What would you like your favorite team to do in a hypothetical expansion draft?

[TitanHope]

- WR Lavelle Hawkins
- S Robert Johnson
- RB Jamie Harper
- OT Byron Stingily
- S Al Afalava

Yeah, I'm only offering scrubs. Our starters are starters for a reason, and I'd prefer to hold onto guys until we have a plan in place to replace them. Perhaps the FO would like to unload some contracts such as FS Michael Griffin, who is underperforming greatly after signing an $30 million contract extension, or perhaps even RB Chris Johnson, but we have enough cap space and if we did put either one of them up, then we'd handcuff ourselves in the draft, which is the opposite of what we need to do considering the lack of talent and depth across the defense and vital need at interior OL.

Of the group, I'd expect Hawkins to be snatched up, since he's a good 3rd/4th WR, and perhaps RoJo as well for safety depth.

[T-RICH49]

1. Tyson Jackson
2. Glenn Dorsey
3. Stanford Routt
4. Steve Breaston
5. Javier Arenas

[njx9]

Originally Posted by crossroads

Knowshon Moreno
Caleb Hanie
Joe Mays
Andre Caldwell
D.J. Williams

moreno and dj were the first guys i thought of. i'd throw in dreesen for purely personal reasons.

[WCH]

AJ Hawk
Ryan Taylor
Jarrett Bush
Jeff Saturday
Graham Harrell

I think this is in line with the rules.

[Brothgar]

For Detroit

Kellen Moore
Jonte Green
Stefan Logan
Ricardo Silva
Jacob Lacy

[MetSox17]

Looking through these lists, it's no surprise the Texans were awful for so long. A team made up of these guys would be soooo terrible. They'd most likely be starting Geno Smith, throwing to Kevin Ogletree and Golden Tate, while handing off to Deangelo Williams behind the Bears offensiveline. GROSS.

[Brent]

Originally Posted by MetSox17

Looking through these lists, it's no surprise the Texans were awful for so long. A team made up of these guys would be soooo terrible. They'd most likely be starting Geno Smith, throwing to Kevin Ogletree and Golden Tate, while handing off to Deangelo Williams behind the Bears offensiveline. GROSS.

That original Texans team was just goddamn terrible. They should have put some scrub QB out there to get eaten alive, not Carr.

[descendency]

Originally Posted by Matthew Jones

I guess if I was pressured I'd go with this for New England:

1. TE Daniel Fells
2. OG Dan Connolly
3. OG Nick McDonald
4. DT Brandon Deaderick
5. DE Justin Francis

Almost every Patriot I'd subject to waivers is an impending free agent or on injured reserve though.

Wait... why Dan Connolly? Has he been passed on the depth chart (I haven't been watching the OL rotations)

[Matthew Jones]

Originally Posted by descendency

Wait... why Dan Connolly? Has he been passed on the depth chart (I haven't been watching the OL rotations)

No, but his contract is relatively expensive (total of $5.25 million over the next two years) and I think someone like Donald Thomas or Marcus Cannon could replace him. There aren't many options on the Patriots.

[BeerBaron]

I realize this isn't every team, but here is the list I'm picking from:

QB – Rusty Smith (Ten), Kellen Moore (Det), Mark Sanchez (NYJ), Tim Tebow (NYJ), Carson Palmer (Oak), Matt Flynn (Sea), Jimmy Clausen (Car), Caleb Hanie (Den), Graham Harrell (GB)

RB – Ahmad Bradshaw (NYG), BGE (Cin), Darren McFadden (Oak), Phillip Tanner (Dal), DeAngelo Williams (Car), Knowshon Moreno (Den), James Starks (GB), Anthony Dixon (SF)

FB

WR – Nate Burleson (Det), Jerrel Jernigan (NYG), Brandon Tate (Cin), Dwayne Harris (Dal), WR Golden Tate (Sea), Braylon Edwards (Sea), Andre Caldwell (Den), Anquan Boldin (Bal), WR Dezmon Briscoe (Was), Steve Breaston (KC)

TE – Kyle Adams (Chi), Daniel Fells (NE), Jermichael Finley (GB)

OT – J’Marcus Webb (Chi), David Diehl (NYG), Doug Free (Dal), Breno Giacomini (Sea)

OG – Edwin Williams (Chi), Bill Nagy (Det), Vlad Ducasse (NYJ), Cooper Carlisle (Oak), Dan Connolly (NE), Nick McDonald (NE), Bobbie Williams (Bal)

C – Roberto Garza (Chi), Jeff Saturday (GB), Matt Birk (Bal)

DE – Kam Wimbley (Ten), Kyle VB (Det), Robert Geathers (Cin), Justin Francis (NE), Tyson Jackson (KC)

DT – Marcus Spears (Dal), Brandon Deaderick (NE), Dwan Edwards (Car), Barry Cofield (Was), Ian Williams (SF), Glenn Dorsey (KC)

LB – Patrick Bailey (Ten), Bart Scott (NYJ), Aaron Curry (Oak), Jon Beason (Car), Joe Mays (Den), DJ Williams (Den), AJ Hawk (GB), Brendan Ayanbadejo (Bal), Jameel McClain (Bal), Tavares Gooden (SF), Clark Haggans (SF)

CB – Corey Webster (NYG), Terrence Newman (Cin), Marcus Trufant (Sea), DeAngelo Hall (Was), Stanford Routt (KC), Javier Arenas (KC)

S – Michael Griffin (Ten), Jordan Babineaux (Ten), Craig Steltz (Chi), John Wendling (Det), Eric Smith (NYJ), Tyler Sash (NYG), Taylor Mays (Cin), Barry Church (Dal), Charles Godfrey (Car), Reed Doughty (Was), Brandon Merriweather (Was), Darcel McBath (SF)

K

P

If more than one person gave their choices for the same team, I went with the list from whoever posted first.

So, I would choose (in no particular order)

QB Matt Flynn, Seattle - Guy can be the placeholder for the first year so Geno Smith doesn't get David Carr'd right away.

RB Darren McFadden, Oakland - Young, explosive player with only one year left on the deal. If he gets hurt or sucks, he can be allowed to walk with no complaint.

RB DeAngelo Williams, Carolina - He has a few more years left on his deal and isn't that cheap, but the guaranteed money has already been paid. He and McFadden can split carries the first year.

WR Anquan Boldin, Baltimore - Only one year left on his deal. Can be the first year veteran WR.

WR Golden Tate, Seattle - One dirt-cheap year left on his deal and still young. Solid enough for a first year #2 WR given that.

TE JerMichael Finley, Green Bay - A moron who drops too many passes and I hate his first down dance, but only one year left on his deal and can make some plays. Would do better in an offense that doesn't bank so heavily on precision like Green Bay's.

OT David Diehl, NY Giants - Veteran, versatile o-lineman with only one year left on his deal. Can be slotted into 4 potential o-line spots and isn't completely terrible.

OG Vladimir Ducasse, NY Jets - One dirt cheap year left on his rookie deal. We'll put him at RG and hope for the best.

OG Dan Connolly, New England - Versatile interior o-lineman who has two years left with not too high of salary. Would likely start at LT or C.

DT Barry Cofield, Washington - Contract is more than he deserves but not completely terrible. Best of a bad situation along the d-line.

DT Ian Williams, San Fran - Need d-line depth and he's still on a cheap rookie deal.

LB Aaron Curry, Oakland - Contract doesn't appear to be that bad (not sure what it is in the 2014-2016 "voidable" years though) and is still pretty young. Best of a bad situation at LB with so many older and more expensive guys.

LB Jameel McClain, Baltimore - Mediocre starter with two years left on his deal.

LB Brendan Ayanbadejo, Baltimore - Older, but less than a million each year of his deal and will be the special teams captain.

CB Corey Webster, NY Giants - One expensive year left on his deal, but the alternatives are grisly.

S Michael Griffin, Tennessee - More expensive, and Tennessee fans have soured on him badly, but might still be the best defensive player actually available.

S Eric Smith, NY Jets - One year left, veteran safety who can fill space.


I've also given myself the first pick of each round of the draft, and I'm using our last forum mock to decide who is available with each of those picks. (Just made it up after the 4th round since that is all the further we went.)

http://draftcountdown.com/forum/showthread.php?t=54087

1-1.) QB Geno Smith, West Virginia (QBotF who would sit the ENTIRE first year, no exceptions.)

2-33.) OT Jake Matthews, Texas A&M (Immediate starting RT, potential future LT.)

3-65.) CB Desmond Trufant, Washington (Talented corner, future starter)

4-97.) DE John Simon, Ohio State (Rotational DE)

5-xx.) WR Connor Vernon, Duke (Productive depth receiver)

6.xx.) C Graham Pocic, Illinois (O-line Depth)

7.xx.) DE Walter Stewart, Cincinnati (DE Depth)

And then I'd try to attract a few mid-level free agents (since the top guys likely couldn't be convinced to come to an expansion team.)

QB Bruce Gradkowski (vet backup QB so I wouldn't have to expose Geno even if Flynn got hurt)
FB Owen Schmitt (need a FB)
WR Ramses Barden (big receiver)
TE Dante Rosario (plausible starting TE, decent backup)
OT Will Beatty (NEED o-line help)
OT King Dunlap (swing tackle behind Beatty/Matthews)
OG Ryan Lilja (veteran potential starting LG)
C Cory Lichtensteiger (will battle for an interior o-line spot)
DE Israel Idonije (could use any help at all at DE, will start)
DE Trevor Scott (again, all the help I can get here)
DE/OLB Antwaan Applewhite (situational pass rusher)
DT Alan Branch (big bodied DT to help)
DT Trevor Laws (guy I've always liked, hasn't worked out so far)
LB Thomas Howard (adequate short term starter)
LB Jason Phillips (depth LB)
CB Sheldon Brown (veteran who might be able to give another solid season or two)
CB Kelvin Hayden (another veteran for depth)
S Ryan Mundy (adequate backup safety)
S James Sanders (another adequate backup safety)
K Nate Kaeding (has had injury problems, but best kicker available)
P Pat McAfee (best punter available)

So the upper part of the depth chart for my expansion team would be:

QB – Matt Flynn – Bruce Gradkowski - Geno Smith
RB – Darren McFadden – DeAngelo Williams – Some UDFA
FB – Owen Schmitt
WR – Anquan Boldin – Ramses Barden - UDFA
WR – Golden Tate – Connor Vernon – UDFA
TE – Jermichael Finley - Dante Rosario

LT – David Diehl - Will Beatty
LG – Ryan Lilja
C – Dan Connolly – Cory Lichtensteiger – Graham Pocic
RG – Vlad Ducasse
RT – Jake Matthews – King Dunlap
DE – Israel Idonije – John Simon
DT – Barry Cofield – Ian Williams
DT – Alan Branch – Trevor Laws
DE – Trevor Scott – Antwaan Applewhite – Walter Stewart
OLB – Aaron Curry – Jason Phillips
MLB – Jameel McClain – Brendan Ayanbadejo
OLB – Thomas Howard
CB – Corey Webster – Kelvin Hayden
CB – Sheldon Brown – Desmond Trufant
S – Michael Griffin – James Sanders
S – Eric Smith – Ryan Mundy
K – Nate Kaeding (or best UDFA)
P – Pat McAfee (or best UDFA)

And then I'd just fill out the rest with the best UDFAs from training camp.

[jrdrylie]

I don't really agree with sitting Geno Smith. Would I start him? No, but I don't like sitting a guy for an entire year. An expansion team is going to get blown out a lot of times so there would be opportunities to get Smith in there in the 4th quarter where the defense is playing soft. He gets some looks, builds his confidence putting up stats against a prevent defense, and he isn't subjected to blitzes.

[BeerBaron]

Originally Posted by jrdrylie

I don't really agree with sitting Geno Smith. Would I start him? No, but I don't like sitting a guy for an entire year. An expansion team is going to get blown out a lot of times so there would be opportunities to get Smith in there in the 4th quarter where the defense is playing soft. He gets some looks, builds his confidence putting up stats against a prevent defense, and he isn't subjected to blitzes.

I don't want him David Carr'd. Period. I think the o-line I put together would have the potential to be better than the ones Houston put in front of Carr, but it still wouldn't be great.

[cmarq83]

Originally Posted by Matthew Jones

I guess if I was pressured I'd go with this for New England:

1. TE Daniel Fells
2. OG Dan Connolly
3. OG Nick McDonald
4. DT Brandon Deaderick
5. DE Justin Francis

Almost every Patriot I'd subject to waivers is an impending free agent or on injured reserve though.

I'd do the same except I'd swap out Connolly for Mankins. The reason being is that he is going to be 31 at the start of next season, and hasn't been a $10 million a year type player since signing his contract because of injuries. I think an expansion team would take that contract off our hands in a heartbeat, and we could use a pick to sign a decent guard, and throw our cap space around to get an impact defender.

[Grizzlegom]

So this was tough for Miami, pretty much everyone I'd want to pick is a RFA...I thought there was another stipulation like needed to have at least one accrued season or something like that but if not...here's who I'd go with:

RB/KR Marcus Thigpen
K Dan Carpenter
DB Jimmy Wilson
DB De'Andre Presley
OG Richie Incognito

[Rosebud]

Beatty seems to finally be earning himself an extension and I just can't see us letting Corey go this year. Prince is great and Hosley's awesome, but if we let Web go we'd be banking on a 3rd year corner, a 2nd year corner and whatever rookie we draft to be our top 3 corners

[General Zod]

TE John Carlson
RB Toby Gerhart
DT Christian Ballard
LB Jasper Brinkly
DB Mistral Raymond

[BeerBaron]

Originally Posted by Rosebud

Beatty seems to finally be earning himself an extension and I just can't see us letting Corey go this year. Prince is great and Hosley's awesome, but if we let Web go we'd be banking on a 3rd year corner, a 2nd year corner and whatever rookie we draft to be our top 3 corners

Blame GF1080 for putting him up then.

[vidae]

Originally Posted by T-RICH49

1. Tyson Jackson
2. Glenn Dorsey
3. Stanford Routt
4. Steve Breaston
5. Javier Arenas

Glenn Dorsey doesn't fit, but I'm fine with the rest of them.

[Wootylicous]

Man I thought Eric Norwood and Brinkley were gonna be studs in the NFL. So damn wrong.

[BeerBaron]

Originally Posted by vidae

Glenn Dorsey doesn't fit, but I'm fine with the rest of them.

I thought about taking Jackson until I saw he was due $14 million in 2013. **** that. I'll just sign him as a free agent after the Chiefs cut him.

[vidae]

Originally Posted by BeerBaron

I thought about taking Jackson until I saw he was due $14 million in 2013. **** that. I'll just sign him as a free agent after the Chiefs cut him.

He'll be a Chief next year. He'll restructure like he did this year and he'll still be on the roster. Unfortunately.

[Shane P. Hallam]

Man, people are really generous in giving away players on their team, lol. Another rule was only 1 player could have 10+ years experience


Steelers:
Baron Batch, RB
John Malecki, OG
Al Woods, DE
Brandon Johnson, LB
Curtis Brown, CB

[Giantsfan1080]

Originally Posted by Rosebud

Beatty seems to finally be earning himself an extension and I just can't see us letting Corey go this year. Prince is great and Hosley's awesome, but if we let Web go we'd be banking on a 3rd year corner, a 2nd year corner and whatever rookie we draft to be our top 3 corners

I'm Webster's biggest fan but he only has 1 year left on his deal after this and it's at a high salary. I'd rather not release him but out of all the other options that's what I chose. It was a tough choice.

[PackerLegend]

Originally Posted by tjsunstein

Jermichael Finley
AJ Hawk
Jeff Saturday
James Starks
Graham Harrell

I like this list enough I will just copy it....

[crossroads]

Originally Posted by BeerBaron

I don't want him David Carr'd. Period. I think the o-line I put together would have the potential to be better than the ones Houston put in front of Carr, but it still wouldn't be great.

I think there would be too much pressure from the owner to not start him. It's hard to market your number one pick QB to your new city/fan base when he's sitting on the bench all year.