NFL Free Agency Open Thread
Bit surprised no one has put one of these threads up already, but with all of the basketball discussion I think the NFL Free Agency period officially opening got a little lost in the mix. Been quite a few moves already, with the Raiders looking like they made out like bandits so far. Upgraded by dumping Amari Cooper and picking up Antonio Brown, and only giving up a third and fifth rounder in the process. Amendola is heading to the Lions, so that should be helpful for Stafford.
I'm sure there will be a lot more movement in the coming days, especially with Le'Veon Bell, but who do you see going where? Who do you want to see going where?
March 11th, 2019 at 12:40 PM ^
I want to see Stafford moved.
March 11th, 2019 at 12:46 PM ^
I'm thinking if he has another year like last he'll be moved. I don't think it's possible right now. I defended his deal at the time but he was total garbage last year.
Not happening. Say what you want about him, but it would be the worst thing the Lions could do considering they'd have to eat $49,000,000 in dead cap which makes him basically untradeable unless the Lions want to get little to no return for him. But after next year they can get out of his contract for just a 10 million dollar cap hit which would be ideal if the Lions stink and are picking at the top of the draft in position to take a QB. Stafford is a top 10-12 QB, and while the money isnt ideal, the Lions have done a dogshit job surrounding him with talent in his weapons and coaches.
March 11th, 2019 at 10:48 PM ^
Given his record against above .500 teams, and overall record in the league, they should have franchise tagged him for two years then resigned him long term or moved on. To give that much time and money to a guy who hasn't produced wins 9 years into his career was just asinine.
I hope he takes the next step this upcoming season. But if we accomplish anything less than a playoff appearance, cut him, draft a QB and free up the cap space to strengthen the roster.
I don’t. Stafford isn’t the issue.
needs a deep/outside threat and better blocking.
March 11th, 2019 at 12:45 PM ^
If we land Barr, collins, and a gaurd id be happy for the lions
I'm with this...Barr, Collins and a DE at the 8th pick...I think that would open up the rest of the draft for them
March 11th, 2019 at 12:46 PM ^
Dynasty player here.
Just cashed in Amendola to a lions homer for a draft pick. I feel clever.
March 11th, 2019 at 12:46 PM ^
Lol at raiders making out like bandits. They're idiots for dealing for AB.
March 11th, 2019 at 12:54 PM ^
Almost completely agree. What I think made them idiots was paying AB the 18+MM guaranteed when, as evidenced by the small amount of draft capital required to get him, they were essentially bidding against themselves.
Gruden appears to have a plan for the Raiders as well defined as a fish on the beach flopping around looking for the water. Last year it was dump salary for picks (Mack & Cooper) and this year it's lets trade for the shiny thing and then massively overpay for it.
Trading a 3 & 5 for a receiver as good as Brown, even at 31, is great value. Giving a 31 year old receiver that much of your available cap in guaranteed money is insanity.
Normally you might be right but the Raiders have a crazy amount of cap room so the $$ in hopes of getting a happy AB isn't a big deal.
You can only roll over your empty cap space for so long before that goes away with the current cap rules. With the Raiders previous bad drafts, this cap space rollover and the AB extension will be off the books before they get around to extending the '18 and '19 class guys they hope will be stars in need of paying.
unless i miss my mark, AB = malcontent head case, much like laveon (spelling optional) bell. don't want that cancer in my club house.
That's certainly what the Steelers are putting out to justify the trade. That could be spot on but I tend to think they're being self-serving at least to some degree.
The thing is it worked for 8 out of 9 years he was the team so unless he turned into this terrible dude another team can probably make it work. Don't like everything he brings or does but the guy competes.
Is there a decent chance this could blow up on the Raiders? Sure but I think it's worth the gamble given where they're at and what they gave up.
March 11th, 2019 at 10:50 PM ^
The Raiders are broke and making mistake mistake mistake lol
Add in the deal for logan brown, and the raiders can't stop trippng over themselves.
Wow! Michigan really did miss out on Logan Brown. Kid hasn't even practiced with Wisconsin yet and NFL teams are already trading for him!!!
March 11th, 2019 at 12:46 PM ^
I questioned the Amendola move until I learned the details of the contract.
One year deal at only MAX of $5.75 million (heavily incentive laden) is a pretty solid pickup in my mind.
Unfortunately, I still feel they will break the bank trying to sign Flowers from NE as the current staff's love affair with current and former Patriots continues...
Maybe the Lions make a run at Kyle Van Noy when his contract expires?
I hope this happens. It would be the most Lions thing ever.
Patricia and Quinn are trying to replicate the "Patriot Way". Which makes no sense. Belichick viewed these players as dispensable. Why would Patricia and Quinn now want them? They're a step or two behind Belichick so chasing the Patriot Way is going to burn them.
Belichick is playing chess while most of the league is struggling with checkers. Watch how gaga the media goes Friday when he shows up in AA for Pro Day. He's already thinking of Bredeson next year to replace Thuney.
Feels like a light FA class at the top unless something happens with all the franchised DL.
Think the Browns should sign Bell given 1) he'd really help out any young QB, 2) all of their cap space and 3) spite toward the Steelers. Bell isn't a perfect dude by any means but the blame he and AB are getting is wild as NFL reporters injure their backs to carry the Rooneys' water. Ben is and always has been their locker room problem.
Edit: Forgot the Browns signed the hotel woman beater so obviously they won't go for Bell now.
Browns also have Chubb
Chubb is solid but doesn't have the passing game upside of Bell.
Hunt isn't quite the receiver Bell is but he's a killer in the screen game so should accomplish much the same.
Chubb is probably my favorite non-Lions, non-former Michigan player in the NFL. I have seen a couple of stories on him and his background, he really seems like a great kid. Maybe the Browns are banking on Chubb's humility and work ethic rubbing off on Hunt.
Not to mention that Chubb is an absolute stud RB, I predict he will be in the top 3 in rushing next year.
Tomlin is as much the problem as big ben.
I’d like the lions to sign Landon Collins and kwon Alexander from TB. That’s versatility and speed all over the field. I’d like them to be able to draft Sweat at 8 and Irv Smith Jr in the second round. I think you can get away with Slay and a mediocre corner on the other end. Maybe even draft David Long in the 4th round if he falls a little.
Update: Alexander signed with the 49ers. This is why I hate being a Lions fan.
The Lions got Trey Flowers, Amendola, Justin Coleman, and Jesse James for less than the combined cost of Alexander and Collins. With around 18-20 million in cap space to still play around with. And the 8th pick in the draft.
I posted that way before flowers, Coleman or James signed. I’m very happy with what the lions have done this free agency. I just don’t want them to draft a TE at 8. I think they trade out of that spot on draft night.
I want to hear free agency. Agents yapping on cell phones; pens scratching out signatures on contracts; keyboards tapping out press releases.
Okay Hoke
Did you write that for confirmation or did you not assume we all got the joke?
The more I think about it, wouldn't mind Ingram in Detroit. Could be a really, really strong 1-2 punch with Kerryon and Mark.
We need to pick up a LB, either Barr or Mosley. And a safety, I like Collins a lot, but something tells me we won't pay that much. Maybe the honey badger or a safety in rd 2.
Pick 8 should be one of the following IMO: Sweat, Gary, Oliver, Ferrell, Burns
Giants fan here and I think they were dumb not to keep Collins given the lack of talent on D but he's still not great in coverage.
Think he's a little overrated by fans of other teams hoping for a playmaker; they couldn't get off the field and were bad on the outside so he racked up tackles and didn't get isolated much in coverage last year.
I like him and he's a hitter who would help any team but think Mathieu and Earl Thomas have more upside if they stay healthy.
All pro by age 25 at safety but isn't good in coverage. Okay.
Good just not great (or elite if that's your preferred nomenclature). PFF has him as the #39 graded safety in the NFL FWIW.
He's a classic strong safety tackle machine.
If we get Flowers, I can see that as a trade down is possible in the draft at 8
Rack up some picks this draft for future drafts for a change. I think this draft is a bit deeper than usual especially at D End. Id be looking at Oakland with those Cowboys and Bears picks if somehow Gary or Sweat is not their at 8.
As for Stafford, he is straight trash - 7-59 vs over .500 teams in 10 seasons, 0 division titles , 0 playoff wins, of the 8 current QBS in the league with a team 10 years or longer, hes the only one with a losing record, and less than 4 playoff wins. He's Jeff George physically and mentally, just a nicer guy than George was.
I think that Neil Lomax is the better comparison. Stafford is much better than George ever was in the NFL.
This take is pure trash. He has been on awful teams with no running game and some truly awful offensive lines.
Lions defense has been bad too.
Football is a team game a fact anti-Stafford fans forget.
The NFL is a QB league. The Lions got screwed by picking a QB #1 in the last season that rookies got mega deals. Stafford is an above average QB who has been paid like a top 5 QB his entire career. It has totally hamstrung a FO that is already incompetent.
The running game and OL were fine at the beginning of last year before injuries started to pile up...he was still trash.
Of the 8 current QBs that have been with a team 10 years or longer, none of them were drafted by a team that went 0-16. None of them were drafted by the most putrid franchise of the last 50 years.
Lions going after nickel Justin Coleman
Sounds like a big contract. I hope Quinn knows what he is doing.
4 years for $36 mils.... A lot for a nickel, but looks like Seahawks fans loved him.
We should still have $25 mils or so in cap, I would imagine. Go get Barr or Mosley.
Not gonna have much cap room after the Flowers news! Maybe room for one more addition in FA
I'm not much of a follower of FA in the NFL but are you surprised they didn't go for a complimentary running back? That's a lot of $$ gone now
Not shocked tbh, running back is a position where you can get someone very good in the middle rounds. Especially bc Kerryon is definitely a #1 back. Look for them to draft a guy at the back end of day 2 or early day 3 to be the compliment back.
Lions also signing Flowers.... big $$$ spent today
"Detroit Patriots" is a phrase I've seen tossed around