I know we got a threepeat to complete, but I'm thinking ahead today... let's take this position by position:
QB: I'd bring Wentz back. Perfect backup and IDK where else he can go and find a better job unless (God forbid) he plays this year.
RB: I'd bring Hunt back on a minimum deal. Go into the draft with Pacheco and Hunt, find a speed back in the draft who is capable of taking the job post-2025.
WR: If not for Rice's impending suspension, I'd feel good here. I'd look to bring Hopkins and Hollywood both back on 1-2 year deals. If the group will stay healthy, I think we will find they're really good. Rice and Worthy will be perfect complements to one another as WR 1 and 2. But you need to get by while Rice is out and you need depth for injury. I'd be fine with Hardman and Watson as WR 5 & 6.
TE: Does Kelce retire? If he doesn't, this can be left alone probably unless they think Wiley sucks. If Kelce does retire... I'd think you need to at least slap a solid vet bandaid on and see if Gray can take the TE1 reigns. I think he can simply because he's so steady. Not Kelce, but damn solid.
OT: Biggest need obviously. We will see if Humphries earns a new deal. Scares me with his injury history but if he looks good... we can't let a good LT walk away. Hopefully Kingsley can become a legit swing tackle at minimum with a shot to take over a starting job in 2026. Taylor is here another year, perhaps two more.
IOL: I'd give Thuney a short extension to alleviate his cap hit if he plans to play much longer. Let Wanya, Nourzad, and Hanson compete for the RG job. If someone falls to you in the draft, take it and run. Protecting Pat is always priority #1.
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DL: Need another legit pass rusher with juice. I'd hope that also retaining Omenihu is a priority. I'd prefer that over Trey Smith and maybe even Bolton at this point, especially if it can be a one-year deal that he takes to try and get paid in 2026. Need to bring our big run stuffers back on 1-year deals per usual.
LB: Tranquill hasn't been as good this year, which makes keeping Bolton seem a bit more important. I hope he can be retained at a reasonable cost, and if he can, we can roll with the same trio into 2025.
CB: Have to get another slot corner who can be there in case Trent can't -- which only takes a single injury to the room. Get another young guy or two in the room for in the inevitable departures of some of our 2022 Fab Five guys. Preferrably mid rounds.
S: I think Hicks is ready to take over Reid's role by next year. Not an urgent need at the position, especially if you add another viable slot corner that lets Conner stay at safety.
Specialists: Bring Araiza back on RFA deal, everything should stay the same there.
Rough stab at what a 53-man could look like in '25:
QB - Mahomes, Wentz
RB - Pacheco, Hunt,
draft pick
WR - Rice, Worthy, Hopkins, Hollywood, Hardman, Watson
TE - Kelce, Gray, Wiley
LT -
Vet (Humphries?), Morris
LG - Thuney, Nourzad
C - Humphrey, Nourzad
RG - Kingsley, Hanson
RT - Taylor, Driscoll
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DE - Karlaftis, Danna
DT - Jones,
Wharton or an early draft pick
NT -
A couple cheap fatties, vets or rookies
DE - Omenihu, FAU,
draft pick (first two days)
LB - Bolton, Tranquill, Leo
CB - Trent, Watson, Williams,
vet slot corner, draft pick
S - Hicks, Cook, Conner
Feel like I'm probably leaving out a fairly nice FA signing or two but hard to project there until we see what the market will be.
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Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19:
I wonder what Reid is going to be worth on the open market.
He's met if not exceeded expectations here, but the safety market is a mess. Constantly good players getting cut at the position. You'd think he could get more than his $14M AAV from the prior deal, but if the market/draft has any depth to it, he may not.
As bad as he was in coverage and on the blitz this year, he'd be lucky to get 4M AAV. He better be banking on his history and, hopefully, a playoff turnaround.
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