NFL: Free Agent Wish list

[Polar Bear Jones]

Ben Grubbs
Scouts, Inc.Grade: 80 | Key
Comment: Grubbs has excellent foot agility and quickness as well as deceptive speed. He can move big-bodied defensive tackles off the ball in one-on-one situations and can pull or combo block to the second level. Grubbs can anchor versus powerful bull rushers, using good body positioning and effective hand use. He is not a liability in space and also can recover laterally when initially beaten off the snap.

Carl Nicks
Scouts, Inc.Grade: 85 | Key
Comment: Nicks is a massive guard with long arms and above-average agility and body control. He is not a natural knee bender but generally manages to play under his pads and over his feet, and does a good job of sustaining his blocks. He flashes the ability to roll his hips to drive opponents out of the hole and keeps his feet alive after initial contact. He has gotten better finishing his blocks, and does a good job of using his hands and steering opponents past the hole or the pocket.

Vernon Carey
Scouts, Inc.Grade: 80 | Key
Comment: Carey is the most versatile offensive lineman on the Dolphins' roster. He has a nice combination of size and strength. He does a good job protecting the edges in pass protection and adjusts well versus double moves. Carey will ride the defender wide and allow the quarterback to move up into the pocket. He understands leverage and can stay connected once engaged at the line of scrimmage.

Jared Gaither
Scouts, Inc.Grade: 84 | Key
Comment: Gaither has great length but can be inconsistent about keeping his pads down in pass protection. He has good hand use but needs more consistent technique to gain leverage. He has natural power as a run blocker and is aggressive. His height makes it tough to maintain proper pad level and body position but he has the raw talent and consistent effort to improve.

Chilo Rachal
Scouts, Inc.Grade: 68 | Key
Comment: Since being drafted by the 49rs in the second round of the 2008 draft Rachal has moved into a starting role at the right guard position in San Francisco. In 2010 he played in 15 games with 14 starts and made some nice strides as he developed his blocking skills and techniques. He is a massive, powerful drive blocker that can bend at the knees to keep his pad level down and leverage blocks. He has improved on his hand use but still needs to do a better job of keeping his hands up and ready to strike when in pass protection. He has adequate lateral range but will overextend a bit when reacting to counter moves when out in space. He shows above average initial quickness and body control when coming out on the pull but is a bit inconsistent when it comes to zeroing in on his target as he turns upfield to seal off the corner. He has big, powerful hands that can control and steer opponents on by the pocket once he gets a good fit.

Mario Williams
Scouts, Inc.Grade: 89 | Key
Comment: Williams is an elite athlete with excellent length, speed and long arms that allow him to control and defeat blockers. He has been equally effective as a pass rusher and defending the run as a 4-3 defensive end. He will be asked to be a bit more of a run stopper in Houston's new 3-4 scheme. He keeps his pad level down to leverage blocks and squeeze the play down and is quick to locate the ball and takes good angles. He has come a long way in reading blocking schemes and fighting through pressure.

LaRon Landry
Scouts, Inc.Grade: 78 | Key
Comment: Landry was having another excellent season in 2010 before being put on IR with an Achilles injury. He is an active player who makes a lot of plays on the ball. He is a versatile strong safety who can play in the box or in space. He can play in halves or the deep third of the field. He is excellent in run support and runs the alleys well. He is a better hitter than tackler; he will occasionally drop his head and miss tackles in space. He shows a lot of range in coverage. His instincts are getting better in coverage and he makes a lot of plays on the ball. Landry is an active playmaker for Washington but it remains to be seen how well he can bounce back from such a serious injury.

Michael Griffin
Scouts, Inc.Grade: 79 | Key
Comment: Griffin is an excellent athlete and is equally adept at ball-hawking run support. He is extremely active and shows excellent speed, foot quickness and body control. He almost has corner skills in coverage and can flip his hips to turn and run with receivers. He shows good foot quickness and transition agility to drive on the ball in front of him. He shows good route awareness and can read the quarterback's eyes.

Dashon Goldson
Scouts, Inc.Grade: 78 | Key
Comment: Goldson is a good sized safety that the 49rs drafted in the fourth round of the 2007 draft and has worked his way up to a starting role over the past two seasons. In 2010 he played in and started all 16 games and finished the season with 80 total tackles, second highest on the team, along with a single QB sack and an interception. He has good speed, quickness and agility for the position and is a good open field tackler that allows him to play the last man on defense in their scheme effectively. He shows good route recognition and can read the quarterback's eyes from off coverage but is not a natural ball hawk and can be a bit inconsistent playing the ball when in position. He can open his hips to turn and run or plant and drive on the ball when transitioning out of his back pedal.

Dwight Lowery
Scouts, Inc.Grade: 62 | Key
Comment: Lowery plays faster than his timed speed but may not have great burst to play out on an island versus top receivers. He has good short-area quickness, agility and transition skills. He's a willing tackler in space and leverages the ball well as a run defender. He's a competitive player with instincts and toughness. He needs footwork refinement and watches the QB too long in coverage, which hinders his ability to make plays on the ball.

Aubrayo Franklin
Scouts, Inc.Grade: 81 | Key
Comment: Franklin is a thick, wide body that does an excellent job of plugging up the middle and defending the run. He shows adequate initial quickness, agility and body control but is limited to making plays in the guard-tackle box. He has limited lateral range and lacks the upfield acceleration and burst to pressure the pocket on a regular basis. He does a good job of keeping his pad level down to leverage blocks and can use his hands to defeat and shed blockers.

Paul Soliai
Scouts, Inc.Grade: 68 | Key
Comment: Soliai is a huge body and an effective interior defender with good natural power and limited athleticism. He is strictly a first- and second-down player in Miami but has improved his ability to push the pocket in passing situations. Soliai is excellent holding the point versus double teams and the power running game. He shows first step explosiveness getting into blockers. He uses his hands well. He has developed into a solid nose tackle but clearly has some limitations outside the tackle box.

Jeremy Mincey
Scouts, Inc. Grade: 62 | Key
Comment: Mincey is explosive and can accelerate upfield and pressure the pocket with a good burst as he closes on the quarterback. He can look a bit awkward as he tries to make the bend to close down the line of scrimmage but shows the kind of burst to close that helps him finish plays off. He has improved his lower body strength but still needs to work on his upper body as he tries to ward off blocks and leverage his way through the opponent to squeeze the hole. He shows good awareness and seems to recognize blocking schemes quickly and locate the ball quickly.
He is also trending up and a younger probably cheaper alternative to Mathis who has already hit 30.

Mike Tolbert
Scouts, Inc.Grade: 66 | Key
Comment: Tolbert is a short, thick, powerfully built ball carrier who can be a load once he gets a head of steam up. He is a no-nonsense runner who sticks his foot in the ground and hits the hole with all he's got and has shown the ability to add extra yards after initial contact. He shows adequate speed once he gets to the second level. He gave the Chargers a nice change-of-pace ball carrier who lays it all on the line each and every game. He is a decent receiver out of the backfield, although he is most effective on the short swing passes rather than downfield routes. He still needs work on his blitz pick-up as well as blocking techniques, but definitely brings a lot of value as a role player.

Reggie Smith
Scouts, Inc.Grade: 64 | Key
Comment: Smith needed some time to develop safety skills after playing corner in college and is starting to show why he was highly rated. He has excellent range and speed for coverage over the top and is fluid in his drops with the ability to flip his hips and match most tight ends and running backs on downfield routes. He still needs some work on route recognition and reading the quarterback's eyes from off coverage, but shows good agility and quickness in transition to plant and close on the ball. He is an adequate tackler in space but could do a better job of keeping his feet and wrapping up.

Terrell Thomas
Scouts, Inc.Grade: 82 | Key
Comment: Thomas was New York's most active defender in 2010. Thomas has excellent length and strength with good athleticism for a perimeter defender. He does a nice job of jamming and re-routing receivers at the line of scrimmage. He has good speed for the position and shows a burst to catch up. He has made huge improvements as a coverage defender with his route recognition and ability to make plays on the ball. He shows the ability to plant quickly and drive on the receiver. He has excellent ball skills. He is aggressive in the run game and will insert himself to create contact. Thomas is one of the best playmakers on the Giants' defense and should continue to be an impact player in 2011.


Any guys to add to the list and I would like to see some PFF grades if anyone has access.

[Jesus]

I wonder how much Mario Williams will get. I gather it will be record breaking.

I know a lot of people are high on Landry here but coming off an Achilles injury he probably won't be as effective as he once was.

[mdrake34]

Ben Grubbs is a big dude, I had a class with him at Auburn. Would love to have him at RG.

[RFlagg]

I'd love to get Carl Nicks and Jared Gaither on the offensive line, they'd be a huge upgrade. Not entirely sold on Landry mainly because of that injury.

I wouldn't mind Mario Williams, but I also think if we get him, we're probably not resigning Abraham.

[FullMetalFalcon23]

(01-12-2012 11:25 AM)RFlagg Wrote:  I'd love to get Carl Nicks and Jared Gaither on the offensive line, they'd be a huge upgrade. Not entirely sold on Landry mainly because of that injury.

I wouldn't mind Mario Williams, but I also think if we get him, we're probably not resigning Abraham.

I can't see Williams leaving Houston. It would be good if we can get Gaither and one of those big Guards. With the right coach, chemistry and scheme I think that o at least on paper jumps into the top tier of o lines. That being said football isn't played on paper. We will have our OC in place and DC in place soon, because the free agency period is gonna be active. Those guys need time to assess the roster and build an offense around the parts we have and the parts we want. I think if we can get a big Guard alongside Hawley to book end with Blalock that would bring about instant improvement in the interior. If we got Gaither I think we would hopefully get the same type of production from him as rivers received from him.

I definitely believe that a blind side protector is going to be our biggest FA acquisition on Offense.

I think Blank knows this teams success is built around Matt Ryan, but for a long time he has had to protect himself. He needs that mental weight lifted off of him so that he can continue to grow and be better at his job.

[Polar Bear Jones]

(01-12-2012 11:40 AM)FullMetalFalcon23 Wrote:  I can't see Williams leaving Houston.

It is more of a product of what he will demand coupled with the production they got from Barwin and Reed outside after his injury. A Houston columnist was on with Archer and Bell and said it was little chance of him being back. They have to rap up Foster and some other guys.

[Polar Bear Jones]

Evan Mathis had a breakout year with the Eagles and is one of if not the highest graded OG by PFF. He has the tough hardworking and gritty demeanor that Dahl had but I really wanted a guy with a little more size. I still am not sure how to look at lineman that play infront of MV7.

[cnasty]

(01-12-2012 11:55 AM)Polar Bear Jones Wrote:  Evan Mathis had a breakout year with the Eagles and is one of if not the highest graded OG by PFF. He has the togh hardworking and gritty demeanor that Dahl had but I really wanted a guy with a little more size. I still am not sure how to look at lineman that play infront of MV7.

Ha. I actually kind of know Mathis. We have mutual friends and play Xbox online a lot. Really cool dude. Haven't talked to him in a bit, though.

[Polar Bear Jones]

I know HD holds a big spot in the heart of many falcon fans but if the Cowboys decide not to lock up Laurent Robinson or Jerry goes after one of the Big name guys like VJax, DJax, Reggie Wayne, or Welker I would not mind bringing him back at the right price. 11 TD's Im just saying.

[FullMetalFalcon23]

(01-12-2012 12:54 PM)Polar Bear Jones Wrote:  I know HD holds a big spot in the heart of many falcon fans but if the Cowboys decide not to lock up Laurent Robinson or Jerry goes after one of the Big name guys like VJax, DJax, Reggie Wayne, or Welker I would not mind bringing him back at the right price. 11 TD's Im just saying.

I doubt he would come cheap though. I think we already have enough money in our big 2. A guy like Harry or Harry himself is a good option for us who can do so much more than our previous offense and play calling allowed him to. We need to spread that ball around when passing the best offenses in the NFl don't hone in on one or 2 players they feed all making it that much harder for Defenses to fix in on the passing game.