2024 Season Thread

[JMR]

I don't know... I feel there may be teams that will value him high and will drive the price tag/terms up by bidding on his services... Some teams may think they can fix him and like some here, believe he didn't have a good cast around him... Either could be the case.... I feel he will get a decent contract for a starting QB...

If this would be the case, he wouldn't be clearing waivers as Rapaport is just reporting that he most likely will. Those unnamed teams that you think will drive up the price -- one of them would claim him right now.

Last year, at the age of 33, Carr wasn't the greatest but signed a 4 year 150 million contract... Jones is 27yrs old and considered in his prime, which is why I think teams will drive his price tag/terms up...

But look at those cap hits for Carr. It really isn't a $150M contract. We are 2 years into it, and this season's cap hit is only $12.6M. Those big numbers are almost always fluff, with void years on the end to make it seem way more than it really is. Carr is scheduled to cost $51M against the cap in 2025. No way do the Saints roll with that. Daniel Jones is not getting $40M/year in 2025.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

. Carr is scheduled to cost $51M against the cap in 2025. No way do the Saints roll with that.

51 if he's on the roster, 50 if they release him.

 

[JMR]

51 if he's on the roster, 50 if they release him.

Yes, they'll have to figure something out or eat a shit ton of dead cap. What a lousy contract decision! I think the contract Derek Carr signed with the Saints is going to be more of a cautionary tale than an example of successful cap management. I doubt teams are going to look at this and conclude they should jump in with the same thing on Jones.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

Gotta remember Seattle's cap situation is atrocious in 2025. I can't imagine we keep Geno (because it will cost us $40M - he should hit the escalators), and there's also going to be a number of cuts like Jones, Fant, Lockett, possibly Love/Williams, and that's going to cost us dearly. Next year will prob. be Howell or a mid round pick for QB and 'reset' to make a run in 2026. Carroll and JS did the same thing when he came in. Cleaned house after the first year and then reset. Carroll was lucky to have 2 early 1st rounders though and no dead cap because there was no salary cap when they cleared everyone.

Schneider also doesn't seem particularly high on Geno - just the way he talks about him "He's our QB until he isn't" lol...

 

[JMR]

Gotta remember Seattle's cap situation is atrocious in 2025. I can't imagine we keep Geno (because it will cost us $40M - he should hit the escalators), and there's also going to be a number of cuts like Jones, Fant, Lockett, possibly Love/Williams, and that's going to cost us dearly. Next year will prob. be Howell or a mid round pick for QB and 'reset' to make a run in 2026. Carroll and JS did the same thing when he came in. Cleaned house after the first year and then reset. Carroll was lucky to have 2 early 1st rounders though and no dead cap because there was no salary cap when they cleared everyone.

Schneider also doesn't seem particularly high on Geno - just the way he talks about him "He's our QB until he isn't" lol...

Cutting some/all of those players you list is going to represent relief on the cap as things are currently scheduled. You can clear about $70M quite easily. We'll be just fine on the cap.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

Cutting some/all of those players you list is going to represent relief on the cap as things are currently scheduled. You can clear about $70M quite easily. We'll be just fine on the cap.

We'll eat a lot of dead cap in 2025 is all I'm saying. And contracts are coming up for younger guys... I don't think I'd say "We'll be just fine on the cap". I think we need to clean it up for 2026. A lot of restructuring and stupid ass trades/signings caused us to get in this, in the first place. The last thing I want is Seattle barely makes the playoffs (or barely misses) and Schneider restructures more guys and does another patchwork job on the OL.

 

[JMR]

We'll eat a lot of dead cap in 2025 is all I'm saying. And contracts are coming up for younger guys... I don't think I'd say "We'll be just fine on the cap". I think we need to clean it up for 2026.

But the dead cap is already factored in. For example, for 2025 you can have Geno Smith on the team at a cost of $38.5M, or you can have an open roster spot for $13.5M. Having Geno will cost $25M more than not having him, hence the cap savings.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

But the dead cap is already factored in. For example, for 2025 you can have Geno Smith on the team at a cost of $38.5M, or you can have an open roster spot for $13.5M. Having Geno will cost $25M more than not having him, hence the cap savings.

That's just Geno. Other guys like Jones, Lockett, potentially Love, etc. I get you 'save' by cutting them, but you're still eating dead cap... so instead of being able to go fishing in free agency, you have to luck out with your draft picks or cheaper options.. which is 'unlikely'. And the 2025 draft class is weak. And Schneider can't seem to draft OL to save his life (with exception of Cross who was a top 10 pick)... hell we just drafted an early 3rd rounder at guard who has played RG all his life, yet we keep marching out the worst RG in the NFL.

 

[JMR]

That's just Geno. Other guys like Jones, Lockett, potentially Love, etc. I get you 'save' by cutting them, but you're still eating dead cap... so instead of being able to go fishing in free agency, you have to luck out with your draft picks or cheaper options.. which is 'unlikely'. And the 2025 draft class is weak. And Schneider can't seem to draft OL to save his life (with exception of Cross who was a top 10 pick)... hell we just drafted an early 3rd rounder at guard who has played RG all his life, yet we keep marching out the worst RG in the NFL.

Well, the team will have $70M *more* to play with in free agency by cutting Geno Smith, Tyler Lockett, Dre Jones, Roy Robertson-Harris, and Noah Fant vs keeping them. That includes the dead cap associated with cutting each player. If you want to go fishing and potentially upgrade RG/OL, you gotta cut most or all of those players. Otherwise, put the poles away.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

Well, the team will have $70M *more* to play with in free agency but cutting Geno Smith,Tyler Lockett, Dre Jones, Roy Robertson-Harris, and Noah Fant vs keeping them. That includes the dead cap associated with cutting each player. If you want to go fishing and potentially upgrade RG/OL, you gotta cut most or all of those players. Otherwise, put the poles away.

Correct. I'm just saying it's not a lot to work with and you have to find replacements for all of those as well as extend some guys if we want to keep them. What I don't want to see is more restructuring... 2025 will look a bit bleak for us in terms of cap is all I'm saying. And the 2025 draft class is weak in general. Hopefully Knight is a hit, Olu keeps it up, and Bradford gets injured so Haynes can start full time.

 

[Screamin12th]

I would take a sub 15 mill Jones over a 30 million+ Geno every day. We know neither are the answer but at least we save cap and go younger with possible upside. Some teams just dont support their QB's very well and those teams happen to include the Giants. Cleveland, Jets you can make a long list and even put the Hawks on that list if you want. The Hawks are loaded with Skill player talent though on offense that can AND HAVE made our QB's look better than they are.

Our talent level of skill players can carry a QB and do it well on this team. Get a QB that can actually scan the field and we could see a nice increase in production. Watching the all 22 is maddening with Geno. All the WIDE OPEN players he misses and the forced throws... GAH! It wouldn't be so bad if it wasnt ALWAYS multiple times EVERY game!

 

[HaroldSeattle]

70 million doesn’t go far now a days given salaries around the league. Have to see what it cost to replace those players and are they a upgrade or downgrade.

 

[jerseyhawksfan79]

His arm has gone limp, can't throw it down field anymore, and would be a down grade to Geno. Sam Howell is looking better to me at 1.1 million as a bridge to the next QB in 2026.

Correct. I've seen enough of him and he's a backup at best

 

[jerseyhawksfan79]

I would take a sub 15 mill Jones over a 30 million+ Geno every day. We know neither are the answer but at least we save cap and go younger with possible upside. Some teams just dont support their QB's very well and those teams happen to include the Giants. Cleveland, Jets you can make a long list and even put the Hawks on that list if you want. The Hawks are loaded with Skill player talent though on offense that can AND HAVE made our QB's look better than they are.

Our talent level of skill players can carry a QB and do it well on this team. Get a QB that can actually scan the field and we could see a nice increase in production. Watching the all 22 is maddening with Geno. All the WIDE OPEN players he misses and the forced throws... GAH! It wouldn't be so bad if it wasnt ALWAYS multiple times EVERY game!

Bringing in Jones means you've completely stunted the offense. He does not scan the field well, throws way too much in double coverage and folds when a linemen farts in his direction. If you want a dreadful 5 win season than he's your guy but just stop with this nonsense thinking Danny Dimes is an upgrade over Geno.

 

[flyerhawk]

Bringing in Jones means you've completely stunted the offense. He does not scan the field well, throws way too much in double coverage and folds when a linemen farts in his direction. If you want a dreadful 5 win season than he's your guy but just stop with this nonsense thinking Danny Dimes is an upgrade over Geno.

He thinks everyone is an upgrade over Geno.

 

[jerseyhawksfan79]

He thinks everyone is an upgrade over Geno.

If Jones is in a Hawks uni, they're getting a bunch of angry emails from me.

 

[Podunkparte]

If you're still not on board with us taking Witherspoon at this point, you're just wrong.

On that pick 6, he was playing the run, crashed inside, immediately recognized play action, spun off his block, pressured Kyler who was running outisde, forcing the over throw, ran Kyler out of the play, then rejoined the action and was a lead block on the TD return.

Just an absolute animal!

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

If you're still not on board with us taking Witherspoon at this point, you're just wrong.

On that pick 6, he was playing the run, crashed inside, immediately recognized play action, spun off his block, pressured Kyler who was running outisde, forcing the over throw, ran Kyler out of the play, then rejoined the action and was a lead block on the TD return.

Just an absolute animal!

That INT TD was 100% Witherspoon. Kyler could've EASILY ran for a first down there, but Witherspoon recognizes it's a pass immediately and spins out of getting hung up on a block, then forces the panic overthrow while Murray has ZERO shot to run the ball, shoves Murray off the field, then re-engages and makes a block to secure the INT TD return for Bryant.

Knight should've actually fell back because the Cards receiver was open because Knight went in to help Witherspoon, but Spoon does not need help against a QB like Murray. Spoon will make that tackle no problem.

It was definitely an all pro worthy series of events and televised media/streams/social media picked up on it as well.

Again, as I've said numerous times on this forum, I'd still rather have Carter, BUT Witherspoon has certainly lived up to his draft position (and he did last year as well).

 

[flyerhawk]

If Jones is in a Hawks uni, they're getting a bunch of angry emails from me.

No chance the Seahawks sign him.

 

[JMR]

Correct. I'm just saying it's not a lot to work with and you have to find replacements for all of those as well as extend some guys if we want to keep them. What I don't want to see is more restructuring... 2025 will look a bit bleak for us in terms of cap is all I'm saying. And the 2025 draft class is weak in general. Hopefully Knight is a hit, Olu keeps it up, and Bradford gets injured so Haynes can start full time.

70 million doesn’t go far now a days given salaries around the league. Have to see what it cost to replace those players and are they a upgrade or downgrade.

I would agree the Hawks will not be major spenders in the free agent market (at least in terms of bringing in new faces), but every penny counts... and it's better to have more cap space than less. And true -- we gotta replace the guys we cut -- but most of them probably get replaced at the bottom of the depth chart (cheap) vs at the top (expensive). For example, let's look at Tyler Lockett. His 2025 cap hit on the current terms is $31M, and he's probably the WR3 right now in terms of role in the offense. I would say his replacement in that spot is probably Jake Bobo, who is dirt cheap. So Bobo bumps up a spot, and we are now essentially looking to find another WR4/5 (very cheap). I really, really doubt we would be looking to cut Lockett and bring in another player at that position that has any sort of significant price tag.

So yeah, we will replace players who become cap casualties, which will cost some money, but we are talking pennies on the dollar in most cases I think. But we also have all seen this scenario played out time and time again where the team is able to create more cap space if they need it. It happens every off-season.