NFL News Official 2025 NFL Free Agency Thread

[Huckleberry1]

Did we try to sign Bekton? We should have. Maybe he did not want to play here. Vrabel said they only want to sign players who want to play here. Maybe no good offensive players want to be here? The culture thing is great but without takent it will only take you so far.
As of 3-13 grade for UFA on offense is F-

Boo Hoo Hoo

 

[Ross12]

Offensive FA targets I’m still interested in:

OL
- Tyron Smith
- Cam Robinson
- Joseph Noteboom
- Teven Jenkins
- Brandon Scherff
- Dalton Risner

WR
- Tyler Lockett
- Brandin Cooks
- Elijah Moore
- Keenan Allen
- Josh Reynolds
- DJ Chark

 

[Grogan14]

Boo Hoo Hoo

Too bad you can not resppnd with a semi intelligent post

 

[manxman2601]

There goes the FB.

 

[Joey007]

Offensive FA targets I’m still interested in:

OL
- Tyron Smith
- Cam Robinson
- Joseph Noteboom
- Teven Jenkins
- Brandon Scherff
- Dalton Risner

WR
- Tyler Lockett
- Brandin Cooks
- Elijah Moore
- Keenan Allen
- Josh Reynolds
- DJ Chark

Starting to expect that we won’t bring in a single one of these guys.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Too bad you can not resppnd with a semi intelligent post

Too bad all you can do is whine, *****, moan, and cry. Every thing that happens, whether they sign someone or don’t sign someone you come up with a way to complain about it. And there is NOTHING intelligent about bemoaning everything that happens, it’s just sheer unadulterated misery.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Starting to expect that we won’t bring in a single one of these guys.

I can understand that. But I also trust that Vrabel, Wolf, Cowden, and Streicher know what they are doing and have both reasons for how they approaching this, and an overall plan to get where they want to go this offseason.

 

[Ross12]

Starting to expect that we won’t bring in a single one of these guys.

It’s becoming clear to me that Vrabel is prioritizing culture fits over total talent in Year 1. He would rather get 6-7 wins and establish a culture this year, so that in 2026 if they stretch for more talent, they are bringing in guys into an already-established culture. That way there is more room to bring in guys who aren’t perfect culture fits, because they will conform to the established culture. If there is no established culture and you bringing in a wide mix of guys then you run the risk of never establishing one.

 

[Patsgofor4]

MILTON WILLIAMS TO CAROLINA HAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

You seemed happy when you thought that they missed on him. How did the crow taste?

 

[Love The Drake]

Live look at Josh McDaniels watching free agency

 

[signbabybrady]

I can understand that. But I also trust that Vrabel, Wolf, Cowden, and Streicher know what they are doing and have both reasons for how they approaching this, and an overall plan to get where they want to go this offseason.

They don't have a plan. They said so in their press conference at the combines. Something about plans B-E and seeing what they've actually done we must be at the end of the alphabet by now. This is gross neglegence.

 

[signbabybrady]

It’s becoming clear to me that Vrabel is prioritizing culture fits over total talent in Year 1. He would rather get 6-7 wins and establish a culture this year, so that in 2026 if they stretch for more talent, they are bringing in guys into an already-established culture. That way there is more room to bring in guys who aren’t perfect culture fits, because they will conform to the established culture. If there is no established culture and you bringing in a wide mix of guys then you run the risk of never establishing one.

Careful with that strategy Mayo didn't get more than a year why would Vrabel think he can just kick the can until next year. This offense isn't capable of getting to 6-7 wins.

 

[denverpatsfan]

Never expected to sign Kupp. Plenty of talent in the draft. Hoping Vrabel breaks the run of terrible picks in that regard. Can't get any worse than Thornton, Harry and Co.

Willing to give Polk and the other 2nd year players a chance with better coaching too. (1) more year. That's it.

 

[WinstonSmith]

They don't have a plan. They said so in their press conference at the combines. Something about plans B-E and seeing what they've actually done we must be at the end of the alphabet by now. This is gross neglegence.

Gross negligence? Come on man it's not even Saint Patrick's day yet. Perhaps wait at least until Cinco de Mayo before you start pissing yourself. It's a long offseason.

 

[PaulThePat]

It’s becoming clear to me that Vrabel is prioritizing culture fits over total talent in Year 1. He would rather get 6-7 wins and establish a culture this year, so that in 2026 if they stretch for more talent, they are bringing in guys into an already-established culture. That way there is more room to bring in guys who aren’t perfect culture fits, because they will conform to the established culture. If there is no established culture and you bringing in a wide mix of guys then you run the risk of never establishing one.

Fine if culture leads to wins sooner rather than later. Not fine if it doesn't.

 

[Ring 6]

But that $259M last year and $280M this year includes every part of the deal, including future salaries that will likely never get paid. Should really only count signing bonuses and other guarantees, then go year-to-year with what salary and other expenses actually get paid. You can’t have mega cap space for years in a row if you’re actually spending close to or over the cap.

The table shared earlier is more valuable because it actually totals real cash spent.

The 2024 number dots not include future salaries. This years number seems made up and inconsistent
Cash spending is literally what you pay out today. Cash spending is always going to be higher than cap spending.

On any contract the signing bonus hits cash spending day 1 and is deferred against the cap.
So for each player cash spending is greater that cap spending until the final year. Cash spending to date equals cap hit plus all unamortized bonus.

The 90% rule doesn’t come close to ensure teams hit the cap.

Using the Patriot as an example.
Last year the cap was 230 mill. They spent 260 mill cash.
Let’s say the cap increases 20 mill per year.
So that’s 230,250,270. Over 3 years they must spend 230+250+270=750 x90%=675 milll in CASH.

They spent 260 and were 30 mill under the cap (260 in cash equaled 200 in cap)
So they must only spend 415 the next 2 years against a cap of 520. They could only give out salary and gave no unamortized bonus and hit the cash number while being a combined 105 million under the cap. Any unamortized signing bonus would also count toward cash.
So to hit this requirement there CAP PLUS unamortized signing bonuses could be 105 less than the cap, and using the 260=200 formula from 2024 than would leave them roughly a combined 136 million under the cap but at the 90% cash requirement.

So in this case hitting that requirement exactly would mean staying under the cap by an average of 55 million per year

 

[denverpatsfan]

Not sure if anyone posted this link yet. Pretty cool way to see who is still left. At least on this guys list of top free agents. Click the "available players only button"

https://nflrankings.theringer.com/free-agency

 

[raduray]

Why are you posting things you don’t understand? A few days ago you argued there was a cap floor

Consider the possibility that I learned from our exchange.

 

[signbabybrady]

Gross negligence? Come on man it's not even Saint Patrick's day yet. Perhaps wait at least until Cinco de Mayo before you start pissing yourself. It's a long offseason.

You think they are going to find a WR1, WR2, LT, LG and/or Center, kicker, and all the depth they need by May?

Adding guys all older than 31 and not all that good to begin with in Morgan Moses, Wes Schweitzer, and Mack Hollins as the only moves on offense is gross negligence period end of debate. If come May something changes my mind then I will.

 

[Huckleberry1]

They don't have a plan. They said so in their press conference at the combines. Something about plans B-E and seeing what they've actually done we must be at the end of the alphabet by now. This is gross neglegence.

Having multiple plans heading into free agency simply means that you know you won’t get everyone you want, so you prioritize those you want the most, try to sign them, and when the other 31 teams you are competing with get some of them you adapt and try to sign others. The Patriots plan in this free agency was clearly to focus on defense because the offensive side of the ball sucked. They signed a good number of players who will improve their defense significantly, and were also able to address one of their tackle holes. Unfortunately you can only get what is there to get, and can’t fill all the holes the Patriots roster had in one free agency. Also unfortunate is that some fans want them to act out of desperation and build a team of mediocre overpaid players. Acting out of desperation is the worst way to build a team, and in glad they aren’t listening to the crying and screaming, but instead are going about systematically improving their team where the best opportunities are provided. The offseason is still less than a week old. The sky isn’t falling, and they still have plenty of opportunities too improve their roster.