In my quest not to get too ramped up before Sunday's game (I can only handle so much stress) I did a bit of thunking about the draft. Here are, what I think are accurate, things we need to consider.
1> CAP.
As far as I can find we seem to have not too much cap space to work with. The $ number I keep seeing is about 1.8M to 3.8M. Unforunately I have no idea what they do and don;t include in that. Would Alex's salary for 2013 be included in that number? Assuming Alex's salary IS included in that number, I can't see any alternative to him being gone next year. We knew that anyway, but for those holdouts (like me) who DO like Alex and think he got a bad run in SF get used to the idea he is gone.
2> FREE AGENTS
i> Dashon.
ii> Larry Grant
iii> Ricky JF
iv> Issaacc Sop
v> Delanie
These are the major names as far as I can see. So that means we have 2 of our D-line maybe going, or wanting their money on their next contract. Issaacc his last chance at a big payday, Ricky might be looking for starters money (tell me he doesn't become a starter on a bunch of other teams!). Add to that the money Dashon wants, and will probably get, what can we do to keep these guys/ replace these guys. Then we need to flesh out the LB core a bit as far as I can tell. We are also going to need a vet QB just in case aren't we? I think we are pretty set at WR and at RB/FB/TE depending on Delaine's situation, but then, I think he is replaceable at same or lower cost.
3> PICKS
1 x 1st
1 x 2nd
3 x 3rd (comp) (Carolina's pick 12th/ #76)
1 x 4th
2 x 5th (Colts 24th/ #152)
2 x 6th (Dolphins 21st/ #213)
3? x 7th Ours/ Taylor Mays trade??? / Comp?
That's basically what I can find out there in the world.Seems about right that we get a 3rd round comp when you add Snyder/ Morgan and subtract Manningham. No idea where the 7th round comp comes from, but I'll take it.
So in my mind we have to make a few PREdraft decisions.
1> How much do we chase Dashon/ Issaacc/ Ricky. I think we might be able to get both the lineman signed to reasonable $, but Dashon is looking for his big payday. Yes I think he is good, but he wants Weddle money, and we all think Weddle was overpaid. That along with Dashon's inability to keep a cool head for a whole game (those 15 's hurt!) I think there is a limit we offer. I would like to have Dashon be a yes or no long before the draft kicks off, one way or the other.
With all that being said my choices for the draft are:
1st> D-line (The Aussie kid from Bama please)
2nd> Safety is Dashon leaves, otherwise an OLB
3rd> OLB or ILB
3rd ILB or OLB
3rd D-line
4th-7th trade out or trade up.
I will note here that I don't follow college football, but everything I have heard says its a really good D-line class, so lets get in there and get the D-line set like we did the O-line over the past few years! The LB's because even OUR LB's can't play at the same rate they have been for 2-3 more years, they need some rest every now and then!
Then HarBaalke can sign those guys who didn't get drafted to find that diamond in the rough