The 2025 Free Agency Thread

[SkinsLife]

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.

Sacks are a fluky number to get behind... he was playing with one of the best Os in the game where other teams get behind early and are forced to pass the ball to catch up. (best opportunity for sacks as a DE) Their Run D was still horrendous. Even if he is the best pass rusher in the game, sacks alone hasnt help their D get better. He had 4 against the raiders.. cmon
Furthermore... on a completely different D he might not get anywhere close to 17. Would i like to have him on the team.. absolutely, but not at the draft cap and money that it will require.

 

[Anselmheifer]

Sacks are a fluky number to get behind... he was playing with one of the best Os in the game where other teams get behind early and are forced to pass the ball to catch up. (best opportunity for sacks as a DE) Their Run D was still horrendous. Even if he is the best pass rusher in the game, sacks alone hasnt help their D get better. He had 4 against the raiders.. cmon
Furthermore... on a completely different D he might not get anywhere close to 17. Would i like to have him on the team.. absolutely, but not at the draft cap and money that it will require.

He was a 1st team All Pro last year and led the league in sacks the last two years. He’s had 13.5 sacks or more 4 of the last 5 years.

I can’t believe people anre getting ano in their heads anbout this. Hendrickson is exactly the thing this defense is missing. Maybe it’s not worth giving up the cost in draft picks, but that has nothing to do with whether he is a great player and fit.

Go watch his highlights against the Giants. He absolutely abused Andrew Thomas last year. We could absolutely use that.

 

[RedWolf]

He was a 1st team All Pro last year and led the league in sacks the last two years. He’s had 13.5 sacks or more 4 of the last 5 years.

I can’t believe people anre getting ano in their heads anbout this. Hendrickson is exactly the thing this defense is missing. Maybe it’s not worth giving up the cost in draft picks, but that has nothing to do with whether he is a great player and fit.

Go watch his highlights against the Giants. He absolutely abused Andrew Thomas last year. We could absolutely use that.

I think he would be a great asset to the team the problem is the cost of draft picks and/or players that would hinder us

 

[SkinsFTW]

Nobody said he's not good. He just made little difference.

I looked up his sack stats last year he had almost all of his sacks vs garbage QBs. 3.5 on Fields. 4 on whatever garbage QB the Raiders trotted out that day. 3 on Winston or Watson. 13.5 total sacks vs garbage teams going nowhere. 7 games with 0 sacks 2 with.5

1 on Daniels and 2 on Mahomes, both losses. Are we really going to trade away a 2nd or something and then pay that 35+M a year? He might be a 30+ y/o upgraded Orakpo.

 

[Fat Bastard]

Hendrickson wants way too much money. I understand that is the market now, but personally do not want to spend a hefty sum on a 30 year old. Jmo.

 

[SkinsFTW]

I'll give him some credit now though. He did have 3.5 sacks in 4 post season games the year the Bengals went to the SB. But that's all, he also had only 5 tackles in those 4 games and those 3.5 sacks count as tackles.

Considering there are 65+ defensive plays a game generally. I'm not so sure that a guy who makes 5 plays in 260+ opportunities is going to be worth 30+ Mil a year.

But we should find out soon what AP thinks.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

I believe the market will be a 2nd. I'm not going into next year's draft with only a 1st before the 5th round. It's just that simple. Chasing aging stars and not building for the future is how they used to do things around here. We've already done that several times, keep the picks and the cap space.

 

[SkinsFTW]

If they can get him for a 2027 3rd rounder and then pay him 25M a year for 2 years I'd be down for it, but that's never going to happen. Somebody is going to be willing to pay the guy 30+.

 

[HTTR]

I usually fall on the side let’s get him when it comes to one of these star players becoming available, and this one is no different. My theory is always go for it when you have a shot, because the future is never promised no matter how good you think your team is set up. Just look at the Orioles right now. But you guys have convinced me that Hendrickson is just not going to be worth the investment required. Would be different of course if we hadn’t already traded away some of our picks, but we did.

I don’t have high hopes for our defense improving much this year. No worries though, if it takes another year or even two to get it where it needs to be, I can live with that. In the meantime, we will enjoy Jayden and the O leading us to shoot out wins week after week.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

I usually fall on the side let’s get him when it comes to one of these star players becoming available, and this one is no different. My theory is always go for it when you have a shot, because the future is never promised no matter how good you think your team is set up. Just look at the Orioles right now. But you guys have convinced me that Hendrickson is just not going to be worth the investment required. Would be different of course if we hadn’t already traded away some of our picks, but we did.

I don’t have high hopes for our defense improving much this year. No worries though, if it takes another year or even two to get it where it needs to be, I can live with that. In the meantime, we will enjoy Jayden and the O leading us to shoot out wins week after week.

I don't think a year or even 2 will turn this defense into a champioinship level defense. Way way way too many needs and limited picks next draft. Once Wagner retires the LBs are ? safettes are not impact players and then there is the D Line. Now the offense may take them far but every great offensive champion I can think of (Chiefs, Old Niners) also had bad ass defenses.

 

[Anselmheifer]

I think he would be a great asset to the team the problem is the cost of draft picks and/or players that would hinder us

The cost could be too much. Especially since we may be able to get him next year in FA and keep our picks. But, the fit would be great.

I don't think a year or even 2 will turn this defense into a champioinship level defense. Way way way too many needs and limited picks next draft. Once Wagner retires the LBs are ? safettes are not impact players and then there is the D Line. Now the offense may take them far but every great offensive champion I can think of (Chiefs, Old Niners) also had bad ass defenses.

My response here is not about Hendrickson.

Historically, it has been easy for teams to quickly turn around a defense using free agency. And I would argue that we have some young talent, and some prime aged veterans to build around. Sainristil, Amos, Johnny Newton, Luvu. There are usually pass rushers and CB's and safeties available in FA and via trade. I think they really like Magee at MLB, but I would need to see him stay healthy to pass judgment. But, regarding health, he didn't struggle with injuries in college. I fully expect us to field a top 10-12 defense next year.

The other thing about team defense, is that it really helps a defense when you have a great offense.

 

[NickyJ]

"The missing piece" to me makes it sound like a run deep into the playoffs is assured with that piece. I think that is a lot to be dumped on one single DE. The team has improved, but we don't know by how much. CB is something we hope that we have improved, but hope is all we've got. The interior D-Line is a question mark that depends on hope for our players having rebounds.

I'd love to finally have a dominant defensive lineman who controls a game like we've watched other teams get. But I don't buy that the rest of the team is in such good shape that he's the last piece we need.

To me, the piece we'll need in the future is what we need to keep some cap-space aside for: The LB who will take up Bobby Wagner's role. I love Wagner, but he'll be 35 at the end of this season.

 

[Anselmheifer]

Report: Terry McLaurin not at team's offseason workouts Wednesday

Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin did not participate in the team's voluntary offseason program Wednesday, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.

www.nbcsports.com

Didn't see this posted anywhere. I wonder if this means his contract extension is going to be done soon.

 

[SkinsLife]

I dont see how this D can not improve this year... at least on paper
1. Significantly better Corner play (biggest weakness from last year) high draft pick, Laltimore healthy, much better depth
2. Bigger/ better DTs with more depth - should help against the run (2nd biggest weakness from last year)
3. 2nd year in the scheme should help
4. only loss was an avg level pass rusher in Fowler.. who was terrible at run stopping, so not much of a loss. I believe they will still add a DE before the season, after roster cut downs

biggest impact is a much harder schedule... we should still make the playoffs even if its with a worse record.

 

[Primus Porcus]

I dont see how this D can not improve this year... at least on paper
1. Significantly better Corner play (biggest weakness from last year) high draft pick, Laltimore healthy, much better depth
2. Bigger/ better DTs with more depth - should help against the run (2nd biggest weakness from last year)
3. 2nd year in the scheme should help
4. only loss was an avg level pass rusher in Fowler.. who was terrible at run stopping, so not much of a loss. I believe they will still add a DE before the season, after roster cut downs

biggest impact is a much harder schedule... we should still make the playoffs even if its with a worse record.

I think this is the biggest point that i hope our fanbase keeps in mind.

It's very possible that we have a 'better' team, 'better' defense, 'better' season, but it does not result in more wins.

I don't know that i'm necessarily sold on the Kinlaw move, but i have to trust Peters and co. I also don't know that they're 'panicking' about Edge, as they're likely already game planning for life without. It really wouldn't surprise me if we didnt add an Edge of some sort, but I don't think i'm sold on it being a huge deal.

 

[Chris 44]

I dont see how this D can not improve this year... at least on paper
1. Significantly better Corner play (biggest weakness from last year) high draft pick, Laltimore healthy, much better depth
2. Bigger/ better DTs with more depth - should help against the run (2nd biggest weakness from last year)
3. 2nd year in the scheme should help
4. only loss was an avg level pass rusher in Fowler.. who was terrible at run stopping, so not much of a loss. I believe they will still add a DE before the season, after roster cut downs

biggest impact is a much harder schedule... we should still make the playoffs even if its with a worse record.

Only other notable loss I can think of is Chinn, will be interesting to see if there is any dip in production with him gone though I personally don't think there will be.

 

[bowhunter]

I t It really wouldn't surprise me if we didnt add an Edge of some sort, but I don't think i'm sold on it being a huge deal.

Like sex and money, a strong pass rush is something you don't fully appreciate until you don't have any. Remember when Rivera had a strong O-line and we let the pieces slowly get away without replacing them with the same quality? I have that same vibe

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

Like sex and money, a strong pass rush is something you don't fully appreciate until you don't have any. Remember when Rivera had a strong O-line and we let the pieces slowly get away without replacing them with the same quality? I have that same vibe

Wait, when did we last have a "strong pass rush" -- 2020 maybe? Maybe Chase's rookie year, until he was against Wirfs and got shut down. This is kind of why I also am less sold on the big names or "strong pass rusher" - I think a good DC can find ways to manufacture enough pressure with "enough talent" on the line. We may have enough talent there across the defense to manufacture pressure.

It can also be a factor against making the QB hold the ball a tick longer because you figure out how to take away his first look. There are many aspects to it beyond just one guy necessarily; especially when "your one guy" gets dominated by Wirfs and you are on the outside looking in. Still burns me. I am guessing somewhere in the recesses of Heinicke's brain (and maybe Scott Turner's?) it burns him too.

 

[Faithful Fan]

Wait, when did we last have a "strong pass rush" -- 2020 maybe? Maybe Chase's rookie year, until he was against Wirfs and got shut down.

There was a time not that long ago when we had four or five first-round picks on the defensive line. Kerrigan, Sweat, Young, Payne, and Allen were a formidable group, at least on paper, and occasionally even in actual games. I remember a Thanksgiving game in Dallas where they dominated.

 

[Primus Porcus]

Like sex and money, a strong pass rush is something you don't fully appreciate until you don't have any. Remember when Rivera had a strong O-line and we let the pieces slowly get away without replacing them with the same quality? I have that same vibe

Im not saying i dont think we have room for improvement, just that I don't 'expect' them to make a move at this point. It's May 22. I imagine Whitt and Quinn are already working on playbooks and alignments because they're going to be looking at what the scheme is going to look like in 2025. I would 'guess' at this point they're creating a playbook based on what we currently have under roster, and once they have a true idea what they're planning, they'll look to supplement a fit instead of keying on a specific name. It could be a Clowney or Miller, or it could be someone else we're not even thinkin of, but they fill a specific role they're looking at.