Offseason Bios: Murray'd to the Mob

Team: Murray'd to the Mob
Owner: Candice Anderson
2012 Finish: 8-5, 4th place overall
Budget as of 1/1/13: $83.00
Draft Pick Situation: 2013: No RD1, 2014: No RD1, extra RD4
Contract Years Committed to 2013 (filled to reflect a full starting lineup of players): 29


RFA-eligible Players (likely to be retained in red):
Michael Bush, Rashard Mendenhall, Brandon Stokley, Tony Gonzalez (ret.), Justin Tucker, Nick Fairly, Quinton Coples, Jason Babin, Cameron Jordan, Greg Hardy, AJ Hawk, MIN Off, Fred Jackson, Jalen Parmale, Kevin Boss, Jon Beason, 

Projected 2013 Starting Lineup:*

QB: Andy Dalton
RB: Doug Martin
RB: Demarco Murray
WR: Vincent Jackson
WR: Steve Smith
FLEX: Jordy Nelson
TE: Kyle Rudolph
PK:  X
PN: Dustin Colquitt
DE/DT1:  X
DE/DT2:  X
DE/DT3:  X
DE/DT4:  X
LB1: James Harrison
LB2: D'Quell Jackson
LB3: Brian Urlacher
CB1:  Charles Tillman
CB2: Alterraun Verner
S1: Kam Chancellor
S2: LaRon Landry
OFF: X

TS:
Jake Locker
LaVon Brazil
Keyshawn Martin
Stephen Hill


*No RFAs are used to make this lineup.

Weaknesses:
We're talking playoff teams now so there aren't many weaknesses.  Candice made some quick deals throughout 2012 as she tried to patch together a title run around injuries to key personnel.  Doug Martin was a stud from the start and the addition of Demarco Murray should stabilize the RB2 position.  Unfortunately it was at the cost of Tom Brady, and Candice will need Andy Dalton to take at least a small step forward in order to get starter-level production from the QB position.  All other positions have above-average starters assuming that Jordy Nelson can stay healthy.  The big black eye is the DE/DT position but this is the best offseason to head into without a strong player commitment on the defense.  If Candice does her research she should be able to make that position at least average fairly easily.  The sad truth, however, is that her ability to compete again in 2013 is hampered greatly by her lack of depth, relative lack of funds and lack of top picks to use in trade or to acquire face position backups.  If Nelson/Murray/Jackson/Rudolph miss time again next season there isn't the roster depth in order to keep the team afloat, and the assets that could be used to bring in stop-gap players were spent doing that same thing in 2012.

Likely Off Season Targets:
Again, without extra picks and/or cash to trade, or a surplus of starter-worthy players, I anticipate a quiet offseason for Candice, at least on the trade front.  I'm predicting a goodly amount of low-cost signings to buy-low on some upside bench talent.  Candice will certainly have some nice roster flexibility and if she plays it right will have room to take on unfavorable contracts for discounts on any mid to late-season trades.  During UFA I see her bidding any potential RB starters up to at least the $15-20 range.  She has the top talent to get back to the big dance but needs the safety net.

Hypothetical Trades:
None.  She made them all last season.

In all honesty the best trades for Candice this offseason (aside from an unpredictable steal) are no trades.  The held assets are likely of more value than what they would gain in trade, and the biggest threat to her team is that Phil Sanders or Kommissar trade one of their "extra" elite QBs.  Andy Dalton was the 13th best QB, but the 8th best starting QB because a few teams carried multiple QBs in the top 15.  If Phil or John send Russel Wilson or Cam Newton to a team where they'd start every week Dalton loses a ton of value for Candice.  Sit tight, hold onto your cards and hope for some luck in the health department.

2013 Outlook:
Another team on the edge.  Candice has the advantage of being an extremely active owner, so if a bargain presents itself she'll be in a position to take advantage.  That being said, 2012 was a year that she burned through some cash/player/pick reserves to really go for a title, and that puts her at a disadvantage compared to teams that saved their resources.  I expect Doug Martin to slip a bit from his 2012 production but for Murray to compensate, making her comfortably a top-6 team.  I feel that without another Doug Martin-level infusion in 2013 that she fails to crack the top-4 again though.  Call it "Sunny with a chance of playoffs", but more likely we'll see only one Anderson in the Big Dance in 2013.