Gambling In Free Agency
February 5th, 2014
Would Jeremy Maclin be a value signing in free agency?
Mark your Hooters Calendars, boys and girls — the dates, NOT the chicks — for an important happening. The NFL league year begins 4 p.m. on March 11, just in case you were wondering.
You also want to know what happens at 4 p.m. on March 11? The free agency dinner bell rings. It is Christmas in March for NFL fans, as teams can raid other teams’ rosters for treasures, unsigned free agents. Program your cell phone alarms now.
Now Joe isn’t expecting any big-time splashes by the new Bucs regime. The words of new general manager Jason Licht still ring in Joe’s ears as he stated in his introductory press conference that he would look for free agents that bring value. So Joe is not expecting Licht to break Team Glazer’s checkbook with flashy, high-priced names.
That’s why Joe’s good friend Justin Pawlowski of WHFS-FM 98.7 decided to look at potential bargain free agents that could impact the Bucs.
There are a few interesting names on Justin’s list but one that jumped out at Joe was wide receiver Jeremy Maclin. Here’s what Justin had to type about Maclin:
Maclin is coming off of a torn ACL that forced him to miss the entire 2013 season, but his questionable health might lead to an affordable 1-year “prove it” contract. Before the injury, Maclin was a dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands. Bucs offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford has continued to say the phrase “speed in space,” and a healthy Maclin is a player I’d love to see with the ball in space. I think Maclin signs a 1-year contract.
Now this is intriguing. Goodness knows the Bucs need depth at wide receiver. Tiquan Underwood, nice guy that he is, is in no way a No. 3 NFL receiver. No. 5, perhaps. Skye Dawson? The words “Saskatchewan Roughriders” springs to mind.
Now Maclin, who before his injury was a special wide receiver, might be had at a bargain price. Sign him and give him time to rehab and regain his former self and at the same time, perhaps motivate Mike Williams to be the best he can be.
A signing like that is not just value from a financial standpoint, but could provide positive results in so many ways on the field.
February 5th, 2014 at 8:46 am
Certain positions seem to be more of a gamble in the draft and WR is one of them. Players like Maclin have proven themselves in the NFL and are far less of a gamble.
I would like to acquire a player who can return punts and kicks in addition to WR.
February 5th, 2014 at 8:48 am
I’d love macklin but what I’d love more is respectable depth I don’t wanna go in the season hoping and replying on 1 guy as a savior. That doomed us last year ala Bowers for bennet… I say u gotta have a plan b so I’d take macklin on a 2 year deal (I don’t like 1 and prove it cuz if he does great year 2 price goes up lock him n for 2 if he suck cut him after 1) then I’d back that 3rd wr up with a Kenny britt or a mid level proven pass catcher who will succeed with more play makers around to take pressure off……Or I wouldn’t b mad at spending alil for a dexter McCluster that would lock up a 3 wr an returner. The key to this season will be proper depth Joe.
February 5th, 2014 at 8:49 am
There are definitely some names on that list that I’d like to see here. I guess we’ll see who ends up with a franchise tag before launching in to debate over who would be the best option. (Heaven forbid Licht get faulty advice when he comes here for help with who to go after)
February 5th, 2014 at 9:00 am
Not to keen on signing injured players.
February 5th, 2014 at 9:06 am
Damaged goods.. Seems like already half of our team is recovering from an injury..
Unless he’s cheap I wouldn’t consider him.
February 5th, 2014 at 9:07 am
Its not just the ACL. Maclin has been a mainstay on the injury report since he first got to the NFL.
February 5th, 2014 at 9:14 am
Joe said over and over how the Bucs were relying on injured players returning in 2013. Same for 2014. Why would we go and sign another one. We’re already gambling on 22, 19, 77, etc.
February 5th, 2014 at 9:22 am
Great list from the Commish. Most excited to see what happens with McCluster, Mack, Melton, Tillman, and Pettigrew.
February 5th, 2014 at 9:22 am
Give me Julius Peppers and Jared Allen in Free Agency and draft Sammy Watkins…I would be as giddy as a teenage girl on prom night.
Peppers and Allen are long in the tooth, but they would be perfect to school Gholston, Clayborn and hopefully Bowers into becoming much better players.
February 5th, 2014 at 9:23 am
Watkins and Huff please
February 5th, 2014 at 9:58 am
Allen-watkins-mack cut Joseph (great guy but always Hurt)
February 5th, 2014 at 10:18 am
No more knee projects. They are already paying enough guys to rehab.
February 5th, 2014 at 10:31 am
There is room for every player mentioned in that list on this team. All represent upgrades. That tells you how far away we are.
February 5th, 2014 at 10:32 am
Don’t hate on Tiquan.
February 5th, 2014 at 11:49 am
if he’s doing a 1-year prove it type of deal, maclin will go to a place with a less settled 1-2 WR situation. Mike Williams has health question marks of his own, but he will get #2 reps all training camp. if i were maclin i’d be looking at New England, San Fran, or somewhere else where there is a clearer need for a leading WR and where he can win as well.
February 5th, 2014 at 12:11 pm
I’d rather gamble on a young injured player than any old one like most of you guys want to do with Tillman, Jared Allen, or Peppers. At least with a young guy, he can overcome the injury, older guys can’t overcome age AND they tend to get hurt (and wear down) far more frequently than the younger guys.
February 5th, 2014 at 12:51 pm
Joe, what’s with the jab at the Roughriders? Reigning Grey Cup Champs!!! I say that a little tongue-in-cheek as I understand what you are getting at, but I read that a couple Roughrider jerseys were seen at the Super Bowl this year. Rider Nation is everywhere!
February 5th, 2014 at 3:58 pm
lol Value defined as a player that brings the most to a team based on best fit.
Could be elite, could be cheaper.
Best value signing by the Bucs will be an ‘elite” DE for Lovie’s defense.
Count on it
February 5th, 2014 at 4:03 pm
I wouldn’t mind McCluster, Mack, Oher, Munnerlynn, Wootton, I would even keep an eye out for a MLB and move Foster to SAM.
Get Nicks back Healthy, Move Dotson to the left side. Cut D. Penn. Rework Josephs contract, Trade Dashon Goldson and get Jarius Byrd
Find a way to trade for a 3rd rounder.
Draft
rd 1: Sammy Watkins – WR/KR *note=(if we got McCluster) i would trade around for a pass rush specialist.
rd 2: ASJ – TE
rd 3: Jimmy Grappollo – QB
I think i fixed all the holes and this would be a dream scenario.. but not a “to far fetched” one
February 5th, 2014 at 4:05 pm
Oh yah throw Melton in there as well. Almost forgot about him.
February 5th, 2014 at 8:30 pm
Thanks Patrick in VA (Heaven forbid Licht get faulty advice when he comes here for help with who to go after), I needed to laugh out loud today. Thanks still laughing.
February 5th, 2014 at 10:36 pm
I agree Joe. We need Galloway-like speedy WR. What we thought Benn would be.
February 6th, 2014 at 12:34 am
Maclin takes huge hitz over the middle. He’s the new Ed Mcafrey. He’s a concusion away from being done. But depth is good. V-jax,MW,Maclin and a high round rookie would be great. O-weapon’s….check. O-Line…back to the drawing board.
February 6th, 2014 at 6:13 am
As far as DE… to know the pick you gotta know free agency. Ill put my pride on this bet and say Jared Allen and/or Julius Peppers will be Bucs. With that said if Tampa doesn’t move up and get Jadeveon Clowney (20% chance) then Trent Murphy from Stanford will be the pick in the 2nd rd. I could almost guarantee that Austin Safari-Jenkins will be wearing Pewter and red next year. I dont know where but I cant predict trades and a trade will happen. All of what I mentioned could get erased if a Teddy Bridgewater is there at 7. If Clowney is gone and Matthews is there at 7 well then Matthews is the pick. Problem is Atlanta needs OLine desperately. 100% chance the Falcons draft a Tackle. Khalil Mack does not fit the Bucs scheme or a 4-3 for that matter. Nor does Barr and I would give either 1 of those a 10% chance of being drafted. Sammy Watkins is a great pick but NO WHERE CLOSE to 7. Thats negative value. I’d rather see (if WR is the pick) The Bucs trade down and pick up Kelvin Benjamin. When everything is said and done, he will be known as the best WR in 2014 draft class
February 6th, 2014 at 12:02 pm
I’d call Dexter McCluster a better value FA signing because he can play slot & return kicks.
And he’s healthy.
February 7th, 2014 at 1:22 am
And he is from Largo and a good friend of mine. Him and Riley Cooper. Hell id really love to see my boy D’qwell Jackson (MLB Cleveland Browns) to join as well. All are good fits. Run DMC as a return specialist and rb/slot wr. Riley Cooper as depth at WR. And the best fit imo D’qwell Jackson in our cover 2 MLB. He is probably the most underrated Linebacker (outside if Lavonte David) in the NFL. Then we would have 3 hometown studs doing work back home!!
February 8th, 2014 at 8:00 am
[…] research and came up with a top 10 list of most valued free agents on the market that could likely make an impact for the […]