Last year, Pioli said the reason we didnt pursue Franklin was because he is a 1 gap nose....well....Soliai is exactly what this defense needs to take the step into the talk of the elite defenses in football and has long experience in the exact role he would play here.

We sign him and re-sign Carr, that makes the DL set and the secondary a couple depth guys away from being elite.

This will probably be as high as we will draft in the next few years, we really need to make it count.

I like the depth we have at the corner spots, we just need some safety depth. Of course getting an all pro back there will help a little.

I do like what Gordon gave us this year as the NT "tweener" replacing Shaun Smith. Just look at Green Bay this year with the injuries they sustained on the defensive line and how that turned an otherwise potent defensive unit from 2010 into a Greg Robinson 2002 Chiefs defense. Injuries to Ryan Pickett, Mike Neal (who was supposed to replace Cullen Jenkins) and Howard Green absolutely devastated that team. BJ Raji looked like a soft bitch.

I'm confident that Allen Bailey and Wallace Gilberry are rock-solid depth guys at end, but if things start to get hairy, we'll need an Amon Gordon to play both positions so we can keep the rotation going.

Don't think the money is there if you sign Manning and resign our main FAs. Better choice would be NT in draft.

Thats what I am curious about. People, including myself has asked, but I haven't seen any kind of numbers on what Manning would most likely be getting next year from another team.

I worry he will go to the Jets. First I hate them, second they have a subtle connection in Tom Moore being there, and the Jets love to go get big names. Sanchez took a huge hit this season.

Just seen that Soliai is gonna want Ngata money. No thanks.

Soliai will get roughly half of what Hgata got.

Where'd you get your info?

Ngata signed a 5 year 61 million dollar contract with 37 million of it guaranteed.

Before a couple foolish deals were signed, the franchise tag for DTs was only 7 million dollars in 2010 and I would expect Soliai to get a deal that averages around that.

Something like 5 years 35-38 million with 20-25 of it guaranteed.

...

I just looked up Vince Wilforks deal...

5 years, 40 million 25 guaranteed.

That's the neighborhood Soliai should be shopping in.

I'd like a NT rotation of Soliai and Powe. However, a two-down guy isn't worth that much. Ngata is special and plays the off-nose in the 46 defense that Balitmore runs, which requires the size of a typical nose, but also the athleticism of a defensive end to run it effectively. There aren't that many guys out there like that. The straight up 34 that Crennel runs doesn't need that type of guy.

You just can't pay a two-down space eater that level of money.

Gregg was a difference maker last season for this defense. I understand that he's in his mid-30's and in the twilight of his career, but he's still a solid player, especially in a two down type of situation. He's savvy and effective. Not a bad guy to have to have a guy like Powe learn the NFL ropes from for one more season.

Rather than have three guys that are getting way overpaid to plug gaps (Dorsey, Jackson and a Soliai level free agent contract that he's going to be looking for), I'd rather have Gregg for another year and see them bring along Powe. Keep a guy like Gordon for the third down NT/alt DE deal, as SNR suggested, is a safe and relatively inexpensive option.

I didn't think Gregg was near the level you think he was. Again just IMO.

We tended to get gashed up the middle against the run, which was the fault of Gregg getting pushed back.

Soliai would make the defense that much better, but I don't think they will pay him near what he is gonna want. However I don't really knwo where he will end up.

Maybe the Texans.

I just want this defense to be Steelers nasty and I think Soliai could make it that.

it should also be mentioned that the only NT under contract is Powe.

I changed my mock up a liitle.

There is always the possibility that the market for Soliai won't be quite what he and everyone else was expecting, nobody comes knocking and he's forced to take a cheap contract ala Aubrayo Franklin. He'll only get that kind of jack if someone is willing to pay it to him. If they aren't, he'll take the best offer on the table.