Clifton To Visit Redskins, Colledge In Demand?
By Aaron Nagler on Mar 05, 2010 with 94 Comments
As first reported by Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports:
Clifton is weighing whether to return to Green Bay or sign with a new team after receiving an offer worth approximately $5 million a year from the Packers. Clifton is hoping for somewhere closer to $7 million per season with at least $20 million in the first three years of any deal.
Clifton has played his entire 10-year career with the Packers, who are in danger of losing the two starters from the left side of their line. The Packers put only a second-round tender on restricted free agent guard Daryn Colledge, and he may receive interest from another team, multiple NFL sources said this week.
Ok, as they say in Reservoir Dogs, first things f'in last - That last part about Colledge sounds like Cole is throwing a bone to Colledge and his agent. "May receive interest" indeed.
As for Clifton, the Packers are in a hard spot. They don't have a viable alternative on the roster. The closest thing they have is T.J. Lang, who is much better suited to play right tackle. But does that mean Thompson should pay $20 million upfront for a player you can all but guarantee will not start all 16 games in a season for as long as he remains in the league?
One thing is for sure, as big a priority left tackle was at the end of the season, it just shot to number one with a bullet of things that Ted Thompson needs to come away with from either the draft, free agency or a trade before training camp, because the solution is not readily available.
Filed Under: Chad Clifton • Daryn Colledge • Free agency • Ted Thompson
Why are you going all the way back to ’02? I’m confused.
02′ is the only article to confirm a number and I’m extrapolating in between. It took me a while to compile my current list above and there’s no way I could do it in less than 3 hours for the prior decade.
Look, I’m not calling you out or saying your wrong. The hit rate on 1st round Tackles is exponentially higher than any proceding rounds…you are correct. My maing point: In any given year you’re looking at roughly 70% or less of your starting LT’s coming from RD’s 1 & 2. Here’s the thing: That number drops to 50% or less by the latter half of every year due to injury. You can advance in spite of average LT play.
However, TT hasn’t done well in evaluating tackles. I love the direction they’ve gone the last two years (Sitton and Lang) with an emphasis on moving towards a hybrid ZBS where your lineman are getting larger and can flex to other positions. Let’s see if it continues this year.
Iupati will not slide past the Packers if he gets to #23. Think flexible with updside, larger than traditional ZBS guys. Roger Saffold (IU), Jerry (Miss.). If you can’t get a Okung that’s in all probability a franchise LT then get value and flexibility.
Giacomini was the furthest from this philosophy, drafted on ‘upside’ alone.
CSS – as everyone knows, I’m no draft guy – but do you really think there’s a chance Iupati makes it to 23? I sure don’t.
I do, Aaron. A LT, CB or top rush end will slide on draft day. I don’t see a team that values a guard up until you reach the Stealers at the #18 slot. However, the Stealers (#18) should have great CB/S options including Earl Thomas, whom they desperately need. #19 Falcons, #20 Texans desperately need defensive help, especially pass rush. The Bengals at #21 need a receiver and/or defensive line or safety help (desperate for a TE). The Patriots desperately need a WR and defense (specifically end) at the #22 spot. So, if Iupati makes it past the Stealers at #18 (where I think he will go) the next four (4) teams have desperate needs outside of guard.
So yes, I don’t see a sure-fire tackle available at #23 and Iupati has huge upside and possibly even tackle down the road. This is a distinct possibility, not fantasy land at all.
CSS – would be very happy with him. Just kept hearing how he wouldn’t make it past 15 or so. He’s a talent.
The packers better get some O-Line help, now that the bears got Peppers, he could easily get to Rodgers with what we’ve got.
CSS, I don’t see where we have a this dominate interior line, one position is up in the air. Lang has no NFL experience at guard and Spitz has a surgically repaired back. IMO the O-line is as strong as its weakest link and has to be thought of as a unit. One Barbre = disaster. The way I see it last year the vikings had a defensive line that gave us problems. The bears and lions both may give the Pack similar problems next year if we do not improve our O-line with their current signings before the draft.
Basically what I’m saying is that IF TT doesn’t see a Tackle he values at #23, then he needs to trade up or down to get into a spot to get one that he DOES value. It is the biggest need, and the only one where the Packers don’t have (at least some) control of a guy who could adequately fill the void, punter excluded. Whether that means signing Levi Jones for a year or 2 and trading down to take Veldheer in the 2nd or trading a 1st and next year’s second to get into the top 15 and grab someone, then he needs to get it done, period. He can’t just sit back and take a guy in the 3rd round or beyond and just “let them compete.” There’s too much competition amongst a BAD line. We need someone to come in that won’t have to compete because it’s obvious that he is best for the job. Those guys are usually found in rounds 1 and 2.
Dilgaff: My point stands, name a better interior line in the NFC North. Also, make a case for other NFC North interior defensive units that are worth anything. I’ll give you the Vikings, but Williams (Pat) will be 38 and Kevin is the only legit kid on the roster. I’m not saying our interior is ‘Great’, but it’s better then the division. The outside pass-rush may be an issue in the North, but teams are ignoring the interior.
Again, Packsmack, nobody is saying take a tackle beyond round 2, and I agreed with you that the success rate is better for the LT position in round 1.
I do disagree with you about trading up if the value isn’t there. Bulaga and Okung are the only two kids I see with minimal risk, both will be gone by #10 and it will take a boatload of picks to move into the top 10 (unless we move somebody like Jenkins).
Also, this is the deepest CB class in a decade and starters will be in round 2. I have no problem trading into round 2.
Let’s see how it plays out, I certainly don’t know.
I get the concern I really do but if TT is letting Clifton hit free agency that means he is done. Here is a list of all the free agents he let go that lived up to or exceed their contracts.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Notice there are ZERO players on that list. He’s batting a hundred over 5 years in letting free agents go so I’m gonna give him the benefit of the doubt until . It may scare us right now but I’d be willing to bet in 3 years none of us will be saying ”Wow we sure missed the boat on not giving Clifton 20 million!” People freak out and overreact every year around this time. Each of the last 3 years the sky was falling in March and when September came around we were highly competitive. News Flash for people (and some will really hate this)….TT is WAY smarter than us when it comes to this stuff and he’s consistantly proven he knows what he’s doing. The guy isn’t an idiot. Relax.
See, I’d rather NOT waste a high pick on a CB. We don’t have AS pressing a need for an immediate starter at CB, since Harris and Lee could both fill the void and both are already under contract. That’s why I think it’s important to find an LT. As for Bulaga and Okung being the only guys worth a top pick, I STRONGLY disagree. I think there are an inordinate amount of good-to-great tackles available this year, and it’s important that we don’t miss out on the party. Campbell, Davis, Brown, Williams, and even Veldheer are potential anchors. TT probably values one of those guys more than the others, and it’s up to him to get whichever one he thinks fits the best. He won’t have to get into the top 10 for any of those guys, more than likely, but he might have to jump up 8 spots to #15 or so.
WGB, I think pretty much everyone is in agreement that Clifton leaving isn’t that big of a deal. It just puts the pressure on TT to find a viable replacement. I think (hope?) he will.
Campbell – Looks like Tarzan plays like Jane. Was average at best all season on tape. Huge risk, huge potential.
Davis – Terrible work ethic, inconsistant and beaten by average competition all year. Huge boom or bust.
Brown – Could be a good pick, but he’s raw and a former TE, not tackle. Boom or bust.
Williams – Excelled at RT last year, sucked at LT this year getting beaten like a rag doll in the Big XII. RT only.
Veldheer – Division II prospect, boom or bust not a round I kid.
Look, I’m not a scout but I’ve watched every one of these kids play (spare Valdheer). Bulaga and Okung dominated superior competition all year, DE’s that will be drafted in Rd. 1 & 2. All the other kids you listed will a) need at least 1 if not 2 years on the pine to progress and learn. b) Not really graded as 1st round LT talent but will be drafted there as a byproduct of their upside.
I said round 2 for CB, not 1.
I think all the kids you listed above will be round 1 picks (Valdheer will be late 2, early 3) but the kids you list are 1st round risk that will need time to develop. There will be a premature run on LT’s just like every year, and teams will reach.
. Here is a list of all the free agents he let go that lived up to or exceed their contracts.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.Brett Favre?
Sorry, had to.
CSS, I don’t know that you can necessarily say that any of those guys are “boom or bust” types, with the exception of Veldheer, who I admit I am probably WAY too infatuated with. He just seems like a TT type to me. Anyway, all of those other guys are graded as 1st rounders, and whether it’s based on potential or what have you, there’s a reason. I’m not a fan of Williams or Brown, but some scouts are, so go figure. I’m sure TT and his staff have their favorites of the bunch. And I know you meant a 2nd rounder on a CB, but I just don’t think even THAT is necessary, unless there’s a guy who is just impossible to pass up. As far as any of the LTs taking a year to develop, that’s why I’ve suggested signing Levi Jones – or perhaps another veteran who gets cut by someone later on – to a short contract. Either way, TT has to find SOMEONE to groom to be the LT of the future sooner than later.
hyperRevue, he wasn’t let go as a free agent, and Brett Favre’s trade helped to net Matthews.
Packsmack – I know. Just a joke.
FWIW: “Greg_A_Bedard
RT @Russellmania09: Source feels strongly UFA LT Chad Clifton is solely visiting #Redskins to drive up the #Packers price, no real interest.”
To me it’s pretty simple. Get Charles Brown. It’s solved!
-
Have you watch him play? Talk about talent. Questions about his strenght and lenght were immediately dismissed after the combine. Very athletic, talented guy, with lots of starting experience in a ZBS team…
I figured that hyper, but seriously, you never know with some of the commenters here. That Tweet from Bedard is interesting though, because the Skins could also be using Clifton in order to low-ball Jones.
Packers RS – Charles Brown has a ton of potential but there’s rampant speculation that he skipped the Senior Bowl to put on weight for the combine. Sources out of USC say his mid-year playing weight was 290 lbs.
Good athlete, though.
Packsmack – I’m not a scout. I watch an inordinate amount of football and the DVR is packed with it. I trust the Packer staff to evaluate, but TT stays true to how his board is stacked. I just don’t see him reaching if his board doesn’t have all other prospects being equal.
P.S. – We just had our first child so my ‘inordinate’ football watching will abruptly end:)
CSS – not at all. You’ll just be watching in the middle of the night. Do it all the time
-
And congrats!
With Peppers in the NFC North the Packers MUST, MUST, MUST bring some well above average talent in at the OT spots. Clifton will be a Packer. Who’s going to pay a big proce for a guy who is likely to miss 2 to 4 starts next year. Taucsher will get the team off to a better start than they had last year. Again it is likely he will miss some time.
Breno and Barbre are not capable backups. Spitz to date has not shown talent at a level above barely acceptable. Lang could be a good player, but still too soon to tell. And Colledge after 4 years is still a below average player. Do they believe he can still get better? What has he done that would give that impression?
______
The line needed imrovement going into last year. The line going into this year still needs a whole lot of help. Time to roll up the sleeves and get to work.
Ha, funny you say that Aaron. I watched every second of the scouting combine……during the early AM’s while feeding and changing our daughter!
My wife says ‘ridiculous’, I say “practical and tactical” (Kirk Lazarus – Tropic Thunder)
Bears are going absolutely crazy today – In addition to Peppers, it looks like they have made a deal with Chestor Taylor and they are in talks to sign Bolden and Brandon Marshall and trade Greg Olsen.
Easy there Ron. Peppers and Taylor, yes. Bolden is going to Baltimore. Marshall is headed to Seattle tomorrow where they will try to get him to sign an offer sheet (and Denver will surely let him walk in return for Seattle’s first round pick, the sixth overall) and Olsen has requested a trade but been told no. They did sign former Chargers TE Manumaleuna last night shortly after free agency began.
Aaron this is coming from the SCORE so it could be over enthusiasm. Sounded like they were going after one of the wR’s seriously, probably not both.
Boldin is tendered with a 3rd, Marshall with a 1st. Signing Marshall would mean the Bears go 3 years without a round 1 pick.
Talk about ‘gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today’. That would be extremely desperate of Angelo and Smith.
Whoa. Boldin (plau a 5th) for a 3rd and 4th rounder? That strikes me as a great deal for the Ravens.
Desperate is exactly what the Bears are. The fans are ready to run De Angelo and Lovie out of town on a rail. De Angelo said in an interview today, “We are not done yet, more moves are coming.”
You know I really LOVE you guys when I am sitting in a Hong Kong airport, find a free internet portal, and the first site I go to is CheeseheadTV!!!!
But…WHAT!! I’m not even suprised about the asking price for Clifton, what blew me off his feet is that he thinks he can play for THREE more seasons!!!! WHAT! Everytime he fell to the ground, I thought that was it for him. I’d give him a two-year 10 million dollar deal where $7 million is for this year with a $3 million option for next…If he doesn’t take that…then tough titties, I love Clifton, but dude is not playing for THREE more years!
P.S. I’m still standing here at the kiosk and a guy on his way to Vietnam came up to me (must’ve seen my screen) and said, “You know, the Bears signed Peppers” We then had a talk about what the Packers are up to! He also knew about CheeseheadTV
Packers fans are worldwide, baby! Let’s Go Packers!!
CSS, it’s a good thing that he was able to sit the Senior Bowl, put weight, and still perform as well as he did in the combine.
-
He was able to put on weight without losing athleticism… To me that’s a good thing, not a bad thing. Yeah, I know, the tape is with him being slimmer. But in this situation the combine is a good thing.
Clifton is back. Everyone off the ledge!