The 2025 Free Agency Thread

Year One: We need a left tackle. Our line sucks. Do everything we can to solve this problem.
I heard some dingus call into 106.7 a week or two ago complaining about the Tunsil trade, about how they didn't address the OL last year so they had to double down on it this year. His main complaint: we didn't take Rosengarten (decent RT) or Patrick Paul in Miami (horrible). He completely ignored the fact that Coleman was a steal in the 3rd round--who was did well at LT and will be a monster guard (Brandon Scherff/Sam Cosmi, maybe better). Now we have Tunsil and Conerly? What's to complain about?

Point is fans are dumb, especially ones who call into radio stations.

As for the pass rush--I forget who said it, I think it was someone on the Galdi podcast, but the team believes they can create a pass rush from what they have--blitzing, situational rushes, etc. Similar to what they did last year. The Eagles edges were not some pass rush demons either--they had 0 top 32 pass rushers from their edges, per PFF (their pressure comes up the middle). One caveat, I am becoming more and more questioning of their DL grades--Jalen Carter and Jordyn Davis are sub-60 grade run defenders. I find that very hard to believe.

And lest we forget, this was our CB room Week 1 last year:
BSJ
Sanristil
Igbinoghene (I call him IggyBiggy because I cannot prounce his last name)
Davis

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^^^ Regarding the pass rush, it should improve with healthy a healthy Lattimore and McGee along with all other defensive additions. There has been a lot of negative talk about Kinlaw but one thing he brings is a higher level of athleticism to the group which has been lacking. I am guessing they plan to focus more on that than how the Jets used him. I do believe there will be more blitz packages and defensive moving around than we saw last year. We should be faster and bigger than last year
 
Point is fans are dumb, especially ones who call into radio stations.
Yes. Yes they are. Does anybody remember Dr. Sabah who called and emailed every radio station trying to convince everybody who would listen [REDACTED] wasn't a no talent ass clown?

I hated call in segments on the radio. Which is why I listen to no radio shows anymore, with the slight exception of Bram's show, which is more of a podcast on radio than a radio show.

I listen to Galdi, Bram, Ben Standig and Keim's podcasts. I don't have to suffer the fools who dial into any of the 106.7 or 980 drek.
 
I finally figured out what my point is. Whether or not a GM is great, good, or terrible isn’t dependent on how a couple of players work out (with the possible exception of QB which our guy already knocked out of the park). It’s the body of work and how that translates to success on the field that determines it. We have to trust Peters generally knows what he’s doing in most cases and expect some hiccups and WTF’s along the way.

I trust AP knows an ocean more than me about everything football related. I’m still going to score myself as I go along. So I’ll see a move like Kinlaw, scratch my head and say something like it’s a bit too much money for that sort of guy, not a difference maker and I don’t see it, but then pull back and expect to be taught a lesson in how I’m wrong.

In older days, I was actually smarter than the people in charge. A whole hell of a lot of us were, probably including you. So back then I’d lose my shit over stupid moves that were obviously stupid (before I stopped caring altogether).

I’m gonna keep having my takes and they won’t always agree with what AP does, but unless this situation takes a hard turn south, it will always come from a place of like, recording why I’m dumb rather than dying on hills of resistance.
 
I trust AP knows an ocean more than me about everything football related. I’m still going to score myself as I go along. So I’ll see a move like Kinlaw, scratch my head and say something like it’s a bit too much money for that sort of guy, not a difference maker and I don’t see it, but then pull back and expect to be taught a lesson in how I’m wrong.

In older days, I was actually smarter than the people in charge. A whole hell of a lot of us were, probably including you. So back then I’d lose my shit over stupid moves that were obviously stupid (before I stopped caring altogether).

I’m gonna keep having my takes and they won’t always agree with what AP does, but unless this situation takes a hard turn south, it will always come from a place of like, recording why I’m dumb rather than dying on hills of resistance.

You have a very mature mindset and I'm actually surprised I dont see more fans have the same view.

Prior regimes.. 100% understandable. We were truly led by some truly incompetent people.

Now? After our complete turnaround this year, I can only sit back and have full trust in our organization. When I see others endlessly complain this offseason, I cant help but think they need to know their place and keep their mouth shut :LOL:

When something unexpected that happens, I now just try to understand the "why" it was done. I was also confused by the Kinlaw acquisition, but considering last year's FA class was the best we've had in several decades, I'm more than happy to hold judgement and see what the team is cookin.
 
I am not even saying Kinlaw is bad or we shouldn’t have gotten him. I am wondering purely if we overpaid. That question is in a different dimension of evaluating supply/demand. Maybe it means Kinlaw’s agent or Kinlaw himself did some good negotiating, but I would guess the biggest meaning is AP really wanted Kinlaw specifically.

The “why Kinlaw” type of question is less the issue for many, as much as “why Kinlaw at that price.”

When we don’t define the prices properly for players, things can get out of hand in the team because internally it shifts player expectations a lot on salaries. Anyway I think this is where AP and DQ work so well together (and it is critical), so I do worry less about this. It is unproven by these guys but based on what we have seen/heard I expect heavy accountability.

Hopefully Kinlaw won’t be a test of that and will rather end up a value who more than lives up to the contract.
 
AP loves him some one-year contracts. The fact that he even decided to go with a multiyear is meaningful. There's no question in my mind that Peters actually wanted Kinlaw. As for overpaying, I've sort of given up on the concept. With the way the cap has risen, even vet minimum feels like overpaying now so who knows what market rates really are anymore or how much salary inflation happens from year to year. Remember how just a few years ago, Cousins 40 million dollars a year was an obscene amount of money that broke the Vikings budget and made it impossible for them to build a team around him? Now, forty million is cheap and may not be enough to sign an average QB to a multiyear deal.
 
AP loves him some one-year contracts. The fact that he even decided to go with a multiyear is meaningful. There's no question in my mind that Peters actually wanted Kinlaw. As for overpaying, I've sort of given up on the concept. With the way the cap has risen, even vet minimum feels like overpaying now so who knows what market rates really are anymore or how much salary inflation happens from year to year. Remember how just a few years ago, Cousins 40 million dollars a year was an obscene amount of money that broke the Vikings budget and made it impossible for them to build a team around him? Now, forty million is cheap and may not be enough to sign an average QB to a multiyear deal.
Could not agree more! As Al Galdi likes to say, today’s overpay is tomorrow’s bargain. Unless we were desperately strapped for cap room this year, I don’t see the point in worrying about whether we “overpaid“ for Kinlaw. The answer is… Of course we did! It’s free agency—it’s always going to be an over pay when you sign a veteran player who’s looking to move on for the best contract possible. And unfortunately, after several years of horrific drafting, we are in a position where we’re going to need to bring in free agents to fill out the roster. But we have the huge advantage of massively under paying a great quarterback. So for now I have no problem with putting up a few extra bucks beyond what seems comfortable to make sure you get the guy that you want.
 
Kinlaw is really only a 2 year deal--they can get out of it with a $6.6m dead cap hit, if I am reading spotrac correctly. To burgold 's point, Kinlaw got less than Bryce Huff, who was basically last year's Josh Sweat, who did diddly poo this year with the Eagles. And, oof, that dead cap hit for him through 2027 is bad. Jon Allen and Chase Young both got far more than Kinlaw did.

Reality is a lot of this year's FA gold will be next year's FA bust.
 
Listening to Keim earlier talking about this years D. Specifically talking DE, he brought up the stat that out of the top 10 teams defending the run 9 made the playoffs. Of the bottom ten, only one made the playoffs, Washington. Thinking they realize that and were extremely aware of upgrading the rush defense and that edge was a need but not the true code red as was rush defense. If end could have been addressed reasonably priced, draft position etc, they would have, they just had a bigger priority this off season.
 
Listening to Keim earlier talking about this years D. Specifically talking DE, he brought up the stat that out of the top 10 teams defending the run 9 made the playoffs. Of the bottom ten, only one made the playoffs, Washington. Thinking they realize that and were extremely aware of upgrading the rush defense and that edge was a need but not the true code red as was rush defense. If end could have been addressed reasonably priced, draft position etc, they would have, they just had a bigger priority this off season.
That's a big reason that I want Clowney so badly.

Force teams to throw and you can get aggressive. Ground games control the game.

I am really high on Amos and along with Sain, Lattimore and Quan, our secondary should be pretty darn good.
 
Here's DE AP went after and so far looks like a good thing we didn't sign him. There's always that big risk reward with Bosa

Bills head coach Sean McDermott said EDGE Joey Bosa suffered a calf injury.
The oft-injured Bosa is done for the team’s spring workouts but has a chance to return for training camp, McDermott said. The Bills in March signed Bosa, 29, to a one-year deal worth $12.6 million after the Chargers let him walk in free agency. Bosa in 2024 had 34 quarterback pressures and six sacks. He could be an important piece for Buffalo’s defense if he can stay healthy in 2025. That’s always a big if for Bosa, who has averaged around six missed games per season during his NFL career.


 
Bosa is only 29. It's amazing how the body can just fall apart.
 
I’m probably way off base on this, but I always wonder about possible previous steroid use when guys like that have their bodies start to fall apart early. Who knows. Just glad he’s not our problem.
 
I am not even saying Kinlaw is bad or we shouldn’t have gotten him. I am wondering purely if we overpaid. That question is in a different dimension of evaluating supply/demand. Maybe it means Kinlaw’s agent or Kinlaw himself did some good negotiating, but I would guess the biggest meaning is AP really wanted Kinlaw specifically.

The “why Kinlaw” type of question is less the issue for many, as much as “why Kinlaw at that price.”

When we don’t define the prices properly for players, things can get out of hand in the team because internally it shifts player expectations a lot on salaries. Anyway I think this is where AP and DQ work so well together (and it is critical), so I do worry less about this. It is unproven by these guys but based on what we have seen/heard I expect heavy accountability.

Hopefully Kinlaw won’t be a test of that and will rather end up a value who more than lives up to the contract.
When you compare Kinlaws contract to the rest of the free agents who signed this offseason, it really isn't outlandish.

Milton Williams - 26m/yr
Jonathan Allen - 17m/yr
Tershawn Wharton - 15m/yr
Javon Hargrave - 15m/yr
Javon Kinlaw - 15m/yr
Dalvin Tomlinson - 14.5m/yr
Grady Jarrett - 14.25m/yr

He got paid the market price for a starting DT. While the other DTs who got paid in the same range objectively has done more on the field, Kinlaw has far and away the highest physical upside at 6'5 330lbs. This is a bet on his upside and Peters has said he believes he will develop into an even better player.
 
AP would you please just sign one of these edge rushers?? We need something to talk about! 😁😁
 
AP loves him some one-year contracts. The fact that he even decided to go with a multiyear is meaningful. There's no question in my mind that Peters actually wanted Kinlaw. As for overpaying, I've sort of given up on the concept. With the way the cap has risen, even vet minimum feels like overpaying now so who knows what market rates really are anymore or how much salary inflation happens from year to year. Remember how just a few years ago, Cousins 40 million dollars a year was an obscene amount of money that broke the Vikings budget and made it impossible for them to build a team around him? Now, forty million is cheap and may not be enough to sign an average QB to a multiyear deal.
There is truth to this but you truly have to be wary. In fact, the "overpay" includes the multiyear aspect, and it sticks out; guys look at each other and wonder "why not me" and that is a legitimate beef. If they have a good attitude, it can work out - along with good communication. However, when you give deals that are pretty confusing/inconsistent, it makes that culture management job HARDER. That's just the reality of psychology.
 

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