NFL News Official 2025 NFL Free Agency Thread

[DaBruinz]

Right, so "off games," mostly after he was traded. I think you mentioned that teams should see if there was an undisclosed injury that helped account for it.

If you look at the pressures he allowed after he was traded, the first 2 games there he allowed 6 and 4 hurries. Over the next 4 games, he only gave up 4 pressures total. Then things start going down-hill in week 14..

Week 18 against Detroit he gave up 9 and the WC game he gave up 12. That's 42.8% of the TOTAL pressures he gave up on the year in those 2 weeks.

I've raised the possibility that he was playing hurt because I can't recall the wheels falling off (so to speak) an O-lineman in such a fashion.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Everyone said the free agent pool was kind of meh, which it was. Would you rather them throw bags at mediocre players or sit on it and wait until next year? I know what I would do.

I'd like to roll over a solid chunk of cap space to next year to earmark it to help with another day 1 free agent shopping spree because we need an infusion of talent at the top of the roster still.

But they still should spend some of that on "mediocre" players now because you need stability and respectability in place. We don't have anything resembling a starting caliber WR 1, WR2, LT, LG or C (depending on where Strange plays). On defense, we have TERRIBLE coveeage ability at linebacker and safety and while we have some decent pieces on the DL I wouldn't say it's a strong group overall as the pass rush is kind of weak still off the edge and the interior DL is weak vs. the run.

Not saying there's locked in, long term solutions out there, but there are guys who can help solidify those areas to some degree and if they don't do so, they're going to be putting some of their young players in tough developmental situations. It will force them to play out of position and take on responsibilities or places in the depth chart they aren't suited for and put them in position to struggle.

 

[Ring 6]

Absolutely, would love both. But if given the choice of either. A. Cooper, Bech, Douglas, Boutte, Polk and Hollins would be a decent group to go with. Baker can maybe fight his way in there.

That’s not what you said. You said given the choice of a spending money on a vet or using a draft pick you would use the draft pick.
That’s not a real choice you can easily do both.

 

[dliverey44]

I wonder if there are any teams out there willing to trade a Young LT for pick 4?

Parris Johnson
Ewkwonu
Bernard Raiman
slater
Darrisaw
Andrew Thomas
Charles Cross

I would think it wise to trade pick 4 for a proven commodity rather than grabbing a guy at 4 or later and hope he works out at LT.

 

[Ross12]

Everyone said the free agent pool was kind of meh, which it was. Would you rather them throw bags at mediocre players or sit on it and wait until next year? I know what I would do.

Agreed, but... they do need to make sure they spend to the cap floor, which I don't think they're super close to at this point due to relatively low spending last year. I don't think the higher spend this year makes up the difference.

 

[DaBruinz]

I'd like to roll over a solid chunk of cap space to next year to earmark it to help with another day 1 free agent shopping spree because we need an infusion of talent at the top of the roster still.

But they still should spend some of that on "mediocre" players now because you need stability and respectability in place. We don't have anything resembling a starting caliber WR 1, WR2, LT, LG or C (depending on where Strange plays). On defense, we have TERRIBLE coveeage ability at linebacker and safety and while we have some decent pieces on the DL I wouldn't say it's a strong group overall as the pass rush is kind of weak still off the edge and the interior DL is weak vs. the run.

Not saying there's locked in, long term solutions out there, but there are guys who can help solidify those areas to some degree and if they don't do so, they're going to be putting some of their young players in tough developmental situations. It will force them to play out of position and take on responsibilities or places in the depth chart they aren't suited for and put them in position to struggle.

The Pats have signed several "mediocre" players already. Hollins. Schweitzer. Chaisson.

Referring to last year with your explanation is the equivalent of using a strainer to bail out a sinking ship. The defense has been completely revamped. Not just in terms of scheme, but in terms of players. The additions of Milton, Landry, Davis and Spillane (4 starters) will be a huge change. Chaisson should be a useful rotational piece at OLB. Tonga is a situational player in all likelihood if he makes the team.

You're not giving Christian Elliss much in the way of acknowledgement as he was one of the better Coverage LBs. If you look at the LB who had at least 138 coverage snaps (it's the filter on PFF) , Elliss was top 10 in terms of receiving percentage( 72.2%) and yards allowed (156). He was top 3 in terms of Yards after Catch with just 70.

Something ALSO telling is that the players Elliss covered weren't targeted often. Only 18 targets on 266 coverage snaps (6.7%)s. Compare that to guys like Zach Baun who saw 89 targets on 694 snaps (12.8%) or Fred Warner who saw 59 targets on 528 coverage snaps (11.2%) .

I'm not saying that Elliss is some god on coverage, but he's certainly not Terrible as you'd have people believe.

Pats still have plenty of money and there are still a plethora of good players available that would be beneficial to this defense and the team in general.

 

[Ross12]

 

[DaBruinz]

I wonder if there are any teams out there willing to trade a Young LT for pick 4?

Parris Johnson
Ewkwonu
Bernard Raiman
slater
Darrisaw
Andrew Thomas
Charles Cross

I would think it wise to trade pick 4 for a proven commodity rather than grabbing a guy at 4 or later and hope he works out at LT.

Darrisaw just signed a new deal last year. It's unlikely that the Vikings would trade him as they'd take a 27M additional cap hit.

The same goes for Andrew Thomas (Giants).


Guys who's teams might (though unlikely) consider trading are Ekwonu, Cross, Slater, Rainman, Johnson. In all cases, they are in the final year of their contracts. Slater is scheduled to play on his 5th year option at 19M. So there would be no cap hit for the Chargers to trade him.

 

[DaBruinz]

What's this infatuation with Raiders players.... Epps is the 3rd one..

He's the epitome of the DBs that Belichick hated. Misses lots of tackles. And he's been getting progressively worse over the last 3 years.

 

[Lagaffe_07]

Does Vrabel and Wolf knows that we play on offense too???

 

[Ring 6]

Just enough to stay over the cap floor. I'm sure it's just a coincidence.

We are way over the floor. The floor is cash not cap number

 

[DaBruinz]

Does Vrabel and Wolf knows that we play on offense too???

Moses, Schweitzer, Hollins, Hooper, Dobbs.

That's 5 signings for the offense.

 

[Ring 6]

Good move, competition for Hawkins. Getting paid twice as much so should begin ahead of Hawkins.

 

[Ross12]

Good move, competition for Hawkins. Getting paid twice as much so should begin ahead of Hawkins.

Better than Hawkins, but maybe not right away as he is returning from ACL. Neither guy is a good starting FS but it's at least better than what they had. Would still like to see another addition here.

 

[dliverey]

Darrisaw just signed a new deal last year. It's unlikely that the Vikings would trade him as they'd take a 27M additional cap hit.

The same goes for Andrew Thomas (Giants).


Guys who's teams might (though unlikely) consider trading are Ekwonu, Cross, Slater, Rainman, Johnson. In all cases, they are in the final year of their contracts. Slater is scheduled to play on his 5th year option at 19M. So there would be no cap hit for the Chargers to trade him.

Thank you for the info. I was just kicking ideas around and did not look into contracts/dead money hits

 

[Steve102]

Moses, Schweitzer, Hollins, Hooper, Dobbs.

That's 5 signings for the offense.

NONE ON MY FANTASY TEAM WTF?!?!?! These guys don't count.

 

[Ring 6]

Moses, Schweitzer, Hollins, Hooper, Dobbs.

That's 5 signings for the offense.

1 starter, 1 part timer and 3 bs hope on an offense with 6 terrible starters and 4 average at best ones is just about the same as forgetting about it.

 

[Ring 6]

Better than Hawkins, but maybe not right away as he is returning from ACL. Neither guy is a good starting FS but it's at least better than what they had. Would still like to see another addition here.

I want every addition that is better then what we have until we run out of money.

I think we will see a diminished use of S3 from what we are used to. The nickel base will be more heavily 3 corners than 3 safeties.
Duggar and Peppers will get the bulk of the reps and S3 will play sparingly.

 

[festy1986]

Why? It's an improvement over last year. You're expecting a Super Bowl?

Patriots had 6 games last year where they lost by 7 or less.

If a better roster and better coaching can't improve your team by 3 games (7 wins) then what are we doing here?

Not to mention that on paper this have a extremely weak schedule this year.

 

[hornetfb85]

That’s not what you said. You said given the choice of a spending money on a vet or using a draft pick you would use the draft pick.
That’s not a real choice you can easily do both.

Yes I understand that. Was just stating if I had to choose which I would prefer.