2025 NFL Free Agency

[AmishMafia]

I can't believe the Bengals tagged Higgins and will soon make Chase the highest paid non-QB. That's probably gonna be over $100 mil/year in cap between Burrow, Chase and Higgins. No way they will be able to pay Hendrickson.

I agree. It seems like getting a very good WR is much easier than getting an elite edge. Maybe some other issues involved.

Not saying Higgins isn't elite, maybe he is, you just don't need two elite WRs. You are just about as well off as having one and a very good one alongside.

 

[mradtke66]

Hendrickson is old. He’s a year older than Garret last I heard. Already 31 and edge can fall off a cliff in a hurry. I have to assume he’s demanding more money and the Bengals aren’t playing ball.

And the Bengals defense was terrible last year. While being around the 10th most expensive. I presume no one on that unit is safe.

Higgins, while “just” a receiver, is only 26.

Keep your young stars, better to move on a year too early than a year too late, etc etc.

 

[gopkrs]

I get the impression that the bengals want to be a pass happy team. And with Burrow they can do it. But they need better protection for him. They need pass protection O linemen. Whereas we imho need O linemen that can do both pass protect and run block. We are much more well rounded. Which is why I want to see more special O linemen. It costs more in money and picks, and you can't be in the we'll coach em up mode. So keep drafting O linemen. Center and guard this year imho. If you have to draft say a guard or center higher than the book says; so be it if they are the best. Drafting guys that you think can be versatile is not the way to go. That's what you say about guys after the really good ones are gone.

 

[Pkrjones]

Hendrickson is old. He’s a year older than Garret last I heard. Already 31 and edge can fall off a cliff in a hurry. I have to assume he’s demanding more money and the Bengals aren’t playing ball.

ESPN Insider Jeremy Fowler has said Hendrickson is looking for more than $30mil/yr multi-year deal... pretty rich, imho. Would make him 3rd highest paid Edge in the NFL.

 

[Sanguine camper]

Hendrickson is definitely a top 3-4 pass rusher in the league. The problem with a trade vs signing a free agent is you pay twice. First you have to give up serious talent or draft capital and then you have to pay him huge bucks. Trades are very tricky, especially with guys who are approaching 30. A small number of non-QB players are great in their 30's like Reggie and Woodson while most drop off. I'd rather see Gute go after free agents and build with the draft. If you bust on a big trade, it's a huge hole to climb out of.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Hendrickson is definitely a top 3-4 pass rusher in the league. The problem with a trade vs signing a free agent is you pay twice. First you have to give up serious talent or draft capital and then you have to pay him huge bucks. Trades are very tricky, especially with guys who are approaching 30. A small number of non-QB players are great in their 30's like Reggie and Woodson while most drop off. I'd rather see Gute go after free agents and build with the draft. If you bust on a big trade, it's a huge hole to climb out of.

Can't argue with that. And with guys around 30, teams are paying for past performance. No guarantees, except signing bonuses and salary. So it's very risky, and as you say, a bust can harm a team for a few years in terms of draft capital and cap.

It's nice to think about guys like Hendrickson and Metcalf in G&G. It may be better to take a pass. The draft is decent this year at DL, DT, and CB - all areas that need improvement. And while FA isn't teaming with top talent, there are better bargains. We would all like this to be the year for the Packers to make a SB run. It just may not be in the cards this year.

The Eagles went from playoff bust to SB champs with some good personnel moves and luck.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I agree. It seems like getting a very good WR is much easier than getting an elite edge. Maybe some other issues involved.

Not saying Higgins isn't elite, maybe he is, you just don't need two elite WRs. You are just about as well off as having one and a very good one alongside.

I wonder if the Bengals are playing a "tag and trade game here. That's risky if no one wants to play that game. And anybody wiling to trade would have to pay Higgins more than his tag value. It just doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

 

[Pkrjones]

I wonder if the Bengals are playing a "tag and trade game here. That's risky if no one wants to play that game. And anybody wiling to trade would have to pay Higgins more than his tag value. It just doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

Bengals can afford (2) top-10 paid WR's if they choose to, & could trade Higgins if a team ponied-up enough picks. Higgins could be paid 4yr/$100 or $105mil deal if front loaded enough. He's only 26 so has plenty of game left.

 

[tynimiller]

Hendrickson is old. He’s a year older than Garret last I heard. Already 31 and edge can fall off a cliff in a hurry. I have to assume he’s demanding more money and the Bengals aren’t playing ball.

And the Bengals defense was terrible last year. While being around the 10th most expensive. I presume no one on that unit is safe.

Higgins, while “just” a receiver, is only 26.

Keep your young stars, better to move on a year too early than a year too late, etc etc.

Not that it is a massive difference but we just not gonna quick google his age and claim a figure you think or heard lol

He’s 30 and won’t be 31 till December.

He had a slow start in the league and took a bit before turning into literally one of the best edges in the league the last five or so years.

 

[lambeaulambo]

Bosa then if not Hendrickson. Slayton too.

 

[McKnowledge]

Bosa then if not Hendrickson. Slayton too.

Bosa going to the 49ers to play with his brother.

 

[gopkrs]

Bosa going to the 49ers to play with his brother.

And he seems to always be hurt.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Not that it is a massive difference but we just not gonna quick google his age and claim a figure you think or heard lol

He’s 30 and won’t be 31 till December.

He had a slow start in the league and took a bit before turning into literally one of the best edges in the league the last five or so years.

I mean if they can get three solid years of production from either Hendrickson, Garrett, or Metcalf (assuming they only trade for one), then the trade and the $$$ are worthwhile. None of them are youngsters, but none of them have shown any sign of slowing down. In Hendrickson's case it seems the opposite.

I'd be happy with a fair trade for any of these guys. As I've said, it is risky. But if this team wants to go all-in on a SB bid, these are the kinds of moves necessary. (And of course coming up with answers at CB, EDGE, and/or WR even if one of these deals is made.) One big trade won't do it. Gluten needs a home-run offseason.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Bosa then if not Hendrickson. Slayton too.

If Gluten could pull off a trade for Hendrickson, maybe Garrett, and sign Slayton at WR in FA, I'd certainly be happy. He could also trade for Metcalf, and then go after a guy like Josh Sweat in FA.

Ty has pointed out that there probably isn't the cap to pull off two big moves like this. He's got a point. At a minimum, there would be little else Gluten could do this year other than the draft. And he may just bide his time and roll over cap to next year, when he'll have to focus on his own guys, like Tom.

But I'd like to see a bold move now. Edge, WR, CB are the clear priorities. He can't fix all of em unless he has a helluva draft. But the team would certainly be better, and they have to be to keep up with the Lions.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Bosa going to the 49ers to play with his brother.

Joey Bosa to the Niners? That doesn't make much sense, but then neither does Seattle trading Geno Smith for a #3 to LV. Or maybe it all makes sense. WTF do I know?

Joey is hurt a lot. Nick is the dog in that family.