The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL - NFL free agency winners

Episode Date: March 21, 2023

The dust has pretty much settled on the 2023 version of NFL free agency. So...who were the big winners? Robert Mays and Nate Tice highlight their favorite signings, favorite team-wide hauls, favorite zags, and more on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.Follow Robert on Twitter: @robertmaysFollow Nate on Twitter: @Nate_TiceSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show...AppleSpotifyYouTube2:35 Teams getting smarter in FA?7:40 Favorite signings28:26 Best team-wide haul44:54 Favorite flag-planting move49:30 Favorite zag57:31 Favorite one-year deal60:59 Favorite bargain63:28 Favorite "oh wow, they needed that" move70:34 Favorite player/team marriage you didn't know you wanted 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 Mays. Join to me today. It's my good friend Nate Tyson. How you doing, buddy? Doing very well. I'm glad we oriented ourselves with a hat selections.

And we have pride with it. We both decide certain days. We're going to wear hats. And then we're like, no, we can't be wearing the same exact thing. Sometimes the Midwest jumps out of both of us at the same time. And today was one of those days. No one could see us as I'm saying this, but I just want to say that me and Robert made a stylistic choice before we started this podcast. We got the same hat on when we started recording.

We decided it was completely unacceptable, but that's fine. We've righted the wrongs. We're ready. We're set to go. There's only two, one fedora per group. There's only one backwards white hat per group as well. All right. We are about a week after the real start of free agency.

We're recording this on Tuesday afternoon. Things have died down for the most. most part. We have a couple other dominoes that I think are still going to fall. I'm sure we'll have a couple trades, you know, that here and there over the next couple months before the draft, leading up to the draft, maybe during the draft. But for the most part, free agency, the big wave of free agency is already over. So we're going to do our first kind of reset, look back at what free agency looked like today. We're going to talk about some of our favorite moves in a bunch of different categories, you know, bargains, some flyers.

some fits, all of those. Before we get into that, though, I wanted to start with kind of a bigger picture conversation with you. Do you think that teams, on the whole, are just getting smarter about the way that they approach this time of year? Because when I was looking at all of the science, just top to bottom, starting with the most expensive, and going all the way through, there weren't that many where I was like, man, that is clearly a mistake.

that is clearly just a financial misstep on day one that was unnecessary when you think about the quality of the player in the amount that you're about to pay him. There are a couple that are probably on the edge and they were a little bit aggressive. But overall, I think that it's a lot harder to find those real missed swings on day one of free agency this year than it might have even been two or three years ago. Yeah, there's no true miss swings, as you put it. Everyone made contact. Yeah.

And I think, and I agree. I think teams, when you see it all break down and you see how the monies and the monies, where you see how everything tears and everybody's getting paid and kind of the dust settles, especially after this first wave that we're going to be talking about. Yeah, there's nothing that really stood out. Even ones that we were a little down on, you understand the reasoning behind it, you know, Edmints to the Bears. Like that, that's one right there.

But I don't hate it where I'm like, that's an F. That is a crippling move for this franchise. There's none of those. There's none that I could see, like even if the downside happens with some of these moves, there's nothing I really truly hate. So I agree. I think they're the market and how teams view each position, how they tier each position. You know, there's probably some talk amongst teams and agents and all that. So it all makes sense where everybody got paid.

I would say just that the receiver signings is the one that in the quarterback's sign. The receiver signings is a great example. That's the one that I kind of, it seems like teams. went, okay, Christian Kirk was a little out of hand. So let's settle down now. Settle down. Let's get back at the secondary options. Let's get back into a more reasonable market.

And it seems in that $10 to $12 million areas where everyone's settling for, quote, unquote, second tier players. And I agree with that. And I think that's, it's kind of interesting that teams are finding that and now kind of maybe the edge is taken away from some teams that have been smarter about that or not. But it is kind of funny that we now see maybe over a year or two where everybody settles in. There's always going to be somebody that runs through the door and everything kind of gets discombobulated and overpay. And it's like, okay. But it's how quickly it resettled. No one kind of took the bait and was like, well, we paid Kirk this much.

We got paid the next guy at $20 million. That's exactly right. The missteps of previous years didn't necessarily influence the way the teams paid this time around. For Jacoby Myers to make $11 million a year, one year after Christian Kirk got paid $18 million a year, I think is kind of a recorrect. And even Chandler Jones is a good example from last year. Chandler Jones got $17 million over $17 million a year, three years, $51 million with $32 million guaranteed. He's 32 years old. I was going to say he was 30 years.

He was 32 when he got the deal. Yeah. So maybe this year's version of that could be Jafon Hargrave where you're paying an older player on a third contract near the top of the market. But Javon Hargrave was two years younger and he was a much better player in 2022. than Chandler Jones was in 2021 for the Cardinals. So there aren't that many examples to me like, man, I just feel like this team is going to regret this eight weeks, one season into a three, four year deal.

There aren't that many of those this year. I'm like, man, I just wouldn't have done that. There are obviously a couple. But I think that setting caps on the second tier of players at receiver, corner, safety, I think keeps some of this in whack. And I think we saw a lot of that in this year's. class. I think teams were saying, okay, especially, you know, offensive line, defensive line, like an Orlando Brown and McGlinchie, I was very curious to see what they

got paid. McGlinchie, I thought it was a little sweet, and Orlando Brown would talk about how fair kind of ended up being with that, but it seems like teams go, no, we understand these are premium positions, but you're not a premium player. Yeah. And that's why we're going to pay you this. And that it's so weird that I see a lot of these moves. I'm kind of glad you brought this up, because doing this exercise and really seeing as it does settle and seeing how everyone got paid, there's a lot that was like, okay, that's fair. Oh, okay, a million too much, but that's fine. You know, but there's nothing that stood out to me that was just like, holy shit.

You know, maybe Dalvin Tomlinson would be one that was maybe like a little too sweet for my taste, but still I understood the move behind it. Why? We'll get into that. I have one of my categories. Yes, I know. We haven't got over the categories. But that might be like one where I'm just like, eh, but I understood the reasoning behind it.

And it's not like you're paying a truly negative player and just overstating his value. And McGlinson would probably be mine if we were doing it. But we were going to do maybe like a winners and losers type thing. And there just weren't that many bad ones where I was like, I wouldn't have done that. So I just feel like it's not even worth going down that path, really. All right. Let's get into this. Let's start just big picture of favorite signings.

First couple that come to mind for you. Why don't you kick us off? One that I at first would have been on my list. And as I did this exercise, I like him. more as I thought about it. It's Von Bill signing with the Panthers. Number one on my list. Oh my goodness. Yeah. This is one, we talked about it briefly, kind of forgot about it for four or five days. And then as I did this exercise, I really like that signing. I think the Panthers defense is going to be a great unit. And this guy is super versatile and smart. And it's going to shore up

anything they want to do on that end. Really, really like the signing. So that, that, I don't say it's my number one, but the first one I wanted to talk about because I just really did like that one. It was just the first one that came to mind for me. When I was looking back and looking at everything, it was the first one that came to mind. That's funny. I think that free agency is best used to fill holes, to find capable players at certain positions. And I think that tier of player is maybe no more important than it is at safety. And the flexibility that he gives you, I think that I really did learn a lot from the way that the Bengals built their secondary two years ago.

And the way that they constructed it, everything they got out of it, obviously, Louana Rumo is a huge piece of them being able to squeeze everything they can from a group of solid players playing on modest deals. But I think that general philosophy of we're going to bring in veterans, smart veterans, that clear a certain bar but aren't superstars and don't get paid like it. And we're going to piece together our secondary from players like that. It was really instructive and informative to me. And he was such a key part of that that I think dropping him into this group in Carolina, he kind of brings the whole room together in my. opinion because Xavier Woods is still there. They have Dante Jackson. It was hurt last season. Obviously, JC Horn. Jeremy Chin is this kind of flexible piece. Overall, that group with the Giro

Evereaux, I just totally understand why you would chase him as kind of the last piece of that overall puzzle in the secondary. And it's for a really reasonable price. You know, it's about what he got last time. So obviously he's two years older than he was when he signed that previous deal, but he's still a solid player, you know, making seven or so million against the cap over the first two years, if you look at the cap percentage associated with that deal, it's right around like what Micah Hyde got in 2017 from the bills, which I think is a similar sort of swing that you're taking at this position and one that has worked out well for teams in the past, even if he's just a little bit older.

So I just really like the type of player, the fit on the team, and the aisle that you're shopping in at this stage of it. So it just checks so many boxes for me. I like to see. Yes, that's, yes, that's exactly. It just makes sense. And when you have a couple aces on your defense, like they have Brian Burns, Derek Brown, J.C. Horn, you don't need to sign another ace.

You don't need to break the bank to just get another guy in there. You need a guy that, you know, if we're talking about aces and baseball and everything, you need another pitcher in the rotation. You need a reliever. You need the other guys that kind of make up your team, the glue, like you said. Glue is a great way. It's a great way to frame it. It's a great because he just, again, ties it together.

Yes, he does. So, yeah, when I just, I was just one of those, I hadn't thought about it in about five days. Now I'm like, yeah, that, that was good. That was very, very good. It's the first one that came to mind for me. My other one is, I think, in a similar vein, I had Juan Thornhill going to the Browns. Same kind of idea, right? I mean, three for 21, $14 million guaranteed, really similar contracts.

He's even younger than Von Bell is, maybe not quite as versatile as Bell was for since, but still gives you that just safety on the back end. It's just like I have a solid player that I can plug in right here and I know that he will be capable for the most part. And it's so much less than they paid even for John Johnson a couple years ago, which I think might be a lesson that both the Browns and other teams have learned at this position specifically. The only guy who really made a lot more than this general range at safety in this free agent class was Jesse Bates was really it. Other than him, it's a lot of these sorts of contracts. And I think these sorts of contracts are very palatable at this position specifically. And Thorne Hill is another one of those moves for me.

Yeah, I really like that one too. I had Obilo Crockwell with the Browns is one of mine. Not just because he's one of my guys, but it's a move that really made sense for where they're at. The aisle they shopped in for that type of player. You can outplay the contract, which I always think has to be an aspect when you look at these guys. Even if he lives up to the contract, making just over $6 million a year, that's not that crazy. If he gets you eight, ten sacks this year, holy crap.

Like a million dollars per sack, if not more, is a fantastic deal no matter how you shake it. So I thought that the Brown's making those two moves after I just dig on the Tomlinson signing. Those two made a lot more sense or not just made sense, but I really like the fit, the contracts they were given, and also what they can outplay that contract as well. The safety market is fascinating because I think teams have found there's a surplus of talent at that position. corners can move there. You can find these guys in the middle rounds. Yes, there's a couple that you draft in the first round because they can bounce around and have some talent.

But you can find these guys. So I think that's like you said, there's a lesson maybe with that Johnson signing in others that, oh, maybe we don't have to break the bank for this. Maybe we can pay these guys kind of middle market above middle market and get a lot of value from these guys in their play because of that position, how teams use them. You need multiple of them. And I think that's kind of cool seeing that market kind of correct itself and that market kind of find teams. tiers. Like you said, there's the Bates thing, but also finding that tier of that kind of upper middle class and how those guys can also maybe even outplay those contracts, which I think is really, really cool. Even like deals like the Imani Hooker deal that he signed last year was for

$10 million a year. And he's only 24 when he signed it. But a lot of these deals are coming in a whole tier underneath that. Yeah. I think the Von Bell deal was similar to what Jordan Whitehead got from the Jets last year. And Jordan Whitehead, again, is younger when he signed that. that deal. But I still, the Julian Love one, which we'll get to. I think it's another example of this is just that tier of safeties and what they're getting paid. I think it's a really good place to be looking for talent and free agency. And you got you got to think this is year when they signed a new CBA 2020. Yeah. So year three of kind of new CBA, kind of this is this newish, newish era of football. We've talked about the two high defenses. Now you're seeing what's

getting prioritized. And it's, I think teams are settling into this now. They're kind of going, okay, this is the new landscape. Of course, something's going to happen. They'll shift it and players will come along and position usage and all that. But it's felt like really like this offseason, everything got settled. Like as far as like what this NFL landscape is as far as free agency. And we'll see with the upcoming draft as well. All right.

Who's your next one? David Oniomatto with the Falcons. I thought this was just a fantastic tone setter for this defense. I thought it was a very fair deal. Of course, I wanted him to maybe go with the contender. I've said that before. I thought as far as fit, as far as what they need, as far as type of player, he's a mauler, he's an ass kicker, I think he's going to do great work with Grady Jarrett and they kind of have a great stylistic fit.

I really like this one. I really like the player. He's a little older. Like, you know, Falcons are kind of in this, like they're kind of coming out of their rebuild right now. So, but I think as far as, okay, well, if we're coming out of a rebuild with whole, so many new cast of characters on our defense, let's get a guy that sets the tone for whoever else we bring in and can play a lot of valuable snap for us. I really like this one.

I thought it was a fair deal for what the type of player is. He's never going to really juice up the box score, but he does a lot in the past game, or does enough in the past game and enough against the run. He's versatile. Like this fit. And I like the signing. And I thought it was a very fair deal for what he got. I think it's pretty rich, man.

I think he's a good player. He's 30 years old. He's getting money like right below that DJ reader tier. I think it's a lot to pay for a guy at this stage. And maybe you just say, we don't like any of the other guys available in this group. We think it's a quick fix. We have the money. I understand all the rationalizations.

But like you said about some other guys, can they outplay this contract? Right. I think he's going to have a hard time a year from now looking back and saying, we got great value out of this with him making $12 million a year. You know what you're getting with him. But I think for where the Falcons are, they need guys like this. He's a B plus player. They had Ds and D minuses on that D.

defense. So I think that's where maybe I'm coming from. I agree with the contract. It is a little rich. They can get out after two years. But it's, I think for what they are and what they needed, this made a lot of sense to me. But I agree. It is a little rich. But I do think he is a good, good, tangibly good player that plays a lot of snaps for you as well, which I think is another aspect of these signings they have to look at. There also weren't that many guys available at that position in free agency. Less than do you think. That was that was actually surprising to me too. So here I'll list off all of the guys that have been signed so far as interior defensive line. Javarangarang, Dalvin Tomlinson, Draymont Jones, Zach Allen.

No, Draymond, John, Zach Allen, not defensive tackles in the same way that On Yamada is. They're interior defensive players. Not edge. Not edge players. Okay. So those four are the big money guys. Then Oniomata comes in after that. After those guys, Larry O'Gonjobie, Shy Tuttle, Kaelin Saunders, Rakey.

He, Nona's Rochez, Fletcher Cox, who I think was always going to go back to Philly if he was going to go anywhere. Sheldon Rankin's, Jaron Reed, Dean Lowry, Jerry Tillerie, Taven, Brian. So there weren't that many guys. You feel like, okay, I know that I can have above average play at the very least if I throw some money at this guy. And I think that's the rationalization for Owen Yamada. But I think that is more of a traditional, we're paying a premium for a free agent type of contract than some of the other ones that we saw in this. this wave. Yeah, man, I think he's, I think he's a better player you're going to give him credit for. I really do. He might be. I might be wrong, but this is one where I don't think we see totally eye to eye on this one. No, but like of that class and I, because this was another, I'll just throw it in here. This was one of my more favorite signings, even if I didn't, I didn't think the Giants really needed this type of guy was Rakeem Nunez Rochess, because I thought that was a very fair deal for the type of player he is. And really breaking down the market like that, the defense. to tackle interior defense a line market like that.

It's like, how did no one, how did no one else splurge on this guy? Like, you know, that's a guy that I just didn't make sense. His market didn't make sense to what I think the player is as well. Again, he's 29, I believe. Yeah, about to turn 30. That's how it works. 29 turns into 30. But I really do think that was another guy.

I did like that signing for the Giants, even if I didn't think it was a necessarily a need for what they have. You know, they have Leonard Williams and Dexter Lawrence. Those guys can really eat up the interior for them, depending on they use Leonard Williams, but that was another one I wanted to throw in there as well because you dropped that name in there. And Javon Hargrave was one of my favorite signings period just because of stylistic standpoint. Oh, we'll get there. That one I'm freaking is so excited for just to watch from football standpoint. There's a category that I pretty much had him in mind when I decided to do

the category. There are some guys still on the market, I think, to take into account with those interior defensive linemen. Clayas Campbell, I assume, still wants to play. We'll see if he lands back in Baltimore. Ashad Robinson is a free agent. Shelby Harris just got released met ioditis is on the market. So I think they're going to be usable players you can find at that spot when kind of the second wave of free agency picks up. Can I throw another one in here that's not a signing, but just a move and I really liked it?

And this is playing to the crowd here is the DJ Mord trade. Again, they're on the name with the Bears. Like honestly, one of my favorite moves and cherries on top to any move, this, this, not just the trade was great, but for the Bears. but I think that DJ Moore kind of throw-in was just an inspired move. I really do. I think the stylistic fits can be fantastic for Chicago and Justin Fields. We talked about it a lot when the move happened.

I just think that being able to set yourself up for the future with all of the assets that you created and the flexibility that you have moving forward will also giving yourself the best way to gain information about your quarterback in the short term, I think is a really smart way to think about that move. Even if you had that first, that other 25 first, I get wanting to come away with both of those. but I still think that trying to balance present and future in the way that they did with the haul that they got was a really smart way to approach it. Absolutely. And just, I mean, I broke it down. He's a vertical threat. He's got one of the top five vertical, like a real guy, not like a role player, but top five vertical receiver as far as A dot, as far as success rate on throws over 20 more air yards, which is what Justin Fields is fantastic at.

I just think also just he hasn't played with good quarterbacks. So it could be just a great. He's a true X in the team that needed an X. And I just really, really like that signing. It's a circle player in a round hole. Like it was just bloop. That thing plopped right in there and made total sense for exactly stylistic need, age, timeline, quarterback.

It's just everything made sense for that one. So I really really liked that one too. My next one's here. A lot of guys going back to their teams, which aren't free agent signings. But I had a lot of these that just like, okay, The first, Caleb McGarry going back to Atlanta. Okay.

Fantastic. Over the next two years, Caleb McGarry will average a $9 million cap hit over the next two seasons. He only got $15 million guaranteed. The cash flow and the guarantees that he got this year aren't that much different than what George Fant got three years ago from the Jets. And you know what he is. You know how he fits into what you're doing.

And I think a lot of guys either didn't have the market. thought they were going to, which speaks to the first conversation that we had, or understood, you know what, what's two million? Like, I don't have to move. I know this team. I know what my role is. You can list off a lot of these guys. I thought Trey Pipkins going back to the Chargers was like this.

He's 26 years old. He was hurt last season. He only got 13.5 million guarantee. He's making $7 million a year. There is absolutely a world two years from now where he's still your starting right tackle for seven million dollars a year and you think that's a really good price for that guy i still think that there's a little bit of projection involved in that he hasn't been that guy to this point but i he's 26 and he was dinged up all of last year so i get talking yourself into that and you can

list off a half dozen more jordan poyer going back to the bills yep james bradbury going back to the eagles yep the deal jemaldine side with the bucks all the eagles re-signings just all those make great sense yeah jemaldine going back to the bucks i thought that jake brendle going back to the forty-niner is just like, oh, we know what he is. This is a reasonable amount of money. Yes. We did a great year last year. It's just a stabilizing thing where it's like this is one last thing we have to worry about as we think about all the other moving parts on our office.

Jermaine Pratt going back to the Bengals, Jonathan Jones going back to the Patriots, Bradley Bozeman going back to the Panthers. Like all of these is just like, this feels a good price. So I'm saving that because I have a Cowboys thing later. But I think that's another. Well, I was saving McGarry because I have a fact. Alkins thing. So that that's funny. No, but I wholeheartedly agree with you. And I, just the conversation that like you said at the beginning, it's these re-signings, there's such a human aspect to this. And I laugh at sometimes like, you know, the Cardinals went outside Kaiser

White. And it's like, of course they did because, you know, Gannon's going to bring his guys. And I kind of laugh at those, you know, or all the Titan signings being all, all of them have their 49ers, you know, sad cards, you know, like that. That's basically what they have. Um, So like, but coming back, the McGarry one is just perfect. It was a fair deal for team, fair deal for his value as a player, starting right tackle. He was starting to get overrated a little bit as people were saying, oh my God, he's approved. He's approved. Oh, my God, he's amazing.

He's amazing. It's like, okay, he's fine. Like, he's fine. And they're going to use them perfectly. So I think that's a great call about all these resignings because I would say Bozeman and McGarry were two that just made total sense for how they played and what the teams, how the teams are going to use them. one note that I just wanted to throw out there because there was a consideration that I had when I was looking at the initial numbers.

Okay. So, Jermaine Pratt goes back to the Bengals and Von Bell moves on. Okay. Same A.AV essentially, right? It's like $7 million a year. So in your mind, it's like, oh, did they choose to being Jermaine Pratt back instead of bringing Von Bell back? This is one of those weird Bengals quirks.

Jermaine Pratt's only guarantees are the signing bonus that he got on that three-year, $20 million or so deal. Von Bell's second year base salary is $6 million and it is guaranteed with the Panthers. The Bengals don't have guarantees into the second years of these contracts. So sometimes there are little things like that where good for Von Bell. Now he's got two full years guaranteed. He's going to be past 30 at some point during this deal. So it gets a little bit of security. But I thought those little tiny differences are work pointing out when you're thinking about how these players make decisions and how these teams make decisions every so often.

Absolutely. It's not always what gets posted on Twitter from what the agent told the person that posted exactly how much money they got. Sometimes there's there's in between numbers that make sense. That's why my favorite Twitter language is up to 15 million. That's my favorite because that's like, oh, okay, that means he's getting like $3 million guarantee, not $15 because that's how they're going to present this for everybody to see. My last one is T.J. Edwards to the Bears. I think it's a really good signing. It's kind of offset how they're the linebacker market broke out. Yeah, it's a lot more fair than I originally thought it would be. Six million bucks a year. He was a really good player for the Eagles last year. I think that he's much better than what they had, especially post-Rocon trade last year.

I mean, obviously they spent a lot on Edmonds, but I think that we forget because of the Edmunds signing that the Edwards deal was considered a pretty good bargain when they signed it on the first deal of day free agency. And I like the Nate Davis signing for the Bears. It's funny. Those kind of like singles and doubles they did were kind of like the better mood. I actually, I like that one. And Deontay Forma, too, but I was going to talk about him later. I actually liked that one as well, because as far as a fit. All right.

Favorite team. I saw you had nod there. I was also thinking about that. Favorite team wide plan or haul. So maybe not single move, but overall plan that a team had. I have like too many teams. So I'm going to, I'm trying to rank these. I only have two.

Okay. Okay. All right. I'm going to start. Okay. I'll start with the action with the one. And I think everyone's kind of picked up. on this one anyways but the Lions yeah i really yeah i think this is just even if you're not paying

attention this was good solid moves for a position of need especially their defensive backroom is what i'm talking about camp sutton fair deal for a low end one high end two ammanuel moseley a one-year deal flyer for a guy that's 26 was playing great ball before he got hurt cj gardner johnson one-year deal nickel safety flexibility you know you can say there's just one-year deals but a team going get this defense to above average with offense that I think is going to be a top six-ish unit, nines can make a lot of noise with that. And we talk about microwaving a defense and they have so much draft capital that they can add more to their front seven. You know, if they want to add to their pass rush, they can add more.

They can add another corner. Like, this doesn't mean they don't have to continue to add to their DB room. They can add on offense how they want to. You know, a guard, I think they're, they signed a guard, but they can also rejuvenate the offense aligned if they want to, which is a strength of this team. they can go tight end in the first round, which are in a loaded tight end class, and also just adding David Montgomery, which I think is an upgrade the running back position. I think the Lions had a really, really nice free agency class that without breaking the bank, truly breaking the bank or kneecapping themselves just to spend money, that all these deals made sense. And I think they really rejuvenated their defense in their whole team. Yeah, I'm with you.

The flexibility on defense is what I love. I mean, Sutton can play in the slot and has. CJ Gardner Johnson can play safety and in the slot. You got Gardner, Johnson, Kirby, Joseph, Tracy Walker is still there. Will Harris played in the slot for them a little bit last season. All of these guys having positional versatility on the back end and being able to play multiple different positions, then you're more insulated from injury. If something happens because you can have a guy slot in maybe somewhere that it isn't the first spot you'd put him on the depth chart. Pun intended.

Sorry. And all of these guys are fairly modest deals. Yes. You know, Sutton at 11 million, I think, is perfectly fair. for having a starting level corner. CJ Gardner Johnson getting that little on a one-year deal was a little bit surprising. Yeah. Yeah, especially.

I mean, it's not like he's an unknown product now. You know, everybody has CJ Gardner Johnson highlights, it seems, on Twitter. It's like, you know, it's. I think that's the thing. I think it's we've got to that point where a team, if you're not a superstar at those positions in the secondary, teams just aren't willing to shell it out. And I think that the lions were more than happy to just say, all right. I mean, he was my favorite fit when we did our favorite fit shows, to him go into Detroit, just because I love the versatility and I love the attitude.

And I just think that at that price, it makes a lot of sense. So now they have three new pieces in the secondary. They signed Graham Glasgow, which you mentioned. So this leads me to two questions. What happens with Okuda now? Do they trade him? Because if they trade him, his cap hit is halved. So it's about $10 million now would go to about five.

And he has like a $1 million-dollar base salary. He's 24 years old. So is there something? team is just going to say, I want to take a shot at this. This is worth it. We love them in the draft, even if it has been disappointing so far. Is it worth trying to invest in somewhat of a tarnished asset and see what we can do with it?

So his future, I think, I have a question about. And what happens with Vaitai now? Is he, they can afford to keep him. Yeah. With the cap room that they have. I think they have like $22 million in cap space right now, according to over the cap. That might be before the CJ Gardner-J Johnson thing happens. but they've had other cost cutting things that happen.

Romeo O'Quara took like a $8 million pay cut just to stay on the team. So they've got some flexibility. I just assumed Vaitai was gone. But now do you have him slot it in as that starting guard? And then do you have Glasgow as somebody who can be your swing interior guy? Because that's the other thing about him. He's played center and guard. So if you have an injury on the interior, he can play both of those spots.

So everything they've done, outside of the Anzalone thing, which I think, is a little bit rich for him and there were others other linebackers available. There's a reason I mentioned that one. But other than that, I think everything else they've done, it's like, yeah, yeah, get it. I think it makes a lot of sense. I understand what you're trying to do here. You're protecting yourself while also improving the talent on your roster. It's hard not to like what they've done. And I think it's for really the reason that you said at the beginning. Now they can do anything. If you want to draft a tight end with that second first round pick, if you want to get another high end pass rusher, I mean, you can do whatever you want now because of the way that you've plugged holes with the resources that you had in free agency.

I think that's exactly how you should do it. You want, of course, you want your rookies to get better as the season goes along. And by the second half of the season, they're positive contributors for, especially your first round and round two rookies. But you don't want to rely on that. You don't want to bank your whole team success on the rookie being like, oh, wow, we number five pick with this guy, number six pick. We pick this guy at 18. Of course, this guy is going to be a plus player for us. Now, rookies hit the ground running.

We know that. They're rookies. And so I think that's what these signings have done, is that that's why I always like the free agent signing and then the drafting a guy at the same position. I kind of like that one, two. They went one, two, three with the DB room. And then they can still drop another guy in. The corner class is probably one of the most loaded positions in this draft.

There's six guys, I believe, really in the consensus first round right now projected. But then now they don't have to take a guy in the top 10. They could take a guy in the teens. They can trade back. They can just do so much. They can choose their adventure. That's, yeah, I think long story short, it's just that's what I like about it. Is that now they don't really need anything.

Yes, they would like to get better. But that just makes a draft a lot more fun because you truly go best player available. I want one more pass catcher. It's a, it's some position. It's on position. Tight end, wherever you get your one more pass catcher, even with Jameson Williams now being there. Yeah. I want one more to kind of take the supporting cast over the top offensive.

And that's what's so nice about Amar Ross St. Brown and what a stud he is is that he's a slot player. He was a power slot, even though he's, I mean, he's a pocket of Hercules. And what's nice about that is now, again, you can kind of choose your adventure at receiver. Like, you know, you don't, and then you have Jameson Williams, of course, but you can kind of pick another outside inside guy, and especially in a class like this where there's not, you know, those true dude outside guys, but it's kind of fun. Any guy can kind of slot in and make sense for them as far as the receiver room. I'm still not ruling out quarterback if things fall a certain way either. I know.

I know. I just don't think you should. If things, if they get to a place where. They're set up so perfectly for it. And I have to assume that there might be a sense of urgency either with the Colts or the Raiders or some other team that feels like they need to go get a guy at three. And then all four quarterbacks are potentially off the board by the time they would pick. And they don't want to overextend themselves to go get that guy.

So I think it's a little bit different if the draft falls to you at six versus going out of your way and giving up assets to move up for that guy. But the quarterback thing still interests me based on where they're picking right now. Yeah, them to Seahawks. I'm very, very interesting what they do in the middle of that top 10. Next one. Who's your next one. You know, I'm going to go with, this is a low key one. This is a rank them number two, but I really like, I like the bills offseason.

I really like the kind of like nickel and diming moves they did. The Deante Hardy signing, upgrade on McKenzie, Damien Harris, which I'll talk about more later. Even if you say those guys get hurt all the time. And, of course, that's going to be the negative of those two. That's 1,000 snaps, 200 plus touches you're upgrading from, I think Harris is a tier better than Singletary. Singletary is a fine player, but I truly do think. Harris is a, I don't want to spoil. I'm going to talk about Harris in a minute.

I don't want to spoil my notes. And next one, and then Connor McGovern, I think it's going from a D at those positions to a B player. That is such an upgrade for them. And even a guy like Trent Sherfield, bringing back Jordan Boyer. Like I liked it. They didn't go for the Von Miller's move. They really couldn't anyways. Yeah.

They couldn't. They're not operating in that space anymore. They went back into the two. Brandon Bean went back to 2017. It felt like, you know, where he was like, okay, let's get back to what's up. Let's get these kind of nickel and diamond free agents where we can upgrade all these positions and get a lot of Bs in here as opposed to C minuses that we took a splash on. So I think that's where this isn't, I just want to throw this one in here.

It's not like my favorite. It's not even number two, but it's one I just do on it. Maybe I spoil this by going honorable mention before I went my silver and bronze medalist. You're really appealing to the widest audience possible here mentioning a team whose biggest splash and free agency was going to get a mid-tier guard for $7 million a year as one of your favorite halls of the class. So really on brand for you. I'm going to go with a team that added like multiple big name players as part of their hall. And I'm going to go with the Dallas Cowboys. That's another one.

I had. Bringing back the guys they brought back again to the first conversation that we had. Vanderudges comes back. They re-signed Donovan Wilson. So now you have that defense pretty much fully intact. And it was a defense that it was, again, very good last season. And I think has proven that they deserve the benefit of the doubt. That Dan Quinn unit, year one, a lot of turnovers.

I was very open and honest last year about my concerns and skepticism about their ability to be as good without those turnovers in year two of that group in that regime. They were. They did a fantastic job last season. So now you look at that defense top to bottom. You get Daron Blan in the fifth round last year, who was really good for you in the slot. Jordan Lewis is still on the roster. You obviously still have Trayvon Deggs.

We got Kirst, Wilson, and Hooker. So you have the flexibility at safety that you wanted last year. You can play all that dime that you wanted to on later downs with curse playing linebacker. So you've maintained all your back-end flexibility. You still have some real dudes on the front end, the guys that could take over the game at times and for stretches last season. And now you go trade for Stefan Gilmore. You give up essentially nothing to go get him.

And even if he's an older player, it's a short-term investment. I mean, this is a team that should be operating like they have a chance to win a Super Bowl this year. Look at the NFC. Look at it. And saying, all right, we can put ourselves over. this is our chance to really kind of elevate ourselves to contender-like status in this conference without being irresponsible, that is a nice needle to thread. And I feel like that's exactly what they've done.

And you can do the same exercise on offense. They bring back Terrence Steel as an RFA, is a second round tender. I assume no one's going to give that up for him. You bring back Tyron Smith and figure out the money there. So now you're five that you're theoretically going to start next season with is better. If when healthy, then the five you play with last year, if Smith moves back to guard. And you just traded nothing to go get Brandon Cooks and you're paying him $12 million. Brandon Cooks is only 30.

You know, I get that teams don't want to pay for the contract and he's a player that, you know, is on Team 5 and contract three and all these things that are typically markers that you don't know invest in. But again, it's a short-term investment for virtually no draft capital. So I just think that they're in a really good spot. roster health-wise in a conference where not that many other teams can make that sort of statement. And they didn't stretch themselves to get there. Every time we talk about these NFC teams, that's where you always have to keep in their mind. It's like if they're a little aggressive, it makes sense, though, because that FC is just so, so, so, so wide open. But I, this was another one for me.

This was the one I was going to go with next. But I was, yeah, let's go, let's go hipster. But these, yes, Brandon Cook's Stefan Gilmore, 30, 30 plus. But as far as, like you said, and this is a note I had, as far as where they are as a team building standpoint, a team building plan, that makes sense. This is a one-year move, basically, for those. And they're not giving up a ton. The draft capital, they're able to keep those day one and day two resources. And they're not mortgaging anything in the future for this or this year as well.

And I just love that. We talk about anybody, everybody talks about looking at the draft. You want top 100 picks. Day threes are all just like flyers and dart throws and hopefully we can shore up backups. So maybe we take a swing on this guy. Well, now you've got proven products that can provide plus play. Proven products that provide plus play. Wow, I can't believe I nailed that.

But Brandon Cooks, though, holy crap, this makes sense. You got Gallup is your X. Cidiam is your jumbo slot, your power slot. And Cooks can be your Z. And it just, he can stretch the field. He's intermediate, like just as far as a route runner with Dak Prescott, one of the most accurate quarterbacks, just that timing-based stuff is going to look so good with those two.

hopefully we're not going to see a ton of slant flats from Mike McCarthy, but even if we do, that's going to look great. So I agree with this wholeheartedly. The defense coming back, really, again, this is one of those things where now you enter the draft. Okay, maybe now they can look at other positions. I actually like, I've seen some Cowboys fans say, oh, we should go tight end. I like all the young guys they got last year, Jake Ferguson, go Badgers. And I like Vander.

Henderson shot. Henderson shot. Henderson shot. Vander Schott. I almost said Vander Schott. I really liked him. And also, like, they, they have some dudes and those guys are three down tight ends. And now those guys don't have to be true, you know, they can be auxiliary role because you have Brandon Cooks now.

It's a great word. It's a great descriptor. Auxiliary into what they are. And it's for cheap. And I think that's fine. So again, this is another team that can choose their adventure in the draft. And I like it. I really, really liked these moves for the Cowboys and it made a lot of sense.

If it didn't make sense for other teams, but it made sense for them. They brought back Dante Foward, too. Just reported about 10 minutes ago. Calvin Watkins reported that they'll bring him back on a one-year deal. So they got pieces up front. I think they're in a really good situation. They are. I want to start including this caveat right now.

I think the Cowboys roster is right there as one of the best rosters in the NFC. I have absolutely no idea what the Cowboys offensive coaching is going to look like in 2023. I want to mid, I want to control. expectations and manage them from the start here. So I'm just going to throw that in whenever possible here over the next six months or so. I'm with you. That was like, I think all last season when I was kind of like, oh, yeah, I like the Cowboys in the playoffs and it's like, they still have Mike McCarthy.

So if they bomb out, like just don't, don't, don't slip my throat. Like I just want, yeah, the caveat makes sense. But I agree. I think they do have one of the better rosters in the FC, one of the top rosters in the FC just almost by default. Any others for you? Any other team wide plans you want to mention very quickly. Yeah, I do real quick.

I've made fun of it before. I actually liked what the Texans did as far as who they signed or resigned. Robert Woods, Noah Brown, attitude, reliability receiver room. Shaq Mason is going to shore up the interior. A lot of moves that makes sense for dropping in a young quarterback. Reliable Robert Woods. Dalton Schultz. Dalton Schultz, again, another guy that could just be a service.

They bring back Laramie Tunsel. Their offensive line is going to be solid. They've got usable pieces in the backfield, that receiver, like all over the place. And again, they didn't stretch themselves to do it. Even like Sheldon Rankin's on a one-year deal, bringing in Jimmy Ward. Like, I think that they're going to be a solid team potentially next year. And they got a ton of picks. Yeah.

And so, and yeah, I, Jimmy Ward, they brought up at Tavier Thomas, who I really like as a slot player. And so they got kind of a fun trio there with Jimmy Ward, Jalen Petrie, and Tavier Thomas. It's kind of fun. Like, you can get creative with that. So I'm curious how they're going to use those three. But really like their moves. And then the last team, I like what the Falcons did this offseason. You know, McGarry, we talked about.

I like the trade for John Nussman. I like taking a stab at Matt Collins, which I'll talk about in the second. You know, they overpaid a little bit for Jesse Bates, but they need players. So even if they paid for Onimata and Bates, they need those players, even if they're B or B plus players. Like they were at D&D minus at those spots before. K. Nellis, like the other moves too. I just want to give them honorable mention as well. All right.

Your favorite flag planting move, your favorite declaration that a team made with a move that they made this offseason? I think it's the Bengals signing Orlando Brown. It's a good one. That's, I mean, I had him for a slightly different category. Yeah, I, I'm curious what your answer is here, but that's the one I came back to for you're getting. It's funny because they got him at a fair price. He's making less than DJ Humphreys and Braden Smith.

Like, this is pretty sweet for the Bengals. Even if I kind of spent a whole year going like, he's not elite, he's not great, he's still a very, very solid tackle for you on the left side. And they needed that and he's been healthy. They signed him in the Jake Matthew. range. It's that Jake, that Jake Matthews, Dionne Dawkins, Doddivant Smith range. So we've talked about a million times for serviceable players at the position. That's where they got him.

Yeah. I don't know if so. I don't know if that is making this statement, but for the Bengals, it felt like it was. So that's the one I'm going with. I'm curious what you say with this answer. Because I didn't know how much. Mine's Joe and Ramsey to the dolphins. Oh, yeah.

Just being like, just being like, you know what? Just giving like double birds to everybody. Like we're, this is it. I like it. I don't know if it's going to work out. You know, they've got more flexibility heading into next year than it might scene with some of those contracts that they have and some of the restructures that they've done. You know, Xavier Howard is a guy they can move on from and they're going to have to eat some

dead money likely somewhere along the way. But they don't have that many mid-tier contracts. It's all these big ones and then really little ones. So they've been able to offset some of these bigger moves that they've made because they're not overpaying for the kind of connective tissue of their roster. And I think the top to bottom, they're really good. I mean, they have really good talent on both sides of the ball. And we saw what this team could be when they were humming last year. And even if that version of them is within a fairly narrow band of outcomes because you're concerned about the health of the quarterback, I think that at this point, you kind of have to bet

on that band if you're the dolphins. Like we have this construction of the roster that we have kind of committed to, right? We went out and we traded for Bradley Chub. We've made these kind of big swings around a rookie quarterback contract. Here's the rookie quarterback contract window that we have. And we have to do everything we can to maximize it. And if it falls short, it falls short. But we're going to give ourselves every chance to make sure if he stays healthy and plays well.

We have the rest of the roster around him to potentially be a Super Bowl team. And I think that's what they've done. And there is definitely risk involved with operating like that. But the point of this is to win fucking Super Bowls. Yes. That's what we're trying to do here. Every move they made has been pointing to that. There's no like, oh, long-term plan here.

It's like, no, we're opening, we're opening the window. We're trying to jump right through it. That's exactly what they're trying to do. Yeah, I just like it. And again, I understand the downside. Oh, yeah. Whatever. There's so many teams don't care about that.

Yeah, we're not trying to like downplay that. Yeah, there's risk with this. But I think in for a penny, in for a pound. Like, that's what they're doing. All these moves. you don't trade for Bradley Trump, trade a first rounder and sign Vic Fangio because you're going for Fangio is like mid-60s right now. This team's all in.

Like they're pushing for it. I like it. And for a division that's kind of sort of in flux, you know, we'll see with the Jets with the Rogers stuff. But then also the Patriots are reconfiguring their team and the bills are kind of sort of reconfiguring them, although I'm becoming more and more bullish with them every passing day, which I can't believe I'm talking to myself into them again. But I understand why the dolphins are doing it. I really do. AFC is going to be a bloodbath. Why not get bloody?

Why not go for it? I like it. Yeah. And they've, right now, they're sitting $10 million over the projected 2024 cap. If the cap goes up to 256, they have 266 in contracts. They've already handed out, okay? But they can move on from Cedric Wilson next year, Manuel Agba. I mean, they've got some cost-cutting moves that they could potentially make, even with all

these monster contracts that they have. What's the term we have? Levers to pull. Yeah. They have levers. They have leverage the pull, even with a lot of these deals that they've handed out. And again, we'll see what happens with Xavier and Howard. He's getting a little bit older.

You know, this is kind of a narrow window that they have. And I appreciate that they're doing everything they can to maximize it, even if the moves aren't all the most prudent decisions you could make with your resources. Right. You spend a lot of money for Toronto Armstead last year and he's a great player, but usually plays about 10 to 12 games for you. That's got to, you got to accept it. But that's what they're going for.

They're saying if this all hits and we get. some good health luck. Watch out for the dolphins. So the next one here we're going to do is your favorite zag, a move that just kind of came out of nowhere and you're like, oh, man, I guess I kind of like that. And my answer was Orlando Brown to the Bengals. Okay. Because left tackle wasn't necessarily the biggest need that you would have

ascribed to the Bengals heading into the offseason. Jonah Williams isn't great, but he's been acceptable for stretches. And they couldn't move on from him. he's on his fifth year option, I believe. So there wasn't a lot of flexibility at that position. So them just saying, you know what? Whatever. Like this guy is a good player.

He didn't get paid nearly as much as we thought he was going to. We can afford him. We're going to drop him in. We'll figure out the best five later. Yeah. That is what it is. That is a zag for me. I did not expect them to approach the offensive line that way.

I could see, if you were looking at the Bengals roster, riding into the offseason, you're looking at left to right, looking at Lyle Collins, the ability to move on from him saying, we need another tackle potentially. We should be in the market for one. We could draft one. You're saying tackle was a need for the Bengals this off season.

That I would totally get. But signing a guy to play left tackle for you that was the best available left tackle on the market, I just did not see them as the team that would make this move. And I think the only reason they were is because of how affordable he ended up being. But I like the willingness just kind of open door number two and then figure out what that timeline looks like for that. Yeah.

And I think if you asked me to list five teams that might be in the Orlando Brown market, Bengals were never going to be one. Yeah. I even not on top of my head. It's not how they operate typically. Even like mentioning them as a trade candidate for Cleal Mack, I know it's a totally different position. That's like, ah, Bengals don't do that stuff.

And that's why it's, yeah, I like that one. It's so out of nowhere, but it made a lot of sense. And honestly, like you said, we've talked about this a million, times because it was so cool watching that Bengals offense reconfigure itself and how they did the gun run stuff. They embraced the Zag. They're like, that was their Zag last season. And now they're like, no, what's leaned into this too? As far as the stylistic fit.

Schematically, it does make a lot of sense. They're just not somebody you would have. Nope. Penciled in for him at the start of this. So I think it makes a lot of sense on several different levels. It's one of those that kind of like, oh, okay. I get that. I wouldn't have predicted it, but I definitely get it.

Especially when the money came out. Yeah. And so that's why he was there for me. Who is yours or who are you a couple? Mine aren't like really that sexy. I'm going to continue that. It's honestly the bill's going from Devin Singletary to Damien Harris. If Harris might not play, but I think they're-

You love Damien Harris. Good Lord. I love this fit. It's going, yes, you're going to have to worry about the health with him. And that's always think, but he's such a wildly better under center runner. And the bills tried to do more under center last year on first and second down. They really did. They try to bring in the jumbo tight ends.

They used their just more personnel that wasn't just 11 and 10 personnel with a bunch of receivers. Over the past two seasons, Harris has a better first down per rush percentage than Singletary. He's fifth in the NFL among all running backs and first downs per rush. They've literally the same exact rushing success rate overall. I think it's like a 0.1% difference. However, Harris is significantly better under center. The Patriots do a lot of under center running. That's kind of their forte.

But he is a much better under center runner than. Singletary ever was. And I think that's what they're embracing. They have Naeem Hines, they have James Cook, who are traditional scatbacks and gun running, past catching backs. They've needed this bruiser so badly in this offense for years. This is what Zach Moss was supposed to be. And they actually got what they thought. They got the players that they thought they were getting before with McKenzie with Hardy and now Harris instead of Moss. So I think that just him as an under center eating those four to five yard gains. He's not this most explosive guy, but I really, really just like this Zag because I think that's what

this offense has needed. They already had the sexy spots. You know, they have digs. They have Josh Allen. They can wing it all over the place, but they needed this when, when the, when, when weather gets bad, they need a player like this. And that's why I like it. Um, the other one too was the, the, uh, the Steelers signing the, the couple interior offense alignment. Uh, I, I, I like this. The Neherbig and Isaac, Sumalo, Somalo, Sumalo, Sumalo, Sumalo, Somalo, I think. Soamalo. I didn't have a pronunciation written down. I'm getting better at these guys.

I promise. I'm putting in the work. But I like these. Low-key signings, injects some talented interior offense, a line, gives them some bruisers, you know,

some ass kicker types. So that was the one I like that zag, even if it's not like the sexiest, biggest splash or anything. It seems like a stylistic Zach. Matt Canada is more of a zone guy. So now you're getting guys that can kind of bring some pop to your run game. That made a lot more sense to me.

And I like it. I'm curious. maybe I just go back and watch them a little bit more last year, both the Steelers and a couple of these guys, how these spots are going to shake out, right? Because they signed James Daniels in Free Agency last year. So is Herbig your swing interior guy? Are you expecting him to play?

And then I guess Kevin Dodson is now out of the mix. If you're bringing in those two guards, which I guess makes sense at this stage. I don't know. I just, it's a little bit muddled to me, I guess is what I would say. Maybe I just don't know enough about the Steelers' offense or the workings of the Steers' Interior Offensive line.

which I will readily admit that I do not. You, God, they've been on the no-fly list for so long. But I remember you brought up late in the season. We were talking about somebody that had improved, maybe the Bengals, you know, for the 400th time. But the Steelers were like a top eight offense or something. Yes, they were. Six, eight weeks.

And so I agree. I watched the Colts game late in the year and then another game. So I need to rewatch them too. But when you watch that Steelers offense, and this was a, I couldn't figure out if it was talent, or coaching was their interior of the offense line fucked up a lot. And so it needed to get better in some way, she performed, either coaching or talent. So I think they're like, hey, let's add a couple new bodies in here and see if that works.

So it's something I'm curious about. I liked it. I thought it was a Zach because it seems a bit stylistically different than what they maybe have gone after before. My other one is Jacoby Myers to the Raiders. Yeah, that's great. I just didn't anticipate him landing there. They already had Hunter Renfro.

They already had Darren. Waller and the Zag from Daylor and Waller to Jacoby Myers. It's different, but I get it. I mean, he's a player that I think was cost a lot less than people anticipated him costing in free agency. He's a good player. So now you have like a real secondary at times outside receiving option to pair with Devante Adams.

I have no idea what the Jimmy G. led Raiders offense is going to look like. But I think that finding a guy like this, identifying a guy like who's obviously who Josh McDaniels clearly knows a lot about. Yeah. But just saying this is good value for this player. Like we will figure out what this is going to look like based on the other guys that we have. I enjoyed this just like as a zag from the expectations you might have had in a ring free agency.

Not a team I thought was going to make a move there where we talked about. They already had Renfro and everything. But perfect, perfect pairing, stylistic pairing with Adams too. Like it's just a just what Adams can do everything. You know, he can line up inside, outside and go deep. intermediate short. He can create yak. Myers just is that perfect kind of solid number two and good number two that can do everything. He can adapt around Adams.

If you line them up on the same side, either one can wind up in the slot or outside, and it's not a negative. That is super valuable. Yeah. And I think that's why this makes a lot of sense. I talked about being the ideal type of Z, that zone beater. And you're going to see a lot of zone with, you know, because the Adams, a lot of teams play cover two against them.

Holy shit, Myers is going to eat against that. It's some of the highest cover two, cover six rates in the entire league last year, which I think it contributed a little bit to the season that Josh Jacobs said. No one faced lighter boxes on first and second down or more two high coverages. Yeah, the gravity of Devante Adams is a very, very real thing. All right. Your favorite one year deal. There weren't that many of these. I mean, I think one with a bowl is C.J. Garner Johnson with the Lions.

Yeah, we already talked about that. That's what I would have had if we hadn't already talked about it. I would say Rashad Penny with the Eagles is pretty fun. That's my number one. It's just a lottery ticket. I mean, that's all it is. 1.3 million. And it's a lottery ticket for Rashad Penny.

Yeah. Right? I mean, if you're looking at all the available spots you could land as a potential number one running back saying, I just want to play in that offense with that offensive line, even if it's, I'm sure he could have gotten more money elsewhere. But what I could parlay this into if I stay healthy with this team, I think it's a smart bet by him. I think it's a smart bet by the Eagles. I mean, this is a chance for fireworks. This is a chance for him to get 15 carries and we'll never hear from him again this season.

But I think the upside downside combo from Philly with this signing is pretty damn good. Yeah. It's, man, I got ragged on it. I wrote an article over the weekend and I use the line again. Rashop Penny is one of the most talented players at any position. And a couple people said, Rashad Penny, really? watch freaking Rashad Penny play football. This dude is a freak.

It's just that he's never been healthy. I think work ethic concerns have been a thing with him. But oh my God, if this hits, if he plays 13, 14 games, oh my goodness. Yes, he's never done it. But the upside of this is amazing. And it doesn't preclude him from taking another runnerback like in a day two. You know, they can still add to that room. It doesn't like, okay, they sign them.

Wow, they're really betting on that. No, it's a bet that has so much upside to it. I love this so much. I think this is God. In 2021, when he played 10 games in 2021, he had 120 carries. He led the league in yards after contact per attempt. It was 4.52. Nick Chubb was second at 4.24.

They were the only two guys in the league that broke four yards, and Penny broke four and a half in those 10 games. He was electric during that stretch, like electric. And now he gets to play with the best offensive line in the league. and a running quarterback. Yes, with a quarterback running game, which helped Miles Sanders get paid. Now, he can run every type of run scheme. He's that, didn't he average like over six yards of carry?

6.3. And those are real. And none of that's like a third and long carry and this guy gets all these draws or anything. Those are like under center run the ball type like down, down the throat of defenses type runs. And he's ripping out half a first down a pop. Like that he's really, really good. I mean, I'm excited for that one.

The other running back, I already mentioned him, but Deante Foreman. I like that one-year deal as well. And then he also avered six yards in attempt this year. So 6.3 in 2020. Oh, he was 6.1 in 2022. Yeah, he's good guys. I know. He gets hurt.

I get it. And it's a joke. Oh, the Seahawks take running backs in the first round, ha, ha, ha. But he's really, really good. It's just like he's got to be healthy. I like Foreman as well. I mean, for three million bucks. He was really good last season.

I mean, you're not paying a lot for him. He can be that thumper in the, offense. I mean, it's half of what David Montgomery got paid by the lines. Yes. It's not, it's a very fair price for what his role is going to be. He's going to eat some carries for you. You know,

I like that. I also like Jacoby-Berset with the Washington. I thought that was a nice one-year deal. I think that makes a lot of sense, too. Made a lot of sense. Your favorite bargain signing, what we're described, the qualifications for this are less than $6 million, $6 million or less in A.AV, which is about 3% of the cap. So that's how we're defining bargain signings.

I already mentioned foreman. I would say my number one is Julian Love with the Seahawks. He was on my list as well. Two years, 12 million. Versatility on the back end. He frees up Jamal Adams, however they want to use him as a glorified linebacker, whatever they want to use him as.

He can play into slot. I don't know what they're going to do with Ryan Neal. I think he's an RFA, but they got four like legit good dbs and they can use it with a lot of versatility. I really, really like this one. I thought it was an extremely fair price for especially where other safeties have gone. He's 25.

And he's young. Yeah, I was going to say, Andy has upside. He turned 25 on Sunday. So this is his age 25 season. So 25 and 26, he played, I think, 100 snaps in the slot last year. He plays in the box. He can play safety. And so the flexibility that it gives you with him and digs and Adams and all the different

things you could potentially do now for that price, that age, I'm with you. I was going to ask you how you think it fits because I wasn't. I'm sure if you were going to include him, but I think we're on the same page. I think it's really intriguing. Yeah, I really like this one. Not where I thought he would end up, but once he got there, the CX seemed like they're going for versatility. I think a lot of people are, but like even with Dream on Jones up front.

Yeah. Because they're trying to figure out what their best defenses. Why not get versatile guys that can, like, match in whatever you want to run? My other one was David Long to the Dolphins. Ah, yeah. We'll see what happens. This is another one where injuries are concerned, but it's five and a half million a year, I think.

for a guy who at his best can play like an elite linebacker or borderline elite linebacker. So taking a swing on a guy like that, even if the downside is there with the injuries, the dolphins have done that in the past, you know, they didn't get scared off by Bradley Chubb and the other guys that have been dinged up a little bit. So I think this one has a chance to be really good. It has a chance to be a zero for them as well. But I think he is a really good player. And for what he's going to do, he's the cleanup role.

And he's the king of that. He's a very, very good run defender and passable as a past defender. And that type of defense, it's perfect for him. I really like that one too. I was saving it for another category. But of course, I liked that one. I always made that as one of my favorite signings, but that was just more like, come on, Nate, you got to play against type sometimes. Next one here, the best, holy shit, we needed that move.

So a guy that just fills a glaring hole on a team that really needed somebody at that spot. Okay, I already mentioned Connor McGovern with the bills. I think that was one. But the other one, Eric Kendricks with the Chargers. I think they need a linebacker. I know he's older. He gets banged up.

He's still fine. He's still above average linebacker. The Vikings put him on the island a lot and that wasn't a perfect role for him. But very smart player. And as a clean up guy, I like it as like kind of clean up how the Chargers played defense. I thought it was fine. They needed that.

And it's just a whole filler for him. So him and Connor McGovern to the bill is not top tier player, but solid. and they needed solid. I think both of these teams and players did. It's an overpay. Yes. Dalvin Tomlinson to the Browns.

I mean, that's what it's like, we just need, we need somebody there. And they paid a premium to get him. But this is one where you're looking at what a team you were over the last two years and a team you don't want to be again. And I think that's how you land on a guy like Dalvin Tomlinson. Yes. A couple others when you just consider holes on the roster before free agency started, Byron Murphy to the Vikings

It was one of mine They just didn't really have any corners Unless Duke Shelley And we'll see what you get from Andrew Booth in year two But I thought that was kind of a low risk Signing for a young guy that has struggled to stay healthy So that one was there for me Bobby O'Caricay going to the Giants

We just needed somebody Even if you're paying a slight premium for it We just needed somebody to play linebacker After the state of our defense By the end of last season for the Giants We cannot overstate how bad the linebacker play was for the Giants last year. But they were like the worst defense by like DVOA and success rate against the run. And like when they got to base defense, it was like the drop off when they had to put three

linebackers on the field was just atrocious. It was so, so bad. Brutal. They needed that so bad. You got, I mean, it's the island of like formerly celebrated players. Like Derr-Dar Davis was there by the end. Jalen Smith. It's just like, we just need somebody who can be a reliable.

guy at that spot. Island of ghosts of Christmas past. That's what those guys were. That really was. And my last one, this one might seem silly, but I think when you look at the overall plan that they have, the type of team they want to be, and really the one guy, the one type of player archetype who could bring that together, it's Derek Carr going to the Saints. They needed this sort of quarterback to justify everything else that they had done.

over the last two years to kind of make them immediately into probably the best team in the NFC South and at least a competitive team in a watered down NFC. And I think that Derek Carr was the best way to get there. It's a lot to pay for Derek Carr. I have no idea what the ceiling on this Saints team is. But I think it was in their best interests and almost a necessity to go get a guy in at least this tier at the position. And there aren't that many guys available in that tier. that's kind of it's like all the like brissette the Washington of Jimmy G

the Vegas it's kind of like all those guys it's like those were the those were those were whole fillers that that's how we should just describe them now they just but if they missed out on Derek card that's what you're looking at you got another year at James or you know maybe we go get a Jimmy Garoppolo I mean there just aren't that many guys are not where and Gino stays in Seattle so there aren't that many guys that could have gotten there and said okay we know we can at least have the 12th quarterback in the league this season if we go get that guy. And Derrick Carr can be that for the Saints. Again, I have no idea what that means for the ceiling on this team or the two to three

your outlook of this team. But based on everything else they had done, the kind of quarterback that Derrick Carr is was kind of a necessity for the way everything else that the Saints had done to that point. Maybe not what they wanted or asked for, but what they needed in 2020. That's where we're at with Derrick Carr in New Orleans. All right. Last one. Your favorite team player marriage that you never knew you wanted. David Long with the dolphins is number one. That easy with a with a pin in it. Easy.

Rashad Penny with Jeff Stoutland, the Eagles aligned. Didn't think that would ever happen. That was great. Low key one that I didn't know what I wanted this. And I'm really excited to see. It's Brexon Berrios with the dolphins. I was,

I couldn't believe it. I was like, that's going to be fun. He's a good slot player. Yeah. That was one that I just didn't think I was like, yeah, whatever. And then as I thought about, I was like, actually, that's, that's fun. That's really funny. Yeah, I had to throw that one in there too. Um, oh, and then, uh, the last one. And this was, I didn't know bargain flyer slash this category. And that's Matt Collins with the Falcons. I know, that's really fun. That's, I actually really like Matt Collins going to the Falcons. He's the exact opposite body type of all of the other like secondary and ancillary receiving pieces that they've had over the last couple years. That is exactly. They, it's, he's gigantic. And they love. And they love. And they love. It's, like,

love their gigantic targets. It's awesome. One year, two million. No one threw more inbreakers last year than the Falcons. They've run all that play action. No receiver, and I tweeted this, ran more in breaking routes in the entire NFL than Mack Hollins last year. He ran more digs and crossers than anybody else in the entire NFL. He's a plus blocker with size. I didn't know I wanted this. Love the fit. I think it's an amazingly fair price for $2 million for what I think is a very nice piece to add to your receiving room. Okay. Javon Hartgray going to San Francisco.

I had no idea I wanted it. Now it's all I want. And I had no idea that I did before I decided in last year. It was like, oh, sweet. Yeah, this is great. I'm in. Is it a hat on a hat? Maybe.

But I'm excited to watch what that hat looks like. Okay. And my other one, just now two, three, four steps below this, Dei Hardy going to Buffalo. Did not know I wanted that. But I'm very excited to see what it could potentially look like. I know Bill's fans don't know what they're getting. Like I see their uproar about it because they thought they lost comp picks.

And it's like, yeah, just wait. There's more signings going to happen, guys. But I think he's going to be a lot of fun again if he stays healthy. But holy shit. And that offense, that wide open offense, not a traditional Saints offense that he's played in, but a wide end with space. Oh, with Josh Allen feeding him. Yeah, love that. And also another 49ers one.

Isaiah Oliver, because I just want to throw that one in there. I didn't know where to drop him in, but I just have to throw his name out with the 49ers. I love that fit as well. all right. That's all we got. Dude's thrown out names of dudes. That's what this time of year is for, my friend. It's great. All right.

I think for you and me, that's going to close the book on free agent stuff. We're going to have one more free agency show with me for the end of the week. But starting next week with you and me, we're turning the page to the draft. It's going to be time. So next time you'll be with us is early next week, I believe, correct? I think so. Okay. You tell me.

I think that's it. Boss. No, but I, it sounds good. Oh, man, that's weird. Like, I've so knee deep in this free agency stuff. Now it's like, oh, yeah, I got to get back to draft. You got to do it. You got to turn the page.

So we're going to have one more kind of free agency look. So obviously, this is going to run on Wednesday. Prospects to Pro is also going to be available to you guys on Wednesday with Dane and Andy. Football GM with Mike Sando and Randy Mueller is going to be back on Thursday. So Prospects pros on Wednesday, Mike and Randy on Thursday, that is going to be the offseason schedule. And I believe we're going to be try to have a show every day for you guys all the way up through the draft. So me and Nate and whoever else will be coming to the other three days a week. So just be on the lookout for that.

And next week, we're going to start draft stuff. So be ready for that. We're ready to turn the page. I'm ready as someone who knows nothing about the 2023 draft class to have some much more informed people. Help me get my feet wet here, and that's what's going to happen over the next week or so. In the meantime, please rate and review the podcast. If you like it, go to Apple Podcast. Let us know.

We'd really appreciate that. You can rate us on Spotify, plenty of other options right now. Please subscribe to The Athletic. Theathletic.com slash football show is where you can read all of our wonderful draft coverage that we are going to have over the next month or so. Nate is already chipping away at that stuff. What are you working on right now? Right now we're doing a, I don't know if I could spoil,

but I'm going to. We're doing a radar project where, you know, top 100-ish prospects are going to have like little write-ups on them. So me and a few other guys, Deante and Nick Baumgartner, so we're each one, you're going to see a little write-up on each guy. So that's what I'm working on right now. So it's perfect.

It's never leave the scouting business, apparently. I thought I'd just get to watch the guys and take five bullet points on each one on my Google Doc. But nope, we have to have some pros with these write-ups. So that's why I'm working on right now. Add-a-boy. All right. Have a mock draft.

that theathletics.com slash football show where you can get your subscription. That is all we have for now. I will be back on Friday. Until then, appreciate you guys listening. We'll talk to you soon. This was The Athletic Football Show.