blossoming into a star linebacker that will anchor my 3-4 defense with his pass rush abilities. Locking him into 5 years is excellent as well since he is only 27.

Remaining Budget: 66 Million

DE: Michael Bennett (2.742 M)
Contract: 2 yrs 13 Million
Player Lost: Cliff Avril
Analysis: I wanted Avril but his base salary in 2010 was nearly 11 million dollars and I could not afford that much money on my books. I opted to only sign Bennett for two years because I think that the career dropoff of defensive lineman happens quickly and suddenly. With the addition of Bennett, I have now secured a top level player at all 3 levels of my defense.

Remaining Budget: 59.5 Million

RB: Ahmad Bradshaw (3 M)
Contract: 4 yrs 18 Million
Player Lost: Reggie Bush
Analysis: This was one of the tougher decisions to make between Bradshaw and Bush but I went with Bradshaw because I figure I can get him for a discount since he is coming off injury and had an up and down season. Bush is only 1 year younger and has not been as productive throughout his career as Bradshaw and Bradshaw cost less money.

Remaining Budget: 55 Million

CB: Aqui Talib ( 1.852 M)
Contract: 1 yr 5 Million
Player Lost: Sean Smith
Analysis: The only 1 year contract I will be signing while trying to build my team. Talib has proven in the past to be an off the field issue so we will give him a season to prove that his attitude and decisions can match his extensive skill on the field. The loss of Smith hurts here because he is a little younger and could have signed for longer.

Remaining Budget: 50 Million

OG: Andy Levitre (615,000)
Contract: 5 yrs 25 Million
Player Lost: Louis Vaquez
Analysis: Levitre is only 26 and has shown over the past few seasons that he is a top tier offensive guard and lining him up next to Vollmer will create a great left side of a line for Bradshaw and will protect my QB for years to come.

Remaining Budget: 45 Million

C: Todd McClure (925,000)
Contract: 2 yrs 5 Million
Player Lost: Andre Smith (I lose a OT since I only need to sign one starting C and losing one would not hurt me)
Analysis: McClure is 36 years old so he was not necessary to sign long term and could be signed for cheap. His experience and veteran leadership will be essential for a team that is made up mostly of young players.

Remaining Budget: 42.5 Million

ILB: Dannell Ellerbe (1.927 Million)
Contract: 5 yrs 40 Million
Player Lost: Ray Maualuga
Analysis: I am stealing another Baltimore Raven with this signing, but they have laid the foundation of how to build a successful defense, so why not take some of their players? The price tag for Ellerbe is pretty high and I hope that it does not impact any decisions on players later in this selection process, but his on the field playmaking should make up for it.

Remaining Budget: 34.5 Million

QB: Chase Daniels (700,000)
Contract: 3 yrs 6 Million
Player Lost: Matt Moore
Analysis: This certainly was not my first option at QB, but to be honest the pickings were pretty slim. Daniels comes cheap and has been learning behind Drew Brees so hopefully some of that New Orleans voo doo magic has rubbed off on him.

Remaining Budget: 32.5 Million
Half way through, time to start signing some lower-level money wise players

DT: Ty Warren (1.25 M)
Contract: 3 yrs 4.5 Million
Player Lost: Alan Branch
Analysis: Let the bargain shopping begin. The 32 year old is a serviceable DT that will be mostly used to jam up blockers in order to let the linebackers run wild and make tackles.

Remaining Budget: 31 Million

CB: Darius Butler (770,000)
Contract: 5 yrs 10 Million
Player Lost: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
Analysis: Butler is young, cheap, and has good upside. Having the ability to always cover the second receiver will help Butler to excel in this defensive alignment.

Remaining Budget: 29 Million

OG: Deuce Lutui (700,000)
Contract: 2 yrs 3 Million
Player Lost: Brandon Moore
Analysis: Lutui is young, large, and relatively cheap. Those are honestly the only three reasons that I have selected Lutui.

Remaining Budget: 27.5 Million

ILB: Brandon Siler (700,000)
Contract: 3 yrs 4.5 Million
Player Lost: Brain Urlacher
Analysis: Siler is a young and athletic linebacker who can be signed for cheap. With the defensive talent around him, he will not be asked to do too much and should be able to slide right into a complimentary role.

Remaining Budget: 26 Million

OT: Jordan Black (825,000)
Contract: 3 yrs 6 Million
Player Lost: Gosder Cherilus
Analysis: Black played for Notre Dame and is currently 33 years old. A 3 year deal may be a little long, but I was able to pay less money annually in order to promise extra years.

Remaining Budget: 24 Million

TE: Tom Crabtree (490,000)
Contract: 3 years 2.1 Million
Player Lost: Jared Cook
Analysis: Crabtree is not a great receiver or a great blocker, but his is a very servicable blocker with adequate hands. Plus he will raise our amount of team tattoos and toughness.

Remaining Budget: 23.3 Million

FB: Lex Hilliard (615,000)
Contract: 3 yrs 3 Million
Player Lost: Greg Jones
Analysis: Hilliard is a small package that packs quite a punch. He has also shown an ability to carry the ball in short goaline situations with success. He is an above average blocker which should help Bradshaw.

Remaining Budget: 22.3 Million

S: Kenny Phillips (2.08 M)
Contract: 4 yrs 20 Million
Player Lost: Glover Quin
Analysis: Thanks to some thrifty spending at other positions, I have opened up the possibility to sign some bigger named players here at the end and Kenny Phillips is one of them. Phillips completes what will be a pretty tough secondary that will hopefully shut down the opposing passing game.

Remaining Budget: 17.3 Million

WR: Danny Amendola (1.972 M)
Contract: 3 yrs 12 Million
Player Lost: Greg Jennings
Analysis: Amendola will provide a great second option that is willing to go over the middle and catch the short routes. His crossing patterns should open some deep plays to Wallace down the field. The only worry is that he has had a lot of injury problems throughout his career.

Remaining Budget: 13.3 Million

DE: Osi Umenyiora (3.975)
Contract: 3 yrs 21 Million
Player Lost: Kyle Vanden Bosch
Analysis: Umenyiora hopefully will regain his pass rushing dominance with a change of scenery. At the very least he will be an emotional leader for the front 7 and force blocking schemes to decide between him and Bennett. Could add up to a very dynamic duo.

Remaining Budget: 6.3 Million

OLB: Connor Barwin (565,000)
Contract: 6 yrs 36 Million
Player Lost: Manny Lawson
Analysis: Barwin is young, athletic, and explosive. He has proven over his first few years in the league that he can be a difference maker on the defensive side of the ball. He is the final piece to what projects out to possibly be a top 10 defense.

Remaining Budget: 300,000

My Starting Lineup

QB: Chase Daniels
RB: Ahmad Bradshaw
FB: Lex Hilliard
WR: Mike Wallace
WR: Danny Amendola
TE: Tom Crabtree
OT: Jordan Black
OT: Sebastian Vollmer
OG: Andy Levitre
OG: Deuce Lutui
C: Todd McClure

CB: Aqib Talib
CB: Darius Butler
S: Dashon Goldson
S: Kenny Phillips
OLB: Paul Kruger
ILB: Dannell Ellerbe
ILB: Brandon Siler
OLB: Connor Barwin
DE: Michael Bennett
DT: Ty Warren
DE: Osi Umenyiora