The 2025 Free Agency Thread

[bigdog24]

I didn’t think he was going to be available, but the Ravens only have 9 million in cap space. I’d sign Ronnie Stanley. He’s only 30. That settles LT for. Few years.

And I thought Higgins would be franchised, but based on comments from their director of player personnel, sounds like the Bengals want Higgins back, “if the numbers work.”. He’s going to be available.

Adding Stanley and Higgins, and an outside corner, like Ward, would be such a massive upgrade for us and allow us a lot of flexibility in the draft.

Stanley would be a slam dunk. This allow us to move Coleman to RT. Coleman would upgrade this positions. Alligretti would be great as our backup to all three interior spots.Wylie could move to LG. With this one signing the we could improve 3 spots on the starting oline and improve our interior depth. I am all in on Stanley.

 

[Gooseneck]

When can a team resign their own free agents-? They seem to be still under contract, Could we sign Fowler right now?

 

[burgold]

I didn't really find your answer, but my guess is that the start date is either January 6 or February 10.

January 6

Clubs may begin signing free agent players for the 2025 season, including players from the CFL.
Earliest permissible date for clubs to renegotiate or extend the rookie contract of a drafted rookie who was selected in any round of the 2022 NFL Draft or any undrafted rookie who signed in 2023. Any permissible renegotiated or extended player contract will not be considered a rookie contract and will not be subject to the rules that limit rookie contracts.
Clubs may exercise fifth-year options for players selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

January 8
Beginning at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the Wednesday following the final regular season weekend, rosters are frozen for clubs participating in the postseason with limited exceptions.

February 10
Waiver system begins for 2025. With certain exceptions, a 24-hour claiming period will be in effect through the entire year; however, waiver requests made on Friday and Saturday of each week will expire at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the following Monday. Players with at least four previous pension-credited seasons whom a club desires to terminate are not subject to the waiver system until the day after the trading deadline.
Beginning the first business day after the Super Bowl through the opening of the first training camp for Rookies in 2025, clubs must report all tryouts and visits to the League office; however, such transactions will not be reported to other clubs.

 

[Chris]

Here is what I believe (until proven incorrect)-

Unrestricted Free Agents (UFA) are contractually considered that whether they sign with their previous team or move to a new team. So league rules are applied the same for both scenarios.

The ‘legal tampering’ period is March 10-12. Players can be signed starting at 4pm on March 12.

 

[method man]

Stanley would be a slam dunk. This allow us to move Coleman to RT. Coleman would upgrade this positions. Alligretti would be great as our backup to all three interior spots.Wylie could move to LG. With this one signing the we could improve 3 spots on the starting oline and improve our interior depth. I am all in on Stanley.

Ronnie played 31 of 67 games between 2020 - 2023. He is a younger Tyron Smith to me - great player I can’t count on to hold up

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

Yeah I am not onboard with Stanley, old players with an injury history is not the direction they want to go. There are a lot of guards in FA, too many to list, so I would like the highest rated guard not named Brandon Scherff. No also on Tee Higgins for the reasons mentioned. I would only bring back Fowler at a reasonable rate but that won't happen because he is a pass rusher. We need a DE who can set the edge and rush the passer. Is D. Lawrence realiastic? My ideal offseaon includes the signing of CB Ward, a new guard, Lawrence and maybe the DT from Dallas Odighizuwa and say goodbye to the constantly overrated Jon Allen. Then find a more dynamic RB in the draft and go BPA throughout.

 

[Gooseneck]

Thanks all, I am still a bit unclear. Maybe time for a super research session tonight.

when can an NFL team resign their own free agents







NFL teams can begin negotiating with their own pending unrestricted free agents during the legal tampering period. This period begins on March 11th at 12:00 PM ET and ends on March 13th at 3:59:59 PM ET.
However, keep in mind that this negotiating period only applies to unrestricted free agents. There are different rules and timelines for other types of free agents, such as restricted free agents, franchise players, and transition players.
Here's a breakdown of the different types of free agents and when teams can negotiate with them:

• Unrestricted Free Agents (UFAs): These are players with four or more accrued seasons whose contracts have expired. They are free to sign with any team without their old team receiving compensation. Teams can negotiate with UFAs during the legal tampering period and can officially sign them once the new league year begins on March 13th at 4:00 PM ET.
  
  
  
• Restricted Free Agents (RFAs): These are players with three accrued seasons who have received a qualifying offer from their previous team. They can negotiate with other teams, but their original team has the right to match any offer. If the original team doesn't match, they may receive draft-pick compensation. The signing period for RFAs is from March 13th to April 19th.
  
  
  
• Franchise Players: These are players designated by their team using the franchise tag. This tag guarantees the player a one-year contract with a salary no less than the average of the top five salaries at their position. Franchise players are not free to sign with other teams unless the tag is withdrawn by the team. Teams can negotiate with franchise players for a long-term contract extension until July 15th.
  
  
• Transition Players:Similar to franchise players, transition players are designated by their team using the transition tag. This tag guarantees the player a one-year contract with a salary no less than the average of the top ten salaries at their position. Transition players are also not free to sign with other teams unless the tag is withdrawn. Teams can negotiate with transition players for a long-term contract extension until July 15th.
  

It's important to note that these dates and rules can change from year to year, so it's always best to check the official NFL rules and regulations for the most up-to-date information.

Sources and related content
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_...s (UFAs) are,more accrued seasons of service.

 

[Gooseneck]

My thoughts were with Burgold. Just the way individuals talk, they talk like they are signing their own free agents before those dates. I have not much to do today so I will keep looking. Does anyone have Adam Peter's email so I can email him?

 

[Gooseneck]

PFF: Commanders Could Steal Ronnie Stanley From Ravens

Impending free agent offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley could leave the Baltimore Ravens for the Washington Commanders.

lastwordonsports.com

Stanley- would just love this signing with a CB and Receiver in FA. Sign Mack for a year and we are set up for BPA in draft and a Superbowl run.

 

[burgold]

My thoughts were with Burgold. Just the way individuals talk, they talk like they are signing their own free agents before those dates. I have not much to do today so I will keep looking. Does anyone have Adam Peter's email so I can email him?

You'll never believe it but Adam Peters email is Phuckfilly@gmail.com

 

[Primus Porcus]

From what I understand…. But it appears I’m wrong

Players are under contract through the league year, not just the season. They can do whatever they want with the team they’re under contract with, including signing with the team they’re under contract with.

That is why free agency starts at 4pm on the first day of the new league year, that’s when the contracts actually expire.

Generally speaking players do not sign with their existing teams because they are advised to test the market by their agents since nothing regarding their value is likely to change between the end of the season and the beginning of Free Agency, outside of the off field problem that could arise.

 

[Chris]

Players are under contract through the league year, not just the season. They can do whatever they want with the team they’re under contract with, including signing with the team they’re under contract with.

That is why free agency starts at 4pm on the first day of the new league year, that’s when the contracts actually expire.

Generally speaking players do not sign with their existing teams because they are advised to test the market by their agents since nothing regarding their value is likely to change between the end of the season and the beginning of Free Agency, outside of the off field problem that could arise.

Then how do you reconcile that with this that Gooseneck posted?

NFL teams can begin negotiating with their own pending unrestricted free agents during the legal tampering period. This period begins on March 11th at 12:00 PM ET and ends on March 13th at 3:59:59 PM ET.
However, keep in mind that this negotiating period only applies to unrestricted free agents.

 

[Primus Porcus]

Then how do you reconcile that with this that Gooseneck posted?

NFL teams can begin negotiating with their own pending unrestricted free agents during the legal tampering period. This period begins on March 11th at 12:00 PM ET and ends on March 13th at 3:59:59 PM ET.
However, keep in mind that this negotiating period only applies to unrestricted free agents.

That I’m wrong…

 

[method man]

Yeah I am not onboard with Stanley, old players with an injury history is not the direction they want to go. There are a lot of guards in FA, too many to list, so I would like the highest rated guard not named Brandon Scherff. No also on Tee Higgins for the reasons mentioned. I would only bring back Fowler at a reasonable rate but that won't happen because he is a pass rusher. We need a DE who can set the edge and rush the passer. Is D. Lawrence realiastic? My ideal offseaon includes the signing of CB Ward, a new guard, Lawrence and maybe the DT from Dallas Odighizuwa and say goodbye to the constantly overrated Jon Allen. Then find a more dynamic RB in the draft and go BPA throughout.

What’s interesting about Fowler is that it’s not like he is some great pass rusher. He had 44 pressures on 341 pass rush snaps this year or 13%, which is solid but not exceptional. What he was good at was making those pressures sacks - nearly 25%.

For reference, Dorance Armstrong generated 46 pressures on 384 pass rush snaps or a 12% pressure rate but his pressure to sack ratio was 11%

I think finishing is part skill part luck. Unlike Chase and Montez, Fowler was absolutely relentless finishing a pressure from what I saw this season.

On the other side of the coin, Dorance finished with 3.5 sacks in the playoffs vs 5 all regular season

 

[burgold]

I guess the question there is consistency. If, season after season, it holds true then it’s more than luck. Montez was terrible at finishing. That went for QBs and running backs. Some guys, once they get their hands on you you’re going down. Others need a crowd.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

That I’m wrong…

I see what the stamens says but I’m not sure you’re wrong. I really thought teams could negotiate with their own free agents whenever they wanted to prevent them from reaching the legal tampering period.

 

[Chris]

Perhaps the difference depends on designation ie restricted vs unrestricted? Though I don’t believe so.

 

[Anselmheifer]

Yeah I am not onboard with Stanley, old players with an injury history is not the direction they want to go. There are a lot of guards in FA, too many to list, so I would like the highest rated guard not named Brandon Scherff. No also on Tee Higgins for the reasons mentioned. I would only bring back Fowler at a reasonable rate but that won't happen because he is a pass rusher. We need a DE who can set the edge and rush the passer. Is D. Lawrence realiastic? My ideal offseaon includes the signing of CB Ward, a new guard, Lawrence and maybe the DT from Dallas Odighizuwa and say goodbye to the constantly overrated Jon Allen. Then find a more dynamic RB in the draft and go BPA throughout.

Ronnie played 31 of 67 games between 2020 - 2023. He is a younger Tyron Smith to me - great player I can’t count on to hold up

I'm not sure that is a fair appraisal of the situation. Stanley had a catastrophic ankle in jury in 2020. A full 25 of those games he missed were in 2020 and 2021. I think he just took a really long time working back from that. Stanley played 11 games in '22, 13 games in '23, an 17 games this year. I'd say playing 30 games in a 2 year span is pretty remarkably healthy for an OT. And he's going to be 31 to start the '25 season. High end OT's can often play well until age 34 or 35. Trent is 36 this year.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StanRo00.htm

PFF: Commanders Could Steal Ronnie Stanley From Ravens

Impending free agent offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley could leave the Baltimore Ravens for the Washington Commanders.

lastwordonsports.com

Stanley- would just love this signing with a CB and Receiver in FA. Sign Mack for a year and we are set up for BPA in draft and a Superbowl run.

That is my fantasy haul. Ronnie Stanley, Tee Higgins, Charvarius Ward, Khalil Mack, and a Terry extension. We can fit that all in and still have plenty of room for depth moves if we let Allen go. And I think that would give us enough high end talent at WR, QB, and all 3 levels of the defense, that we could add TE, OL and RB in the draft and have a really, really talented and deep roster. A top 3 NFC roster, to go with the Eagles and the Lions, but with a better QB than those teams.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Perhaps the difference depends on designation ie restricted vs unrestricted? Though I don’t believe so.

I really thought you could negotiate with anybody on your roster up until the new league year started. You can extend players basically at any time during the season. I don’t see why this period would be different.

 

[Gooseneck]

I think I am going to wait and find out. If individuals can sign with their own team before the March date, my guess is we will see it happening around the league real soon.