Williams: 1 year, $6MM Epenesa: 3 years, $20MM Huff: 3 years, $50MM Fant: 3 years, $27MM Edmunds: No estimate
I think that Fant price is nuts based on what TEs got last year.
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I think center is a position you almost have to address during FA and not the draft. Rookie QB, rookie C with a new system to the team seems like a recipe for disaster. But I do think they need to find a G/C in the 3rd or 4th round they think can potentially start in 2025. Might have to start over at G in 2025 in terms of starters.
There’s just no way I’d give up those kinds of assets for MHJ. I could see moving to 7 or something and giving up a 4th this year and a late round future pick to get Odunze or Nabers. I just don’t think there’s enough of a gap between MHJ and those guys to make that kind of investment.
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1. Trade JF to ATL for pick 43 and a conditional pick next year (2nd through 4th).
2. Jettison Eddie Jackson (post June 1 designee) and Cody Whitehair for cap space.
3. Resign Jaylon Johnson. 5 years/$90M ($55M guaranteed), Justin Jones 2 years/ $9M, Patrick Scales 1 year/ min, Marcedes Lewis 1 year/ min, EQ St.B 1 year/min.
That makes about $55M in cap space. Need to hold $12-15M for the draft, so let's say $40M in effective space.
4. Free agent signings: -Connor Williams (C). 1 year/ $8M. I was ready to back the truck up for Williams in December, then he tore his ACL. He's still by far the most talented center on the market this offseason, and I think you can get him on a prove-it deal with little risk. If he comes back healthy, you can give him a nice extension next year. This is all assuming the medical comes back clean. If not, Andre James (Vegas) would be a good 2nd choice at somewhere in the ~3/$25M range.
-A.J. Epenesa (DE) 3 years/ $15M. I'd love to pair Sweat with someone like Brian Burns or Josh Allen, but neither is going to hit free agency. Both will get tagged if they don't reach agreements. Danielle Hunter is an option, but he turns 30 next season and will command $20M+. I feel like you're buying the downside. Epenesa played under new Bears DC Eric Washington in Buffalo. He's got 6.5 sacks in each of the last two years, turns 26 next year, and will be available at a very reasonable price and can play all 3 downs.
-Bryce Huff (EDGE) 3 years/ $27M. I can't get Brian Burns or Josh Allen, but I'll try to make him in the aggregate. Huff is a pass-rush only edge player, but that pass rush was excellent. He had 10 sacks and 21 QB hits. Send him out there for 25-30 snaps per game and let him loose at the QB.
-Noah Fant (TE) 2 years/ $5M. You need an upgrade from Robert Tonyan at the U-TE position to compliment Cole Kmet. Fant is a crazy athlete that put some good seasons together in Denver but didn't get that many targets in Seattle- I'd emphasize the familiarity with Shane Waldron, but that doesn't seem like much of a plus in this case. I think you can buy the dip for pretty cheap, and he's still only 26.
-Terrell Edmunds (FS) 2 years/ $5M. With Jackson gone, you'll need someone to fill the role. Edmunds is steady but not spectacular and you can pair him with his brother. I'll be looking to draft someone to compete at the position, but having Edmunds is a good fallback option.
You may have noticed that I'm not jumping into the WR market. It's just too expensive. #2 receivers are going to get $12-15M/year. Bad receivers can get $5M/year. I'd rather draft them, especially in this upcoming class.
5. NFL Draft -Take Caleb Williams #1 overall. Don't get cute. -Once QBs go 1-2-3, TRADE BACK UP. Pick 4 and AZ's 3rd for #9 and next year's 1st. Take Marvin Harrison Jr at #4. This is an overpay by any chart, but it's worth it. -2nd round pick (from ATL). Kamren Kinchens (S) Miami. Great athlete and a centerfield type safety to compete with/supplant Edmunds. -3rd round pick (AZ). Jaylen Wright (RB) Tennessee. On Bruce Feldman's freak list for speed and athleticism, good to pair with the more between-the-tackles RBs we have. -3rd round pick. Jalen McMillan (WR) Washington. Savvy route runner with some good top-end speed and decent size. Overshadowed by Rome Odunze but will be a good pro in his own right. -4th round pick. Sedrick Van Pran (C) Georgia. Insurance policy/backup C. -5th round pick. Theo Johnson (TE) PSU. Big body blocking TE to supplant Marcedes Lewis.
Depth Chart- QB: Williams- Bagent RB: Herbert- R. Johnson- Wright FB: Blasingame WR(Z): Moore- McMillan WR(X): Harrison Jr. - EQSB WR(slot): Scott- Velus TE(Y): Kmet- T. Johnson TE(U): Fant TE(blocking): Lewis - T. Johnson LT: B. Jones - Borom LG: Jenkins - Carter C: Williams - Van Pran RG: Davis- Carter RT: Wright - Borom
DE: Sweat - Walker 3T: Dexter - Jones NT: Billings - Pickens DE: Epenesa - Huff WLB: Edwards - Sewell MLB: Tr. Edmunds - Cole SLB: Sanborn - Sewell CB: J. Johnson - Smith CB: Stevenson - Stroman NB: Gordon- Stroman SS: Brisker - Q. Johnson FS: Te. Edmunds - Kinchens