The 2025 Free Agency Thread

burgold said:
I hear ya, but I remember making an argument about Orakpo that double digit sack guys were valuable. Many disagreed, saying he accumulated stats but didn't change games. In fact, Orakpo often made the defense worse as Arrington did before him because of his freelancing. Now, 17 > 12, but you'd think that that kind of pressure would lead to all sorts of offensive mistakes and defensive stops yet Cinci has been not bad, but awful on defense and they never seem to close out a game but always lose the shoot out.

So either Hendrickson is literally the only good player on that D or he just doesn't have that knack to make the play when it matters. When the going gets tough he disappears.
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Myles Garrett has been on some pretty bad defenses. How many Bengals defenders can you name without checking the internet? Do they have 3 other good defenders?

For the record, I’m in favor of adding Hendrickson. Next offseason, as a FA. What I’m hoping for this year is Jadaveon Clowney.
 
As a free agent or even a player swap is different from me. I want to build for the long term and I feel Hendrickson is best as a mercenary rental.
 
Anselmheifer said:
Myles Garrett has been on some pretty bad defenses. How many Bengals defenders can you name without checking the internet? Do they have 3 other good defenders?

For the record, I’m in favor of adding Hendrickson. Next offseason, as a FA. What I’m hoping for this year is Jadaveon Clowney.
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I had not even considered Hendrickson as a FA next offseason. A year older but is enticing for sure, good comment.
 
At this point, I hope we don't make any more trades.

I think we need to keep what draft picks we still have. If anything, I'm hopeful that if we decide not to keep Payne after this season, we trade him for a few picks provided Johnny Newton starts to develop/ball out.
 
Agreed.

We already have one of the oldest rosters in the NFL and while the top picks of the past two drafts under Peters look like clear hits, there hasn't been a lot of depth to this point that has emerged.

Now, that may change in 2025 with Jordan Magee coming back from injury as well as someone from the Sinnott/McCaffrey/Hampton group coming on and proving they were good selections.

I think this year's draft with only 5 picks may turn out having more contributors than last year's draft with 9 picks.

Conerly, Amos, Lane, Merritt all look as if they will make the team and at least the first 3 seem to have the projection to regular contributors.

I want to see that accelerate in 2025 and 2026.

I don't want to go into 2026 without a #1 or #2 pick because we made a deal for Hendrickson and watch him play 1-2 years and then decline noticeably due to age, etc.

If Trey was 26 instead of 30/31 I might have a different opinion as he would then be part of the core with Jayden going forward.

But for Washington he is no more than a transitional asset not a guy that is going to be here when Daniels is in his true prime.
 
We only technically have one of the oldest rosters in the NFL bc we have that average being skewed by fairly extreme outliers like Bobby Wagner, Ertz, Tress Way, all on short contracts. And then to a lesser extent Tunsil, McLaurin who we expect to play well for years to come. Overall the roster is quite young and getting younger every year, we just have some aged vets as well. It’s a good balance imo, even though those older players are leaders for us.
 
Conn said:
We only technically have one of the oldest rosters in the NFL bc we have that average being skewed by fairly extreme outliers like Bobby Wagner, Ertz, Tress Way, all on short contracts. And then to a lesser extent Tunsil, McLaurin who we expect to play well for years to come. Overall the roster is quite young and getting younger every year, we just have some aged vets as well. It’s a good balance imo, even though those older players are leaders for us.
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it's a butterfly effect of not having a single 1st round pick on the roster from a span over 4 years / 5 picks. That sets a teams 'age' back multiple years and takes a while to counter-balance.

I also think it highlights the idea that there are trends, but clearly there are multiple ways to build a successful roster. Generally speaking, NOBODY would say that the best practice is to turn over 60% of your roster, ride a rookie QB, have roughly 80% of that roster turnover be veteran, short term deals. That's what we did last year and we made it to the NFC Championship game. 31 NFL teams would realistically look back at a Conference Championship appearance as a successful season. I also am not advocating for this 'template' to be the long term plan either. This roster will continue to evolve and get closer to the more 'traditional' thinking regarding roster building, and with that we'll like see an evolution of the whole mentality regarding game plan / position groups / scheme ... etc.
 
The turnaround here in 2024 was historic.

I don't think I have seen a team turn things around that quickly since the Rams went 5-11 in 1998 and then went 13-3 and won the Super Bowl the next year.

If this was the Dallas Cowboys the national media wouldn't be talking about the Bills or 49ers rebuild or the chances for the Chargers in 2025.

It would be US 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week.
 
Darrell Green Fan said:
I had not even considered Hendrickson as a FA next offseason. A year older but is enticing for sure, good comment.
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He won’t be a FA next year - I can’t see a scenario in which he doesn’t either sign a long term deal with Cincy or get traded before the trade deadline this season. I could see a hold out and it being very messy if a deal or trade don’t get done before the season starts.
 
Anselmheifer said:
www.nbcsports.com

Packers to cut Jaire Alexander

The 28-year-old Alexander will now become an unrestricted free agent.
www.nbcsports.com www.nbcsports.com

Between Alexander and Lattimore, we could probably get two entire intact hamstrings on the field consistently.

Not interested, for the record.
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Commanders announce new team doctor:
1749479391031.png
 
SilentThreat said:
it's a butterfly effect of not having a single 1st round pick on the roster from a span over 4 years / 5 picks. That sets a teams 'age' back multiple years and takes a while to counter-balance.

I also think it highlights the idea that there are trends, but clearly there are multiple ways to build a successful roster. Generally speaking, NOBODY would say that the best practice is to turn over 60% of your roster, ride a rookie QB, have roughly 80% of that roster turnover be veteran, short term deals. That's what we did last year and we made it to the NFC Championship game. 31 NFL teams would realistically look back at a Conference Championship appearance as a successful season. I also am not advocating for this 'template' to be the long term plan either. This roster will continue to evolve and get closer to the more 'traditional' thinking regarding roster building, and with that we'll like see an evolution of the whole mentality regarding game plan / position groups / scheme ... etc.
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It's also an effect of drafting so poorly.

We always had to rely on free agency to fill every hole because for twenty years almost none of our draft picks worked out.
 
I've watched the Lions and Eagles playoff games numerous times this off season. Wagner was awful in the run game, he seemed slow and misjudged alot of plays. I know he is a great leader and last year he made the pro bowl. I think his pro bowl election was mostly on the reputation he has earned over the years. Should we have any interest on the recently released Germaine Pratt as a backup? He is 5 years younger, I can't say I know alot about him except that the Bengals defense was awful as a whole.
 
When healthy, Alexander is one of the best. If we could get a half season of Alexander, then activate Lattimore after JA gets hurt, JA could be back for the playoffs. Ols
 
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