Fixing the D

I think McCourty should stay. I don't think he's terrible, he's just not a #1 shut down. Him as #2 or at least with some other talent should be alright.

 

Area of needs:
Secondary
ILB
Defensive Line (lacks ability to create pressure on their own minus Casey)

Expendable:
Al Woods
Woodyard
Entire secondary minus Reeds, Sims, Byard

 

Casey, Orakpo, Morgan, Byard, McCourty, Sims, Klug, jury out on Dodd other than that everyone else is expendable and even a couple of those guys are expendable.

We seriously could upgrade at just about every single position. It's surprising we weren't even worse on defense with the list of misfits we fielded all year.

 

DE DaQuan Jones - replaceable
NT Al Woods - replaceable
DE Jurrell Casey - Keep
OLB Brian Orakpo - Keep
ILB Wesly Woodyard - replaceable
ILB Avery Williamson - Keep
OLB Derrick Morgan - Keep
CB 1 McCourty - Keep as a #2
CB 2 Brice McCain/Valentino Blake - replaceable
SS Da'Norris Searcy - replaceable
FS Kevin Byard - Keep

To me we have 5 starters I would definately keep, and Jones/McCourty for depth purposes. Jones is a decent run stopper, but that is about it. McCourty is more than likely facing the end of his career and is a cap casualty.

 

Last 2 years McCourty has fallen from that #2 you think he is to a #3/4. He's also due $7M in 2017, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if he were cut.

But as you pointed out, maybe being so depleted of talent at CB will allow him to be here next year, but looking at how Griffin was treated, my money says McCourty is toast.

Jon Robinson isnt Ruston Webster, the days of free passes seems to be gone. Either youre good or trending up, no more keeping guys past their prime anymore unless theyre pure depth, (which at $7M/yr McCourty would not be.)

 

I think Jones is good. I don't think much of anyone is going to put up huge numbers in that spot. Other than that, I pretty much agree.

There are a lot of guys I don't necessarily have a problem with, but we need corners and 1 or 2 playmakers in the middle.

 

I can definitely see that. The cost for him not being a #1 quality guy may be reason to cut him.
I would say this though, JR better find at least a decent CB in FA cause 3/4 rookie CB or defunct FA CB's isn't going to fix this secondary issue.

 

I agree with this although I'd trade McCourty to NE. Williamson as depth , I'd address ILB in the draft.