REPORT: Cade Mays will hit the free-agent market

[WhoKnows]

1 hour ago, strato said:

Well we paid Hunt probably 20 million to rehab and are giving Icky 16 or 17 to rehab, and we will have to pay for his replacement as well. 
 

It is a dilemma for me because I am a big believer that you win with a stout OL, and DL too. 
 

But paying a guard 100 million to protect your little QB is fuging ridiculous. I like Hunt he doesn’t suck but we weren’t getting our money’s worth when he was healthy IMO. We need to trim his money and I guess that means he goes with it. And it can’t happen this year. 
We definitely need to draft a bunch of O linemen the next couple of years. I really don’t like hearing all this TE from Oregon talk. 

From Hurney 2.0 through Morgan has been an OL drafting fiasco. Morgan’s first draft alone saw us take Legette/Brooks instead with Zack Frazier just waiting but he kind of learned under Fitterer when we took TMJ over Humphrey and later in that draft took a long snapper over Trey Smith.

For good knows why, we’ve been taking risky bad value day 2 picks when IOL and LB picks on day 2 are great value picks because the top prospects at those positions don’t usually go day 1.

[TheSpecialJuan]

3 hours ago, 45catfan said:

Mayes can be replaced.  He's played well, but hardy an All-Pro type. I'd rather not overpay him.

Bingo 

[SmokinwithWilly]

3 hours ago, 45catfan said:

We've got too many needs to being taking a C high anyway.  A day 3 guy should suffice if we retain Corbett or bring in another mid-tier FA C.

This has been the attitude that's given us horrible centers since Kalil injured his neck. This is not a good center class to draft one high, but having the attitude that anyone will do calling all the protections for the line has proven to be the wrong approach for years. 

[45catfan]

Just now, SmokinwithWilly said:

This has been the attitude that's given us horrible centers since Kalil injured his neck. This is not a good center class to draft one high, but having the attitude that anyone will do calling all the protections for the line has proven to be the wrong approach for years. 

That's not a generality, that's this draft in particular.  I would like to draft a second or third round center, I just feel this isn't the one to do it. Mayes was  5th rounder and some are acting like he's too valuable to lose.  We have two 5th rounders this daft, take one there if the right guy is available.  Edge, LB,S, CB, WR(S) are much bigger concerns with the talent in this draft  to fill an immediate need.

[Joe Bear]

On 1/24/2026 at 7:00 PM, NorthTryon said:

You are the 3rd person I've heard talk about Coogan. I looked him up and in addition to your case, he is apparently a great leader, locker room guy, and majors in the best ability which is availability! They are talking about solid depth piece in the draft, but Jeff Saturday had a horrible draft grade and played 10+ years.

I like Pat Coogan. Was a fan when he was at ND. 

[Joe Bear]

On 1/24/2026 at 6:33 PM, Aussie Tank said:

The 1 year deal last year always felt silly to me 

Might be the only terms on which both sides could agree. Morgan probably wanted 3 years and Mays' agent probably pushed him for a prove-it deal. Immediately leaking the desire to test the market only furthers this notion. 

[NorthTryon]

5 hours ago, Joe Bear said:

I like Pat Coogan. Was a fan when he was at ND. 

Cool, I also look at the fact that he was a leader at both schools, was never injured, and both teams were highly competitive! 

[ECHornet]

Corbett / Samac / Christensen

Smelling like our 2026 roster at center. If  we stay healthy, that should be serviceable. 

[TheSpecialJuan]

4 hours ago, ECHornet said:

Corbett / Samac / Christensen

Smelling like our 2026 roster at center. If  we stay healthy, that should be serviceable. 

I could see this 

[strato]

FTR FA starts March 12th. The legal ‘tampering’ period starts March 9th. 

[HPPantherzfan]

We still don’t have players on the defensive side of the ball, we are hurting bad there, I really can’t believe how good they were on D with the players they have, we can’t keep drafting offense and ignore the D.  I’ve watched these playoffs games, again this year because it’s the same every year, D wins super bowls.  Letting Mayes walk is a mistake, get young defensive guys on rookie contracts.

[Loyalty4Life]

I trust Tillis to correctly evaluate the market and player worth financially.  

It's easy to armchair QB.  

If we had a much higher grade on a RB in the 2nd than a center, then you follow your board.

 

[Khyber53]

When a great center is available, drop the first rounder on them and don't sweat worrying over it. If you can lead your line, have someone call protections and protect the QB all in one, it's money well spent and can carry you for a decade or more.

Is this that time for drafting? I really don't know.

[WhoKnows]

39 minutes ago, Khyber53 said:

When a great center is available, drop the first rounder on them and don't sweat worrying over it. If you can lead your line, have someone call protections and protect the QB all in one, it's money well spent and can carry you for a decade or more.

Is this that time for drafting? I really don't know.

Stick with day 2. Seems to me that first round centers don’t hit as much as taking the top Cs in round 2. Usually some combine great number(s) is the case and the 1st round C is over-drafted. We could have drafted McCoy, Humphrey or Frazier in the 2nd in the past several drafts over the crap we did take. Seems like that opportunity is every couple years and it’s been a couple years since Frazier. Not sure what the draft class for Cs looks like but I’d be happy with a C on day 2 if there are talented guys available. I don’t think it’ll be hard to upgrade C with a solid prospect.