EDIT:  I'm down to one person....

RT:  Sebastian Vollmer

If we get Vollmer, I'm good...  Time to move on to the draft, and fill as many more holes as we can.

I have a feeling that we'll have a trial by fire with some of our positions.  Wright for example will likely be our starter.  Sink or swim.

Possibly Mouton too.
Cam Thomas.
Johnny Troutman.
Lynch or Stuckey.

It all depends which positions we draft.

Justin Forsett is a good change of pace back but you probably can find a late rounder, with less tread on the tires, for a lot less $$$. Mike Goodson has some real potential but the guy is like Mathews, always on the injury report.

I also hope we drop Royal. I mean Royal had all season to make an impact in just one game, then Spurlock comes off the garbage heap, and has more burst and impact than he did all season. Bye Bye Royal!

Avery had a good season in Indianapolis, but once again, the guy always is injured too. Bowe will want too much. And Hartline is good, maybe for the right price....I think he goes somewhere else to be honest though.

Can you list all the free agents? I haven't even begin to look yet. If not, I'll go and see if I can find it.

I'm looking on kffl.com

Thanks for the "injury" notes.  That is something I definitely want to consider, and with more research, I'll likely remove some players from the list.  We don't want another Gaither on our hands...  I also agree that picking up a RB in the draft might be the best way to go, but I'm listing my "potentials" here just in case.

New update with O-linemen above.

I would be happy with either

A top corner and a reasonable signing on the O-line or a reasonable corner and a top signing on the O-line.

SoCalThrilla wrote: I would be happy with either

A top corner and a reasonable signing on the O-line or a reasonable corner and a top signing on the O-line.

What do you think of these guys as potential new starters?

LT:  William Beaty (NYG) or Bushrod (Saints)
RT:  Sebastian Vollmer (Patriots) or Demar Dotson (Tampa Bay)

Andy Levitre (LG), Dannell Ellerbe (ILB) and Tony Carter (CB)...If at all possible, Anquan Boldin

1st- Lane Johnson (LT)
2nd- Jesse Williams (or) John Sullivan (NT)
3rd- Brennan Williams (RT)
4th- Brian Waters (OG)
5th- Jonathan Franklin, Knile Davis, Dennis Johnson or Kerwynn Williams (RB)
6th- Denard Robinson (KR, while learning WR, similar to Devin Hester, who was a CB at the U)
7th- Mike Edwards (CB)
7th- Dayne Crist (QB) Eh, what the hell?


Something like this would have be backflipping!  To, this offseason is about protection.  Obviously, protection for Rivers, but also, a sturdy NT to go with Thomas who will give protection to the LB's, so they can fly around and attack!

Would prefer Bushrod.

yantha wrote:

SoCalThrilla wrote: I would be happy with either

A top corner and a reasonable signing on the O-line or a reasonable corner and a top signing on the O-line.

What do you think of these guys as potential new starters?

LT:  William Beaty (NYG) or Bushrod (Saints)
RT:  Sebastian Vollmer (Patriots) or Demar Dotson (Tampa Bay)

If we are going to get a bigger name in here, after my exhaustive search today (hours... I'm home sick from work... with lots of time on my hands....), my vote is that we go out and steal:

SAFETY  LARON LANDRY from the Jets.  He is fully healed from the achilles issue, and had a very impressive pro-bowl year.

With the issues the Jets are having at QB and other areas, he might not be loyal to the team yet.  He's been a Jet for one year.

I say welcome the NEW HITMAN to SD, and watch how our D gets re-energized! 

My number two pick is CB Keenan Lewis from the Steelers.  Also an aggressive (but smart) player that would definitely upgrade our squad and is a legitimate STARTER (highest in league for PDef last season).

I like Sheldon Brown, assuming either Quentin Jammer or Antoine Cason does not return. I also like Sherrod Martin as a backup free safety and possible nickel back. 

And although wide receiver is not really an area of need, I think Ramses Barden would be an absolute superstar in San Diego -- in the range of 1,300 yards and 10 scores per season. He is exactly the kind of receiver Philip Rivers loves to work with. 

Other candidates I am high on are RB Rashad Jennings, OG Deuce Lutui and DE/OLB Lawrence Sidbury.

MikeLombardo wrote: I like Sheldon Brown, assuming either Quentin Jammer or Antoine Cason does not return. I also like Sherrod Martin as a backup free safety and possible nickel back. 

And although wide receiver is not really an area of need, I think Ramses Barden would be an absolute superstar in San Diego -- in the range of 1,300 yards and 10 scores per season. He is exactly the kind of receiver Philip Rivers loves to work with. 

Other candidates I am high on are RB Rashad Jennings, OG Deuce Lutui and DE/OLB Lawrence Sidbury.

I like Barden also...but we need a guy with a lot of speed to open up the middle. Maybe there is a late round fast guy that doesn't catch the ball all that well to develop.

Haha, sounds to me like you are describing Denard Robinson....?

kelomar wrote:

MikeLombardo wrote: I like Sheldon Brown, assuming either Quentin Jammer or Antoine Cason does not return. I also like Sherrod Martin as a backup free safety and possible nickel back. 

And although wide receiver is not really an area of need, I think Ramses Barden would be an absolute superstar in San Diego -- in the range of 1,300 yards and 10 scores per season. He is exactly the kind of receiver Philip Rivers loves to work with. 

Other candidates I am high on are RB Rashad Jennings, OG Deuce Lutui and DE/OLB Lawrence Sidbury.

I like Barden also...but we need a guy with a lot of speed to open up the middle. Maybe there is a late round fast guy that doesn't catch the ball all that well to develop.

I definitely see this as a 2-3 year turnaround based on salaries we're stuck with (Gaither and Mechem). So many holes to fill. There are no free agents that I am personally excited about trying to get.

Out of our guys we need to bring back Alexander and Vazquez. After that there are a few guys like Franklin and Lynch who we should bring back or try to sign someone similar, but for the most part the rest of our free agents can go.

Then looking at it realistically these are the guys from other teams that interest me. Basically guys that I think could help without breaking the bank.

Offense
RB: Forsett, (wanted him last year) Goodson or Woodhead
OG: Donald Thomas, Geoff Schwartz, Chad Rinehart
OC: Fernando Velasco
TE: Ben Hartsock

Defense
CB: Derek Cox, Greg Toler, Chris Houston and as mentioned before I like the idea of bringing Nnamdi back to CA if he gets released.
S: Chris Clemons, Patrick Chung, Glover Quin
ILB: Brad Jones

Right now I like the idea of signing 2 CBs and Patrick Chung. That would be a good haul and set us up nicely to use the draft for the OL. If we can do more in FA that would be great, but really I just want us to try and fix the secondary around Weddle.

Im actually looking forward to see how we handle this. i'm guessing it'll be light on the FA though due to this as well
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--- TreWells wrote:

I definitely see this as a 2-3 year turnaround based on salaries we're stuck with (Gaither and Mechem). So many holes to fill. There are no free agents that I am personally excited about trying to get.

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March can't come soon enough.

idbolt wrote:
Im actually looking forward to see how we handle this. i'm guessing it'll be light on the FA though due to this as well
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--- TreWells wrote:

I definitely see this as a 2-3 year turnaround based on salaries we're stuck with (Gaither and Mechem). So many holes to fill. There are no free agents that I am personally excited about trying to get.

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1ARTIST wrote: Haha, sounds to me like you are describing Denard Robinson....?

kelomar wrote:

MikeLombardo wrote: I like Sheldon Brown, assuming either Quentin Jammer or Antoine Cason does not return. I also like Sherrod Martin as a backup free safety and possible nickel back. 

And although wide receiver is not really an area of need, I think Ramses Barden would be an absolute superstar in San Diego -- in the range of 1,300 yards and 10 scores per season. He is exactly the kind of receiver Philip Rivers loves to work with. 

Other candidates I am high on are RB Rashad Jennings, OG Deuce Lutui and DE/OLB Lawrence Sidbury.

I like Barden also...but we need a guy with a lot of speed to open up the middle. Maybe there is a late round fast guy that doesn't catch the ball all that well to develop.

Very perceptive Artist...a fourth too early?

Probably not too soon if you're Oakland. :-) He may move up at the combine and pro day when he lights up the 40....but right now I'd say he's a late round flyer.

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--- kelomar wrote:

1ARTIST wrote: Haha, sounds to me like you are describing Denard Robinson....?

kelomar wrote:

MikeLombardo wrote: I like Sheldon Brown, assuming either Quentin Jammer or Antoine Cason does not return. I also like Sherrod Martin as a backup free safety and possible nickel back. 

And although wide receiver is not really an area of need, I think Ramses Barden would be an absolute superstar in San Diego -- in the range of 1,300 yards and 10 scores per season. He is exactly the kind of receiver Philip Rivers loves to work with. 

Other candidates I am high on are RB Rashad Jennings, OG Deuce Lutui and DE/OLB Lawrence Sidbury.

I like Barden also...but we need a guy with a lot of speed to open up the middle. Maybe there is a late round fast guy that doesn't catch the ball all that well to develop.

Very perceptive Artist...a fourth too early?

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  You really have to look beyond the obvious.  I will first reply to your draft suggestion.  I don't have any publications in front of me but I'll just suggest the following:

  1.  Try to trade down.  I will explain later

2.  This is how I would just draft straight up:

    1 - Chance Warmack - (Assuming Demarcus Milliner is not available)
    2 - Datone Jones, Desmond Trufant, or Larry Warford
    3 -  I like David Quessenberry but if not Brennan Williams, Jonathan Franklin, or StepfanT.
    3(a) - Compensatory (Vincent Jackson) Leon McFadden
    4 - Brian Winters
    5 - 7 Don't know yet

I would trade down like so:

SD to Cin Picks 1 (11) & 4 (107)

Cin to SD Picks 1 (21) & high 2 (37)

SD to Detroit Pick 1 (21)

Detroit to SD Picks 2 (36) and 3 (65)

SD gets no first round picks in 2013.  What they end up with is the following

Round 2 Picks (36), (37), and (45)
Round 3 Picks (65), (76) and Pick 3a (95) compensatory

They go from 5 picks in the top four rounds to six picks in the top 3 rounds. 

With no top rated Senior OTs available to us in the first round we should seriously consider swapping a high pick this year for a first or second rounder next year.  The Clowney kid is going to be the best pick in a decade next year or the year after.  I would consider putting ourselves in line to get him if possible.  I like Ryan Clady in free agency as much as Beatty.

My FA wish list goes a bit like this:
G Andy Levitre
CB Derek Cox
CB AJ Jefferson
OLB/DE Connor Barwin
SS LaRon Landry