The 2025 Free Agency Thread

[Hail Raiser]

If Jayden is what we think he is, and AP is who we think he is, then we really should be. We have the hardest piece. And with Tunsil, for the next 3 years probably, we have the next most important also locked up.

I'm not sweating this move either way. If we make the move, or not, I'm going to trust AP that there is a plan.

Speaking of free agency, doesn't it seem like Zadarius Smith would be an upgrade at edge? Maybe he is a guy we look to after the draft, if we don't get a heavy hitter at edge.

One last thing about Trey Hendrickson, if we don't trade for him this year, there is no reason we can't just sign him as a free agent next offseason. I'm not sure if the Bengals will have enough room to franchise him.

I like the Tunsil move more now than when it happened. I get it. Deebo was a good get as long as he wants to play and stays longer than one year. Lattimore we don't get to the NFCCG without him, but that wasn't necessary and we still would have had a great season. Was he better than DJ Reed, Ward or Davis? IDK. I'd rather have Reed and the pick back. Is Tunsil really that much better than Cam Robinson? Robinson has been healthier, but not quite as good, sure, but we'd still have the picks

 

[Boone]

burgold - You don’t think 2 straight years of 17.5 sacks ‘raised’ the Bengals defense???

Sure, it’s fair to say Hendrickson couldn’t single-handedly turn a shitty Bengals defense into a great one. But he did everything a single player could do to contribute. Imagine what the Bengals season looks like the past 2 years minus 35 sacks!

 

[burgold]

burgold - You don’t think 2 straight years of 17.5 sacks ‘raised’ the Bengals defense???

Sure, it’s fair to say Hendrickson couldn’t single-handedly turn a shitty Bengals defense into a great one. But he did everything a single player could do to contribute. Imagine what the Bengals season looks like the past 2 years minus 35 sacks!

I don't. The Bengals defense was crap. It was a laughing stock. Every offense had their way with it.

(I'm exaggerating but really, no one feared the Bengals defense. They stopped no one.)

 

[Riggo44]

Depends. If they are full on in ‘win now’ mode, and you have a chance to add a dominating edge rusher, you do it. I don’t think their mindset having already made some big trades would be ‘we have to hold onto our remaining picks because we’ve already traded a lot of them away’. They made big trades because they are going for it - right now.

I don’t know how we can look at this offseason and not conclude they are in win now mode. We were a win away from a Super Bowl appearance.

I hate the “win now” mode mindset. It leads to careless decisions more often than not. The Rams are one of the only teams to actually win. More often you end up with the 2000 Redskins and Dream Team Eagles.

Smart teams are built largely through the draft. Those are the ones who are competitive for 20 years.

 

[Bulldog]

Cam Robinson to quote Larry Holmes could not carry Tunsil’s jock strap.

Robinson allowed the most pressures in the NFC this past year and Minny couldn’t wait to move on from him.

For the most part you pay for what you get in return in signing free agent offensive linemen.

 

[gbear2]

Am I the only one who wonders how well the international rugby player we signed might help us defend the tush push and other short yardage plays? Even if he doesn't make the team, maybe he can teach the rest of the DL a thing or two.

 

[burgold]

Am I the only one who wonders how well the international rugby player we signed might help us defend the tush push and other short yardage plays? Even if he doesn't make the team, maybe he can teach the rest of the DL a thing or two.

When I heard rugby that was my first thought. Then I heard 220 and thought

 

[Hail Raiser]

Am I the only one who wonders how well the international rugby player we signed might help us defend the tush push and other short yardage plays? Even if he doesn't make the team, maybe he can teach the rest of the DL a thing or two.

With how great Jordan Mailata has been playing, I bet everyone starts stashing Rugby guys. Although he was drafted in the 7th in 2017 and is only now coming on.

 

[MartinC]

I like the Tunsil move more now than when it happened. I get it. Deebo was a good get as long as he wants to play and stays longer than one year. Lattimore we don't get to the NFCCG without him, but that wasn't necessary and we still would have had a great season. Was he better than DJ Reed, Ward or Davis? IDK. I'd rather have Reed and the pick back. Is Tunsil really that much better than Cam Robinson? Robinson has been healthier, but not quite as good, sure, but we'd still have the picks

Is Tunsil better than Cam Robinson?

Hell yeah. In pass pro he’s MUCH better.

Robinson would have likely made the LT spot better - Tunsil makes the whole line better. With Tunsil you can consistently slide protections away from him and allow yourself the luxury of doubling wherever you want to.

Robinson doesn’t give you that ability.

 

[MartinC]

Am I the only one who wonders how well the international rugby player we signed might help us defend the tush push and other short yardage plays? Even if he doesn't make the team, maybe he can teach the rest of the DL a thing or two.

Forget it. The guy we signed played full back (kind of like a free safety). He also played at a pretty average level. He never came anywhere close to a rugby scrum.

They list him as a DE at 220. Head scratcher of a move really.

 

[Hail Raiser]

Is Tunsil better than Cam Robinson?

Hell yeah. In pass pro he’s MUCH better.

Robinson would have likely made the LT spot better - Tuneil makes the whole line better. With Tunsil you can consistently slide protections away from him and allow yourself the luxury of doubling wherever you want to.

Robinson doesn’t give you that ability.

I get that he's a lot better, but he also misses time and the value was Tunsil vs Robinson and the draft picks (that could be use to draft our own Tunsil). It's not player vs player.

 

[HoggLife]

I get that he's a lot better, but he also misses time and the value was Tunsil vs Robinson and the draft picks (that could be use to draft our own Tunsil). It's not player vs player.

Getting our own Tunsil in the mid rounds is like getting our own Tom Brady in the 6th round. It can happen but very rare.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Getting our own Tunsil in the mid rounds is like getting our own Tom Brady in the 6th round. It can happen but very rare.

It is more likely to get a stud OL in the mid rounds than QB.

Less likely to get a stud LT in the mid rounds though than a guard or center.

I agree, it can happen, but it's less likely.

The best LTs in the league are typically (not always, but typically) top 10-20 picks. Tunsil would have been higher if not for the gas mask. Trent was a top 5 pick. etc.

 

[MartinC]

I get that he's a lot better, but he also misses time and the value was Tunsil vs Robinson and the draft picks (that could be use to draft our own Tunsil). It's not player vs player.

He missed 3 games two seasons ago. Hes played 17 games two out of the last 3 seasons.

I remain a very firm fan of this trade. It makes the whole line better.

 

[Anselmheifer]

I get that he's a lot better, but he also misses time and the value was Tunsil vs Robinson and the draft picks (that could be use to draft our own Tunsil). It's not player vs player.

In 9 seasons, Thnail has played less than 14 games once. In the last 3 seasons, he’s played 17, 14, and 17 games. Tunsil has missed significantly LESS games in the last 9 years than Robinson, and honestly, it would be hard to expect to sign a player with a better health history.

Last year, Tunsil allowed 2 sacks, 3 qb hits, and 19 total pressures. Robinson allowed 7 sacks, 7 QB hits, and 52 QB pressures. Tunsil so a rock. An all pro caliber LT, especially with regards to pass blocking. And he hasn’t turned 31 yet. Trent Williams was 31 when traded to San Fran, and 31, with a lot of times missed for injuries every year.

Getting Tunsil is a seismic shift on the OL.

I know you don’t like all of the draft picks that have men traded. And I think the Lattimore and Deebo trades could go either way based on how they both play this year. But, I don’t know how anyone could reasonably argue about the value of the Tunsil trade.

 

[DWinzit]

Yeah acquiring Tunsil took a huge weight off the roster building process knowing the OL could if it had to be, be complete.
Would it be great to use our top pick on a dude that can play RT and G or G and C, sure but it isn't necessary any more with all the other weaknesses that could receive focus early in the draft.

 

[commva2]

Jones could be a good get IMO

Raiders releasing CB Jack Jones after attempting to trade him

Another RB on the market?



Mccaffrey update 👀

 

[moondog]

Trade second round pick for Hendrickson.

Trade back out of first round, acquire more picks and use whatever pick that becomes in the second round on Amos. Amos can then learn and ease into the secondary under great leadership in Jones and Mikey.

 

[MartinC]

We only have 5 picks next year as well as 5 this year.

And a defense that needs help.

We added help on offense via trade already, can’t be trading anymore picks for a running back.

 

[DWinzit]

Trade second round pick for Hendrickson.

Trade back out of first round, acquire more picks and use whatever pick that becomes in the second round on Amos. Amos can then learn and ease into the secondary under great leadership in Jones and Mikey.

Amos would be a good 2nd round pick for us. This really pisses me off because we should have Gonzales on our roster and not need to be looking at CBs. FU Ron