The 2025 Free Agency Thread

[Boone]

Here's my issue on Lattimore. Whether or not the trade was *wise* given the unavailability over the past 3-4 seasons - that's absolutely a legit question as many have pointed out.

Whether or not he's a very good corner - based on him playing at what was probably significantly < 100%, in a new defense, in a stretch where he had to cover some top tier opposing WRs - I don't think that's in question, or it shouldn't be. At his worst last year he is still the best CB we've had in DC in recent memory.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[Phantvm]

Yep I talked about trading for him on ES if you remember SIP

 

[RexTomb]

George Pickens is a headcase. Now they're going to have another TO-sized headcase in Dallas. Be ready for more fireworks on the sidelines next year. Maybe Pickens and Parsons will get into it. That would be interesting.

 

[bifflog]

History is on the Steeler's side in a big way when it comes to parting with productive WR's...

 

[HTTR]

Pickens always seemed like a problem child for the Steelers. Says a lot that they seemed to go out of their way to replace him even though he’s only 24. Maybe they just don’t think they can get him signed to an extension, but I suspect they just don’t want to.

 

[Anselmheifer]

Pickens is such a Cowboys kind of player/pick up. He’s a headache, but their offense is going to be REALLY talented.

 

[MartinC]

Jayden in clutch moments is part of why I think we have a shot at the SB. As far as RBs go, hopefully Croskey-Merritt is given a real chance. Robinson is so so. Ekeler is good in short stints but seems to wear down. Rodriguez flashed more last season and the stats back it up than Robinson and by a good margin but the coaching staff doesn't seem sold. I've heard Rodriguez had a lackluster camp last year so maybe that was held against him.

This is not a knock on JD at all - but thats a throw you expect a quality NFL QB to make. “1,2,3 put it on him” - they spend hours doing that against air and then in 7 on 7 drills.

 

[Anselmheifer]

This is not a knock on JD at all - but thats a throw you expect a quality NFL QB to make. “1,2,3 put it on him” - they spend hours doing that against air and then in 7 on 7 drills.

I disagree. There was a really small window to place that ball. There were multiple players in good coverage with trail position and multiple players closing from the opposite direction. He was going to be open for a fraction of a second. I literally can’t recall another commanders player making a throws like that. That’s one of the kinds of throws that makes it so hard for college WB’s to transition to the NFL.

Also, making a difficult, but common throw, into tight coverage, at the end of a game, when you need it to win, is still clutch. Only a few people regularly and predictably rose to that moment under pressure.

 

[BurgundyBoone]

Pickens is such a Cowboys kind of player/pick up. He’s a headache, but their offense is going to be REALLY talented.

Exactly. Loser player for loser team.
Its like QB who can throw it a mile and run a 4.5, but cant read the field or have a feel for the pocket.

Being a net positive as a WR isnt just running routes and catching the ball. Its running hard on plays the ball DOES NOT come to you and run blocking.
I like our guys.

 

[MartinC]

I disagree. There was a really small window to place that ball. There were multiple players in good coverage with trail position and multiple players closing from the opposite direction. He was going to be open for a fraction of a second. I literally can’t recall another commanders player making a throws like that. That’s one of the kinds of throws that makes it so hard for college WB’s to transition to the NFL.

Also, making a difficult, but common throw, into tight coverage, at the end of a game, when you need it to win, is still clutch. Only a few people regularly and predictably rose to that moment under pressure.

Like I said - not a knock on the throw or JD at all. It’s a clutch play. But I disagree we couldn’t find examples of other QBs we have had over the last 10 years making that kind of throw. The situation in which he made that throw and the plays before that that lead to him being in a situation to be able to make the throw - thats what is different IMO.

 

[Primus Porcus]

I disagree. There was a really small window to place that ball. There were multiple players in good coverage with trail position and multiple players closing from the opposite direction. He was going to be open for a fraction of a second. I literally can’t recall another commanders player making a throws like that. That’s one of the kinds of throws that makes it so hard for college WB’s to transition to the NFL.

Also, making a difficult, but common throw, into tight coverage, at the end of a game, when you need it to win, is still clutch. Only a few people regularly and predictably rose to that moment under pressure.

And we've seen Wrs from Aldrick Robinson to Steve Sims have long touchdown catches.

The difference between them and Terry McLaurin, Stefon Diggs, and Justin Jefferson? WHEN they do it.

The timing of that play cannot be understated. Most QBs in the NFL can 'make all the throws.' They're capable. What makes that throw so much more important was the fact that the clock was expiring, we were behind, and we were facing the division rival who we were clearly competing for a division title for. He also threw it to the no. 3 WR on the depth chart. It's a different level of understanding and reading a defense to even look at Crowder on that play, let alone when he has not uncovered yet. He threw that ball damn near right at the ref behind the endline when Crowder wasn't even looking yet.

Being able to make that throw wasn't thing that made it so special, it's the 3rd and 4th dimension that changes who 'can' and 'can't' actually make THAT throw.

 

[burgold]

A third and a pick swap sounds on the light side for Pickens. Suggests the Steelers really wanted him gone.

 

[Phantvm]

Like I said - not a knock on the throw or JD at all. It’s a clutch play. But I disagree we couldn’t find examples of other QBs we have had over the last 10 years making that kind of throw. The situation in which he made that throw and the plays before that that lead to him being in a situation to be able to make the throw - thats what is different IMO.

But can we reasonably separate the clutch aspect from the ability to make that throw outside of the clutch?

If we do that, is it the same throw?

 

[DWinzit]

For years Washington fans and analysts have said our WR's can't separate. While we haven't had the best WR rooms, it seems like the QB's have mostly waited until someone is open to release. I don't recall many passes like JD's where the ball was thrown in anticipation of where the WR would be, and if the did, the pass would be late.

 

[MartinC]

But can we reasonably separate the clutch aspect from the ability to make that throw outside of the clutch?

If we do that, is it the same throw?

If you could crack that code you can make MILLIONS scouting and drafting QBs (and pretty much every other position as well)

For me the clutch aspect is not so much just that throw (which I still contend is relatively routine in a vacuum) - it’s the sequence of plays that get us down the field in that situation to be in a position to make that throw. JD did that in multiple games last season including in the playoffs on the road. Thats the ‘clutch gene’. To state the obvious its rare.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Like I said - not a knock on the throw or JD at all. It’s a clutch play. But I disagree we couldn’t find examples of other QBs we have had over the last 10 years making that kind of throw. The situation in which he made that throw and the plays before that that lead to him being in a situation to be able to make the throw - thats what is different IMO.

There are three QBs we’ve in rge last 10 years who could make that throw and have made that throw (or a throw like that one) at times, with regularity.

1. Kirk Cousins - he can and has made throws like that for a decade.

2. Alex Smith - this is the type of throw he made routinely throughout his career. Not deep, in timing of the play. Pretty simple read. He didn’t do a lot of it in Washington but he did a ton of it in SF and KC.

3. Early Carson Wentz. As opposed to broken Carson Wentz when he got here.

If [REDACTED] tried that throw it’s an INT 100% of the time.

 

[MartinC]

There are three QBs we’ve in rge last 10 years who could make that throw and have made that throw (or a throw like that one) at times, with regularity.

1. Kirk Cousins - he can and has made throws like that for a decade.

2. Alex Smith - this is the type of throw he made routinely throughout his career. Not deep, in timing of the play. Pretty simple read. He didn’t do a lot of it in Washington but he did a ton of it in SF and KC.

3. Early Carson Wentz. As opposed to broken Carson Wentz when he got here.

If [REDACTED] tried that throw it’s an INT 100% of the time.

MOF open and a bang 8 with a receiver isolated against a baker off a 3 step timing throw? That’s day 1 install stuff and a match up that your eyes light up when you see it pre snap.

But I do accept making that throw on the last snap of the game when it is shit or bust is a hell of a lot different to making that with your eyes closed in 7 on 7 during OTAs.

 

[bainesdc]

I mean we should be all over this no?

 

[heisenberg]

I almost said yesterday that the Panthers are probably gonna release clowney.
We definitely should kick the tires.