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A big part of it is production vs price. Liuget is the 17th highest paid interior DL. His stat sheet looks like a backup. He is a better player than that and does a lot of stuff that doesn't appear on the stat sheet, and he should get credit for that. But he is still underperforming his contract. Mebane is one of the highest paid NT types in the NFL, so we have a lot of money tied up at the DT positions (NT and 3 tech). You would think we should get some better production. We actually pay somewhat more for our DE, but the production is there at DE.
As far as getting replacement help, it is going to depend on the price. The projections of last years 1st round picks has the 17th pick getting a 4 year, almost $12 million deal. That is a big cost saving right there. That is money that can be spent on extensions for younger players (Heyward or Trevor Williams) or bringing in FA help.
So the question that you have to ask is do we need more production out of our DT? At the end of the season, teams were using RB and TE to chip Ingram and double teaming Bosa. We don't need JJ Watt in his prime (that would be nice though), but we need a guy who can force an offense to help out their inside blockers.
The good thing is Phillon has OK production and costs almost nothing. He is in the last year of his rookie contract and only cost $600k, which is not that much more than a rookie min player. He had more sacks and a similar number of tackles to Liuget, but at a fraction of the cost. Their playing time was similar. Squares cost $2mill and is somewhat more productive on his stats sheet, but does get pushed around some. Tenny Palepoi is the most productive, but a lot of the production is at DE, not DT.
Looking at the FA list, it is pretty slim.
At 3 tech
David Irving - Dallas - injury concern and a restricted FA, so we might have to give up a pick. Far and away the best interior DL on the FA list.
Sheldon Richardson - Jets - Didn't do anything since he signed his last contract extension, and some of his prior production was off the edge. Just has to prove he isn't ahead case, but he will be massively expensive if he can convince anyone of that.
Dominque Easley - Rams - Injury history
Denico Autry - Raiders - poor run defender, but can adds some pass rush (had 5 sacks as an interior situational guy this year).
NT
Poe - Atlanta - run stuffer who can occasionally collapse the pocket. Not as good a run defender as his size indicates and got a lot of money for very average production . Has a history of back injuries and weight problems.
Justin Ellis - Raiders - Played better this season, but was always out of shape and I have a hard time giving a bigger contract to guys who know what to do and won't do it.
Bennie Logan - KC - Has an inflated opinion of himself, and is just a run stuffer, but is a good inside player and is only 28, so still in his prime.
Jay Bromley -Giants - OK run defender with some upside and with Snacks Harrison doesn't have much of a role. Should be cheap.
Mitch Unrein - Bears - Good, older run stuffer who adds no pass rush. We had him a couple years ago. He played some TE and FB for McCoy in Denver years ago. Cheap.
Star Lotulelei - Panthers - OK run stuffer who occasionally adds pass rush. Lots of little nagging injuries and is not as powerful or explosive as he was coming out of Utah. Is probably going to cost too much.
Basically, there are knocks against every FA, so it would all come down to price. The only dynamic DT in terms of being massively productive would be Irvin or Richardson, and the cost is probably too high.
If we go draft to upgrade spots, that could work, but the catch is it would limit the ability to address other positions. We only have 7 picks, and we are probably not going to add starters after the 4th round. That means we need to either sit tight with the guys we have, or spend the draft picks and try and upgrade other spots some other way. I guess adding help via FA we can stand pat, but do it more cheaply, and lock up other key players (thinking secondary).
As far as getting replacement help, it is going to depend on the price. The projections of last years 1st round picks has the 17th pick getting a 4 year, almost $12 million deal. That is a big cost saving right there. That is money that can be spent on extensions for younger players (Heyward or Trevor Williams) or bringing in FA help.
So the question that you have to ask is do we need more production out of our DT? At the end of the season, teams were using RB and TE to chip Ingram and double teaming Bosa. We don't need JJ Watt in his prime (that would be nice though), but we need a guy who can force an offense to help out their inside blockers.
The good thing is Phillon has OK production and costs almost nothing. He is in the last year of his rookie contract and only cost $600k, which is not that much more than a rookie min player. He had more sacks and a similar number of tackles to Liuget, but at a fraction of the cost. Their playing time was similar. Squares cost $2mill and is somewhat more productive on his stats sheet, but does get pushed around some. Tenny Palepoi is the most productive, but a lot of the production is at DE, not DT.
Looking at the FA list, it is pretty slim.
At 3 tech
David Irving - Dallas - injury concern and a restricted FA, so we might have to give up a pick. Far and away the best interior DL on the FA list.
Sheldon Richardson - Jets - Didn't do anything since he signed his last contract extension, and some of his prior production was off the edge. Just has to prove he isn't ahead case, but he will be massively expensive if he can convince anyone of that.
Dominque Easley - Rams - Injury history
Denico Autry - Raiders - poor run defender, but can adds some pass rush (had 5 sacks as an interior situational guy this year).
NT
Poe - Atlanta - run stuffer who can occasionally collapse the pocket. Not as good a run defender as his size indicates and got a lot of money for very average production . Has a history of back injuries and weight problems.
Justin Ellis - Raiders - Played better this season, but was always out of shape and I have a hard time giving a bigger contract to guys who know what to do and won't do it.
Bennie Logan - KC - Has an inflated opinion of himself, and is just a run stuffer, but is a good inside player and is only 28, so still in his prime.
Jay Bromley -Giants - OK run defender with some upside and with Snacks Harrison doesn't have much of a role. Should be cheap.
Mitch Unrein - Bears - Good, older run stuffer who adds no pass rush. We had him a couple years ago. He played some TE and FB for McCoy in Denver years ago. Cheap.
Star Lotulelei - Panthers - OK run stuffer who occasionally adds pass rush. Lots of little nagging injuries and is not as powerful or explosive as he was coming out of Utah. Is probably going to cost too much.
Basically, there are knocks against every FA, so it would all come down to price. The only dynamic DT in terms of being massively productive would be Irvin or Richardson, and the cost is probably too high.
If we go draft to upgrade spots, that could work, but the catch is it would limit the ability to address other positions. We only have 7 picks, and we are probably not going to add starters after the 4th round. That means we need to either sit tight with the guys we have, or spend the draft picks and try and upgrade other spots some other way. I guess adding help via FA we can stand pat, but do it more cheaply, and lock up other key players (thinking secondary).
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