2025 off-season thread
We can start separate threads for the draft and free agency if y'all want, but with like eight of us still posting, I figure one catch-all thread is probably sufficient. In any case, here we go. For starters, I believe we'll likely have little to no turnover on the coaching staff, which is a good thing if it happens. Continuity is important. I suppose VJ could still get poached, but it doesn't look like he's getting a ton of interest. I think he's probably going to be back, which is fine by me. Dude did a hell of a job this year. Looks like we'll need a new ST coordinator-- I'm confident Payton can find someone capable.
We'll have more or less our complete stock of draft picks this year, including #20 in the first round. According to this article, we should have around $35 million in cap space heading into the new year. Looks like our FAs will include DJ Jones, Wilson and Stidham, Small Jordan, Javonte, Riley Dixon, Cody Barton, and Stern Nads. And St Nik Bonito will be eligible for a contract extension, which should be a priority, IMO. Dude was a force this year. I would also bring back Dixon, he was really solid. DJ Jones can go, dude's a warm body. Sadly, I think it's also time to move on from Javonte. Good dude, and he was a blast to watch his rookie year, but it just doesn't look like he'll ever get back to that form. I wouldn't mind keeping Barton and Stern Nads around on the cheap, but they're obviously replaceable, and we could really use an upgrade there. Of course, that guy could be Alex Singleton, who should hopefully be ready to go by the start of camp, and I'm still holding out hope that Drew Sanders will come in healthy and contribute this year. Guy's got all the talent if they can get him right. If they finally decide to invest in the position, Dre Greenlaw would be a fantastic fit. Dude is really fast and athletic, and is about as good as you can expect to get in coverage from that position. Denzel Perryman is another FA who could upgrade that spot. DT is a little tougher. Javon Hargrave is going to be on the market. He's maybe not quite the difference-maker he was in Philly, but he's still pretty beastly, and would give us a nasty inside rush alongside Zach Allen. Javon Kinlaw or Jerry Tillery would be solid reclamation projects if you could get one of them for a reasonable deal. I also wouldn't mind spending a high pick here. We also have depth needs in the secondary, though those may not be big priorities. We could really use a third playable safety, whether it's a backup for Locke or an upgrade at starter. I wish like hell they'd bring Justin Simmons back, but they probably won't. Jevon Holland from Miami is a playmaker who'd add some juice to an already good unit if they want to throw some dollars at it. Honey Badger's getting a bit long in the tooth, but dude does have some big play instincts, and brings leadership and attitude. This is a spot they could look at in the middle rounds of the draft as well. We also have a crying need for one more outside corner who can keep us competitive if Surtain or Moss miss time, because we all saw how badly the defense regressed when they weren't both out there. There are some quality options in FA (Chavarious Ward, Carlton Davis, DJ Reed, Byron Murphy), but I doubt we'll spend the coin for one of those guys to push Moss to the nickel with as well as he played this year. Could be another spot to target in the middle of the draft.
I'd bring back Zach Wilson at the right price, but backup QB isn't a high priority IMO. What IS a top priority is finding a RB who can get the run game going. It's just too critical an aspect of a team to let the position be manned by stiffs like it was this year. Finding a guy who can make a difference there is our single easist avenue to improve the team, in my estimation. If Payton parted on good terms with Mickey Loomis, we should make a call to NO and see if we can pick up Alvin Kamara on the cheap. He's obviously the perfect back for Payton's scheme, and he showed this year that he still has some gas left in the tank. If Aaron Jones stays in Minnesota like I expect, there's not much available in free agency that moves the needle. Dobbins will most likely re-sign in Sandy Eggo. I'd be down to take a flyer on Nick Chubb on a prove it deal if he leaves Cleveland, but you'd have to draft one as well. Jaylen Warren might be a low key signing as a guy who'd fit really well in the pass catching role, but as always, the draft is probably the best place to find a RB. Only problem is you need to get a guy who comes in with some ability in pass pro, otherwise Payton will just bury him on the bench the way he just did with Estime. Tight end is an obvious, crying need, and one that will almost have to be addressed in the draft, because this FA class is barren of talent. I hate spending high picks on the position due to the extremely high bust rate, but we have zero functional guys there right now. Our production from the position was non-existent, we're basically just playing ten on eleven with the bums we currently have. Could use another playmaker at wideout as well, but I'd honestly be content to let that one wait a year. Mimms' emergence was big, I'd be okay giving Vele and Franklin another season to develop. A true slot receiver would add a different dimension to this offense, though. We'll see. Adding some capable depth on the OL would be big, but I won't hold my breath there.
Alright, discuss amongst yourselves.
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Originally Posted by dogfish
