Wesley Hitt - Getty Images
6 months ago: NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 27: Quarterback Josh Freeman #5 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throws a pass around Cortland Finnegan #31 of the Tennessee Titans at LP Field on November 27, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
In addition to the 2012 NFL Draft, NFL free agency is not too far off, kicking off on March 13. With Jeff Fisher now the St. Louis Rams' head coach, he could lure some of his former players to round out a depleted roster and get the team up and running in his first season. A headliner in that group is cornerback Cortland Finnegan, scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent.
Is it a realistic possibility?
The Titans have yet to discuss a contract with Finnegan, according to a report last week from Jim Wyatt at the Tennessean. Finnegan appeared on 101ESPN last Friday, hereafter known as Fisher Friday in St. Louis, and said that he would be open to playing for his former head coach again.
Finnegan and Brent Grimes figure to be the top two corners on the free agent market this year. They ranked second and third on the cornerback rankings this season from PFF, behind Darrelle Revis. PFF's stats are not the gospel, but they are a useful measuring stick for comparison.
Finnegan turns 28 in February, and Tennessee could easily use the franchise tag to keep him around one more season. Only pass rushers make more money on defense than corners, and the tag is estimated to be in the $10 million range for corners.
As for how much Finnegan or Grimes might cost in free agency, look to the deal signed by Johnathan Joseph last year, a five-year. $48.75 million deal with $23.5 million guaranteed. The Rams have about $10 million in cap space this season, with the possibility of freeing up more with some creative roster moves. Even then, a premier corner would eat up most of their cap space this season.
A better route for the Rams, who will hope to have a healthy Bradley Fletcher and Ron Bartell in 2012, is to shore up their depth, getting capable players who can step in behind two injury-plagued players. Ideally, they'll look for some secondary help in the draft that the new defensive staff can groom.
0 recs | 47 comments
Finnegan is an asshole
So sign me up! Im taking the zero pillars approach
DCRamFan - January 16, 2012
+1111111111111111111111111
RAMSALLTHEWAY - January 16, 2012 via mobile
I'm reducing the pillars to 2 at least.
I’m tired of the mormon rams.
sergey606 - January 16, 2012
There needs to be all new pillars
DCRamFan - January 16, 2012
I'll call the Jets about Holmes right now
King Sam Rules! - January 16, 2012 via mobile
like back in the good ol' days
a new TD dance for Pacman Jones, literally having sex with a skank in the end zone
sergey606 - January 16, 2012
Hes an asshole but good player
I’m down!
RG31 - January 16, 2012 via mobile
He's an ass hole
But we need one. We need a guy who can be “I’m gonna get in someone’s head and be unliked”
King Sam Rules! - January 16, 2012 via mobile
Jswirb em!
DCRamFan - January 16, 2012
On this team full of nice guys
We need a guy who is considered “dirty” at times, like Dahl is
King Sam Rules! - January 16, 2012 via mobile
I think we'll see quite a few of Fisher's former players on the Rams in 2012, just as Spags did with his ties to Philly and NYG
Douglas M - January 16, 2012
But instead of getting the 3rd stringers
Maybe we get some good players
King Sam Rules! - January 16, 2012 via mobile
Hall has worked out pretty well, but you're right, we need some better choices
Douglas M - January 16, 2012
Hall was lucky, cause he had his best years here
No more Craig Dahl’s please. I’d like to see Jason Jones and Jake Scott depending on his price tag
King Sam Rules! - January 16, 2012 via mobile
I wish Hall was 5 years younger. That is one guy who gives his all every play, and I wish we had more like him
Douglas M - January 16, 2012
Yeah
I like the idea of getting a big fat DT in the mold of Pat Williams (Jerel Worthy please) and putting Hall at the Kevin Williams spot (i don’t know the exact name) of the D-Line on certain downs. It’s a play on the Giants 4 DE set and Worthy would be perfect in it
King Sam Rules! - January 16, 2012 via mobile
I want to:
Sign Wayne (cheaper than others I think but still really good), and then trade down to 6 or 9 or so, trade down again to around 20 and draft Upshaw. Then draft Worthy and a T/G (get the other in FA) then get Stephen Hill in the 3rd
King Sam Rules! - January 16, 2012 via mobile
If you could give me:
Finnegan and Bartell/Fletcher with the other one in the nickel spot, Long and Quinn, Jason Jones, JL, and an Upshaw maybe…, that’s a scary good defensive group
King Sam Rules! - January 16, 2012 via mobile
Guy's a punk. Don't want him. But if he comes, hopefully he helps...
x Nightwing x - January 16, 2012
Everyone who is calling him an asshole or punk, please take the time to view these links.
I used to think that too until I researched him a bit more
Good article:
http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22475988/28038435
Fantastic atlhete and really fun to watch and hear. Mic’d up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vASC891qLAs
And I bet you didn’t know he helps kids with disabilities:
http://www.ark31.org/
addnon - January 16, 2012
Personally, I would love to have this guy in the secondary.
Bartell/Fletcher/Finnegan…maybe Kirkpatrick….Rams are looking good back there
addnon - January 16, 2012
Yeah, he's an ass hole on the field, but a good guy off
Thats what I like
King Sam Rules! - January 16, 2012 via mobile
The micd up video is pretty hilarious
but he would bring some fire and passion which is something we could definitely use. If we could free up the cap space this would be a great pick up.
ramsrdebest - January 16, 2012
No shock that everyone thinks Finnegan's an ass-hole.
You know you’re doing your job well when people start calling you 3 and 4 four letter words. He’s a dirty player that gets the job done. He’s no Richie Incognito. If the stars align right he’s a no brainer addition to this team. Huh? Four pillars…. where?
Da Rams! - January 16, 2012
Mental toughness = Good
I really don’t think we need another CB in the draft or FA. I’m happy with Bartell, BFB, Gordy, Murphy, and Hood or a FA. We would have some great depth at CB with this line-up.
Any complaints against this? Anyone still think we need to take a CB high?
81 Witness - January 16, 2012
Id take Finnegan cause he's a top level corner
And Fletcher’s constant ACL issues scare me
King Sam Rules! - January 16, 2012 via mobile
hes good but
I don’t think we need him. I believe we had the 9th ranked pass d w/o bfb and bartell. Spend the money elsewhere. The contract he’s going to want could be allocated to 2 decent vets.
markg1127 - January 16, 2012 via mobile
I'd take him and trade either Bartell or BFB (whose ACL scares me)
King Sam Rules! - January 16, 2012 via mobile
Why try to trade anyone?
x Nightwing x - January 16, 2012
I personally want all 3
But if he doesn’t, I’m giving him an alternative
King Sam Rules! - January 16, 2012 via mobile
Lol trading isn't easy
And no one is going to want Bartell or Fletcher, and if they do they won’t give up much for them.
TheSmart1 - January 16, 2012
The bigger thing is moving the contract if we were to trade one (I'd keep all 3)
Cause that frees up more cap space. If a corner like Finnegan wants to come here, I dont say no
King Sam Rules! - January 16, 2012 via mobile
We need to trade king.
And I mean for anything we can get for him. Even some merchandise from the team he goes to. Either that or somehow get him and Mike bitch-walker to workout together so he can blow out kings knee.
markg1127 - January 16, 2012 via mobile
This
x Nightwing x - January 16, 2012
When other teams can run on you at will ...
… your pass def stats are misleading.
Midasknight - January 16, 2012
+1
I’d much rather have a run stuffing DT a OLB or a WR through free agency.
jmo53 - January 16, 2012 via Android app
Jason la confora just tweeted Greg Williams has joined the rams
Tu chupas - January 16, 2012
saw it
sergey606 - January 16, 2012
Sweet!
Not that we didn’t know already…
x Nightwing x - January 16, 2012
We signed greg williams
Official
Ram_Redemption - January 16, 2012 via mobile
Who are we?
DCRamFan - January 16, 2012
im actually ok with bartel and fletcher starting id rather give the money to a DT or maybe a better safety
Danteslion - January 16, 2012
DT, LB, G, T, WR........ I HATE DEVANEY
King Sam Rules! - January 16, 2012 via mobile
yea i have alot of positional needs over CB right now especially assuming Bartel and feltcher are coming back healthy
Danteslion - January 16, 2012
I hope we keep Gordy. Any word on him?
addnon - January 16, 2012
seriously Finnegan is talented but also expensive and its not like we have no starters at CB
Yea I know they all were hurt and stuff but we still have a solid Bartell who is cleared to play, Fletcher who has talent if he can hold up, Murphy who looked good as a rookie but a freak accident took him out last yr but should be fine, and then we have Gordy who was stellar in his starting duty this past season when no expected much he along with al harris played solid so im sure he will be back. thats 4 CB’s right there so we should go through the Draft to find #5 with potential to take over if need be down the road. 3-4 rounds should present a good guy.
SMASH44 - January 16, 2012
he's a nice backup
ramsfanman - January 16, 2012
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