2019 Free Agency Thread

[pbmax]

i think they might be able to be #2s in another year or 2, but not next year

takes about 3 years for even the best WR prospects to hit their potential

thats why we need to get a vet for the #2

I could see a FA if they don't want more youth from the draft. But that is a one year deal for me, they need an influx of young talent there so the Jordy/Cobb situation doesn't happen again. They got caught short.

[red]

I could see a FA if they don't want more youth from the draft. But that is a one year deal for me, they need an influx of young talent there so the Jordy/Cobb situation doesn't happen again. They got caught short.

well thats just it. you draft another guy to be the #2 and you have to wait 2 to 3 years for him to get to that level

[beveaux1]

well thats just it. you draft another guy to be the #2 and you have to wait 2 to 3 years for him to get to that level

And if you don't and the late draft choices don't develop into at least a #2, you're running around in circles chasing your tail.

One thing that I'm concerned about: When Nelson was drafted, Rodgers had good things to say about him during his first and 2nd year, same with Cobb and Adams...especially Adams.
Same with Allison as an undrafted rookie and as a 2nd year player.

Haven't seen much comment from him about any of our rookies. Reminds me of Janis and Davis

[pbmax]

Strong point from Beveaux:

Will M4 talk about second year jumps in just first offseason?

[Smidgeon]

And if you don't and the late draft choices don't develop into at least a #2, you're running around in circles chasing your tail.

One thing that I'm concerned about: When Nelson was drafted, Rodgers had good things to say about him during his first and 2nd year, same with Cobb and Adams...especially Adams.
Same with Allison as an undrafted rookie and as a 2nd year player.

Haven't seen much comment from him about any of our rookies. Reminds me of Janis and Davis

Pretty sure Rodgers has had (faint) praise for the two rookies. But I'd wait until this offseason before saying he never did. It was a bad year for him too, and I honestly do expect a second year jump for all three of the rookies. Still holding out hope for J'Moooore.

[Joemailman]

Report that Chiefs are unlikely to use franchise tag on OLB Dee Ford.

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports tweets that Kansas City is leaning against using the franchise tag on the 2014 first-round pick, which will only help Ford’s earning potential, especially given that the free agent market is largely bereft of game-changing pass rushers.

Ford missed much of 2017 with an injury, but bounced back this season with a 13-sack performance.

[call_me_ishmael]

https://twitter.com/marxistfilm/status/1084925155271430145

There is no player I want more than Earl Thomas. Going to be expensive but he's HOF good.

[texaspackerbacker]

Thomas was fading when he played for Seattle, and now he's coming off a serious injury. Landon Collins seems like a better choice to me (yeah, I know he is coming off an injury too).

[call_me_ishmael]

There is a zero percent chance in my opinion that Landon Collins is 75% the player that Earl Thomas is. One is a once-every-ten-years player, the other have 2-3 similar every year.

[mraynrand]

There is a zero percent chance in my opinion that Landon Collins is 75% the player that Earl Thomas is. One is a once-every-ten-years player, the other have 2-3 similar every year.

I agree on Thomas being a special talent, but I wonder whether he's all hit out. He's a total jackhammer but he's missed games the past three seasons.

[pbmax]

I agree on Thomas being a special talent, but I wonder whether he's all hit out. He's a total jackhammer but he's missed games the past three seasons.

Plus what made him extra special was his speed. You'd almost think that would be the first to go.

[Rutnstrut]

There is a zero percent chance in my opinion that Landon Collins is 75% the player that Earl Thomas is. One is a once-every-ten-years player, the other have 2-3 similar every year.

Thomas has been slowing down for 3 years. But maybe they should get him and keep Clay so they can get a start on the IR list. You have to have that built in excuse of all the injuries.

[mraynrand]

Thomas has been slowing down for 3 years. But maybe they should get him and keep Clay so they can get a start on the IR list. You have to have that built in excuse of all the injuries.

[pbmax]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001011078/article/top-25-nfl-free-agents-of-2019-defenders-dominate-rankings

Defense dominates the list.

1, DeMarcus Lawrence, DE
Cowboys, Don't worry about his sack number dropping to 10.5. Lawrence backed up his breakout 2017 (14.5 sacks) with another season as a top-five pass rusher, solidifying his place as one of the league's best players.

2, Le'Veon Bell, RB, Steelers
This ranking isn't a prediction of how much guaranteed money Bell will earn. It's a reflection of his status as one of the transcendent players this century at his position -- and the fact that he's still just 26 years old.

3, Jadeveon Clowney, OL, Texans
Using the franchise tag to retain Clowney makes too much sense for Houston, even if Clowney won't be thrilled about it.

4, Grady Jarrett, DT, Falcons
A 25-year-old game-wrecker from the interior who has improved every year. There's little chance the Falcons will let Jarrett get away.

5, Trey Flowers, DE, Patriots
While Flowers isn't a prototypical pure pass rusher from the outside, he can do everything well from a variety of positions, the perfect Swiss Army Knife for a modern defense. And he's already been the most disruptive presence on a Super Bowl championship team.

6, Earl Thomas, S, Seahawks
Thomas would be even higher on this list if not for two of his previous three seasons being marred by injury. He has maintained his high level of play as a potential future Hall of Famer and isn't yet 30 years old.

7, Dee Ford, OLB, Chiefs
At a position where speed kills, Ford's first step is among the best in football. The Chiefs might use the franchise tag on him to make sure his monster breakout season can be repeated.

8, Frank Clark, DE, Seahawks
In many years, Clark would be the best pass rusher available. He isn't as complete a player as the guys above, but 32 sacks and 66 QB hits over the last three years speaks for itself.

9, Landon Collins, S, Giants
Collins received some Defensive Player of the Year consideration in 2016, but his hard-hitting style has made less of an impact lately. And his 2018 campaign ended after Week 13, when he hit IR and underwent shoulder surgery.

10, C.J. Mosley, LB, Ravens
Inside linebackers don't get paid in free agency, although Mosley could be an exception. A four-time Pro Bowler, Mosley is known for his smarts and his leadership.

11, Anthony Barr, LB, Vikings
The skill set and splash plays didn't always add up to excellent overall production, although his contract year went well. It's a bit of a concern that a great defensive coach like Mike Zimmer didn't consistently get more out of him.

12, Sheldon Richardson, DT, Vikings
Richardson started out his season like a man on fire before settling into another campaign that made his employers probably want just a little bit more. He's been stuck on the "prove-it contract" cycle for years.

13, Ronald Darby, CB, Eagles
A torn ACL will hurt Darby's value, but he's still the class of a soft cornerback crop of free agents.

14, Tyrann Mathieu, S, Texans
It's unclear why safeties like Honey Badger didn't get paid well last offseason. There's an even better crop of free agents at the position this time around.

15, Lamarcus Joyner, S, Rams
The Rams valued Joyner enough to use the franchise tag on him last year. There just aren't enough tough, versatile safeties who can cover slot receivers around.

16, Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Saints
Teddy's underwhelming Week 17 start was more about a rag-tag backup Saints offensive line that didn't protect Bridgewater than it was about anything else. He showed enough in the 2018 preseason to compete for a starting job somewhere.

17, Preston Smith, LB, Redskins
If everyone thinks Smith is underrated, is he still underrated? Pro Football Focus' No. 8-ranked 3-4 outside linebacker in 2018 should get the contract of someone rated quite highly.

18, Ndamukong Suh, DT, Rams
If he plays another game or two like the one he did in the Wild Card Round, Suh's price tag could skyrocket.

19, K.J. Wright, LB, Seahawks
Instinctive as a run-stopper and excellent in coverage, Wright looked good late in the season after missing 11 games with a lingering knee injury.

20, Za'Darius Smith, OLB, Ravens
PFF credited Smith with 10 sacks, 17 QB hits and 33 hurries in the regular season, which is monster production for someone with 690 snaps. He plays with laudable fury.

21, Ezekiel Ansah, DE, Lions
One of the toughest players to evaluate in free agency. The Lions spent hefty franchise-tag money on a guy with just 662 snaps combined over the last two years.

22, Daryl Williams, OT, Panthers
Good tackles are so hard to find in free agency that Williams, a second-team All Pro in 2017, should still inspire plenty of interest despite missing nearly all of this season with a knee injury.

23 Ha Ha Clinton-Dix ,S, Redskins
The Packers opinion of Clinton-Dix and his so-so time in Washington after being traded there by Green Bay this season might have him pegged as just an above-average starting safety, but that should be worth something on the open market.

24 Brandon Graham, DE, Eagles
This ranking may look disrespectful for a player of Graham's caliber, but the track record of betting on soon-to-be 31-year-old pass rushers in free agency is rough.

25 Matt Paradis, C, Broncos
He's consistently been one of the highest-graded centers in football since the Broncos selected him in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He missed the last seven games of 2018 with a broken right fibula.

[call_me_ishmael]

I'd like to kick the tires on:

1. Earl Thomas
2. Frank Clark (unlikely to be available IMO)
3. C.J. Mosley (If available, you pony up, bottom line)
4. Anthony Barr
5. K.J. Wright
6. Za'Darius Smith

Coming away with two of those players totally changes the trajectory of this team IMO. You do that, and you can draft another pass rusher at 12 (Polite) and then best available at the bottom of round 1. Boom, the team fortified a lot of positions right there.