2025 NFL Offseason/Draft Thread
erikthredd
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The draft combine starts on Thursday, then free agency a little over week later. Until then, here's a top 101 FAs list and a 2025 salary cap tracker to see where our teams are situated heading into free agency...
https://www.nfl.com/news/top-101-nfl-free-agents-of-2025-who-are-the-best-players-available
https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cap/_/year/2025/sort/cap_maximum_space2
Eric
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Im in. cant wait for Free Agency and the draft.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
just checked out the cap space link. looks like my Pats need to get out there and overpay for some free agents.
$120MM to spend!!!
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
Love it!
Packers submit proposal to ban 'Tush Push' play for 2025 season, per report
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
I say keep the tush push. if teams dont like it, then scheme a way to stop it.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
Either you should be able to push guys from behind or not.
Now if I am a QB or RB I absolutely want that banned. I dont want to be stuck between a 1000 pounds of men on each side of the ball crushing me in the middle pushing opposite directions
As much as I cringe when I hear that term "Tush Push" I don't have a problem with it
I agree. the name makes me feel a bit, uncomfortable, but dont ban it, stop it.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
I'm wondering why there's a growing list of prospects who don't want to work out at the combine, they want to hold a private work out(s) where I guess they feel they are in control. Read something about Sanders wanting his own receivers to be the guys he's throwing to!! Just stupid stuff like that. I'm anxious to see all the hype start as agents try to position their clients in the draft.
Drama!!!
I think this is a growing trend over the past several years
I’m guessing that they’re hoping to control the narrative and not hurt their draft status by having a bad or underwhelming combine workout with the entire football world there watching and talking about it.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
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They also want to work with guys they are familiar with which is crazy that it's allowed since these guys will be drafted and put in a whole different situation
Personally I'd take a guy off my draft board who does this
@erikthredd said: I’m guessing that they’re hoping to control the narrative
I'm sure that's what it probably is, but in the end it doesn't really matter. Remember, I think it was Trey Lance, who had his private workout and really "Wowwed" everyone with his passes?? Didin't matter in the end he's flopped in the NFL but the marketing did manage to suck in the 49ers and give Lance a good payday.
If player has the talent and will make it in the NFL I don't think the location or nature of the workout really matters.
It's all in a controlled environment setup by the agent to prevent any negative press. I'd bet that there are considerably less overall teams at these workouts as well. I wouldn't agree with your last part though. Each team should do their due diligence regardless on whether or not a player participates in certain workouts at the combine.
IIRC Drake Maye didn't throw at the combine last offseason, neither did Caleb Williams or Jayden Daniels.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
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Theres no real upside for the top guys at that draft to go to the combine and when they do they usually pick and choose what they do. If you blow out your ankle running the 40 when you were supposed to be a top 10 pick youre screwed.
The pro days are more controlled in a facility theyre used to with other players theyre used to especially for QBs not wanting to throw to a WR
I never really understood the combine. You have game tape on guys but doing drills in sliders and a compression shirt with no pads on is going to change your mind? I get that its supposed to be a money making thing for tv but why not at least have them wear pads. Last time I checked a QB isnt going to sit on his butt to throw a 60 yard pass and guys arent going to be running a straight 40 yard line in underwear. Theres workout speed and theres game speed
Read this morning that Cleveland Browns GM Andrew Berry made a statement about Myles Garrett. Essentially said that he's not available, so the team has dug their heels in. Garrett is a great player but right now he is more valuable to the Browns on another team, hard to imagine Berry/Haslam not understanding that.
I can see both sides of it. Saying someone isnt available can increase their trade value. The other side is the Watson trade has been a disaster and Berry probably knows he wont have a job much longer if they dont win now.
Here is the draft order as of today:
Not sure what sense this makes? ...........
Sports
NFL Team Shifts Focus To Aaron Rodgers: Report
By
Jason Hall
Feb 28, 2025
The New York Giants will reportedly shift their focus to Aaron Rodgers
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Nabers likes Rodgers and he might not like the QBs in this draft. Some rumors Davante Adams would want to go to wherever Rodgers signs
It would actually be one of the smarter things the Giants have done in a while. Wait for next years QBs and take advantage of this draft that has a ridiculous amount of DL talent even with the injury to Abdul Carter
I'm not sure if Rodgers has anything left in the tank. Who knows, it could have been being surrounded by the NYJ organization? Regardless, if I was a GM, I would not take a chance. But I'm not a GM...
https://www.nfl.com/news/niners-open-to-trading-wr-brandon-aiyuk-in-addition-to-deebo-samuel
It will be interesting to see SF's asking price after Aiyuk tore his ACL.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
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I dont think he really has much left but the Jets are one of the two teams that love killing QBs careers. The Giants are in a bad spot as well. They have 1 QB on the roster who you definitely wouldnt want starting. Either they have to trade up with the Titans which will be expensive to get Ward or theyll end up with like a Ewers, Milroe, Dart.
Ward and Sanders are almost certainly going 1 and 2. I wouldnt draft Sanders if it was up to me, spent his career with programs tailored for his success and lots of reports of him being a diva, even Hunter was getting mad at him at some points. I wouldnt take Milroe at all unless he is willing to be a RB or TE. Dart would be an over draft at 3. I like Ewers but I wouldnt take him either with the injury history.
If my elite WR wants Rodgers for a year Im going to try and make that happen in this situation. Either it works or get a top pick again next year. Sign the veteran on a short term deal draft Hunter if hes still there or trade down and take one of the elite d linemen this draft is loaded with
He had as many TD passes as Josh Allen and more than Patrick Mahomes last year. Over the final 10 games, he threw 18 TDs and just 4 picks. I wouldn't say he's elite anymore but he sure seems to have a little something left.
90.5 was his worst QB rating of his career in 2024. 3,900 yards, 28 TDs to 11 INTs.
If I were the Steelers & had to choose between Wilson & Rodgers, I'd lean toward Rodgers.
I'd also go with Rodgers over Darnold for one year.
Erik
Aaron Rogers and Patrick Mahomes had a very very similar statistical regular season.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
It's not the stats alone that you get with Rodgers though it's the baggage that comes with him is what would give me the pause button
I dont think Arods washed, but man, he is a weirdo.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
What are the weirdest things about Rodgers?
I don't find him weird, but he needs a perfect situation because he does seem to do himself and his team some disservice with his comments to the media... at times.
Eagles are releasing CB Darius Slay. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/44094982/sources-eagles-release-6-pro-bowl-cb-darius-slay
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
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I agree with this. He alienates people and doesn't take blame well. He's amazing - 20 years into his career and has still never thrown an inaccurate pass or made an incorrect read.
He can still play. But you're really counting on him for one year and deciding whether his "quirks" are worth the production you'll get.
He goes in darkness retreats, his conspiracy theories, he is into psychedelic herbs plants ect.. apparently he got massages to try to make himself taller, him thinking that his Achilles healed quicker and faster because of his own holistic treatments
He is a very quirky dude, it's all out there and I don't think Rodgers denies it or cares.
Personally I wouldn't care about any of that nonsense but when he goes to Egypt instead of training camp it's kind of an issue when you suck out of the gate
If the Browns signed him to a 1-year contract it would solve some problems. Right now they are stuck with Watson and can't seem to shake an infatuation with Dorian Thompson-Robinson. With Rodgers for a year they might be able to develop players on offense and perhaps next year will yield a better crop of QB's from the draft. Stockpile draft picks and hope.
I can safely say it will never happen.
DTR might very well be the worst QB to ever put on an NFL jersey
I think Cam Ward is the pick, they can survive a rookie contract while figuring out how to shed themselves from the Watson nightmare.
Rodgers wouldn't go to Cleveland, too small market for his big ego
While Aaron Rodgers might not be THE QB the Browns need he is the type they need, a good veteran who can carry them over while they find a player. The fly in the ointment, so to speak, is that the Browns have displayed an uncanny ability to not know how to evaluate QB talent.
I think Wards going 1 when someone trades up unless its Vegas. Sanders wants to go to Vegas and Deion wants to go coach there. Cleveland taking Sanders at 2 would probably turn into an Eli situation when he refused to play for the Chargers
I forgot that the Browns don't have the first pick, I could see Sanders being a pain in the rear end on draft day if he doesn't get what he wants.
Im pretty much expecting him to be and wouldnt be the least bit surprised if they were try to work something where Deion gets to come coach too, theres been rumors of it. I feel bad for Colorado, Deions out of there at the very end of the spring transfer portal if he gets an offer he likes
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/44113042/raiders-maxx-crosby-hopes-qb-aaron-rodgers-plays-las-vegas-2025
Brady can go sign Aaron Rodgers, then Davante Adams, then go use that 3rd round pick that the Jets previously gave the Raiders in the Adams trade to go add another playmaker around them. If that new trio has any success in Las Vegas, talk about gut punch to the Jets if/when they see that happen lol.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
@perkdog said: I could see Sanders being a pain in the rear end on draft day if he doesn't get what he wants.
If you've ever seen "Draft Day" there's a scene when QB Bo Callahan slips to the 5th spot and flips out in the Draft Room. If Sanders slips to 3rd or lower I'd expect something similar, if not publicly then in private. I haven't paid much attention to him so I can't comment on his talent, but along with his father he sure thinks a lot of himself and isn't afraid to speak out about it. Strikes me as a prima donna that I wouldn't want in my clubhouse.
Chiefs just traded away OL Joe thuney. was he not their best OL? or at least their 2nd best?
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
The crumble of the Chiefs has begun 😂😂😂
I've heard that somewhere before. 😉
Sanders gonna be another Manziel? One massive hit from an NFL lineman and he turns gun-shy?? The more he acts like a prima donna while not playing one down yet could piss off some veteran NFL players. Deion's kid or not!
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Chiefs trying to make some cap space. For some reason theyre choosing to trade very good players instead of reworking contracts
They could get rid of Kelce but they dont want to lose out on the extra Taylor Swift revenue which is very significant. The fact they have that and chose to just trade a very good guard instead of using the ways to manipulate the cap is weird.
We will have to see what they do in the draft, but Mahomes can only compensate for so much when they keep taking things away from him
Some interesting stuff yesterday. Chargers cutting Bosa was a surprise but maybe not when I start to think about the injuries. Maybe he'll end up with his brother in SF?
WOW Bosa getting cut is a pretty big deal
Some thoughts on topics mentioned above...
This offseason for the Chiefs has been eerily similar to how it felt after the Pats lost to the Giants in SB 42. Both NE & KC's offensive lines got dominated by the NY/PHI front four on defense, which ended a pretty historic run in both instances and we were all left wondering if the two (GOAT level) losing QBs have seen their time on top of the NFL world finally come to an end. Brady had a rough few years following that huge loss where he then had to reinvent himself while BB did the same with the roster before finally getting back to the top of the mountain again 7yrs later.
Mahomes, is roughly a year younger than Brady was at that time, and the Chiefs may need to do the same (although they still have some high end players throughout their roster so their reset/retool (or whatever you want to call it) likely won't take as long as it did for NE during that stretch mentioned above.
Its definitely a tough break for Joe Thuney though. He was pretty much fantastic last season, he just had to play out of position due to circumstances that were completely out of his control. Between his age and high salary it made more sense to move off him and retain guard Trey Smith, who is 7 years younger and looks like he's heading towards an all-pro level himself.
Seeing how the Bears w/Ben Johnson have immediately jumped into turning over their OL with the Jonah Jackson/Thuney trades, you have to respect how they're going all in for Caleb Williams. They're leaving no stone unturned and not putting all of their eggs in one basket like it seems the Pats are doing right now even though their offensive line was equally as bad as that 2024 Bears unit.
Its going to be interesting to see how free agency plays out over the next week plus, there are a lot of really good players that have either already hit the FA market or are now available in trades. The Pats desperately need a really good starting left tackle, as do many other teams, and there may just be one immediate upgrade at that position between free agency and the draft. Ravens tackle Ronnie Stanley is about to get a really nice payday, the only question is, by who?
I maybe going out on a limb in regards to this Shedeur Sanders take but I honestly wouldn't be surprised at all if that entire situation is just his old man sort of having him purposely tank his draft stock a bit so he possibly falls to the Raiders at 6 (apparently Brady has been mentoring him behind the scene in recent years.) Deion could just be trying to avoid the media backlash that Archie Manning caught when he steered Eli to a team of their choosing back in that 2004 draft. Will it work? 🤷♂️
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
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If he really wants to play for the Raiders why not follow the John Elway playbook. Elway was set to be drafted by Baltimore and said he'd play baseball instead unless they traded him. He was granted his wish and went to Denver.
I'm guessing that the Raiders wouldn't want to pay that QB tax that it takes when moving up into the top 3-4 picks of the draft when It seems like there isn't the same type of buzz around Shedeur Sanders that there was around Jayden Daniels & Drake Maye at this time a year ago (although that could obviously change by the time that the draft kicks off next month.) If he makes it past the Titans, Browns & Giants there could be a chance that he just slides to them at pick #6.
IIRC the last time a team traded from 6th overall into the top 3 for a QB was with Sam Darnold in 2018. Google tells us that Jets gave up the 6th overall pick, two 2nd rounders in that same draft and a 2nd rounder the following season (so a #6 and three 2nds.) Does anyone view Shedeur Sanders as being worth that much? I get the whole, having to keep taking shots at trying to find your franchise quarterback but, to me, he's not worth the type of trade package it would take to get him (but if you're the Titans/Browns/Giants and some team comes offering that, I'd take it.)
Outside of Travis Hunter, Abdul Carter and Cam Ward there doesn't seem to be too many can't miss type of players in the top 10 picks like there was a year ago, teams may not be willing to just trade up without absolutely falling in love with someone outside that top 3. The Pats have the 4th pick and the consensus here is that their options could be pretty meh when they're on the clock. Everyone wants to maximize the value that you'd normally get from a 4th overall pick but, again, this doesn't seem to be that type of draft.
The Raiders could sign Arod or Darnold (or whoever) at QB once free agency starts which could make any Sanders to the Raiders talk moot but if he's available when their pick comes up and they haven't signed a starting caliber QB, i could see Brady making that pick.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486