These aren’t huge names, but all upgrades, mainly youngish with some upside. Seeing these names makes me ache a bit at interviewing neil lomax-era cardinal players

I still dont understand why more guys arent being at least brought in to be interviewed. Khalif Barnes would be a definite upgrade over Sackintosh, Angelo Crowell would be an upgrade over anyone other DJ and Vrabel esp Haggans, I also like Furry and of course OLSHANSKY but I doubt he’ll be leaving GB w/ out a contract signed.

These are the type of players I expect us to bring in, free agents in their mid-to-late 20’s who don’t have a lot of fame and won’t cost as much as the big names but could be solid starters. Fans usually want the big name guys, but these are the types who are more realistic and offer more value. I hope we bring in as many of these guys as we can, our roster needs a lot of upgrading.

Every new starter we can bring in pushes one of last year’s starters to a part-time role and one of last year’s scrubs off the team, upgrading the starting lineup and the bench at the same time.

Sign me up for Igor, J. Evans at G (if he wouldn’t cost a draft pick) Crowell, Willis and maybe a WR. We bring in 3, 4 or 5 guys like that and suddenly our draft needs are clearer and we have a ton less holes to fill.

I suppose 5 free agents who might start is too much to realistically hope for, but we do have loads of cap room. 3 new free agent starters should be the minimum that we sign going forward.

I think that Engrams visit is an indication that we’re shopping for a 3rd down slot receiver type. Following the Patriots model, we likely want a quick route runner who isn’t afraid of contact and has some RAC ability. Think poor-mans Wes Welker who was brought in to fill this role for NE before becoming a starter based on outstanding play.

Furrey fits this mold pretty well. He’s young, has a 98 catch/1086 yard season on his resume and won’t cost a fortune. He has also been linked to the Patriots as one of their off season targets to replace Jabar Gaffney who signed with Denver.

Olshansky would be an obvious sign that we’re planning to implement 3-4 elements to our defense. He’s a perfect right side DE for a 3-4 team with pass-rushing LBs. He eats space, demands attention, stuffs the run and can beat your RT if you leave him 1on1. He has been linked to the packers as a possible signing.

I’d be surprised if we aren’t having serious discussions about signing these 2.

As for OL, it’s really impossible to know what we’re thinking about doing. They may well have looked at the tapes and decided that the problem with our line was coaching or blocking scheme failing to fit the talent and we’re going to fill any remaining holes on draft day.

If we are planning to sign free agents on the OL, the names may be surprising. OL is a place where you really need players that fit your scheme. I, for one, don’t know enough about what we currently value in OL to guess who we might sign. What I am confident in is that we have a plan even if it doesn’t involve signing FAs.