The 2025 Free Agency Thread

[Hail Raiser]

Chad Muma released. He was popular in our draft thread

 

[skinsinparadise]

Comparing Ron's evaluation powers to Jay's is like comparing the desire to be shot or hung at your execution. Both suck and you're dead at the end, so who cares?

It's not even close to apples to apples bad. Jay regarded by some as a good evaluator even though that wasn't his job -- yes he had some misses, everyone does. But that regime oddly still had the better players bleeding into Ron's regime, among the players ironically being Terry.

If it makes you feel better. If you recall, your distaste for Jay was matched for my distaste for Bruce back then. And yes I think Bruce can school Ron in personnel.

Ron is in his own orbit of bad, there isn't some sort of neck and neck runner up. He's the Zorn of GMs here -- easily the lowest of the low.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Too bad Renfrow is a slot WR. Slot we got covered, need an outside WR.

Woods though could play outside, good blocker, too. 33 years old but Terry would say 33 is the new 23.



Another

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[Conn]

Woods would be such a good fit for what we do in the run game, and can play outside and be trusted to be where he’s supposed to be. Consummate professional too

He’d be great as the direct Noah Brown backup so Deebo can stay in slot/gadget mode

 

[Skinfanjon]

 

[skinsinparadise]

Woods would be such a good fit for what we do in the run game, and can play outside and be trusted to be where he’s supposed to be. Consummate professional too

He’d be great as the direct Noah Brown backup so Deebo can stay in slot/gadget mode

Agree. His physicality fits especially if they run more this season to the perimter, outside zone, etc. Conerly and ultimately Cosmi can move to that 2nd level on the right size. Deebo can block. So can Noah. Woods would fit the theme if the idea is to run wild on the strong side of the formation.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Bad year last year. Before that he was good. But I'd be lying if i said I've been tracking him recently.

 

[Skinfanjon]

Bad year last year. Before that he was good. But I'd be lying if i said I've been tracking him recently.

I just checked his stats and they are better than I expected from 50+. My recollection was he had a weak leg. But yeah terrible year in 24 and getting cut by the Browns is never good. Also think the panic over Gay is very overstated.

 

[Skinfanjon]

Woods would be such a good fit for what we do in the run game, and can play outside and be trusted to be where he’s supposed to be. Consummate professional too

He’d be great as the direct Noah Brown backup so Deebo can stay in slot/gadget mode

I’ve been a huge fan of Woods (see also Tim Patrick and Josh Reynolds) over the years as underrated assets but don’t you think he’s washed? He seemed donzo to me last year.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I just checked his stats and they are better than I expected from 50+. My recollection was he had a weak leg. But yeah terrible year in 24 and getting cut by the Browns is never good. Also think the panic over Gay is very overstated.

Gay has struggled in recent years with long field goals, 50 plus, it seems like its been extended here.

I guess will see. Or if this holds, we can't go for long kicks, keep them under 50.

 

[Anselmheifer]

They could for sure, but because the Franchise Tag is fully guaranteed at signing it has to go into escrow all at once, which for the Bengals is a huge $30M cash outlay lol, so most people think they won’t (and that this is the reason Hendrickson didn’t get a no-tag clause in his new 1-year contract) but who knows

I’m not saying this like a jerk. But, wouldn’t that be a reason to agree to a no tag clause, instead of the opposite? Hendrickson should have held out for that.

 

[Conn]

I’m not saying this like a jerk. But, wouldn’t that be a reason to agree to a no tag clause, instead of the opposite? Hendrickson should have held out for that.

I agree that it’s strange he didn’t, after everything he went through to get his money this year. I can only imagine they wanted to keep the right to tag him so they could attempt to tag and trade him before he signs the tag, not sure. Strange organization and I’m glad it’s not us any longer

 

[RWJ]

Gay has struggled in recent years with long field goals, 50 plus, it seems like its been extended here.

I guess will see. Or if this holds, we can't go for long kicks, keep them under 50.

View attachment 12426

I'd also be on board for Ben Sauls from Pitt cut from the Steelers.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

Don't know much specifically outside of this article on Frank Gore, Jr - but would he be a good fit? Would he be better than one of our guys at the bottom of the pole here?

Of course, there is also maybe an AP/9ers connection with his Dad too.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25241951-frank-gore-jr-son-nfl-legend-frank-gore-cut-bills-roster-ahead-deadline

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I agree that it’s strange he didn’t, after everything he went through to get his money this year. I can only imagine they wanted to keep the right to tag him so they could attempt to tag and trade him before he signs the tag, not sure. Strange organization and I’m mglad it’s not us any longer

The other side of that is if they frankchise him, it’s really not the end of the wold. DE franchise tag is projected to be $26.5. If he balls out again and they want to pay that, I don’t think he would really turn his nose up at that. Would he want a long term deal? Sure.

Also, they might have done the math and figured out there is no way the Bengals could pay that amount anyway.

Shrug. He’s not in a bad position one way or the other.

 

[Faithful Fan]

He kicked for us for longer than I remember, 2015 to 2021, not a bad kicker, about 84% for his career.

I wonder what the story is here. How did he go from three straight seasons of 90% to 67% last season. Injuries?

 

[Faithful Fan]

I just checked his stats and they are better than I expected from 50+. My recollection was he had a weak leg. But yeah terrible year in 24 and getting cut by the Browns is never good. Also think the panic over Gay is very overstated.

Hopkins and Gay have similar stats, but Gay is younger and Hopkins is coming off a horrible season.

The XFL guy New England cut is intriguing, but I don’t think we’re in the market for a kicker just yet.

 

[Iraolaball]

Hopkins and Gay have similar stats, but Gay is younger and Hopkins is coming off a horrible season.

The XFL guy New England cut is intriguing, but I don’t think we’re in the market for a kicker just yet.

Gay can get us through this season, then draft Dominic Zvada next year.

 

[Boone]

They signed Gay to a $4 million a year contract. They obviously have high confidence in him whether fans do or not.