Free Agent Focus: Terrell Suggs
As Free Agency looms in just over a month, we here at TJB are going to start looking at some of the players that are likely to be available. With a large amount of money at their disposal, the Jets should figure to be players between early March and the 2008 Draft in late April. Please note, we are starting with players that the beat writers have “heard” that — no matter how remote the possibility — the Jets might be interested in . Today’s Free Agent, Baltimore Ravens LB Terrell Suggs.
Background
At 6-3 260 pounds and with speed enough to rush the passer, Suggs is the quintessential DE/OLB for a 3-4 and as such, Suggs plays at a number of positions across the field. Drafted in 2003 in the first round with the 10th pick by the Ravens, Terrell Suggs has already accumulated 45 sacks in just five years.
Scouting
Suggs physique is long & lean body type (like Bryan Thomas) but with enough strength to set the edge. Suggs uses both his hands and arms well to counter opponents and keep them away from his body, a key ability for edge setters in the 3-4. Suggs is quick at the snap and uses a variety of pass rush moves … able to power inside or speed outside on a opposing tackle. Suggs biggest deficiency is his pass protection and can get beaten by check down players. Known for his competition and leadership, he still plays second fiddle to Ray Lewis … as most anyone would. At just 25, Suggs could just be getting the game as a student, and could have some big years ahead of him.
Likelihood
I respect the fact that the Jets front office has floated out into the papers that they are interested in Suggs, but as I’ve written before, I am very dubious that the Jets will even get to negotiate with Suggs. The Ravens are coming off a down year and Suggs is a cornerstone for that defense. As he heads into unrestricted free agency, I would imagine that the Ravens will put the franchise tag on him to keep him in place. Just a few days ago, Rex Ryan noted publicly that he wants Suggs back.
Other Free Agent Focus Articles: [Bernard Berrian]
Filed under: Buzz, Main Page, Opinion/Bassett
Actually I read somewhere that he really wants to make his way to Arizona, to continue his resume where it began. That would make the trifecta for him, high School, college, pro. But, that was just one article, and I can’t seem to find it again. It would be a sweet catch though, good luck with that one FO.
Here you go BBB…
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/rumors/post/Linebacker-Suggs-wants-to-play-in-Arizona-?urn=nfl,61365
they might do it with suggs, but generally the ravens front office doesn’t believe in applying the franchise tag.
The Ravens would be crazy to let Suggs go after losing Adalious. But, you never know…
The JETS will not sign Suggs and the reasons are varied, from the Ravens resigning him, Suggs wanting to go to Arizona, and most importantly the JETS will not undo their own philosophy of building a team from the draft or trades. The face of the JETS will be Mangini just as his mentors is, the difference being that N.E. has the horses to win, and although they have big time name players, none is above the team (ala B.B.) You may see them make a play for a OL, or trade for a DT via draft choices but they will not sign type ” A” F.A.
The Pats have signed in the past top UFAs (like Adalious Thomas, Rosie Colvin) and the Jets have chased guys like Deion Branch and Assante Samuel. We haven’t seen the Jets succeed in signing top UFAs, but this might be the year for the Tangini regime to do so because they have the cap space. As we’ve all said in one way or another, this is a pivotal off-season for Tangini. With a top ten draft pick, lots of cap space and coming off of a disappointing season, this off-season will have a huge impact on the Jets’ short-term and long-term future. I hope, like the Pats, they use their cap space judiciously to better the team and, in the NFL, you need as many pro-bowl caliber players as possible. Signing Suggs and/or Samuel will go a long way towards inching the Jets towards the NFL’s upper echelon.
Last year, Dwight Freeney got a 6 yr deal for $72M ($12M/yr) with $30M guaranteed. Patrick Kerney got 6yr/$39.5M ($6.58M/yr) with $19.5M guaranteed. Adalius Thomas got 6yr/$35M ($5.83M/yr) with $20M guaranteed.
The number one problem on our team is the total lack of passrushers. We have nobody who puts any kind of pressure on the quarterback. We have, what, $26M in cap room? And, that’s not counting any extra room we could gain by jettisoning dead weight like Pennington, Barton, DRob, etc. I have no problem giving Suggs $8M a year. He’s a high-character, high-energy guy who doesn’t take plays off and constantly produces. He doesn’t turn 26 until October, and yet he already has 45 career sacks in 5 years. (John Abraham, by comparison, had 44 in his first 5 years…) He’s a stud, and if Baltimore doesn’t franchise him, we should make him priority #1.
6 years, $50M, $27M guaranteed. Suggs, Revis, The Rhodes Scholar, and The DH gives us four 25-and-under solid building blocks for the new defense, and we’d still have $20M in cap room to fix the OL or add a NT (Ethan Kelley?)
eric sounds great and all but i really dont see it happening…to tell you the truth…i dont remember the last time we signed a top tier free agent…can anyone tell me who the last big time free agent we signed…and when…
dakar, Ty Law was the last big name guy I remember who even came close to living up to his contract. Before that, I think Kendall was probably the biggest FA before Law unless you count Jay Fiedler, but we all know how that worked out. You can make a case for Dyson, but he was far removed from his prime when we signed him. Besides Law, the most recent FA acquisitions that meant anything were Mawae, Testaverde and Martin.
yeah your right…i cant believe i forgot about mawae and curtis… the only 1 i didn’t like was testaverdy…other than that i really dont concider the other signings as big…just my thoughts…