The 2025 Free Agency Thread

[Gooseneck]

 

[Conn]

I think Peters showed a shrewd ability to assess future FA classes that previous regimes never seemingly could, when he traded our less valuable 3rd rounder for Lattimore.

We have money to spend and need All-Pro talent anywhere we can get it. We’re in a window here with Daniels’ rookie contract. He looked ahead and decided to lock down a premium position of need early, and I think being willing to do that with a borderline “premium” pick (though we obviously hope it’s closer to a 4th round pick) shows humility. The guy loves the draft and values the picks, but he’s not arrogant. He knows the likelihood of drafting a Lattimore, even with some injury concerns, is very low. Even more so in that late 3rd round area of the draft. So he went and got him. Not bad to profit off of the Dotson trade (and keeping that higher 3rd).

A stud WR in FA would not go amiss. I’m going to be researching Payne’s cap situation before commenting on that, but every other game it appears he’s a ghost on an otherwise extremely high effort defense that spends a lot of time playing above its talent level…other than him. Disappointing, and some DL help wouldn’t hurt.

I’d prefer to find Edge and further DB help in the draft. Second contract RB help used to be an absolute no-no, but now you can sometimes sign real talent to reasonable money because nobody values RB’s beyond the elite few. So that’s an option, because as much as we all appreciate BRob he’s not elite, has continually been nicked up and it was kind of shocking to see him pull away and score that 40+ yard TD against defenders who had an angle if we’re being honest. Yeah, I’m dreaming of Jeanty in the draft but it feels unlikely. Although we’ll be drafting in that pure BPA Steelers/Ravens/Lions zone that makes a talent pick like him more likely imo.

Mixed in some draft thoughts and some general positional philosophy thoughts, but yeah, those are my early FA ramblings.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

The only stud FA WR's that are below the age of 30 are...

Outside WR - Tee Higgins (will be 26 next season)
Slot WR - Chris Godwin (will be 29 next season)

-----------------Over 30 here and clearly declining or almost washed up
Amari Cooper (will be 31)
Stephon Diggs (will be 32) season ending injury
Brandin Cooks (will be 32)
DeAndre Hopkins (will be 33)
Keenan Allen (will be 33)

 

[Chris]

I will be interested in seeing how Terry takes the signing of a Higgins-type and the associated contract. He needs to be extended and the smart move would be to do so prior to the start of the free agency period.

I’m sure he will take it like the pro that he is, but still.

 

[method man]

Part of me wants to focus on signing one of these older receivers to a 1 year lower AAV deal. I believe Thielen is another guy who will be available.

 

[Bulldog]

Thielen is slow and injury prone. He's done playing on a contender.

I also don't want to see us overspend for Tee Higgins. He has been the beneficiary of playing with Joe Burrow and JaMar Chase, etc. over the past several years.

It is still not established that he can be a #1 caliber wide receiver for a mega-bucks salary.

Higgins to me has the potential to be a bust signing, a guy that will be productive but not up to the level of the money he is being paid.

This entire issue of the cost of free agents and how sure we can be of those players who will be available to be the 'answer' leads me to look to the draft to find help at wide receiver.

 

[ExoDus84]

Whoever else we sign at WR, I hope it's a big body. We need a stud that can make those tough catches in traffic and box out DBs in the red zone. I love Terry, but he's on the smaller side.

 

[burgold]

I'm leaning speed over size. I want someone who makes OC's sweat.

 

[Iraolaball]

 

[Warhead36]

We need a big body high volume chain mover. We have the explosive big play guy in McLaurin and McCaffery can develop into the quick slot YAC guy.

Tee Higgins would be the perfect fit.

 

[burgold]

I say this with tongue in cheek, but ESers have always been obsessed with height. You just want to go back to the day of Darnarian McCants.

 

[Chris]

Pick 3

 

[Conn]

Wagner if he hasn’t slowed down by the end of the season

Chinn

Fowler

[honorable mention: Iggy. He’s really been coming on and Lattimore bumping him down the depth chart can only help. Kind of a strange situation bc slot corner should really be Sainristil’s bag]

Probably seems like blasphemy not to say Way, and I’m sure he’ll be an easy affordable signing for us. He’s had a couple uncharacteristically poor punts this season but it could just be because he’s punting far less frequently lol.

 

[Chris]

Wagner if he hasn’t slowed down by the end of the season

Chinn

Fowler

[honorable mention: Iggy. He’s really been coming on and Lattimore bumping him down the depth chart can only help. Kind of a strange situation bc slot corner should really be Sainristil’s bag]

Solid 3. I see no way that Wagner is not retained as I see him regarded as a foundational piece by the decision makers.

 

[Conn]

Solid 3. I see no way that Wagner is not retained as I see him regarded as a foundational piece by the decision makers.

I agree, very likely. And as a vet who is seeing us building something before his eyes, he’s not going to want to relocate yet again to end his career imo.

The only way this wouldn’t have happened imo would have been if Magee was healthy all season and REALLY flashed right away on his rookie contract. Instead he gets another year to develop and rotate in as talented depth, if he’s a hit.

 

[method man]

Thielen is slow and injury prone. He's done playing on a contender.

I also don't want to see us overspend for Tee Higgins. He has been the beneficiary of playing with Joe Burrow and JaMar Chase, etc. over the past several years.

It is still not established that he can be a #1 caliber wide receiver for a mega-bucks salary.

Higgins to me has the potential to be a bust signing, a guy that will be productive but not up to the level of the money he is being paid.

This entire issue of the cost of free agents and how sure we can be of those players who will be available to be the 'answer' leads me to look to the draft to find help at wide receiver.

Thielen had a 1k year last year but agreed about him being injury prone - I saw the play on which he hurt his hammy earlier this year. Definite old man injury.

Again, I think we need two receivers. We need a high end slot and a big X. Between the two, I am prioritizing the former but, besides Burden and an injury prone Godwin, I don’t know who else currently fits this mold.

Higgins proved he is a number 1 receiver in his rookie year before Chase got there. He would also have Terry on the other side here. My issue with him is he misses a lot of time. He is the Scherff of receivers.

I think Cooper could be a possibility and DQ knows him from Dallas but my understanding is he is not a guy who is going to go block his ass off in the run game

EDIT: Regarding the explosive slot, I think Deebo gets cut. Will be interesting to see if Peter pursues him. Not really a fan because he is not a good route runner and is hurt frequently but could be interesting at the right price.

 

[Enforcer]

I say this with tongue in cheek, but ESers have always been obsessed with height. You just want to go back to the day of Darnarian McCants.

Anthony Mix! Marko Mitchell!

 

[Commander Wraith]

I agree, very likely. And as a vet who is seeing us building something before his eyes, he’s not going to want to relocate yet again to end his career imo.

The only way this wouldn’t have happened imo would have been if Magee was healthy all season and REALLY flashed right away on his rookie contract. Instead he gets another year to develop and rotate in as talented depth, if he’s a hit.

Well said (and that’s how I see it as well). Having the connections - with Quinn and Daniels at the very least - helps as well. I will say that I could see Wagner as one of those rare breeds that hangs it up before the decline… he’s got, I don’t know, sort of an old soul kind of vibe.


Speaking of Magee, how nice has it been to not be counting on the promise of mid-late round, or even UDFA guys to come in and earn (or be given) starting roles immediately? In years past, we’d look at Sinnot, Magee, Hampton and/or Owens and say if some of these guys step up, maybe we’ll be alright at the position. Or maybe that was just me, lol.

 

[Conn]

Well said (and that’s how I see it as well). Having the connections - with Quinn and Daniels at the very least - helps as well. I will say that I could see Wagner as one of those rare breeds that hangs it up before the decline… he’s got, I don’t know, sort of an old soul kind of vibe.


Speaking of Magee, how nice has it been to not be counting on the promise of mid-late round, or even UDFA guys to come in and earn (or be given) starting roles immediately? In years past, we’d look at Sinnot, Magee, Hampton and/or Owens and say if some of these guys step up, maybe we’ll be alright at the position. Or maybe that was just me, lol.

You’re absolutely right, the luxury to actually develop these guys and not have to project them into starting roles they aren’t ready for (or may never be ready for, really) is a nice change for us as a fanbase.

And agreed on Wagner. One of my favorite subplots this past offseason was Cowboys fans finding out that the rumors that Quinn wanted Wagner in Dallas last year, and Jerry wasn’t willing to pay him, were true all along lol. Wagner actually being good here is the juicy red cherry on top. Quinn is definitely a huge factor in our appeal to FA targets. Adams as well, in terms of his professionalism with agents and connections to other GM’s and scouts. And now, Daniels is a guy vets will want to play with. It’s huge for us.

 

[Anselmheifer]

I love all of the people saying that they don't think Tee Higgins is worth WR1 money. I actually agree that Higgins isn't great as a WR1. But, Higgins is a reallly, really good WR2, we are going to have a minimum of $100 million to spend, and we clearly need impact WR to complement Terry.




Does anybody else look at the list of 2025 free agents and think it looks grim?

2025 NFL Free Agency: Ranking the Top 50 Set to Hit the Market

We’re still two months away from playoff games, but NFL teams have already started planning for the offseason, even the Super Bowl contenders.

www.si.com

There are solid role players on this list, but very few impact guys. Where else are we going to spend the money that would have more impact than Higgins? I honestly think there is about a 75% chance Higgins is here next year. It makes too much sense for both parties.

I wish I could look at the list of prospective 2025 FA and feel more excited about the talent at OT, TE, CB, and edge. It seems like quality guys at those positions that change teams now mostly move via trade. We are currently picking at 21 in the draft, and this draft class looks weak overall. I'd really, really, like for us to try to fill our holes as much as possible in FA, so we can grab whoever looks like the most impactful player with our draft picks, rather than feeling pigeon holed.