NFL Offseason/Free Agency/Non Draft Thread

[Fritz]

Gotta save the cap money to resign Tom and/or Walker plus appease Jenkins. As much as I like bringing in FA difference makers, I'd rather the money be spent in house to further team chemistry and clearly display Packers pay their own.

But . . . but . . . the cap can be cooked into infinity, right? Can't we sign Ramsey AND keep all our guys?

[Fosco33]

But . . . but . . . the cap can be cooked into infinity, right? Can't we sign Ramsey AND keep all our guys?

Nice jab. Good stuff

[Teamcheez1]

The Steelers are paying about $20M for Ramsey this year. That seems a bit much.

[smuggler]

Incredibly, Ramsey got a reworked contract with the Steelers. Almost seems impossible. That whole trade is a clusterfuck.

[smuggler]

Da Bearz extended Ryan Poles (their GM) through the 2029 season. He's on their books for five more seasons, counting this year. It's the most Bears move possible. I don't really know what else they could do, but just a reminder for the gang here, this guy has a .294 winning percentage in three seasons as GM and struck out with Eberflus. Even though he didn't draft Fields, that was a fiasco and a half. Poles got gifted Caleb Williams, but he's a big time fruit loop. And while every great quarterback is a little crazy, it REALLY sucks when your not-so-great QB is really crazy.

Basically it seems like Chicago kept Poles because Poles is bending over for Ben Johnson and those two are now joined at the hip. But if Johnson, by chance, isn't the guy you want making personnel decisions, they're back to being royally fucked.

[Patler]

One of these times the Bears will be right on head coach pick. I don't know if this will be the time or not, but all the bluster and trash talking from him strikes me as very high-schoolish.

[Joemailman]

The kind of news NFL teams hope to avoid this time of year.

Cleveland Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins was arrested on a domestic violence and battery charge in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Saturday, according to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department and Broward County arrest records.

Judkins was still in jail as of Saturday night and scheduled to have his initial court appearance Sunday morning, according to court records.

The Browns said they are "aware and gathering more details," according to a team spokesperson.

Cleveland selected Judkins, a former Ole Miss and Ohio State standout, with the No. 36 pick in the 2025 draft. He is the lone member of the Browns' seven-player draft who has not signed his rookie contract.

Browns rookies report for training camp July 18.

[bobblehead]

But . . . but . . . the cap can be cooked into infinity, right? Can't we sign Ramsey AND keep all our guys?

Not only that but we should have signed at least 5 difference makers in FA. The other teams just haven't caught on yet that the cap doesn't matter, that is why they aren't doing it.

Edit: Actually the Saints figured it out, that is why they have all those participation trophies.

[bobblehead]

One of these times the Bears will be right on head coach pick. I don't know if this will be the time or not, but all the bluster and trash talking from him strikes me as very high-schoolish.

This seems like the right guy I hate to admit it. And the bluster and confidence is actually important if you want to change a losing culture that has persisted for decades. Its a risk, but a necessary one for the Bears. They need to believe. If it blows up it generally blows up royally (think of when the Cowboys stopped being dominant but continued to believe they were). If it works you can turn around an organization (current Lions and think Jerry Glanville Falcons.)

[Joemailman]

https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2...fl-draft-rules

On the Cover 3 Podcast, CBS Sports’ Bud Elliot reported that 2025 first-round pick Shemar Stewart has been participating in team workouts with his former college program, the Texas A&M Aggies. According to Elliot, Stewart believes there’s a path for him to return to the college level even after being selected by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Stewart, notably, is holding out in Cincinnati over default language that the Bengals want him to sign, which would void all the guarantees in his contract if he ever ran into a legal matter. It’s also worth noting here that the Bengals are known for playing hardball with their players, most recently with pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, who is essentially renegotiating his contract on a year-to-year basis because Cincinnati won’t tear up his deal and give him a new multi-year extension.

On paper, it’s the perfect storm for a first-round pick to test his case at retaining his college eligibility, despite having already signed with an NFL agent. Whether or not he’ll be able to win his case is unknown, but the NCAA has been taking many losses in court over the last decade — including a recent ruling that seasons spent in junior college do not count against a player’s NCAA eligibility, as the NCAA does not oversee the sport at that level.

[Fritz]

Da Bearz extended Ryan Poles (their GM) through the 2029 season. He's on their books for five more seasons, counting this year. It's the most Bears move possible. I don't really know what else they could do, but just a reminder for the gang here, this guy has a .294 winning percentage in three seasons as GM and struck out with Eberflus. Even though he didn't draft Fields, that was a fiasco and a half. Poles got gifted Caleb Williams, but he's a big time fruit loop. And while every great quarterback is a little crazy, it REALLY sucks when your not-so-great QB is really crazy.

Basically it seems like Chicago kept Poles because Poles is bending over for Ben Johnson and those two are now joined at the hip. But if Johnson, by chance, isn't the guy you want making personnel decisions, they're back to being royally fucked.

I'm not sure how that would work. They're joined at the hip, but Poles bends over for Ben Johnson. How can Johnson get to Poles's butt if they're joined at the hip?

It's so confusing to talk about da Bears.

But I am excited that da Bears extended Poles (ha ha) because I have not been impressed with his moves so far. And I am hopeful Ben Johnson is another one of those "great coordinator but not suited to be a HC" guys that proliferate in the NFL.

We shall see.

As far as the Browns' pick, the one who had not signed his contract and now has been arrested - Doh! I'm imagining a red pen crossing out the Browns' salary proposal, and that same red pen writing in something like "$5000" for one season instead.

[Deputy Nutz]

Ben Johnson has been really creative during his time in Detroit, but it is different being the head coach vs the offensive coordinator. He aligned well Dan Campbell, we will see if he can organize and motive a team to win games

[Joemailman]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...il-sources-say

Kansas City Chiefs star wide receiver Rashee Rice was sentenced to 30 days of jail time and five years probation Thursday for his role in a multicar crash last year.

According to a release from the Dallas County District Attorney's office, Rice pleaded guilty in district court to two third-degree felony charges -- collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury.

A Dallas district court judge ruled that Rice can serve the jail time at any point during the five-year probationary period. Rice received deferred adjudication, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter, so the case will be dismissed if he completes the probation.

Before his plea agreement, Rice also paid over $115,000 in restitution to the victims of the March 2024 crash for their medical expenses, according to the district attorney's office.

The NFL now can expedite its disciplinary process of Rice, who is likely to receive a multigame suspension at some point during the upcoming 2025 season.

"We have been closely monitoring all developments in the matter which remains under review," NFL vice president of communications Brian McCarthy told Schefter.

Rice, in a statement released Thursday by his attorney, said he is "profoundly sorry for the physical damages to person and property."

"Last March, I was involved in a high-speed accident in Dallas," Rice said in his statement. "There have been a lot of sleepless nights thinking about the damages that my actions caused, and I will continue working within my means to make sure that everyone impacted will be made whole. I urge everyone to mind the speed limit, drive safe and drive smart.

"Last and certainly not least, I am profoundly sorry for the physical damages to person and property. I fully apologize for the harm I caused to innocent drivers and their families."

Police said Rice was traveling at 119 mph in a Lamborghini sport utility vehicle shortly before the May 30, 2024, crash in Dallas.

Dallas district attorney John Creuzot said in a statement that Rice was "fortunate to have walked away unharmed" and that he hopes Rice "takes this as an opportunity to mature and leads by example moving forward."

"When someone with Mr. Rice's public platform chooses to drive so recklessly, there is a responsibility to acknowledge the danger posed to others and take accountability," Creuzot said. "A vehicle in the wrong hands can be as dangerous as any weapon. We are extremely fortunate that no lives were lost that day, and Mr. Rice is fortunate to have walked away unharmed. We hope he takes this as an opportunity to mature and leads by example moving forward. I wish him the best in making safer choices."

Rice, 25, suffered a torn right ACL in Week 4 last season and missed the remainder of the Chiefs' AFC championship campaign. The Chiefs expect the 2023 second-round draft pick to be healthy when training camp begins next week.

So looks like he can serve the sentence in the offseason, but will likely get a several game suspension by the NFL

[smuggler]

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2025/07/browns-in-no-rush-to-sign-quinshon-judkins-or-get-him-to-camp-by-friday-while-they-investigate-his-domestic-incident.html

That photo of Judkins is not flattering whatsoever. Aside from behaving like an idiot, he looks like he has a genetic defect in that pic.

[MadScientist]

Rice got off easy, but he can afford good attorneys.

Cleaveland is just not going to shake its "factory of sadness" moniker anytime soon.