I think they keep 5 WRs and Smith as a 3rd QB/WR/KR who will be on the field quite a bit. So Evans, Johnson, Parrish, Nelson, Easley & Smith. Jones, Roosevelt & the rest of the WRs are odd man out as well as Levi Brown.
The point is that they can still sign an Olineman to play tackle. Signing Smith doesn't stop them from also signing someone like Clabo. Obviously it's not like the draft where you only get to take one player.
I think the plan is for Davis to be a starter with Sheppard as his backup & eventual replacement. Therefore they will need to sign a starter to replace Poz with Sheppard, Torbor & White backing up that spot.
Interesting, I was under the impression that Clabo was the top ranked OT. Being that he went to the Pro Bowl etc. Is this based on position (right vs left tackle)?
Clabo should command way more than $7.5M per year, Doug Free just signed a 4 year deal worth $8M per.
After the rookies are signed they probably have $20M to spend, and you just spent $17M of it on 2 guys.
I prefer Burnett as he has played and had success in the 34 defense. Barnett would also interest me, but only at a cheap price due to age and his history of injury.
ILBs would include Andra Davis, Reggie Torbor, Kelvin Sheppard & Chris White. Perhaps Batten, after the draft they supposedly were moving him back outside. Not sure if losing Poz changes that.
Right now you're right, obviously they feel it's the superior scheme and have decided to build it on the fly.
I think the hope is actually Troup will end up filling this position.
The closest on Yahoo's top 100 is Barrett Ruud. It was done pre Barnett getting cut.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=jc-cole_2011_nfl_free_agents_by_pos_072511&expire=1#free-LB
Or Stephen Cooper.
It does when the statement made is "New England is proably the most successfull team of the last 10 years and they get big name free agents."
That's true, but the Bills haven't even begun year two, while those teams are well beyond their rebuilding. I'm sure the tone from fans of those squads was similar at this point as well.