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.

 

[tynimiller]

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.

Just to clarify, likely not two massive top of market, in current cap status. There is a TON of restructure options if the team wants to kick the can some and free up a TON

 

[Dantés]

Just to clarify, likely not two massive top of market, in current cap status. There is a TON of restructure options if the team wants to kick the can some and free up a TON

I know you’re not necessarily advocating for doing that, but I don’t think it would be wise. They should keep their powder dry for next off-season when they have more in-house players to keep and the FA class is likely a lot better.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Just to clarify, likely not two massive top of market, in current cap status. There is a TON of restructure options if the team wants to kick the can some and free up a TON

Good point. Eventually the piper must be paid, but guys like Russ Ball are magicians at cap manipulation with various forms of contracts. It's way beyond me.

In the end though the cap hits just keep getting bigger. And I'm ok with that when taking about a trade for Hendrickson, Garrett, or Metcalf as long as the team gets 3 solid years. I don't see any signs of any of these guys slowing down. There's always risk, but taking calculated risks gets teams to the top.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I know you’re not necessarily advocating for doing that, but I don’t think it would be wise. They should keep their powder dry for next off-season when they have more in-house players to keep and the FA class is likely a lot better.

Yeah and I think that's what Gluten will do. I won't be surprised to see a trade for Hendrickson, Garrett, or Metcalf. I think that then precludes bringing on another high-priced FA. And yeah, hopefully next year's FA class is better than this year.

And next year the team's gotta lock up it's own top talent, starting with Tom.

 

[Sanguine camper]

The season was lost because of a lack of O line depth. CB is another big need. I'd like to see Gute sign Slayton and a CB in free agency and the concentrate the draft on the big guys up front. The draft has some talented D linemen. I would be happy if Gute used his first round pick on a D lineman and then went back again later in the draft.
I'd be very happy if the draft went like this:
Rd 1- DT
Rd2 - WR
Rd3 - IOL
Rd4 - CB
Rd5- DT
Rd6- OT
Rd7- LB
Rd7- WR

If a trade is in order, them perhaps moving up to get Grant from Michigan makes sense. I doubt he'll drop to 23.

 

[Sanguine camper]

It's fun to speculate about trading for a star player, but the elephant in the room is Love. If he plays to his potential which we've seen is pro bowl caliber, the team can compete for a SB if ascending players like Cooper, Kraft and Reed continue to improve and become consistent beasts at their position.

If Love stays in the 14-10 range among NFL QB's with ill-advised interceptions, then the Packers will continue to choke against the better teams. The biggest wild card isn't the draft or free agency this off season, it's the question of internal improvement of the roster. That said, a field stretching WR would sure help!

 

[Heyjoe4]

The season was lost because of a lack of O line depth. CB is another big need. I'd like to see Gute sign Slayton and a CB in free agency and the concentrate the draft on the big guys up front. The draft has some talented D linemen. I would be happy if Gute used his first round pick on a D lineman and then went back again later in the draft.
I'd be very happy if the draft went like this:
Rd 1- DT
Rd2 - WR
Rd3 - IOL
Rd4 - CB
Rd5- DT
Rd6- OT
Rd7- LB
Rd7- WR

If a trade is in order, them perhaps moving up to get Grant from Michigan makes sense. I doubt he'll drop to 23.

Yeah I mean this is a very reasonable way to close the gaps on the current team without taking on too much cap. There are some decent FA CBs available, and I think Slayton is the best WR FA. And the draft is pretty solid at DL/DT.

We should know this week what FA deals were cut at the combine. I don't know if any trades have been all but locked up, probably something else we'll see this week.

 

[Heyjoe4]

It's fun to speculate about trading for a star player, but the elephant in the room is Love. If he plays to his potential which we've seen is pro bowl caliber, the team can compete for a SB if ascending players like Cooper, Kraft and Reed continue to improve and become consistent beasts at their position.

If Love stays in the 14-10 range among NFL QB's with ill-advised interceptions, then the Packers will continue to choke against the better teams. The biggest wild card isn't the draft or free agency this off season, it's the question of internal improvement of the roster. That said, a field stretching WR would sure help!

Well said. Hopefully Love's 2024 season was marred by early injuries to his knee and then groin - the two are probably related. There are degrees of ligament strains, short of a tear. Just seemed like he never got completely healthy after that knee injury in Brazil.

And yeah, we can talk about trades and FA signings and the draft - but Love has to get back to his All-Pro form from the second half of the 2023 season.

 

[tynimiller]

I know you’re not necessarily advocating for doing that, but I don’t think it would be wise. They should keep their powder dry for next off-season when they have more in-house players to keep and the FA class is likely a lot better.

100% agree. I’d not want to restructure to make more than $10M or so and prefer that happens on a couple guys not one. If you’re gonna kick the can to be the difference of one or two additions, do it wisely and spread it

 

[gopkrs]

I know you’re not necessarily advocating for doing that, but I don’t think it would be wise. They should keep their powder dry for next off-season when they have more in-house players to keep and the FA class is likely a lot better.

Sounds like I think we are better than you do. I agree on being smart about it. But I'm not thinking we should wait for the year after this one. We should do what is best for us now. Except for MVS; I don't want to go mediocre. I want to get tougher in the trenches