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Josh McDaniels took in one of the Patriots’ castoffs, picking up RB Laurence Maroney in a trade. Maroney’s fantasy value doesn’t change unless there is an injury to Knowshon Moreno. He will merely provide depth along with Correll Buckhalter.

As for the Patriots, this solidifies Fred Taylor’s starting gig. Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk, and BenJarvus Green-Ellis will share the load.

If you were holding onto Mauroney in hopes that he would win back his starting gig with the Pats, feel free to cut him loose.

The Jags are coming off one of the most disappointing seasons in the NFL.  They, along with the Cleveland Browns, were the chic pick to get to at least the AFC title game.  Yet they finished at 5-11.

For starters the Jaguars need improved health next year, especially on their Offensive Line.  Their Left Tackle Khalif Barnes is an Unrestricted Free Agent.  He played poorly last year, and won’t likely return.  There is a good chance Charles Spencer takes over.  Center Brad Meester is also an UFA, but he may be in their plans.  Assuming Fred Taylor gives them a hometown discount, he’ll be back to compliment Maurice Jones-Drew.  I’d like to see them work another RB in the mix so he’s ready when Taylor does call it quits.  Reggie Williams took a major step back and he’s a UFA.  I could see the team going in a different direction.  Matt Jones played through the distraction of his suspension and put up solid numbers.  He could be a nice value pick next year.  TE Marcedes Lewis showed promise.  Jerry Porter is likely to be shown the door.

There aren’t too many FAs on Defense for Jacksonville.  Mike Peterson led the team in tackles, but was a major distraction.  He won’t be back.  The Jags need to get some pressure on the QB.  They were tied for 20th last year with just 29 Sacks.  Reggie Hayward’s 4.5 were good for the team lead.  Not only that, but they had the second fewest turnovers (17) in the league.  Clearly their biggest needs lie on Defense.

**Update:  Fred Taylor was cut**

KFFL Free Agent Tracker:

The Jags are coming off an excellent season that nearly ended in a trip to the Super Bowl.  The expectations are high in Northern Florida.

On Offense they are led by David Garrard, who played nearly mistake-free football last year (18 TDs to 3 INTs).  He just oozes confidence and his teammates believe in him.  He has the luxury of two dynamic Running Backs to make his life easier.  Fred Taylor is coming off a brilliant year that saw him run for 1200 yards at 5.4 per carry.  Maurice Jones-Drew is a human bowling ball that picked up nearly 1200 total yards and 9 TDs.  They truly provide a scary 1-2 punch because they both can go the distance on any given play.  Reggie Williams proved to be a TD threat with 38 catches for 629 yards and 10 TDs.  They added Troy Williamson (who’s quick as hell, but can’t catch) and Jerry Porter (whose hamstring is already acting up), but I’m not sure how much of a factor they will be.  Dennis Northcutt was solid last year (44 catches, 601 yards) and will likely catch his share of passes.  Matt “Crackman” Jones was nearly cut.    Marcedes Lewis is a nice sleeper candidate at Tight End.

On Defense the Jags excel.  Reggie Nelson and Brian Williams are an excellent pair of Safeties.  Rashean Mathis is a solid Corner.  Paul Spicer brings the heat from Defensive End.  They are looking for improved production out of Reggie Hayward as well as in impact from Rookie Derrick Harvey (who was the last first-rounder to sign).  John Henderson and Rob Meier are the Interior Lineman as Marcus Stroud has moved on to Buffalo.  At Linebacker the Jags line up Daryl Smith, MIke Peterson, and Clint Ingram.

I look for Jacksonville to take one of the Wild Card slots in the AFC.  I think they will match their 11 Win total from last year.  They have the ability to win it all, but I don’t see them winning more than one playoff game.

Fantasy-wise David Garrard is best suited to be a fantasy backup.  If you ignored the QB position and stocked up elsewhere, I can justify using him as your starter.  MJD is a worthy #2 RB because of his versatility and his TD production.  Fred Taylor is best suited as a #3 RB or a flex position starter.  I don’t like any of their wideouts, but Marcedes Lewis is a nice late pickup for a backup Tight End.  Both Jacksonville Defense and Josh Scobee are good values in the last two rounds of drafts.

We’ve done the Big Dog RBs and the Second Tier RBs, now it’s time to look at the next wave of RBs.  These are likely your #2 backs unless you opted to go QB or WR early (which isn’t a bad idea).

Willie Parker – Fast Willie piled on the yards last year (1316 to be exact), but didn’t make many trips (2) to the endzone.  I don’t see Big Ben tossing as many TD passes next year so that number should go up.  The problem I have with Willie is the drafting of Rashard Mendenhall.  He scares me if I’m a Willie Parker owner.

Jamal Lewis – Jamal had a terrific season (1552 total yards, 11 TDs) last year with Cleveland, but I just don’t trust him to be my #1 RB.  I expect their passing attack to take a step back next year, which will make it harder to run.

Ryan Grant – Ryan Grant came in and answered Green Bay’s prayers for some balance.  Lost in the whole QB debate is whether or not Grant will be a fluke.  If Rodgers struggles at QB, things could get difficult for Grant.  I’d hate to pin my hopes on him.

Maurice Jones-Drew/Fred Taylor – MJD gets the TDs.  Fred Taylor gets the yards.  Will the recipe be the same in Jacksonville next year?  Most likely.  They compliment each other so well.  Unfortunately for fantasy owners it makes it difficult to rely on either one.  Obviously I give MJD the edge because of his age and his ability to reach paydirt.

Laurence Maroney – Did you see Maroney run in the playoffs?  I’m sure the Patriot Coaches did.  Heck, they probably even have video on it.  Bad jokes aside, I see the Patriots running a more balanced attack next year.  With the holes the passing game should open, Maroney should run wild.

Ronnie Brown – Until he got hurt, Ronnie Brown was having one of the best years by any RB.  Unfortunately he blew out his knee following an Interception (thanks Cleo Lemon) and will likely take a year or so to get back to form.

Brandon Jacobs – Brandon Jacobs is a beast.  He should have plenty of opportunity to score TDs.  He needs to prove he can stay healthy.  He’ll likely have to share carries with some capable running mates.

Edgerrin James – Edge had over 1400 total yards last year, but will turn the dreaded 30 next month.  That usually doesn’t go over very well for a Running Back.  The Cards have two extraordinary WRs to keep defenses honest, but I’d be shocked if Edge replicates his 2007 campaign.

Darren McFadden – This one is based on potential, but Run DMC sure seems to be this year’s version of Adrian Peterson.  I don’t see him running for as many yards, or breaking any records, but I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if he finished in top ten for RB fantasy scoring.

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Quarterbacks

#1 Indianapolis Colts – Peyton Manning
I’m not going to bore you with an explanation.  You know why this pick sticks.

#2 San Diego Chargers – Randy Moss
They’ll have to figure out somebody to throw the ball to Moss, but the four-time All-Pro/six-time Pro Bowler with 12,193 receiving yards and 124 TDs is too good to pass up.  I’ll bet my newborn that they wouldn’t take Ryan Leaf again.

#3 Arizona Cardinals – Alan Faneca
Arizona has been so hideous.  Their selection of Andre Wadsworth was no different.  If they could do it over they’d grab the five-time All-Pro/seven-time Pro Bowl Guard.

#4 Oakland Raiders – Olin Kreutz
Not that Charles Woodson was bad, but adding a five-time All-Pro/six-time Pro Bowl Center is a no-brainer.

#5 Chicago Bears – Fred Taylor
Curtis Enis was a wasted pick for the Bears.  If they could do it over, they would grab Fred Taylor instead.  Ahman Green has also been a good back, but Fred has more good years.  He made his first Pro Bowl last year, and has amassed 10,715 yards and 61 TDs.

#6 St. Louis Rams – Leonard Little
If they did it all over they would spend their first pick on Little (they got him in the third round pick) instead of Grant Winstrom.  Little has 349 tackles and 74 Sacks.  He has four double-digit Sack seasons to his credit.  While we’re going back in time, maybe we can give him a designated driver that fateful night so he doesn’t kill anybody.

#7 New Orleans Saints – Flozell Adams
Kyle Turley was a decent selection at Tackle, but Flozell (All-Pro, four Pro Bowls) would have been a better one.

#8 Dallas Cowboys – Ahman Green
Let’s give the Cowboys some offensive firepower with the two-time All-Pro/four-time Pro Bowl RB.  Ahman has 8,751 rushing yards and 56 TDs to go along with 2,833 receiving yards and 14 TDs.

#9 Jacksonville Jaguars – Keith Brooking
The Jags go with two-time All-Pro/five-time Pro Bowl LB Keith Brooking, who has 1039 tackles, 17 Sacks, and 12 INTs.  He’s recorded 100+ tackles in each of the past seven seasons.

#10 Baltimore Ravens – Charles Woodson
The rich get richer by acquiring the three-time All-Pro/four-time Pro Bowl CB.   The Heisman winner has 379 tackles and 29 INTs.  He’s an upgrade over their original selection of Duane Starks.

#11 Philadelphia Eagles – Tra Thomas
When you select a Tackle that earns two All-Pro nods to go along with three Pro Bowl trips, you stand pat.

#12 Atlanta Falcons – Takeo Spikes
So Keith Brooking doesn’t make it to the Falcons.  Instead of cyring in their Corn Flakes they just select the twice All-Pro & Pro Bowl LB Takeo Spikes to fill his shoes.  Spikes has 969 tackles, 22.5 Sacks, and 12 INTs.  He opened his career with seven straight 100 tackle seasons.  OK, the sevent was actually 99, but close enough.

#13 Cincinnati Bengals – Jeremiah Trotter
So Spikes gets swiped under the Bengals nose forcing them to turn to the two-time All-Pro/four-time Pro Bowl Trotter.  He has 886 tackles, 12.5 Sacks, and 9 INTs.  He reached 100+ tackles six times.

#14 Carolina Panthers – Hines Ward
Carolina would be tickled pink with the three-time All-Pro/four-time Pro Bowl no-nonsense WR.  Ward has 8,737 yards and 65 TDs. 

#15 Seattle Seahawks – Matt Hasselbeck
To get their franchise QB the Seahwaks will have to pick him here instead of with the 187th pick, which is where they actually got him.  Hasselbeck has 22,333 career yards, 142 TDs to 84 INTs, a 60.7 completion percentage, and a 86.2 passer rating.  He’s been named an All-Pro once and a Pro Bowler three times.

#16 Tennessee Titans – Patrick Surtain
Tennessee opts to add the two-time All-Pro/three-time Pro Bowl CB Surtain with this pick.  He has 536 tackles and 36 INTs.

#17 Cincinnati Bengals – Greg Ellis
They’ve added a top flight LB so why not pair him with a solid DE.  The Pro Bowler has 468 tackles and 69 Sacks.  He’s had seven or more Sacks six times.

#18 New England Patriots – Matt Birk
In what appears to be a match made in heaven, the two-time All-Pro/six-time Pro Bowl Center out of Harvard goes to the Patriots.  He pays a few more dividends than Robert Edwards, although in Edwards’ defense he got hurt during a Pro Bowl sand football game.

#19 Green Bay Packers – Vonnie Holliday
I’ll let the Packers keep their pick.  Vonnie has 462 tackles and 51.5 Sacks.

#20 Detroit Lions – Fred Beasley
In a desperate attempt to keep Barry Sanders from retiring the Lions add two-time All-Pro/Pro Bowl FB Beasely to the mix.  His numbers aren’t sexy, but he could make life a little easier on one of the best RBs to ever step foot on a football field.

#21 Minnesota Vikings – Jeremy Newberry
This has to be one of the best classes of Centers the NFL has ever seen with Kreutz, Birk and Newberry.  The All-Pro/two-time Pro Bowl Newberry obviously doesn’t fill the void that not getting Randy Moss left, but he does make up for missing out on Birk.

#22 New England Patriots – Donovin Darius
Instead of taking the RB turned Safety Tebucky Jones (out of Syracuse), the Pats instead select another Syracuse Safey in Donovin Darius.  The hard-hitting S has 635 tackles and 14 INTs.

#23 Oakland Raiders – Kyle Turley
The Raiders go with Turley at Tackle instead of Mo Collins.  If ever a player was a perfect fit for Oakland, Turley may be it.

#24 New York Giants – Lance Schulters
The G-Men grab Al-Pro/Pro Bowl Safety Lance Schulters (instead of S Shaun Williams).  Schulters has 554 tackles and 19 INTs.

#25 Jacksonville Jaguars – Corey Chavous
With Darius gone the Jags turn to Pro Bowler Corey Chavous.  He had 671 tackles and 20 Sacks.  There were some quality safeties in this draft.

#26 Pittsburgh Steelers – Samari Rolle
The Steelers get screwed the most losing Faneca and Hines Ward, but adding All-Pro/Pro Bowl CB Samari Rolle helps.  Rolle has 416 tackles and 28 INTs.

#27 Kansas City Chiefs – Grant Wistrom
The Chief bolster their pass rush with DE Grant Wistrom.  He has 416 tackles and 53 Sacks. 

#28 San Francisco 49ers – Duane Starks
R.W. McQuarters was a decent pick, but Starks has perhaps been slightly better.  The CB has 356 tackles and 25 INTs.

#29 Miami Dolphins – Michael Pittman
Pittman isn’t a home run, but he’s a heck of an upgrade over John Avery.  Pittman has 5307 rushing yards, 3400 receiving yards and 29 combined TDs. 

#30 Denver Broncos – Joe Jurevicius
Joe hasn’t been terrific, but after Moss and Hines Ward he’s probably the next best WR in this receiver-starved draft.  Joe has 4,119 yards and 29 TDs.

Previous Re-Mixes
1999 Re-mix
2000 Re-mix
2001 Re-mix
2002 Re-mix
2003 Re-mix