Official NFL Free Agency Thread

[O-Ther]

Former Vikings CB Josh Robinson, 5'10", 199 lbs., 24 years old, 5th year pro, signed a 1 year deal with Tampa Bay

With Miko Grimes being 5'10", the Bucs are focusing on covering Benji from the waist down this year

[top dawg]

Today B&BR basically said it's a near surety that Coples won't be a Panther as they were 'lukewarm' on him.

[O-Ther]

https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/709507740784316416

Good for Zach Miller. Went from the scrap heap to a reborn NFL career. Martellus Bennett's roster spot just got more uncertain

[Riverboat Ron]

On 3/8/2016 at 4:06 PM, KB_fan said:

In reference to that Gettleman quote about not trying to win the SB in March.... did others of you see the really cool article (at least for a stats geek like me) at BBR this afternoon. 

Statistical evidence that teams spending less in free agency win more.  Very interesting:

http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/outkick-the-coverage/winning-nfl-free-agency-is-a-myth-030316
 

 

 

Shows that the last two Super Bowl winners were above average in free agency while the last two losers were about equally low.

[KB_fan]

4 hours ago, Bartin said:

We have around $70M in cap space for next year currently projected. That's where the money for those guys is. That number will go down, but we figure to be in the $50-60M range going into next year before extensions.

Yes, but we also have VERY few guys under contract for next year.  We'll have a lot more players eligible for free agency after the 2016 season than we did this year.  I haven't done the math.  But I would assume we don't have more than 50 mil.... maybe less.

[KB_fan]

41 minutes ago, Riverboat Ron said:

Shows that the last two Super Bowl winners were above average in free agency while the last two losers were about equally low.

It's 3 years.  It includes Seattle's SB win and Denver's previous SB loss, I believe...

[Riverboat Ron]

15 minutes ago, KB_fan said:

It's 3 years.  It includes Seattle's SB win and Denver's previous SB loss, I believe...

It's easier to cherrypick stats to support my opinion. :)

 

Seriously though, that loss moved Denver to hire a team of mercenaries which led to our loss. Seattle just had 3 amazing drafts and bought low on Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett. Also they traded for Percy Harvin, even though that didn't work out.

[jdpanther5]

3 hours ago, Mr. Scot said:

I'm not a big Person fan, but to be fair, that's legitimately possible.

 

I was kinda vague and that's my fault. Just the way he's reacting to this news this afternoon. Really clinging to his earlier interest narrative despite there being no indication as such. The Steelers for instance were listed as an interested party despite never making an offer. That's a pretty low bar for "interested" and we weren't even at it. 

[O-Ther]

27 minutes ago, KB_fan said:

Yes, but we also have VERY few guys under contract for next year.  We'll have a lot more players eligible for free agency after the 2016 season than we did this year.  I haven't done the math.  But I would assume we don't have more than 50 mil.... maybe less.

Contracts for 2017 at the moment total about $92 million next year. If cap stays at $155 million, we have $63 million of space at the moment, pending more free agents and the draft class, plus whatever we roll over from this year. I never assume how much the cap rises to be safe. All I know is free agency is going to hit us hard on both of our lines, secondary, speed receivers, and special teamers if we don't plan well this year.

Since Gettleman is in charge of planning, I sleep well at night.

[jdpanther5]

5 hours ago, O-Ther said:

More than just Star, KK, Norman, and Norwell to worry about. Here's my view on 2017.

Currently on offense, Unrestricted Free Agents will be Ginn, Whittaker, Oher, Kalil, and Remmers. Restricted Free Agents will be Philly and Norwell. Kalil is listed as being under contract in 2017, but that's a phantom voidable year added to spread out the re-structure, just like Jordan Gross did.

 

I didn't really dispute any of that. My point was basically just that any extensions would only have a negligible impact on this year's cap. Under Gettleman, the majority of our cap space has gone to our own, so it's unrealistic to think he'd make a big signing (though I'll admit I got my hopes up a bit for Weddle). However, we DO have the money to bring in a couple mid-level free agents if we want to. 

But you're right about next year's FAs, lots of guys we need to bring back. So saving money isn't necessarily a bad strategy. 

[O-Ther]

4 minutes ago, jdpanther5 said:

I didn't really dispute any of that. My point was basically just that any extensions would only have a negligible impact on this year's cap. Under Gettleman, the majority of our cap space has gone to our own, so it's unrealistic to think he'd make a big signing (though I'll admit I got my hopes up a bit for Weddle). However, we DO have the money to bring in a couple mid-level free agents if we want to. 

But you're right about next year's FAs, lots of guys we need to bring back. So saving money isn't necessarily a bad strategy. 

Yeah, I was expanding a point you had made, not throwing shade on your post. Seemed everyone had tunnel vision on this year, and was unaware how many free agents we have in 2017

[jdpanther5]

10 minutes ago, O-Ther said:

Yeah, I was expanding a point you had made, not throwing shade on your post. Seemed everyone had tunnel vision on this year, and was unaware how many free agents we have in 2017

Gotcha, my mistake.

The 2017 situation is somewhat a byproduct of Gettleman graduating from 1-year to 2-year deals for FAs. I'm really curious to see how he'll handle vets like Ginn, Oher, and Coleman. 

[O-Ther]

11 minutes ago, jdpanther5 said:

Gotcha, my mistake.

The 2017 situation is somewhat a byproduct of Gettleman graduating from 1-year to 2-year deals for FAs. I'm really curious to see how he'll handle vets like Ginn, Oher, and Coleman. 

Me, too. I'm sure the draft will play a role, but we can't draft enough replacements for everyone. Who gets the new deals is what I'm most curious about

[NcPsa10]

NFL Transactions: Monday 3/14

Bears
Bears signed DT Akiem Hicks. 
Bears re-signed TE Rob Housler. 
Bears re-signed TE Zach Miller. 

Buccaneers
Buccaneers signed CB Josh Robinson. 

Cardinals
Cardinals re-signed DT Red Bryant. 

Falcons
Falcons re-sign S Charles Godfrey. 

Jets
Jets re-signed TE Kellen Davis. 
Jets WR Kenbrell Thompkins signed his restricted tender. 

Lions
Lions re-signed TE Tim Wright. 

Packers
Packers signed DE Ray Drew. 

Panthers
Panthers signed DT Paul Soliai. 

Raiders
Raiders signed LB Daren Bates. 

Ram
Rams signed CB Coty Sensabaugh. 

Ravens
Ravens signed S Eric Weddle. 

Redskins
Redskins re-signed CB Will Blackmon. 

Seahawks
Seahawks signed OT Bradley Sowell. 
Seahawks signed DT Sealver Siliga. 

Steelers
Steelers placed WR Martavis Bryant on the reserve/suspended by Commissioner list.