2013 Free Agency
Resign: Flacco, Ellerbe, Reed, Mckinnie, Pitta, Dickson, Art Jones, McBean
FA signings: Veteran NT, veteran center
Restructures: Leach
2013 NFL Draft
TRADE our 1st round pick for an early-2nd, early-4th,and a 6th
2) Matt Elam 5-10 202, S, Florida- Ed will be back in the NFL and I really hope it’s with us. He is still one of the best and having a good young safety to learn from him would be ideal. Elam is an underrated playmaker who is all over the field and can lineup anywhere. He can roam deep and play centerfield as well as match up one on one against any receiver and even blitzes well too. I love him in run support and he is great at getting into the backfield. He’s a big hitter and has room to improve as an overall tackler. Elam plays with great intensity and passion. His instincts can make him a special player.
TRADE our 3rd, early 4th (from previous trade), and 6th to move up into the mid-2nd
2) Arthur Brown 6-1 228, ILB, Kansas State- The ILB position will need some more help next season. Brown is an underrated player who could fall due to his size. He’s one of my favorite players in the draft because there is a lot he can do. He plays with great instincts and recognizes a lot of plays. He has good speed to get there once he recognizes it and is a really solid tackler. Brown also takes on blockers really well in the run game and knows how to use his hands. He plays well in coverage too. He would be a great addition to a group of inside linebackers which should include Ellerbe and McClain. McClain is too slow in coverage and Brown is very solid there and has great speed.
2) Quinton Patton 6-0 202, WR, Louisiana Tech- Patton is one of my top six receivers. He’s a natural athlete and a smooth route runner. He isn’t afraid to go over the middle and take a hit and those underneath routes could help open up some throws for other receivers over the top. He is also really good at picking up yards after the catch. He has excellent body control and can make great acrobatic sideline catches. Patton has good hands and has a lot of the traits of a number one receiver. He could go higher, but teams could shy away because the lack of being a deep threat. He was a stud in the Senior Bowl practices. I like our receivers, but sometimes they struggle to get open. While I like Doss and Williams as young receivers they aren’t proven. If Boldin leaves soon we could be left with a struggling receiving core and Patton would take on his role well.
TRADE our 5th and 6th to move up.
4 comp) Chris Faulk 6-6 325, OT, LSU- Faulk has a lot potential to be our LT for the future. Joe is amazing when he has good protection and our offense is unstoppable. Faulk has the strength and anchor to deal with bull rushes and the quickness and flexibility for edge rushers. I think its good he has gone up against the top competition in college which will help him be ready for the speed at the next level. He blocks well in run game and in pass protection. Faulk has the quickness and length to play on the left side in the NFL.
4) Tyrann Mathieu 5-9 179, CB, LSU- Big character concerns, but could be a star if he stays on the right track. What I love most about him is he has everything you can’t teach including instincts, athleticism and playmaking ability. We can teach him better technique, but a lot of it is already there. Whether he lines up at corner, safety, or returner he’s a threat on every play. Our defense hasn’t been the dominant D we are used to seeing this year, but we have made so many plays when we needed to and that’s what Mathieu brings to the table. I also think he is on the right track now.
If Mathieu runs into more trouble or for some reason or we think he will, I have a different pick:
Robert Alford 5-10 186, CB Southeastern Louisiana- Alford played well in the senior bowl practices and game and he seemed to get better every day. He flips his hips really well in man and can go strive for strive with anyone. He is really quick in his backpedal and moving laterally. Doesn’t have great long speed, but its good enough. He locates the ball really well and has great ball skills and instincts. I think he has the quickness to be a really good slot corner and could also play on the outside. He would also provide depth.
5 comp) Vance McDonald 6-4 262, TE, Rice- McDonald impressed me during the senior bowl with his physicality while blocking and running routes. He is also really athletic and has decent speed. I think he will need to work on catching, but has soft hands and a huge catching radius. Could [profanity deleted] some muscle. I think he has the potential to be a Pitta-type player. I also think we get Pitta and Dickson back, but It would be smart to add a young tight end who could develop for a few years.
6 comp) Meshak Williams 6-3 245, OLB Kansas State- Williams is a good pass rusher who played a lot of defensive end at K-state. He played really well against Lane Johnson this year showing his ability to get to the quarterback and hold his own ground in the run game. I think OLB is a need if Kruger leaves. I love Sizzle and Upshaw and I think McClellan is a solid backup, but Hamilton and McAdoo are both unproven and pass rushers are really important. I also like Cornelius Washington or Keith Pough if they are here
7) Josh Boyd 6-3 312, NT/DE, Mississippi State. NT a big need for us, but drafting one early could be a huge hit-or-miss. I think we sign a vet (I like McBean too) and I also think we believe we can find a good one late. Not sure if it is Boyd, but I do like him. He gets off the snap pretty quickly and stands his ground. He performed pretty well at the Senior Bowl after a bad final season.
Edited by ravefan52, 27 January 2013 - 05:45 PM.




















