FA Targets

[HPF Bob]

Michael Huff was released by the Raiders if we are talking about safeties. He doesn't have the resume of Woodson and Reed but he's a Texan and he would likely still be an upgrade over Quin. I think he needs a change of scenery.

[Joshua]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Michael Huff was released by the Raiders if we are talking about safeties. He doesn't have the resume of Woodson and Reed but he's a Texan and he would likely still be an upgrade over Quin. I think he needs a change of scenery.

Don't agree that Huff would be an upgrade over Quin, but he would definitely be an upgrade over anyone currently on the roster to fill Quin's spot. If a 1 or 2 year deal with Reed can't be worked out today, I suspect he is someone they are considering.

[Keith]

Barwin has signed with the Eagles for some good money.

6 years, $36 million.

Lots of former Texans accumulating in Philly now, DeMeco, Casey, Barwin.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

Maybe just for this year, but over the longer-term I definitely would want the 27-year-old Quin over the 35-year-old Reed. And as much as I like Antonio Smith and as valuable as I know he is to our defense, I just wonder if the Texans shouldn't have bit the bullet and paid market value for Quin and 26-year-old Barwin and released Smith for the cap-space ? Smith's got a couple years left, while Quin & Barwin are just now entering their prime years in their NFL careers. This offseason is worse than last years for the Texans.

Neither Barwin or Quinn was a great player. You don't pay FA level money for guys like that. Not if you want to stay good. You draft well and you replace guys. That is the only way to stay good. Pittsburgh and New England and the other teams that have stayed good in the FA era have watched their mid level guys walk over and over rather than giving them stupid contracts. There is no world where Barwin should be getting $40 million. I love the guy, but the Texans dodged a bullet when he turned down the extension before the 3 sack stinker. He simply doesn't have edge speed and OL took away the inside move last year.

Quinn was a solid and versatile player. Not many guys can cover the slot, play safety, and be a de facto LB in the box in Nickel. But safety is supposed to be one of the strongest positions in this draft and a mid round pick behind a vet is a very reasonable alternative to a huge contract for your 6th or 7th best defensive player.

These are the decisions that Houston has to make to stay good. They cannot just sign everyone like the Jets or they stink in 3 years. Of course the 2nd half of that plan is that they have to be very good in the draft and in the cheaper part of FA to fill all the holes.

[HPF Bob]

That all leads to a good point. Who do you want to throw money at with our system and our schemes? Priority-wise, it looks like this:

1) J.J. Watt
2) Duane Brown
3) Andre Johnson
4) Jonathan Joseph
5) Brian Cushing
6) Arian Foster
7) Matt Schaub
8) Antonio Smith

But, in a few years, that list may look way different. I know some people will ask why I have Foster and Schaub so low and the reason I do is that I think Kubiak's system allows them to look better than they are whereas A.J., especially in his prime, would produce in any system.

We're going to want to have money available when Watt is eligible for a raise and we can't do that if we dole that out to the James Caseys and Glover Quins. I liked all three players we lost but they are replaceable.

Mercilus will definitely need to step up next year and we will also need to see the Brooks Reed we saw in 2012 for the defense to reach their potential.

[Joshua]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

That all leads to a good point. Who do you want to throw money at with our system and our schemes? Priority-wise, it looks like this:

1) J.J. Watt
2) Duane Brown
3) Andre Johnson
4) Jonathan Joseph
5) Brian Cushing
6) Arian Foster
7) Matt Schaub
8) Antonio Smith

But, in a few years, that list may look way different. I know some people will ask why I have Foster and Schaub so low and the reason I do is that I think Kubiak's system allows them to look better than they are whereas A.J., especially in his prime, would produce in any system.

We're going to want to have money available when Watt is eligible for a raise and we can't do that if we dole that out to the James Caseys and Glover Quins. I liked all three players we lost but they are replaceable.

Mercilus will definitely need to step up next year and we will also need to see the Brooks Reed we saw in 2012 for the defense to reach their potential.

Judging from all the conversations I've heard, whether in person or on messageboards, radio, etc., I don't think you need to lose any sleep over people thinking you ranked Schaub too low.

[nunusguy]

As is the case with many free agent deals, there was some sticker shock when the news of Connor Barwin's contract started to leak out.

6 years for $36 million! Wow monster money!

But then we all start to remember that NFL contracts are about one thing, guaranteed money. Eagles fans will remember when Demetress Bell signed a 5-year, $35 million deal last offseason. He's not here anymore and it didn't cost the Eagles a dime to cut him. That's because all of his guarantees were in the first year.
It was soon revealed that Barwin's deal included just $8 million in guarantees.
http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2...-team-friendly
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8 million guaranteed ! That's it ? When's the last time you've saw a deal where the guaranteed money was < 25 % of the nominal total compensation package ?
I'm starting to think that either Barwin wanted out of Houston, or that the Texans wanted Barwin out of Houston, because I've got to think that Rick Smith could have put a comp package together that he could live with just fine if Barwin was amenable to accept a deal with so little guaranteed money, unless he wanted a different address for whatever reason.

[Nconroe]

Yeah, all good points, especially they need to make sure they keep Cushing and Watt in upcimg years.

So it will be interesting if they get Reed, at what price considering he will be 35 when this next season starts.

And, fwiw, I think Arian Foster would be excellent on any team in any system.