2024 Free agency and draft thread

[Xeliou66]

Which team are we talking about? I was talking about Cousins' salary impact on the Vikes defense.

Raiders have made frequent poor personnel decisions (starting with Coach/GM). Hopefully they have that repaired to move forward now.

Oh I’m sorry I was confused, I thought the discussion was about Carr and the Raiders. Sorry for the mix up.

 

[shopson67]

Go look at a list of top 10 defenses this last year and how many of them have top paid QB's and try to make this weak ass correlation again.

Those teams end up weak somewhere as a result, and the question is whether that expensive QB is getting results to make that salary worth those shortcomings.

Browns just started paying their QB, as his first year was nearly free.

Mahomes and the Chiefs will always be the exception, they've been getting everything right (but also traded away their #1 receiver instead of paying him and could be choosing between Sneed and Jones this year).

Jets just started paying their expensive (and absent) QB last season, defense was already in place.

Panthers have a rookie QB

Cowboys, Ravens, Bills fail when it counts every year. Bills is up against it with their cap status this year.

 

[Clayton]

Exactly.

Its crazy how many Viking fans want to go back to the days of Christian Ponder or Tavaris Jackson and blame Cousins for the VIking's ills the last 4 years when our defense over that 4 year period has been near the bottom of the league while our offense has been the only reason we have won any games during that period.

If we're talking last year, Cousins getting hurt and Vikings with turnovers were an issue. If a person could guarantee 3-4 years of Cousins at a high level i think you obviously take that every time.

 

[VikingFan2k2]

Cousins is a great pickup.

Don't listen to salty Vikings fans pining for joe webb.

Who's pining for Joe Webb? I was done with him more than a decade ago after his playoff game in Green Bay. Drives for a FG to start the game, but I don't even think he got the team across the 50 for the rest of the game.

Cousins would be a stabilizer. But he's not going to get Atlanta over the top if they pay him what he's looking for.

 

[Battlelyon]

 

[Xeliou66]

Who's pining for Joe Webb? I was done with him more than a decade ago after his playoff game in Green Bay. Drives for a FG to start the game, but I don't even think he got the team across the 50 for the rest of the game.

Cousins would be a stabilizer. But he's not going to get Atlanta over the top if they pay him what he's looking for.

I’m fine with just stable QB play - the Falcons have had 6 losing seasons in a row, and if they can get stable QB play, which Cousins will provide, they have a very good chance at a winning season/playoff birth. That’s what matters right now - stopping the streak of losing seasons and getting back to the playoffs - and getting Cousins is the best chance the Falcons have at that if they can’t trade into the top 3 picks in the draft.

 

[MileHigh64]

The most expected announcement in the NFL. Broncos will be paying Wilson for awhile and will now hold the record for the most dead cap money ever in the NFL. It will be interesting to see what teams have interest. I would imagine there will be a few, since he'll probably play for a very low salary, since the Broncos are paying.

Bring on the draft, I guess. At pick 12, the odds are long that the Broncos find their franchise QB but it could happen. I wouldn't mind seeing a trade back to pick up a 2nd round pick. Some of the secondary QBs will be available in round 2.

 

[thedddd]

Atlanta or Pittsburgh bound?

 

[MileHigh64]

Atlanta or Pittsburgh bound?

By all accounts, the Falcons seem to be more interested in Fields or Kirk Cousins. I think Wilson to the Steelers has better odds but who knows?

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

By all accounts, the Falcons seem to be more interested in Fields or Kirk Cousins. I think Wilson to the Steelers has better odds but who knows?

I wouldn't rule out Tampa if they don't get a deal done with Mayfield.

 

[Xeliou66]

I wouldn’t rule out Vegas as a potential landing spot for Russ - I’m curious to see whether the Raiders roll with O’Connell or not.

 

[MileHigh64]

If Russell Wilson goes to a team with a strong defense and good skill players on offense, he can still win games. Unfortunately, he doesn't fit our coach's offensive philosophy and even though he was improved from year one, his numbers were very pedestrian. Clearly his best years are behind him but he could be a good rental for the right team for a year or two. Someone will give it a shot, since the cost will be very minimal.

 

[fastforward]

I don't see why Wilson would play for peanuts. He doesn't seem like the type. I guess we'll find out soon enough. I know there are offsets in his Broncos contract but there are ways around that and risking a pay day in 2025 for peanuts in 2024 seems like a bad risk.

 

[Battlelyon]

 

[DJ Fieri]

His wife is from the ATL.

 

[fastforward]

View attachment 356179
His wife is from the ATL.

Why would he move his family to Atlanta? I just can't figure it out. Oh wait...thank goodness Mr Kleiman spelt it out for me. I never would have got there.

 

[Schmoopy1000]

I don't think it's that deep, especially not for a day 1 starter at LT. It may be deep enough that such a LT candidate is available to them at their 1st round pick. Do they have an in-house option at LT?

Dont know how they are thinking right now, but I believe T. Smith was drafted to eventually replace T. Smith.
Which if comes to fruition. Would mean we still need the middle of the line to look for. Not to mention the dreaded depth word.
We are not as bad as many teams out there on the line, but we could be better! (& we are on the downwards)

I personally want to improve the middle of the field. Whether it is OL, DL & need a MLB. Preferably all of the above.

 

[Schmoopy1000]

Those teams end up weak somewhere as a result, and the question is whether that expensive QB is getting results to make that salary worth those shortcomings.

Browns just started paying their QB, as his first year was nearly free.

Mahomes and the Chiefs will always be the exception, they've been getting everything right (but also traded away their #1 receiver instead of paying him and could be choosing between Sneed and Jones this year).

Jets just started paying their expensive (and absent) QB last season, defense was already in place.

Panthers have a rookie QB

Cowboys, Ravens, Bills fail when it counts every year. Bills is up against it with their cap status this year.

The Ravens defense didnt fail.

 

[Battlelyon]

I’m fine with just stable QB play - the Falcons have had 6 losing seasons in a row, and if they can get stable QB play, which Cousins will provide, they have a very good chance at a winning season/playoff birth. That’s what matters right now - stopping the streak of losing seasons and getting back to the playoffs - and getting Cousins is the best chance the Falcons have at that if they can’t trade into the top 3 picks in the draft.

Falcons will win the South just a matter of when. They are starting to put the pieces together, starting last year. Raheem is an underrated hire.

 

[shopson67]

Falcons will win the South just a matter of when. They are starting to put the pieces together, starting last year. Raheem is an underrated hire.

The only question for me with Cousins to the Falcons is that it is only a temporary move. It gives them a 2-3 year window before they again need to find a QB in all likelihood, but that does dove-tail with the potential extensions for London and Pitts. I believe plan A should still be to inquire with the Patriots about moving up, unless they are sold on one of JJ/Nix/Penix.

Penix did look pretty good in drills, but that's to be expected. The arm and accuracy aren't the issue with him.