These signings should tell us a bit about the future of the team. Signing Zach Potter could mean the end of OD.
To be clear, I say that not because Potter would in any way replace OD's production, but because I have the feeling that O'Brien prefers his TE's to be bigger than Kubiak. The era of the undersized TE could be at an end in Houston.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Former Jaguars TE Zach Potter has signed with the Texans. His agent, Vance Malinovic, confirms.</p>— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/statuses/438756766893891584">February 26, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Free-Agent Countdown 96. MATT CASSEL QB, Minnesota (Age 32) Voided his $3.7 million contract with the hopes of landing in a better situation. Ideal outcome would be a place with a rookie QB who’ll need to be tutored. Best fit: Texans. From their New England days, coach Bill O’Brien knows Cassel can operate his offense . 88. GARRETT GRAHAM TE, Houston (Age 28) Continued steady career progress with 49 catches, 545 yards, five TDs in bad offense. Ideal “move” tight end in many schemes. Best fit: Texans. Bill O’Brien used two-tight end system in N.E; Graham would be solid in Aaron Hernandez role. Patriots another option. 79. ANTONIO SMITH Interior DL, Houston (Age 32) Still top-notch pass rusher as he consistently showed up in our 2013 Pressure Points ratings. Best fit: Texans. Unclear if he’s ideal for new coordinator Romeo Crennel’s system, but GM Rick Smith knows Smith’s value. 76. EARL MITCHELL Interior DL, Houston (Age 26) A player who’s steadily improved during his career. Doesn’t seem quite to be a fit for Romeo Crennel’s new 3-4 scheme. He’s more of a tackle than nose tackle. Best fit: Bears. Could fill an instant need on the interior of Chicago’s line. 58. JULIAN EDELMAN WR, New England (Age 28) Finally healthy for full season, Edelman caught 105 passes for 1,056 yards and six TDs, and is one a top punt returners. Best fit: Texans. Can plug right into Bill O’Brien’s offense and work the middle between Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins.
Source: Cap will be $133 million per*team Posted by Mike Florio on February 27, 2014, 7:08 PM EST Knowing this, the Texans will have more money to work with. Who do yall think they can get. To me first priority would be signing T.J Ward after cutting Manning
Bye bye OD and Graham. Porter is a nice big target for a quarterback if they decide to use him in the passing game.
Zach Potter, who was out of football last year, means the end of OD and Graham? Let's not get silly here.
Those New England guys like either big and or fast and athletic tight ends and OD and Graham are neither. Plus I believe they will draft one...
Well it could, but not because he wants to use Potter in the passing game. It could show that he doesn't like the undersized TE's that Kubiak was so fond of.
Wow.... Not for the Texans, but this gives a slight possibility of Jimmy ending up on another team this summer. Or, just reduces the price the Saints have to pay as they can match an offer or there won't be an offer and Jimmy has no other option. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Saints slapped <a href="https://twitter.com/TheJimmyGraham">@TheJimmyGraham</a> w NON-exclusive tag, creating more drama. Any team can sign Graham for 2 1st picks or Saints can match</p>— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) <a href="https://twitter.com/mortreport/statuses/439769178716012544">March 1, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
See that's the problem with this franchise tag. If the Patriots are giving up 2 1st round picks for Graham, they are not also offering Graham a full market contract that he would receive in normal free agency. So, the Saints would then easily match and keep him for a longer and smaller deal than the "market" rate. It would benefit all the teams to not sign Graham this year and just wait till he is a true FA.
New England paid Hernandez $41 million and Gronk $55 million so they can pay Graham in that range. New England's 1st round picks are usually at the back of the draft so they may would make that sacrifice especially with getting so close to the super bowl and Gronk being injury prone. Adding Graham and if Gronk is healthy _ Brady would have a field day. I'm not saying they would but I could see them doing it. New England still has the same coach that traded for Corey Dillon to win a super bowl.
Think about it in an economics perspective. Lets say New England in a free market would offer Jimmy a max of 7 years for $70 million. In this situation any offer that is accepted NE would lose 2 1st round picks. There is some monetary amount that creates a value of those first round picks. Let's say it's only $2 million for a NE 1st round pick. That still means they would only offer Jimmy $64 million for 7 years, which the Saints could then match, giving them a reduced Jimmy rate compared to the open market. That was just my example, I believe the 1st round picks are worth way more than that, even for NE.
