Free Agency/Draft Tracker Thread: Post News Here!

[Saca312]

It's the NFL offseason; the long, daunting time where there's nothing but infomercials on Sundays. It's also a time where conversations concerning free agency and the draft are high, in which every fan hopes their team nails just the right players to get them to the big game. Free Agency is the first major phase of the off-season, in which players who have expired contracts on their current teams hit what's known as the "open market" in which teams "bid out" contracts for the player to play for their team.

It's a very interesting and fun time for the most die-hard of football fans.

Since I believe it'll be a major hassle to see many separate threads on free agents, I decided I would help things out and create a main "big thread" concerning free agents. In this thread, I believe it would be best to post any tweets, news, ideas, or anything concerning free agents; whether it be players signing contracts, contract negotiations, teams who are bidding for a particular player, or anything really about any free agent. 

Post all the news about Free Agents here. Hopefully a mod or Igo sees this (nudge nudge @Jeremy Igo) and decides to pin this key thread, as I believe it'd be helpful for most Huddlers to have a bunched up topic to see news on free agency like last year.

Free Agency Dates:

• February 15: First day for teams to designate franchise or transition players
• March 1: Prior to 4:00 p.m. ET: Deadline for clubs to designate franchise or transition players
• March 7-9: Teams are permitted to contact and enter into negotiations with unrestricted free agents. However, a contract cannot be executed until 4:00 p.m. ET on March 9.
• March 9: New league year begins at 4:00 ET - Free Agency begins with old contracts expiring.

To see more offseason dates, please refer to this thread:

Some things I'll note about this particular Free Agency class:

• Stacked at Safety: Pending completion of Franchise Tags and such, this is arguably a pretty deep safety class. While Eric Berry dominates the headlines, guys like Cyprien, Jefferson, Demps, Church, and even Adams (Mike Adams) and Addae could make an impact. Very good year to be looking for a safety - especially Strong Safety - in this year's market. Guys that could make an impact littered everywhere. No excuse to NOT come out with something from here.
• No Pass Rushers: With guys like JPP, Melvin Ingram, Chandler Jones, and Kawann Short getting franchise tagged, it's a pretty bad year if your team is in need of a pass rusher. Expect many mediocre / 1 year wonder guys to get overpaid, and don't expect old pass rushers to be ruled out of that possibility either. 
• Weak OT Class: Seems like this is almost always the case, where franchise tackles are locked up for a while or traded when necessary. Now, that's not to say there isn't people that could be found/traded for, but FA shows there's not much hope for those needing a franchise OT. Appears the draft is the only area where teams can even hope to get a good OT nowadays, and even this draft class is extremely weak. 
• WR Class Solid; Not Spectacular: It's an okay year to be looking for a wide receiver. A good bit of slot guys on the market with upside, and some good players that'll probably be overpaid. While Jeffrey and Jackson likely longshots for us, there's still a good bit of reliable receivers that we could look into. With Kelvin Benjamin finishing the year strong after disappointing throughout most of the season due to swelling and overwork and Damiere Byrd improving every year, we likely just need to find a reliable slot receiver. Panthers already had talks with Victtor Cruz with both sides agreeing the meeting went well, so we're definitely looking into that category.

Free Agency Resources:

• https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-2017-free-agency-tracker/ - Good tracker for those of you wanting a bit of a more football-skill oriented view of free agents on the market. Gives out PFF Analysis grades per each free agent and updates player's FA status.
• http://www.nfl.com/freeagency -  NFL's official free agency news tracker. Go here for extra information concerning the signing of free agents and such.
• http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/ - For contract oriented deals and such - along with cap info - this is a pretty good resource for that kind of information.

Twitter Accounts To Follow:

• @AdamSchefter and @RapSheet are two good accounts to get the latest info on anything football-related. 

So, let free agency begin!

 

[Saca312]

Some news as of February 27:

• DT Kawann Short, RB Le'Veon Bell, DE Chandler Jones, and DE Jason Pierre-Paul all have franchise tags on them. Melvin Ingram also expected to be retained in that form.
• DE Mario Addison got a 3 year deal with the Panthers
• WR Alshon Jeffery not expected to be tagged a second year in a row
• OG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif gets a 5 year extension worth $41.25 million
• S Eric Berry expresses disdain at the prospect of being re-tagged a second year in a row.

[Mr. Scot]

Steelers have agreed to terms on a new deal for Antonio Brown.

Some in the organization apparently think he's a headache, but not enough of one to let go.

[t96]

18 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

Steelers have agreed to terms on a new deal for Antonio Brown.

Some in the organization apparently think he's a headache, but not enough of one to let go.

$17M per year. For a f*cking wide receiver lol. Best in the game yes, but also a headache and at a relatively unimportant position. Crazy.

[KB_fan]

24 minutes ago, Saca312 said:

OG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif gets a 5 year extension worth $41.25 million

Have to confess I know nothing about this guy.  But dang, I hope that doesn't inflate Turner & Norwell's prices!  I'm expecting us to re-sign both.

[stirs]

Just now, KB_fan said:

Have to confess I know nothing about this guy.  But dang, I hope that doesn't inflate Turner & Norwell's prices!  I'm expecting us to re-sign both.

Think he was the Canadian who originally was slated as an OT.  Had great workouts and got drafted  but was kicked inside.  Very good athlete

[Saca312]

5 minutes ago, KB_fan said:

Have to confess I know nothing about this guy.  But dang, I hope that doesn't inflate Turner & Norwell's prices!  I'm expecting us to re-sign both.

He's inspirational honestly. He's a solid pass blocking guard for the Chiefs. But what really sets him apart is how he's also studying as a medical student.

[stirs]

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2014/4/9/5583396/2014-nfl-draft-laurent-duvernay-tardif-interview

[Saca312]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/02/27/report-chiefs-working-to-make-eric-berry-the-nfls-highest-paid-safety/

Chiefs getting it done with Berry according to reports:

Quote

The Chiefs are trying to finalize a deal with safety Eric Berry that would make Berry the NFL’s highest-paid safety, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Monday.

Getting that deal done soon would not only keep Berry off the market but would give the Chiefs the chance to use their franchise tag on nose tackle Dontari Poe instead of using it on Berry for a second straight year. The deadline to place the franchise tag on players in Wednesday, March 1.

With that deadline looming and the Chiefs wanting to keep both players, the report said the sides are “working hard” at nailing down the details on a new contract for Berry.

 

[*FreeFua*]

DJ Swearinger needs to be getting a lot more attention.

Yeah he may have been somewhat of a headache back with the Texans. However after going from Houston to Tampa to Arizona in 4 years it seems to have matured him. 

Swearinger can do it all and showed as much this season. He spent time at both free and strong safety this past season and succeeded in both. 

Everyone knows Swearinger as a big hitter but Swearing has good coverage skills as well. If he has truly matured he's someone the Panthers should seriously make a top priority once FA begins.

With the QB's we have in our division we need guys that can cover!

[Soul Rebel]

2 hours ago, Saca312 said:

It's the NFL offseason; the long, daunting time where there's nothing but infomercials on Sundays. It's also a time where conversations concerning free agency and the draft are high, in which every fan hopes their team nails just the right players to get them to the big game. Free Agency is the first major phase of the off-season, in which players who have expired contracts on their current teams hit what's known as the "open market" in which teams "bid out" contracts for the player to play for their team.

It's a very interesting and fun time for the most die-hard of football fans.

Since I believe it'll be a major hassle to see many separate threads on free agents, I decided I would help things out and create a main "big thread" concerning free agents. In this thread, I believe it would be best to post any tweets, news, ideas, or anything concerning free agents; whether it be players signing contracts, contract negotiations, teams who are bidding for a particular player, or anything really about any free agent. 

Post all the news about Free Agents here. Hopefully a mod or Igo sees this (nudge nudge @Jeremy Igo) and decides to pin this key thread, as I believe it'd be helpful for most Huddlers to have a bunched up topic to see news on free agency like last year.

Free Agency Dates:

• February 15: First day for teams to designate franchise or transition players
• March 1: Prior to 4:00 p.m. ET: Deadline for clubs to designate franchise or transition players
• March 7-9: Teams are permitted to contact and enter into negotiations with unrestricted free agents. However, a contract cannot be executed until 4:00 p.m. ET on March 9.
• March 9: New league year begins at 4:00 ET - Free Agency begins with old contracts expiring.

To see more offseason dates, please refer to this thread:

 

Some things I'll note about this particular Free Agency class:

• Stacked at Safety:  Definitely loaded and we should be able to pluck a new partner for Coleman this FA period. I would add Swearinger, Hyde, Thomas and Harmon to this class too, which only makes it stronger.
• No Pass Rushers: Agreed.
• Weak OT Class: Disagree here. There's on Joe Staley or Trent Williams, but there's a handful of what I'd call "Oher 2015" caliber players. Guys like Beachum, Whitworth, Reiff, Joeckel, Okung and Clady are all out there. All have underachieved and/or injured the past year or two, but seeing what Matzko did when we took a chance on Oher gives me confidence. I really want Beachum, but a vet like Whitworth is solid, Reiff and Joeckel offer younger guys. I'm actually very okay with this FA class versus how I felt a month ago. 
• WR Class Solid; Not Spectacular: Agreed. I doubt it, but I really would like to see DG take a gamble here on DJax. I really don't want Ginn back and would prefer a burner and playmaker like Jackson, who Cam is friends and comfortable with in our offense. DJax-KB-Funch-Olsen would be electric for us when our defense gives the offense the ball. A guy I really like is Kamar Aiken. Good separator, explosive off the line, great route runner who wins underneath, and has good speed. Young and fits what we want in Cruz, except 3 years younger. Robert Woods and CPatterson are others I like too for that WR3 role. 

[DelhommesTheMan]

Agree DJax would be a picture perfect fit for our offense. It makes so much sense that I know it's not happening. I am intrigued enough to try and get CPatt on a 1 year prove it. Worst case he's our returner if Ginn bolts again..


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[Saca312]

 

[Shocker]

DJax and Kahlil would be mighty nice FA before the draft.