Mid-Tier Safety?

[dadmg]

Even though we're only 3 days into free agency, I'm thinking the Texans are mostly done. Granted, I'm basing this solely on my intuition, but the Texans have accomplished the two spots they were pursuing since the opening of free agency (Antonio Smith, backup QB) and have resigned several of their own (Eugene Wilson, Dreesen, Chris White). Aside from the decision of whether or not to match David Anderson's offer, I don't see many players left in free agency that would make a lot of sense for the Texans to pursue. Maybe a blitzing strong-side linebacker like Marcus Washington...as I said, not really seeing a lot.

Except for at safety. Looking at NFL.com's free agency tracker, I see quite a few potentially intriguing vets we could bring in that would make sense. Here's the list (as of right now):

Player Position Status Height Weight Experience 2008 Team 2009 Team
Adams, Mike SS UFA 5-11 195 5th Season CLE TBD
Allen, Will FS UFA 6-1 200 5th Season TB TBD
Atogwe, Oshiomogho FS Franchise 5-11 210 4th Season STL TBD
Bigby, Atari SS RFA 5-11 213 3rd Season GB TBD
Brown, C.C. SS UFA 6-0 208 4th Season HOU TBD
Brown, Mike FS Released 5-10 207 9th Season CHI TBD
Bullocks, Josh FS UFA 6-1 207 4th Season NO TBD
Busing, John SS UFA 6-2 221 3rd Season CIN TBD
Butler, James SS UFA 6-3 215 4th Season NYG TBD
Celestin, Oliver S UFA 6-0 207 5th Season KC TBD
Chavous, Corey SS Released 6-1 208 11th Season STL TBD
Dahl, Craig S UFA 6-1 207 2nd Season NYG TBD
Davis, Keith SS UFA 5-11 207 6th Season DAL TBD
Demps, Will FS Released 6-0 214 7th Season HOU TBD
Doughty, Reed FS UFA 6-1 202 3rd Season WAS TBD
Elam, Abram SS RFA 6-0 207 3rd Season NYJ TBD
Ferguson, Nick SS UFA 5-11 201 9th Season HOU TBD
Giordano, Matt S UFA 5-11 200 4th Season IND TBD
Green, Mike S UFA 6-0 200 9th Season WAS TBD
Harrison, Rodney SS UFA 6-1 220 15th Season NE TBD
Jones, Sean SS UFA 6-1 220 5th Season CLE TBD
Landry, Dawan SS RFA 6-0 220 3rd Season BAL TBD
Leonhard, Jim SS UFA 5-8 186 4th Season BAL TBD
Manuel, Marquand SS Released 6-0 213 7th Season DEN TBD
McCree, Marlon FS UFA 5-11 204 8th Season DEN TBD
McGowan, Brandon SS UFA 5-11 207 4th Season CHI TBD
McGraw, Jon S UFA 6-3 208 7th Season KC TBD
Milloy, Lawyer SS UFA 6-0 216 13th Season ATL TBD
Page, Jarrad FS RFA 6-0 225 3rd Season KC TBD
Phillips, Jermaine SS UFA 6-2 220 7th Season TB TBD
Prioleau, Pierson S UFA 5-11 188 10th Season JAC TBD
Sanders, James FS UFA 5-10 210 4th Season NE TBD
Sensabaugh, Gerald SS UFA 6-0 204 4th Season JAC TBD
Sharper, Darren SS UFA 6-2 210 12th Season MIN TBD
Smith, Anthony FS UFA 6-1 200 3rd Season PIT TBD
Smith, Dwight SS Released 5-10 201 9th Season DET TBD
Wilson, George FS RFA 6-0 212 3rd Season BUF TBD


As Roy pointed out, Sean Jones might be a solid pickup, although he might be slightly spendy. There are also a few younger players I like on this list, including the Jags Sensabaugh and the Saints Josh Bullocks. Anthony Smith may be young and talented, but I'd like a safety with a better head on his shoulders and less tendency to get beat deep. I'm assuming, along with the rest of the western world, that Leonhard ends up on Ryan's Jets.

As for veterans, Darren Sharper obviously isn't the player he once was, but might be a nice ball-hawking option to pair with Wilson. And I don't think he's as "done" as fellow geezers Lawyer Milloy and Rodney Harrison. Jermaine Phillips could be a nice pickup - if Tampa hadn't drafted some talented young safeties the last few years, he'd likely still be a Buc. Mike Brown might not be a bad mentor figure, if only we knew which 4 or 5 games he'd be healthy for.

Or we could go the familiar route, bringing back Will Demps, C.C. Brown, Nick Ferguson, or even reaching a bit further back and taking on Marlon McCree.

With the way the Kubiak Texans have operated, always bringing in veteran help to shore up any pre-draft holes, then drafting BPA, I expect the Texans will take a chance on someone from this list. Who do you think it will be?

[dadmg]

Another thought - there seems to be some confusion as to whether Dawan Landry was tendered at the 2nd round level or with the low tender (5th for him). Some sources say low (http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2009/02/27/sports/bsports22709.txt), others say second. (http://ravens24x7.com/column_view.php?cid=46&id=3274&view=archive) Landry had a spinal injury last year, which could make teams a bit hesitant but before that he was one of the top young safeties in the league. Granted, safeties opposite Ed Reed tend to look pretty damn good (like our own Will Demps) but Landry looked like an ascending player. If he's out there for only a 5th, there's no way I wouldn't try to pry him from the Ravens. Timing becomes an issue, though; do you wait to see if they resign Ray Lewis and commit cap dollars to make it more difficult to match? If you do, you could risk losing him to another team.

I might even think about pursuing him if he is tendered at the 2nd round level. His play prior to the injury would make the 2nd round pick look like a bargain and he is at a position of need.

[superbowlbound]

Another thought - there seems to be some confusion as to whether Dawan Landry was tendered at the 2nd round level or with the low tender (5th for him). Some sources say low (http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2009/02/27/sports/bsports22709.txt), others say second. (http://ravens24x7.com/column_view.php?cid=46&id=3274&view=archive) Landry had a spinal injury last year, which could make teams a bit hesitant but before that he was one of the top young safeties in the league. Granted, safeties opposite Ed Reed tend to look pretty damn good (like our own Will Demps) but Landry looked like an ascending player. If he's out there for only a 5th, there's no way I wouldn't try to pry him from the Ravens. Timing becomes an issue, though; do you wait to see if they resign Ray Lewis and commit cap dollars to make it more difficult to match? If you do, you could risk losing him to another team.

I might even think about pursuing him if he is tendered at the 2nd round level. His play prior to the injury would make the 2nd round pick look like a bargain and he is at a position of need.

That's exactly the name that jumped out at me. hopefully we'll find out exactly which tender he received pretty soon here so we can properly speculate.