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Free Agent Safeties Available

If the cost is similar, then I'd rather have Coby Bryant than Hawkins.
 
n1997y said:
“You could make the argument that Jaylinn Hawkins played better than any other safety in the NFL in 2025.”

Not if you read PatsFans! lol.
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Hawkins was awesome last year. Really played high quality level.

But he also spent most of his career being an average backup. Not sure if last year was an anomaly.
 
Joey007 said:
Hawkins was awesome last year. Really played high quality level.

But he also spent most of his career being an average backup. Not sure if last year was an anomaly.
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His game has improved in both of his years here... would not be surprised to see him back... but i dont think we are matching any 5-7m aav contract offers...

2-3m? a different story...
 
Hawkins seems to me to the the no brainer value of this offseason. He played as well or better as any other FA safety in 2025, knows the culture and the system, yet is valued lower than some of the other FA options.

Why pay $12 million for an unknown when you can get this for $8 million (which, in the current cap landscape, is peanuts for a quality starter).
 
Someone else on here mentioned nick cross
Might work if hawkins signs elsewhere
 
Hawkins allowed 19 receptions on 29 targets.. 65.5% That is 19th amongst safeties with 50% or more of 699 pass coverage snaps. Hawkins had only 2 Pass break ups, but had 4 Ints while allowing 2 TDs.. 8 missed tackles on 838 defensive snaps. Turns 29 in August.

Nick Cross allowed 50 receptions on 69 targets. 72.5%. That is 43rd amongst safeties with 50% or more of 699 pass coverage snaps. Cross had 3 Pass Break ups, 1 Int, and allowed 4 TDs. 15 Missed tackles on 1,111 defensive snaps. Turns 25 in September

Coby Bryant allowed 17 receptions on 26 targets. 65.4%. That is 18th amongst safeties with 50% or more of 699 pass coverage snaps. Bryant had 2 Pass break ups, 4 ints while allowing 2 TDs. 17 missed tackles on 974 defensive snaps. Turns 27 on 3/29.

Just food for thought.
 
Pape said:
His game has improved in both of his years here... would not be surprised to see him back... but i dont think we are matching any 5-7m aav contract offers...

2-3m? a different story...
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We wouldn’t pay 7 million? That’s dirt cheap for a starter with the cap being where it is now.
 
Joey007 said:
We wouldn’t pay 7 million? That’s dirt cheap for a starter with the cap being where it is now.
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I'm hedging bets ... I like Hawkins... But I want to see him play at a high level for more than one season before dropping 7+ on him...

just my opinion, ymmv
 
Pape said:
His game has improved in both of his years here... would not be surprised to see him back... but i dont think we are matching any 5-7m aav contract offers...

2-3m? a different story...
Click to expand...
ROFL
You need to look at the list of safeties available again.

You are NOT getting much for under $5M AAV. We need a starter. (And I would add that we need a backup, perhaps a draftee).

How many of those available would you want to start for us? How many teams also want a safety for $%M or so?
 
Last edited:
It's not answering your question, but this is an awesome safety draft class. We met with at least one potential 2nd round safety at the combine which may suggest something.
 
DaBruinz said:
Hawkins allowed 19 receptions on 29 targets.. 65.5% That is 19th amongst safeties with 50% or more of 699 pass coverage snaps. Hawkins had only 2 Pass break ups, but had 4 Ints while allowing 2 TDs.. 8 missed tackles on 838 defensive snaps. Turns 29 in August.

Nick Cross allowed 50 receptions on 69 targets. 72.5%. That is 43rd amongst safeties with 50% or more of 699 pass coverage snaps. Cross had 3 Pass Break ups, 1 Int, and allowed 4 TDs. 15 Missed tackles on 1,111 defensive snaps. Turns 25 in September

Coby Bryant allowed 17 receptions on 26 targets. 65.4%. That is 18th amongst safeties with 50% or more of 699 pass coverage snaps. Bryant had 2 Pass break ups, 4 ints while allowing 2 TDs. 17 missed tackles on 974 defensive snaps. Turns 27 on 3/29.

Just food for thought.
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Interesting
 
Pape said:
I'm hedging bets ... I like Hawkins... But I want to see him play at a high level for more than one season before dropping 7+ on him...

just my opinion, ymmv
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I think it will come down to what it costs to sign any other FA safety, and what you get for that price tag. I’d see him being resigned, probably for 3 years with an easy out in year three, maybe even a tolerable way out after next year. Then hedge with a rookie.
manxman2601 said:
It's not answering your question, but this is an awesome safety draft class. We met with at least one potential 2nd round safety at the combine which may suggest something.
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It might be possible that Vrabes decides to let Hawkins go and roll with Pettus and Schooler plus a good draft prospect. But I suspect he’s more likely to hedge the bet by re-signing Hawkins for at least this year. Definitely expect we will draft a prospect at safety as well.
 
n1997y said:
I think it will come down to what it costs to sign any other FA safety, and what you get for that price tag. I’d see him being resigned, probably for 3 years with an easy out in year three, maybe even a tolerable way out after next year. Then hedge with a rookie.

It might be possible that Vrabes decides to let Hawkins go and roll with Pettus and Schooler plus a good draft prospect. But I suspect he’s more likely to hedge the bet by re-signing Hawkins for at least this year. Definitely expect we will draft a prospect at safety as well.
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why do folks think that Vrabel wants to carry more than 2 safeties plus Pettus and Schooler?
 
mgteich said:
ROFL
You need to look at the list of safeties available again.
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why?
mgteich said:
You are NOT getting much for under $5M AAV. We need a starter. (And I would add that we need a backup, perhaps a draftee).
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how much was hawkins last contract?
mgteich said:
How many of those available would you want to start for us? How many teams also want a safety for $%M or so?
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im not talking about what id pay others, this was about hawkins... if you want to pay him 7m, go for it... i think it a tad too much
 
mgteich said:
why do folks think that Vrabel wants to carry more than 2 safeties plus Pettus and Schooler?
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I don’t, and I don’t know where you got that from.

I absolutely believe that Vrabel wants to go into training camp with more players at every position than he intends to carry on the roster after cutdowns.

Acquiring players to prepare for that is where we are now.
 
n1997y said:
I don’t, and I don’t know where you got that from.

I absolutely believe that Vrabel wants to go into training camp with more players at every position than he intends to carry on the roster after cutdowns.

Acquiring players to prepare for that is where we are now.
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fair enough

We should always have camp competition.

Folks seem to think that we will carry the best safety in free agency PLUS a draft choice. I agree that this could be true for camp and perhaps even into the season. However, Vrabel seems to like having one starter, one backup, and a couple of special teamers.

I could see us signing a free agency safety with the idea of him competing for a roster spot with a draftee.
 
n1997y said:
I don’t, and I don’t know where you got that from.

I absolutely believe that Vrabel wants to go into training camp with more players at every position than he intends to carry on the roster after cutdowns.

Acquiring players to prepare for that is where we are now.
Click to expand...

Hawkins numbers put him due for a pay raise.. Probably in the 7-9M range. Possibly as high as 11-12M when you narrow things down.. Whether he'll get that or not is a different story.
 
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