The 2025 Free Agency Thread

[Hail Raiser]

We should resign Terry and some others with a high end salary this year declining through the years with an understanding with the player that this is what we are doing.

I agree. Next offseason we need to decide who is staying and front load the hell out of some contracts, while loading up on future picks, because JD is going to get a huge upfront chunk of guaranteed money, so we can keep building later.

 

[DWinzit]

We should resign Terry and some others with a high end salary this year declining through the years with an understanding with the player that this is what we are doing.

Yes! I was hoping Terry's contract would have already been written that way and set.

 

[Busch1724]

Yes! I was hoping Terry's contract would have already been written that way and set.

This group is competent. There's plenty of time to get it done before training camp.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

How many teams would trade their starting QB today for JD? I'm thinking at least 28. And that's not considering he's on a rookie deal.

I think you may be exaggerating with the *today* but I don't think you're far off. If every year teams could re-draft, there would be a ton of teams watching year-2 with a lot of anticipation. As it is, there is a ton of interest to see how he fares (along with, of course, a ton of actual direct game-planning for him).

In years past, we had interest to see if the team was going to be a squeak into the playoffs type team. That was our ceiling. I am not saying that won't happen this year, but right now the perceived ceiling is Super Bowl. First time since 1993, most likely. However, the floor is also considered low too, because most of our success is tied to a 2nd year QB. It's unique, I feel, in just how much is tied to him; how much of the Ws you attribute directly to the QB and offense here. Mariota played great in the two games, but over the course of a season you don't expect him to play the way JD did.

Taking my team hat off for a moment, it's going to be a REALLY interesting season to see unfold.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

We should resign Terry and some others with a high end salary this year declining through the years with an understanding with the player that this is what we are doing.

Teams attempt to frontload players sometimes and I think (no numbers to prove it) it doesn't work out all of the time; many times (again, no numbers unfortunately, just an impression in my mind) the players end up coming back later complaining about being under-market. The perception ends up being sold as, well I set the market early, or I was the best/worth it, and now I am underpaid. So while it makes some logical sense that way, I don't know if it works out often enough to use as a strategy.

 

[burgold]

Right now, Daniels is in the "Can he do it twice?" camp. We've seen a lot of QBs be they rookies or backups who came out, flashed, and looked like they were about to take over the league. Then in year two, they crashed hard. I think Daniels has a good shot of making good for two reasons: 1) He didn't flash at the end of the year or for a short stretch of games. He was consistently good throughout the year (with a lull while he had the rib injury.) and 2) Daniels has been talking about analyzing his weaknesses and working to get better. From reports, his head hasn't gotten big and he's still grinding at his craft.

If Daniels replicates what he did in his rookie year this year then I think he will deserve to be in that top tier talk. Right now, he is in the media and in hype circles, but I suspect NFL GMs and front offices want to see what he does when teams have a year's worth of film to work with.

 

[Boone]

Yeah - I’m glad you said it. He didn’t ‘flash’. He had one of the greatest rookie seasons in NFL history. Of course he has to keep playing at a high level to deserve being anointed a ‘franchise QB’ but I’m already sold that he is one of the 3 most talented QBs in the league right now. I have zero doubt.

 

[Chris]

I fully expect him to be better this season than last.

 

[Conn]

I fully expect him to be better this season than last.

I agree. And I really don’t think people have spent much time even daring to imagine what that could look like, because last season felt like such a miracle that they don’t even want to breathe in its direction for fear of shattering the reality of it.

People mostly frame our improvement (or lack thereof) around roster moves and the coming schedule. Understandable, those are changing variables. But very few seem to acknowledge that Daniels carried a worse roster to 12-5 and the NFFC and might actually noticeably improve from there. Because, honestly it feels kind of like hubris to expect that. Too good to be true. But he’s a superstar. We’re such a damaged fanbase that we aren’t even properly projecting how damn good he could be, RG3 did a lot of damage to people.

 

[Chris]

I often hear the argument made that DC’s have a seasons worth of Kingsbury’s offense and Daniel’s play
to study.

I have yet to see anyone argue that KK & JD have the same amount to study. Add in Jayden’s progression from inexperienced to experienced rookie, and now on to a young veteran, and I am expecting big things.

 

[Bulldog]

I think Washington and Philly will be playoff teams again in 2025 but both teams will have fewer wins.

Last year almost all the breaks went Washington's way on the route to 12-5. This year's team IMO will be a better fundamental team from the ground up, but luck is finicky and some injuries here or there or scheduling (hard to predict who will be excellent from year to year) could have the team at 9-11 wins.

One thing I find hard to believe is some of the national media predictions that the Giants will be a factor in the NFC East.

The Giants don't have a quarterback and in this division that's going to hurt quite a bit.

 

[Anselmheifer]

Joe Burrow: Trey Hendrickson deserves to get paid what the market is

Early in the offseason, Joe Burrow made it clear that he wanted to see the Bengals reward Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Mike Gesicki, and Trey Hendrickson with new contracts.

www.nbcsports.com

I still think a trade for Hendrickson completes this team. Dynamic players at QB, WR, LT, Edge, LB, hopefully CB. And solid players all across the roster.

I honestly think Hendrickson might take us from a 10 win wild card, to a 12 win team that plays deep into December again.

 

[HoggLife]

Joe Burrow: Trey Hendrickson deserves to get paid what the market is

Early in the offseason, Joe Burrow made it clear that he wanted to see the Bengals reward Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Mike Gesicki, and Trey Hendrickson with new contracts.

www.nbcsports.com

I still think a trade for Hendrickson completes this team. Dynamic players at QB, WR, LT, Edge, LB, hopefully CB. And solid players all across the roster.

I honestly think Hendrickson might take us from a 10 win wild card, to a 12 win team that plays deep into December again.

They say he wants well over 30 mill a year. At that price i just don't want him. And I juat dont see us trading away more draft capitol.

 

[MartinC]

They say he wants well over 30 mill a year. At that price i just don't want him. And I juat dont see us trading away more draft capitol.

It’s less the contract more the assets it would take to trade for him. But edge is the missing piece.

Blue chip positions

QB - JD. Tick
LT - Tunsil. Tick
WR - Terry/Deebo. Tick
CB - Lattimore. TBC but if he is healthy … (also love the Amos pick but let’s see him play before we start talking ‘blue chip’)
Edge - nope.

 

[SkinsLife]

They say he wants well over 30 mill a year. At that price i just don't want him. And I juat dont see us trading away more draft capitol.

trading significant draft capital for a 30y old pass rusher that will want a 3-4 year contract and will most likely start to decline well before that - does not make any sense. On top of that he is primarily a pass rusher only... not much help in the run game. If Peters wanted a pass rusher primarily, he would have kept Fowler at 8mil. Hendrickson is a somewhat better version of Fowler... so is going from 10-15 sacks worth 22more mil per year and several high draft picks?... i highly doubt it.

 

[Primus Porcus]

The team traded for Tunsil and Deebo. AP is clearly not afraid to spend in areas that he deems fit, at a price he's comfortable paying. I dont think we should be surprised that it's May and we dont have Hendrickson on the roster. My personal guess is that its more likely Clowney or Judon end up here..... UNLESS the asking price is more in line with what his value is.

 

[MartinC]

Hendrickson is a somewhat better version of Fowler... so is going from 10-15 sacks worth 22more mil per year and several high draft picks?...

Somewhat better? Hendrickson is coming off back to back 17 sack seasons. He’s in a totally different tier of player compared to Fowler.

That said I don’t disagree with your point about being unlikely to give up significant draft capital for him.

 

[bainesdc]

trading significant draft capital for a 30y old pass rusher that will want a 3-4 year contract and will most likely start to decline well before that - does not make any sense. On top of that he is primarily a pass rusher only... not much help in the run game. If Peters wanted a pass rusher primarily, he would have kept Fowler at 8mil. Hendrickson is a somewhat better version of Fowler... so is going from 10-15 sacks worth 22more mil per year and several high draft picks?... i highly doubt it.

The "somewhat better version of Fowler" has led the league in sacks over the last two years -- with very mid talent surrounding him too.

If the Bengals are willing to get rid of Hendrickson for below what he's worth, then we absolutely need to consider it.

 

[Boone]

The "somewhat better version of Fowler" has led the league in sacks over the last two years -- with very mid talent surrounding him too.

If the Bengals are willing to get rid of Hendrickson for below what he's worth, then we absolutely need to consider it.

Fair take - I’d just add that the factors SkinsLife mentioned are also going to be considered - and will be the reasons Peter’s opts out.

 

[SkinsFTW]

Yeah, if he's pretty much exclusively a pass rusher and below average as a run stopper I'd pass too. Because you already know he expects 32-35M a year, at least.


“He’s a situational pass rusher; a designated pass rusher,” one league source said. “Where he does the most damage is either when you have a lead or in passing situations. Those kind of guys — to me, they may have the numbers but are they worth three starters on your team?”

Bengals are telling Trey Hendrickson what they seemed to be saying at combine. Maybe we should have believed them

Losing Hendrickson could be integral to keeping Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins — and a deeper look at his production could explain the Bengals' approach.

sports.yahoo.com