NFL Offseason/Free Agency/Non Draft Thread

[Joemailman]

Ian Rapoport @rapsheet1.bsky.social

Russell Wilson is finalizing a deal with the Giants, as the Pro Bowler is the latest big QB domino, per The Insiders.

Rather than wait for Aaron Rodgers, NYG adds another veteran QB to go along with Jameis Winston.


Ian Rapoport @rapsheet1.bsky.social

Sources: The Patriots are signing Texans FA WR Stefon Diggs, one of the top free agents available. He gets a 3-year, $69M deal.

After a successful visit to NE, including a physical thanks to an ACL tear that ended his 2024, he lands to be a key target for Drake Maye.

[run pMc]

Ian Rapoport @rapsheet1.bsky.social

Russell Wilson is finalizing a deal with the Giants, as the Pro Bowler is the latest big QB domino, per The Insiders.

Rather than wait for Aaron Rodgers, NYG adds another veteran QB to go along with Jameis Winston.


Ian Rapoport @rapsheet1.bsky.social

Sources: The Patriots are signing Texans FA WR Stefon Diggs, one of the top free agents available. He gets a 3-year, $69M deal.

After a successful visit to NE, including a physical thanks to an ACL tear that ended his 2024, he lands to be a key target for Drake Maye.

$69M? NOICE
Seriously, that's a lot of dough for a guy that 3 teams have given up on. Probably a lot of funny money in the last year.

I'll give Gute this much: if he's overpaying on the FA market (Banks), at least it's for players who are young with some runway for upside.

[Joemailman]

Diggs faded 2nd half of 2023 season. WAs having a decent year last year before tearing ACL. Lot of money though to be paying a 31 year old receiver coming off an ACL if much of the money is real. Patriots are #1 in cap space though, so it's not a huge gamble for them.

[Joemailman]

Dianna Russini
@DMRussini

The NFL’s owners have passed a rule change that will allow both teams to possess the ball in overtime during the regular season, per source.

The overtime period will remain just 10 minutes.

Vote on tush push expected today also.

[Joemailman]

The NFL’s replay assist system will cover more plays during the 2025 season.

League owners approved a proposal to expand the use of replay assist in a vote at the league meetings in Palm Beach on Tuesday. The proposal called for adding fouls for hits on a defenseless player, grabbing the facemask, performing a horse-collar tackle, tripping, and running into or roughing the kicker to be covered by the process.

Replay assist will now be able to be used to pick up flags thrown for those infractions as long as there is clear evidence on video that on-field officials erred by calling the penalties.

The change does not allow for flags to be thrown, so similarly clear evidence of an uncalled facemask or horse-collar tackle will not result in a penalty.

[Joemailman]

Ian Rapoport @rapsheet1.bsky.social

Discussions on the tush push have been tabled until a later date, source said. The fact that the debate on banning the tush push was tabled indicates it may be discussed again at the May meetings. And could be pushed forward once more support is gathered.

Competition Committee chair Rich McKay said there were 30-40 minutes of discussion, focusing on safety and other issues. Up to 2004, there were rules the prohibited pushing and pulling. The Packers asked to reinstate the language, study it, understand it, and discuss it in May.

[Fosco33]

Is this April fools joke? Ban it or rename to rugby

[Joemailman]

Is this April fools joke? Ban it or rename to rugby

I read somewhere that they have 16 votes in favor. They tabled the vote because they need more time to gather more support. They need 24 votes.

[Fosco33]

I read somewhere that they have 16 votes in favor. They tabled the vote because they need more time to gather more support. They need 24 votes.

Makes sense. 16 is a good start

[Fritz]

Gather more support? Maybe those in favor should group just behind one of them who's unsure, and give him a little . . . push. In the tush.

[MadtownPacker]

Ban everything the Packers aren’t good at!!

[MadScientist]

Ban everything the Packers aren’t good at!!

So, rushing the QB should be banned?

[MadtownPacker]

So, rushing the QB should be banned?

It would help tremendously on offense and defense.

[Patler]

Chain crew will not be used to measure for first downs:

At the NFL's spring owners meeting on Tuesday, the league announced Sony's "Hawk-Eye" virtual measurement system will be the primary method of measuring the distance between the spot of the ball and the line to gain moving forward. The sideline crew will be relegated to backups.

"Combining the art of officiating with Sony's trusted Hawk-Eye system is a healthy recipe for success in our commitment to raising the standards of accuracy, consistency and efficiency," Troy Vincent, executive vice president of football operations at the NFL, said in a press release. "Replay technology and data-driven insights from Sony's Hawk-Eye Innovations aid us in advancing our efforts toward the future of football."

This technology becoming the standard for the NFL marks a new era for football. The league has used "Hawk-Eye's" Synchronized Multi-Angle Replay technology since 2021 to combine and synchronize gameday footage to assist with replays being looked at in the NFL's command center. Still, officials haven't trusted the "Hawk-Eye" system with decision-making until now, and refs won't be completely shut out by it.

A referee is required to determine the spot of the ball before the "Hawk-Eye" system decides if the 10 yards for a first down have been gained. As the officials are notified of the outcome, real-time virtual recreations will be shown to the stadium and broadcast audience. According to the league, this process will take about 30 seconds, but save up to 40 seconds if the chain gang were to do it themselves.

[Teamcheez1]

The issue is not measuring for the first down.
It’s that officials do not spot the ball correctly.
The technology will not be used in this regard.