The 2025 Free Agency Thread

[SkinsFTW]

OK, so he is above average in the Pass Rush, so was Payne until he got paid. But he's definitely well below average vs the run. So that's why I said average. Maybe he can be slightly above average. But I doubt he'd be elite and he's going to get close to elite DT pay.

I just don't see how having another Payne + Newton who is also similar is going to improve the DL.

 

[skinsinparadise]

With Allen leaving and Payne on borrowed time, DT needs to be addressed, I just don't know if the $21ish mil price tag for Osa (Spotrac's proejction) is the best way for us to approach it. Seems like he would have a similar role to J Newton. FWIW, Osa's PFF run grade in 2024 was 50.8. Much worse.

BJ Hill is intriguing. I read he played a lot of 3 tech in Cincy, but could also handle inside guard.

Poona Ford is also intriguing. More of a traditional NT. "From a statistical standpoint, last year was arguably Ford's first or second-best season of his career. He received an 85.3 2024 season PFF defensive grade in addition to a 78.8 run defense grade. Ford had 23 pressures, 21 run stops, three sacks, and a career-high seven QB hits last season." Spotrac has his market value at 1 yr, 6.6 mil.

Chargers are (thankfully) looking to re-sign breakout defender, per ESPN analyst

After a big comeback season put him back on the map in 2024, the Chargers don't seem keen on letting Poona Ford walk in free agency.

boltbeat.com

If we signed Osa at 20ish AAV (hopefully less than that), but balanced the position out with Ford's affordable deal and Newton's rookie contract, along with the anticipated shedding of Payne's contract after 2025, I'd be OK with that. As with anything else we do, if AP signs off on it, I'm good with it.

Yeah BJ Hill is really solid. Not exciting but solid.

As far as Poona Ford, intriguing too.

If the idea is lets just get DTs to stop the run and major in that. I think that's super simple and doable. But typically defensive coaches value DTs who bring pressure much more. As many QBs have attested, nothing worse than dealing with pressure up the A gap. Jalen Carter isn't considered one of the best in the league because he's a monster against the run of course. Heck his PFF score against the run is also in the 50s. But he's a beast because he collapses the pocket.

There was one national ESPN reporter who felt they would chase Osa in FA, will see. Personally, am not married to him at all. But i don't want DTs who mostly are about stopping the run. I like to have a player or two like that on the roster. But i want a dude who can pressure the QB. The last time this defense was a force to be reckoned with was Payne's career year where he and Allen made the pro bowl because of their passing rushing chops. We haven't had that since.

I do think though Dallas ends up figuring out a way to keep Olu. It seems to be a priority for them.

2025 NFL free agency: 10 defensive free agents who deserve to get paid

From some of the game’s best at their positions finally hitting the market to breakout players cashing in, here are 10 defensive free agents whose contracts will be gaudy come March.

www.pff.com

Dl Osa Odighizuwa​

PFF Contract Projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings

The Cowboys‘ defense was largely ineffective in Mike Zimmer’s first year as defensive coordinator, but Odighizuwa remained a solid anchor. The UCLA product recorded a second straight season with a 78.5 PFF pass-rushing grade or better, amassing 60 pressures, seven sacks and a 15.1% pass-rush win rate — good for fifth among interior defenders.

Given that Odighizuwa is just 26 but has been a strong pass-rusher for three years in a row, he’s a highly appealing free agent. Don’t be shocked if the total value of his new deal reaches $70 million.

 

[Gooseneck]

He seems like a defender who gets beat on the run but probably has a lot of stops in the backfield. I am wondering if Poona Ford available if the way to go is to sign Ford for about 7 million and concentrate on getting a DT in the first 3 rounds of the draft while concentrating on OT, WR, Edge and CB in free agency. If Ford is not available then maybe Reid from Seattle for a few years.

 

[skinsinparadise]

OK, so he is above average in the Pass Rush, so was Payne until he got paid. But he's definitely well below average vs the run. So that's why I said average. Maybe he can be slightly above average. But I doubt he'd be elite and he's going to get close to elite DT pay.

I just don't see how having another Payne + Newton who is also similar is going to improve the DL.

Payne was a one year wonder as to being a pass rusher and that includes college. That's not the case with Osa. Different type of players.

I'd be lying if I said I studied Osa. But purely going by his numbers he's very good as far as bring heat on QBs and has been so consistently in his young career. He's being talked about getting 20 million or so a year -- not because the league is wildly off but because its VERY hard to find DTs who can bring heat at QBs.

Again, I am far from being married to him. But the ESPN mention that they believe this team has interest (don't know if that was speculation or inside info but if I recall I think it was Fowler who mentioned it weeks ago and he's no joke) it doesn't feel crazy to me, I'd get it.

 

[Gooseneck]

Free agency-No D. Brown but N. Brown- we would be in great shape going into the draft

Salary Cap
$297,332,564
Carryover
$19,832,564
Reserved for Draft Picks
$8,239,466
Active Cap Hit
$245,164,819
Dead Money
$25,452,025
Cap Space Rem.
$18,476,254

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

I am so confused when I try to evaluate Bobby Wagner. He has always been one of my favorite players in the league, and I have seen his stats, PFF etc that shows he was really good last year. But it just didn't pass the eye test to me. How can a team that was routinely gutted right up the middle from the opening game to the end of the season really be having great ILB play? He did make plays, no doubt, but it sure seemed like most of his tackles were downfield and not at the LOS.

 

[HOF44]

Payne was a one year wonder as to being a pass rusher and that includes college.

SIP great to see you on here!!!

 

[method man]

I don't see any point in going after Poona Ford and I don't think it'll take bigtime draft capital to go find a pure runstuffing NT either. Very possible we can find a guy who does that well in round 4 or 5 but don't expect much pass juice. Sheldon Day was fine as a 4th guy who can do some of the dirty work to free the other guys up.

 

[KillBill26]

I don't see any point in going after Poona Ford and I don't think it'll take bigtime draft capital to go find a pure runstuffing NT either. Very possible we can find a guy who does that well in round 4 or 5 but don't expect much pass juice. Sheldon Day was fine as a 4th guy who can do some of the dirty work to free the other guys up.

Ford is proven and affordable. We have money to spend, so I'd rather shore up NT w Ford than expect the draft to solve the problem and end up with Phid Mathis 2.0.

 

[Gooseneck]

Ford is proven and affordable. We have money to spend, so I'd rather shore up NT w Ford than expect the draft to solve the problem and end up with Phid Mathis 2.0.

Totally agree. If the right DT falls to the fifth- great- they can be part of the rotation when Payne goes. Getting a few edges who, if we resign Fowler, who can play the run and rush the passer on 1st and 2nd down, we might be doing a bit better than stopping Barkley- who, as of yesterday did not make a list, I believe PFF as a top 100 player- wonder if they corrected it.

 

[Primus Porcus]

I am so confused when I try to evaluate Bobby Wagner. He has always been one of my favorite players in the league, and I have seen his stats, PFF etc that shows he was really good last year. But it just didn't pass the eye test to me. How can a team that was routinely gutted right up the middle from the opening game to the end of the season really be having great ILB play? He did make plays, no doubt, but it sure seemed like most of his tackles were downfield and not at the LOS.

Just a couple theories. This is not me evaluating film, just speaking from experience as to how ILB is not the 'cause'

1. Interior DL is tasked with 'eating' interior blocks, opening holes for ILB to attack. If the DL does not effectively do this, the ILB gets lost in the wash and is unable to attack the interior run gaps, or read and react.
2. Liability as DE. If the DE / Edge is not containing, then the ILB by default is reacting to 'missed' assignments. If the DE is not effective in contain, or worse yet (see Brian Orakpo) pass rushing themselves up field creating a massive hole between the DE and DT, then they remove themselves from the play, meaning the OG can now hit the next level and take on the ILB that is attempting to fill that hole.
3. Zone Coverage. ILB is generally tasked with either a zone in the middle of the field, or a flat responsibility. When you have a guy like Bobby Wagner, who is not elite regarding speed anymore, if you find an alignment that is forcing him to cover the flat, the middle gap of the field is open as he's got to sell out to get to the sidelines. If he's able to diagnose, a lot of the time, guys like Barkley are already on the 2nd level and Wags is making a tackle, but it's 5 - 7 yards down field.


There's no single answer. It's the same reason we can have one of the worst O-line's in football, but one of the best LTs (Trent Williams). Defensive scheme is 3 levels, and if 1 of those 3 levels is not up to par, the offense is going to figure out how to take advantage of that. OCs are doing things with play calling to manipulate eye levels as a form of 'blocking.' No different than the QB 'looking off' a safety, they are running motion / blocking schemes, to cause the LBs to 'go' where they want them to, to then create an opening.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Listening to Keim's latest podcast, he mentioned Kupp and D. Samuel being the type of moves that might be on the table for this team. He didn't say it as a report or as definitive. But Keim rarely just spitballs for no reason. So I gather at a minimum he might have heard from someone either WR is at least a possibility.

 

[Gooseneck]

Listening to Keim's latest podcast, he mentioned Kupp and D. Samuel being the type of moves that might be on the table for this team. He didn't say it as a report or as definitive. But Keim rarely just spitballs for no reason. So I gather at a minimum he might have heard from someone either WR is at least a possibility.

It makes a lot of sense. Having individuals on short contracts gives us the flexibility to trade down for next year draft picks if the right player is not dropping to us

 

[Primus Porcus]

Listening to Keim's latest podcast, he mentioned Kupp and D. Samuel being the type of moves that might be on the table for this team. He didn't say it as a report or as definitive. But Keim rarely just spitballs for no reason. So I gather at a minimum he might have heard from someone either WR is at least a possibility.

Zach Ertz
Bobby Wagner
Dante Fowler

Vets that were once at the top of their respective positions, who likely will take a reduced expense for a chance to reboot themselves.

The track record is there.

 

[Gooseneck]

bifflog posted this-​

NFL Offseason Manager

PFSN's NFL Offseason Manager allows you to take over your favorite team through free agency, contract negotiations, salary cap management, and more.

www.profootballnetwork.com

Obviously not a 100% accurate but on it I have fulfilling our needs and after restructuring Terry McLaurin and Marshon Lattimore we could be well built to take BPA in the draft with 30 or 40 million dollars left over for next year-that is with a full roster

 

[MartinC]

Zach Ertz
Bobby Wagner
Dante Fowler

Vets that were once at the top of their respective positions, who likely will take a reduced expense for a chance to reboot themselves.

The track record is there.

We have an elite QB. Receivers will be interested in playing here as well.

 

[Primus Porcus]

We have an elite QB. Receivers will be interested in playing here as well.

youre not wrong

 

[SkinsLife]

I didn't realize that the NFL abided by dibs rules!

If we are able to trade Allen, I want no takebacks!

oh yeah! they are currently reviewing tush push and "dibs" rules... its on the same ballot! trading Allens 15mil for Osas 20mil is not a bad swap, plus he is 26 vs Allens 30

 

[commva2]

Not sure if it was post.

 

[method man]

Ford is proven and affordable. We have money to spend, so I'd rather shore up NT w Ford than expect the draft to solve the problem and end up with Phid Mathis 2.0.

He had a good season off 2 down seasons. He hasn’t been a model of consistent play. He was terrible in 2023 with the Bills. If we see him as a Sheldon Day replacement for $3m, sure. However, not a guy I’d trust as a core piece.

We had the chance to sign him despite the relationships on the staff and we passed last year