Top 3 Offseason Needs: Philadelphia Eagles
In advance of March 14, the start of free agency in the NFL, Pro Football Rumors will detail each team’s three most glaring roster issues. We’ll continue this year’s series with the Philadelphia Eagles, who overcame the loss of their MVP-caliber starting quarterback to win the Super Bowl.
Depth Chart (via Roster Resource)
Pending Free Agents:
- Beau Allen, DT
- Kenjon Barner, RB
- Will Beatty, T
- LeGarrette Blount, RB
- Nigel Bradham, LB
- Bryan Braman, DE
- Trey Burton, TE
- Dannell Ellerbe, LB
- Najee Goode, LB
- Corey Graham, S
- Patrick Robinson, CB
- Darren Sproles, RB
- Caleb Sturgis, K
- Jaylen Watkins, S (RFA)
Top 10 Cap Hits for 2018:
- Fletcher Cox, DT: $17,900,000
- Lane Johnson, T: $12,250,000
- Jason Peters, T: $11,666,666
- Vinny Curry, DL: $11,000,000
- Brandon Brooks, G: $10,886,397
- Zach Ertz, TE: $10,345,000
- Malcolm Jenkins, S: $10,000,000
- Rodney McLeod, S: $8,406,250
- Mychal Kendricks, LB: $7,600,000
- Nick Foles, QB: $7,600,000
Other:
- Projected cap space (via Over the Cap): -$9,426,190
- 32nd pick in draft
- Must exercise or decline 2019 fifth-year option for WR Nelson Agholor
Three Needs:
1) Figure out what to do with Nick Foles: After the Eagles lost starting quarterback Carson Wentz to a torn ACL in Week 14, no one gave them much of a chance to sustain an extended postseason run. Although Philadelphia boasted one of the best overall rosters in the NFL, backup signal-caller Nick Foles didn’t inspire a ton of confidence. And he probably shouldn’t have: aside from one solid 2016 start with the Chiefs, Foles hadn’t been productive since the 2013 campaign (which also came with the Eagles). Philadelphia received a first-round bye after securing the No. 1 seed in the NFC, but a short playoff stint looked exceedingly likely.
We all know what happened next. Despite being the underdog in each game, the Eagles held on against the Falcons in the Divisional Round, destroyed the Vikings in the NFC Championship, and pulled out a classic against the Patriots to win the first Super Bowl in franchise history. Foles was surgical, completing 28-of-43 attempts for 373 yards and three touchdowns while catching a touchdown pass from tight end Trey Burton on a fourth down, Philly Special play call. Two years after contemplating retirement, Foles is the reigning Super Bowl MVP.
So what do the Eagles do with Foles now? He’s not going to return as a starter in 2018, as Wentz is Philadelphia’s franchise quarterback and was on track to be named league MVP before he went down with injury. But that doesn’t mean Foles can’t come back as Wentz’s backup for another season, especially given how he proved his value during the Eagles’ Super Bowl run. But Foles is expensive: discounting Mike Glennon, who is sure to be released this offseason, Foles is the league’s highest-paid No. 2 quarterback. He’s due to count for $7.6MM on Philadelphia’s 2018 salary cap, and will collect $6MM in cash next season.
Most clubs would be able to afford a top-tier backup signal-caller at Foles’ price, but the Eagles’ salary cap situation is dire. At present, Philadelphia ranks dead last in expected 2018 space, and is projected to be nearly $10MM over the cap when the new league year begins in March. If Foles is traded, the Eagles would pick up $5.2MM in cap room, a penance to many teams but a critical amount for Philadelphia. There are other ways for vice president of football operations Howie Roseman to create space, to be sure, but trading Foles would also allow the Eagles to add draft capital, another benefit for a team that currently lacks a second- or third-round pick.
What type of return the Eagles can expect for Foles is an open question. Here’s a look at how much several comparable quarterbacks have cost over the past two seasons:
Jacoby Brissett is the absolute floor for a possible Foles trade, but Jimmy Garoppolo and Sam Bradford are both acceptable comps. Sure, Jimmy G now looks like one of the NFL’s next great quarterbacks, but at the time the Patriots dealt him to the 49ers, Garoppolo boasted only two career starts and 94 career attempts — Foles topped both of those marks (and posted a superior quarterback rating) during the Eagles’ playoff run alone. Of course, Garoppolo hadn’t put any poor performances on film and was 26 years old when he was traded, while Foles does have some substandard play on his record and is entering his age-29 season.
Like Foles, Bradford was an Eagle at the time he was dealt, and was coming off a campaign in which he completed 65% of his passes for 19 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, and an 86.4 passer rating. While he never hit the highs that did Foles, Bradford managed his competent performance over a 14-game stretch, giving an indication that his production would be sustainable going forward. Foles was excellent over a three-playoff-game sample, but will other NFL clubs be willing to bet on him as a starter in 2018?
Given that Foles’ value is at an all-time high, I don’t see how the Eagles can’t at least explore his trade value, especially given their salary cap and draft capital situation. I’d set parameters, though, and likely wouldn’t accept anything less than a early-to-mid second-round selection. The 2018 quarterback market offers more options — Kirk Cousins, Case Keenum, Bradford — than any in recent memory, so teams may not be clamoring to acquire Foles, but clubs such as the Browns (pick Nos. 33 and 35 in the early second round), the Jets (No. 37), the Broncos (No. 40), the Cardinals (No. 47), and Bills (No. 53) could all express interest.
If Foles is gone, the Eagles will need a new backup quarterback (although they have indicated confidence in third-stringer Nate Sudfeld). Philadelphia isn’t likely to find a better option than Sudfeld late in the draft, so a free agent signal-caller would represent the expected solution. Of course, any veteran inked by the Eagles would need to come at a cheaper rate than Foles (otherwise there’d be no financial reason to trade him). Josh McCown and Matt Moore stand out as experienced quarterbacks who could competently fill in for Wentz, while a trade acquisition — perhaps the Browns include DeShone Kizer or Cody Kessler in a Foles swap — can’t be ruled out.
2) Part ways with Jason Peters, but find a swing tackle: We’ve already covered the Eagles’ ominous salary cap situation, but trading Nick Foles might not be the only financially-motivated move Philadelphia needs to make over the coming weeks. Veteran left tackle Jason Peters, who played in seven games before tearing his ACL, is set to count for $10.667MM in 2018, an unpalatable figure for a 36-year-old coming off injury. While Eagles head coach Doug Pederson recently indicated Peters will return to Philadelphia next season, Pederson isn’t the one making the tough cap-related decisions — those calls will fall to Howie Roseman, who must weigh Peters’ ability against his cost.
However, the Eagles will almost certainly have to trade Peters if they want to experience any cap relief. Under the terms of his recent extension, Peters garnered a $4.5MM injury guarantee for the 2018 season. Given that he tore his ACL in October, Peters likely won’t be able to pass a physical before that total becomes fully guaranteed in March, so Philadelphia will be paying the sum either way. In fact, it will cost more — $10,833,334 vs. $10,666,666 — to cut Peters than to keep him on the roster next year, provided that $4.5MM guarantee kicks in.
As such, a trade of Peters is the only way the Eagles can get his cap charge off their books, and I’d expect a number of teams to be interested in acquiring a high-quality tackle, even an aged one with a knee injury. Peters, a likely future Hall of Famer, graded as the NFL’s seventh-best offensive tackle before going down in 2017, per Pro Football Focus, meaning he’s still a valuable commodity. Club such as the Patriots (if they lose Nate Solder to free agency), the Bengals, the Texans, the Jaguars, the Buccaneers, and the Cardinals could all use a left tackle, and Peters would only cost an acquiring team $6.75MM next season.Read more
Chiefs Sign CB David Amerson
The Chiefs have signed free agent cornerback David Amerson, the club announced tonight. Amerson will stay in the AFC West after being released by the Raiders earlier this week.
Amerson agreed to a one-year deal that contains a $2.25MM base salary, according to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (Twitter link). The pact comes with escalating incentives, and can max out at $6MM, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
While Amerson has only been in the NFL since 2013, he’s now set to join his third team. Originally drafted in the second round by the Redskins, Amerson went to the Raiders via waiver claim in 2015. After becoming a full-time starter in Oakland, Amerson inked a four-year, $38MM extension, but only saw two years of the deal before being released.
The 2017 campaign was a frustrating one for Amerson, as a foot strain forced him to miss the final nine games of the season. The year prior, Amerson was a 15-game starter for the Raiders, but offered a middling performance. He ranked 50th among 84 qualified cornerbacks in Football Outsiders’ success rate, and 61st in yards allowed per pass.
Amerson is the second former Redskins cornerback the Chiefs have acquired this offseason, as he’ll join Kendall Fuller — part of Kansas City’s return in the Alex Smith trade — in the club’s secondary. Both Amerson and Fuller excel in man coverage, a requirement in defensive coordinator Bob Sutton‘s scheme, and will play alongside Marcus Peters in what is rapidly becoming an excellent defensive backfield.
Before agreeing to terms with the Chiefs, Amerson took free agent visits with the Bears and Texans. The 49ers also expressed some level of interest in signing the 26-year-old Amerson, but no reports of a formal meeting ever surfaced.
Latest On Jaguars WR Allen Robinson
Allen Robinson played only three snaps in 2017 before going down with a torn ACL, but the Jaguars wide receiver — and pending free agent — is adamant that he’ll be available for the beginning of the 2018 campaign.
“It’s not like one of those things where it happened at the end of the year,” Robinson said on SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter links). “I’ll be cleared well before the season starts and well before training camp. Every team across the league knows what I’ve done in this league and what I’m capable of so that’s not really an issue.”
Jacksonville would like to retain Robinson, who will hit the open market at the age of 24, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), and the franchise tag could come into play. Despite his injury, Robinson is one of the top wideouts available, and joins Jarvis Landry and Sammy Watkins as the best free agent pass-catchers. A franchise tender for Robinson would cost about $16.2MM, but it would give the Jaguars the opportunity to hold onto Robinson without committing for multiple years.
Robinson broke out during the 2015 campaign (his second in the NFL) by posting 80 receptions, 1,400 yards, and a league-leading 14 touchdowns. The next year was something of a down season, although he still managed 73 catches.
North Notes: Vikings, Browns, McCarron
Now that’s been declared an unrestricted free agent, Bengals quarterback A.J. McCarron says he’s “open to everything,” according to Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “It’s just awesome just to be free now and to hopefully get that opportunity and be able to compete somewhere,” said McCarron. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted. I’m just super excited.” McCarron, who won a grievance against the Bengals, will now join a free agent signal-caller class that includes Kirk Cousins, Case Keenum, and Sam Bradford, among others. In what sounds like speculation, the Browns (who nearly traded for McCarron last year) and the Vikings are two team to “keep an eye on” as McCarron hits the open market, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link).
Here’s more from the NFL’s two North divisions:
- The Steelers rank as a bottom-three NFL club in terms of 2018 cap space, and they’ll likely clear more room by releasing defensive backs Mike Mitchell and J.J. Wilcox over the coming weeks, as Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes. Pittsburgh can clear $5MM by cutting the 30-year-old Mitchell, and Dulac says it’s “become apparent” to the Steelers coaching staff that Mitchell can’t run as well as he used to. Wilcox, meanwhile, was a preseason trade acquisition who ended up playing only 14% of the Pittsburgh’s defensive snaps a year ago. If the Steelers do end up altering their defensive backfield, former second-round pick Sean Davis will likely transition from strong to free safety.
- While Mitchell and Wilcox could be forced off the Steelers‘ roster, offensive tackle Chris Hubbard is likely to leave of his own accord, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Hubbard, 26, had only started four games during the first three years of his career, but was inserted into Pittsburgh’s lineup for 10 games in 2017. During that time, Hubbard offered league-average production, grading as the No. 40 tackle among 81 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. Per Fowler, Hubbard is going to “get paid elsewhere, and the Steelers know it.”
- Bears linebacker Jerrell Freeman is expected to retire or be released, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Freeman, 31, inked a three-year, $12MM contract with Chicago prior to the 2016 season, but injuries and two performance-enhancing drug suspensions have limited him to just 13 games over the past two years. Without Freeman, the Bears will likely field Danny Trevathan and Nick Kwiatkowski at inside linebacker.
- Updating a previous report, former Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan is indeed still running his scouting service and has not been hired full-time by the Browns, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. McCloughan is providing consulting work for multiple NFL clubs.
Coaching Rumors: Jets, Cowboys, Giants
Josh McDaniels‘ decision to break his agreement to become the Colts’ next head coach could hypothetically push the NFL to change its hiring rules, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes. Currently, teams aren’t allowed to formally hire coaches who are still employed by playoff clubs, but that hadn’t been an impediment given that no presumptive head coach had backed out of a reported deal. Had McDaniels been able to be officially offered the Indianapolis job several weeks ago, the Colts may have been aware of his wariness at the time. The NFL discussed a possible hiring rule change in 2017, but tabled the discussion, per Florio.
Here’s more from the 2018 coaching carousel:
- The Jets announced that Jeremy Bates, who was recently promoted to offensive coordinator, will also retain his role as the club’s quarterbacks coach. While Bates will have two jobs, he’ll be able to rely on the expertise of assistant quarterbacks coach Mick Lombardi and longtime NFL offensive coordinator — and new New York offensive line coach/run game coordinator — Rick Dennison. Bates & Co. will likely be working with at least one new signal-caller in 2018, although the Jets are open to re-signing veteran passer Josh McCown.
- Former Patriots assistant Ray “Bubba” Ventrone will be hired as the Colts‘ new special teams coordinator, according to Alex Marvez of the Sporting News. Ventrone, who played for four NFL teams, had been a New England staffer since 2015, but this will be his first run as a coordinator. Indianapolis is also expected to hire ex-Lions defensive backs coach Alan Williams for the same role, per Marvez, while Field Yates of ESPN.com reports (Twitter link) former Buccaneers assistant Dave Borgonzi will become the Colts’ next linebackers coach.
- The Cowboys have finalized their 2017 coaching staff by hiring Doug Colman as their assistant special teams coach, per Todd Archer of ESPN.com. Colman spent the past four seasons in the same role for the cross-state Texans. He’s expected to be the last major hire on Jason Garrett‘s staff after Dallas promoted Keith O’Quinn to ST coordinator and hired Doug Nussmeier as tight ends coach.
- Florida Atlantic University defensive coordinator Chris Kiffin is joining the NFL ranks, as he’s agreed to become the 49ers‘ pass rush specialist, according to Bruce Feldman of Sports Illustrated. Kiffin comes from a long line of NFL coaches, as he’s the brother of Lane Kiffin and the son of Monte Kiffin. In San Francisco, he’ll work with young defenders Arik Armstead, Solomon Thomas, and DeForest Buckner.
- The Giants have announced new head coach Pat Shurmur‘s staff, and the new list of assistants contains several holdovers. Rob Leonard (assistant linebackers), Ryan Roeder (offensive assistant) and Bobby Blick (defensive assistant) will all stick around.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/15/18
Today’s minor moves:
Houston Texans
- Waived: G Erik Austell (non-football injury designation)
New York Giants
- Waived: DE Ishaq Williams (failed physical)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: T Taylor Hart
First Prospective Panthers Buyer Emerges
The Panthers are the only NFL team up for sale, and the club may have its first serious bidder. South Carolina businessman Ben Navarro is “actively” exploring a potential purchase of the Carolina franchise, according to Jourdan Rodrigue and Katherine Peralta of the Charlotte Observer.
Incumbent owner Jerry Richardson put the Panthers on the market earlier this year following allegations that he not only sexually harassed female employees, but used a racial slur against a team scout. Richardson ceded day-to-day control of the club in December, but he remains under NFL investigation. Carolina, of course, is also without a long-term general manager, as interim GM Marty Hurney is dealing with his own off-field issues.
Navarro, for his part, formerly worked at Citigroup, but now runs a debt collection firm in Charleston, per the Observer scribes. Naarro’s father, Frank, has ties to the football realm, as he served as head coach at four colleges — Williams, Columbia, Walsh, and Princeton — from 1963-84.
While the price to acquire the Panthers is unknown, the last NFL team to be sold — the Bills — went for more than $1 billion. Per NFL rules, Navarro would need to be able to purchase at least 30% of the Panthers up front.
Top 3 Offseason Needs: Detroit Lions
In advance of March 14, the start of free agency in the NFL, Pro Football Rumors will detail each team’s three most glaring roster issues. We’ll continue this year’s series with the Detroit Lions, who missed the postseason in 2017 and subsequently replaced head coach Jim Caldwell with former Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia.
Depth Chart (via Roster Resource)
Pending Free Agents:
- Ezekiel Ansah, DE
- Don Barclay, OL
- Jace Billingsley, WR (ERFA)
- Nick Bellore, LB
- Don Carey, S
- Rodney Coe, DT (ERFA)
- Brandon Copeland, DE (RFA)
- Darren Fells, TE
- Dwight Freeney, DE
- D.J. Hayden, CB
- Jordan Hill, DT
- Kerry Hyder, DE (ERFA)
- Zac Kerin, G (RFA)
- Mike James, RB
- T.J. Jones, WR (RFA)
- Nevin Lawson, CB
- Don Muhlbach, LS
- Haloti Ngata, DT
- Kasey Redfern, P (ERFA)
- Christian Ringo, DT (ERFA)
- Greg Robinson, T
- Jake Rudock, QB (ERFA)
- Travis Swanson, C
- Tahir Whitehead, LB
- Tavon Wilson, S
- Paul Worrilow, LB
- Zach Zenner, RB (RFA)
Top 10 Cap Hits for 2018:
- Matthew Stafford, QB: $26,500,000
- T.J. Lang, G: $10,916,666
- Golden Tate, WR: $9,351,250
- Marvin Jones, WR: $8,600,000
- Eric Ebron, TE: $8,250,000
- Glover Quin, S: $6,516,666
- Ricky Wagner, T: $5,900,000
- Darius Slay, CB: $5,576,269
- DeAndre Levy, LB: $4,800,000 (dead money)
- Theo Riddick, RB: $3,887,500
Other:
- Projected cap space (via Over the Cap): $52,184,502
- 20th pick in draft
Three Needs:
1) Reset the running game: The Lions famously have gone four-plus years without a running back posting 100 yards in a single game — Reggie Bush last managed that feat in 2013, and he’s also the last Detroit runner to put up 1,000 yards rushing over a full season. Those struggles have lead the Lions to address their backfield in recent years, but 2015 second-round pick Ameer Abdullah hasn’t been able to hold up as an every-down back, while Theo Riddick excels far more as a receiver than as a between-the-tackles runner. After ranking dead last in rushing yards per attempt a season ago, Detroit needs to acquire a new running back in the coming months.
The most obvious free agent target for the Lions should be Dion Lewis, as both he and new head coach Matt Patricia spent the past three years with the Patriots. Detroit general manager Bob Quinn is a former New England staffer, as well, and was the club’s director of pro staffing when Lewis was signed to a futures contract prior to the 2015 campaign. As far as fits go, Lewis and the Lions are like a glove, and Detroit should easily be able to meet Lewis’ reported asking price of $18MM over a three-year term.
While Lewis may have been viewed as a rich man’s Abdullah as recently as last season, he proved in 2017 that he’s capable of being the foundation of a rushing offense. He handled 180 carries last year (eight more than he’d managed over the first four years of his career) and averaged five yards per rush. Lewis also finished first in Football Outsiders’ DYAR (which measures value over a replacement running back), second in DVOA (per-play value), and fourth in success rate (how a back keeps his team “on schedule” with regards to down and distance). Throw in his efforts in the passing game — 32 receptions and a No. 6 ranking in pass-blocking efficiency, per Pro Football Focus — and Lewis is just about as complete a running back as you’ll find on the open market.
Of course, Lewis isn’t the only runner the Lions could consider this offseason. Fellow Patriots free agent Rex Burkhead was given 100 total touches over 10 games in 2017, and could be an option for Detroit if he’s not re-signed by New England. Carlos Hyde and Isaiah Crowell could both offer a bruising style that would mesh well with Abdullah and Riddick. And C.J. Anderson, a rumored candidate for release in Denver, might be on the table, especially given that former Broncos offensive line coach Jeff Davidson is now on staff in Detroit.
The Lions may also look to the draft to find another running back, and while I wouldn’t typically advocate selecting a runner in the first round, the Lions are sitting late enough on Day 1 that a first-round RB contract wouldn’t break the bank. If Saquon Barkley is taken in the top five picks, for example, he’ll receive a four-year contract that pays him nearly $7MM annually. That would immediately place him within the top five highest-paid running backs in the entire NFL. The financial value just isn’t there to make a top-10 running back worth the risk, but the Lions are picking 20th overall. Any RB Detroit takes at that point will only earn roughly $3MM per year, a more than palatable cost.
Barkley will be long gone by the time Detroit gets to turn in its card, but there are other backs who will be worth a Day 1 or 2 selection. Georgia’s Sony Michel should be available at pick No. 20, and Lance Zierlein of NFL.com says the 215-pounder will “drop his pads and meet force with force when it’s time to finish.” Derrius Guice (LSU), Rashaad Penny (San Diego State), and Nick Chubb (Georgia) are among the other burly runners that could come off the board before Day 3.
2) Fix the interior offensive line: Now entering his second season as the Lions’ general manager, Quinn has shown a willingness to pay for offensive line upgrades thus far during his Detroit tenure. Last year, the Lions opted to move on from competent linemen Larry Warford and Riley Reiff, replacing them with fellow free agents T.J. Lang and Ricky Wagner. Unfortunately, Detroit will need to bring in at least one addition lineman this offseason, as the club’s front five was sub-par in 2017.
The problem for the Lions’ line resides on the interior: while guards Lang and Graham Glasgow offered acceptable play last year, longtime center Travis Swanson ranked as the worst pivot in the league a season ago, per PFF. Detroit was dead last in adjusted line yards, and also finished last in ALY when running up the middle. Swanson is now a free agent, and given Quinn’s focus on offensive line upgrades during his Lions tenure, I’d expect the club to move on from its 27-year-old center.Read more
Bucs Interview Ex-Colts DC Ted Monachino
The Buccaneers interviewed former Colts defensive coordinator Ted Monachino for their vacant defensive line coach position on Wednesday, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link).
Head coach Dirk Koetter & Co. fired ex-defensive line coach Jay Hayes last week, and Monachino is the first known candidate to take over the job. At present, it’s unclear whether Monachino was offered the role following his interview, or if Tampa Bay plans to interview more contenders before making a decision, per Stroud.
Monachino, 51, had been Indianapolis’ defensive play-caller for the past two seasons, but wasn’t retained when the Colts hired a new coaching staff. Indy finished as a bottom-six defense in DVOA during both of Monachino’s years at the helm, but given the Colts’ lack of talent on the defensive side of the ball, blame can’t be laid solely at Monachino’s feet. A longtime NFL and collegiate coach, Monachino has also spent time with the Jaguars and Ravens.
Tampa Bay’s defensive line was even worse than Indianapolis’ in 2017, as the Bucs finished dead last in both sacks and adjusted sack rate. As such, adding extra pass rushers figures to be one of Tampa’s top priorities this offseason.
Bengals Sign OT Bobby Hart
The Bengals have signed free agent offensive tackle Bobby Hart to a one-year deal, the club announced today.
Hart, 23, had been a part-time starter for the Giants since entering the league as a seventh-round pick in 2015. Last season, Hart played roughly half of New York’s offensive snaps, but graded as a bottom-five tackle per Pro Football Focus. After Hart reportedly refused to practice late last year, new Giants general manager Dave Gettleman placed him on injured reserve, and subsequently waived him from IR last week.
The Bengals, however, are forced to overlook some of Hart’s negative traits due to their extremely weak offensive line. Cincinnati finished among the bottom half of the NFL in both adjusted line yards and adjusted sack rate, and front five upgrades were at the top of the club’s offseason to-do list. Hart clearly won’t solve all of the Bengals’ offensive line problems, but he’ll add depth and experience to a unit that needs both.
At present, Cincinnati is projected to start 2015 draft selections Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher at the tackle spots, though neither is assured of playing time. Veteran Andre Smith could potentially re-sign for a third stint in the Queen City, while the Bengals may consider further free agent additions or draft picks.