2012 NFL Free Agency: Cliff Avril Might Get Franchise Tag
by Alfie Crow on Feb 20, 2012 1:00 PM EST
in 2012 NFL Free Agency
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PrintIOver the next few weeks I'll be profiling some potential NFL free agents that the Jacksonville Jaguars could target. The team will have close to $50 million to spend and owner Shahid Khan says that the team plans to spend to the cap. The first player we will look at is Detroit Lions defensive end Cliff Avril, who if he hits the open market, is one of the top defensive ends available.
I asked Pride Of Detroit's Sean Yullie his thoughts on Avril. Click to jump to see what he had to say.
Cliff Avril is an outstanding pass rusher who excels because of his speed. He finds ways to get to the quarterback, and when he does, he makes plays. In 2011, his best season in the NFL, Avril recorded 11 sacks and six forced fumbles. He has become a master of the jarring the ball loose when he hits quarterbacks, and he is also great at capitalizing on turnovers (he had one fumble return and one interception return for a touchdown this past season), which is why the Lions want to bring him back so badly.
I asked Yullie what his thoughts were on the franchise tag and if it would be applied by the Lions:
As far as the franchise tag goes, it sounds more and more like the Lions will place it on him. The hope is that they will work something out with Avril before then, but based on his agent recently saying that negotiations are moving very slowly, it seems unlikely. My feeling is that if a long-term deal is not in place by the deadline to use the franchise tag (March 5), the Lions will place it on him in order to protect themselves. Doing so will give them the right to match any offer that comes his way or two first-round picks if they decline to match an offer, and it will also give them more time to negotiate. If he hits the open market without any restrictions, I doubt the Lions will be able to offer him enough to compete with other deals that will likely come his way since they don't have a ton of cap space to work with right now.
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I really like Avril last year...but it makes sense them tagging him.
"Sad fact about our generation: Most ppl would rather hear "you look good" than "you are good". We spend thousands a year on cars, clothes, & cosmetics; Forget that. I can give you a Bible for free. Save money, save your soul. Get right with the Savior, Jesus Christ."- Travis D. Holmes
Agreed
He’s young and slowly becoming a top DE in the league. They would be crazy to not do everything in their power to keep him. This is the problem with all the free agent speculation after the Superbowl. Fans look a list of free agents and just assume that certain players will be available and their team will automatically sign them. Been trying to tell people that Avril probably wouldn’t hit the open market.
It looks like Avril and Campbell will probably be franchised
Mincey becomes a top priority now. We need at least one quality DE. If Mario Williams hits the open market then the Jags will heavily pursue him but there is no guarantee anything will happen there. I think the likelihood that the Jaguars look towards Robert Mathis or John Abraham is growing.
Fantastic (sarcasm)… Another big spend on an aging DE (Bryce Paup, Hugh Douglas).
I know it may be slim pickings out there, but if we can’t get the top flight guys resign Mincey to something reasonable (no, $10 million is not reasonable for him) and maybe a lesser known guy (like Reggie Hayward was at the time) combined with a DE in one of the first 3 rounds.
Remember, the defense WAS top 5/6 with the rushmen we had.
I agree with you
Younger is always better and cheaper. From what I hear Abraham is a good leader and teammate. He might be a decent signing if we can sign him to a more incentive based deal as a temporary solution ala Tory Holt
Sidenote: Hugh Douglas is a douche
To be honest,
I don’t think younger is always better and cheaper, at some point you have to take the talent you have seen as opposed to upside. How many players truly reach 100% of their potential?
Not saying that is the case this time, but I feel people sometimes overstate it.
"...I'm not trying to act giddy but the guy is a stud.'' - Terry McDonough, Director of Player Personnel, Jacksonville Jaguars
I’m not saying younger is better and cheaper… I don’t mind spending money. I just don’t like signing players on the wrong side of 30 – as a general rule.
I like the Tory Holt example, but few players accept what they are at that point in their career (especially when someone else will offer them the moon).
This would be unfortunate
It would be nice to have Avril on the team.
Boom
by Matthew Grossberg on Feb 20, 2012 1:18 PM EST reply actions
Good/Bad news though
Stanford Routt just signed with the Chiefs. Which means Brandon Carr has a better chance of hitting the open market. The issue is that now the Chiefs can focus their attention to Bowe….
Grrrrrr
I wanted Bowe to be a Jag. Well, keeping fingers crossed.
Bowe has character issues
i dont think Gene would like that
What issues he tested positve once for a weight loss drug cuz he came into camp a lil heavy and wanted to make it right?? Enough of this character stuff please!!
by Jags4life32 on Feb 20, 2012 4:32 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
Chiefs will fanchise Bowe. Let Carr hit the open market.
We should push HARD for Carr. Try to Land Carr. There is still Colston, Stevie Johnson, Garcon, Manningham, Vincent Jackson, and the draft to land a WR.
Carr should be a priority!
Mario seems like our bedt option, along with V. Jackson
If we could grab those two. I wouldn’t be opposed to trading our first round pick for Mike Wallace.
by Speedy101 on Feb 20, 2012 1:45 PM EST via mobile reply actions
not big on either jacksons
but what if we got williams,stevie johnson,and carr in FA,then traded our first for wallace…we have 45 mil to spend,so could happen
by KYLETEAMTEAL on Feb 21, 2012 7:13 PM EST up reply actions
I’d take Mincey, Mario, and Colston.
Draft Kendall Wright first round, or trade it for Mike Wallace.
It would make no sense to trade the 7th pick for Wallace.
by Fivus Viener on Feb 20, 2012 2:39 PM EST up reply actions
That would be dumb
to draft a small, unproven reciever with a valued top 10 pick. The safest pick would be either Kirkpatrick or Coples, and i prefer Coples
Dude, it’s the draft. Every player is unproven.
by Fivus Viener on Feb 20, 2012 3:50 PM EST up reply actions
So..if every player is unproven whats wrong with trading the first pick for a proven WR.
My suggestions plays out only if we can address our DE need as well. If we can sign VJAX or a 2nd tier WR to go along with signing a DE. Then most def I would trade our first round pick for a proven Number 1 Wr. Remember this is the same guy that burned us with a healthy secondary unlike when VJax did with our makeshift secondary. Wallace is dangerous and if Pitt lets him walk for a 1st rounder we should get him.
Because you’re also going to have to give Mike Wallace a big fat contract as well as giving up the No. 7 overall pick.
by Alfie Crow on Feb 20, 2012 4:14 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
i dont think thats an issue when somebody is gonna get a fat contract anyway
You make it seem bad b/c its our 7 th and a fat contract when really its one in the same. Especially if we fill our DE need. The NFL now has the luxury of drafting high and spending low. I don’t see any receivers worth a pick in top ten. So to me this is just like drafting Wallace and paying him what you would have only a few years ago. Pick well spent, money well spent because you absolutely know what your getting. He’s proven.
by Speedy101 on Feb 20, 2012 6:04 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Just because there is no WR that is worthy of a top ten pick doesn’t mean there isn’t another player at another position who isn’t worth the #7 pick. Teams like the Patriots who feel they are one or two players away from a championship can sacrifice their late first round pick (which they have two of) to bring in Wallace. Teams like the Jaguars who need help at a lot of positions can not afford to give up such a high pick for a player who will then want a giant contract. Instead the Jaguars would be better served to sign an unrestricted FA and use the #7 pick on the BAP available.
It’s not one in the same. Signing a player to a huge contract AND giving up the 7th overall pick is not like just giving someone a huge contract.
It’s not the same, at all. It’s quite different, actually. It doesn’t matter if there’s a receiver worth picking in the Top 10. There are other players worth picking in the Top 10. The Jaguars need more than just a wide receiver. Forcing their hand like that is silly.
Alfie i hear what u r saying
I know I’m in the one percent so I wont beat a dead horse. Just having fun with some what-Ifs but I won’t be surprised if it happened
by Speedy101 on Feb 20, 2012 10:22 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I appreciate the devil's advocate angle on this, but -
“Pick well spent, money well spent because you absolutely know what your getting. He’s proven.”
Come on.. we know better than this. Cue the Vic Ketchman tangent where he reminds us all that the NFL is not the latest edition of Madden.
Plus the fact that a Mario Williams / Vincent Jackson / Mike Wallace perfect storm is insanely improbable.
And the fact that we’re in a position to combine a top 10 draft pick with 1-2 premier free agent signings.. doesn’t that sound pretty damn good?
Think of things this way
Most teams are already reaping the benefits of their 2008 draft class. Most of the guys from that class are entrenched starters and All Pros on their teams.
We have no 2008 draft class.
You are banned from Stampede Blue.
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I really don't think VJax is a viable option
there is way too much baggage. His baggage goes beyond just the normal diva personality that often goes with the WR position.
Respect My Authoritah
So I'm an exaggerated screaming psychopath who clearly doesn't exist. That's High Praise.
Every year he puts up numbers.
Im sick of the character issues everyone clamours on about.
by JagSoldier on Feb 20, 2012 5:58 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Food for thought...
Shack passed on Avril twice and took Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves instead.
Anddddd guess who shack ended up with when he went to Detroit...?
by Jags85 on Feb 20, 2012 3:27 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
30 other teams didn’t trade up to take two guys at the same position as Avril and both were off the roster within two years.
by Fivus Viener on Feb 21, 2012 8:10 AM EST up reply actions
You said he "passed" on him.
So did 30 other teams. Several of them twice.
Tom Brady was a 6th round pick
So whats your point?
by kungfuman104 on Feb 20, 2012 7:03 PM EST up reply actions
It sucks but
hopefully we can still go after Mario Williams and be fine in that regards. Might have no choice but to resign Mincey.
I always thought we'd sign Mincey
But absolutely we need to go after Williams if available
by Jags85 on Feb 20, 2012 3:42 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Our choices begin to narrow...
and I’m certain we’ll see more of this with WR’s and DE’s as we get closer to FA, not less. The good WR’s and DE’s may not make it to FA.
While I’d love to get Avril, its beginning to look less likely that he’ll even hit the open market. Alfie said something on Twitter yesterday or earlier today about going after John Abraham which in all honesty isn’t that bad of an idea since he could be a Kampman-like patch at DE for a year or two.
"Viva los Zapatistas y la Revolucion"
If the money is right he'd be an O.K. choice
Others I’d like above him, but no doubt that group needs help and improvement
by Jags85 on Feb 20, 2012 4:50 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
If he came in for a little less than Kampman money then I would be fine with that. He would be a patch until we are able to find out guy.
Robert Mathis may also be an option, but he will most likely get tagged by the colts
"Viva los Zapatistas y la Revolucion"
by montanajagsfan on Feb 20, 2012 5:55 PM EST up reply actions
I don't see that happening.
I think the Colts are gonna blow things up.
You are banned from Stampede Blue.
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True. They very well could with a new coaching staff and all
"Viva los Zapatistas y la Revolucion"
by montanajagsfan on Feb 20, 2012 9:06 PM EST up reply actions
Could be Mincey and Coples
Let’s face it, Avril might be gone, Williams might stay in Houston. The thing with offseason is we get our hopes up unfortunately. I’d expect maybe Mathis or Abraham to be in the mix if it was the case, but I could see them drafting Coples too.
Williams is not staying in Houston, unless they come to a deal, which will not happen since he will want to be paid so much. I mean while he says he is not worried about that, you and me both know his agent is telling him otherwise, and I bet he still wants it. He will want to be the highest paid defensive player of all time.
Do you think the Jags will pull that trigger and pay him that?
Shad KHAN do it, but will he?
by Jags85 on Feb 20, 2012 5:49 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
research....
Williams has publicly stated he wants to stay and doesn’t need to break the bank. That’s no guarantee that he’ll resign, but it makes it more likely.
It may not be "all about the money"...
it could be the fact that we’re 4-3 not 3-4. It worked this the case with Poz. It’s just a hope nothing more.
If the 4-3/3-4 thing were an issue
he wouldn’t come out saying he wanted to stay and it wouldn’t take a top-dollar deal.
The key in my opinion is if Houston can come up with enough money to get him signed before free agency starts.
Speaking of research: The Texans will have to do a lot of roster purging and re-structuring to keep Mario Williams. Not to mention he’d need to give them a significant discount. It’s just not realistic that he stays.
It doesn’t make it more likely at all.
Alfie what do you think is more likely:
Jax goes hard after Mario or another older, stop-gap DE. People have mentioned that you may have tweeted the jags *May want to take a look at Abraham from ATL
by Jags85 on Feb 21, 2012 3:39 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Jags FA needs
Priority FA targets in my opinion are Williams, C. Carr, Bowe, Manningham or Robinson (In that order). I would love Jags to get Avril but he will most likely be tagged. The other options at DE are either going to be M. Williams (very high price tag) or the other player I would pursue for the right price is J. Abraham. He can still play very effectively and will give another 2-3 good years. Carr should be the other priority given the uncertainty and age of R. Mathis. BY teaming him up with Cox this will enable the jags to have a very good YOUNG secondary; if Cox could stay healthy. As for WR the main target should be either Bowe or Colston. The thing that worries me about Colston are his knees and the amount of money he will demand. Hopefully the Jags pick up at least 2 FA Wrs here. They will need to add 1-2 OL men as well. 1 veteran qb as well (Redman, Carr or Henne) Within the next week the picture will become clearer with players getting the franchise tag.
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