Quote:
Originally Posted by JPH83
Obviously there's time but if FA is there to fill needs, we're some way off. I think the main questions are have we got better or worse and if so by how much, and has the gap narrowed to rivals and does it matter? I reckon:
S - We're younger and faster but better? - not sure. Reid from the last two years, no, but if we get the rookie version then yes. Plus if DD never plays another snap for us then basically any warm body in his place is an upgrade. So maybe we're breaking even.
WR - Is Juju better than Pringle? I don't see how the answer isn't yes. Marginally slower, sure, but his route running is much better. Like Reid if we get the most recent version, maybe it's more debateable, but it's got to be an upgrade.
CB - We're worse for losing Ward and even Hughes as a rotational player imo
LB - Like S I think Hitchens was an abomination and a liability, so I'm happy that anybody coming in improves us. The issue now is depth though.
DL - If Ingram comes back we break even. If not we're even worse at a position of dire need. Jarran Reed was horrible so the best case scenario is Nnadi gets back to his decent run-stuffing form and Saunders stays healthy and offers something. But at DE we look a mess.
Best defence of Veach is that it's hard to see where we could compete with some of the contracts handed out in positions of need. I can't see anyway we could've got a Gregory, Chandler Jones or Von Miller, and with Z Smith these are not young players without injury histories. Trade options like Hunter didn't seem that appealing either and I think we've all been burned by Clark. Then again, we're in the cap situation partly because of those past mistakes from Veach.
I think the Bills, Ravens, Bengals, Chargers, Raiders and Broncos have all had more impactful FAs than we have and all have narrowed the gap. Still a good chance it's not enough for most of them, but let's not pretend that they've not made some progress against us - at this point in FA
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The real issue is roster depth.
If 100% healthy, the team isn't THAT much worse than last year on defense. Especially after draft picks come in.
But there will be injuries and when they happen there's just nothing there. And frankly, last year's defense really sucked anyway so it's not like just treading water is sufficient.
The defense is in a LOT of trouble and options are dwindling fast.