Grading the Ken Lucas Signing

by michaelfox99 on Apr 28, 2009 7:49 AM PDT

I was a bit suprised to see us sign Ken Lucas. You don't sign a 30 year old corner of Lucas's level unless you plan to start him. Clearly the writing is on the wall for Jennings. We all thought Jenning was covering really well in 2007, but in 2008 we realized that looks can be decieving. While Jennings was typically hip-to-hip with opposing wideouts, teams learned that they can just throw at Jennings anyways, his inability to lay a big hit, or make a play on the ball in the air meant that he never punished with a pick, and often times couldn't manage to stop the completion. I don't think a diet of Gore, Jackson, and Wells will do Jennings any good next year either. Jennings still gives us a different matchup at the nickelback spot, injury depth, and a very good dime package.

Lucas can be an above average #2 corner for us. He was a cap casualty in Carolina, a team that felt deep enough at corner to let him go and gain some cap room.

The question is, how much did we spend on Lucas? I am guessing/hoping that we got a bargain. Most teams have already done their overpaying in FA, and have also had needs met in the draft. I would think that in the cold market we got a good deal on Lucas. I haven't heard the numbers yet, but here are some comparables.

The two corners who I think are closest to Lucas in value level are Jabari Greer and Samari Rolle, both good #2 corners.

Greer got 23MM / 4 years (age 27)

Rolle got 10MM / 4 years (age 32)

So I would think that fair value for Lucas would be between 2.5 and 5.5 MM a year. Varing depending on how good you think Lucas is relative to these other guys. I am basing my comparison naievely on Scout.com's rankings

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Comments

Wasn't he signed only for one year?

by Nick Andron on Apr 28, 2009 9:05 AM PDT reply actions

That's what I heard also

so I’d guess it’s probably $2-4mil. Can’t imagine we agreed to pay much more.

by diehard82 on Apr 28, 2009 10:02 AM PDT up reply actions

source?

by michaelfox99 on Apr 28, 2009 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions

This AP article:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-seahawks-hillimpasse&prov=ap&type=lgns

Says both signed one-year deals

Team hasn’t officially announced either, and I’m a little surprised we could get Lucas without more of a long-term commitment. But I guess that since he missed out on the big $$ early in FA he thought a “prove it” deal was good for the future.

by jteckmann on Apr 28, 2009 11:14 AM PDT up reply actions

I'm a little surprised by this signing.

But it works for me. Lucas, if he’s still good, should be good enough for two or three years, which is time enough to draft and develop another corner under him. My guess is that if he pans out, Ruskell will re-sign him to a longer contract before he hits FA next offseason.

Wilson is going to be our nickel guy for a long, long time.

Jennings, in my opinion, has got to be almost toast. Perhaps the team will try and move him for a draft pick, but maybe he can be moved to the dime and be a decent backup. He may be worth something, being only a year from pretty decent season.

by djafrot on Apr 28, 2009 1:05 PM PDT reply actions

I'd guess he remains a backup

And only plays 10-20% of snaps. He’s not horrible when he’s not first on the depth chart

The demise of the Broncos in '09 is our future. Pray hard.

by Nick Andron on Apr 28, 2009 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions

I bet he starts

For all this talk of a “west coast defense” it really seems like the Hawks are moving to a Tampa 2 by moving away from Leroy Hill and this signing of Lucas.

The Tampa 2 requires tough corners for run-defense and also stout tackling ability. Lucas at 6 feet and over 200 lbs certainly fits the bill.

by PattyB on Apr 28, 2009 2:50 PM PDT up reply actions

Nick was talking about Jennings, I believe.

I agree with you as well, I think Lucas will start.

by Ezzra on Apr 28, 2009 8:42 PM PDT up reply actions

Yep, I was talking about Jennings, hehe

I can’t imagine signing Lucas to a fairly nice, one-year deal and playing him off the bench

The demise of the Broncos in '09 is our future. Pray hard.

by Nick Andron on Apr 29, 2009 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions

Agreed

I definitely think he starts and ESPN has 1 year for $2.3 mil in case anyone was wondering.Griffin signed 1 year for $700,000.

by hawkfanjp on Apr 28, 2009 3:05 PM PDT reply actions

Thought I hit reply on that ?

by hawkfanjp on Apr 28, 2009 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Good deals!

Good signings, in my opinion. It will still be weird to see Lucas in Seahawk blue again, though.

by djafrot on Apr 28, 2009 4:40 PM PDT up reply actions

If I was on the Panthers

and saw Delblowme’s utterly RIDICULOUS contract, I’d probably be glad I was cut.

The demise of the Broncos in '09 is our future. Pray hard.

by Nick Andron on Apr 29, 2009 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions

How hard...

… do you think he tries to hit Steve Smith next time we play them?

by hawkfanjp on Apr 29, 2009 11:48 AM PDT up reply actions

Presumably they were adults about it and got over it.

So not that hard.

I have played sports with the Steve Smith- type a lot. Not that level of athlete obviously, but the sort of person who takes competition extremely seriously and lets things go too far with the physicality at times. Good people have lapses and friends know how to forgive.

by michaelfox99 on Apr 29, 2009 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions