The foundation of the Toronto Wolves is set after the expansion draft, so we head into free agency with money to spend as we continue building up the roster before the 2019 NFL Draft. Here is our current depth chart.

 

Offense

QB: Mike White // Josh Dobbs

RB: Jordan Howard // Rex Burkhead

FB: Alex Armah

WR: DaeSean Hamilton // Chad Williams // Chad Beebe

WR: Javon Wims // Auden Tate

TE: Josh Hill // Darren Fells // Jordan Leggett

LT: Zach Crabtree

LG: Ethan Pocic

C: Bradley Bozeman

RG: Josh Kline // Ike Boettger

RT: Ryan Schraeder

 

Defense

DE: Gerald McCoy

DT: Grover Stewart

DE: Folorunso Fatukasi // John Atkins

OLB: Charles Harris

ILB: Mark Barron

ILB: Nate Gerry

OLB: Kareem Martin // Peter Kalambayi

CB: Jourdan Lewis

CB: Captain Munnerlyn // Jamal Agnew

S: Eric Berry

S: Reshad Jones // Marcus Allen

 

Special teams

K:

P:

LS: James Winchester

 

The rules for free agency are simple, as common sense will be used to determine if we can realistically sign a player based on both money and playing time compared to where they signed in real life. The Wolves currently have $90,492,752 in cap space.

 

Signings

 

Sam Bradford | QB | Age: 31 | 2 years / $36,000,000

I gave serious thought to going after Nick Foles, but the lower contract—in terms of both money and length—made Bradford the choice because it allows us to a) build the team up at other positions, and b) not hesitate to draft a quarterback this year or in 2020. Health is the basically the only concern with Bradford, as he’s a pinpoint passer with top-tier intelligence.

 

Tevin Coleman | RB | Age: 26 | 3 years / $15,000,000

Coleman signing with the 49ers for just $8,500,000 over two years was probably the biggest surprise of free agency, but he must have liked the role he was promised and/or the familiarity with Kyle Shanahan. In Toronto, we wouldn’t hesitate to sign him to a bigger deal to be the lightning to Jordan Howard’s thunder, and he’d also be a big-time weapon in the passing game to make up for a lack of established wide receivers.

 

Phillip Dorsett | WR | Age: 26 | 2 years / $8,000,000

We are going to want to spend some money on the offensive line and defense, so Dorsett is signed instead of John Brown (who signed a three-year, $27-million deal in real life) to be our deep threat on the outside. For New England, the former first-round pick has been remarkably consistent when called upon, and he may be ready to take the next step with a clear starting role.

 

Cameron Fleming | OT | Age: 27 | 2 years / $8,000,000

Again, free agency is made as realistic as possible by using common sense, so we aren’t going to be able to get Trent Brown because the Raiders—likely through tampering—signed him immediately after free agency opened. Ideally, Fleming would be at right tackle, but he has experience on the blindside (including for the Patriots) to start there if we can’t find an upgrade in the draft.

 

Quinton Spain | G | Age: 28 | 2 years / $6,000,000

Spain settled for a one-year deal with the Bills, but in Toronto, we could offer him a second year and guarantee a starting job as he reunites with teammate Josh Kline on the interior of the offensive line. The Wolves are going to want to beat people up, and Spain has great power at left guard.

 

Bennie Logan | DT | Age: 29 | 1 year / $2,500,000

Defensively, we are going to sign a couple guys that are still looking for a home in real life, including Logan. The 29-year-old has bounced from Philadelphia to Kansas City to Tennessee over the past three seasons, but he can slide right in as our starting nose tackle on early downs and short-yardage situations.

 

Jordan Hicks | ILB | Age: 27 | 4 years / $36,000,000

The expansion draft gave us Gerald McCoy and Reshad Jones as impact players on defense, and now after adding Hicks, we have a difference-maker at all three levels. Hicks is a prototypical playmaker for the middle of the defense.

 

Eric Rowe | CB | Age: 26 | 1 year / $5,000,000

Injuries limited him to just 21 regular season games across three seasons in New England, but when he was on the field, Rowe was counted on to provide quality coverage on the perimeter. I love his length and versatility in Gregg Williams’ defense.

 

Morris Claiborne | CB | Age: 29 | 1 year / $3,500,000

A starting trio of Rowe, Jourdan Lewis, and Captain Munnerlyn would be really good for an expansion team, but seeing as Claiborne is still without a home, we are able to get a solid starter at a bargain price. The former No. 6 overall pick had been a tough, durable option for the Jets over the past couple years.

 

Cody Parkey | K | Age: 27 | 3 year / $9,000,000

He obviously wasn’t perfect for the Bears, but I think Chicago may end up regretting the way they handled Parkey’s release following their playoff loss. Assuming his confidence isn’t too shaken, Parkey’s ability to hit long-range kicks (seven-for-nine in his career) would be key as we look for any advantage we can get.

 

Bradley Pinion | P | Age: 25 | 3 years / $11,000,000

Rounding out the special teams unit, Pinion gets the same total money that he did with the Buccaneers, but with one less year on the deal (allowing him to cash in again ahead of his age-28 season). I like having he, Parkey, and long snapper James Winchester all signed for three more years to create continuity.

 

Roster

 

Salary cap: $188,200,000

Total payroll: $158,373,914

Cap space: $29,826,086

 

Offense

QB: Sam Bradford // Mike White // Josh Dobbs

RB: Tevin Coleman // Jordan Howard // Rex Burkhead

FB: Alex Armah

WR: Phillip Dorsett // Chad Williams // Auden Tate

WR: DaeSean Hamilton // Javon Wims // Chad Beebe

TE: Josh Hill // Darren Fells // Jordan Leggett

LT: Cameron Fleming // Zach Crabtree

LG: Quinton Spain // Ethan Pocic

C: Bradley Bozeman

RG: Josh Kline // Ike Boettger

RT: Ryan Schraeder

 

Defense

DL: Gerald McCoy // Folorunso Fatukasi // John Atkins

DL: Bennie Logan // Grover Stewart

OLB: Charles Harris

ILB: Jordan Hicks

ILB: Mark Barron // Nate Gerry

OLB: Kareem Martin // Peter Kalambayi

CB: Eric Rowe

CB: Morris Claiborne // Jamal Agnew

CB: Jourdan Lewis // Captain Munnerlyn

S: Eric Berry

S: Reshad Jones // Marcus Allen

 

Special teams

K: Cody Parkey

P: Bradley Pinion

LS: James Winchester

 

Tomorrow, the series will conclude with the 2019 NFL Draft and an overall recap of the Toronto Wolves.