The 2025 Free Agency Thread

[burgold]

Sigh. The grass is always greener....

And if Higgins didn't have Chase to absorb the double teams and a QB like Burrow for his whole career, he might be JAG.

 

[DWinzit]

Sigh. The grass is always greener....

And if Higgins didn't have Chase to absorb the double teams and a QB like Burrow for his whole career, he might be JAG.

Perhaps. He has always been consistent with good numbers at Clemson and Cincy, and whether Chase or Burrow are in or out of the lineup. What a 2022 draft with Burrow then Higgins. He is a different type of big bodied receiver that can line up anyplace.

 

[skinsinparadise]

We also have adults running the team now, not leaking rumors and crap to the media to make themselves look better.

That's a great point.

Terry is taking some direct and indirect shots at the organization. And the team just absorbs the hits and is 100% classy in response both publicly and privately.

The old regime, including even Ron but definitely with Bruce-Dan, etc would have leaked a bunch of stuff - whatever hits them.

 

[Hail Raiser]

I'm not sure what the best course of action with him is. In no order, trade him for a day 2 pick and maybe a player, over pay him, let him walk next year and get a comp pick. I think over paying him is the least likely and I don't think the team wants that tension all season long.

Ultimately, I assume they get a deal done and if he's making $32 mill at 33yo, it probably won't feel like $20 does now, but it'll be close as long as the money isn't hurting the cap.

When being a 4.3 WR is your strength, it doesn't matter how great of a tough catch guy you've been when you slow down. It's not like he's going to fill a Mike Evans roll when he's older and he's not pulling Tyreek Hill speed.

I love Terry. He's been the heart of the offense for a long time, but now that's Daniels. I'm a lot more interested in what Deebo, LMC and what Fast Lane are going to do this year. Im more excited about Sinnott than Ertz, but like Terry, Ertz production is tough to match, but I'm not paying Ertz like he's Kelce either.

 

[Bulldog]

Terry’s agent is evidently the Scott Boras of the NFL.

The Bengals money in their Big Three on offense guarantees they will be fun to watch, but I don’t know if you will see them raise a Lombardi Trophy anytime soon.

The Chiefs have kept WR salaries down to help pay for Mahomes and then targeted high picks for defense.

That seems to be the winning formula.

Trading Tyreek Hill allowed KC to afford to pay Chris Jones and Trent McDuffie.

 

[Hail Raiser]

I feel like I'm on the bad mouthing side of this, against Terry and I'm not. It wouldn't shock me to see Terry put up JJ or Chase numbers now that he doesn't have to do everything, I just don't see that as a possibility down the road.

The East has to have one of the best 4 pairs of WRs. I'd rank ours 3rd ahead of the Giants.

 

[Hail Raiser]

Terry’s agent is evidently the Scott Boras of the NFL.

The Bengals money in their Big Three on offense guarantees they will be fun to watch, but I don’t know if you will see them raise a Lombardi Trophy anytime soon.

The Chiefs have kept WR salaries down to help pay for Mahomes and then targeted high picks for defense.

That seems to be the winning formula.

Trading Tyreek Hill allowed KC to afford to pay Chris Jones and Trent McDuffie.

Maybe. Eagles paid Hurts, both WRs, the TE, RB and they're the only team with more than two $20+ per OL.

They paid Baun, but the rest of their D are incredibly young. Great drafts.

 

[Primus Porcus]

Just a heads up folks, one of our awesome members stared a thread dedicated to Terry so lets shift the convo over there and leave this one to actual free agents.

 

[Bulldog]

Terry may be a free agent.................next year

 

[WCommandersfan25]

Terry may be a free agent.................next year

This is the main reason he's trying to get the big deal now. Part of me wonders if he thinks his stats decline this year also getting Deebo, Lane, Brooks, and McCaffrey in year 2, so he wants the big deal now. Sinnot may be a factor also. Situation has already grown tiresome.

 

[Bulldog]

It's the normal ying/yang of the NFL.

Unless you are a player who is putting up league leading level stats or have been part of Super Bowl teams as a major contributor it is difficult at the WR position or RB position to get paid megabucks.

There are just too many of these guys that come out each year in the draft and are available in free agency or via trade.

Mahomes and others like Elway have proven over the years you don't need the absolute best WR in the NFL to win the Super Bowl if you have the right quarterback.

 

[WCommandersfan25]

Mahomes and others like Elway have proven over the years you don't need the absolute best WR in the NFL to win the Super Bowl if you have the right quarterback.

Exactly. We have the elite qb and now we have the elite tackles for pass protection also with Tunsil and Connerly. They will allow more guys to get open by giving JD5 more time. Lane is a legit 4.34 guy and everyone knows what Deebo does with yac. Think Sinnot gets in the mix too this year.

 

[bainesdc]

Man i would LOVE for us to take a hard look at Treylon Burks and see if there is a way to bring him in while he recovers from his collarbone injury.

 

[Bulldog]

Maybe. Eagles paid Hurts, both WRs, the TE, RB and they're the only team with more than two $20+ per OL.

They paid Baun, but the rest of their D are incredibly young. Great drafts.

Yes, but AJ Brown and Devonta Smith are better receivers than Terry McLaurin.

And Jayden Daniels came into the NFL as the #2 overall pick and has a higher profile than Jalen Hurts did back in 2020. Chances are Daniels second contract breaks records in the NFL. He has already shown he doesn't need AJ Brown and Saquon Barkley to put this team in the postseason.

 

[mistertim]

Man i would LOVE for us to take a hard look at Treylon Burks and see if there is a way to bring him in while he recovers from his collarbone injury.

Er...why? He sucks. He's a 1st round bust who has butterfingers, is slow, and runs crappy routes.

 

[Bulldog]

Burks is not going to make a difference here. And the last thing we need is a guy that sits on IR and collects a paycheck for half the season.

 

[Conn]

 

[Anselmheifer]

Boooooooo!

 

[Boone]

I think the problem with TM’s ‘strategy’ is that in trying to get a ‘max dollar’ salary so he can feel ‘respected’, he risks the team refusing to trade him to a team willing to open the checkbook (assuming such a team even exists) and also risks getting nowhere close to what he thinks he’s worth in Washington for the next several seasons. Why? Because Washington has ALL the leverage. They can easily elect not to extend him and then franchise him all at a huge discount compared to what McLaurin is apparently demanding.

What competent Front Office opts to pay through the nose for a WR on the wrong side of 30 when they don’t have to?

McLaurin and his agent are not playing this smart.

 

[mistertim]

I think the problem with TM’s ‘strategy’ is that in trying to get a ‘max dollar’ salary so he can feel ‘respected’, he risks the team refusing to trade him to a team willing to open the checkbook (assuming such a team even exists) and also risks getting nowhere close to what he thinks he’s worth in Washington for the next several seasons. Why? Because Washington has ALL the leverage. They can easily elect not to extend him and then franchise him all at a huge discount compared to what McLaurin is apparently demanding.

What competent Front Office opts to pay through the nose for a WR on the wrong side of 30 when they don’t have to?

McLaurin and his agent are not playing this smart.

They really aren't. And it's not just monetary loss that Terry is now facing. He's losing respect with the fans, losing respect with the FO, and I wouldn't be surprised if he's losing respect with some of the other players - not for wanting to get paid, but for the way he's going about it and seemingly making everything about himself.

Not only can we franchise him next season if need be, but the team can also put him back on the Reserve/Did Not Report list if he tries to hold out for the season, so he can't come back for a few games in order to accrue a season and be a potential FA next year; he'd still be on his current contract. So unless Terry is ok with just sitting around or possibly retiring, he has almost zero leverage.