The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL - Free Agency Recap Day 1: Garoppolo to Raiders, Hargrave to 49ers & Broncos open their wallet

Episode Date: March 13, 2023

Robert Mays and Nate Tice dig into the action from the first day of free agency 2023, from Jimmy Garoppolo heading to Las Vegas, to the 49ers signing a big fish DT in Javon Hargrave, some Bears moves happen live on air and more in our first LIVE Free Agency Recap of the week.YouTube - https://youtube.com/live/epynMfn_Zao2:16 Aaron Rodgers update3:16 Jimmy Garoppolo7:53 Javon Hargrave11:10 Jawaan Taylor22:34 - Ben Powers24:24 - Mike McGlinchey30:29 - Tremaine Edmunds / Bears36:28 - Connor McGovern38:26 - Ethan Pocic41:16 - Jonnu Smith / Falcons48:25 - CB50:19 - All the restSponsored by -BetterHelp - Visit betterhelp.com/Mays today to get 10% off your first monthAtlassianMorgan & Morgan - For more information on Morgan & Morgan services, go to forthepeople.com/Mays or dial 1(800) POUND-LAW from your cell phone Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the athletic football show. Welcome to the athletic football show. I'm Robert Maze, who doesn't have his mic in front of him right now. Joining me, as always, my good friend Nate Tyson, Nate, how you doing, buddy? I'm doing very well. That's why I have my mic hanging in my face because I would forget mine, probably half the time that we record. Remember to record locally as the countdown's going. That's always a fun one.

That's always like, hey, let's get that. You get to click in right in the right time. So that's perfect right now. But day one, a free agency. This is the midcap. It's not the recap because we're in the middle of it. So it's the midcap. That's what we're doing right now.

I got really distracted and intoxicated by the beats. I thought I had a lot longer than I did, but it's because I was too deep in the groove. That was the issue right there. The Sunday show, we always have like three minutes. Like you're good. That's why. That's why. It's a water faster than I anticipated.

All right. We have a lot to dig into today. A lot. I love this week. I love this week. I can't remember when we started doing it. these. I feel like I did them back in the day with Barnwell. And there were a couple things we responded to in real time. But then I distinctly remember being at my in-laws house in Miami.

I think I was on with Danny Kelly and Kevin Clark. And the Panthers signed Matt Khalil to that monster deal. Yeah. And the reaction is just, it's stuck in my mind for live free agency shows. So I'm always chasing that Matt Khalil moment when we're doing these in real time. I'm the first person who's ever said that. We did one our first year together, our first off season, I should say together. I remember we did like one. And that was kind of like a, oh yeah. It's all supersized now, baby. We did one. And then now it's no, every day, day one, day two, day three, day four. Because that's how it is. It's just every day. It feels like something's popping every five minutes. I was just saying I went away for five minutes, seven minutes. And all of a sudden I come back and I'm like, there's three signings. I'm like, oh, shit, I got put this in the notes. Do I have a take on this? I don't know. Let's do it. I'll all figure it out. You thought you were going to sign up for one podcast a week, two and a half years ago, and now your life is just totally fucked.

Totally. That's great. All right. We're going to start with the Rogers' non-update, okay? As we sit here recording this, there's obviously been a report that's floating out there that it is done. That has not been confirmed by really anyone else watching NFL network, nothing there. Our reporters at the athletic are working to give you the latest on what is happening with the Aaron Rogers story, but both our Jets writer and our Packers writer have nothing confirmed.

Nothing is a done deal with Aaron Rogers and the Jets. If it happens when we're recording this, obviously, we will talk about it because that's where we're at right now. Like you said, like you tweeted, it'll happen 30 seconds after we wrap up. Oh, there's absolutely no doubt. Yeah, that's a lock. It's just like trades happening on a Friday night. It's just it's, you can put a time to it, put a clock to it.

You know exactly when it's going to happen. I can tell you it's going to happen at what, probably one. 140 West Coast time. I could tell you that's exactly when the Rogers trade is going to happen. We're just going to keep recording until like 5 o'clock. Perfect. Stahl. Four quarters offense.

So let's start with the first quarterback domino that did actually fall. Jimmy Garapolo heading to the Raiders, according to a bunch of people, saw the Mike Garifolo tweet, but also the one from Adam Shepter and Diana Rusini. Three years, 67.5 million for Jimmy, with $34 million guaranteed. Okay. So putting it out into context with some of the other quarterback deals that we've seen, 22.5 million, obviously much lower than what Daniel Jones got, what Derek Carr got. And that $34 million guaranteed is in the range of one-third of what both Derek Carr and Daniel Jones got with the Saints and the Giants, respectively.

It makes sense to me based on the way the other quarterback dominoes were falling. I don't know how you feel about this. But now that we have Carolina at one, the Texans likely drafting a quarterback at two. to the Colts being at four, that third pick, really being up for sale. Do they really want to go all the way up there? I think there's just a lot of things to consider when you think about the pathways to a rookie quarterback in this class, which we always thought was the best outcome for the Raiders after moving on from Derek Carr.

If that wasn't going to be an obvious possibility, getting a stopgap like Jimmy G at half of the price of some of these other guys, I think does make sense. It makes a ton of sense, especially Jimmy G going backwards. Josh McDaniels. That makes a ton of sense. Apparently the Raiders were sniffing around about moving up to one. So that it wasn't, they, they, they were in the talks. They were in the works about it.

So it makes sense that they were trying to find all the avenues they can. This, what they, the result of all this makes a ton of sense like you said with all the other Dombo's FL, especially the Panthers moving up to one. The Cardinals now being in that kind of, you know, that really good spot of they can choose their adventure where they want to trade or they hold on to the Will Anderson and that changes different dominoes. I think this was a way for the Raiders to at least have half a butt cheek on the seat. You know,

it's just that they're not going to be empty when they finish this whole process. When I saw Stidham, Jared Stidham, I know we're getting ahead of myself going to the Broncos. I was like, okay. So that means the Raiders are going to sign something or they're signaling that they want to draft somebody. But this is a way that they are not, they're committed, but they're not fully committed to like this long-term thing. They can kind of get through this year with a competency at the quarterback position, especially for more of a vet-laden offense and a team that has a ton of holes on it. So they didn't want to splurge.

I know. So I'm talking about both sides of my mouth here, but it's really just, I think this is their way to straddling whether Avenue they want to take for the quarterback market. Derrick Car was going to have a $35 million cap hit this year if they had kept Sterrachar. I assume Jimmy Garoppolo will be in the range of $15 to $17 million. So it's for half. So it's a lateral movement. Would you say it's $33 million cap it? And Jimmy's guaranteed $34 total.

Yes. So that right there, that's where that's where the money is. So if you're going to have a non-elite veteran quarterback, I think that they made the move down to the cheaper one that can act as a bridge. It's only $34 million guaranteed. I assume if they want to, they can move on after this season. So if the draft falls a certain way to them, they can still take a guy, let him sit and then move on to him next year. This isn't the sort of deal that precludes them from doing that. And that's why it's a little bit different than the Daniel Jones contract or the Derrick Carr contract.

it's why the Gino Smith deal is different than the Daniel Jones contract. Because he only has $40 million guaranteed. So there are enough nuances between all of these things that make the considerations of taking on the contract a little bit different. So with the Raiders being in that tough spot of not really controlling their quarterback destiny in the draft, really to start, but certainly after Carolina went up ahead of them, I can understand wanting to be in this spot. Yeah.

I think the Gino comparisons as far as contract and also timeline of team, I guess, is kind of that's that's the more similar thing here makes sense both early 30s quarterbacks vets kind of gino i was about to say a proven vet gino is one year a proof now but you know jimmy's had some really good years in san francisco so i think that's exactly what it is that's more the path that they're taking that they can have a competency at this year and figure out their plan for the long term or even the midterm yeah i mean it's i don't love the idea of jimmy garapolo with devante adams like on a football level it's not the most exciting pairing in the world but I do think if they want to have the seat filled, this makes sense because it's not a bottom of the barrel one year stopgap veteran. It's one step up from that. But it's still not something where you're locking yourself in long term. Obviously, there's the familiarity with Josh McDaniels. I mean, there's so many things that make the move makes sense, even if I do think it's a temporary move for them as they figure out what the long term planet quarterback looks like. Okay. Keep it warm.

Speaking of our, let's get to some other big moves here. This one's awesome. I have no idea how it's going to work. But Javon, Hargrave signing with the Niners is probably the most fun pairing I could have imagined heading into free agency between player and team. I mean, oh my God. Dude, I thought I was out of hand when I was saying Traymont Jones to the 49ers. No, good for you being on that timeline though and thinking they might even spend big on another defensive lineman. It makes sense. I was because they had the money, but I just really didn't think they would actually do it. But I'm, hey, let's go for it. Like you said, on a football level, this is. this is going to be magic, put them in that defense up front. They invest in that D-Line. I get it. They try to build up that D-Line every year, and this is really building you off. But they usually do it with like one-year Chris Kassurik guys where it's, I've called it the Chris Kassurik Career Rebilitation Plan, where you go over one year, $6 million and then you get to sign somewhere else for big money. Typically, that's the aisle they've shopped in, not another $20 million dollar defensive line.

So looking at where they're at right now, I mean, they don't have a ton of cap spaces. Things currently exist. They'll have to do some restructures. And even on their defensive line, right now at this moment, before they sign Javon Hargrave, the Niners had the highest average cap hit in the NFL per defensive lineman. They were like fifth total in cap spending, number one, an average. It's only six guys under contract. I was going to say, they don't have that many.

But it's like $8.5 million each guy. So Armstead has a $22 million. $1 million. Excuse me. It's higher than that. It's $23.8 million. And Bosa is at $17.9. Okay.

That is going to change. Yeah. Bosa is likely going to get extended. So if that extension happens, does that cap hit get pulled down? And what do they do with Armstead? Whether it's a restructure or something else. You know, I think everyone's kind of assuming that he's 30. I forget that it's 30.

I wonder if they want that many expensive guys over 30 as part of this equation or if something else. There's another shoe to drop with the armstead thing. So I think that's worth looking at the very least. And it gives them, just like we're talking about similar kind of conversation, but not exactly as far as like the Jimmy G thing. It's making sure that you have one in the hand rather than two in the bush. So it's like if they do want to do something with Armstead, it's not theory. And then they're like, oh, yeah, we can maybe trade them. We get this. And then they do move on from him or do do something with him. And also they are now just Nick Bosa

and the Bosa et's up front there. So I think that's what it was. It's just a little, it's almost a Again, they're kind of doing two things at once that gives them kind of some flexibility if they want to do something with Armstead while also already having a legit really good player, a different type of player than they usually have had the last few years too, which I think is going to be really, really fun. But it makes sense for just real quick, just schematically. Hargrave was a gap shooting. He's perfect. With this defense aligned, it's like I said, it's magic. You can have better synergy from player to play style of a team and a defensive front especially. 13.6 for Chavarious Ward and Warner's at 13.

So if you want to restructure both of those guys, obviously that is on the table. All right. Some of the other big moves that we have already seen today. This one, this one's fascinating on five different levels. Juan Taylor goes to the chiefs, according to Adam Schaefter, four years, $80 million for Taylor, $60 million guaranteed. When I first saw the number, I was like, oh, he's going to play left half. That $20 million a year number now brings you into a left tackle money. And he has never done that.

But according to James Palmer, Venafel Network, multiple reports, our own Jeff Howe at the Athletic also reported this. He is slated to play left tackle for the chiefs when he gets there. What do you think about that? It's really hard. That's hard for me to just go,

oh yeah, flip over to the left side. It's going to be easier. Brandon Thorne had a great tweet about this. that if you are going to do it, this is the best situation possible. Have a great quarterback at avoiding sacks. You have Andy Hack, who's a great developer of talent. And Tuni and Tune and Joe Tuni right next to you.

But also think there might be a little gamesmanship going on. The whole Laramie Tonsul thing, I think it's very interesting that he's like, You think they can afford both of them? But I don't know. That seems hard. That seems like it would be difficult to justify it. I'd have to look at the numbers, but I'm not sure they can do both of them. That means they would have, if he would have.

if he resets the left tackle market, tonsil, which he probably would want to on a new deal, they would have the highest paid left tackle in the week, the highest paid right tackle in the week, I don't know what ramp check is at, but it's right there,

and the highest paid left guard in the league. There's no way. There's no way. It does not feel like that as possible. Okay, so that is one layer of this. But I don't know if it's like the most like astute spending. I would be surprised if that happened. Yeah.

Maybe I'm just trying to manifest the, the moves I'm about to see where the bear send the 54th pick to the Texans for a laramie tonsill, which is now what I want. Okay. So a few different layers to this, the first layer of what you just mentioned, them making it clear again for really the second third straight off season, we believe that if we protect our guy, that's the only thing that can derail us. We are going to put a wall in front of him and we're going to throw whoever out there

is past catchers with Travis Kelsey and we're going to compete for Super Bowls. They have shown that that is what they believe. post loss to the bucks. And I think this is another instance of that. Yeah. It wasn't just the one off season where they juiced it up with Tuny and Creed Humphrey and Trace Smith and blah, blah, blah. It's like, no, we're, that's our plan forever.

That's our team building philosophy. It's worth so far. Yeah, right. Got, we got already checked up, check the box of the Super Bowl. Mahomes offensive line and then what's the ever revolving cast of pass catchers. Right now it helps having Travis Kelsey, but we'll see what happens when Kelsey keeps getting up there in age. But yeah, built through that offensive.

line, built through the offense line, built through that offense line, just like Brayne just said. But this also helps why they can spend money like this. Yes, they can always go to the bank of my homes as the years go on. They haven't really had to dip into it much yet, but they nailed so many draft picks in his last two classes. This is what matters. When you nail draft picks, it gives you so much flexibility to do stuff like this. The Humphrey and Smith deals offset the expensive guys now at other positions, which it had done

over the last couple years, but now you're essentially reprising that plan. And look at the whole defense. Like they have so many rookie contract guys, both of the linebackers, their whole DB room outside outside of Reed. And that's why rookie, not just rookie QB contracts, but rookie contracts for every position is valuable. If you nail picks, it gives you, lets you just do other things that have flexibility. Same discussion with the Seahawks. And now that they're able to have like kind of cool plans and travel, I mean, they, they fast forwarded

their plan by nailing a draft. I mean, yes, everybody wants to nail a draft. But when you do it, this is what you can also do. You can continue these good things and these building blocks that you want to add on to your team because you just have the flexibility to do it. So it makes sense. I love this game plan. I'm always going to be a sucker for building through the offensive line, especially when you have the best quarterback of all time behind it. It's an interesting contrast.

And we'll talk about his deal in a second to what McGlensie got were considering those two players. The fact that you even think you can move Juan Taylor to the left side, I think is a statement on the trajectory you think he's on. Right. Juan Taylor is 25 years old. Mike McGlunchy is two and a half years older than Joanne Taylor. Juan Taylor just had his best season as a pass protector. He's got decent athletic traits, you know, decent draft pedigree. This is the chief saying, we think that you're on an arrow that is worth betting on.

We think that you're 25 to 28 seasons. You're going to be even a better player than you were over the last few years or even last season. And that's why we're willing to spend this sort of money on you. We'll see how that works out, especially with a positive. position change baked in there, but that seems to be the bet that they're making. Absolutely. The fact that he has just the same thing with signing Tuny. We talk about this, having the availability of being able to play multiple positions is so huge, especially

when you're spending a lot of money on these guys. That's why one spot only offense alignment, it's like they better be pretty damn good and also available all the time. But the fact that he can, even the idea, the discussion that he can play on the left side, because he does have those athletic traits. And like you said, the arrow is pointing up, that's not a bad combo. That's not a bad bet to make. I think that is you're not paying for a 31-year-old guy. You're paying for a guy in his mid-20s who's come off his best year.

And you're putting them in good circumstances that maybe can grow. And it earns that contract. That's what it is. Now you're trying to just get it to that number. Maybe not 20 million, but make them worth about 16 million, you know. So it's not as big of an overpay as that maybe we see right now. It's also, I think, a statement on what they want long-term. out of that position. I was surprised, just on a purely financial level that they weren't going to

tag Orlando Brown again just because in my mind, it's like, oh, 20 million for a left tackle. You know what he is. You can't kind of run back this group. But I can't remember who reported. I think it might have been Albert Breyer said they wanted actual stability long term at that spot. They potentially get it here. Oh, yeah. No, absolutely. Sorry. No, but that's what you're going for. You're as opposed to the revolving door. Like in shoot, I think that just that Super Bowl loss in a box is just burn into their brain. It should be so much. It's just like they're like never again.

I think that's exactly what they're saying. But like you're committing these years and I want to get back to that point that this guy is potentially, potentially ascending. Had his best year and young and as athletic traits. There's more to tap into. That's that's a good thing. It's like even if he's an above average guy, it's a good swing of the bat. You know, that you're, this is what we think this guy can be because a guy like,

bring him back Andrew Wiley, who went to the commanders. Okay. Yeah. that's a cheaper deal. You know, he got a decent size contract. I think it was like three for 27 or something like that. Three for 24. Yep.

Three for 24. Okay. Ballpark that. Okay, yeah, but Andrew Wiley is Andrew Wiley. Like, we know what he is. Like that. And I think that's what they said. They're like, we want someone that we can maybe grow with and also have for four

years as opposed to one year. Okay, we have to answer this question every freaking year. That's exactly what they're doing. They're paying for stability at the position with some upside. I still don't think the Andrew Wiley contract is all that bad. I mean, three years, 24, million if you're trying to find a guy who can just start for you. My question is for Washington.

What does this mean for the rest of the line? So do they slide Cosmy inside, Sam Cosme, who they drafted in the second round a couple years ago, which I think could make sense. You know, he's a better run blocker than anything else. Do they think that he can play more inside? And they also signed Nick Gates, who was on the Giants last year to a three-year, $16.5 million deal with $8 million guaranteed. So now, if you have Cosme inside, Nick Gates plays left guard for you,

you keep Charles Leno, you have a starting office. line. Yeah, viable starters. And that's what you're paying for. And much better than what, I know they got wrecked by injuries last year, the last couple of years really, but man, what they were trotting out at times there. It was rough at times, whoever was playing quarterback for them. So yeah, that's where you're paying for just stability. And I totally understand that. Building through the lines, they, that that's kind of seems like their philosophy. We're trying to figure out what Washington's doing. That's what seems like at least one thing that they're doing as far as team building. Nick Gates is 27 years old. They went the opposite way at guard

last year's got Andrew Norwell, Trey Turner. So I think that they want somebody that might be, again, on the right side of the upswing to build around in those spots. They would be getting younger on the offensive line on the interior specifically. Okay. Sticking with offensive line signings, the Broncos throwing around a lot of money on offensive linemen today. Starting with a four-year deal for Ben Powers, formerly of the Ravens, four years,

52,000, 28.5 million guaranteed. Not all that far off. from the deal that Brandon Shurf got last year. If you look at the actual specifics of it, looks like he's going to have about a $5 million cap hit this year and about a $15 million cap hit next year. So it averages out to two years, 20 over the first two against the cap. I went back, I didn't really watch much Brent Powers last year.

It's just somebody I didn't know what's on about. So as soon as the signing happened, I went and rewatch their game against the Broncos. Yeah. Because like, all right, let's see how he played. And he played extremely well. He is a very sound pass protector. He plays like his name.

He really good reps against Dremont Jones in that game. And you watch him in past protection, really good awareness. You know, that Broncos team brought a lot of heat last season. You see him sorting stuff out in real time, pretty good technician. And that is the type of guy that we've seen Sean Payton go after with his tiny little quarterbacks over the last 10 years or so. just having a solid guy those guard spots to just make sure

that you're creating a clean pocket in those situations. That was their MO in New Orleans for years and it seems like they're trying to reprise that a little bit with this power signing. No, that's such a great call. I wrote down just right now as you're talking. I wrote Sean Payton O'Line. If you ever look at how much resources

the Saints spent an offensive line still do, but especially when Sean Peyton was there. Especially at guard compared to other teams, right? I mean, it goes all the way back to Carl Nis. Knicks and Jari Evans. I mean, all those guys. And even now, like, Andrew P is making a ton of money for them,

which we could debate the prudency of that. But they've always committed and spent on those spots when he's been, had any say in personnel. Yeah, no, that's exactly. And that's, that's, that's champagne. Champagne's got a lot of old school to him as far as how he thinks

how teams should be built. So that, they're all, Broncos fans, get ready. I'm sure every year you guys are going to take somebody in the first three rounds off its line, year after year after year,

which I, again, my dad was a little line coach. I'm all about it. I'm like, hell yeah, let's do it. But I loved your call right there talking about how he is a stout lineman and keeping the middle of the pocket clean. I think that has kind of been an under, I mean, we're seeing this defense of line, defense tackle market. Boom.

There's a lot of great players on the interior. Keeping the middle clean, let's quarterback step up. Lex quarterback step up and out gives them ways it's easier to shuffle side to side than it's kind of go up and down. If you have a guy coming at you front angle, all right, which way do I go? Do I go around to a D-end or do I cut up to the left?

But if I have a clean pocket in the middle at least and maybe the tackle gets beat, okay, we can mitigate that. I can get outside and bounce out and see how Mahomes has done with his tackles the last couple of years. So I totally agree.

I like this signing maybe more than the McGlunchy signing. I absolutely do. Yeah. This one was 26. Okay, powers is 26, 28 and a half million dollars guaranteed. So you're looking at two years that you're committed to this deal. And again, you're solidifying the interior offensive line.

Mike McGlenshey, five years, $87.5 million with $50 million guaranteed, according to Ian Rappaport, which that's at least the first two years guaranteed, probably some into year three. For a guy who's 28 has dealt with some injury issues over the last couple years, he didn't miss any time last season. But even in camp, he was banged up. I think, and Brandon has pointed this out, Thorne, and I totally agree, even seeing him in person a little bit and watching them, it feels like he's a little lighter than he used to be. I'm not sure the power is quite the same as it was early in his career. I think this is a risky bet. When I saw the numbers, I was a little bit relieved that the Bears decided they did not want to pay that. I was actually kind of happy for you that the Bears didn't sign him. I've been nice throughout this process about my Glynchi. I'm not a huge fan of his play. I think he is, like you said, he's a little light and light, the butt, light in the lower half, kind of doesn't really move guys how he used to and has gotten some of the athleticism sapped that, you know, because of those injuries and kind of

getting banged up and he kind of just doesn't move. He moves 80% of what he used to. I've never really been really high on him overall. I think he maxes out as kind of like an above average starter. And that's a lot of money for a guy that maxes out as an above average starter, especially one that I don't think there's much upside to tap into. He was playing in the scheme that I thought was very conducive to his skill set. So it's not like where I'm like, whoa, just get him to a better spot. Yeah, yeah, exactly. We haven't seen that.

So here's the difference with me and Jawan Taylor and Mike McGlenshey. Let's throw the left tackle thing out. Yeah, yeah, not the window. Let's say Juan Taylor's play the right tackle. Okay. For Juan Taylor, you could absolutely talk yourself into the idea that his best football is in front of him for a lot of different reasons. It's harder to do that with Mike McGlunchy and you're still playing a real premium for that guy with

this sort of contract. So I saw that. And I was like, oh, man. Yeah, that one's like those are the sorts of deals that, again, when you sign them in free agency, it's like, ah, I, buyer beware. You know, like, we see that every year. You know, it gets tempted to, it's so tempting to look at these and say, we're going to get better. You know, we're going to get so much better at that spot. And the Broncos, the only position where the Broncos have had more of a revolving door than quarterback over the last like five or six years might be right tackle.

I mean, consistently happening over and over again. So, and I know that George Payton hasn't been. been there that long. But locking down that spot and just saying, we got two starters, we feel good about it. I get talking yourself into that, but you paid a real premium for that sort of security here. I think, I think there's, I know it just sounds like, well, who else would you sign? But I think there's better ways to be creative about it. I get, I get they don't have a lot of drafts resources and anything. Andrew Wiley made half. Right. Andrew Wiley, that's perfect. Wiley McClinti, I consider in the same tier. Whether that's

fair or not, I do. That's personal, my opinion on it. If it's not the same tier, it's half. And all those resources can be spent elsewhere. It's not like a complete roster and all that. I mean, they spent X amount of money on a backup quarterback as well and Jared Stilm. So that's interesting as well. But that, yeah, the McGlinchy, that was one of the signings that was a lot of alarm bells going off for me, especially how I consider the player, his history and now the fit. It's kind of, that's a, that's a significant overpay to me.

The concern about Caleb McGarry and what he's going to be if he were dropped into another situation, I think is rooted in the offense that they played in an Atlanta. And just how often you see him truly drop back. It's not very often. No, it was like eight times a game. The same thing is true with the Niners. Yeah. Like a lot of the same ideas apply to Mike McGlenshey.

And he's getting a massive, massive deal where I don't know if Caleb McGarry's contract or Caleb McGarry's market is going to be that hot. This is one of those moments, in my opinion, where it pays to play for a really good team and it pays to be a former top 10 pick. You are the eighth overall pick and you are the eighth overall pick and you are draft and whether we like it or not, that shit follows you around. And it seems like that is informing a little bit what is happening right now. Yeah. And or it's one of those where he was coming out in the draft and Sean Payton's like, man, I liked him. Yep. I really liked him. I liked him

coming out in Ordname. That shit carries over for years and years. So that's a great call to. Sorry, I'm trying to no, you're good. Up with a lot of the things that are happening here. The Bears signed in Nate Davis, which we don't know the terms on that yet. So I don't really want to throw out how I feel about it. But they needed. Oh, my God. Did you see the other signing?

Yeah, I just saw that. I was wondering who pulled a tree on that. Also reporting that the Bears are signing Tremaine Edmonds, which is, we'll get into that, I guess. All right. I'll wait to see the numbers. I'll wait to see the numbers. Elsewhere on the interior offense.

Oh, actually, let's talk about Steadim very quickly here. Okay. So I was interested. interested in what the Broncos would do at their backup quarterback spot. Because if you look at Russ's contract, there is an injury guarantee somewhere in there where I thought, okay, if things go poorly this year, is there a guy they'd be willing to turn to to just say, you know what? We're pulling the rip court.

Like, you're going on the bench for the rest of the year. We'll eat the dead money next off season and we'll move on from there. So I was wondering, do they sign a high-end backup that could potentially be a starter in order to plan for that potentiality? Jared said him two years and 10 million doesn't really do that for me. But this is one quote unquote backup quarterback spot that I was fairly interested in for that potential timeline, let's say. It was like last year with the Dolphin signing Teddy Bridgewater a little bit where you're like, oh, okay. That was your backup. That was your break glass in case of emergency.

And then Teddy ended up getting hurt just as much as Tua. So that kind of, and they actually end up signing Mike White, which is interesting as well. But no, I Stidim, Stidham has a lot of fans in the league. A lot of coaches and personnel people love Jared Stidham. We talk about pedigree carrying over for the rest of your life. This is a former, you know, five-star recruit, big name recruit. Like maybe that's what people remember. He did play fairly well at the second half of last year, but still like, it's Jared Stidom.

But I think that's what I, this makes sense, like all the reasons that you laid out. high end backup can come in a spot. You know, Russ getting older. Russ is another year older and play in his play style and everything. And if he's getting beat up or whatever, however Sean Peyton feels about Russ. So this gives them kind of like another option. And like you said, the break glass in case of emergency type of player to maybe like shore up that position for them. All right.

Speaking of Mike White, that was another spot when we talked about the J-1 Ramsey trade yesterday. And the dolphins kind of protecting themselves. Yep. on the off chance that Tua gets hurt again and they have to salvage their season, it feels like Mike White is the guy that they're betting on. Two years up to 16 million is what was reported, I believe, by Adam Schaefter. Key phrasing there, the up to 16 million. Yeah, up to insurance.

Yeah, right there. I think they made that nice run last year. And then that's what I think they saw enough of Skylar Thompson to go never again. Same exact thing. There's just no more of that. we're going to have we're going to get somebody that we think is competent. Mike White has had some fun games. It's the same exact offensive system that he's been in with the Jets,

with, you know, with Michael Ford being the offense coordinator there the last couple of years. And then now he's going to Mike McDaniel, same exact offense. So it's probably an easy transition for him. Got a guy that has already shown that he can step in in a pinch and play for you and at least play competently, especially a team that seems like they're trying to fire on all cylinders this year. So it makes sense that they don't want anything to go askew like it did last year.

All right. Let's talk about this. Okay. Numbers reported by Adam Schefter for the Bears and Tremaine Edmonds. Four years, $72 million, which in my off, my quick math here is $18 million a year. Okay. Is that right? Yeah.

Yeah. Okay. $50 million guaranteed. It is the largest four year contract for an inside linebacker in the NFL. I don't know. That's an interesting framing by the agent. It's the biggest four-year deal for any of the linebacker in the NFL. Okay.

So, Roquan's practical guarantees are $60 million. Okay. We have Edmonds coming in at $50 million. Essentially the first three years guaranteed, right? Yeah. It's a big, big contract. So what you have said here is that you were willing to spend on an offball linebacker, but you wanted the two and Tremade Edmonds over Roe Kwan Smith.

I guess that's what. They wanted. I don't I don't support this signing. This is a lot of money for a guy that has lived off some draft reputation. Like we talk about and always has. He had his best season by far this year. But we talked about this. The off ball linebacker huge contracts.

They just don't tend to work out. Very rarely do you feel good about those things one, two years later. And they had so much money to spend. Obviously they have to spend some of it. Yeah, but I just, this is not. not my favorite way in this time. And this comes after the T.J. Edwards signing, when they did that, I was like, they're excellent.

Done. Done. Great. Six million dollars a year. You have a plug and play starter. Somebody that, you know, clearly his market, I think, thought people thought it was going to be more robust than that. It's like, okay, great. Now, like, you have him, maybe you sign somebody else, you draft somebody else. Throw Sanborn in there in the mix.

Fine. Now you go out and you spend $18 million a year with $50 million, dollars guaranteed in an offball linebacker. I know he's young. I know that he got a lot better last year, but I think there's a lot of risk involved in this. Yeah, I agree. The Edwards thing I was, fine with. It was like he's a starting, he's above average, couldn't even have some nice play, stretches of play last year. He's right in market what Jermaine Pratt and Quincy Williams got yesterday. Like right in line with that, six, seven million dollars a year. Okay, I was fine. Done. This is a lot of money for what I don't think is a significant uptick from that tier of linebacker.

I just listed off there with Edwards and Quincy Williams or Jermaine Pratt. It's not enough to be a needle mover to me. Yeah. I don't know. I struggle with this one because I feel like that's such a huge overpay for everything we've listed off. We did a whole show on it talking about. Yeah, this usually doesn't work out.

This is a guy. I knew a team would fall in love with him and bet on him. But I just didn't think it would be the Bears after the Edward signing. I would love for them to articulate why him but not Roquan. Yeah. When they were moving on from Roquan, the way that I was kind of explaining it to myself, and even when we talked about it on here,

just like, okay, they don't want to commit that sort of money to an off ball linebacker, which I think is totally reasonable. So, okay, if those are your team building values, then that's fine. This runs counter to that. So it's just hard to square the two moves, in my opinion, together,

and I would love for them to explain why those two moves are different. You know, Roquan is six foot. But do they believe in it? Because we've seen a lot of the guys who have lasting power in the NFL at that position. Fred Warner is 6.3. We've talked about this. Me, you and Deaute have all talked about this.

Do they feel like the range that Edmonds is going to have as somebody who's much, much bigger than that? Is that the key difference? I don't know, man. That's a lot to bet on four inches of height. Yeah. I love that. That's always the stat, too, that we're even shown right here from Kevin Fishbane was

Evans is only 24. That's always like the second thing people say, with admids. He's only this age because he got drafted at such a young age. It's just, yeah, like you're betting on the height or betting on the size and size does matter. It really does, especially for health. And you're betting on, and I guess you're betting on the uptick, like, I'm just becoming a caricature myself right now. I'm just like, because he is only 24. So you are betting that, but it's even if he lives up to, like, it's going to be impossible for him to live up to the contract. He'd have to be legitimately a top what? You have to be an all pro,

an all pro linebacker to live up to that money. And yes, I don't know. I think for a team, yes, they have to spend the money. I think building a team, you start with the trenches. I know that's easier said than done and you're always going to have to overpay there. But just like paying for offball linebackers, that's usually not the proper first step into the rebuilding path. The Nate Davis contract, I believe, is for three years and $30 million. Essentially what Lincoln Tomlinson got last year.

Yeah. Okay. In that similar range for that sort of starter, it's a lot less than what Ben Powers got from the Ravens. And if you just want a plug and play starter, I think that makes total sense. My dear fellow, three years,

30 million, $20 million guaranteed. I like that. It's getting a starting guard. Yep. That's the, yeah, that's the paying for competency at guard.

That's what you're paying for there. No, I like that. I like Nate Davis. So I actually do like that signing. And I think that's a very, that's right in range. Yeah,

that eight to $11 million range. So that makes total sense. And that's what they needed. They need. We talked about this, we talked about maybe who to prioritize for the, for the bears in the draft. And that's what I've thought is that they have to shore up the middle before they shore up the outside.

Just for reasons we talked about with the Broncos signing powers. Shoring up the middle just keeps the pocket a little cleaner, just the shortest path to the quarterback. Just gives that a little bit more breathing room. So I'm all about more of this signing than the linebacker signing. So this one makes sense to me. And I understand why they did it. I wonder what happens at the other guard spot and then at center. Nate Davis is center, right guard.

It is time without Titans. Do they want to plug him in there? What does that mean for Kevin Jenkins? And then what do they do at center? So I think there's still moves to be made here for Chicago, whether that be in the draft or somewhere else. The offensive line still needs a decent amount of rebuilding even with a guy like Nate Davis, but a decent step in the right direction for what is a reasonable price, I think, in both of our opinions. Yep.

Same kind of deal feels like I think a step down in terms of player, but a similar thought, I think probably for Buffalo signing Connor McGovern. Three years, $23 million per Mike Garifolo. The bill's offensive line was not very good last year. No. You know, and we talked about this. In regard to Roger Saffold and his stylistic fit with that team where you think, all, we're going to bring in some ass kicker mentality here because we want to introduce that into who we are.

But you still throw the ball a ton. And you still have a quarterback who invites pressure every once in a while. So that match did not work out quite as well. I think that they're trying to go a little bit younger and a little bit more long term with something like this. And also when you like to lean into a spread run game where usually prioritizes athletes at the position because they're out in space and not really just moving guys on double teams. Yeah, they did.

I said us a lot about the Bill's offense and what Ken Dorsey was trying to do. They're trying to find other avenues to move the ball outside of just Josh Allen being Josh Allen, you know, trying to be under center, trying to use more tight ends or whatever we want to call Reggie Gilliam, but jumbo and all that. They're trying to find a run game that made sense for them. McGovern is another guy that's a fine guard. I think he really improved last year, actually, compared to two years ago. I think he, in my eyes, he really did improve last year.

Like I thought he was going to be always the weak link. But when he was on the field, he never stood out as a true weak link. I actually, like I said, I thought he was a plus player for them. So he's 25. Again, this is a guy. Yes, it's slight overpaid, but you bet on this. You're hoping that you can just keep tapping into it. He's been in a system that runs every type of often or run scheme in the

Cowboys the last couple of years. So whatever they want to do in the run game. And I think he's fine as a pass protector as well and he's smart. So I actually, I was fine with the science. this made sense. They need a ton of help on the offensive line. He's probably, if Mitch Morse isn't there, he's like their second best alignment. That just kind of tells you where they're at with their offensive line.

He was probably the fifth best alignment for the Cowboys last year. So it kind of speaks to where they're at as far as building up front. Hanging out in this very sexy interior offensive line market that we're sitting in right now. The Browns re-sign Ethan Pochich, three years, 18 million, like this for both parties. Yeah. I thought that he showed a lot with them. I mean, he's just, he's such a. unique player. All that length at center, you just don't see it very often. And I think they really

figured out how to weaponize that last season in the run game. He wasn't supposed to be their starting center. You know, Nick Harris was supposed to be their starting center, I believe, coming into the season. That's a poll. That was a pull. I was about to pat you on the back. I was letting you finish. I was I was about to pat you on the back for that one. I couldn't have told you that. After J.C. Trader moves on. And I think he comes in after Harris got hurt in the preseason. I thought played very well for them. So I think keeping that group together, maintaining that stability and kind of rolling with it, I mean, they have their five guys back now. I mean, their offensive line is going to be fully intact. And I can understand wanting to maintain that if you're Cleveland because

of the way that group played last year. If you see how much the Browns run pinpole, I, first off, completely agree. He had his best season. He got the Bill Callahan boost. But on top of that, he deserved to get this contract. I actually, this was a guy I wanted the bears to kind of sniff around about, like, because I thought he would just be a great addition and shore up. the middle of the line. He has size like you just mentioned. If you see the Browns, one of their best run schemes last year was pin pull stuff. And pinpole, you need some size at center as long as athletes help too, because sometimes they have to pull as a center, but they also have to down block and they have to down block on nose tackles. So having a big dude,

if you want to see that Brown's offensive run scheme open up, it was because of him and because of Poach's ability and be able to hold up against bigger interior defensive guys. He's not really that kind of, he's not the Jason Kelsey type. And I, I, I, I, love the move around centers that can run, but they have limitations. Kelsey kind of mitigates a lot of that. But I love these jumbo centers. You don't really see a ton of them. Like you said, you don't see this. And so it's kind of cool. Watching it play is wild. It's a lot of fun. Just seeing a guy with that sort of length playing position. Especially with the guards on either side. And they just, I mean, it's a big interior offensive line. Yeah, I'm all for this.

I think that's a great signing. I think that's what you say three for 18, I think that's more than fair for what he is. It's funny that in talking about the Bears interior offensive line, I just didn't mention Cody Whitehair, because in my opinion, I've just kind of written that off. I mean, he's making a lot of money. Yeah, I would not be surprised that they moved on and kind of reset that entire group. We'll see, but he is still under contract and presumably could play left guard if they keep him on the roster. I wonder what that says about Kevin Jenkins.

At this stage, just get him in the building. Yeah. That's it. At this stage, you just build five that makes sense. You need to figure that shit out later. They're not in a position to be like, oh, I don't know if this guy is a perfect role is. and this for this dollar figure. You need bodies among this group right now

based on the way that they played last year. All right. A slew of moves here for the Atlanta Falcons. Started this morning by trading a seventh round pick for old Arthur Smith favorite, Jonu Smith. He's coming on a reworked deal. What a fucking disaster the John Hsu Smith era in New England was. $25 million in cash over the last two years.

for him to catch like, I think, less than 50 balls? Yeah. I think Danny Hyphitz. 55 receptions over the last two seasons for about 300 and 4, or about 540 yards. Oh. For a receiving tight end. Missedish nightmare receiving tight end. This is the best possible outcome for him, in my opinion, is going back with Arthur Smith,

who knows how to use him. And also the flexibility it creates for you now potentially with. Kyle Pitts. Yes. I mean, you have two pieces where you can move them around and do a ton of stuff with them. He's still only 27. Giving him a little bit of credit here, I don't think a lot of people excelled in the 2022 version of the New England Patriots offense. In terms of structural competency, going from last year's Patriots to this Falcons team with this Falcon staff, kind of night and day, about as different as they can get for you. From a team that like, yeah, especially how the Patriots run game is where it's like at you and physical and it's like no it's good you want john to like split

zone blocking kicking out ds and i cannot wait for all the slide routes he's going to catch for so so this is and some i had a couple people kind of text me about this and they said oh you actually like this i go yeah they're like well him and cow pitts have like same sameness to it's like well pits is a z that can move inside only about 20% of a snapser as a tight end but i'm not saying because pitts is just a weapon he's just a he's the denard Robinson offensive weapon. They're just, they're trying to pay positionless football on offense. Yeah, that's all this is. Drake,

they have Drake London down blocking. They have cow pits working from the slot. They have a six five, 220 pound slot receiver. They have a, they have a six five, two hundred fifty pound X receiver. And now they have whatever John Hsu Smith is. This is a good thing. Yes. It's not a bad thing. I think this is a good thing. I think this is perfect. And he has speed. He actually can take, he creates explosiveness in the offense. Like that I loved it because we talked about.

We made jokes about all the personnel groupings that the Falcons like to throw out there. Now they can trot out three tight ends and two of them are like four four guys. They can like legit do some like, okay, pick your poison. How do you want to, how do you want to guard us? You want to get in base? All right. We're going to run right by you. Like that, it's cool.

I like this. I think this could be really fun for one of the most creative offensive play callers and play designers. So he just gets one of his guys who can actually change the math for you a little bit. I love this. This is when you want to go after guys. He's still only 27 years old. He's not that different of a player than he was two years ago when he was putting up all those numbers in Tennessee. He's just got to be used.

You were buying him at the biggest dip you can possibly buy him here for a seventh round pick. Even if it doesn't work out. Let's say he has a $6 million cap hit this year. See ya. I mean, I think it is a very low risk move that allows the Titans to kind of be the truestic, excuse me, Titans, it's 40 and Slend. It allows the Falcons. Titans Easter? Yes.

Titans more East. Titans a little bit further east. Short drive. allows them to be the truest version of themselves in Atlanta. Speaking of, extending Chris Lindstrom seems inevitable. It's the type of, it's the contract you would expect.

Yep. Chris Lindstrom to get. Five for 105. So $21 million a year is $1 million more a year than Quentin Nelson. $63 million guaranteed. Nelson had $60 million guaranteed. That $63 million guaranteed number is according to our Jeff Howe at the athletic. This is it.

He's an all pro player. He's hitting his prime. He's central to what they want to do. I mean, you're going to pay for this guy. And I don't have any problem with it whatsoever. He is a really, really good football player. You're paying an elite player. He's one of the best of his position.

And like you said, he's key to what they do because of his athletic ability and how he can move. So all about this. I love Chris Lindstrom. I think he was on both of our all pro teams. I think on a lot of people's all pro teams. And I'm a big fan of his game. He's only going to be 26 this year. These are type of guys you pay.

These are type of guys that you throw money at. And so I'm all about this as well. Yep. And no issue with it whatsoever. Yep. A couple other saints, excuse me, saints. Two Saints guys. A couple other Falcons moves here.

They signed David An Yamada. Mike Garifalo from Mata Network. Three years, 35 million. According to Mike, $25 million guaranteed over the next two years. Kind of market rate. Yep. For a player like David Anyamata. I mean, I think that this is a team that needed more juice up front.

However, you were going to find it. Not a surprise that they would go for somebody who, their new coordinator. Ryan Nielsen has a lot of familiarity with, considering he just came over from New Orleans. So I think the marriage there makes sense on a couple different levels. Yep. And I love the pairing with Grady Jarrett. I think that's a great little Bash brothers kind of in the middle.

They've synergy. They really do as far as stylistic fit. I really like that. He's more of a kind of a mall or ass kicker in Grady Jarrett's the classic gap shooter. No, loved it. This is an exact type of contract that I thought maybe a contender would give him. The kind of three years, but paying about 20, 25 million guaranteed. Like that's exact.

But I like it for the Falcons. I think this is a great, great signing. I think he's also one of the Saints guys, a positive locker room guy. I think, I know he's had some stuff, but like, I think hardworking type of guy. And he's, he's an ass kicker. I think it's also a mindset type of thing. So I think they needed ass kicking up front. I think that they needed that sort of injection.

This is a mindset. We're talking about Roger Saffold with the Titans or with the Bill's offensive line. This is a defense aligned version of that, Michael Brockers type. They've got a lot of undersized pass rushers. I mean, it's an interesting group when you contrast it in terms of body type to what the Saints have been like over the last couple of years. You got 280-pound defensive ends. So that squaring those two things, I think, is I'm curious, like what it's actually going to look like in practice. But I think this brings them closer to the way that Nielsen has wanted to play defense when he was in New Orleans.

And it was a very taller contract. So I like this. I like that one a lot too. One other one, former Saints defensive alignment, signed with an AFC South rival. Shai Tuttle. Yeah. Three years, $19.5 million with $13 million guaranteed signing with Carolina. Feels like this is kind of the ionitis replacement based on like the structure of their roster.

We had thrown Jeremiah Jones out there as somebody who might be like an expensive version of what they could do here. But they think needed one more interior defensive line body after losing ionitis and with the way that Joe Evero is going to want to play. And this is the answer. Yeah. He's just a stout player. I mean, he's just a useful guy. Useful guy. And you already have kind of the star power there with Brian Burns on the edge and Derek Brown and on the inside who was, I mean, had a great year last year.

It was about to be a star kind of caliber player. This is more of that steady eddy type. Play some snaps for you. Eat some snaps when you have a lot of other playmakers around you. So totally understand why they did this. Kind of more of a get on base for the other guys to knock you home type of player. That's who you're signing. All right.

Get to some cornerback signings here. Few of them have rolled in one of the first ones of the day, obviously because he resigned with. the team he was already on. Jonathan Jones, two-year deal, $20 million, $13 million guaranteed quarantine report. Solid number. Makes sense. Yep, good player. Great year last year.

Yep. I think it makes sense for both parties. I mean, he probably wasn't going to get a ton more on that on the open market, doesn't have to move, gets to play in a defense that he knows, like it a lot. Okay. We have all these worries about Patriots corners going somewhere else. It's like, yeah, just stay there. Get paid.

Everyone's happy. No, all fine for it. I think that's a nice signing for everybody. I feel similar about this one. Cam Sutton going from the Steelers to the Lions three years, $33 million, $21 million guaranteed. I was wondering what the Lions splash move was going to be in their secondary or just how they were going to use those excess resources that they have to figure out, this is who we want to be on defense this year. This is how we're going to spend because they haven't yet.

They really have not gone out and spent on exterior players on defense or in the secondary period. It seems like that is coming as they inch toward being. a contender not only NFC North but a playoff team in the NFC. This is the sort of signing that I think speaks to that. Makes sense on a lot of different levels. I think the value is fine. I think it's great. This is actually under what I thought you might get maybe just a couple million dollars

under, but I think this is totally fair. We talked about it. It's not like this has to be their only move at the position. They can still draft a guy. And that's how you inject talent, sign a guy and draft a guy. And I think this is totally fair. For his level, I think he's kind of a good corner. He had a great year last year.

I like this. And he's still kind of his, not kind of. but he still in his mid-20s. All about this. I think this is a fine signing. I like it. The Lions and Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell, they, they are meticulous about this stuff. They don't just splurge to splurge.

I really like this. I thought this had a lot of thoughtfulness behind it. This made sense for a lot of reasons. All right, all my T.J. Edwards notes here, and I might as well just light them on fire all about. Like, oh, you know, it's pretty much with the Broncos played Pajosy Jewel. Yeah. It's only going to be a five and a half million dollar cap hit in your, one thinks to make a lot of sense.

I was shocked how much. I thought he was going to get so much more. Local boy, baby. Yeah. Like Villa. You convinced the guy to come home playing with his parents. Yeah. Get a little bit of a discount.

All right. They're going to make some frugal kind of measured signings at a position where I think you just want to piece together the position group and then that gets lit on fire like an hour later. I know. I know. I was sad when I just saw the message that he got signed in here because that not, not Edwards, but Edmins.

Uh, without signing because that just, yeah. There's redundancy to there. I was I was excited to see the T.J. Edwards, Jack Samborn, Badger, I know. I know you. Bears Badger Backers. Specifically for you and Adam Hogue. Yeah.

And Beller. Like we, we had, we, we, that we had it there. But, uh, I know. That's, yeah, Edwards is fine player. That's all I'll say. That's, that's all, that's all, that's all, that's all, that's all leave it at. Man. I really hope that last year is like the first year of what is, the sign of what is to come of, uh, for

for Tremaine Edmonds. Yeah. It's going to have to be. Yeah, it has to be. Yeah, that's the thing. I crushed him earlier, but it's like he's still like above average to good player. Like it's not like he's bad or anything.

It's just that he's been up and down. And last year was a good year, but it's also a contract year. And usually guys have good ears in a contract year. So what are you betting on? And again, as everyone tweets out, he's only 24 years old. So that's, I understand that. But the guy in the comments now talking about how it's a good signing. I want you to go look at all of the signings for off ball linebackers for 18

to 20 million dollars year over the last five. It's been great. Just go take a look at this. Signing that I think makes a lot of sense. One that we pointed out on the show this morning, when we talked about potential Kirkland brand guys that you could sign at linebacker, the Bengals signed Jermaine Pratt

15 years over the first two years, $15 million, I think it's three years, 21, to bring him back into the fold, which I think makes a lot of sense. That's the market. I mean, it's the type of deal that we thought he would get. I was wondering what, their strategy was going to be. They had a lot of cap space. Okay. So do you prioritize bringing back

your guys to maintain that core that you had on defense? Do you want to kind of spice it up with some new bodies and some new blood on some of these places? And the first step is bringing back a guy like Pratt to kind of, again, keep your continuity together on defense. I thought he played really well last season. I thought that he had such a, he had stretches where he was playing really, really well. My question about this was, what does it mean for Von Bell? And reportedly, this means Von Bell is headed to Carolina, which I absolutely love for the Panthers. I think that's especially whatever it likes to run and how safety dependent that is. And as far as like what guys have to do, or I'm sorry, DB dependent, I should say.

I like that for Von Bell with the Panthers. I really like that fit. I think that's a great stylistic fit. But also, I like the Pratt thing. And I like the rate that they got them. That seems to be the rate. Like I mentioned before, that's six to kind of seven and a half million dollars a year for the Edwards Pratt, Quincy Williams kind of tier of linebacker, the solid to good vets.

And Pratt is what now 26, 27 years old? Yeah, he's still young. Again, he's still playing the best football of his career last season. Yep, had a great year. Same defense coordinator. So I like that a lot. Bengals, that was, Bengals kind of kind of keep doing this with these vets and finding these guys that are kind of that upper middle tier of players.

And Pratt, he ascended last year. So, I mean, that's willing to, I would be more than willing to keep him around, especially for that price. And he's played, he like doesn't miss any time. That's another thing. You're not resigning the guy to like, oh, man, he got was healthy the one year. He doesn't miss a lot of time. That's also another thing that's a boost for this signing or tip the cap for this signing.

A couple other kind of smaller deals here that have been signed. Josh Oliver, formerly of the Ravens goes to Minnesota, three years, $21 million, $10 million guaranteed. According to Mike Garfo of NFL network, just feels like a solid compliment to what T.J. Hawkinson is. Oliver is somebody that you can just keep in line. he can be a blocker, allows you to move Hawkinson around the formation. This idea of Hawkinson kind of being really your secondary pass-catching option outside of Justin Jefferson, I think signing a guy like Oliver who can do some of the dirty work,

frees Hawkinson up to be that. So if we're paying slot, we'll see what Jacoby Myers gets paid, right? So let's say Jacoby Myers gets $15 million a year on the free agent market, whatever, right, as a slot, mostly a slot option. You're paying Hawkinson a lot less than that. It didn't take a lot to trade for Hawkinson. So this idea that he is your secondary pass catcher, I think you accentuate that by bringing in a guy like Josh Oliver. That's how I read it.

I totally do. The Vikings after the Hawkinson trade were much better out 12 personnel than 11 personnel. You know, Kevin O'Connell wanted to do the Rams. You know, Irv Smith got hurt too, but they wanted to do the step up from Johnny Month. Is that what you're saying? Yes, yes. He wanted to do the Rams 11 personnel every play. And then they realized, this isn't really working for us.

And then, okay, let's try some 12 after we get TJ in here. And T.J. Hockinson, like you said, he's a great secondary pass catcher. He's kind of an F only tight end with F being the off ball tight end, the move tight end, the slot guy. You want him on the backside of runs. He can get the job done as a zone blocking tight end, but it's kind of a hard way to live for 50 plus snaps a game. So this is a guy, like you said, does the dirty work. At first, I didn't like this. And as more I've thought about.

I actually really like it a lot. No more Adam Thiel in there. You know, KJ Osborne is probably going to be the Z. We're going to live in 12 a little bit more. Yeah. So how do we live? This is a declaration of that in my opinion. This is what we're doing.

We're going to be a 12 personnel team and Hawkinson's going to be our matchup guy. Because Irv Smith was there last year. He was already on the roster. It's not like they sought out Irv Smith and decided to build it that way. Right. So now I think that this is a situation where they're purposefully doing this. They're saying this is who we want to be based on our personnel. And I actually think it makes a lot of sense for them.

It does. Oliver's a fantastic why. He's a true, true, true, wide end, in line blocking tight end. Like a guy that can make the living with that way and play 15 to 20 snaps for you. So like you said, it's signaling what their probably their philosophy from now on. It makes a ton of sense. It also has the boost effect of freeing up Hawkinson. So I like this more than I initially did.

And I think it's a smart move for what the personnel is on that offense. All right. A couple of little housekeeping notes here that aren't transactions, but we're pretty big bits of news today. Adam Schaefter reported that Austin Echler has requested permission to seek a trade after it talks about a new deal stalled with the chargers. I mean, it's, it's a. It's a tough market to get a raise in right now, especially how many running backs are out there, Austin. It's your dynamic player.

See what happens? I mean, he is such a central part of who they've been offensively that I feel like he is more valuable to the Chargers than he would be to a lot of other teams. That's a good call. That's just something to keep in mind, but obviously just that sexy bit of news for a guy who is really good player. And it's been a really good player. I mean, it's talk about on a fantasy level, on real life level. It has been a very relevant piece over the last couple years. Chargers, according to Jeremy Fowler, are expected to chase John Johnson the third after he is released by the Browns.

Makes a ton of sense. Come on back. Well, this is, so again, this reminds me of the John Smith trade. Okay. Yeah. So coming out of that year with Brandon Staley in Los Angeles, John Johnson gets paid by the Browns. Paid. Takes a little bit of a dip.

It was not the same player in Cleveland that he was with Staley. when he was in Los Angeles is going to get released, is going to be available for, I think he got like 15 a year or like 13 a year on his last deal. Okay. Okay. From the Browns. I want to get this right. What the actual contract was.

But it goes to the Browns after having that fantastic. So it was about $11 million a year, okay, when he went to the Browns with $24 million guaranteed. 11 million a year. You think he gets half that? Yeah. That's probably exactly right. I was going to say five or six six. Six probably sounds right.

Okay. He's 27. Yep. Is John Johnson that different of a player than when he signed with the Browns two years ago? Not really? Probably not. Probably not. And he's going now to a guy who he has played his best football under. And I think that his flexibility allows you to do a bunch of different things with Derwin James. We'll see what the price is if it ends up happening. But I think on a theoretical level, it makes a lot of sense to me based on where this team is.

I will say, though, the amount that they've just keep them spent it all this money on defense again. Again. Not surprising. They do have a hole with that other safety spot. I think it would be a net positive for them to bring him in and hopefully try to tap into the guy he was back in L.A., but this team, they don't have a right tackle. There's so many other things that feels like they need.

But when you can free up $45 million in cap space by pushing everything into next year, it gives you some flexibility to work right? It's a one year. Everybody's on a one-year deal with that team, it seems like. Personnel members, too. I think this makes sense because Staley, well, one, we sound second after year, how creative Staley is. Like you've got to kind of a rock and a hard place with his personality. He's like, all right, I got to make this work.

Johnson allows for more creativity. He's a sound player. And I think that's where it really helps. Darwin James is your Swiss Army knife. We move him around. But you need that kind of sound safety, kind of shore everything up and make sure everything's kind of like equal and even. And I think that's where in the Browns, they try to, everything was in two.

high, too high, too high, too high, too high without letting him kind of open up his mental side, you know, kind of show off that side. He kind of was really static. It felt like in Cleveland. So maybe Staley's kind of creativity, the kind of mixed coverages that he's kind of leaned into last year. Like you said, he got his best year with him last time. So he understands the personnel. So yeah, go back to the bosom of Staley. It makes a lot of sense for both parties. I really do think that. I want to address one of the other comments in the chat right now. Brandon Davis said, you're all underestimated the impact that Matt Iberfuss has on weak side linebackers.

Edmonds has every trait coach could want. It's Fluss's job to make him elite. If you have a coach that can coach up players at that position, the idea should be that you don't spend market setting money on players at that position. It's those things are kind of a bunch of mid-tier players to make him upper mid-tier, that not elite players and try to make him elite or good to try and make elite. That's not what you do. My thinking here, just is the last thing I'll say about the Tremade of Mints thing.

My thought here is that this is a signing and a move that reminds me of the Ogunjobie move from last year, where you have a defensive-minded head coach who says, this is a huge part of who I want to be. So I need a guy like this at this spot. Okay. That's not always a good thing. Having that sort of say in how you're going to spend those high-end resources by saying, I need to get my guy here and what could we be. Shaq Leonard was very, very good for Matt Ieplefuss in Indianapolis, right?

right, who's a very, very good player. There is some projection involved if you think that he's going to be that type of guy. Right. And that's all. Okay. Yeah, that's it. And also, you're paying for a guy that should already be like, that money signals, oh, this is the guy is the best of the best already.

Yes. He's friends. Yeah. And that's what we're kind of saying, too, is that even if he improves, he might not live up to the contract, that's the scary part of all of this. And yeah, even if he was going to coach the shit of him, And Edmonds, like I said, is a good player, above average, a good player. It's just that, again, you're trying to thread needles here to get somewhat, some way to, like, live up to that contract and live up to that deal.

So, yeah, I'm with you. It was, there's a totally different discussion, but this was like when the Cowboys drafted Zeke with their offensive line. And the fact that it was like, you know, we're going to pop in an elite running back. It's like, you don't have to. You're missing the point, Jerry. You have the offensive line. You can pop in whoever you want at running back. That's the point of this.

Same kind of thinking here. If you have a guy that can coach that up, all right, popping some more mid-tier guys, like a T.J. Edwards or coach up a Jack Samborn of undrafted free agent. That way you're not allocating resources, but you're still getting the most out of them. So, yeah, I'm with you. It's fine. It's not like DeMarco Murray rushed for 1,800 yards two years before. Exactly. It's not a big deal. That's the exact same line thinking. Some stuff rolling in here, according to Ann Rapour, Jesse Bates, going to the Falcons,

four years, $64 million per Tom Pelliserro, $23 million in year one. Top of market money for Jesse Bates. I think we talked $16 million is the number that we were throwing out there for what he would potentially get. That's what he gets. The Falcons have a lot of money to spend. They had a big hole there. I understand it. But again, you're paying for top of the market production for a guy who has been solid and reliable.

Yep. Okay. And that's fine. It's solid and reliable is really important at that position specifically. But are you wanting to pay needle mover game-changing player money for very, I think it's just solid, for very good and reliable. And that is what the Falcons are doing. If that's the calculation that you want to make, sounds good.

I understand it if you're in a position like Atlanta is with how much money they have to spend and how few guys there are to spend it on. But I think that's the type of player that Jesse Bates is. Yep. He's, like you said, very smart, very sound, uh, athletically limited at times. Sometimes he can't take advantage of his intelligence, but it's, I think it's, it's a good player. you can still say you like the player and not like the contract like you know the both things could be true and that's how it is they i always felt like bates was going to be overpaid it just seems like that's just it was inevitable it was always going to be like that we talked about it when you're working off the tag

it puts you in a really good position as a player because i mean you've you you set baseline with the tag yes so when you get tagged this something like this is going to happen the giant or the bengals by the way have planned for this eventuality they drafted dachshill in the first round of last year's draft. They knew that this was coming. Losing Von Bell, I think, makes it a little bit tougher because there was going to be that stabilizing force of having both of those, having Bells still there when you slide Dax Hill in as the new piece.

But we'll see what happens on the back end of the Bengals defense. I have a lot of faith in what Lou Ann Rumo is done there, but tough to lose both of those guys on the same day, even with Dax Hill waiting in the wings. And the Falcons, what they have trotted out on defense the last half decade, I'm sure, paying a premium for competency and actual good play. His play is baseline as good as that they're fine with it. They're like we we we just we're trotting out undrafted free agents and random guys, all these positions. It's kind of nice sometimes to have a reliable constant play. You know what you rely on. He's on the grading scale. That's two to eight, you know, baseball and the football

grading scale. He's a six. And that's fine. But that's that's the overpay there. They're paying a premium for competency, which that's what happens in free agency. But I actually, I actually, like the DB room there. They bring back all over, but, you know, AJ Terrell, Jesse Bates, like, DB rooms come together. They're piecing, piece in this defense together a little bit. One more, Alex Anzolone, back to the Lions three years, about $18.75 million. Let me see if I can find who actually said that, who was actually reporting that. We're doing this in real time. It was the Enrap Report. Three years, 18.75 for Alex Anzolone and the Lions. I don't like that. I don't like that. It was, uh, yeah. It seemed like this, this market was their chance to potentially

upgrade at that spot. Yeah. All the guys would be available. But a lot of those seats have been filled, man. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Pratt's gone. AdWraughts gone. Pratt would have been great for them. I thought that they might try to upgrade at that spot. And that is not what they decided that didn't, that didn't end up going in that way. I sneakily thought they would go after Edwards, like just privately. That just seemed like a move they would make. But yeah, that's, it's just, it's hard for me to not imagine what that Carolina game looks like. With a Carolina Lions game. Yes.

Oh my God. Or I had another one that they played. It might have been Falcons. Well, Falcons in the preseason. They had a game too late in the season where he's just running out of nowhere. Oh, it was the Bill's Thanksgiving game, I think. I think that's what it was. I might be misconstruiting the games.

There was a couple of rough moments of him dealing with motion where he's just running out the box. And it's like, what are you doing? The run's coming right at you. Yeah, that one, that one feels weird. I thought he would be able to, they would let him go, but maybe they're scared of not having anybody to fill those seats, like you just said. Here in Dan and Jeremiah, I talk about it a little bit today, just that there, it isn't a great off ball linebacker draft. You know, three or four guys potentially in the top 50, but there aren't that many.

It's just like, oh, yeah, that's definitely somebody we can plug and play. That's what it is. And there's the familiarity bonus, I think always happens to where they understand what he is. Few more bits of veteran news here as we wrap up. Jeremy Fowler reports the bucks could be open to exploring a trade for Shaq Mason. He's a $7.5 million-based salary this year. They'd save about $5 million on the cap if they moved on about $4 million in dead cap. Tom Pellasero, a Vennephyl Network, following up, he says the plan is to release him if they cannot trade him.

So seven and a half million dollar base salary for Shaq Mason, if you want to give up a late round pick, seems like it's worth it if you need help at guard. bear down Chicago Bears. That's a Nate Davis spot, unfortunately. I know, right. That seat has already been filled. But I think somebody would be smart to explore it as if you missed out on Nate Davis and you wanted starting caliber guard play, I think that's exactly what this is as the bucks try to shed a little bit more salary. Check Mason's good, man. He's a competent pro and he's smart.

I mean, any team would be lucky to have them. If I have a whole of guard, I'd be calling Tampa Bay right now. I think that contract's very, very fair for him as we just talked about, you know, know, the Connor McGoverns of the World King, that kind of exact same cap hit, it seems like. So I don't know. I think that's not a bad move if whoever wants to call him. A couple others here. Ravens released Clayus Campbell.

See if they bring him back on a smaller deal. I think that might be possible with where he's at in his career. I think it was like a $9 million cap hit this year. I assume that it has not been processed yet. So let's see what the dead money deal situation is with the Ravens. as I stall here and talk very, very slow about where Baltimore is. Oh, that's already been processed. Never mind.

Okay. I think he was at like $9 million and they could save most of it. So it kind of feels like that's where it's at. And it was only a $2.4 million dead cap hit. So we'll see if he comes back on a slightly reduced steal. If it feels like that might be in the best interest of both parties. Speaking of being in the best interest of both parties and some late career reunions, Jason Kelsey back.

with the Philadelphia Eagles. It's just good for everybody, man. Yeah. Just good for everybody. Jason Kelsey's tweeted out today. I have put much thought into whether it makes sense to play another season. After talking over with my wife and many other friends and family, I've decided to return for another year.

Thank you to all my supporters and detractors for fueling me. I ain't fucking done yet. I love him. The world is better. The football world is better with Jason Kelsey in it. And guess what? It gives the Eagles, I think, a real shot to kind of maintain who they were offensively, even without Shane Steichen.

I mean, you've, we have all those guys coming back. You can slide Cam Jergens in for Salamalo if he moves on. So you have an offensive line where you get five reliable starters, hopefully, with Juergens kind of keeping the sea warm until Kelsey comes back in. You have your past catching options coming back. So having him as the linchpin of that offense, I think is helpful. Especially with what a remodeling the defense is going to have to go through and figuring out the holes there.

So having Jason Kelsey, who I seriously, tabbed as my, did All-Pro and all that. He was my alignment of the year. Like I just, I thought it was his best year. Like, it really was.

And that's remarkable at how in his mid-30s to put on a year like that. So I'm happy that he's back. Of course, a great personality. Seems like a great dude. And hopefully it keeps him off the podcasting trail a little bit. So we can have some more wiggle room in that, in that regard.

But no, they're happy about it. Oh, my God. They're ridiculous. Whenever, whenever he wants to get back, whenever he actually wants to take it over,

I mean, that's, we can kind of be a little bit more relevant until that moment. So all right. Exactly. Right now, that's all we have. No Rogers News. I know we stall. No Rogers News. We've been stolen a little bit, but it feels like those are the biggest moves that we've had.

I can't just sit here all day. So we're going to be back tomorrow at the same time, the same place. Hopefully nothing crazy happens between now and that. If it does, we'll see. See if anything moves the needle enough to get us back on here. For now, though, that is all we have. Really appreciate you guys coming to hang out with us. If you have not, please subscribe to The Athletic.

The Athletic.com slash football show is where you can do that. Plenty of great stuff about the free agent class that you can catch up on there. Also, please, if you would, go rate and review the podcast on your podcast platform or choice. If you listen on Apple Podcasts, you want to leave a review about why you like the show, I would greatly appreciate that. We will be back tomorrow and the rest of the week at 3.30 p.m. Eastern. These will be available to podcasts. If you're listening to it, you already know that. For now, that's all we got. We'll talk to you guys soon.

This was the Athletic Football Show.