If we are able to resign Mario and Arian considering what it's going to cost us. What is the opinion on what we would be able to get in free agency in 2012? Would Rashean Mathis (cb) and/or Dwayne Bowe (wr) be good additions? Just curious about everyones ideas on who would be a good fit.
doubt they will spend significant money on WR. I see them drafting a WR early (1st or 2nd). They may get a CB but i think KJ will have still be given next year to make or break his career as a starter
It'll be a LB franchise tag for Mario, and Arian gets whatever he wants. If Ngata doesn't get tagged, I'd love to go for him to play NT. Mathis would be 32 next year I think, so maybe he's cheaper, but he played great against Baltimore Monday. WRs generally fall in the draft, so hopefully they don't have to overpay for midlevel talent like Manningham. I don't think this team will even look at the big name WRs like Bowe, Stevie, or Desean.
Considering we've drafted like 19 CBs in the last 4 drafts, you'd think we'd end up with a starter out of the bunch...
Like someone said, you tag Mario and sign Foster to a big deal. You cut Jackson and Jacoby Draft a WR in the first round and sign a corner as a FA
Why wouldn't JJ be cut? I believe he signed a 3 year / $10 mil contract with 3.5 guaranteed. If he doesn't improve his play, why would the team look to keep him?
This is the same team that kept Antwaun Molden on the roster for 3 years. And the same team that is still paying Trindon Holliday for some reason. And the same team that started John Busing for four games.
There are worse WRs out there. If the Texans re-sign Mario and Foster, I don't expect the Texans to be able to do anything else.
you've already spent the guaranteed, so that has nothing to do with the future decision. So 3 years at the remaining $6.5 million is what you looking at. But, of that approx $2.2 million a year salary, we don't know how much is a base salary and how much is incentive based. Point being, it's not a completely hampering contract. ANd like Joe Joe said, there are worse WRs out there
Franchise Tag Question: Does it matter if Mario is considered a LineBacker or a Down Lineman? Rocket River
If they franchise Mario at LB (cheaper than DE I bet, all part of Wade's master scheme no doubt) and sign Foster to a huge deal (which is exactly what they need to do), then I highly doubt they'll be able to spend any more money in FA. All our improvements will have to come through the draft. And as far as the draft goes, I'm actually with Lance Zierlein on this one. Depending on how high we pick, I would prefer to get an edge rusher with significant speed in the first round and then save the second rounder for WR. NT has always been a problem, but it just seems like Wade has made it work well for us with a front 7 that does not have a dominant nose. Smith moves inside on 3rd downs, and Watt is entrenched in his spot for another decade at least (what a pick!). What is left are 3 DE/OLB's in Mario, Barwin, and Reed that are all for the most part strength guys without a ton of speed. DE's with speed are at a constant premium in this league, and getting one would allow us to trade Mario as a franchised DE next year for some serious compensation rather than having to rely on him each year as the sole sacking threat in our line. Invariably he gets hurt, and then our defense is finished. This year has been an anomaly in that Wade has gotten so much talent at defense that the only real person on that side of the ball we absolutely CANNOT afford to lose is Joseph. If we target anyone in FA, it would have to be a corner, since history has clearly shown that rookie CB's do not cut it. Out of all our young CB's, Brandon Harris has the most (only?) potential, but even that people are saying will manifest itself as a future solid nickel corner. If we can do all of the above: draft a speed rusher in the 1st, draft a WR in the second, franchise Mario and trade him mid-season, re-sign Arian for 4 years, and acquire a veteran CB either through trade or FA, then that will have been an unqualified success in my mind (although there's always the potential to botch a pick). NT would be icing on the cake, but I just don't think it's a priority right now. Maybe if teams continue to gash us up the middle the rest of this season, but I don't see it.
I think the Texans try to avoid drafting for need. If there is a speed rusher available, they may try to trade up or down for one. I don't think the Texans trade Mario. I think they may let someone else sign him for the draft pick compensation. Rookie corners have played well...when they are good. Drafting for need lets things like Kareem Jackson happen who may be one day good enough to be a nickle or a dime corner.
I'm still not convinced that Mario Williams and Arian Foster will both be here next year. But if we win I'll be more at ease... I am leaning towards Mario being franchised and us finding a way to retain Foster. The guy I'm worried about is Demeco Ryans. Not sure if he'll be around. Not at that price tag. What happens with him will affect what where we go in free agency.
I have a question about compensation picks, wondering if anyone could help. If a team puts/signs a player to a round tender, is that what picks they get from another team if they sign that certain player? For example, if the Texans sign Mario to a 1st round tender (is that right?), does that mean any other team that signs him has to give up a 1st rounder to the Texans in return? Also, can you sign a player to multiple round tenders, such as a 1st and a 2nd? I googled this info, but didn't find much info on the "formula", or multiple round tenders.
In the end, it all depends on how much the Texans are willing to sacrifice future capspace for a shot at a huge FA next offseason. The reason is because Mario carries a huge cap number this year in the last year of his contract. And the first year of multi-yeared contracts tend to have a fairly small cap number. It's plausible that the Texans can fit both Mario and Foster into the same cap hit Mario himself carries just this year. And some other cuts may allow them to go after someone else. Personally I want another corner or DT. A tackle need is fairly evident. And Phillips' defense relies on blitzes and you need coverage guys who can stick to receivers. It's pretty clear that other than Joseph, we don't have anyone else. It's possible the Texans can trade for a veteran corner who's overpaid rather than just relying on FA. I think the wide receiver position is not so much a need as to pay huge dollars for two of them. A 1st or 2nd round pick should suffice IMO.
WR 1st round... time to start grooming for next year Qb 2nd round... time to start grooming for the future WR 3rd round... time to start grooming for the near future ILB 4th round... time to start grooming for near future Sign Foster and Mario to extensions... demote Kubiak, hire Cowher And we're instant Super Bowl contenders.....Easy!!!
