NFL News Official 2025 NFL Free Agency Thread

[Dec54]

Can't we just Milton Williams him

Maybe trying to.

 

[stelfans]

My one criticism of what we've done so far is not addressing the O Line too much yet. The Bears made it a priority to give Caleb Williams protection and set their stall out to do so; and did it well. For all the talk of the trenches, we haven't done the same. It's early so this is a temporary complaint hopefully, but is just something that is gnawing at me. Hopefully by the end of the day it will be less of an issue.

I guess maybe they feel a little differently about the players? Maybe coaching was a big problem in their view?
I wanted Jenkins but its troublesome that chicago would let him go, and its weird Robinson hasnt signed yet.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

My one criticism of what we've done so far is not addressing the O Line too much yet. The Bears made it a priority to give Caleb Williams protection and set their stall out to do so; and did it well. For all the talk of the trenches, we haven't done the same. It's early so this is a temporary complaint hopefully, but is just something that is gnawing at me. Hopefully by the end of the day it will be less of an issue.

...but their moves were interior OL where we're not as needy.

 

[TommyD4207]

That screams Patriots starting LT to me.

Nah, he would have had to have been a guard in college.

 

[manxman2601]

...but their moves were interior OL where we're not as needy.

I don't agree. I think we could add at LG and C.

 

[Wozzy]

My remaining free agent wish list:

OT - Jedrick Wills, Oli Udoh, Mekhi Becton
DT - Maliek Collins,
FS – Jonathan Jones
K - Joey Slye

 

[JohnJH]

To a first approximation, federal taxes are the same. It's the state taxes that are an issue.

Funny you say that. In California, a man won a 2 Billion Dollar Lottery Prize, After taxes, the lump sum payout was LESS that a half billion. Most of the 1 and a half billion dollars in taxes were California State Taxes. The IRS actually took a small percentage by comparison. If I'd won that same prize here in Wisconsin, I would have taken home over 1 and a half billion after taxes.

 

[jmt57]

I'm thinking that Alaric Jackson and Ronnie Stanley must be having some major buyer's remorse right now, wishing they had waited a few more days and hit free agency.

After seeing the contract Dan Moore received, they'll probably fire their agents.

 

[Rob0729]

Sign Becton to play LT. Draft Will Campbell at #4 to play LG initially.

Your week 1 OL is Becton / Campbell / Strange / Onwenu / Moses. If Becton flops, you can kick Campbell out to LT and give him a shot there.

Onwenu's deal is set up that he's a cut candidate next year. Strange is a FA. Moses seems like a stop gap dressed up as a 3 year deal so could be one-and-done. Still a lot of flux there. But Becton and Campbell give you two cracks at finding a LT with the worst case scenario being they end up your starting guards. You can take more cracks at it in the draft too with later round OTs. RT is still a long term need too so more competition to the mix is good.

As an aside, Josh Myers would be a good signing. Give him a 2 year deal where you pay for his rehab this year and then next year you have him as insurance in case Strange walks as a FA or you end up moving him back to guard. For example, if Campbell ends up the LT and you cut Onwenu while extending Strange you could go Campbell / Strange / Myers / Becton / Moses next year. Just gives you options and depth. it also gives you some depth in case someone like Hunter or Carter fall to #4 and you think they're too good to pass up because then when Myers is back this year it could go him at center and Strange back to LG.

Becton has been a bust at LT. I would only sign him as a guard, but I don't know if can play LG because I think he played RG in Philly.

And you do not draft a player at #4 to play guard even if it is only for a year or two. Either Campbell can step in immediately and be a solid LT or you don't draft him. I would rather trade down and take another tackle with that pick or early in the second round.

 

[JohnJH]

Give me one of Javon Holland or Cam Robinson on day and free agency will be a homerun.

Holland was signed by another team. I wanted him. He could have been our FS for the next anywhere from 4 to 7 years.

 

[Rob0729]

I'm thinking that Alaric Jackson and Ronnie Stanley must be having some major buyer's remorse right now, wishing they had waited a few more days and hit free agency.

After seeing the contract Dan Moore received, they'll probably fire their agents.

Dan Moore's contract could be an outlier. I think Tennessee is the ones who are going have buyer's remorse.

 

[Wozzy]

Dan Moore's contract could be an outlier. I think Tennessee is the ones who are going have buyer's remorse.

This ^

The Titans are headed in the wrong direction.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Becton has been a bust at LT. I would only sign him as a guard, but I don't know if can play LG because I think he played RG in Philly.

And you do not draft a player at #4 to play guard even if it is only for a year or two. Either Campbell can step in immediately and be a solid LT or you don't draft him. I would rather trade down and take another tackle with that pick or early in the second round.

Becton is still only 26. He wouldn't be the first guy to put it together later in his career.

I don't love taking a guard #4 and have argued against it. But I also don't see this as a great draft. Unless Carter or Hunter fall to #4, I end up talking myself out of everyone else on the board. I kind of noted in that post how if Carter or Hunter were there I couldn't justify taking him over those guys.

If any of the other OTs were solid projections at LT they'd be in discussion at #4. I don't like the idea of taking a later 1st or 2nd round prospect because usually those are guys who don't have what it takes to play LT but teams talk themselves into taking them because it's such a valuable spot.

 

[Ross12]

Tyron Smith, Cam Robinson, Jedrick Wills, Joe Noteboom, Justin Skule, Mekhi Becton are guys I'd be looking at for LT.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

On Dan Moore's contract, let's see the details before we make sweeping generalizations off it. For all we know there's a $35M salary in the last year he'll never see and it's actually a 3 year, $47M deal in all reality.

 

[Steve102]

I'm thinking that Alaric Jackson and Ronnie Stanley must be having some major buyer's remorse right now, wishing they had waited a few more days and hit free agency.

After seeing the contract Dan Moore received, they'll probably fire their agents.

I dunno. Both those guys are in real good situations. It's not like they haven't made bank before. I am sure there's something to security.

 

[Joey007]

Can't we just Milton Williams him

I’ll Milton his Williams.

 

[Joey007]

I'm thinking that Alaric Jackson and Ronnie Stanley must be having some major buyer's remorse right now, wishing they had waited a few more days and hit free agency.

After seeing the contract Dan Moore received, they'll probably fire their agents.

I really don’t get what they had to lose. They could’ve still chosen to go back to their respective teams.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Tyron Smith, Cam Robinson, Jedrick Wills, Joe Noteboom, Justin Skule, Mekhi Becton are guys I'd be looking at for LT.

I'm leaning toward the first two of those.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

Funny you say that. In California, a man won a 2 Billion Dollar Lottery Prize, After taxes, the lump sum payout was LESS that a half billion. Most of the 1 and a half billion dollars in taxes were California State Taxes. The IRS actually took a small percentage by comparison. If I'd won that same prize here in Wisconsin, I would have taken home over 1 and a half billion after taxes.

No you would not. First, the 75% reduction reflects both taxes and the lump sum present value. The advertised price is always the annuity, and it is reduced based on US treasury rates for receiving as a lump sum.

Secondly, California explicitly does not tax lottery winnings.

Take a look at this website: https://www.usamega.com/powerball/jackpot
- the current $353m Powerball prize gets you $104.4m net in a lump sum in CA currently
- that same jackpot gets you *less* in Wisconsin, $91.8m.

Both numbers only reflect Federal withholdings; actual take home will be even less once final taxes are filed, but will be reduced by the same amount regardless of the state they live in since it’s Federal withholding.