2012 NFL Free Agency, Draft, and Offseason

[The_Meach]

So Peyton's only visited ARI and DEN and he's already narrowed the field to just them? And won't return SEA's calls?

Hope he goes ARI so we can boo His Majesty.

[Joust Williams]

I hope he doesn't so they can win a game.

[Type Ryan]

His whole post is contradictory. If drafting in the first round doesn't guarantee a starter, then why in the hell would you trade three #1s for one? Doesn't that reduce you chances of having a long-term starter overall? And one of those three was the #6 overall. It isn't #30. The Redskins' picks that the Rams now have will all be in the top 20. Those are starters unless your talent evaluation is terrible.

You know what I mean, Yoshi. Not all starters in the league were drafted in the first round, so while giving up 3 1st rd picks is a lot, it's not the end of the world - especially when you have cap space to fill in holes on the team. I'm not saying that RG3 might not be a bust, but given his attributes, I think it's highly unlikely he'll be one.

And Error, all teams tend to overpay in free agency. It's just the nature of the beast.

[Error]

you are right about teams overpaying in free agency. but a team that has fewer options will be forced to pay more. or accept lesser talent.

[Type Ryan]

I don't know, man. If a team has shitty talent and is in complete rebuild mode, I can see FAs having leverage, but when you have certain pieces in place, I'm not sure if the FA will have as much leverage. I mean, good players will always have leverage since they'll have something teams demand, but I don't see the Redskins as a team that's in complete re-build mode. Their defense is decent and now with the no. 2 pick, the team can attract plenty of FAs while offering fair contracts (e.g., contracts slightly above market value to get the talent, but not OMG what the fuck are you doing? contracts). The skins have been good with their FA signings lately, so I imagine that will continue.

Now that they have the no.2 pick, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised that they go after and acquire top OL and WR talent in FA. I'm keeping my eye on Nicks and VJax. Those two plus RG3 would significantly upgrade their offense.

[Error]

Ok, but that's this year. the problems pop up in the following years when the older guys on your team start to retire get cut for making too much money, and suddenly you don't have as many players to draft to replace them with. Santana Moss and Dante Stallworth aren't getting any younger.

[Type Ryan]

Agreed on aging WR, but aside from the draft, this years FA WR pool is deep with young talent and skins already have some young developing receivers, especially hankerson. If he stays healthy he should have a good career.

[Type Ryan]

Also, don't forget that the skins now target young, experienced FAs who can contribute for several years.

[Advocate]

Hope he goes ARI so we can boo His Majesty.

If he wants to go to ARI ... then they better clear the cap space for him or he asks to work for Free.

Now that the 2012 salary cap has been set at $120.6 million, we’ve obtained the full list of the cap space, or surplus, that the teams have. With less than 48 hours until all 32 franchises must be in compliance with the spending limit, plenty of teams have work to do. And if the Arizona Cardinals hope to sign Peyton Manning, they’ll need to roll up their sleeves and create some cap space.

The Cardinals are $16.4 million over the cap, as adjusted to reflect $2 million in 2011 carryover and $1.333 million in downward adjustments. Amazingly, the Cardinals could have carried over $7.04 million. They opted only to carry over $2 million. (In fairness to the Cardinals, there’s a chance they engaged in a transaction that they somehow chewed up $5.04 million in 2011 cap space in the period between February 12 and February 28. We’re trying to find out if that’s what happened, because it makes no sense not to carry over every penny available.)

If they’d carried over the full amount, the Cardinals would have had to clear only $11.4 million by Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. ET. More importantly, the Cardinals would have had an extra $5 million to pay Manning.
For the Cardinals, the challenge will be to clear $16.4 million and then enough beyond that to fit Peyton’s contract under the cap.

Here's the Full List provided by Pro Football Talk:

[Editor's note: The following list shows the cap space for each team, as of Sunday, March 11. Transactions occurring after 4:00 p.m. ET on Friday, March 9 are not reflected. For example, the Vikings will have more space as of Monday, due to the termination of the contracts of several players. Also, the Jets will have more cap space, given the extension of Mark Sanchez's contract. The numbers is based on the 2012 unadjusted cap of $120.6 million, any 2011 carryover, any adjustments, and franchise tenders.]

Bengals: $49.9 million under.
Broncos: $44.7 million under.
Buccaneers: $42.7 million under.
Jaguars: $40.6 million under.
Chiefs: $32.5 million under.
Redskins: $31.1 million under.
Bills: $30.8 million under.
Seahawks: $29.8 million under.
Titans: $28.1 million under.
Bears: $22.6 million under.
49ers: $21.8 million under.
Browns: $17.4 million under.
Patriots: $16.2 million under.
Chargers: $14.9 million under.
Ravens: $14.45 million under.
Dolphins: $11.8 million under.
Colts: $11.6 million under.
Steelers: $10.5 million under.
Eagles: $9.6 million under.
Vikings: $7.9 million under.
Jets: $7.1 million under.
Falcons: $5.8 million under.
Packers: $5.4 million under.
Saints: $5.2 million under.
Cowboys: $4.7 million under.
Rams: $1.2 million under.
Giants: $3.8 million over.
Texans: $4.7 million over.
Panthers: $5.3 million over.
Raiders: $7.4 million over.
Lions: $11.5 million over.
Cardinals: $16.4 million over.

[Type Ryan]

Bummer. I thought the Skins had more than $40M in cap space.