Now that we're in the offseason, we need to decide about some free agents. It's also time to try to possibly lock up (or release with minimal penalty) those who only have one year left. Going off of the data on inthebullseye.com, here's how I see them.
Unrestricted Free Agents:
Most of the others would be OK to bring back, but only if at near-minimum levels; they don't justify large contracts. I would prefer to see Brown and Faggins gone, though, mainly because I think they are both just good enough that they could end up taking a roster spot/starting spot from someone who is just as good (or maybe even better) now, and has better long-term potential.
Restricted Free Agents:
Those with contracts ending after 2009:
So, net result: I want to see us get Owen Daniels, Kevin Walter, and Demeco Ryans locked up longer-term. Depending on the price tag, keep Dunta Robinson around, also. Give Dreesen and Anderson contracts to tie them up for a few years at what should be cheaper prices (or, at least, meet the RFA limits). Cut Greenwood. For all the rest, I'd say keep them only if it is done particularly cheaply.
Unrestricted Free Agents:
Brown, C.C.
Bruener, Mark
Faggins, Demarcus
Ferguson, Nick
Kalu, N.D.
Pittman, Bryan
Robinson, Dunta
White, Chris
Zgonina, Jeff
Obviously, Dunta is the big name here. He's the only one of these I would push hard to get back, but even that will depend on how much it would cost to keep him. Generally, I think that CBs are some of the most overpriced players for their production, so I expect him to command a very large pricetag. Bruener, Mark
Faggins, Demarcus
Ferguson, Nick
Kalu, N.D.
Pittman, Bryan
Robinson, Dunta
White, Chris
Zgonina, Jeff
Most of the others would be OK to bring back, but only if at near-minimum levels; they don't justify large contracts. I would prefer to see Brown and Faggins gone, though, mainly because I think they are both just good enough that they could end up taking a roster spot/starting spot from someone who is just as good (or maybe even better) now, and has better long-term potential.
Restricted Free Agents:
Anderson, David
Butler, Rashad
Daniels, Owen
Dreesen, Joel
Jackson, Scott
McClover, Stanley
I hope they lock up Daniels long-term, and I'd like to see this done sooner, rather than later. I want to see both Dreesen and Anderson around longer, also, but I'd be OK with shorter-term contracts for them. Butler I haven't heard much about, but we should probably keep him for OL depth. I've forgotten who Jackson and McClover are, which means I don't much care what happens with their contracts.Butler, Rashad
Daniels, Owen
Dreesen, Joel
Jackson, Scott
McClover, Stanley
Those with contracts ending after 2009:
Greenwood, Morlon
Pitts, Chester
Demps, Will
Walter, Kevin
Rosenfels, Sage
Brown, Kris
Brown, Chris
Thompson, Chuan
Ryans, Demeco
Turk, Matt
Salaam, Ephraim
Bulman, Tim
Robinson, Deljuan
Greenwood, especially with his high base salary, should be cut. I think it would be wise to lock Walter and Ryans into longer-term contracts now. With one more year like this one, I think Walter's salary demands will go way up. For Ryans, I don't want to see him test free-agency. I wouldn't mind seeing Bulman and Robinson, who have both shown good potential, be locked up for longer if it can be done at very cheap prices. Pitts I'm so-so on; I don't want him to leave, but I don't know that we need to renegotiate just yet, especially since I don't think he'll be super-cheap. For the others, I'd rather just see them play out their year, and decide later.Pitts, Chester
Demps, Will
Walter, Kevin
Rosenfels, Sage
Brown, Kris
Brown, Chris
Thompson, Chuan
Ryans, Demeco
Turk, Matt
Salaam, Ephraim
Bulman, Tim
Robinson, Deljuan
So, net result: I want to see us get Owen Daniels, Kevin Walter, and Demeco Ryans locked up longer-term. Depending on the price tag, keep Dunta Robinson around, also. Give Dreesen and Anderson contracts to tie them up for a few years at what should be cheaper prices (or, at least, meet the RFA limits). Cut Greenwood. For all the rest, I'd say keep them only if it is done particularly cheaply.