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The 2025 Free Agency Thread
- Thread starter Gooseneck
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The other thing that we always need to consider is that the book is not written in the least in year 1. This is the NFL. The expectation of being dominant year 1 is a dangerous game to play because 95% of the time the plug will get pulled and that player will be developed into a 'hit' while we continue to spin our wheels.
Fans see a 3rd round pick and have a 'benchmark' of production they want to see. Football people see a 3rd round pick and consider how that player is going to fit into their 3 - 5 year plan. I wonder how many fans were upset that the Chiefs took Mahomes, while they had Alex Smith. Believed they were 'wasting' a 1st round pick on a guy that 'couldn't get on the field'. How many said the same thing about Aaron Rodgers?
WE on the outside, looking in, want a 3rd round pick to contribute almost immediately, because that's the narrative we've set as fans. We have no idea where Peters and co graded those guys, or even what their plan is for them.
Fans see a 3rd round pick and have a 'benchmark' of production they want to see. Football people see a 3rd round pick and consider how that player is going to fit into their 3 - 5 year plan. I wonder how many fans were upset that the Chiefs took Mahomes, while they had Alex Smith. Believed they were 'wasting' a 1st round pick on a guy that 'couldn't get on the field'. How many said the same thing about Aaron Rodgers?
WE on the outside, looking in, want a 3rd round pick to contribute almost immediately, because that's the narrative we've set as fans. We have no idea where Peters and co graded those guys, or even what their plan is for them.
I think it's different with QBs like Rodgers and Mahomes. I think most fans know it takes a few years for a young QB, especially if they have a vet who is ok to pretty good.
As for the article I do not believe Jon Allen and a conditional 4th will be enough to get Kyle Pitts, even if he has not lived up to his draft status. As for Wagner I am torn. I loved this player for years. He did grade out very well but it just seems we need better to really have a good defense. He had good numbers but did we really see him stuffing the run consistantly this season? This is is strength because we all know he is poor in coverage. We need more speed and more of an impact player there IMO.
I know this is a controverial comment but IMO "great locker room guy" is overrated. Jon Allen is a great locker room guy, at some point you don't keep great locker room guys if you can find someone who is a more productive player. Allen can't get out of here fast enough for me. Wagner is a tougher call because he clearly played well last year. We can discuss the DL all day but run defense is a lot about the linebackers. Luvu is a stud and isn't going anywhere, so that leave Wagner. If these 2 LBs are so solid why was our run defense a sieve?
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the point is that what a player is in their rookie season is not who they are in their careers. Sinnott and McCaffrey may not amount to anything, but I don't think they're beyond development to the point that they can contribute.
Anselmheifer
The Starter
I agree with this, and also think he is, to some degree, replacing some of our better talent with FA. And Wills is not enough of an upgrade at tackle.
I’d keep Wagner, Chinn, Ertz(for sure). We need a solid starter at outside corner, IMHO, to push Mikey inside and to take Lattimore’s spot when he is hurt.
In terms of overall strategy, I would spend aggressively to add impact players at positions of need and leave enough room for the rookies and one more big salary, if someone like Crosby becomes available.
Our window is now. Who knows what things will look like in 2 years. We have a chance to have a top 3 roster in the NFC right now.
And I’d take the same kind of attitude in the draft. Adding players that can have immediate impact in the first 3 rounds. If we want to add developmental players in round 5-7, that’s fine. But we need starters that can fill holes in the first 3 rounds, if we want to maximize our chances next year. And I wouldn’t be afraid to move up to get a guy I wanted in the 1st or second round.
burgold
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Part of me wonders if one of the reasons people refuse to label Terry McLaurin as a number one receiver is because he was a third rounder.
It goes the other way too.
I wonder how many times we (fans) have given up on someone because they were overdrafted.
A guy not being worth his draft position is not worth cutting them. A guy not being one of the best 53 is. If a guy was taken in the 2nd round, but doesn't live up to that, but is still a player that can be a depth guy and can contribute... why cut off your nose to spite your face? The minute the draft is over, their draft status should no longer have any merit on the decision making going forward. Teams can cripple themselves by dumping a guy too soon, or holding on to a guy too long.
NoCalSkins
The UDFA
At this point I want Ertz back on the team because of his hands. Dude made a lot of super tough catches in big time situations & moments. I could see a situation where he is resigned while also upgrading the TE overall (whether it is Sinnott developing further and taking a higher % of reps or bringing in someone new). The main downside to Ertz at this stage of his career is he isn't going to provide a lot of YAC or explosive plays the way some of the premier TE's in the league do, but anytime the team is in the redzone and Ertz can get most of the yards from the route itself, then he should still be able to contribute plenty.
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RWJ
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Ott signed a 3 yr deal so he's here for another 2 seasons.
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Yeah, that Kyle Pitts idea sounds kinda like what a fan would do. He's not the kind of player Daniels needs. He's a slacker. Ertz caught a much higher percentage of targets and obviously put the time in to make such a connection with Daniels.
Ertz may be ancient in comparison and he gets about as much yac as me wearing a prosthetic but he makes the plays. Pitts stalled more drives than he made plays just by being football dumb, and dropping easy passes.
Ertz may be ancient in comparison and he gets about as much yac as me wearing a prosthetic but he makes the plays. Pitts stalled more drives than he made plays just by being football dumb, and dropping easy passes.
Anselmheifer
The Starter
Exactly. I wouldn’t mind trading for Pitts, IF, we kept Ertz. Ertz reminds me a little bit of Travis Kelce. He is clutch. He can beat man coverage, find the hole in the zone, he’s great on 3rd and 4th down and in the red zone, and when you have to have a play, he comes up big.
One of the biggest evolutions of Jayden over the year was his red zone play. In the beginning of the year, Jayden was great between the 20’s, but not as good closer in, especially in goal to go situations. By the end of the year, Jayden was a stone cold killer I. Those situations. And a big part of that I think, was figuring out what he had in Terry and Ertz. I do t think Jayden would have had the year he had without Ertz. Jayden still would have been great, but we would have lost some of those games that Ertz came through big in, in crunch time.
Ertz just feels like a winner. He’s a team first guy, super clutch. Is determined to make big plays when the game is on the line.
Ertz said that he wished he was 22 and was going to play his whole career with Jayden. And I also wish that. I hope we can find comparable players to Ertz and Terry, when their age prevents them from playing the way we are used to seeing.
Oh I understand that. But most of us expect Newton, Coleman (at either T or G), Sinnott, Sainsristill and McCaffery to all hit. And historically that is very improbable, that's all I'm saying.
I can't believe I was semi-critical of Bobby Wagner, who did play well, and went so far as to say a great locker room guy is overrated and got no push back. I wasn't expecting that.
HTTR
The Starter
The locker room guy is overrated comment raised an eyebrow for me, but you did preface it with “I know this is controversial, but…”, and it’s not an outrageous opinion. And the rest of your comment made a lot of sense. We all realize Bobby is nowhere near his physical prime. For me though, considering the other holes we have to fill, I’d like to see them bring him back for another year. I do think his leadership is very important, and it goes beyond just being a locker room guy. He was somewhat of a big brother for Jayden and other young players. Draft his eventual replacement if somebody good falls to you, but otherwise, I think we should wait until next year to upgrade that spot and for now focus on the other positions of need that we’ve been discussing.
HTTR
The Starter
Couldn’t agree more. Kyle Pitts is garbage. Terrible hands, and considered one of the worst route runners in the league. Questionable character, and not a good blocker either. He is definitely not the answer. When I saw the trade for him in the hogs haven piece, I didn’t even want to read any further. No thanks!!
SkinsNumberOne
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In any organizational unit, you cannot message effectively only from the top. In a big family, if the parents are the only one messaging, it doesn't work nearly as well as when you also have the older kids backing up that message.
In the same way, teams need players to have a solid backing of their messages. Words and actions. If you get that kind of follow, that is when magic happens, and the sum is greater than the parts; that's what I think we witnessed here last year, and why Wagner's locker room actions are not just about doing what the coaches are saying, but coming in early, watching film, honing his craft. Along with, by reports, Luvu - and then importantly Jayden himself - you had a core that was ready to overachieve. Yes, keeping those three may be more important than we realize while sitting outside and having less exposure to the effects. Frankly, that is also why cleaning house from dudes who had their habits set was also probably more important than we realize. It's hard to shake habits in a place they are set - it's part of why a new team can revitalize a career too.
I think RR had some guys who were saying and doing some good things, but I don't think he had the type of locker room backing that Quinn got, and that was due to DQ himself, the people DQ had to work with - there were a lot of ingredients there. They had their fingers on the pulse of this team. Having JD inject excitement into Sundays helped keep the fire going too, I am sure.
They absolutely need to be able to count on individuals to carry the torch; I am not sure it's present right now.
SkinsNumberOne
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I think I heard some vague criticism of his work ethic but new to me is:
- terrible hands. Really?
- one of the worst route runners.
- character
- not a good blocker (I think I kind of thought this but not sure I read this much)
You made 3 big claims there that I hadn't really heard; in fact I thought his hands were one of his biggest assets.
HTTR
The Starter
They were supposed to be when he was drafted, but he has dropped way too many. Maybe more of a concentration issue than bad hands, I don’t know.
Probably not fair of me to question his character since I’ve never met the man. He just seems aloof at times, and when somebody underachieves that badly, it just makes you wonder about work ethic, etc. He just has way too much physical talent to play this bad.
D’Pablo
Camp Fodder
For me, I’d retain Chinn, Wagner, Ertz, Way, Dyami Brown, and Seibert.
I’d try to sign Jed Wills, Mekhi Becton, Divine Deablo, Chris Godwin, Josh Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo, and Carlton Davis.
I’d try to sign Jed Wills, Mekhi Becton, Divine Deablo, Chris Godwin, Josh Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo, and Carlton Davis.
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