15 thoughts - free agency

[Garthshort]

Monti is a problem, he’s not the problem

Not saying you're right or wrong, $$$ plays a big part in FA signings. I'd love to know our recent (last 10 years)FA history with money available and who we signed.

 

[Stout]

As I mentioned in the original post, the salary cap is not a measuring stick for anything. Cash is king, also in the NFL. "Sitting on cap space" doesn't tell us anything.

In fact, there is a rule in the CBA that says that each team is required to spend 90% of the salary cap between 2024 through 2026 in cash. Specifically for the Cardinals, they need to spend close to 200 million this year to meet that obligation, and that is not a problem at all as last year they spent more than 277 million. Oh, and you know who spent less last year? The Seahawks and the Rams.

Overall, the Cardinals are in the middle of the league in cash spendings.

Sure it does. Sitting on cap space and not finding ways of maneuvering around the cap tell a big story. Also structuring contracts to eat up cap space without getting creative to save cap space adds to the narrative. Especially under Monti. Ownership doesn't care enough to put themselves out there too much cash wise. It's not the penny pinching of his father, but, added with how badly they spend--especially under Monti--it's disastrous.

The KM contract was a problem of ownership's making, and releasing him/paying him is the same. It is through gritted teeth, and against his will, guaranteed.

 

[Gandhi]

name said stud...

I would be absolutely thrilled with Reese. I think he will be a monster.

 

[Gandhi]

Sure it does. Sitting on cap space and not finding ways of maneuvering around the cap tell a big story. Also structuring contracts to eat up cap space without getting creative to save cap space adds to the narrative. Especially under Monti. Ownership doesn't care enough to put themselves out there too much cash wise. It's not the penny pinching of his father, but, added with how badly they spend--especially under Monti--it's disastrous.

Some teams use cap space, and some don’t, but it doesn’t say anything about how much money they spend. All teams are obligated to spend a certain amount, but they account for it differently.

I am not saying that the Cardinals are aggressive financially, but they are around middle of the league in all cap- and cash spending categories. The only story their cap-strategy tells is that they are doing like most other teams.

The KM contract was a problem of ownership's making, and releasing him/paying him is the same. It is through gritted teeth, and against his will, guaranteed.

Well, I certainly hope it is against his will. I hope he signed that contract with the expectation that it would be worth it.

 

[slanidrac16]

This obviously is a little beside the free agency-topic, but I would much rather pay a runningback in free agency than draft Love. Sure, he might be better, but he will immediately be one of the highest paid running backs and would keep them from drafting a stud at a more important position.

Solid way of thinking. Here’s the dilemma I see. Bailey looks like he could reak havoc. However, we need help on this o- line. The “short arm” guy seems like he is over drafted at 3.
We desperately need a rb.
I like the thought of signing two experienced o-linemen and not reaching. That burns some cap money.
If you’re in the corner of signing Willis then it doesn’t leave much money for a rb, thus plug in Love who some view as the 2nd or 3rd best player in the draft. He’s a home run hitter that can turn a 10 play drive into a 1 play drive.

Bottom line, if we don’t sign Willis then that money is there to sign two O-linemen and a top rb. We could then take Bailey at 3 and absolutely take a qb in the second round.

 

[Cardiac]

I think there are two different elements in that, Cardiac.

Sure, there are players that are being released for salary cap purposes, but that is partly because teams will get punished for being over the cap at the start of a league year. The salary cap might not be a problem, but you also cannot ignore it. And I am also willing to bet that those casualties could be avoided if the team and player truly wanted to.

The other element is exactly as you mention – that teams can manipulate the cap to fit people on the limit. That is why it always make me smile when people say things like “they cannot afford X player because they only have Y amount of salary cap money” or things like that.


Semi splash? Josh Sweat’s guaranteed money was among the absolute top among non-QB free agents. Tomlinson’s was in the upper half. Those are not cheap semi splashes.

Simply looking at what teams cut which players proves the fact that there is a salary cap. Or why would the Chiefs trade Mcduffie for some draft picks? 26 year old All Pro CB who will be getting a massive contract. They are choosing to let a awesome player leave because they can't fit him and what they still need to do and not put themselves in cap he'll in the future. Sure the Chiefs could fit him in for a year or 3 but then they will need to gut their roster.

So Sweat was a splash but not one of the top ten last year. What was the big splash signing the previous year? Mikey does just enough to give the mirage that he needs to win. Sure he wants to win but wanting to does not equate to needing to. Look at what the Rams just did to give them the best chance to win. They need to win and attack every offseason with that mindset.

 

[slanidrac16]

Simply looking at what teams cut which players proves the fact that there is a salary cap. Or why would the Chiefs trade Mcduffie for some draft picks? 26 year old All Pro CB who will be getting a massive contract. They are choosing to let a awesome player leave because they can't fit him and what they still need to do and not put themselves in cap he'll in the future. Sure the Chiefs could fit him in for a year or 3 but then they will need to gut their roster.

So Sweat was a splash but not one of the top ten last year. What was the big splash signing the previous year? Mikey does just enough to give the mirage that he needs to win. Sure he wants to win but wanting to does not equate to needing to. Look at what the Rams just did to give them the best chance to win. They need to win and attack every offseason with that mindset.

One problem is every season we seem to need to fill 4-5 holes. Instead of fixing one or two of those holes with top notch players, we try to fill all 4-5 holes with middle of the road players.
Turns out Sweat was a solid signing. We need 2or 3 “Sweat” signings this year, but we won’t do that.

 

[Stout]

One problem is every season we seem to need to fill 4-5 holes. Instead of fixing one or two of those holes with top notch players, we try to fill all 4-5 holes with middle of the road players.
Turns out Sweat was a solid signing. We need 2or 3 “Sweat” signings this year, but we won’t do that.

We need Big Johns like nobody's business.

 

[slanidrac16]

We need Big Johns like nobody's business.

Exactly. But watch. If we sign an o-lineman it won’t be the top guy. It will be the 5th or 6th ranked guy in free agency, or a bargain price guy coming off injury or a “down” year.
We need a rb but we will be told Benson is about to have a breakout year and/or retain Conner.

Stout how do you feel of going out on a limb and signing Willis…which by the way I find it hard that we will.

 

[Stout]

Exactly. But watch. If we sign an o-lineman it won’t be the top guy. It will be the 5th or 6th ranked guy in free agency, or a bargain price guy coming off injury or a “down” year.
We need a rb but we will be told Benson is about to have a breakout year and/or retain Conner.

Stout how do you feel of going out on a limb and signing Willis…which by the way I find it hard that we will.

Willis? Absolutely no thank you. Bring in Flacco and bring in the gunslinging entertainment!

 

[slanidrac16]

Willis? Absolutely no thank you. Bring in Flacco and bring in the gunslinging entertainment!

I don’t see Flacco, Smith, Wilson or Garrapolo anything more than a boring replacement for Brissett.
Maybe Cousins or Winston could add some “ spice “ but it would be sub.500 spice.
Willis brings and unknown “ what if”. It could be wow or it could be we are dumb again. But it feels a little like it’s at least taking a swing.
We seen a small sample of Willis with the Packers. Is it because he has matured and learned while sitting under a good system? What does ML think. Would MattL mislead his brother with intel?
It’s a moot point. We’re not signing Willis.

 

[slanidrac16]

I doubt it, Garth. Demercado was a role player and is easily replaceable. I would much rather pay a couple of running backs in free agency, or potentially draft one or two in later rounds.

What if Love is a Gibbs or Robinson?

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

1 – Keep Brissett. Top five backup QB on a reasonable contract, who will not embarrass you if he needs to start some games, and is an ideal partner for whoever is the primary starter. He is worth much more than a late-round pick, if that is all you can get.

2 – For several years it was shocking to me that many fans still thought that the salary cap has any importance at all. Now I just smile at it.

3 – The biggest issue with guesses and wishes like this is that we don’t know the schemes, so it is very difficult to know which type of players they are seeking. I mean, the offensive schemes will probably have shades of the Rams’ and Niners’, but likely there will be adjustments. And Rallis might run some of the same as the last couple of seasons, but I doubt he will copy Gannon 1:1.

4 – I guess it is some form of PTSD from many years ago, but it is very strange how many fans still point to Bidwill being cheap. He is obviously not (proven last time by the guaranteed money in signings of Josh Sweat and Dalvin Tomlinson), but it’s just that his organization is not really attractive to many players.

5 – Jermaine Eluemunor or Braden Smith at right tackle and David Edwards or Ed Ingram at guard should certainly be targets.

6 – I think that LaFleur wants Jimmy Garoppolo. If so, I certainly hope that he gets him, even though he is not my preferred option.

7 – I hope they gamble with the QB-spot, and I hope they do it by signing Malik Willis. I hope they sign him to a contract similar to Sam Darnold’s (multiple years, but almost all guarantees up-front to essentially make it a one-year deal). I could not care any less about how much salary he gets – see thought #2 – as long as the structure of the contract doesn’t prevent them from reacting to it after the season.

It is – at best – a lack of historical knowledge to be convinced that the QB market next year will be better than this, so I would much rather give it a real shot than give up on the season in March and risk being in the exact same position in a year from now. Signing Willis would be full-blown boom-or-bust, but if it booms, the Cardinals are suddenly very relevant in the division again. And if it fails, well, then things will pretty much be like they are now, so there is not much to lose.

Further, LaFleur has the best possible intel (and as much as he wants) from his brother and Hackett, who worked with Willis last year, as well as from Ossenfort, who drafted Willis. There is nobody in the entire NFL that is better equipped to decide if Willis is worth taking a chance on. And because of that it is unfathomable to me that some fans want to handcuff LaFleur from the beginning by hoping that they don’t sign Willis. If LaFleur wants him, everyone should hope that he gets him. I don’t understand why people wish that the Cards hired LaFleur to fix the offense and then tell him how to do it.

8 – I thought they would have bought Greg Newsome at the trade deadline, but maybe Jacksonville just gave a better offer. Well, now he is a free agent and the Cardinals’ CB situation has not improved.

9 – Re-sign Gillikin, Brewer, Ryland, Hernandez, Collier, Carter, and Starling Thomas. If Calais Campbell wants to play, he should decide his own contract, Fitz-style.

10 – Just like Malik Willis has an obvious connection to LaFleur through his brother and Hackett, so does Packers-starters OT Rasheed Walker and OG Sean Rhyan. None of them are amazing players, but talent-wise they are still in an entirely different stratosphere than Evan Brown and Jonah Williams.

11 – Philosophically I am against spending big at RB. However, since the quarterback quality will be a question mark, an effective running game is paramount. Travis Etienne, Kenneth Gainwell and Rachaad White are very different players, but all would be a good fit in different roles with McVay, so I am guessing they would also be fine with LaFleur.

12 – Cuts are obviously very difficult to project, but I have found three relevant, based on team insiders’ reports and educated guesses. Both S Minkah Fitzpatrick (Miami) and MLB Tremaine Edmunds (Chicago) have been granted permission to seek a trade, which usually means that they will get released if no buyer is found. OG Elgton Jenkins (Green Bay) was injured most of last season but has been a very good and stable starter for years. All three would be clear upgrades over Jalen Thompson, Davis-Gaither and Evan Brown.

13 – I was on record at the trade deadline that I wanted them to trade for Rashid Shaheed. I would be surprised if Seahawks let him go, but if they do, the Cards should be in on him.

14 – You have to think that Leo Chenal will be a target considering that they just hired Kansas City’s linebacker coach, as well as how badly Davis-Gaither sucked last season.

15 – Alijah Vera-Tucker is the most talented offensive guard on the market, but the problem is that he is never on the field. He would be the definition of a boom-or-bust signing. LaFleur was in New York when they drafted Vera-Tucker.

So little I agree with here. Most of it is contradictory. We need to be realistic that we are not 1 year away from being competitive. Everyone that isn't part of being competitive in 2-3 years needs to be gone.

1. Brissett is gone either this year or the next. If he is not the starter next year, he is an asset you spin off for a pick in 2027.

2. The salary cap is very important to us because we only spend to a portion of it. We should be unloading overpaid older players.

3. Rallis is going to run the same scheme he has run for 3 years. It's why bringing him back was peak nonsense.

4. Micheal is mega cheap. The F he gets as an owner from the players isn't because it stands for "Fabulous". It is because he doesn't invest in his employees.

5. See #2. Eluenumor and Smith are going to get over 16 million a year. Engram and Edwards are going to be between 12 and 15 million. I will be shocked if we get any of them.

6. See #1. There is no reason to have an older veteran QB on the roster and keep Brissett

7. See #5. You can't spend 25 million on Willis and also upgrade the offensive line.

8. We have spent like 25% of our draft capital on DBs. Those guys have to play or we don't have the money to upgrade the offensive line.

#9. I am letting the guys who contributed to a 3-14 season generally walk. Gillikin and Brewer are fine to keep but Collier and his 3.5 sacks in 3 seasons can go. Carter has averaged just 3.6 ypc for two seasons now. Hernandez can't stay healthy. Starling Thomas is just a guy. Calias isn't playing here again because we aren't winning anything next year.

#10. Hey we agree and these are more reasonable targets that #5

#11. I am more on board with Love at #3 than I am spending free agent dollars on a RB.

#12. We have Thompson's replacement in house already

#13 No reason for Seahawks to cut him

#14. Free agent dollars need to be heavily allocated to the lines.

#15. Hernandez part 2.

 

[kerouac9]

We need to be realistic that we are not 1 year away from being competitive.

I have to strongly disagree with this. We might not be talented enough to compete for a Super Bowl, but we have to get out of the mindset than it’s okay to go 5-12 because you’re building toward some hazy future.

We should be building toward a seven-win floor and a 10-win ceiling otherwise Monti is pre-fired.

How many games do we need to lose to have the worst five-year run in franchise history?

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

I have to strongly disagree with this. We might not be talented enough to compete for a Super Bowl, but we have to get out of the mindset than it’s okay to go 5-12 because you’re building toward some hazy future.

We should be building toward a seven-win floor and a 10-win ceiling otherwise Monti is pre-fired.

How many games do we need to lose to have the worst five-year run in franchise history?

Monti is pre fired. We aren't getting to seven wins. AFC West we aren't winning any of those games. NFC East maybe you go .500. You MIGHT win a game in the division. At Chefs, no chance. At Saints, maybe.

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

I will go further, the only reason Monti is here is because Micheal is cheap.

 

[Cardiac]

I will go further, the only reason Monti is here is because Micheal is cheap.

I agree that is part of it but I also think it is a perception thing and a bit of unwarranted loyalty.

 

[Stout]

Willis? Absolutely no thank you. Bring in Flacco and bring in the gunslinging entertainment!

For the naysayers on my post, is it bringing in Flacco or not bringing in Willis that's the problem? Just curious.

 

[Cardiac]

For the naysayers on my post, is it bringing in Flacco or not bringing in Willis that's the problem? Just curious.

I big no on Flacco for me. I respect him but I don't see the point. JB under MLF should be at least as entertaining IMO. I also don't care about getting 5th round pick for JB, don't see the point.

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

I have to strongly disagree with this. We might not be talented enough to compete for a Super Bowl, but we have to get out of the mindset than it’s okay to go 5-12 because you’re building toward some hazy future.

We should be building toward a seven-win floor and a 10-win ceiling otherwise Monti is pre-fired.

How many games do we need to lose to have the worst five-year run in franchise history?

Super Bowl LXI odds: All 32 teams' odds to win the championship - ESPN https://share.google/GChR2KqVg4euGIwFO

Vegas has us as the worst team in the league and I don't think it's really debatable

 

[kerouac9]

For the naysayers on my post, is it bringing in Flacco or not bringing in Willis that's the problem? Just curious.

The Flacco piece

 

[kerouac9]

Super Bowl LXI odds: All 32 teams' odds to win the championship - ESPN https://share.google/GChR2KqVg4euGIwFO

Vegas has us as the worst team in the league and I don't think it's really debatable

Great. I’m not talking about winning the Super Bowl, and I wonder where New England and Seattle were on those rankings last year at this time.

 

[kerouac9]

Great. I’m not talking about winning the Super Bowl, and I wonder where New England and Seattle were on those rankings last year at this time.

Ill do my own homework:

main |SportsOddsHistory.com

Sports Odds History on Covers features historical betting odds, archived futures, and season-by-season market data for major pro and college sports.

www.covers.com

New England was +12500 (t-6th longest) and Seattle was 14th highest (+6000 just above Arizona).

 

[Gandhi]

Solid way of thinking. Here’s the dilemma I see. Bailey looks like he could reak havoc. However, we need help on this o- line. The “short arm” guy seems like he is over drafted at 3.
We desperately need a rb.
I like the thought of signing two experienced o-linemen and not reaching. That burns some cap money.
If you’re in the corner of signing Willis then it doesn’t leave much money for a rb, thus plug in Love who some view as the 2nd or 3rd best player in the draft. He’s a home run hitter that can turn a 10 play drive into a 1 play drive.

In many ways I actually agree with your thinking, Slanidrac, and I think the only difference is that I would never take a RB in the first round. I think it is absolutely fair to argue that the offense is not that far away as the record would suggest, and that a solid free agency campaign could open up for a luxury pick like Love. And it is also true that you don’t just draft for the next year, so even though Love might not have the rookie impact that we expect (lex Jeanty), it’s not like he cannot be very valuable in the years after.

I don’t know. I am also intrigued by the thinking of an explosive offense, but I cannot get off my mind how early draft picks like Saquan Barkley and Bijan Robinson have been spectacular players for both the Giants and Falcons, yet still only have a combined one winning season with their original teams. I just don’t know if a runningback can transform an offense.

 

[Gandhi]

Simply looking at what teams cut which players proves the fact that there is a salary cap.

Oh no, then I explained myself wrong. That is my mistake. The salary cap is very real, and it cannot be ignored. If you are over the cap at the start of the league year it can lead to big punishments (loss of draft picks, contracts being declared invalid, things like that). My point is that it is so easy to manipulate the cap that it is not a truthful picture of a team’s financial situation.

Or why would the Chiefs trade Mcduffie for some draft picks?

Well, they did the same some years ago with L’Jarius Snead before they had to sign him to a big contract extension. I think they just don’t want to hand out mega extensions at a position where they have shown again and again that they can develop talent, especially when they can get a lot of draft ammunition in return. It likely has nothing to do with the salary cap (they can actually very easily get up to 60 million in cap space with a handful of simple contract restructurings).

So Sweat was a splash but not one of the top ten last year.

Fourth most guaranteed money of all free agent-signings that switched teams.