#dashongoldson

[sportsbymax-blog]

DASHON GOLDSON, BUCCANEERS AGREE TO TERMS

Buccaneers gave S Dashon Goldson a five-year, $41.25 million deal, including $22 million guaranteed.

Great pick up for the bucs!!!!!!!

[eaglezbiz]

Eagles Cuts and Possible Free Agent Targets

The slightly surprising release of both Cullen Jenkins and Mike Patterson today cleared over $9.5M in cap room, bringing the Eagles' total cap space to roughly $30M. 

These moves were made with an eye to the future: both players were going to be on the wrong side of 30, making over $4M each, and, evidently, didn't fit Kelly's prototype. Following the two releases, the Eagles financial commitments to the defensive line become relatively meager (only Cole is making starter money), freeing them to acquire a few younger pieces on the defensive side of the ball in either the draft or free agency. By getting rid of shorter statured Patterson and Jenkins it appears more likely that a lengthy defensive player like Dion Jordan will be the Eagles' pick at #4. This move also frees the Eagles to shore up their lackluster secondary by making a play for one or two of the free agent defensive backs on the market. 

The Eagles have already been linked to Dolphins' cornerback Sean Smith. The 6'3" 26 year old corner certainly possesses the length that Kelly is reported to treasure and does not seem to be seeking elite money (he is reportedly looking for a 3 year/ $24M deal, or less than half what Nnamdi signed for). 

This year's free agent class is particularly strong at safety and while the Eagles must be wary of big free agent sprees following the disaster that was the 2011 free agent class, the Eagles pressing need at both FS and SS may press them into the foray if any of the top safeties somehow escape the franchise tag. The Bills' Jairus Byrd, the 49ers' Dashon Goldson, the Texans' Glover Quin, and the Falcons' William Moore could all receive the tag this year as the franchise number for safeties is a very reasonable $6.798 million. However, if any of these four hit the open market look for the Birds to make an offer at least. Even if these four don't make the open market, the Lions' Louis Delmas could be a less expensive (albiet less reliable) option. The cream of the crop are Byrd and Goldson, arguably each among the very best safeties in football. Byrd is an Oregon product and has proven to have a penchant for the ball, creating 28 total turnovers in his 4 years in the NFL. Goldson is one of the top cover safeties in the league and more closely fits Kelly's desire for length on the defensive side of the ball, measuring in at 6'2" to Byrd's 5'10". All of the safeties listed above are also on the greener side of 30. It will be interesting to see who makes it to free agency. 

This year's safety draft class is also particularly strong this year, with solid players from top to bottom. I'll focus in on some players I think the Eagles may target in a post soon.