WR Kevin Walter Re-Signs

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by Arky

I'm OK with the signing...

We have plenty of slots that need filling and we could probably get Marcus Easley in the 5th round to do the things that Kevin Walter does. He'd be able to run the reverse probably better

That being said, it often takes 3 years before a WR gets his best season in the NFL. We can use that draft pick on another need instead. Since it's not my money and we aren't going to have a Cap, then I'm OK with the signing too.

[barrett]

The contract is right in line with what he should be paid. In fact, I think the Texans got him a little less then what would have been market value. We were fortunate that his main suitor (ravens) picked up Boldin and dropped out of the bidding. Plus he got less then Burleson despite being more productive as a WR and doing more of the little things (blocking).

As for Marcus Easley doing the same thing, that's about a 1% chance. Notice that a number of teams were immediately interested in Walter with a multi-year, multi-million dollas price tag. Teams don't line up to pay money to guys who can be replaced with younger and cheaper options. That's why there are dozens of vets around the league that will remain unemployed until after the draft. And yet Walter was sought after on day one.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by barrett

The contract is right in line with what he should be paid.

As for Marcus Easley doing the same thing, that's about a 1% chance.

2009 Austin Collie
2008 Pierre Garcon
2007 Steve Breaston
2006 Brandon Marshall

Now, you make a good point that the odds are low to find a solid WR in the 4th round or later. However, I just wanted to point out that it can be done. Production can be found with late round WRs, especially if they are on the receiving end of pretty good QBs.

[barrett]

How many WRs total were drafted in rounds 4-7 and signed as UDFAs those years?

That is why I said it was about a %1 chance instead of saying no way. Because obviously you can hit on those picks. But you could hit on those same picks at any position. I bet you could make an all-star team out of guys at every position taken in round 4 and lower in the last 4 years, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't sign good players to good contracts and should instead rely on hitting on low round picks.

I'd rather do both. Draft the best guys we can find in those rounds, and if they beat a vet out of a job, that's great. But Walter can play on that contract for the next 3+ years even if we find a gem who makes him the #3 WR, and the money would not be a big hit for us since the contract is reasonable.

[Roy P]

I'm not saying that we shouldn't have signed Walter. It allows us the opportunity to look for players to fill other holes. The money spent on Free Agents is the "sure thing" cost. The Texans "know" what they are getting with KW. He's been in the system and has worked with these coaches. The position could be filled by cheaper and younger, but as you point out, it takes some luck and hard work. I am saying that finding a guy to play opposite of Andre Johnson is a lot easier than finding the next Andre Johnson.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Roy P

I'm not saying that we shouldn't have signed Walter. It allows us the opportunity to look for players to fill other holes. The money spent on Free Agents is the "sure thing" cost. The Texans "know" what they are getting with KW. He's been in the system and has worked with these coaches. The position could be filled by cheaper and younger, but as you point out, it takes some luck and hard work. I am saying that finding a guy to play opposite of Andre Johnson is a lot easier than finding the next Andre Johnson.

Very true. That is why if the Ravens had remained in the game and the bidding on KW had gone much higher, I would have been ok with seeing him walk. He is not so good that I would overspend on him. But he is not so interchangeable or such a "system" guy that I think it would be easy to replace him.

[Joshua]

Originally Posted by barrett

How many WRs total were drafted in rounds 4-7 and signed as UDFAs those years?

NFL.com is actually searchable for this. Here are the WRs drafted in rounds 4-7 for the prior 4 years -

2009
4 107 Mike Thomas WR Arizona Jacksonville Jaguars
4 108 Brian Hartline WR Ohio State Miami Dolphins
4 124 Louis Murphy WR Florida Oakland Raiders
4 127 Austin Collie WR Brigham Young Indianapolis Colts
5 140 Johnny Knox WR Abilene Christian Chicago Bears
5 141 Kenny McKinley WR South Carolina Denver Broncos
5 144 Jarett Dillard WR Rice Jacksonville Jaguars
5 160 Brooks Foster WR North Carolina St. Louis Rams
6 175 Quinten Lawrence WR McNeese State Kansas City Chiefs
6 194 Brandon Gibson WR Washington State Philadelphia Eagles
6 206 Dominique Edison WR Stephen F. Austin St. Tennessee Titans
7 224 Demetrius Byrd WR Louisiana State San Diego Chargers
7 229 Manuel Johnson WR Oklahoma Dallas Cowboys
7 232 Julian Edelman WR Kent State New England Patriots
7 233 Sammie Stroughter WR Oregon State Tampa Bay Buccaneers
7 243 Marko Mitchell WR Nevada-Reno Washington Redskins
7 251 Derek Kinder WR Pittsburgh Chicago Bears
7 252 Freddie Brown WR Utah Cincinnati Bengals
7 253 Tiquan Underwood WR Rutgers Jacksonville Jaguars

2008
4 105 Will Franklin WR Missouri Kansas City Chiefs
4 106 Marcus Smith WR New Mexico Baltimore Ravens
4 125 Arman Shields WR Richmond Oakland Raiders
4 126 Lavelle Hawkins WR California Tennessee Titans
4 128 Keenan Burton WR Kentucky St. Louis Rams
5 136 Kenny Moore WR Wake Forest Carolina Panthers
5 153 Matt Slater WR UCLA New England Patriots
6 171 Marcus Henry WR Kansas New York Jets
6 174 Josh Morgan WR Virginia Tech San Francisco 49ers
6 182 Kevin Robinson WR Utah State Kansas City Chiefs
6 191 Paul Hubbard WR Wisconsin Cleveland Browns
6 193 Jaymar Johnson WR Jackson State Minnesota Vikings
6 205 Pierre Garcon WR Mount Union Indianapolis Colts
7 215 Justin Harper WR Virginia Tech Baltimore Ravens
7 217 Brett Swain WR San Diego State Green Bay Packers
7 224 Steve Johnson WR Kentucky Buffalo Bills
7 226 Chaz Schilens WR San Diego State Oakland Raiders
7 237 Adrian Arrington WR Michigan New Orleans Saints
7 246 Mario Urrutia WR Louisville Cincinnati Bengals
7 248 Marcus Monk WR Arkansas New York Giants

2007
4 103 Isaiah Stanback WR Washington Dallas Cowboys
4 118 Ryne Robinson WR Miami (Ohio) Carolina Panthers
4 128 Chris Davis WR Florida State Tennessee Titans
5 142 Steve Breaston WR Michigan Arizona Cardinals
5 146 Aundrae Allison WR East Carolina Minnesota Vikings
5 157 David Clowney WR Virginia Tech Green Bay Packers
5 169 Roy Hall WR Ohio State Indianapolis Colts
5 172 Legedu Naanee WR Boise State San Diego Chargers
6 188 Joel Filani WR Texas Tech Tennessee Titans
6 197 Courtney Taylor WR Auburn Seattle Seahawks
6 210 Jordan Kent WR Oregon Seattle Seahawks
7 227 Dallas Baker WR Florida Pittsburgh Steelers
7 229 John Broussard WR San Jose State Jacksonville Jaguars
7 233 Chandler Williams WR Florida International Minnesota Vikings
7 234 Syndric Steptoe WR Arizona Cleveland Browns
7 235 Chansi Stuckey WR Clemson New York Jets
7 249 Derek Stanley WR Wis.-Whitewater St. Louis Rams
7 254 Johnathan Holland WR Louisiana Tech Oakland Raiders

2006
4 103 Brad Smith WR Missouri New York Jets
4 104 Cory Rodgers WR Texas Christian Green Bay Packers
4 109 Jason Avant WR Michigan Philadelphia Eagles
4 111 Demetrius Williams WR Oregon Baltimore Ravens
4 119 Brandon Marshall WR Central Florida Denver Broncos
4 125 Skyler Green WR Louisiana State Dallas Cowboys
4 130 Domenik Hixon WR Akron Denver Broncos
5 144 Marques Hagans WR Virginia St. Louis Rams
5 147 Jeremy Bloom WR Colorado Philadelphia Eagles
6 171 Mike Hass WR Oregon State New Orleans Saints
6 172 Jonathan Orr WR Wisconsin Tennessee Titans
6 184 Adam Jennings WR Fresno State Atlanta Falcons
6 190 Jeff Webb WR San Diego State Kansas City Chiefs
6 193 Reggie McNeal WR Texas A&M Cincinnati Bengals
7 218 Todd Watkins WR Brigham Young Arizona Cardinals
7 231 Bennie Brazell WR Louisiana State Cincinnati Bengals
7 233 Devin Aromashodu WR Auburn Miami Dolphins
7 249 Ben Obomanu WR Auburn Seattle Seahawks
7 251 David Anderson WR Colorado State Houston Texans
7 252 Marques Colston WR Hofstra New Orleans Saints
7 255 Kevin McMahan WR Maine Oakland Raiders

[Roy P]

That's 78 WRs drafted in rounds 4-7 in the last 4 years. So, that makes it about 5% instead of 1%

[barrett]

but one of your examples was an UDFA I believe (Garcon?). So you would have to include everyone who signed a UDFA contract to the total if you want to include Garcon (unless I'm wrong on his draft status).

Either way it is likely higher then 1% but still not very likely.

But like I said, a reasonable FA signing does not stop you from still drafting players. Just like Bodden does not eliminate CB as a possible 1st round direction.

[Joshua]

Originally Posted by Roy P

We have plenty of slots that need filling and we could probably get Marcus Easley in the 5th round to do the things that Kevin Walter does. He'd be able to run the reverse probably better

That being said, it often takes 3 years before a WR gets his best season in the NFL. We can use that draft pick on another need instead. Since it's not my money and we aren't going to have a Cap, then I'm OK with the signing too.

I get what you're saying and there's no doubt that ideally we will bolster our team through the draft. However, if it's this easy to pick up quality starters in the late rounds of the draft, all I can say is, what are we waiting for? By my count, out of 14 draft picks in rounds 4 or lower since Rick Smith took over, we have a total of 2 guys who you would pencil in as starters (Diles and Quin). Even these 2 have questions. Diles could certainly be upgraded and Quin's body of work is still too small to really know what you got. IMO, expecting quality starters out of these rounds (particularly from the get-go) just isn't terribly reasonable.