The Free Agency Thread

[Boone]

Guys - we are literally a month away from Free Agency. While all the talk seems to be around QB and the NFL draft, we must first figure out who we'd most like to see brought in when it comes to available veteran players. A couple things... with 22 current players entering the market as Unrestricted Free Agents, clearly the Front Office has a lot of decisions to make, but l.et's not turn this one into a thread about who we might retain. Obviously our free agency choices may be driven by those decisions, but let's focus on available players on other teams.

Let's talk available free agents and who you'd like to see in Washington. Washington has almost $74 million in projected space, tops in the NFL according to OTC estimates.

Here are PFN's top options by position. Which players strike you as great ones Washington's new braintrust should go after?

QB
1) Kirk Cousins
2) Baker Mayfield
3) Jacoby Brissett
4) Gardner Minshew
5) Joe Flacco
6) Jameis Winston
7) Mason Rudolph
8) Sam Darnold
9) Ryan Tannehill
10) Joshua Dobbs

RB
1) Saquon Barkley
2) Josh Jacobs
3) Tony Pollard
4) Derrick Henry
5) Austin Ekeler
6) D’Andre Swift
7) Zack Moss
8) Devin Singletary
9) Antonio Gibson
10) J.K. Dobbins

WR
1) Tee Higgins
2) Mike Evans
3) Michael Pittman Jr.
4) Calvin Ridley
5) Marquise Brown
6) Gabe Davis
7) Darnell Mooney
8) Curtis Samuel
9) Odell Beckham Jr.
10) Tyler Boyd

TE
1) Dalton Schultz
2) Noah Fant
3) Hunter Henry
4) Mike Gesicki
5) Gerald Everett
6) Colby Parkinson
7) Adam Trautman
8) Harrison Bryant
9) Tanner Hudson
10) Austin Hooper

OT
1) Mike Onwenu
2) Jonah Williams
3) Tyron Smith
4) Mehki Becton
5) Trent Brown
6) Donovan Smith
7) Yosh Nijman
8) George Fant
9) Jermaine Eluemunor
10) Josh Jones

Interior OL
1) Robert Hunt
2) Kevin Dotson
3) Connor Williams
4) Lloyd Cushenberry
5) Jonah Jackson
6) Kevin Zeitler
7) Andre James
8) Ezra Cleveland
9) Aaron Brewer
10) Tyler Biadasz

DL
1) Chris Jones
2) Christian Wilkins
3) Justin Madubuike
4) Leonard Williams
5) DJ Reader
6) Fletcher Cox
7) Grover Stewart
8) Denico Autry
9) Sheldon Rankins
10) Javon Kinlaw

Edge
1) Chris Jones
2) Christian Wilkins
3) Justin Madubuike
4) Leonard Williams
5) DJ Reader
6) Fletcher Cox
7) Grover Stewart
8) Denico Autry
9) Sheldon Rankins
10) Javon Kinlaw

LB
1) Frankie Luvu
2) Patrick Queen
3) Jordyn Brooks
4) Lavonte David
5) Bobby Wagner
6) Willie Gay
7) Drue Tranquill
8) Blake Cashman
9) Azeez Al-Shaair
10) Devin White

CB
1) Jaylon Johnson
2) L’Jarius Sneed
3) Kendall Fuller
4) Chidobe Awuzie
5) Stephon Gilmore
6) Kenny Moore
7) Tavierre Thomas
8) Kristian Fulton
9) Jeff Okudah
10) Steven Nelson

Safety
1) Antoine Winfield Jr.
2) Xavier McKinney
3) Kamren Curl
4) Kyle Dugger
5) Geno Stone
6) Julian Blackmon
7) Jordan Whitehead
8) Jordan Fuller
9) DeShon Elliott
10) Chauncey Gardner-Johnson

 

[burgold]

O line. O line. Oline. O line.
LB
O Line. O line. O Line. O Line.
TE
O Line O Line O Line

If you can't tell I think we should focus on...

Now, we need to focus on O Line in the draft, too, but every opportunity to address and upgrade the O Line is an all hands on deck. Without an o line, you don't have an offense.

 

[Boone]

Yeah, I think we have to start with Adam Peters stated philosophy, you build through the draft, you supplement through free agency. I think that's consistent with how Rivera and Company viewed it, but the problem there was WHO they selected in free agency. Bargain basement shopping was what we tended to do. How much of that was by choice, and how much of it was because top free agents didn't want to play in DC is hard to know. We'll see just how much more attractive Washington is now with the new regime in place than it was the last 4 years.

One general thing - I would far prefer we go all in on 2 or 3 major additions (defined as proven starters who are coming off their first contract) than a bunch of JAGs and backups.

 

[burgold]

I don’t think we need a free agent that’s top dollar, but I do think we need some who grade out as at least good. The problem with last year’s line was that its ceiling was a C- which meant if anyone had a bad day then the line gets a failing grade.

If we fish for FA OL then I want at least a B so on off days we can survive their poor play.

 

[Chris]

We need a real TE (from where ever one is found) for whomever is the QB.

 

[Utah]

I will be very interested in how Kingsbury has grown his offense if he incorporates a true TE. I suspect part of the reason Brian Johnson was asked to join is to help create a new form of the Air Raid mentality in creating an offense that could be a nightmare for defenses. DQ and Whitt will be a huge help in that development.

 

[Bulldog]

This team needs a legit threat at TE.

KC, Baltimore, Detroit, SF, Minnesota, Houston, Dallas all have tight ends that can get downfield and make plays.

Most of these guys are more than 'matador' blocker at TE as Washington had last year.

We had 4 tight ends and 3 of them couldn't block a lick.

 

[Neophyte]

We only need a legit threat at TE if Kingsbury is going to use the TE, something that isn't part of the Air Raid offense as Leach ran it at TT.

Granted, I have not looked at the TE position in AZ under Kingsbury but I don't remember there being a stud there in that timeframe.

 

[Bulldog]

The NFL is a different animal. You can't just take a college offense and install it 'as is' in the NFL with no adjustments or refinements.

That's one of the reasons Chip Kelly was run out of Philly.

He took legit playmakers and traded them away or marginalized them because of his 'vision' of what the perfect scheme looked like, the problem was his scheme in the NFL didn't work.

The smart coaches adapt and take what works and is proven to work when installed and then make alterations and adjustments to add punching power at the next level.

After his stint at Arizona if he is a good coach Kingsbury will have learned a number of things about the NFL that informs his scheme and what advice he provides to Quinn and the GM in re offensive personnel as he works his way back into the NFL.

 

[Boone]

He had Zach Ertz his last 2 seasons and he caught about 56/40 balls those seasons. But yeah, certainly not a history of a TE-heavy offense.

 

[SilentThreat]

1 free agent off the board

 

[Bulldog]

This wasn't unexpected. Most of the 'free agents' that fans are salivating to add to their rosters are going to be franchised or resigned before the draft by their current clubs.

Some exceptions are going to be guys like Tyron Smith, veterans who can still play at a high level but want to win a Super Bowl.

My guess is he ends up in Kansas City to get a ring at 33.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

I’m not surprised at the Bengals franchising Higgins. He still has the potential of a ton of production ahead of him. He’d be the top WR on most teams in the league. But more than anything, I don’t think they wanted to see him sign with KC. You know every big name WR available and even those rumored to be traded are going to be linked to KC. The Bengals don’t want to help further build that dynasty by letting a top WR sign there. I do think they want him to stay in Cincy, but the dollar amount he is asking for may be more than they are willing to spend. In my opinion, this move is defensive as much as it is offensive. We will see if a deal gets done before the summer deadline.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Of the available WR, the only one I’d pursue is Pittman. I think Evans looks to find a team where he can win another ring. So I’m not sure this is the right fit. Everyone below Pittman has issues or just isn’t as good as Samuel. So I’d rather they re-sign Samuel if they are in the WR free agent market.

 

[Bulldog]

The draft has depth at quarterback, tackle and wide receiver.

I don't really see a need to go out on the free agent market and pick up a wideout. We have a veteran leader in McLaurin already under contract so if we draft a good prospect to add to the group with some size I think we will be fine there.

Now, a veteran tight end is another story. We desperately need someone to fill this role on the offense and be a two-way player who can both catch and block.

I just don't want to spend a #1 or high #2 pick on that position.

 

[Neophyte]

 

[Neophyte]

 

[Boone]

I wanted him the previous free agency cycle. He would immediately be our best TE.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Do you know what I like about that? Peters is being honest and open saying we like Curl and want him back. There are no games being played pretending they aren’t sure if they want him back to try and keep his value down. I understand the value of negotiating and not coming out with you top offer right away, but if you want a guy to stay, let him know and don’t play hard to get, because there are other teams that will definitely want him.

 

[Chris]

My buddy with an inauspicious beginning on Free Agency.