What are people's thoughts on how we might address this next year?
Do we try and keep Jones or tag and trade? seems unlikely to me but maybe possible. Do we focus on the draft when we might need to go for a LT early? Do we lose Jones and fill in FA with a guy like Teair Tart who may be ascending rusher but not an all-rounder (think he's available?) or a Maurice Hurst who may be an injury risk but has some upside. Or spend money on all-rounders like Wilkins or DJ Reader who'll be cheaper than Jones but you'll lose a bit of everything?
Or is it some combination of the above? Would be interested in peoples' thoughts. Right now with Jones, Omenihu, Coburn and Farrell I think there's potential for a great blend of pass-rush and solid NTs. Next year I'm guessing it's something like a mini-rebuild at DT [Reply]
If you can keep Jones, I'd prefer that, but that bridge may be smoldering so if you move on, I don't think you really try to "replace" CHris. I'd look to continue to build the depth there but that may not need to be high draft picks and high dollar FA's. [Reply]
Without Jones, you have a ton of cap space, and only a couple guys you need to worry about signing to sizeable contracts like Sneed and maybe Donovan Smith.
If that's the case, then you can spend some money to go get a couple B-level dudes, draft high and get the DT you want in the 1st, and pad out the interior that way. [Reply]
Originally Posted by O.city:
If you can keep Jones, I'd prefer that, but that bridge may be smoldering so if you move on, I don't think you really try to "replace" CHris. I'd look to continue to build the depth there but that may not need to be high draft picks and high dollar FA's.
I kind of agree re not using high draft picks. What I can't decide is whether you go for one of the B-level guys who'll still cost a chunk, or really just go cheap and deep.
Gotta think they keep Coburn and Farrell to see if they can be functioning NTs with a bit of pass-rush upside. So I'm not sure we get a run-stuffer in FA or the draft, unless it's a very late pick [Reply]
Originally Posted by Direckshun:
Without Jones, you have a ton of cap space, and only a couple guys you need to worry about signing to sizeable contracts like Sneed and maybe Donovan Smith.
If that's the case, then you can spend some money to go get a couple B-level dudes, draft high and get the DT you want in the 1st, and pad out the interior that way.
I don't think Smith costs a load, but I also don't think he'll be back. Gotta think they'll be looking at LT in the draft. [Reply]
I'd keep going for big athletes in the middle and see what sticks.
TBH, I'm kind of a fan of just getting big dudes in the middle to clog shit up and try to get pass rushers outside. Jones is a unicorn so I wouldn't go trying to replace that as it may prove difficult.
THen I'd look for DE's that can kick inside on pass rush downs. [Reply]
Originally Posted by O.city:
I'd keep going for big athletes in the middle and see what sticks.
TBH, I'm kind of a fan of just getting big dudes in the middle to clog shit up and try to get pass rushers outside. Jones is a unicorn so I wouldn't go trying to replace that as it may prove difficult.
THen I'd look for DE's that can kick inside on pass rush downs.
Think DJ was suggesting something similar. Yeah don't hate it I guess, there is the advantage of having Omenihu next year as a guy who can rush from DT. [Reply]
Originally Posted by JPH83:
I don't think Smith costs a load, but I also don't think he'll be back. Gotta think they'll be looking at LT in the draft.
If he does the job well, he shouldn't cost much unless he magically makes an All Pro team.
The DL is what this team needs to attack in the offseason, and maybe the WR room too. If the Chiefs can book Smith for a good deal, that settles an area of concern. [Reply]
As has already been mentioned it depends largely on what happens with the development of Karlaftis and FAU. If one or both really turn it on this year then you can probably have some comfort that pass rush will come from DEs and finding an elite DT pass rusher might not necessarily be a priority. However if Karlaftis doesn’t make a year 2 jump and/or if FAU turns out to still be super raw I’m to sure you’d want to put all your eggs in one basket.
Also of importance is the fact that Coburn is our only DT under contract next year so the cupboard is almost completely barren there. Even if they do sign Jones they still need 1-2 more bodies there, maybe a B level FA (not Nnadi) and a mid-round draft pick.
If Jones walks I think you may want to prioritize someone like Wilkins, Reader, Madubuike, or Leonard Williams. DE is stacked in FA so you could go cheap at DE and just build a stable of badass DEs along with Karlaftis, FAU, and Omenihu. [Reply]
Originally Posted by OKchiefs:
As has already been mentioned it depends largely on what happens with the development of Karlaftis and FAU. If one or both really turn it on this year then you can probably have some comfort that pass rush will come from DEs and finding an elite DT pass rusher might not necessarily be a priority. However if Karlaftis doesn’t make a year 2 jump and/or if FAU turns out to still be super raw I’m to sure you’d want to put all your eggs in one basket.
Also of importance is the fact that Coburn is our only DT under contract next year so the cupboard is almost completely barren there. Even if they do sign Jones they still need 1-2 more bodies there, maybe a B level FA (not Nnadi) and a mid-round draft pick.
If Jones walks I think you may want to prioritize someone like Wilkins, Reader, Madubuike, or Leonard Williams. DE is stacked in FA so you could go cheap at DE and just build a stable of badass DEs along with Karlaftis, FAU, and Omenihu.
Do we not have Farrell as well? PFF reckons he was terrible for the Faid last year but I've hope from seeing him pre-draft that he could become a reasonable rotational piece. [Reply]
Originally Posted by JPH83:
Do we not have Farrell as well? PFF reckons he was terrible for the Faid last year but I've hope from seeing him pre-draft that he could become a reasonable rotational piece.
My bad, I guess we do have him as well now. Either way, still slim pickings there. [Reply]
Originally Posted by O.city:
I'd keep going for big athletes in the middle and see what sticks.
TBH, I'm kind of a fan of just getting big dudes in the middle to clog shit up and try to get pass rushers outside. Jones is a unicorn so I wouldn't go trying to replace that as it may prove difficult.
THen I'd look for DE's that can kick inside on pass rush downs.
So why couldn't this be George Karlaftis?
I was thinking about that when Jones was still on vacation. Couldn't GK step into Jones interior rusher role on pass rush downs? With a replacement DE or maybe BJ Thompson taking the DE snap?
Now that doesn't really speak to the damage Jones can do on 1st and 2nd - I don't think Karlaftis can make a move to the interior on a permanent basis (though, he added weight pretty easily at Purdue - he might be able to operate at 290 or so pretty easily).
I dunno - it almost feels like a reasonable proxy for Jones may already be on the roster. [Reply]