2010 FAs post-draft, Contract Extensions?
by steelguy99 on Apr 29, 2009 11:53 AM EDT
16 comments
Commenting on the Larry Foote post, I thought about revisiting what the steelers free agency is going to look like next year. As we all know, the steelers are generally in the business of signing extensions to players they would like to keep who are going to be free agents the next year. I am curious what people think about the likelihood of extensions though.
With the draft it seems clear that the steelers are looking to get younger at certain positions. These positions are also ones that have key players coming up for FAship next year. No one will expect our draft picks to step into roles this year, but I wonder how much their potential impact in 2010 will prevent the steelers from signing contract extensions to those they may replace?
Here is the list of free agents and what potentially could happen with them. I'd love to hear everyone else's guesses regarding the outcomes. Some of these seem like no-brainers, others are much trickier.
Charlie Batch - UFA - Signed a one-year contract this year. Likely to be jettisoned after this year if Dixon shows enough, certainly will not be extended this year.
Willie Parker - UFA - Has a corral of RBs behind him. Depending on how the others do this year Parker may be resigned next year, but I don't see an extension happening.
Hines Ward
Heath Miller - UFA/RFA - If next year is uncapped Miller can be tagged as an RFA. Still, I see it in the steelers best interest to get Miller inked to a long-term deal at a modest TE salary. I don't think Miller is the type of TE that will get big money elsewhere, but for the steelers he is money.
Matt Spaeth - RFA - I believe the steelers will look to replace Matt Spaeth, but if not will tender him. I don't see an extension coming this year.
Jeff Reed - UFA - There are plenty of kickers in the NFL. Reed is a proven commodity. I expect the steelers will try to extend him this off-season for a reasonable price, assuming he doesn't destroy the steelers paper-towel dispenser.
Danny Sepulveda - RFA - A punter we will want to hang on to. Next year we may offer him a contract instead of tendering, but that will depend on this year. Certainly won't extend this year.
Justin Hartwig - UFA - Stumped on this one. Hartwig is not amazing but is not bad. He has Stapleton developing behind him. Maybe he sticks around next year, but I don't see him being extended this off-season.
Darnell Stapleton - RFA - No need to extend now.
Casey Hampton - UFA - Casey is wearing down and getting slower and fatter. Unfortunately for the steelers his backup is aging as well, and there really is no one in the wings to take over for him. I think he is too old to get an extension, and I'm guessing he is franchised next year, as there are teams that would kill for a 3-4NT, even an older one.
Brett Keisel - UFA - Brett is a solid if unspectacular player, but there will be a lot of teams that wouldn't mind his services. The steelers have drafted his potential replacement but won't know much about Ziggy during this off-season. I'm sure the steelers would like to have Keisel stick around as a starter or for depth. I have a hard time believing the steelers and Brett can come eye-to-eye on his worth in this off-season. I think Brett will want more money next year than the steelers will offer him in a long-term extension, and I don't believe he'll get extended.
James Harrison
William Gay - RFA - No need to extend this off-season, may see him get inked next year instead of RFA'd depending on his performance.
Deshea Townsend - UFA - Townsend will be 35 next year, way too old. Drafted two CBs this year. For depth though I could see the steelers offering him a low-money extension, and I could see Deshea taking it. I don't think it will happen though, as the steelers can wait until next year on this one. Townsend isn't going to be in line for big money next year ala McFadden.
Tyrone Carter - UFA - Carter is getting older and is already slow. There are potential replacements on the roster. I think Carter will be a lot like Townsend - the steelers would like to have him, but not much reason to work on an extension.
Ryan Clark - UFA - Tricky one especially with Carter coming up at the same time. If Clark or Carter are not signed you are relying on unproven guys to come in and be both starters and depth. I can see the steelers trying to get Clark signed for a reasonable amount. Clark will have demand on the open market. Even if Mundy or Lewis has a good year, do you really want to rely on them to start next year?
Anthony Madison - UFA/RFA - Will not be extended, maybe tendered next year depending on this year.
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Nice
Wille Parker will sign for less, I don’t see him demanding much and plus he wants to stay a steeler. You can bank on that.
Everyone else I agree with.
by tannofsteel84 on Apr 29, 2009 12:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Good write up
Assuming Heath is an RFA, it looks like Clark and Hampton are the pivotal guys. I think the Steelers plan on resigning Hampton or shifting to the 4-3 sometime in the future. Both of our NTs are over 30 and the All Pro starter’s contract is up. You think they would have taken a NT somewhere in the draft if they thought Hampton would leave. Or they could just franchise him for a year and let him go.
by CarlWeathersMustache on Apr 29, 2009 4:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I do wonder how much time Hampton has left. The fact that they didn’t draft anyone as a potential replacement (though finding a 3-4 NT replacement is not easy) is worrisome in the long-term. Going into the draft I would have been content with the plan to try out a Ron Brace/Sammie Hill as a developmental guy while having Hoke play the lead next year when Hampton left. Now though? I don’t know. Even IF the steelers were planning on moving to the 4-3 sometime in the future, and I’m not at all sold that they are, they aren’t going to be able to make the transition next year. The only real “plan” that I see as a viable option is to hope to pick up a NT next year and franchise Hampton. Hard-working guys like Ward, Farrior, and Harrison are going to be given extensions, but you also have to keep in mind their output. Harrison is obviously peaking, Farrior may be a bit slower but still had his 2nd highest tackle total last year, and Ward is an ageless freak that had his most productive season since 2004 (not counting post-season performances like 2005). While tackles don’t tell the whole story for a NT, Hampton has declined from 40 in 2006 to 33 in 2007 to 22 in 2008. He used to always require a double team and doesn’t anymore. He shows up to camp out of shape. Hampton just isn’t worth extending unless he is willing to sign for a reasonable amount, and I doubt he will be.
Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.
by steelguy99 on Apr 29, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was hoping for Sammie Lee Hill as well
damn those lions
I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!
by drinkyourmilkshake on Apr 29, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Conditioning is a huge issue...
Terrence Cody, Alabama DT? Next years draft talk firing up a little early. How do you feel about the big guy?
by NYSteelersFan4 on Apr 29, 2009 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mwa ha ha. You read my mind, I’m looking up possible NTs for the 2010 draft since I watch very little college football. Cody is the first that fits the bill, dude has enormous size. No way we know where guys are going to fall, but we do know that the top NTs will likely be taken before we pick, regardless of their ability. I wonder what highschoolsteeler can tell us about 2010 NTs. So far out of the totally-going-to-change-by-next-year-list, the only guy in the top 100 that has the current build to play NT is Cody, and Ekom Udofia is close.
Clearly a bit presumptuous to assume that the steelers will be drafting at 1.32 again, but we know that generally speaking we aren’t going to have first crack at these guys, especially with a lot more 3-4’s being run than when we grabbed the big snack.
The question is, will the steelers have a shot at drafting a NT that is good enough to start during their first season? If so, who and what will we have to trade for it? If not, is it a better idea to have Hampton around or do we go with Hoke instead?
Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.
by steelguy99 on Apr 29, 2009 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That ridiculous mock for next year...
That was in the six pack has him going first round to the Falcons around 20-25 I think.
By the way… How early is too early for a mock draft?
by NYSteelersFan4 on Apr 30, 2009 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Any mock draft before the actual draft is doomed to failure.
Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.
by steelguy99 on Apr 30, 2009 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep
I just released my 2009 mock draft and it is perfect. Yay me.
"The team that scores the most points wins."
John Madden
(Master of the obvious)
by PixburghArn on Apr 30, 2009 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ya, i just finished up mine too
seven round mock, including un-drafted FA’s
I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!
by drinkyourmilkshake on Apr 30, 2009 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Steelguy99...
Check it out. We may be on to something.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft09/insider/columns/story?columnist=mcshay_todd&id=4110478
by NYSteelersFan4 on Apr 30, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
As an outsider, I’m going to have to assume the stillers pick up cody? Can’t see a 3-4 NT falling that far nowadays.
Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.
by steelguy99 on Apr 30, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry, yeah...
I forget the Insider thing. They take him 30th overall. Here’s his take:
30. Pittsburgh Steelers — Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama
Cody is a mountain of a man, and he’s an ideal fit as a nose tackle in the middle of a “30” front. However, he doesn’t play with enough consistent leverage and needs to show a better motor in order to avoid a free fall in next year’s draft.
He also has the Eagles and Patriots in the Superbowl, Pat’s winning.
by NYSteelersFan4 on Apr 30, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Man oh Man
I’d love to see Terrence Cody a Steeler
It's true what they say...Even the NFL's Big Wigs hate the Steelers. On the plus side, I can now tell my future grand kids about Hines Ward and how the NFL made rules because of him. Roger Goodell, you make me sick.
by HighSchoolSteeler on May 4, 2009 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
By my count
That’s 5 starters on defense – and one-two significant back-ups on defense. That’s pretty much half of our best rated defense that goes up for renewal next year including pretty much our entire secondary with the exception of Troy.
For those who are wondering why we went with Ziggy in the first round as opposed to Britton and traded for three picks in the third as opposed to taking one in the second and one in the third, I think this list helps explain our long term vision. We have to pick up some DB’s and we had to start thinking about our D-line.
Next year will be an interesting year.
by SteelerBuddha on Apr 29, 2009 5:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What I'd do
Guys I look to extend now:
Heath Miller, although if there is no CBA signed before the 2010 season officially begins extending him could prove to be an error I think it’s still a risk worth taking at this point if we can clear the cap money to do it. Especially as I can see them only tendering Spaeth at the low level next year, I think they might take a 3rd rounder for him if anyone wanted to sign him.
Ryan Clark – I think he’s a key cog on our D. He’s not flashy and I think he’d be a smart extend because it’s not likely he’ll cost too much.
Max Starks – Not because I think he’s great but mainly because extending him might get us the cap room to extend the other 2 guys I mentioned.
Who I’d wait til next year on:
Willie Parker – If Mendy proves more than capable I think Parker could find himself done in Pittsburgh. Hey it’s a business and someone else will pay him more than he’s worth to us at that point.
Casey Hampton – actually I probably make my decision on him on the first day of training camp. If he shows up at or near his playing weight and ready for camp I probably see if it’s possible to extend him this offseason. If he shows up at 370lbs and gets put on the PUP again I let him leave after 2009 or perhaps as someone suggested, franchise him with a view to getting a second rounder for him (or frankly whatever we could get). Hoke can do the job for a year while we groom an early 2010 draft pick.
Brett Kiesel – He’s a guy that if I was GM I would say to: “Brett, we’d like you back but we can’t afford to overpay you. Here’s what we’re willing to offer you right now, take it as a fall back and go shop yourself. Bring back any contract offer you get and if we can, we’ll match it and you finish your career here.” His agent would no doubt warn him off that but he seems to be the type of guy who might respond to that sort of offer.
Reed is a potential franchise tag victim for 2010…
by KiwiSteelerFan on May 5, 2009 10:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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