The Safety Market...

[SetfreexX]

Tre' Boston - 25

Kenny Vacarro - 27

Eric Reid - 26

Tyvon Branch - 31

Quintin Demps - 33

Mike Mitchell - 31

Ron Parker - 31

Steven Terrel - 27

 

Considering the noise surrounding the draft / mocks / and more mocks I thought it was important to re-assess the safety free agent market, the above list is what's left of the ''Top 20'' per:

http://walterfootball.com/freeagents2018S.php

In this list you see players who would be as good as a safety we're able to draft at the bottom of the first, or honestly later in the draft, many consider this class after Fitzpatrick & James day two & later prospects. The above statement is not to pervert the sentiment of ''potential'' but we are in  the prime of Cam's & Luke's careers, and considering the nature and scheme in this defense safety has always been a position that held a little less value from a scheme perspective. 

I honestly would not be surprised if our first three selections are all in an effort to continue to support Cam's arsenal, as the cupboard is lightly stocked, Olsen is the only ''proven'' consistent play-maker, but he's turning 33, coming off a broken foot and we just lost Ed Dickson to free agency, names like Chris Manhertz don't inspire confidence as the 2nd TE behind Olsen. Funchess flashed his potential prior to injury; however behind him is an interesting compilation of speed, and unproven play-making save Torrey Smith, and Jarius Wright to some degree. As good as CMC was in the running & passing game, he's likely not a feature back, and we lose his versatility in the passing game if he's simply slotted to the running-back position, so you'd have to think in a class so deep we'd look to add his running mate for the years to come, and while I'm a CAP fan, i think we can stand to upgrade this position with a more dynamic option.

I say all this to say that safety is still a need, but given the available market, it's not as big of a need as some of these talking heads may try to portray, there are several competent options still on the market and will be reasonably valued especially post-draft. I think we could take one from the 3rd Rd back, but I think the value of adding to the offense outshines this need, and the WR/TE/HB class in my modest opinion are a little deeper, and talented at the top.  

[LinvilleGorge]

It's really, really odd that some of these guys are still available. At this point, it's highly unlikely they're going to be signed before the draft. The draft board won't fall right for some safety needy teams and they'll start getting some calls shortly after the draft.

[mc52beast]

Thought it was a new grocery store

[SetfreexX]

1 minute ago, LinvilleGorge said:

It's really, really odd that some of these guys are still available. At this point, it's highly unlikely they're going to be signed before the draft. The draft board won't fall right for some safety needy teams and they'll start getting some calls shortly after the draft.

Part of this is why I think we won't reach early, there's a lot of quality available still in free agency, and it should come at a modest price. Like I said I think we'll bring a safety in via the draft, but I don't know if it'll be with our higher picks. 

[Boxhead85]

Bring Tre Boston back.

[Ace_Aladdin]

Boston or draft one in the mid rounds 

[peteywheatstraw]

Vacarro is a straight up bitch, but so was Harper.  I'd take a shot with him on the cheap, like real cheap.

[CarolinaSamurai]

Sign Eric Reid. That is all

[imminent rogaine]

Man, when you put there ages out there, Boston does look like a pretty good option. History with the team. A couple of years under his belt to, hopefully, work out some of those silly misakes.

[TheSpecialJuan]

WE CAN'T SIGN ANY UFA BECAUSE WE WILL LOSE OUR 3RD ROUND COMP PICK NEXT YEAR !!

[top dawg]

Vacarro played very poorly last year. Very poorly. 

The Boston: been there, done that. He's not good, just adequate.  

We can do better.

[steven8989]

2 hours ago, Boxhead85 said:

Bring Tre Boston back.

Boston said he reach out to the Panthers already and they told him they was going in a different direction.

[LinvilleGorge]

Boston was trying to organize some form of team-wide anthem protest while he was here. I don't think his unexpected release was entirely football related.

[MHS831]

3 hours ago, LinvilleGorge said:

It's really, really odd that some of these guys are still available. At this point, it's highly unlikely they're going to be signed before the draft. The draft board won't fall right for some safety needy teams and they'll start getting some calls shortly after the draft.

You described what I expect to be applicable to the Panthers.  WR, TE, G/C, DE, and CB are perhaps more likely than S if you look at the draft.   We are going to find some weapons and some protection for Cam in the draft.  WR,, TE, and G and probably CB.