Falcons fans, I understand your pain. It’s the kind of pain that typically manifests itself in a jilted lover. It makes you quietly utter things like, “never again” and “they’re all the same”. I refer to this as R.E.S. But Falcons fans would know it as Ray Edwards Syndrome.
Ray Edwards Syndrome is characterized by ignoring NFL pass rushers in free agency that you’ve never heard of. While Falcons fans want to talk about signing Ndamukong Suh and Justin Houston, the truth is that their price tags are well beyond what the Falcons can handle.
Last year when I discussed the virtues of Lions free agent defensive end Willie Young, I was hit with a twitter-face full of R.E.S. After a 10 sack season with the Bears, Willie Young has arrived in the NFL at the cost of just $9 million over three seasons.
If you can suspend your R.E.S long enough, let me provide you the case for Baltimore Raven Pernell McPhee. McPhee had another strong season as a jack-of-all trades player in Baltimore. McPhee recorded 7.5 sacks, but it’s more about the versatility he provides for a defense. Want a guy who can beat guards and centers inside as pass rushing defensive tackle? McPhee is your guy. Want a player who has the speed and power to attack from defensive end and cause problems for the offense? McPhee is your guy.
Pernell McPhee will not be the dominant pass rusher who records 15 sacks per season. That’s just not his game. That’s what the Falcons are hopefully drafting at 8th overall in this NFL Draft. McPhee presents a solid player who can provide a pass rush at hopefully around $28 million over four years.
When Ray Edwards received his Falcons contract in 2011, the amount of suitors for his services were lacking. Just something to ponder as Pernell McPhee will get a contract in the early days of free agency this year.