# NFL Offseason Thread: Combine & Free Agency Version **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 23, 2010, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165 "2010-02-23T20:53:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 26
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/501 "2010-04-20T12:47:08Z")
Yeah, that’s definitely the concern. Pre-injury he seems easily worth the #1. I’m mostly going on trust in Holmgren - I figure he can be the one to decide of Bradford is worth the risk (and since he has no history of drafting QBs very high, Bradford would really have to impress him) - so if Holmgren is confident, I’m not opposed to the idea. I know Holmgren is president rather than GM, btw, but if any pick is going to have his input, it’s going to be about QBs. Bradford’s pro day was apparently stellar, with no apparent loss in arm strength or accuracy. Medically he looks as good as you could possibly look given the situation, as far as I know. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/502 "2010-04-20T13:00:14Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Yeah, that’s definitely the concern. Pre-injury he seems easily worth the #1. I’m mostly going on trust in Holmgren - I figure he can be the one to decide of Bradford is worth the risk (and since he has no history of drafting QBs very high, Bradford would really have to impress him) - so if Holmgren is confident, I’m not opposed to the idea. I know Holmgren is president rather than GM, btw, but if any pick is going to have his input, it’s going to be about QBs. > > Bradford’s pro day was apparently stellar, with no apparent loss in arm strength or accuracy. Medically he looks as good as you could possibly look given the situation, as far as I know. The other thing that concerns me is the fact that, even though everybody and their mother know the Rams are going to draft Bradford, they haven’t worked out a contract. Now, unless the Rams are trying to leave open the possibility of a trade (which would concern me on how much they really like Bradford), why haven’t they agreed. I’d be worried Bradford is more than willing to spend even more time not playing football and holding out. It will be very interesting following his career. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/503 "2010-04-20T13:06:15Z")
Bradford claimed the Rams haven’t contacted him for contract negotiations. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/504 "2010-04-20T13:07:34Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > While QB is simply the most important position in modern football, Sam Bradford comes with too much injury risk, will cost too much money, hasn’t played real football for too long …and isn’t as good as Colt McCoy. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/505 "2010-04-20T13:22:40Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Bradford claimed the Rams haven’t contacted him for contract negotiations. I hadn’t heard that. The Rams have claimed that they’re negotiating with 6 different players and “So I have a sense of where all the numbers would come in and what everybody’s asking for. So it’s not as if we haven’t given this any thought. We’re doing the proper due diligence before the draft. We’ll know when we take someone kind of what their [contract] expectations are.” Nothing like the leadup to the draft. Although it does sound like the Rams are looking to trade down, even without a premium. Should be interesting. Only 2 days 10 hours, 7 minutes and 12 seconds to go. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/506 "2010-04-20T14:00:58Z")
I hope they take the Dolphins’ route and take the guy who comes cheapest. It’s time for a little downward pressure on first-round salaries in case the rookie slotting system doesn’t get done. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/507 "2010-04-20T14:37:24Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > I’ve been thinking and I’m actually starting to like the idea of the Browns trading up to #1 to take Bradford. If I were the Rams, I’d beg you. Give me your #1, your #2 and next year’s #2, and he’s yours. Then I trade down again, swapping #1s with Philly (who wants Eric Berry) and acquiring their #2, a #4 and Michael Vick. I take Colt McCoy, and I have three second-round picks to surround him with, and a crowd-pleasing but discardable stopgap until he’s ready. I win! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/508 "2010-04-20T14:41:37Z")
I’m disinclined to believe the Iggles would give up Vick that easily with no other viable insurance policy for Kolb on the roster (unless they signed a third quarterback while I wasn’t looking). ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/509 "2010-04-20T15:38:56Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I’m disinclined to believe the Iggles would give up Vick that easily with no other viable insurance policy for Kolb on the roster (unless they signed a third quarterback while I wasn’t looking). It’s been widely reported that if/when they can deal Vick, they’re signing Jeff Garcia. He’s a better backup for a young QB because he poses no credible threat to outshine him; Vick might come in and get hot for a couple games, leading the easily-excitable to clamor to sign him long-term. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/510 "2010-04-20T15:58:20Z")
Bah. Garcia is 40 years old, and didn’t have a strong arm even when he wasn’t 40. There is no way he can fill in for more than one game. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/511 "2010-04-20T17:11:52Z")
You’re going to be hearing this a lot from me but the more film I watch of Colt McCoy the less I see him as a NFL QB. He’s fallen to the 6th QB on my board and could fall farther, he looks like a spitting image of Ken Dorsey. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/512 "2010-04-20T17:50:48Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Bah. Garcia is 40 years old, and didn’t have a strong arm even when he wasn’t 40. There is no way he can fill in for more than one game. As I said, that’s kind of the appeal. In their position, where you’re trying to build the team that you’re gonna have for the next 5-10 years, and you have a first-year starter whom you’re trying to evaluate, you don’t _want_ a backup that’s too good. Vick isn’t good enough to be their long-term starter; he **is** good enough to screw up their chance to take a long look at Kolb. Say Kolb has a slow start and then gets hurt, then Vick comes in and leads them to a few wins, looking exciting and flashy all the while. Now you have a QB controversy between two guys who are both free agents next offseason. Garcia is likely good enough to get them through a few games; but even if he wins a few games off the bench, he is not young enough that anyone will want him to start. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/513 "2010-04-20T19:43:51Z")
Some FA updates across the league. Jason Taylor is [officially](http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=5119342) a Jet. The Saints [signed](http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5118571) another FA DE in Jimmy Wilkerson. Smart moves here and with Alex Brown. Torry Holt [won’t be a Bear](http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/21800/new-england-patriots-sign-torry-holt-for-wr-depth) this year, he signed a 1 year deal with the New England Patriots. The Pats love those washed up guys, we’ll see if this is a Junior Seau like move or a Fred Taylor like move. The Rams are [giving up](http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/04/20/rams-trade-adam-carriker-to-redskins/) on Adam Carriker and shipping him off to the Redskins. No news yet on what the Redskins will be giving, be it picks or players. It’s apparently not Haynesworth. You have to wonder if there’s any chance this indicates the Rams will go with Suh on Thursday. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/514 "2010-04-20T19:54:41Z")
I like the Carriker move, although I highly doubt anyone is going to give up picks to take on Haynesworth’s ridiculous contract, even in an uncapped season. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/515 "2010-04-20T20:18:45Z")
The details of the Carriker trade are in. The Rams move up 28 spots in the 5th round by swapping 5th rounders with the Skins. That’s pretty crazy, it’s basically nothing. They didn’t even get an additional 5th rounder. I know the Skins need to pick up a hefty contract and all, but it seems like someone would have ponied up more. The Bears after all sent a 2nd rounder for underwhelming 1st rounder Gaines Adams. Bizarre. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/516 "2010-04-20T20:22:06Z")
Adams was underwhelming. Carriker’s been unwhelming. Adams at least produced 12 and a half sacks through his first two seasons. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/517 "2010-04-20T20:30:12Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Adams was underwhelming. Carriker’s been unwhelming. Adams at least produced 12 and a half sacks through his first two seasons. Adams is worth more, but not _that_ much more. If Carriker produces at all for the Rams alongside Haynesworth they’ll look pretty dumb here. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/518 "2010-04-20T20:46:05Z")
Certainly Carriker is worth more than 10 slots in the fifth round, no argument there. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/519 "2010-04-20T21:45:49Z")
Carriker will be coming off an injury that cost him the 2009 season and will be moving from 4-3 DT to 3-4 DE. That could spell him being a bust of a move for Washington, especially if Haynesworth is feeling unwanted from the trade rumors and slacks off. The Rams have depth (if not talent) at DT, so they will probably not go Suh over Bradford. QB is a position of need while DT is pretty low on the needs list for them. I can see them picking up a DT in round 4 or later. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165/520 "2010-04-20T22:00:34Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > Carriker will be coming off an injury that cost him the 2009 season and will be moving from 4-3 DT to 3-4 DE. That could spell him being a bust of a move for Washington, especially if Haynesworth is feeling unwanted from the trade rumors and slacks off. > > The Rams have depth (if not talent) at DT, so they will probably not go Suh over Bradford. QB is a position of need while DT is pretty low on the needs list for them. I can see them picking up a DT in round 4 or later. Carriker was a DE in Nebraska and with his size fits better as a 3-4 DE than a 4-3 DT. I’d say this bodes well for Carriker if he’s healthy, which is a big if. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165.md?page=25) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-thread-combine-free-agency-version/530165.md?page=27)