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Six stars who will affect the draft

Don't let the weird uncapped talk fool you. There will be plenty of top players changing locations this offseason. And ultimately, this will alter what teams do in the draft. Last week we talked some about how the Eagles' quarterback situation will change the face of the draft. Here are six players who could have as big of an affect:

Vince Wilfork: The Patriots may put the franchise tag on Wilfork, but he has made it known he wants a long-term deal. New England has shown they don't mind trading aging stars. With so many teams needing quality 3-4 linemen, the price for Wilfork could be maybe as high as a second-round pick. Don't be shocked if New England trades Wilfork, but for a pick in the 2011 draft. The team has four of the first 53 picks this year. Adding an additional 2011 pick, to go with Oakland's first rounder from the Richard Seymour trade, would put New England into a great position.

Julius Peppers: Peppers wants out of Carolina. The Panthers might be fine with that considering that Peppers would get $21.8 million if he is franchised again. The catch is that Peppers is 30, but expects to get a big payday. There aren't a lot of teams that both need Peppers and can afford him. The Eagles need a pass rusher opposite Trent Cole and have the money. They have to be considered the frontrunners for Peppers.

LaDainian Tomlinson: He said he's not coming back to San Diego. But where will he go? Detroit? Chicago? Seattle? None of them? It's been widely discussed that Tomlinson isn't quite as dangerous as he once was, but there's still something there. The problem is that few playoff teams need a running back. Tomlinson may have to settle for money instead of a Super Bowl chance.

Darren Sharper: After a stellar 2009, Sharper will be an unrestricted free agent. In an offseason where unrestricted free agent options are sparse, Sharper should be a sought-after player. The Saints have a lot of quality restricted free agents that they may want to sign before Sharper, who is 34. For a team close to contending, Sharper could be an excellent two-year option at free safety.

Karlos Dansby: He's an unrestricted free agent. If your team needs an outside linebacker, expect Dansby to be associated with them. Dansby is far and away better than any linebacker in the draft and can still be a difference maker.

Aaron Kampman: Playing in the 3-4 clearly didn't work for Kampman. He struggled in 2009 and wants out of Green Bay. As an unrestricted free agent, Kampman will be a hot target. Make no mistake, when he can put his hand down and get after the quarterback, he's very good. From 2006-2008, Kampman had 37 sacks. He could be another option for Philadelphia, as well as Oakland and Chicago.

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No mention of Richard Seymour?

probably just a personal team thing…I’d rather have Seymour on my squad then any of these dudes (most cuz of scheme, others cuz they’re old)

Bye, AP :(

by FreeBradshaw on Feb 15, 2010 10:50 AM EST reply actions  

he'll get tagged by the Raiders

no way they give up a future first to get him and then let him walk or trade him for lesser compensation.

by microwave donut on Feb 15, 2010 1:51 PM EST up reply actions  

And they don't mind overpaying for a player they want

They don’t often make great personnel decisions, but Al Davis doesn’t let players slip through his skeletal fingertips easily.

by ninjasocks on Feb 15, 2010 4:37 PM EST up reply actions  

Doesn't matter

Seymour didn’t have any say in the matter when he got traded there. He can chose not to play there, but he wouldn’t be able to play anywhere else in the NFL. Complaining to media or threatening a holdout isn’t going to change Al’s mind (think of all the FO and coaches that must have tried to change his mind about things in the past). Seymour is stuck for as long as Al wants him.

by ninjasocks on Feb 15, 2010 5:37 PM EST up reply actions  

well he's got a Punter and a Kicker to franchise...

so the ag being used on Seymour isn’t a given.

Bye, AP :(

by FreeBradshaw on Feb 15, 2010 5:56 PM EST up reply actions  

i am assuming you were kidding

But, they did sign seabass to a big contract…
So, seymour signs or gets tagged

NO WAY do they let their #1 pick walk

* KC now has the best coaching staff in the league
* Pioli will make at least one trade in the offseason, and 2 trades during the draft
* I'd prefer "lightning and lightning" as opposed to "lightning and thunder" when it comes to RBs
* 9-7 is a real possibility in 2010 IF the Chiefs get 4 new starters

by stagdsp on Feb 16, 2010 2:48 PM EST via mobile up reply actions  

truth

The Raiders do dumb stuff with how they evaluate and value players, but when they identify a guy they want, they get him.

by microwave donut on Feb 16, 2010 1:02 PM EST up reply actions  

If the Panthers lose Pep

We’ll go after Kampman.:)

One of South Africa's only Carolina Panthers and fans.

by chinchillas sword on Feb 15, 2010 11:24 AM EST reply actions  

LT will not effect the draft

teams arent going to worry about him, they can draft a player that can be better than LT at 1/8th of the price

www.fantasydaddy.com

by firstPick on Feb 15, 2010 11:31 AM EST reply actions  

Is a small possibility that Darren Sharper could go to the Jaguars?

Anything’s better than Reggie Nelson

"HULU: An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy"
Driver of the "Cut Reggie Nelson" Bandwagon.

by TheTealDeal on Feb 15, 2010 12:02 PM EST reply actions  

I’d like Reggie Nelson on the Broncos, as a back-up reclamation project and special teamer…

"A player who conjugates a verb in the first person singular cannot be part of the squad, he has to conjugate the verb in the first person plural. We. We want to conquer. We are going to conquer. Using the word 'I' when you're in a group makes things complicated." ~ Wanderley Luxemburgo, 1999

by ejruiz on Feb 15, 2010 7:19 PM EST up reply actions  

I don't think that LT would fit our ZBS

It requires a RB who adheres strictly to scheme and doesn’t get too creative. As a vet and former MVP, I think that LT would be less amenable to coaching. I also think he’s breaking down and that he’d be too much like SA in 2007 or Edge in 2009.

by ninjasocks on Feb 15, 2010 12:34 PM EST up reply actions  

I disagree with your premise. Few FAs will be avalable.
Don’t let the weird uncapped talk fool you. There will be plenty of top players changing locations this offseason.

I just posted a lengthy discussion of why the owners will use their franchise tags and transition tags along with RFA tenders to avoid long term lengthy contracts with a large upfront signing bonus.
http://www.mockingthedraft.com/2010/2/15/1311226/the-2011-lockout-and-free-agency

Winning is not everything but it sure feels like it sometimes

by lifelongvike on Feb 15, 2010 1:06 PM EST reply actions  

My predictions

Peppers, Kampman, Tomlinson, and Dansby will be let go by their teams, they not worth it to retain at their relative costs.

Peppers will go to the Eagles

Kampman to the Bears

Tomlinson to the Patriots

Dansby to the Giants

Sharper will resign with the Saints

Wilfork will resign with the Patriots

by microwave donut on Feb 15, 2010 1:08 PM EST reply actions  

Kampman is to good to play on the bears DL..

rember ram rod is there DL coach.. if he stays in north it will be vikings or lions.. i agree with rest though

by det32 on Feb 15, 2010 1:21 PM EST up reply actions  

I could see that

I guess his best position would be in a 4-3 on the strong side, but he’s not a prototype anywhere. Good enough player though, someone will find a fit for him.

by microwave donut on Feb 15, 2010 2:00 PM EST up reply actions  

I disagree with your nostradamus predictions. Here is a different version

The Eagles have never been known to spend Haynesworth type money.
Peppers is franchised again.
Kampman had a really bad year. Why would a team pay him FA money.
Green Bay can Transition tag him.
Sharper can be transition tagged for one more year
Wilfork can be franchised if Ron Brace isn’t ready.

Why let a great player walk when you can sign them for a one year contract ( transition or franchise) with no signing bonus.

Winning is not everything but it sure feels like it sometimes

by lifelongvike on Feb 15, 2010 1:44 PM EST up reply actions  

if Kampman was so bad, why would GB tag him?

Transition tag is still pretty expensive. He should get what people think he’s worth on FA, which will be far less than the tag.

Nobody has any idea where these guys will end up, I was just making wild predictions.

by microwave donut on Feb 15, 2010 1:54 PM EST up reply actions  

No way they transition tag

Transition tags are for suckers. The NFL is trying to crack down on poison pills, but no doubt teams (and lawyers) will stick some unattainable BS loop hole in the contract, disallowing the former team to match the offer sheet.

Franchising is a much better option, especially this year without a cap, and there’s compensation for not matching the offer.

Kampman is a prime candidate for the franchise tag.

by ctmyers on Feb 15, 2010 3:45 PM EST up reply actions  

Well if transition tags are for suckers

why did the owners add an extra transition tag for the uncapped year? Its because it is a tool to help keep a player for one year without paying a signing bonus.

If you franchise Kampman you have to keep him and pay him Top 5 money.

Kampman didn’t work out in their system so far. If they aren’t sure why would they pay him 10 Million dollars?

Winning is not everything but it sure feels like it sometimes

by lifelongvike on Feb 15, 2010 4:14 PM EST up reply actions  

How many transition tags have been used since Hutch was signed?

The fact that there are more available this year doesn’t mean that any more will be used. The poison pill can still be used to make any contract unmatchable by the home team.

by ninjasocks on Feb 15, 2010 4:41 PM EST up reply actions  

You could be right. I guess we will know soon.

Winning is not everything but it sure feels like it sometimes

by lifelongvike on Feb 16, 2010 6:41 AM EST up reply actions  

I also don't think GB wants to pay Kampman top 10 money

since he doesn’t fit their system

so I don’t believe he will be tagged at all

by microwave donut on Feb 16, 2010 1:11 PM EST up reply actions  

If it is a system issue I agree with you.

What if he were just injured during the year?

Winning is not everything but it sure feels like it sometimes

by lifelongvike on Feb 16, 2010 1:12 PM EST up reply actions  

Exactly.

If GB thinks Kampman was injured, not just old, then I can see one year at top ten money.

Winning is not everything but it sure feels like it sometimes

by lifelongvike on Feb 16, 2010 1:11 PM EST up reply actions  

Kampman was bad for one of two reasons

(A) He couldn’t adapt to being a 3-4 LB or
(B) He suddenly got old and washed up.

I think there are plenty of 4-3 teams that would take a chance on him.

by ninjasocks on Feb 15, 2010 4:38 PM EST up reply actions  

Kampman had to play as a 3-4 LB

I think he’d do better as a 4-3 DE

"HULU: An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy"
Driver of the "Cut Reggie Nelson" Bandwagon.

by TheTealDeal on Feb 15, 2010 4:56 PM EST up reply actions  

there's no way Pats take a worn out, washed up LT

There may be a couple teams that might be interested in a used up commodity like LT, but the Pats are not one of them. They already have 5 useable RBs of his level or better right now. Wilfork will be tagged. If he doesn’t sign the tender, he won’t get dollar one in 2010, and Pats will retain his rights for 2011. UNLESS Wilfork comes back to earth with his contract negotiations. He thinks he’s worth $10 mil a year for 5 years, the Pats are thinking closer to $5-6 mil for 4 years. If they can come together a go with $7 mil for 5 years, he might play for the Pats for a bit.

by Ozstryker on Feb 16, 2010 5:08 PM EST up reply actions  

Dansby's a 3-4 OLB and does not have the cover skills to play

in our 4-3 system as an OLB. Where would you put him if he can’t play outside like we need?

Kampman on the other hand is out of position at GB. All we have to do is put him where he belongs and let him loose. He would make an excellent addition to the team.

by RamsFan1979 on Feb 15, 2010 7:29 PM EST up reply actions  

actually all Dansby has is cover skills. He doesn’t have a lot of pass rush ability, but he’s been Arizona’s best coverage/run stopping linebacker for a while now. and he’s a 3-4 ILB who can play 4-3 OLB.

and if you make those two acquisitions before the draft I bet you take Clausen.

by hellaninersfan on Feb 16, 2010 3:18 PM EST up reply actions  

I see him more as a MLB

in a 4-3 rather than an OLB, but anything’s possible. Regardless, his cover skills are an improvement over what we currently have on the outside; that I can say for sure.
I don’t think we’ll get even one of those players, so I’m sure we’ll pick Suh if we stay at that spot.

by RamsFan1979 on Feb 17, 2010 2:44 AM EST up reply actions  

Wilfork

You have to factor in the added cost of special ordering jerseys that big. They should really give him a three-digit number to make the proportions look correct.

I remember when Jim Burt played NT at 260 lbs. And most of the other NTs at the time were not much bigger.

by ct17 on Feb 15, 2010 7:07 PM EST reply actions  

Broncos...

Man, Denver could really use some of those guys…

"A player who conjugates a verb in the first person singular cannot be part of the squad, he has to conjugate the verb in the first person plural. We. We want to conquer. We are going to conquer. Using the word 'I' when you're in a group makes things complicated." ~ Wanderley Luxemburgo, 1999

by ejruiz on Feb 15, 2010 7:22 PM EST reply actions  

The Bills

could use Dansby and Wilfork

Rrrawrrrr, rrrawrrr like a dungeon dragon-Busta Ryhmes

by Moe_frm_B_ on Feb 15, 2010 7:59 PM EST reply actions  

The Fins saw them first damnit!

2009 NY Phin PhansFantasy League Champion
2009 Best Regular Season Record in NYPPL.
2010 The Jim Mandich NewsFlash Award Winner.

by Patssuck456 on Feb 15, 2010 8:18 PM EST up reply actions  

Split the difference?

We take one and you take the other?

Official ledge-talker-offer of the Buffalo Bills.

by WhyBillsWhy on Feb 20, 2010 10:07 AM EST up reply actions  

Kampman is much better in the 4-3

I would hate to see him go to Philly myself.

by tattooed cowboy on Feb 19, 2010 8:14 AM EST reply actions  


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