The first week of free agency is in the rearview mirror, with some major changes that have occurred throughout the league.
We're still waiting a bit for the water to sway before it completely settles down, but they mainly relate to some older quarterbacks about headlines than recent results. A little bit about that.
This means that our thinking and opinions have changed as free agency distorted some NFL rosters. We are here Skinny PostMichael Peterson and RJ Ochoa are here to let you know what we think.
Let's discuss it.
Aaron Rodgers to the Vikings will be the worst reboot ever
RJ:
Last week we discussed how all Aaron Rodgers find boring right now. Since then, judging from the internet, the idea that he would be involved Minnesota Viking I picked up steam.
Personally, I hate restarting. Don't ruin what was once. I'm not saying that Brett Fabre loved the time he was Minnesota quarterback, but this is a very boring way to end Rodgers' career. Obviously, Rogers has changed the way people feel about him over the past few years, but we can all admit that he is one of the greatest people still playing the game. To go out he just The same fashion as his predecessor would be very flat and dull.
Michael:
I really thought I'd go for at least a week without talking about Aaron Rodgers, but I'm here. He certainly has a way of staying at the forefront of the football news cycle wherever we are on the calendar.
So here I think the Vikings is the best case scenario for Rogers if he wants to pursue the final success of his career. But I think actually signing him is closer to Minnesota's worst scenario. Kevin O'Connell has built one of the best locker rooms in the NFL. The last thing he can see is bringing in a man who was a man who was at odds with a teammate who hasn't played “his norm” for a long time.
I think signing Rogers is similar to throwing a brick into a dryer. You will be arrested from within until you don't run loudly and smoothly.
Cincinnati defeated the bank for wide range of receivers
Michael:
The Bengals knew they would close the deal on both Ja'marr Chase and Tee Higgins, but they didn't expect the latter to sign more than $100 million either.
$161.1 million over four years for Chase is insane, but it runs along with what he did for that attack. Higgins is the most WR2 team in NFL history. That's something I can't wrap around my head. He's a good receiver! He also missed 10 games in the last two seasons! This is a lot of money for players who have never been healthy for the whole season outside of the 2020 rookie year.
The Bengalis giving out this money is to push them all chips with an attack that they are exactly the same as in 2024. Retrieving both is a good start, but history is an outlier and they say they are more likely to return to average than they continue on this upward pilgrimage.
I could be so wrong! I get it! But imagine if either one gets injured or if it doesn't work that well or if it doesn't work that well. Will defense be more competitive in 2025? It was kind of a big deal to keep them out of the playoffs!
But hey, hack it and chuck the soccer. Amirite?
RJ:
Forgive me here for making this for something other than Ja'marr Chase and Tee Higgins. However, I don't know that I've seen one player change the franchise, just like Joe Burrow has with the Bengals.
Obviously the biggest indication of this is how competitive the Bengalis are, but we think we are talking about one of the most humble franchises in the league and that they are handing out cash left and right. The big reason for this is clearly that Burrow asked them to tow his weapons with Chase and Higgins.
I'm not saying that Bengal is suddenly completely different, but there's no doubt that their eyes have been opened and they are willing to do what they need in this window. That's very cool.
Pick Barrow's home run continues to run, especially for Bengals fans.
Who is the biggest winner/loser of the first week of free agency?
Michael:
My biggest winner is Chicago Bears Minnesota Viking.
New Bears head coach Ben Johnson made good plans in his first offseason and stuck with it by signing new trio players to rebuild the interior of his offensive line. Drew Dalman was the best centre available. They then trade for Rams right guard Jonah Jackson and Chiefs All Pro left guard Joe Sunny. He needed protection and Johnson delivered.
For the Viking, my reasoning is simple. They needed to get better along the interiors on either side of the ball. They did just that by signing defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Jabon Hargrave for Brian Flores, adding centers Ryan Kelly and guard Will Fleece to Kevin O'Connell.
Bum. They are much thicker and more intimidating trenches for the bike.
As for the losers, I think the Raiders are a fringe team for me in that respect. The move to trade with quarterback Geno Smith clearly raises the floor quite a bit, but they didn't make a signature that would help them build the units around him. Seahawks He had a good group weapon for him to rely on. The Raiders essentially have only the Block Bowers on tight ends. They need a new WR1 (because Jacobi Myers shouldn't). Defensively, it's just Max Crosby and there are no other real standout names.
This team just needs… more. Anywhere.
RJ:
For me, the biggest winner is Los Angeles Rams. This time a few weeks ago, I thought Matthew Stafford was gone, but now he's not just not… but Davante Adams is the opposite of Puka Naquah. They look ready to run so they don't run around through the NFC West.
From a loss perspective, I remained in the department; San Francisco 49ers. They were pulled apart and did nothing to really help their roster from an overall perspective. I don't know why I can believe that just running all of this next season will make everyone feel better.
So far, which teams have changed their minds?
RJ:
My answer here is a bit strange, but I'll go with the Seattle Seahawks.
The reason this is strange is that I haven't changed my mind at all. I felt like this offseason that they were in a really interesting place to commit to Geno Smith and a complete rebuild. Moving forward from Geno it seemed they were heading in one direction, but then signing Sam Darnold made them seem happy with the water they just stomp.
I don't know what the Seahawks are doing. It's strange. i don't like it. I'll fix that. someone. Anyone.
Michael:
Stick to NFC West and go with Rams here for the same reasons I mentioned at the previous prompt.
I thought their second half of the season was a bit of a fluky one, due to how pedestrian Matthew Stafford passed numbers were for most of the year.
This has changed thanks to some really savvy signatures that don't actually fill in the roster hole, but it further highlights their strengths. The first was a move to sign Davante Adams to replace the Cooper Cup. Packers Coach Matt LaFleu is from Sean McVay's coaching tree, so if there are other coaches who know how to use him the most, that's the latter. I actually expect a pretty big year from Adams.
Secondly, the Rams stole defensive tackle Punaford from me. Charger And I'm angry at that. The Rams already have a big foundation on their defensive front with Jared Poetry and defensive tackle Bladen Fisuke from the 2024 Rookie Edge Rush. They didn't need to add Ford following his breakout season, but they did, and now they're in the back pain to block.
In a strange way, the Rams seem to have leaned even further towards where they are already outstanding, rather than rounding out the inactive part of the roster.
Do you agree with RJ and Michael or don't? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
