The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL - Free Agency Recap, Day 1: Jaguars spend big, J.C. Jackson to Chargers, Bengals add o-line, Eagles sign Haason Reddick & more

Episode Date: March 14, 2022

Robert Mays and Nate Tice broadcast LIVE on YouTube to react to a crazy day 1 of NFL free agency, from the Jaguars opening up the check book and adding Christian Kirk and Brandon Scherff, to the Bengals shoring up their o-line depth, a big JC Jackson signing by the Chargers and Haason Reddick lands with the Eagles, all that and more on a NEW Athletic Football Show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the athletic football show. The athletic football show. Today is Monday, March 14th. I'm Robert Mays. Joining me today. It's my good friend Nate Tyson. How you doing, buddy? Doing great.

I feel like free agency's been, you know, in the works for a few days now. So I guess we're officially, officially get to talk about it like other teams get to do. So the tampering period is open for teams and it's open for us, I guess, apparently. What a start. I mean, every year. every year. Every year. There's something on the first day that's just completely crazy.

And there's so many things. And obviously, the lead up to this has been wild. The last week has been nuts. The fact that Brady returned last night, that set some things into motion with the bucks, which we'll get to a little bit later. So we're just going to go through the signings that have happened today. Some of the things that have jumped out to us, some of the things that we like, some of the things that we don't like.

Not a ton to usually like on the first day of Freacency. I was going to put it in a section, like, what's your favorite signing so far? And I'm sure there's an answer. but all of these, they follow a similar flavor that we're used to on the first day of free agency. I guess we'll just say that. What flavor is that? A lot of overpays, baby. Let's do this.

Very rich. Very rich. So let's start, the only place we can start. I'm a ritualistic person. I look forward to things. There are certain times in the calendar where it's like I do a certain thing with my fiance. We go to Coachella a lot. So April, we're going to go out there, we're going to spend some time in Palm Springs or

You know, in the summer, it's just good to do things with our friends. And those little tent poles on the calendar are fantastic. And it's just nice to know that every March we can rely on the Jags to do this, where they're just going to, I mean, it's just gifts going like this. It's amazing. We can get to whatever one of these you want to start with. I think we start with the Christian Kirk contract because it has definitely been the biggest talking point. The amount of athlete responses to this deal, A.J. Brown tweeting out that Giff, I think it was T.I. just nodding.

Jalen Ramsey making jokes. He's got to become a receiver. That's when you know that things have moved the needle. And this deal absolutely did. I knew that the up to 84 million for the four years that Adam Schaefter reported was probably doing some heavy lifting. Even at four for 72, it's still a crazy contract. I bet you, you know, an arrest of Vellman. when the dad's like, I have the worst effing lawyers. I bet you Mike, I bet you Mike Williams is saying the same thing about his agent going like, I should have waited. I should have waited.

That's exactly it. Oh my God. I like Christian Kirk as like a nice like side piece for a good, good team. That's what this is though. That's what this is, is that you have opinions on players and you have, I like this guy as. Yes.

There's always that caveat. And often in the first day of free agency and the early part of free agency, that caveat gets lit on fire in about 30 seconds. And that's exactly what happened with Christian Kirk. So if you look at this right now, four years for 72, that's the ninth highest AAB among wide receivers. I know Tyree Kill is going to get a new deal. But the deal he got, the guarantees that he got, it's essentially the contract that Tyree Kill got a couple years ago. Oh, my God. A bona fide top four receiver, no matter how you shake it, as opposed to a high end number three, who's really might be a

a slot only guy. Oh, man, those agents, like, they knew the Jaguars are desperate for receivers, but it's like they still need guys. It's because Kirk is going to be a slot only guy for them. It's just. It's a huge thing. It's insane. It's insane. For Cooper to get traded when he did. Yes. And for Williams to sign that deal before the market open, the agents for Kirk, for Alan Robinson, I'm sure for DJ Chirk, those guys are just sitting there counting their money. Oh, my God. It's a huge thing. And that's exactly what happened. For now, I mean, the Mark Cooper trade now looks so much better for the Browns. To get him at 20, and not just to get him at 20, there's nothing guaranteed on his deal. They can move on from him after next year. It can be a one year $20 million deal for a fifth round

pick. And that seems like a lot when you're just looking at the per year average. But the flexibility of that for only a fifth round pick when Christian Kirk is about to get half of that $72 million guaranteed over the first couple of years, that's a really nice move for the Browns. And you remove all uncertainty by making that move when you did. I don't think they're going to convert. any of that base salary. I thought that there was a chance that they might to kind of move some of the guarantees a little bit later, bump up as cap hits into 23 and 24. It doesn't sound like they're going to do that.

They're going to keep it as is, but that gives them a lot of flexibility. So that's a huge deal for Christian Kirk. I can understand overpays to surround your young quarterback, right? You have all of this space. And I think that's why you can talk yourself into the Brandon Shurf deal. Do we have numbers on the Brandon Shurf deal yet? Did you see anything specific on that? Let me see.

I headed on my notes. I don't think I did off the top of the top notes. I just said the years. Good old control F. Yeah, I don't think I saw the actual specific. I didn't say the average is for that deal yet. I would have to assume it comes in at the Joe Tuni number or somewhere around there. I mean, Ryan Jensen made $13 million as a center in free agency.

I mean, sure if obviously the injury concerns, which we've talked about ad nauseum as how he compares to Tuni that's, top of the guard market when you look at last year. But I assume it'll be in the $15 million a year range. I can justify that. When you think about scarcity, when you think about how high his heights are and what he is when he's healthy and again, they're building that offensive line in front of a guy that drafted number one overall. I can twist that contract.

And to a certain extent, the current contract. It's like, all right, we need to give our guy weapons. There's scarcity. The Illuicon deal, I can't even start to justify. No, no, that one. that one popped my brain even more than the Kirk one. Getting almost, what, 15 a year? It's like the fourth most guaranteed for a linebacker ever.

He's almost getting C.J. Mosley money when he got the bank brought up for him when he signed with the Jets, which was ridiculous. He was a solid player, a good, goodish solid player on a bad defense. And now it's just like you're paying for the stats where he had 90 assisted tackles. I don't know. That one's ridiculous to me. Sheriff one, I'm fine with what. They need leadership.

They need toughness. Cool with this. You're building that thing up. You franchise Cam Robinson. You want to spend that money on the offensive line. Makes sense. You have a surplus. I can understand that.

And even the Kirk thing, again, it's a huge overpay. But it's like, all right, I can see how you twist the logic to your ends here. Yeah. Paying $15 million from off a linebacker, they already have Miles Jack. I know. So now they're paying almost $30 million combined to two linebackers. I was looking at the list and I saw Miles Jack is right in slot like right where they're. And I was like, oh my God, that's right.

they gave him a big deal. Just for off ball guys. And they need so much help everywhere. I thought they would be shopping that middle, middle upper middle class bin, just a whole bunch of dudes, just patch some guys together, not go for splashes like this.

I can totally understand. I'm sure that a response to this from people is going to be, well, they have all the money. They need to spend the money anyway. This just doesn't work. It's just never works. You can look back on it. It's the arrested development thing.

It's like, well, you know, it's never worked for anybody else. but maybe this time it'll work for us. Barnwall and I, when we were going through our lessons the other day, outside of the top of the market concerns

that you'd always have to have, linebackers, one of those positions. I mean, the history of overspending on free agent linebackers is just riddle. It's a graveyard. Nothing good comes there. Nothing good is waiting for you down that road. And they just did it for,

and you don't need to do that. You can split that in half and go sign a corner and another receiver if you want to. It just... Another middle tier line in. Like, ah, it's just. It's not necessary.

No. And if you look at this and say, well, they're a rebuilding team. You know, they need players. Go back to what the bills did when they were rebuilding. They never did this. Nope. They never shopped like this. It's not necessary.

You don't need to spend like this. How you justify it. I just don't know. I just don't know how you can look at those numbers and be like, yeah, this is exactly how we want to build this team at this stage. Even if you're depleting, even if you're up talent, deficiencies. Even if you have a ton of money just pouring out everywhere, I still just don't understand using it this way. Just because you can doesn't mean you should. That's, that's what it was. It felt like somebody got a $100 gift card to Best Buy or something. It's like, oh, I'm going to buy all

this stuff. It's like, you know, no, you don't need to. Like you save it, you know, a couple movies are coming out next year. They got the $100 gift card. And then they spent like $10,000. Yeah. I'm glad you saved the money. Yeah. It's like every single place, it's like, we'll give you a free whatever if you come in and spend this much. That's kind of what it feels like. Oh my God. They got a coupon so they went nuts. Amazon got me yesterday with it.

$35. You get same day shipping. I'd spent 33. And I was like, well, it looks like I'm buying a new mouthwash. New special mouthwash or something. I did like, I'm not going to lie. I did like the Faticasi signing. They overpaid for that.

But that one makes more sense to me than signing an off ball linebacker because at least he's going to play the snaps. He's going to help out your other guys. It's more of a, it's a double. It's not a sexy signing, but it's a double. That one I understood the overpay. Offball linebacker was the one that I was just like, are you guys kidding me? Just draft one in the middle round and so much cheaper.

Find a stop gap. They're not a step away. They're three steps away from contending. That's it just, any way you shake it just didn't make sense to me. The Kirk deal is wild. I just if you were. I keep looking at the number. If you're AJ Brown or any of these guys that are going to be hitting the market soon,

I mean, you've heard Delante Adams right now. And you're sitting there on a franchise. He has paid $20 million. a year right now. It's definitely the most shocking moment of the day. But I don't think we should be shocked at this point. Five mills a tier jump. So now imagine two,

three tier jumps. I mean, that's like, if that's like the market value if we're going like tip for tat, that's like $30 million, Dev should be asking. He's getting 18?

I should be getting this. I mean, when those markets start to dry up, that's what ends up happening. So Brandon Shurf goes to the Jags. That opens up the path for Lake and Tomlinson to go to the Jets. They were in the guard market.

they spent three years, $40,000, $27 million guaranteed. It's a lot of money. I mean, that's a pretty big deal. There weren't that many high-end guards on the market. If you look at after Scherf, who was going to go. Lakin Tomlinson was right in that range. We'll talk about the Alex Kappa deal in a little bit. So if you look at three years, 40 million, 27 million guaranteed,

that's just under the Wyatt Teller deal in both average annual value and guarantees. I mean, that's right behind the big, big deals, the $2. The Petoneo deal, the Betonio deal. That's one notch down for a guy who's been good. Been very solid for the Niners, but 30 years old, and you're not getting an elite player. I mean, this is free agency at its core or signings like this. I think it makes sense where they are, the fact that you have his position coach with the Niners. John Benton is the offensive line coach and run game coordinator for the Jets, you know, the system.

So I understand it. The only thing, and I'm curious what you think about this, swapping from left guard to right guard. he's played some right guard in the past. He didn't college at early in his career. What do you think about that? Do you think it's enough of a transition and enough of a jump to be concerning when you spend this much money on a guy? Do you think it is going to be seamless enough where it's worth it? It's not ideal, but I think it'll be seamless.

I think the fact that he has history at it. If it were one of those, and this might just be one of one, I have no vision, but one of those where it's like, I've seen him do it before at Duke. I know he did at Duke. And I think he had some spot starts. I think with Detroit at right guard. But that's the thing is that I don't think guard, guards, I've never played a position. I don't know. This is just my experience around the guys.

Guard is a little easier, not easy, but a little easier than switching left tackle, right tackle. That's, that's freaking hard. But switching guard spots, I think it's just, yes, it's almost, it's a little bit of a jump in difficulty, but he has experience doing it. He actually was better at right guard. I thought coming out of Duke, the whole swap thing, maybe going back to the right side, we'll kind of clean it up.

I think it's fine. he'll get used to it. It's not ideal. You want them to stay in the same spots. When we signed, we being the Raiders, signed Coletio Semley to play left guard, bumped Gabe Jackson from left guard to right guard. And he really worked at it, but he got there. I think the better, the more talented guys, it's an easier transition just like anything.

They end up becoming more scheme proof. I think he's athletic enough to handle it and he has experience doing it. Not ideal, but you're fine with it. So now you look at it. They have Fent. They have Bechtin to figure out the tackles. I think a tackle might be in play for them in the top five. They now have Verit Tucker and Tomlinson at Guard.

So in McGovern at Center, they're starting to really build that thing. I mean, they have these excess resources because they have a quarterback on a rookie contract and not many players. And they're using those excess resources to build up their offensive line, which I think makes perfect sense. There's a tweet, and I might be just, this might have been one of those fake tweets that I got to like, so that's why I shouldn't maybe bring this up. But they may be offered Zach Wilson for Deshaun? So Connor Hughes from the athletic said that that was not true. Okay. You got to be head on a swivel that this time.

Oh, my God. That's why I didn't want to talk about it, but I was like, okay, is that true? So I saw a fake, I got dup by a fake tweet and I texted a coach about it. And I was like, oh, shit. So it was fine. He thought it was funny. But I didn't tweet about it, but you got to keep your head on a swivel these days. I mean, when all this stuff is flying, you never know how many fake shepherds or fake rap sheets are out there.

So got to be aware in moments like this. All right. So the Bengals also were expected to be in the guard market. and they wasted no time. They go get Alex Kappa, four years, $40 million. I think that

this position, we talk about this all the time, and they also went to get Ted Karras for three years 18. Alex Kappa slots in at right guard, Ted Karras slots in at left guard. This is all about going from bottom of the barrel to

can you play. That's it. That is it. And that is the premium that they paid. But let's say, for argument sake, let's say Shurf is at the Tuney number, right?

16 a year. They just got Kappa and Karras at that number. And I think that's a lesson they've learned over the last couple years. They looked at the Trey-Wayne's contract and then they saw that they got two corners or two D-Bs for that price a year later. And I feel like that's where they want to be shopping. So the Bengals now, unspectacular. I think Kappa's a better player than Ted Karras is. And I think that's why it's 10 million compared to six. Unspictacular, but solid options at guard. and that's exactly what they needed. That's what this offense needs to continue functioning the way it wants to. Just get to average.

That's it. That's all you need. Carris is average. I would say cap is about above average. He's solid. But wouldn't you rather have Kappa and Karras than Tomlinson, just the one guy? You know, like that as far as kind of money, like that's about, about is sameish, but that's the thing. Now they got two average or better starters as opposed to just one with that money.

So it's a little smart spend. And there's still a ton of money to play around with. Just because it's burning hole in your pocket doesn't mean you need to three. throw it around with reckless abandon. It's not necessary. So now can you go build some depth on the defensive line? They go sign, they resign BJ Hill. Three years, $30 million. That's a lot of money for BJ Hill. Way more than I thought he's getting eight a year. I thought he was max. I mean, think about it. They got him in the Billy Price trade, a guy that they didn't even want anymore. Last minute. A team that desperately needed offensive line help on the interior trades an interior offensive

lineman for this guy. And a year later is worth three years, $30 million. Yeah, I was I was I was he was one of my under the radar guys. I thought seven mill a year. I think I think in my notes I wrote three years 21, 22 mil somewhere around that. So this is a little little juicier than I would have given up. But he is a good solid player. But that is why they're shopping in this kind of upper middle class bin as opposed to splashing for a sheriff or even a Tomlinson. So it makes sense. Because now they could spray other place. He's a useful player. He really is. They still need help on the interior deal. Yeah. I mean they obviously laring ogan job be signs of the bears will talk about that. And second. So you look at $10 million a year for interior defensive linemen. I mean, that's right in that range, right above what Shelby Harris signed for a couple years ago. It's right in line with the Dalvin Tomlinson contract that he got, Michael, Michael Pierce and Dalvin Tomlinson, both from the Vikings and the Grover Stewart deal that he got from Indy. So it's right in that range. And good for BJ Hill. Again, somebody that was, you know, traded in a kind of a throw-in deal last week. So, or last year, I mean, definitely interesting there. So, okay, the one other thing I wanted to

mention in regard to the Bengals. I think the Bengals and the Jets were both in the mix for Ryan Jensen. Okay. Obviously, the Bucks re-sign him. Three years, $39 million, $23 million guaranteed that beats Lindley's deal from last year makes total sense, right? They're right around 30. It's your turn to be the next guy. So, I mean, Ragnos younger. He's set the market during the season this year. It makes total sense. Yeah, that was a projection bet. Totally. These guys are 30. I think it makes total sense here. It seemed like the buck's interest ramped up after it was clear that Brady was going to be back. And that's how this works, right? You want domino falls and then the rest of them fall. This is the real last dance. Not Aaron Rogers and Devante Adams. It's Jensen and Tom Brady. This is the real last dance.

So, I mean, I think obviously that makes total sense. And we'll see what they end up doing, who can they, who they can bring back, what sort of accounting tricks will be necessary there. I think we're going to mention that for a few different teams. So just one quick note, Ted Carrey. has played a lot of center in the past, and he may be the starting center for the Bengals. They can move on from Trey Hopkins and save some money. So that makes a lot of sense. They drafted Jackson Carmen in the second round last year. Whatever it is, bodies on the interior of the offensive line, how the shuffle works out, we will eventually see.

I was, I was interesting because I was like, Hopkins is the one guy that's solid for them. It was like, okay, let's get another center in there. So I'm curious if they bump him to guard or what they do. I mean, it's all about can you save money, right? I mean, if he's going to be at $6 million a year, I think there's only guarantees in the first year, because that's most. mostly what the Bengals do. So if they can sign him at a lower price and free up a little bit of money, and I do think that makes sense.

But again, just bodies on the interior for the Bengals. All right. So, B.J. Hill stays in Cincinnati. His partner in crime in the interior of the defensive line for the Bengals goes to Chicago for $13 million a year. Three years, $40 million for Larry Ogunjobi. So initially, the signing came through. And it was Larry Ogahobie signs with Benjobie.

I was like, okay, I can understand that. Hicks is gone. You release Goldman. You need a three technique in that defense. We'll see what the number is. That's a big number. That is a big number. I mean, you can, a lot of different considerations here, okay? 11th in average annual value for defensive tackles. And then you look at the comparisons. It's the Javon Hargrave deal. Interesting. Almost the exact same contract, same percentage of the cap where based on where the cap is this year. And he does not have the juice that Javon Hart does. No, he does not. Even if you're looking at it and you say, okay, we need this position in this defense. You think about the history of this defense. Maddie Bufluse needs his three technique. That's a lot to pay to solidify that spot,

especially when you have holes elsewhere. So we'll see, you know, maybe it works out. He's a good player, but that's a premium for him at this stage of free agency. It's almost like when you're watching that Bengals film for free agency, why don't you just look at the other guy, B.J. Hill and go, what's his market? Like, you know, you're getting really comparable player that like they don't, not the exact one for one. But that's 10 million. We just said BJ Hill got overpaid a little bit, but that's still what, 10 million less. No. Gnjobie total. Yeah. So I was, I was, I understood the move. But like you said, it was like that that's a big, big number to be giving him, especially when you don't have that that, that real, real bonafides that maybe Hargrave did that's this past year,

especially. Well, Hargrave, it was such a strange situation. Such a contract year. Well, it's also what he did in Pittsburgh, he was just asked to do a very different thing. It was a different style of defense. The role he played was very different. And there was a projection there, but he's so explosive and he can just be so dominant. And Ogen Jobi, even in his best, just doesn't have that. It's a lot to pay just to say, okay, we've solidified that spot in our defense, especially where they are in how they're trying to build this thing or how I feel they should build this thing. So it was a little surprising to me.

I mean, we'll see how it works out, but it was a little surprising to me. All right, this is why it's fun to do these live and why it's fun to do. do these as everything is rolling in. Ian Rappaport saying that the Patriot, excuse me, that the Chargers are expected to sign J.C. Jackson to a big money deal. Obviously, we can't react to the details here, have not come down yet. I thought this was a possibility. As soon as we were talking about J.C. Jackson on our defense show, I think the last thing I said was I would pay attention to the Chargers because they still have a decent amount of money to throw around. And they were intent on rebuilding their cornerback

room after last year and they went to get the best one on the market. Yep. It was Amber Carlton Davis. It felt it felt almost like a lock that they would get one of them. Like, you know, just one of those guys just felt like it was happening there as far as need, as far as price point, as far as how they're going to use them. I think it makes a lot of sense. It makes a lot of sense to me because now you're not, of course, you're not getting to

the Ramsey level, but you're hopefully in there, I think how they built their defense is now we don't have to worry about that side. We can shift the bodies to the other side. if you're playing like a trips team. You have a guy that could take care of the X and it helps everybody else out on your whole entire defense. So I get it. When you think about the way that Jaylon Ramsey was used when Brandon Staley was there, they would, like you said, even if it was zone coverage, they would lock him on the backside and he would play man.

We know that J.C. Jackson's best trait is as a man coverage corner. I think you keep that in mind. I also think this is a lever to play more man coverage. Yep. If you think about how the rest of the late adopting, that's exactly right. It's exactly right. Think about Fangio last year, right? So if you look at what the Broncos did with all those corners,

they stocked up the corners, right? Pat Price. Calhoun was back. Drafts. Drafts, the first round. You have Ronald Derby. You go get Kyle Fuller, who didn't have a good year,

but a lot of corners. They played as much man coverage as almost any other team in the league last season. And you don't typically ascribe that to a Fangio defense, but I think you have to know. All right, where are we going? Like, what is next? Kent just said five years, 82 million for J.C. Jackson with $40 million guaranteed.

That seems okay to me. That's actually well less than I thought what he was going to get. I mean, it's a ton of money. Don't get me wrong. But, man, I thought he was going to get 18, 20 a year. So doing the math in my head, yeah. What is that a year? This is really good live radio.

I know, 16, 32, 64. 82, 84. 82, 22, 182. two divided by five is 16. That's pretty good. 16.4. And then that's, again, two years of that guaranteed, two and a half years of that guaranteed. I think totally reasonable. Yeah. Exactly

what it's again, it's an element of their defense that I think they need. So I, that makes total sense to me. Ricky contract quarterback. It helps. Why not? Let's go. Let's go. He's already MVP level. Like, we already know. It's not a question mark about him. So he is a top five quarterback. I'm making $7 million a

year. This is when you do this. Yes. Two years from now. So let's say it's the first two years are guaranteed and then you have a guarantee is in the third year. Caps going up. The caps going up. You have Herbert cheap this year, $7 million next year, fifth year option after that. Then the deal gets bigger. The guaranteed money for J.C. Jackson, by the time you have to pay Justin Herbert, no longer matters.

It's over. So this two and a half years, this three years, this is when you got to push the chips in with that guy. And that's exactly what they're doing. So I'm totally fine with this. Totally fine. Makes total sense. Need everything fit. I love it.

It gives them another star quality defender on that side of the ball, which is just, which is awesome. Now you're building. Now you have a great DB core. I love both of their safeties. Adderley and of course, Derwin James. They need linebackers.

And of course, we know they need interior defense alignment. Guess what? You can find those guys in the draft. Absolutely you can. And you can find them cheap. If you want to pay one or two more and you want to give them six million dollars a year, eight million dollars a year,

that's totally doable. And they can still afford to do that with some of the other moves that they can make. So this, Yeah. This one seemed like it might be coming down the pipe. And here we are. Okay. So I was going to transition from Larry Ogun Joby to this. Keep with the Chicago flavor here a little bit. Mitchell Trubisky, baby. Right. Okay. All right. It is, it is 5 p.m. Eastern. I have not seen terms on the deal. Why do you think that is? I don't, is it because it just a scary amount of money? I think somebody doesn't want it out there. Is it like way too much for a two-year deal? I'm curious to see when those numbers come, whether it's like midnight tonight. We find out how much Shurisky is getting a year. Well, Teddy just signed with the dolphins.

So I'm sure they're waiting for them to drop that number before they drop their numbers. On its face, it is funny. Okay. It is funny. I totally understand it. When you're thinking about the alternatives, let's say for argument's sake, it's 15 million for essentially one year. Let's say that's what it is. last year the going rate for stopgap starting quarterbacks

in their mid-30s, Ryan Tannahill, Ryan Fitzpatrick, or excuse me, Andy Dalton, Ryan Fitzpatrick, $10, $11 million.

Yep. You get a guy with theoretically some upside in Trubisky for $15 million, and you don't have to give up an asset to get him. This doesn't preclude you from drafting a quarterback in the first round if you want to. You can bring that guy along or whatever pace you want to. I understand it's not super, attractive outcome if you're a Steelers fan, but I completely understand how you land on this timeline if you're Pittsburgh.

Yep. Would you rather do this or trade a second round pick for Jimmy Groplo? I'd much rather do this. I keep those picks too, especially how the Steelers are built. I, how you just laid it out, it's exactly it. Now they have paths. Now if they do really like a guy in the draft, now it's like, oh, okay, maybe in a first round or the second round, but now you're not needing it.

Now you're not going like, oh, we have to draft a guy, a quarterback in the first round, or we're dead or in the second round. There's not really, it's, I think a lot of these guys are going to get pushed up into middle end first. So they're not going to probably have them in the second round, some guy that they can maybe build a round. So I think it makes total sense what they are. I'm still convinced that Matt Canada has one year at Pitt as offensive coordinator.

So I'm Mitch Trubisky throw for five touchdowns against him when he was at North Carolina. It was like, I'm going to get that guy and coach him one day. I'm convinced that's also what happened to. By the way, I love the Mitchell Trubisky, Matt Canada, marriage. It's going to be weird. Hell. It is going to be so weird. He's going to be on the move. There's going to be so many moving parts. Because even if they tried to put Rathusberger in the Matt Canada box last year, it is always going to be, to a certain extent, the Ben Rathusberger offense.

If you filter it through him, that's what it was going to look like. Now, all bets are off. All bets are off. I do think, and maybe I'm reading too much into this, the reports that the Giants were also interested in Trubisky. And Daibol had all years. year every day to watch him, would be slightly encouraging. I don't have the highest of hopes for what he can end up being, but I think is a one year stopgap option as you're trying to figure out what this is and you consider the alternatives. This is not the worst outcome for the Steelers. What do we say sometimes? At least Trubisky can run around a little bit. Yes. So even if it's not perfect, he can once in a while get hot and create some plays for you. It's like it's fine. It's totally fine. Like I, for the Steelers situation, it makes a ton of sense. You could do so much worse, but it's also a very damning of this upcoming quarterback class about what all these teams are

doing with the quarterback position as opposed to traffic. But let's say they do like Malik Willis. Let's say for argument's sake, they do like Malik Willis and he is available when they pick. Like maybe he won't be, but let's say he is. You can, there's no rush. You can bring him along as slowly as you want to. You take a swing and then you see how it goes or maybe you don't do that. I just think this again, I think you're right. Give them paths. Yes, it doesn't back them into a corner. I totally understand how you get here. All right, let's stay in Pennsylvania. Hassan Reddick goes to the Eagles.

Three years, $45 million, $30 million guaranteed at signing. It's a lot of money. But if you look at the edge rusher of a certain age and profile that was available, there weren't any. Agba goes back to the dolphins on essentially this deal. Harold Landry stays with the Titans. The only real kind of poppy edge rushers were 30 years. older more.

Your Von Miller's, your Chandler Joneses. I mean, that market dried up in a hurry. And he fits what they want to do. He can play that Sam for them where he's a linebacker on base downs. And then he's in a past rushing role. Like it's, I think it makes a lot of sense. And for what they like and what they typically chase, this was not surprising to see. Yeah.

And NBA terms, they always say like, oh, that matches the timeline. But it's like that this guy makes sense. He's 27, I believe. He's only missed one game in his career. I believe. Like so, okay. So you get real production the last two years too. As he transitioned into a new role, real production.

And two different teams, two different types of schemes, two different types of situations. It's a great point. And he produced him both. So that's like, okay, he can come to us. At least we have a baseline with him. They just still, you know, his weaknesses is not big. And so you need other size. But guess what?

He produces. He gets pressures and he gets sacks. It's okay. And that's fine. He actually, when you, you, I saw on the notes, you're like, oh, favorite signing. This was probably overall one of my favorite signings of the day. Like it made sense as far as price. and everything. I'm not, I'm not too disappointed at this one, especially what else was out there. I mean, even

I love Agba. He's two years older. I mean, it's, you know, that matters. I also think, I also think his sack production is a little bit more fool's gold than what Redick has done over the last couple years. He's more of a super glue guy than a bonafide pass rusher, if that makes sense. I mean, you look at the numbers. Okay. Bud Duprey got 16 and a half last year. Zadari Smith got 16 and a half. You know, Leonard Floyd got 16 on his extension. Trey Hendrickson got 15. I think it makes sense. It does. When you consider what guys have gotten recently. The Henderson deal.

That makes a lot of sense. I don't think it's that. I don't think it's that crazy. I really don't. I liked it. Yeah, I really did. It made sense. Yeah,

that's only way. And he's going back to back home. He's a temple guy. So added bonus. Add a bonus. That's worth a million right there. All right. Chase Edmonds to the dolphins.

You liked Chase Edmonds. When we were talking about running backs, he was the one guy that you said, you know, I'd take a dice roll on Chase. Edmonds. I think that makes sense. And I don't hate this. Yeah. I mean, it's, it's a lot of money for a running back. Okay? It's a lot of money for a running back. Any free agent deal is going to look like a lot of money for a running back. I'm pretty sure this makes him like the 11th highest paid

running back in the league. It's like him and naive hinds. When you consider where the dolphins are and how much cap space they had, this is a for the most part, it's a one year six million dollar contract that they can get out of after this year if they want to. It is better for the. It is better for the the Dolphins by far than the deal the Raiders gave Kenyon Drake last year to be their number two running back. If you're going to spend on a free agent running back, I think this is a totally acceptable way to do it. And Mike McDaniel got to look at him twice a year, tons of film.

I'm sure he's very familiar with him. And they needed a running back. It's just at this stage, everything else in the scheme change and what he can do for you in the passing game, it's a lot to spend on any running back. But I think in this particular situation, it's justifiable. Yep, it is. Six million is always going to be hard with a runningback. But that's like, I think exactly how you put it. They can get out of it. If it's great, they can get it for two years. But you know, it's like they can get out of it just after this year. They need running backs. Like they have nobody. So you get this guy. You draft a bigger body in the third or fourth round. There's going to be a ton of runbacks this year in the third and fourth round. Perfect. Now you got your pair and you're good. Because Edmends is kind of capped out about 12 touches a game because of size. But he's useful. He's got juice. So he can create some plays for you, get some passing game stuff. So he's not just. He's not. just a big bruiser. You're like, oh, man, we got to block it up for him.

He can create some stuff for you. You know, so you just get another bigger back that can kind of be an innings eater for you. And I think that's a nice parent. It made sense to me. Yeah. I think it's totally fine. And again, it's, this is all about opportunity cost. Yeah.

What is it, if you pay this guy, what is it going to preclude you from doing? Yeah. The dolphins had oodles of cap space in 2021. You giving Chase Edmunds $6 million in 2021 probably isn't going to prevent you from doing anything. Nothing. And next off season, you get to choose whether you want to reclass season. commit to that $6 million. If you, by the way, looking at running back contracts, it's insane.

The Alston Ackler contract rules. That is, it was a very shrewd move from the Chargers to get him in that $6 million range, which is, again, what Hines is making. It's what Chase Edmonds is making. It's a pretty good looking deal for the Chargers at this point. I actually was a little surprised by I looked at the list and I was like, oh, oh, that's a good deal right there. Like my second team all pro pick,

Alson Eckler, right there. All right. Cedric Wilson, three years, $22.8 million to go to Miami to join Chase Edmonds. 12.75 million dollars guaranteed was the report.

Totally fine. I mean, I think this is the range I would hunt in. Yeah. Would you rather give Cedric Wilson three years and 22 million with 12.5 million guaranteed? Or Christian Kirk,

four years and 72 million with half of that guaranteed. Exactly. It's Cedric Wilson. He's a number three. That's what it is. this. That's what you're getting out of him. He's a number three producing type of guy matches skill set. But yes, absolutely. I'd much rather do Wilson on a cheaper deal than Kirk on his bonafide deal, apparently. So, I mean, even with Agba contract. So let's just look at it all

kind of as a whole, right? So you have Wilson, you have Edmonds, you have Agba. All three of those deals make sense. I don't think there are huge overpays. I can understand how you arrive at each of those points if you're Miami in this moment. Yep. It's lower upper, upper class. I think that's the best way of foot it. They, they got nice houses. They paid market price and they're like, okay, but they didn't, they didn't go overboard for a name. I think that's more. They're just getting tangible starters for what they need. They need a lot of help. They do. They really do, especially on offense. Yeah, I mean, they signed Cedric Wilson and Chase Edmonds for six plus seven is 13. So five million dollars less than the Jaguars are going to pay Christian Kirk every single year. I think that's, I think that's, You have to think about this stuff. You do.

All right. So speaking of Cardinals running backs, James Connor back in Arizona, three years, 21 million, 16 million over the first two years. It's very similar to the Melvin Gordon deal when you look at the same types of guarantees

if the Gordon deal was one year, or excuse me, this one year longer. It's the 10th highest AVA among running backs. Here are the guys making more than James Connor at running back this year. CMC, Zeke, Alvin Kamara, Dalvin Cook, Derek Henry, Nick Chubb, Joe Mixin, Aaron Jones, Sequin Barclay.

That's a lot of money. It's a lot. I mean, it's a lot. And unlike the Edmonds deal, this is a two-year thing. I mean, they're locked in essentially to two years of this with $16 million guaranteed over the first two years. Or the $16 million paid out over the first two years. Zach Ertz also getting an extension from the Cardinals. That's 10th in AAB at his position.

They're just running it back. Yeah. They are, so both of those guys, right? They get Connor for nothing last off season. Yep. For nothing. And now he's a $7 million a year running back. They trade Zach Ertz in what amounts to essentially like a salary done for Philadelphia.

And now he's the 10th highest paid tight end again. And it's like, those guys were fine. Yeah. But, I mean, to pay a premium now to commit yourself to whatever your offense looked like last year when, I don't know, were we that excited about what their offense looked like by the end of last year? No. This isn't Miami giving Chase Edmonds $6 million with how many, how much,

how many resources they have, where they're at is different to me than Arizona at this stage, giving James Connor $7 million over the first two years. It's just different. They're building a sweet fantasy team. That's what it seems like, though. But I mean, wouldn't you rather,

okay, one of these guys walk, just pick one, or it's or Connor. And you put it, they're both fine. players. Don't get me wrong. But would you just rather let one of those guys walk and use that money to get a guard? Use that money to get something on defense, a mid-level corner, something on your defense

front that's more tangible than a star player. I don't know. It's just their team building that just doesn't make sense. It just seems like they go for names. And it works in some regards, but others, you can see why they fall apart as the season goes along because they don't have depth because they pay for guys like this. I just don't understand what the process is. What the, They got that extension. They don't care. Explain to me the plan. Explain to me why this is the way that we should be building this thing.

It's just confusing. I really don't understand it. All right. We're going to start talking about some resignings. And just before we were doing that, news comes down. Carlton Davis, back with the bucks. Three years, $45 million. I am so in on the irresponsible financial decisions that the Buccaneers are about to make.

They need a mob account. I mean, this is going to be incredible what they're going to have to do to their books. Why not? Let's see if you can do it. Just whatever. You burn it down two years from now. I think that's exactly what they're going to do. I mean, they're just resigning everybody.

And obviously some concessions, right? Aaron Stenny for Alex Kappa. You're going to have to make some shortcuts here. But they're going for it. And I respect it. I mean, that's a decent number for Carlton Davis. We both really liked him. I thought he would fit with a lot of teams.

So good for the bucks. Good for him. The fact he got 15 and J.C. Jackson got 16 a year, give or take. Like, that's way less than I thought those guys were going to get. I mean, way less being a couple mill, but still, it's a couple mill. Yeah, I think the bucks were like, hey, we really like this window we got. Let's keep it that way. Might as well, Brady, let's run it back.

Let's get another year. Again, it's the last dance for them. Makes total sense. And even little things like going for a corner, a premium position and cap is a fine player, but over a guard. Yeah. You know, a guy that you can probably find more of a middle tier guy. than the guy at corner right there.

So it makes a ton of sense. I wasn't sure what they were going to look like, even if Brady was back. I mean, this was back in December when you're projecting what the 20, 22 bucks would look like if Brady had returned. Were they going to be able to afford Ryan Jensen and Chris Godwin and Carlton Davis? The answer so far is yes.

They have not said goodbye to any of Ali Marpet retires, obviously, but they haven't had to lose anyone financially that was up near the top of their priority list. I mean, they are bringing back most of the band here as they try to make one more push for this thing. Yep. And why not? I mean, the window's open. You're not in the AFC.

So that window's open. Another guy that we were really intrigued by that was hitting the market was Quondry Dix, who signs for three years, $40 million to return to the Seahawks. You look at it. I think the deal makes total sense when you consider the market. So it's about this exact same cap percentage that John Johnson got from the Browns last year. average about 6% of the cap. So a little bit of an increase per year, but when you consider where the cap is going, where it was last off season, I think it's in line with the market.

He's a really good player. I didn't know what, speaks to what the Seahawks are thinking here. They resign him. They will resign Will Disley. I thought that they were going to potentially blow this thing up and really start over. It doesn't seem like they're trending that direction. So maybe gives you a window into what they're thinking is with Deshaun Watson or what their quarterback situation is going to look like.

So I just think an interesting set of moves from Seattle here. Yeah, this seemed more like a reload than a like, hey, we're moving on to the next step. Yeah, that, which is interesting. For the last year or so, we've been talking about how much safeties matter more in the NFL. And the Seahawks are taking that to the extreme with how much they're paying their guys. But I think Quadry Diggs is a hell of a hell of a player. Really, I think he is the top safety for them. Like, I think he's their top D.

D. Adams is fine. It's limited in some ways, but good in other ways. But I think Diggs is the actual star. So this makes sense. I think he's a hell of a player. So I think this is right in line what you should have gotten. So as we continue to dig into irresponsible accounting here, the Packers, five years, $50 million for Devondry Campbell.

They also brought back Preston Smith at an extension today. They cut Zedaria Smith. They cut Billy Turner. There's going to have to be some crazy stuff going on here, void years and everything else. I mean, what they're going to have to do to make sure all of this stuff works, is stuff that they don't typically do. but they're in a unique position. It's not dissimilar to what the bucks are having to do with Brady.

You only have a couple more years with the quarterback, and is it going to be messy three years from now? Sure, it's going to be messy three years from now. But I understand the thought process. I understand what you're trying to do. Good for Devodry Campbell, by the way. Again, somebody that comes in on a bargain basement deal, trying to rebuild his value and does it in a big way for the Packers.

Like you said, it could get messy, but guess what? You win one Super Bowl ring and it's worth that mess. Like that, that shiny piece on your, on your finger cleans everything else up. I'd much rather have this deal than the FOIA deal, you know, like much rather. At 10 million year, give or take, you probably, it's really going to be like a two year deal when it's all said and done like most of these are. He's getting less. By the way, he's getting less than Blake Martinez. What do you think that number?

What do you think that cap to hit number is in year five? Oh, I know. It's like $25 million. Yeah. I'm curious to see what it's going to end up looking at. Kick that can. Yeah, I know. But he's getting less than Blake Martinez is.

So it's put in perspective as far as you. years. That five years is, I mean, you can spread out some signing bonus stuff. You got a lot of things that you can use that for. And I assume that they will. We'll see what happens with Devante Adams. And there reports today that he is not going to play on the franchise tag. Yeah.

After the Christian Kirk deal, even before the Christian Kirk deal, I don't blame him for not wanting to play on the franchise tag. Terry Mill. That's what he's going for. I'm sure he's going to get it. So let's fascinating a little set of dominoes here in the AFC as we look at offensive linemen. Okay?

the Titans caught Roger Saffold. Roger Saffold now signs a one-year deal with the bills. I haven't seen a number on that yet. I assume it's less than he was making, obviously. The bills release Daryl Williams, who had bumped down to guard after Spencer Brown stepped in at right tackle. He was at $9 million after an extension. They save about $6 million.

I assume Saffold is less than that $6 million. So they get a guard for less than they save for Dary Williams, and they get a guard who has his warts, at this stage of his career, but brings the physicality in the run game that other guys do not. They, I believe... That's just the bill's mindset as a team, like completely. Yes. So it totally makes sense.

Mitch Morris signs a three-year $28 million deal. His cap-it goes down to $8 million this year. So you see how all these things start to pile up, right? Yeah. And then go back to Tennessee, Ben Jones, back on a two-year $14 million contract. I would have loved that if you were another team. I thought the Bears were going to go after him. And it sounds like the Bears were looking into Brian Allen,

who goes back to the Rams on a three-year $24 million deal. That range there, $7 million for Ben Jones, $8 million for Brian Allen. I think you would give that to a center and free agency and never think twice about it. And I think that those teams that had those guys realize that. It's like, all right, well, why wouldn't we just keep this guy for this price range? So I think both of those deals make a ton of sense. Or, yeah, it's like, oh, we've dropped our new one of the future. What if the rookie's a headcase?

You can't handle anything. Like, you never know. Like, I'm sure they love Josh Allen loves now he has that comfort with Mitch Morris and going like, hey, he can handle his stuff. I know how all these guys, right? It's a pitcher and a catcher. Yes. That's what it is.

So it's like a pitcher and a catcher. They like have a comfort. They know how they call the game. It matters. Jensen goes back to Tampa. Ben Jones goes back to the Titans. Brian Allen goes back to the Rams. Yeah.

And Mitch Morris goes back to the bills. I mean, you want to. that guy. I mean, you look at all of the contracts. We talked about, I talked about this Marum all last week. Look at all of the big center contracts and free agency that have worked out. I mean, you might as well keep these guys at a certain point. And I think all of these teams realize that kind of in succession here. And all these guys are back. The interesting one with the Rams, Joe Noteboom, three years, $40 million with $25.5 million guaranteed. It's 13 million or so per year with first two years guaranteed.

That's a pretty big deal. But if you think that he is a quality tackle and we've only seen him in little tiny fits and starts. So his market isn't huge, but you think he could be your left tackle the future, there's a chance that this is, it ends up looking like a really good deal by the end of this season if you think he's that guy. And he did, he actually did fine when he had a step up this year. Like he did, he did well. I actually even say well. Like, but that's the thing. He's 26.

You're getting him right in his prime years. And like you just said, if he has a great year this year where you're like, oh, man, he's a good starter. That's a steel. It's like my lot of contract. It's the exact same thought process where if you can get in a little bit early and, you know, other people don't know exactly what he's worth because he's only gotten action here or there and you get to watch him every single day. I mean, look at what just happened with Jake Matthews, right? Jake Matthews signs a three-year extension at 18.25 million average. And that puts him right in the Colton Miller range, right?

that's what you have to pay a functional left tackle. So if Joe No Boom ends up being that for the Rams, $5 million a year cheaper, then that ultimately can be a deal for you. Especially for the Rams who are trying, they have to get creative with how they do things. So it's like, if you steal guys like this,

this is how you unlock other things for your team. So I'm all for this one because especially how the flashes he had this year when Whitworth went down. I was like, oh, okay, there wasn't that much drop off. And his head, like his eyes looked at the right spot. So I think it's coming together.

because he was more of a traitsy prospect before, like more of like a toolsy guy and then has grown into an actual football player. So I like it. It made sense to me, especially where the Rams are at as a franchise. All right. So you mentioned Redick, any others that are kind of your favorite deals from today.

You're like, oh, that makes sense to me. I got three. It was the, I kind of already mentioned them all. The Faticasi to the Jags, a little bit overpay,

but made sense. But that was before the linebacker deal came out onto the board. I was like, I don't like that as much. Redick to the Eagles and then Saffel to the bills. I like that. A one year, one year starter. You're getting an attitude.

I think he's more of a solid starter now than, you know, good, very good. But it made sense for me with the bill. So I really think those three at the top, off the top of my head. It wasn't not a lot of those those middle class signings where we can sound smart and go like, oh, I really love this like backup receiver. That'll be over the next few days, right? Exactly. I mean, for the most part, the values that I like are the guys that resigned their own players.

That's the other one. Ben Jones at seven million. Brian Allen and 8 million. I mean, guys that are just going to be kind of that connective tissue of your roster that you just felt like you needed to bring back based on where you were as a team. I think all of those makes sense. All of those are decent value. So we'll see what happens over the next few days. I'm sure some of those middle class contracts will get handed out.

Who is the, the, okay, do something meme, where you're poking them that you're just like, all right, what the hell are you doing? Originally, I had Carlton Davis and Jason Jackson, but then Toronto Armstead. I'm just, I'm curious. I just want to see what the numbers, just because I have a number in my head. and I just want to see what the open market does for a starting freaking left tackle. You know, I just want to see it. I'm just curious.

I'm just very curious. You know, where do you think he lands? Like, now that we're looking at it, I mean, Miami still should be in play. I think it's Miami. I think it's still be in play. Even with the deals they've handed out, it's all,

it's been pretty moderate deals. So they should still be able to afford him if they want to. Do the, do the, I know. I was going to say, do the Colts feel, feel risky for a ski? I just, I don't think so. I don't think so $20 million a year. It's really, really funny that the cults have 70 million.

dollars in cap space. And the guy that they've signed today is Moe Alley Cox. Got to love it. I was on Edithon.com. I was looking at the transactions and it was like Jaguars has like 30 things listed. And then you go to the Colts and it was just blank. And I was like, up, of course, part for the course. I know.

It's amazing. All right. I think that's all we've got. I think that is we've run through most of it. All right. I'm trying to see if there's anything I've misses. I just go through the timeline here. I think we're good.

All right. That was fantastic. Really enjoyed that. Guys, we will be doing this at least for the next three days. We'll see how frisky I'm feeling on Friday. We may not do anything live, but I still may want to do a show. But we're going to be Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. We're going to have live free agent reactions every single day in this same space.

Tomorrow, 4 p.m. Eastern. Lindsay Jones is going to be joining us 4 p.m. on Tuesday. Wednesday, 4 p.m. Eastern. Sheal is going to be here. Thursday, 3 p.m. Eastern, you're back. So, guys, please continue to come and check these out. Love doing this. It is a very fun time of year.

We will hit the signings we did not hit. Just so everyone knows, it is 5.30 p.m. Eastern as we stopped recording this. So if there's anything that comes down after this, that's why we didn't hit it. But we will be back around the same time on Tuesday. Really excited about that. If you guys could please rate and review the podcast on your podcast. podcast platform of choice. If you liked it last season, if you enjoy the show, just go leave a review.

We would really appreciate that. Please subscribe to The Athletic, theathletic.com slash football show. You can read all of Shields grades for every single one of these signings. He's doing it in real time because he's a psychopath. You can go check out all of the coverage. I'm telling you, it is so great to be able to get team-based contextualization from every single one of these signings. Where are these guys going to play?

Where were they in these priorities? How do they fit the plan? That is something that you can get at the athletic in a way that you cannot get anywhere else. So theathletic.com slash football show. Highly encourage you guys to go get a subscription if you do not have one. We'll be back tomorrow with Lindsay Jones. For now, appreciate you guys listening. We'll talk to you soon.

This was the Athletic Football Show.