2026 Free Agent Superlatives: Favorite Fits, Buyer Beware and more

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1:08Robert Mays: Welcome to The Athletic Football Show. I'm Robert Mays. Our last pre-free agency show today. Kick things off with the DJ Moore news. DJ Moore headed to the Buffalo Bills for a second round pick, a fifth also going back to Buffalo in that deal. They did some tweaks to his contract, a ton to dig into with a DJ more to the Bills move. Talked about all of that with Dave and Derek. And then spent some time today going through some free agent superlatives for the 2026 class. Favorite fits, favorite potential value signings. Don't overthink it. That guy's a good player. Just sign him. Favorite flyers, guys who are going to get paid more than the people might think.

1:47Robert Mays: best finishing moves for contenders and the players that you would be a little bit afraid of if your team was shelling out the money for them. So probably talked about 50 guys over the course of this entire show. So this will be the last one we have before free agency. 11 a.m. on Monday, our free agency live stream right here on the Athletic Football Show YouTube channel. Very much looking forward to that. For now, let's get to our free agency superlatives with Dave and Derek.

2:18Robert Mays: Our last show before free agency starts in earnest next Monday. As a quick reminder, 11 a.m. Central, we will be here for our free agency live stream. Very much looking forward to that. We've got our last kind of big picture free agency show that we're doing today. We're going to hand out some free agency superlatives, a few categories that we want to hit. But like there has been all week, David, a little bit of news before we started recording today. DJ Moore traded to the Buffalo Bills. this kind of came in stages, right? You see the fact that he was traded to Buffalo and first glance, I'm like, all right, yep, that makes a lot of sense.

2:52Robert Mays: Then you see mid-round pick. I believe Ian Rappaport reported that that was the initial trade terms. It was a mid-round pick going back to Chicago. And then we get the final terms of the deal. The Bears are sending DJ Moore and a fifth round pick to Buffalo in exchange for the 60th pick in this year's draft, which if you're a Bears fan, I think you have to be pretty happy with that haul. Your initial thoughts on the DJ Moore trade to the Buffalo Bills.

3:18Derrik Klassen: This is the joy of the internet and it's why I'll never log off because if you're a geek like me and you don't put your phone down for more than five, six minutes at a time, you got to live on this roller coaster to the point where the trade comes down and immediately, I think one of the first things I saw was that it was a mid-round pick and for right or for wrong. I just assign that as like a fourth round pick. And so I'm on, I'm on Twitter like, Hey, this maybe isn't ideal. I think if you don't pay attention, close attention to the NFL, you're probably a little more excited about DJ more than you should be.

3:52Derrik Klassen: Like at this point, DJ more is not like a blockbuster acquisition, but at the same time, he is a quality receiver. He is an upgrade from what the Buffalo bills have had. And if you're sending a fourth round pick, I was getting my talking points ready to say, look at the free agent market. If you can't afford to go after Alec Pierce, who would you rather have over DJ Moore for a fourth round pick? And maybe if you want to say Romeo Dobbs, I could get on board with that. But it is a very short list. And so I'm sitting there saying fourth round pick for what's left of DJ Moore's contract. And by the way, in a year or two, you can get out from under it because a lot of the guarantees will be gone by then.

4:29Derrik Klassen: I think this is perfectly acceptable for where the bills are. it's a great way to address a need without doing something completely heinous. And then like 15 minutes later, it was great because I was actually going back and forth on Twitter with our guy Ted Nguyen, where he was like, you know, I don't know if I love this. I don't know if DJ Moore is worth that. And I'm like, it's a fourth round pick, like for where the bills are with their cap. I think this is totally fine. And then eight minutes later, it comes out that it's pick 60. And I was like, you know what? Scratch everything I just said.

5:01Derrik Klassen: I don't like this nearly as much as I did. It reeks of Brandon Bean being very desperate to solve an issue that helped sink his team last year. It is a steep price to pay. And on top of that, from the sounds of it, they're going to restructure his deal in such a way to guarantee his money into 2028. So another appealing thing about the DJ Moore deal when I first saw it was maybe in one year or at worst in two years, you can get away from this. DJ Moore is now going to be involved with the Bills for three years, or at the very least, they'll be responsible for three years worth of money for a second round pick.

5:39Derrik Klassen: That's so much.

5:40Robert Mays: The fifth does matter in the calculus, right? So it probably settles if you actually look at the draft capital somewhere around a third round pick. But top 100 picks are extremely valuable, right? And the way that I'm looking at it from the Bears' perspective, and we can dig into the Bills' side of this in a second, my thought was they would get... So there are two different kind of competing traits. that I think you could potentially use as a sort of blueprint for this sort of return. So if you look at like the Stefan Diggs trade, and I don't remember exactly how much money Diggs had left on his deal, but I assume it was generally in the same sort of range when it comes to a couple of years of guarantees, 20 to$25 million a year.

6:15Robert Mays: The Bills get a second round pick in that deal. They give a Diggs, a sixth round pick and a fifth round pick in the following year back to the Texans. So that's one kind of outline of a trade like this. And then you have the Amari Cooper trade, which he had$20 million, I think, for two more years left on his deal. The Browns get him for a fifth round pick. I always assumed that this would be closer to the Amari Cooper trade than it would be to the Stefan Diggs trade. And so my thought was the idea of a fourth round pick and the Bears being able to shed that salary. All right, that makes sense.

6:47Robert Mays: It's always kind of what I thought it would be. This was always about freeing up that money you were going to have to pay DJ Moore if you were trading him away. But now, Derek, beyond that, you free up$16 million in cap space if you're the Bears, and you now have the 60th pick in the draft. So TJ Moore is a good player, but being able to potentially now add like one and a half to two and a half starters with the resources that you freed up in this sort of deal for a guy who had become the third or fourth most important pass catching option on your team, this is a very good outcome if you were the Bears in this sort of trade.

7:21Dave Helman: So that's the thing. I think if Colston Loveland doesn't look like a superstar and if Luther Burden doesn't show you something, the Bears can't do this. Like, I know that DJ Moore has been like a frustrating player over the handful of years that he's been there. But if those two guys don't hit the way that they do, they can't do this. The fact that those two guys burden, you know, we'll see. I think there's still more flashes than substance. But come on, a guy. Luther Burden is a superstar. He's still we'll see about that. Loveland, I'm willing to give superstar. That guy is going to be like Rob Gronkowski.

7:49Dave Helman: um but I'm like because of how good those guys are straight to Gronk I love it I have no pushback okay listen that's where we are the dude is amazing he can count for like two or three wide receivers out there so I'm super excited for him this makes the DJ Moore thing make sense and I also think even though this is a steep price for Buffalo and I would not have paid a second round pick for a guy like DJ Moore I do think there is some argument for like DJ Moore's role and what he was within the offense and how he felt in Chicago was clearly just messed around the entire time that he was there. Obviously, in 2023, he goes and is traded there.

8:25Dave Helman: And with Justin Fields, he's like a vertical guy. And they actually he has a kind of a decent connection with Justin Fields. And that starts to work in 2024. They obviously bring in Caleb Williams. The offense is bad. The offensive line isn't good. He kind of becomes more of a short underneath, like kind of possession guy, kind of like he was at points in Carolina. And then Ben Johnson comes in and he goes back to a vertical guy, but his role and volume in the offense drops a little bit. So I just, there's still a part of me that I actually can see how this works out for the bills. If he just immediately goes there and is like, I like playing with Josh Allen.

8:56Dave Helman: I like Joe Brady's offense. I like the way that all this, this works. He'll clearly be the number one guy. Like even though it's a steep price, I actually am kind of okay with this for both. I'm kind of optimistic.

9:05Robert Mays: I think the fit and like what he can be within the offense. I have no issues with that whatsoever. It's a huge upgrade for them. I absolutely think the role will kind of crystallize in a way that it never did in Chicago. For on a football level, I'm very excited to see what he can do in an offense with an offensive court with a play caller. He's not the head coach. Forgot about that. Joe Brady was the offensive coordinator in Carolina when DJ Moore was there. So there's a little bit of a connection there.

9:28Dave Helman: Oh, that's right.

9:29Robert Mays: For me, this is about the price. This is about like, this is more about the contract than it is about the trade value, like guaranteeing 18 million of that third year. So now we're in a place where he has 23, I think, and a half million dollars a year in 26 and 27. So guaranteeing that$18 million in 2028, we're now looking at essentially a three year,$75 million contract with$63 million guaranteed. That's a ton to get to give to a guy who's entering his age 29 season. If you look at other wide receiver contracts and kind of where that lands, the AAV, if you account for inflation of the cap is less than the contracts handed out to guys like Nico Collins and Devante Smith, but the guarantees are more, again, for a guy entering his age 29 season.

10:19Robert Mays: And so this is just when you think about the draft capital needed to make this deal happen, plus the amount of money you're now on the hook for into a guy's age 31 season at receiver, even if I like the short term football outcome of this for the Bills, you are incurring a ton of risk with this sort of deal.

10:38Derrik Klassen: And that's at the end of the day, that's the thing. And And on the bright side, if you're a Bills fan, DJ Moore can still pay this off. Like he could be good enough to make this worth it, right? For the ambitions that the Bills have and where they're trying to go. If he helps you get there, you're not going to care about any of that stuff. And I do think he's turning 29 this year. He's even if he's not like a blockbuster sort of player, like he's not what Stefan Diggs was when they traded for Stefan Diggs so many years ago. But he can still be good and potentially even better with a quarterback like Josh Allen.

11:09Derrik Klassen: but it's just that much harder to meet that threshold. And all of the things that you typically like about a trade, like when you trade for a 29-year-old receiver, you're like, okay, but we only gave up a mid-round pick. Well, that's not true. Okay, but the deal is structured in a way that we can cut him next year, no harm, no foul. That's not true either. All right, well, at least it's only a two-year deal, also not true. So like none of - The 30-year guarantees to me is just like, why? Why was this necessary? None of the things that make you feel better about taking a risk like this are there for the Bills.

11:41Derrik Klassen: So it just, it makes it a little bit harder to meet that threshold. But fortunately, you have an MVP quarterback and I, you know, I'm just hoping, if I'm a Bills fan, I'm hoping like hell that Josh Allen can bring the absolute best out of DJ Moore. And I guess I'm also hoping that the Bills aren't done, right? Like, I don't think this can be, and that's the draft too. The draft, yeah, they could ask me in the draft. I'm not saying they have to do anything crazy in free agency, but I would still be trying to add weapons in the draft even after this. So here's the bit of information.

12:12Robert Mays: We do not have a sound version of this information that Brandon Bean likely does have. And that's how much some of these wide receivers and free agency were going to cost next week. And so that has to be part of the calculus and part of the conversation here, right? And so let's just throw out a couple different names. The first one I'll throw out is not somebody that's a free agent, but just for some wide receiver contract context, context, Jamison Williams,$26.5 million a year on a three-year deal,$67 million guaranteed. So that actually is kind of what we're talking about here with the DJ Moore thing.

12:45Robert Mays: And Jamison Williams, again, on a three-year deal, that's probably the most analogous contract. So part of this is just that wide receiver contracts are becoming astronomical. And so the idea that DJ Moore is getting the Jamison Williams contract, he's five years older than Williams was when he got that deal. I think that's important to keep in mind. But I think Jamison Williams, a lot of people would be shocked that that is the price for him if you weren't paying attention to the details. To bring it to this receiver, wide receiver, the free agency group though, let's just throw out some hypothetical numbers.

13:12Robert Mays: I was talking to a GM yesterday who told me that Pierce is going to land maybe like 27 and a half million dollars a year. It's kind of what he thought might be the range for that. So you're coming in$4 million a year less for DJ Moore than you might have to pay for Alec Pierce. If we're in a world where Rashid Shaheed is getting$15 million a year. Would you rather pay$23 million a year for DJ Moore, even if he's a little bit older? This gets messy because the draft capital plus the contract sends you into a different place. But I can understand if you look just at the money of the guys who are going to be available in free agency, and then you compare it to what DJ Moore can potentially give you, Derek, landing in a place where you're just like, f*** it.

13:54Robert Mays: like why would I pay 18 million dollars a year for Romeo Dobbs if I can pay 23 million dollars a year for a better player draft capital be damned I don't love that thought process but I can see how

14:05Dave Helman: it happens well and it's it's the certainty that you get them like when you trade for a guy like that is yours nobody else gets to compete for this like you are you have him right there whereas if you go into free agency being like oh we'll sign a guy and then you're trying to fiddle for a couple million dollars for this guy and then maybe this guy just doesn't want to play in Buffalo and then you have all these things it's like well now the top five or six receivers are just off the market and then you end up in the spot kind of where you were last year where you end up signing a guy of like Josh Palmer's caliber who like can do something for you but at his best is not as good as a player as DJ Moore is at his best.

14:39Robert Mays: Josh Palmer is a great example and that Josh Palmer is going to come a couple times on this show when we talk about wide receiver contracts but even if you look at the last couple years and we'll go back to a guy who was actually just caught today Darnell Mooney getting$13 million a year from the Falcons. Rashid Shahid, would you be surprised if Rashid Shahid got$15 million a year? No. I don't think I would be either. That's what Cooper Cup got last year, right? I mean, Rashad Bateman got 12.3 on his extension from the Ravens.

15:05Dave Helman: Special team stuff too, right?

15:06Robert Mays: So, and Rashid Shahid is kind of the guy, when we were going to do best fits, he was the guy I was going to throw on the Bills. I was like, does this make sense in terms of skill set for the Bills who need a little bit of giddy up and a little bit of juice? So if he's making 15 and you're paying 23 for DJ Moore, I understand how you get there even if I think the downside is pretty real

15:23Derrik Klassen: the funny thing is I already said it I would be applauding the Bills if this was a lesser pick because I would if it was a 4 if it was a 4th round pick that you were sending I would rather give up a 4 for DJ Moore on his contract than anybody that's available in free agency this year including Pierce for the price like I might rather have Pierce in a vacuum but for that amount of money not really it's where it becomes a second round pick where I get a little dubious. And I was joking in our discord chat a couple hours ago. I was like, I guess you just got to hope that it's the run of the mill type of second round pick.

15:58Derrik Klassen: You know, I mean, like it's not as if it's guaranteed to be James Cook every time you make this pick. So maybe it goes back to what we talked about earlier in the week about overvaluing draft picks. If DJ Moore can elevate this offense, then it'll probably be worth it. but the cost of it makes me a little less confident than I would have been.

16:18Robert Mays: We're not going to have to worry about that version of the hit on the second round pick for the Bears specifically because the Bears are dealing this pick and their first round pick next year for Max Crossley.

16:27Derrik Klassen: I'm glad you said it so I didn't have to paint you into a corner, but like, I mean, with Bears, we freed up a ton of space. We're adding tools to the war chest.

16:37Robert Mays: It's not that much space.

16:37Derrik Klassen: It's enough to do it. It's enough to have some fun with.

16:40Robert Mays: So our producer, Katie, we were sitting in the bullpen before we started recording And she said, how much cap space do the Bears have now after the DJ Moore trade? And off the top of my head, doing the Dahlman math, the Edmunds math, and the Moore math, I know it. It's like$30 million. I don't even have to look anymore. $30 million is enough to sign whoever you want to. Okay. You need two safeties, a linebacker, a left tackle, and a starting center if you're the

17:04Derrik Klassen: Bears still. I'm 100%. I don't want to get into what we're going to talk about on the show just yet, but I've been thinking about this all morning. I'd be happy to pay Tyler Linderbaum what he wants and then use my draft capital to do the rest of what you just described I'm in, I'd do it Alright, we'll address that We'll address that in a moment

17:25Robert Mays: Alright, we're going to take our first quick break and then we're going to come back and chat through a few of these superlative categories

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20:53Robert Mays: all right we've got about eight of these eight to ten of them that we're going to run through let's start with where my notes start because that's really the only guidance i have here and that's with favorite fits just your favorite fits player team in this free agency crop derek start us off buddy your favorite fit as you went through this year's group of free agents and you were

21:13Dave Helman: trying to pair them with the team i mean i do have like a handful here but i'll start with one of the talk about this yeah I'll start with a big ticket item before we get some of the smaller ones the Chargers they have to come away with either Tyler Linderbaum or Jalen Phillips and Tyler Linderbaum seeing I mean we all saw interesting we all saw the playoff game that cannot happen again like they need to have a center who I think can fix uh you know help Justin Herbert out solidify the interior obviously there's you know uh Joe Hortiz having been in the Ravens building when when Tyler Linderbaum was drafted all that jazz Jalen Phillips to me Khalil Mack is probably going to walk because I think in terms of like long term plan for them, he probably doesn't really fit.

21:52Dave Helman: Mac might end up elsewhere. I can talk about one of my favorite fits for him in a moment. Jalen Phillips, though, is kind of like a younger version of a similar style player where he has a very similar build. He's a really strong edge defender, really more of like a pocket pusher kind of bull type than he is somebody who really gets around the edge. I just think if they want to go for somebody who is injuries aside entering his prime, I actually think that's a pretty good way for the Chargers to spend their money. And they don't have very many edge players right now on the roster they've won i mean because always hitting free

22:21Robert Mays: agency too it's really just too so they're gonna have to do something there all right so here's where i'm at with the chargers and linderbaum i can't see it happening i just can't because of just hortiz's history and like the way that the ravens have historically operated but not just that i think the way that he and that front office in general view free agency and he's been open about this. If you're going to pay the sticker price for free agents, that you give yourself so few avenues to have value across your roster. And I think that will continue to be a driving mindset for them, even as they have money.

22:56Robert Mays: So this to me is like a very good thought exercise, right? So the Chargers specifically feel like a team to me that instead of giving Tyler Linderbaum $20 million a year. They give Conor McGovern$12 million a year where they think, you know what? We would rather just have a guy at almost half the price that we think is a starter for us. I'm not saying that's going to happen, but I think that's the mindset that they're going to take into free agency. I'd be surprised if they shop at the top of the market.

23:23Dave Helman: Does Mike McDaniel being the offensive coordinator change that for you at all? Because I do think Tyler Linderbaum is like a perfect fit for what he wants to do offensively.

23:31Robert Mays: I don't disagree with that schematically. I just think in terms of, again, And the mindset that they took into free agency last year, and I think it's going to be hard for them to kick, I just don't see them throwing a ton of money around on top of the market players.

23:45Derrik Klassen: I also don't think of the Ravens, and that's where Joe comes from, but giving coaches an outsized voice and stuff like that. I think of the Ravens as having— They'll have a process. They have a process. They stick to it.

23:58Robert Mays: And I think the Chargers will have a similar process. Yeah, that would be my guess. Connor McGovern was actually the one I was going to throw out for the Chargers. and from the run game perspective, you're 100 % right, right? I just think about like what McDaniel has been and I mean, he signed Aaron Brewer to be a center two years ago and I think that's exactly what they've sought out when it comes to all that zone blocking. For me, the reason I liked McGovern is he's so smart and having a guy that can handle some of that stuff, I just feel like the Chargers desperately need somebody like that in the middle of their offense and the other team that I would throw out and I don't know if they're going to be willing to spend this much money on a guy like this, Houston desperately could use a guy like this that just helps them sort through stuff.

24:40Robert Mays: So the Chargers and the Texans, both of them, I just felt like could benefit from a guy like Connor McGovern in the middle of their offense.

24:46Derrik Klassen: Will you meet us halfway and at least, do you feel any sense of optimism that the Chargers, however they want to spend it, they need to do more this year than they did last year. Yes, I think they will. Not getting out over your skis and heading into your second year is fine, but last year it was Mekhi Becton and Will Disley and nobody else of note. I feel like the Chargers need to be using this money to bring in multiple real deal starters, even if they're not top of the market. I think that will happen.

25:14Robert Mays: I think that they will use the money to find like three new starters along the interior of the offensive line, but because they have to find three, that's why I could see them moving the money around a little bit. Like just if we're doing the simple math on it, if McGovern's getting 12 to 13 a year and Linderbaum's getting 20 a year, that$7 million is a starting guard potentially. And I think that's how they will conceive of it. Again, that's just tea leaves talking to people and just knowing the mindset that I think kind of hangs over that organization when it comes to stuff like this. All right, so I had, Conor McGovern was one of mine.

25:46Derrik Klassen: Well, let's just get it all out of the way right here because we talked about it at the top, but Tyler Linderbaum feels like a great fit for the Bears. And the only thing that was holding it back before was they didn't have the money for it, but now they do. They have a needed center. They kind of do. No, they do. it like you got to get funny with it obviously and i know the bears are not the most flush with cash nfl organization in terms of like liquidity but they have the cap space to make a deal work if they were hell-bent on doing it and it would probably be your biggest like maybe only expenditure of free agency but you've got draft capital to deal with the rest of that you just added a second round pick in the dj more thing i for the considering and i know that i know that these are not their only choices.

26:29Derrik Klassen: But between giving up a ton for Max Crosby in addition to what he would cost you, I would rather use that money on Tyler Linderbaum. I think obviously, I mean, he's going to fit with what anybody wants to do, but I think he fits with Ben Johnson really well. Ben Johnson has just always had really, really good offensive linemen to work with. And I think you don't want to step away from that after losing Drew Dahlman. So souping that up, having him in the middle of that to keep your strength the strength and you can have all that draft capital to spend on your defense I think it would be really fun and I would rather soup up the Bears offense and and worry about you know piecemealing it on the defense side that that's just me I think I'd rather have

27:13Robert Mays: be honest for half that's where I sit with it because I just think they have too many needs so here's here's what I'll throw out there for you okay let's do let's do this as an exercise I had one guy that I was sending to the Bears as the best fit. If we're going to move on from Tremaine Edmonds. Why don't we just drop Demario Davis into the middle of the Bears defense?

27:33Dave Helman: Oh, yes.

27:34Robert Mays: We're going to have so much overlap on all of these notes

27:37Derrik Klassen: because I've got Demario somewhere else in my notebook.

27:40Robert Mays: Okay, so Demario Davis for Dennis Allen. Okay, let's say Demario Davis makes$8 million a year on a one-year deal. And let's say you're paying Biotish$8 million a year. And then you need a starting safety in somewhere. That's$6 to$7 million a year. that's three players for the Linderball money. And I just think that's how I would do it. I'd rather do it that way.

27:59Derrik Klassen: It sounds good. I think it sounds good in March.

28:02Dave Helman: Yeah, I think I get that. But isn't there a value in like making sure the offense is supercharged when that is your identity? I think there's a little bit of value to that.

28:11Robert Mays: I think you guys are underrating how many holes they have. I don't want to spend the next hour talking about the Bears. There are a ton of holes on this team.

28:17Derrik Klassen: Okay. I hear you. I guess that depends on, and I mean, I know the goal is to win the Super Bowl, but what's your timeline? Like, I don't need the Bears to win the Super Bowl in 2026. As long as we're working toward that over the next, like, two or three years before Caleb Williams is a really expensive player. So if we don't feel 100 % good about the defense heading into 2026, I, Dave, don't personally care that much. Especially if Tyler Linderbaum's now going to be a part of this thing for four or five years. I still think I'd rather have Biotis for half

28:50Robert Mays: alright your next favorite fit

28:52Derrik Klassen: this is really basic because you just look at a guy guy's skill set and plug him into the thing that sounds the most fun and I know they don't have any money they're working on fixing it I'd just like to see Caden Ellis with Brian Flores I think that would be really fun just like the blitz happiest best blitzer linebacker possible with the guy that likes to do it the most, or maybe a more realistic one. And again, also basic, but the Buccaneers badly need linebacker play. They're very familiar with Caden Ellis. If they wanted to throw him some money, either one of those, I think, could be a hell of a lot of fun.

29:30Robert Mays: The Buccaneers actually, I think that does make some sense. Derek, did you have any linebackers in your favorite fits?

29:35Dave Helman: I only had one, and I think money-wise, it's going to be tough to figure out, but I'm also not sure what this player is going to make given his injury history and like how specific of a player he is. I think putting N 'Kobe Dean next to Roquan Smith could be really really fun like I think they I understand they're a little bit excited about some of the young players that they have but I just think how explosive he is as a player I think is is kind of like very similar to what they could have had with Patrick Queen obviously if they'd been able to keep him around obviously they couldn't so I think in terms of like money wise and like figuring out if they really want to step over young players at the tough one but I do think that would be an incredibly fun linebacker duo

30:11Robert Mays: all right I have two guys that I threw potentially on the Ravens one I think is actually like a realistic thing that they should consider and I think it actually does make a lot of sense it's guy you already mentioned Eric Jalen Phillips to Baltimore to me yeah I just think that he makes so much sense it's a position of need the Ravens are an interesting spot right and so we obviously know that the Lamar contract is kind of looming over everything if they restructure Lamar's deal just take it down to zero. They free up a ton of cap space. That makes his 2027 cap hit insane, but that gives you a year to potentially do that extension and bring that number down.

30:48Robert Mays: Exactly. And so if you wanted to kick the can, this is a team that if they wanted to move on from Marlon Humphrey, if they wanted to restructure Lamar Jackson, they could be looking at like a ton of money in cap space. And again, they have$33 million a year in the 2027 cap in that situation. but if they want to extend Lamar, then that frees them up next year if they want to do that. So them as a team, we're like, yeah, we can get a little frisky if we want to because we have more holes than we typically do coming into this part of the calendar. I think Jalen Phillips, them just like, you know what, let's stop f***ing around with like this edge stuff.

31:22Robert Mays: Like let's go out, let's solve this problem once and for all and let's get a real guy at this spot. They have signed guys in free agency at the top of the market at times when there have been players out there. Marcus Williams is the best example. And so if they see Jalen Phillips kind of an exception to the guys usually available, is he a guy that they would spend money for?

31:41Derrik Klassen: I mean, I know he was a trade too, but they turned around and gave Roquan that deal as well. Like they are willing to splash money on guys. So that's one I would throw out.

31:50Robert Mays: And the other one that I, this I think would be harder to do because I didn't realize that the Bateman extension was fresh enough where he's going to be on the roster this year. But the one that I had in mind, and Derek, this is, I'm hoping not to like send you into space by doing this. What if we just dropped Mike Evans onto the Ravens?

32:07Dave Helman: Yes. Yes. I, I, I want it to happen. I think I've just been so like the Ravens have no idea how to figure out how to find ball winners. So I've just kind of given up like they've spent a decade trying to find these guys in the draft, in free agency. It's like smaller deals, bigger, like they cannot find the guy who is the ball winner. So if they went out and just said, you know what? no messing around Mike Evans is clearly still a very good player I would be over the moon about

32:38Derrik Klassen: that I don't want to splash cold water on that I love Mike Evans I think he's a hall of famer or at least has a great case for it how many times are the Ravens gonna do that like this guy was at the top of his game five years ago thing like how many times was at the top of his game two years ago he was I'm aware I am aware but the Ravens always go after these all pro caliber receivers when they're entering the end of their time of usefulness I mean we can go through the

33:10Robert Mays: list if we want to so with Mike Evans specifically I think what he had aged into starting last year he was never just like a big ball winning receiver he was more than that now I kind of think he's transitioning into a big ball winning receiver. And that's what the Ravens need. And so the 2026 version of Mike Evans, I think is fine. When you think about the exact skillset that Baltimore needs, this is by the way, this is like a pie in the sky, bullshit thing. I was just thinking about it as I was considering like fun guys, they could spend money on and skillsets. They don't have, I think Mike Evans is probably going to be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer next year.

33:44Derrik Klassen: This is completely irrational. It's total bullshit. I know that, but, and I'm not even superstitious, But like if Mike Evans re-signs in Tampa, if Mike Evans goes to San Francisco, I guess he's not going to go to Buffalo now. If Mike Evans wound up in Kansas City, I'd be like, great. He's still got some juice. He's going to be awesome. If he signs in Baltimore, I'm just like, oh, shit, it's over. He signed with the Ravens. He's not going to be any good. This is Anquan Bolden erasure.

34:07Robert Mays: Anquan Bolden had really nice stretches in Baltimore, even though he was deeper into his career. It was quite a while ago. It wasn't that long ago to me. It feels like yesterday to me. All right. So I have a few more. Derek, do you have any others? favorite fits that you like?

34:21Dave Helman: I've got two more that I want to bring up for sure. And they're both a little bit further down the list in terms of payment. I talked about Khalil Mack and mentioned that a little bit. The Seahawks have enough money and enough edge players they need to replace. Why not bring in another mercenary like Khalil Mack? Him and Demarcus Lawrence and Derek Hall is the most f*** you and Drew that you can absolutely... Like, I just, I think it would be so good. Obviously, you're just microwaving and hoping that they can just win a Super Bowl next year because he's not going to be in the future. but how sick would that combo be?

34:51Derrik Klassen: We were talking the other day about edge rushers, just like Khalil Mack signing on with teams with a chance to win a championship.

34:58Robert Mays: I mean, is best finishing moves going to be one of our categories here? Absolutely. So we have best finishing moves coming up here later. Like guys that just, this is the last thing you need to do to put yourself over the top. My first note is, is Khalil Mack this year's Demarcus Lawrence? Why not do it on the same team?

35:14Dave Helman: Just run it back.

35:15Derrik Klassen: Demarcus is like, welcome. It's great. Do you have any other best fits? Yeah, I have one cautiously optimistic. Again, I don't fully believe that the Cowboys will do anything next week, at least nothing of note. And I think this is a great middle ground because you don't have to do anything crazy. This doesn't have to be a big contract. I'd like to see Draymond Jones in Dallas. Just a sensible signing that fits a need. He's familiar with that scheme. He can play a variety of different roles on your front. I still think he looked pretty good for Tennessee and Baltimore and I don't think you would have to break the bank to sign him and useful player.

35:53Derrik Klassen: Yeah, that would be a great signal to me like, okay, even if Dallas isn't going after big fish like this would be a departure from what they usually do.

36:02Robert Mays: my one edge rusher that I had just because I think he's going to get paid I think that they have money to throw around and just skill set wise I think that he fits with somebody leaving that team potentially this year in free agency what if we just sent out Dafa away to the Patriots

36:16Dave Helman: oh that would be good and actually get some edge you know pass rushers because like Chazon and Landry were nice players but not like oh my god that guy is going to tear off the edge

36:25Robert Mays: and get to the quarterback so that's I kind of think of it as like just an upgrade on what Chason was giving them last year. That's how I conceive of it. And that's kind of why I did that. So I think that skill set does make sense. A couple more that I had, I've talked about this a little bit, a bunch of different places, Dobbs in San Francisco or Kansas city, like either one of those places, I think specifically needs a player with his skill set. And like the chiefs desperately need that sort of guy, whether it's Dobbs, Juwan Jennings, Mike Evans, whoever it happens to be, there are guys that provide exactly what their offense needs available in free agency this year but him in San Francisco I could just see it I can see him in the helmet I can see him in the offense it's easy we talked about Alec Pierce in Tennessee like that to me they have way too much money they're the team that has the biggest needed outside receiver that one I think tracks do we like a back on the Chiefs is there anybody that you had in mind that you wanted to

37:19Dave Helman: put on the Chiefs at running back I went with ETN I think ETN probably makes the most sense for them I also had another AFC West running back. This was the last one I wanted to shout. Tyler Algier needs to be a Denver Bronco.

37:30Robert Mays: Like, see, I had, I also had that. It was my don't, he's one of my don't overthink it guys. So we can get to that in a second. So, and that's, and Algier is like a finishing piece. I actually really do like that. I tried to drop him on a couple of different teams, which we can talk about. And it's funny, that's actually not true. My best finishing moves for Denver, Rico Doudle. So the exact same, like very similar thought process. Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yes.

37:55Derrik Klassen: You think the Chiefs want to spend Etienne money at running back? I mean, I know they need one.

38:01Robert Mays: It's a great question.

38:01Derrik Klassen: They've needed one for a minute.

38:03Robert Mays: It's a great question. I don't know the answer to that. I mean, if he's making, what do we think Travis Etienne's going to make in free? I think that's going to be the question.

38:10Dave Helman: Oh, I don't know. 75 % of whatever Kenneth Walker makes. Okay. Could I get him for 12?

38:17Robert Mays: If I could get him for 12, I'd like that more. I assume that, again, all of these contracts that might be used as uh, comparison points. None of them were free agents, but like Derek Henry on his most recent extension with the Ravens signed a$15 million a year deal. The deal before that for Derek Henry and free agency was 8 million bucks a year. And so I assume that the ETN Walker market, maybe Walker would get a little bit more just because you're betting on, can he be the explosive player he was in the playoffs for us moving forward? Like, are we going to get his best football? But if ETN settled like, like 9 million bucks, 10 million bucks a year, I don't think I would find that shocking.

38:54Robert Mays: Running backs, I don't really like with receivers. It's like add 3 million more to what you think it is. Running backs, I'm just not sure I would apply the same level of thinking.

39:02Derrik Klassen: I'm admittedly bad at projecting these sorts of things. It gives me all sorts of anxiety if I could get him for much cheaper than that. And I get that. That's what gave me pause is I'm like, do the chiefs really want to hand out a contract that that big to a running back? I just wonder if they're not going to be as big as you think they're no other positions.

39:18Robert Mays: Yes. And if they're not, then I'm way more interested. So that, I think that one makes sense. And I think that's the last one I had because the other one was Rashid Shahid to Buffalo, which I now, we don't need to talk about that anymore. All right, let's get to maybe some value signings that we like, not necessarily based on fit, but just guys that you think where their price may land, you're going to be happy that your team signed them. Who's your first guy, Dave? Obvious, but I'll get it out of the way.

39:44Derrik Klassen: It's Kyler Murray for me. Oh, that one's cheating. I'm just saying, fine, whatever. Vet minimum for a starting quarterback, occasionally good one. That was where my head went first. The last time we did this was Russell Wilson

39:59Robert Mays: in like the 2024 version of Russell Wilson.

40:03Derrik Klassen: That's a little bit different, right? It's very different. That's what I'm saying.

40:05Robert Mays: That's what I'm implying is that it's different. We don't have to say it's that over for Kyler yet. I don't think it is. That's kind of what I mean. I don't think it's nearly as over as it was for Russell Wilson the last time that we did this. Okay. And even, well, we don't have to get into that, but I was going to say, even for the Steelers, like he gave you more value than a million dollars. Like even if he wasn't that good of a quarterback, like just objectively he did. And so the fact that it's not that over for Kyler, I think that's pretty clear. Derek, who's your first one here? Favorite value signings that you guys do just think are going to be available at the right price this week.

40:39Dave Helman: So I actually had a few and a lot of mine are actually like really down low in the bargain bin in terms of guys that are going to sign for nothing and I think be solid, but two that I think will get like decent money and I think overperform or at least be really helpful for their team are two Browns players. I think Joel Batonio and David Njoku, because of their age, some of the injury history stuff recently, the Browns obviously just being terrible last year. I think there's a little bit of like they're being pushed off to the side and I think some team is probably going to get them for a couple million dollars cheaper per year than they would probably deserve otherwise.

41:09Robert Mays: I think those are both good names to throw out in that aging left guard conversation. We talked about him a lot this week, but if David Edwards, who we'll talk about in a minute, is going to make 15 to 16 million dollars a year, I'll take Salamalo for half. I just think that's the type of guy I'd be thinking about. Jalen Thompson is somebody we mentioned yesterday. Is he somebody that you can get for eight, nine million dollars a year as a starting safety? I think that's one that I will like. Where are you at with Quincy Williams, Derek?

41:35Dave Helman: I OK, so I actually think Quincy Williams is I kind of almost had him in a different category, but I do think that he is going to be he is also in a similar category where I think because of the weird coaching like turnover last year and I think him just like not you know being on and off the field a little bit it just seems like I wasn't the right fit but you could totally I actually in the show that we did yesterday almost compared him to like when the Texans signed Aziz Alshair where he is just immediately this like DNA changer like speed go go go violent hit type of guy that you can put into the middle of the defense.

42:12Dave Helman: Almost the way we talked about like Dre Greenlaw as well when he got signed with Denver, like that kind of signing. I think he could totally be that. And it's going to be cheaper than it was when the Texans signed Alshair or when the Broncos signed Dre Greenlaw. So I'm pretty still I'm still pretty into Quincy Williams as one of the best linebackers in this class.

42:29Robert Mays: I my thought process is very similar when it just comes to you know what? What a disaster last year was like if we can get him into a better spot, can we get him at the right price? He's just somebody that I'd be interested in if I had a needed linebacker. So those were my three.

42:43Derrik Klassen: Did you have any others? We talked about him. Kenny Gainwell is just a guy I would be really excited to add to my running back room. And then, I mean, with a few exceptions, because I do think there will be some guys that get bigger deals, but those veteran safeties that I assume you can have for a lower price, I think. again going back to the bears if you not to keep harping on tyler linderbaum but like if they were to spend a bunch of money on one position i think you could address safety without breaking the bank in this year's class that would be my guess yeah that's probably right but even like let's say it's

43:19Robert Mays: cam curl cam curl is still probably going to get like eight million dollars a year in free agency

43:23Derrik Klassen: it's not nothing but what no but like you could even you could go further down the line i mean Kevin Byard had a great season, but like you mentioned Elohi Gilman a couple days ago. Yeah. Xavier Woods for a very low price could probably play a useful role in a good defense. I know it didn't really go well in Cincinnati, but for the price, Geno Stone, like I like that. You can. That would scare me. I that's the other names are fine.

43:52Robert Mays: You've taken this to a place I'm not willing to go. Maybe not in Chicago.

43:55Derrik Klassen: Defender.

43:56Robert Mays: There are some places where I think it could work. Speaking of the Bengals, I have a weird one for you. We didn't talk about this for best fits, but it came across my mind today when I was just thinking about what he could be in the larger group and where he would make sense right now. Who knows if he would even want to play there. He might have decided that he'd rather hang it up than do this. But what about Bobby Wagner in Cincinnati?

44:19Dave Helman: I mean, they need an adult in the room. That's kind of my thought process.

44:22Robert Mays: Where it's like you sign a vet. He's very limited at this point in his career, but you ask him to do what he's good at. You were just a disaster when it comes to like your guys playing downhill last year. And he doesn't help, you know, the side to side kind of concerns you had on perimeter runs. Like that's not where he is right now. But I just think that adding some stability to that room when you were so, so young last year, is that something worth thinking about?

44:47Derrik Klassen: I'm just imagining how sad it would make me if it didn't go well. Like if the Bengals defense doesn't get any better and Bobby Wagner is the only famous member of that unit and he's just taking all the blame for the Bengals being terrible. I mean, that may happen. That's a shitty way to like be the last image of a Hall of Fame worthy career. Would that would bum me out? I mean, if it worked, that would be great. But I'm just drifting toward like late October and the Bengals can't stop a nosebleed. And it's Bobby Wagner's fault, even though he's 45 years old or however old he is.

45:23Robert Mays: Speaking of the commanders, we talked about this earlier in the week, but them as the Jonathan Grenard team, just that one makes sense to me. They don't have the draft capital. Maybe it's a 2027 pick. Like maybe you throw a 2027 third at Minnesota for them to get that contract off their books. Like that's one that I just, I don't know. I have this, the Durante Jones part of it. They need, they have such a need there. Like that one I can just see happening.

45:46Derrik Klassen: Oh, I had, I had one more. And this is another guy we've mentioned because we've been doing shows all week, but how big would the contract be for Rasul Douglas? And like that thing. Yeah.

45:57Dave Helman: At this age, he's what, 31 and a half right now? I think he's 30, 32 maybe. Almost 32.

46:02Robert Mays: I just, the problem with those, and I love, no one loves a let's sign him on June 1st veteran corner addition more than me. The issue with that is that the cliff just happens immediately. Like you can, if you're going to be relying on that guy, there's a chance that he's just a zero for you the entire season. And so I wonder when that's coming for Rasul Douglas. Maybe it never comes. That's, that's the joy of this.

46:24Derrik Klassen: And yeah, maybe you wait until you've drafted a couple guys and you're like, oh, he can, he can play in front of the third round pick. And maybe by week four, it's like, no, the third round pick needs to play. That's okay. If you're, if you're approaching it

46:37Robert Mays: From two different angles, that's where you protect yourself a little bit. All right, next category here. I like this one a lot. I think this was Bell or a suggestion. Don't overthink it. These guys are good players. Just go out and get the good players and you'll be happy about it. I have three guys that I wanted to talk about here. Who's your first one? Don't overthink it in the 2026 free agent class.

46:53Derrik Klassen: I have two guys that play the same position at the top of my list. Jermaine Illuminor and Juwan Taylor. Like if that's something that you need, you're probably going to balk at the price because they play offensive tackle. And I'm not saying that they're perfect players, but if that's what you need, if you need a starting right tackle, these are the waters that you're in. Just pay them and they can do the job. And they'll probably never be all pro, but that's a different problem to fix. You find those guys in the draft. I would happily pay either one of those guys. And I think you probably get a little bit of sticker shock, but that is the cost of finding offensive tackle play in free agency.

47:35Derrik Klassen: And the fact that those guys are available, if you need a right tackle that badly, I think it's a blessing for you that they're there. So just pay them.

47:43Robert Mays: The way I've been thinking about Jermaine Illuminor is like, it's if we reround the clock two or three years for Morgan Moses. Yes. That's perfect. We're going to give him like 10 million bucks. He's going to be our starting right tackle

47:56Derrik Klassen: and we'll never have to think about it again. If you can find a guy in free agency that you don't have to think about, that is a blessing.

48:05Robert Mays: I like Illuminor. I actually like that a lot. Because again, I think that he's 31, I want to say. I think he'll be available for a decent price. And I just think that he gives you short-term stability. And he's been getting, he's been better over the course of his career. Yeah, I like that a lot. Again, he's been open about that. Like him, the light kind of turning off from him when he got to New York. And so I think I like that one.

48:24Derrik Klassen: That's when the deals start flying and people see the numbers attached to Jermaine Illuminor, I can imagine people being scared off by it. And it's like, that is, that's the price of not having to be stressed out about your right tackle. All right, I've got a couple here.

48:38Robert Mays: First one for me, and I don't know exactly where he fits just because he is sort of a specific player, but I do think there are a couple of teams that make sense. And I just think he's a good player. Chanel.

48:48Dave Helman: Yeah. See, I love that you frame it that way because I'm trying to figure out like who really wants a player like that, where more of a run defender than a pass defender, but you can put them on the edge and obviously be this movable piece. There's times where they've put him at like three tech to defend the run, obviously in like very weird scenarios, but there's gotta be somebody who can make a useful player out of that again.

49:08Robert Mays: I had two teams that came to mind for me and I'm thinking about blitz heavy teams and just him being able to play forward. The Jets and the Commanders are two teams that I kind of had in mind there. Like what he makes sense in Washington as they move on from Bobby Wagner. I just, that's, again, you, Dorothy Jones is coming in, you're gonna be a blitz heavy team most likely. so I wasn't exactly sure where the best teams and where the best landing spots might be but he's just one of those guys that I think he's going to sign for less money than he probably should because he is a specific guy and he's going to be a winning player for you the other guy that I think is going to sign for a lot of money we talked about this just in terms of the lack of guys available to position I just think he's good John Franklin Myers yes yes he is expensive my list he is just a good player and like again I think there's probably going to be some sort of sticker shock, but let's say he's getting 15 or so million dollars a year.

49:58Robert Mays: Grady Jarrett and Jonathan Allen were getting 18 million last year. And so if you can get him for that sort of range, he's never going to be like the most productive pass rusher or anything like that. But I just think he's a winning player as part of a defensive line rotation.

50:12Dave Helman: You need a guy on your defensive line who is just making space for everybody else and being a wrecking ball. And JFM is that. He's been that for like three different teams now. Like I just I would absolutely be over the moon to pay him. He is he was literally the first guy I had on my list was John Franklin Myers. And then the other two I had are guys that we've already talked about in some capacity. Joel Batonio, I think, is a very just like if you need a left guard, just sign him. Don't even think about it. And then Cam Curl. Like, I mean, I kind of made this case for Cam Curl two years ago before the Rams signed him that like this is a guy just signed like he's a good player, not a pro bowler, not like an all pro player.

50:49Dave Helman: But if you need B minus level safety play, sign that guy. you don't have to think about it again for the next year.

50:54Robert Mays: That was the one in real time. It was two years ago when that contract got signed. It was four and a half million dollars a year. There's some guys like I just remember in the moment when it happens, like Cam Crow was one of those. I've talked about this one before, but like when the Seahawks signed Michael Bennett and I saw that contract come across, I was like, that's bullshit. He's too good for to be paid that amount of money. And then he ended up being great for Seattle. And so Cam Crow was a bargain the moment he signed that deal with the Rams I assume he'll get a little bit more this year but I tend

51:23Derrik Klassen: to agree even two years later I'll stump for my guy Nick Cross one more time we already said he hasn't turned 25 yet he's missed one game in his career he's played 98 % of Indy's snaps since he was named a full-time starter two years ago and he flirted with 300 tackles over a two-year span like he's just a good young available football player and I wouldn't guess that the deal would be huge. Like he's not going to like break the bank. And then one more that I had. And so I took all of these notes on Wednesday night. So I didn't know what was going to happen today. So just indulge me. Not related to the Chicago Bears at all.

52:03Derrik Klassen: I'm I'm annoyed and tired of the Linderbaum discourse because I feel like he's being punished for how good at football he is. And I know this year wasn't like amazing. I know that. But like the whole reason Tyler Linderbaum's not even like the reason he's not under contract is because he's that good and because the franchise tag or excuse me the fifth year option tags are weird right like the you're not paying a center number it's all the offensive line so I get how the Ravens wound up in that situation but like I just I don't think you're gonna regret paying Tyler Linderbaum 21 million dollars a year even if he's not as good as Creed Humphrey that's I get that and I just I don't think it's gonna be an issue and if the fifth year option tags weren't so weird, the Ravens would have gotten this done 18 months ago and we wouldn't even be talking about it and nobody would care that he was that well-paid.

52:52Robert Mays: I don't think it's a thing where you're going to look at it and there's going to be a ton of buyer's remorse because he bottoms out in any sort of way. There's a couple different considerations there. One, he's a good player. Two, the history of signing interior offensive linemen and especially centers and free agency, it's one of the best things you can chase. like the hit rate on it is just higher than almost any other position. I'll say this though. He is a specific type of player. And I just don't know if I want to be paying$20 million a year to a specific type of center that is best in one kind of run scheme.

53:28Robert Mays: And he's not because he's a little bit undersized. He's not like an elite, elite pass protector between$20 million. And so when I think about that, to me, it's about opportunity cost, right? It's just like, if I think about giving him$20 million and I just want stability for$10 million, that's what I keep coming back to. I don't think that you're going to have fan bases beating down the doors of facilities with pitchforks and, you know, torches because their team signed Tyler Linderbaum. It's going to be one of those albatross deals you see in two years. I just am not sure him for$20 million a year is a good, smart football decision.

54:06Derrik Klassen: I think it just depends on where you are and what you want to do. And I mean, I'd say the way the league is trending, it's a great time to want or need a center that can turn your run game into something really explosive and amazing. I mean, look at some of the best, most innovative, lethal offenses lean on that stuff. Ben Johnson leans on that shit for all the cool razzle dazzle that Kayla Williams does. that's an incredibly important part of it. And I get your point. I mean, this goes back to the mailbag thing we did two weeks ago about why center's not valued. I just think, I feel like there's, it's turned into a discourse about whether Tyler Linderbaum is a good football player.

54:44Derrik Klassen: And I think that strays away from the mark. Like, I just, I don't think whoever pays him is going to regret it.

54:49Robert Mays: The answer to that can be yes, but he can also not be worth$20 million a year. Those two things can be true at the same time. I think that's where I land with it. I guess we'll see. My last good player, Tyler Algier. Tell him you're a good football player.

55:00Dave Helman: Yes, very good football player. Don't overthink it.

55:02Robert Mays: I just sign, like if you're a team that needs like an early down banger, the only reason that Denver to me wasn't as quick of an answer, Derek, is just because Denver last year, I mean, they were more slanted toward gap runs than almost any other team in the league. And obviously coming from Atlanta, it's been almost as much, if you look at percentages, zone runs for Algier over his first couple of years. That's the only reason that I didn't think he made the most sense there. I think you absolutely could drop him there. the other team that I was just like yeah I can cook with this is uh Washington oh that would be

55:34Dave Helman: great because they tried to do that with like you know when Brian Robinson was there and all that stuff and like yeah that okay that one could be really good early down grinder if they're going

55:42Robert Mays: to be more under center and like I just him in Washington I think makes sense but there are a bunch of different teams I think you could throw out for Tyler Algeer as a replacement for Kenneth Walker if Seattle moves on from Kenneth Walker that's going to be that's a very zone heavy scheme like you can list me like eight teams I think that could sign tower Tyrell G and I think

56:01Dave Helman: I'd be happy about it because to me I don't think it has to just be like he's just our early down grinder like if he is just straight up you're starting running back 75 % of the snaps like he can 100 % do that he did it as a rookie and he was pretty good there just aren't that many guys who

56:14Robert Mays: are doing that anymore you know I don't think he's limited to that explosive type yeah that's I think he's absolutely he is due for a bigger sort of role at his next stop than he had in Atlanta.

56:24Dave Helman: It's kind of just Josh Jacobs who is like that, right? Like who is like not super explosive, just like grinds a bunch of carries. Like it's kind of just Josh Jacobs in that role, which like Alisher might be able to do that, but there's just not that many guys like that.

56:37Robert Mays: All right, let's take our next quick break and then come back and hit a couple more of these categories.

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59:44Robert Mays: We can run through this next one pretty quickly. we wanted to just like favorite flyers guys that are going to be available for next to nothing that I would want on my team. You mentioned already one of them that I thought about, which was Kenny Gainwell. I had a couple more that I wanted to throw out there. Derek, did you have any of these?

59:59Dave Helman: I've got a couple and I dug a little deep for some of these. So the one that is not so deep is I think Joseph Osai is actually pretty interesting from the Bengals again, picking from sort of like the Browns offensive players. I mentioned like picking from a unit that was terrible, but finding a guy, it's like, okay, he's 25, 26, probably had his best season last year. he can defend the run a little bit I think that one is interesting and then I had two linebackers that might cost you like zero dollars who could be interesting Muhammad Diabate from the Browns is a restricted free agent but if they let him go I would be very interested in letting him come and compete in your room and potentially being a starter and then EJ Speed who had signed last year on a one-year deal for the Texans was a really good backup linebacker for them whenever he had to come in and play and I think he was good with the Colts beforehand now I think coming off that that little year where he got to sit, I think that he could be like a legitimate starting caliber linebacker for somebody for pennies.

1:00:50Robert Mays: Yeah, I think Texans' depth pieces are also a theme for me. I had Derek Barnett as one of my guys. I'm surprised he hasn't come up this week. He's one of those guys where he flashes more than he's consistently disruptive, but again, if we're just trying to build out those rooms and you're trying to go five or six deep on your defensive line room, I just think that he's somebody that can give you a little bit of pop. Sheldon Rankins is probably more expensive than that, but I'd be excited to sign Sheldon Rankins as a free agency after what he did last year.

1:01:17Dave Helman: And the thing I would say about Barnett is like, it's one of those cases where when you have a first round pick who kind of fizzles out and just isn't what you thought he would be, you kind of, when he becomes like a C-level player, we just like completely forget about him. Like he just was completely out of our mind, but it's like a C-level player is still a C-level player, even if he's not what he was supposed to be as a first round pick.

1:01:37Derrik Klassen: Do you have any favorite flyers, Seth? If you have a good quarterback... why not throw a small amount of money at Taequann Thornton? I like that. I was thinking about him yesterday too. It wasn't amazing for Kansas City, but they undeniably successful. It was okay. It was fine. Yeah. It was fine. I wouldn't do it unless I had one of the better quarterbacks, but why the hell not? Tutu Atwell made$10 million last year. That's crazy. I wouldn't want to pay Taequann 10, but yeah. That's what I'm saying.

1:02:07Robert Mays: But if you could get him for a half that or a third of that on a one-year deal, It's like I'd be interested in him and just providing a very specific skill set to your receiver room.

1:02:15Derrik Klassen: And then another one on offense. Lord, help me. Don't make fun of me. I assume. I can't promise you anything like that. I assume the price is going to be really low for a very good reason. But if the price is really low, I'd give J.K. Dobbins a shot to be part of my backfield. Yeah. He was good last year. He was good last year before he got hurt. I mean, the problem is he's hurt a lot. but if he's healthy and available and I just, I can't imagine that number's very big, I'd be happy to have him. I had three more guys.

1:02:44Robert Mays: We've talked about one of them at least this week. Charlie Kohler. I just, Charlie Kohler is somebody that - I'm telling you, he's like, I'm not trying to break the bank for him, but he would be so high on my wish list. Charlie Kohler just makes sense as to why he didn't play that much. He was banged up a little bit. I think he can be just like a very solid two-way tight end for you. Speaking of Ravens, are Darius Washington coming off the Achilles last year. The year before that, I actually thought he was playing really good football. If you could get him for next to nothing, is he somebody that you'd be happy about as a depth piece?

1:03:15Robert Mays: And then this one, there are a couple of guys that like fill this role within the defense and are probably going to be available for next to nothing. And you're going to be happy that you have them. Kyrus Tonga, just based on the way he played for the Patriots last year. So he's a free agent. Can you get that sort of skillset for a very cheap price?

1:03:30Derrik Klassen: Would you be willing to throw a forgettable amount of money at Trayvon Diggs and see if it's a scratch-off lottery ticket? I think that question is better served for you.

1:03:39Robert Mays: Would you be willing to throw a negligible amount of money at Trayvon Diggs? See?

1:03:45Derrik Klassen: I would like to do that. I want to put it back on him. You know what, though? For a truly negligible amount of money, I would do it. I mean, the ball skills and the athleticism, he turns 28 at the start of the year. and remember it was back-to-back knee injuries, not just one. He had one in 2023 and then at the tail end of 2024, the Cowboys rushed him back because that's what they do because they'd rather just get him back on the field than spend money on another corner. So I could talk myself into him having a redemption arc, but it would have to be for a very small amount of money. Yeah, I just worry he's just done.

1:04:22Derrik Klassen: That's my concern. It's always a concern with cornerbacks, but if it's for... Like I said, if it's for like less than, if it's for like less than$5 million, like if it's like a$3 million contract or something. It might be less than that. Yeah, exactly. So like who cares?

1:04:40Robert Mays: Next category here, guy who's going to get paid more than you think or more than like the general public may think. Obviously, I don't know the answer to this off the top of my head. I did some canvassing over the last couple of days to come up with a couple of names. Who you got? We've talked about a couple of them. I mentioned him yesterday, Wandel Robinson. Apparently the price tag on Wandel Robinson is just way higher than you think it might be, which we could also throw him into the players you're scared of, which we're going to do here in a little bit. I'd throw that in there as well. The other guy that this is not surprising, and I think this is just based on more about where the receiver market has gone over the last couple of years.

1:05:17Robert Mays: We mentioned that Tutu Atwell made$10 million a year last year. The two other wide receiver contracts that I think are important to keep in mind when you think about this guy and being shocked by the number. De 'Ami Brown made$10 million a year last year. Josh Palmer made 11. So the guy I think that falls into that category where it's eight figures for that guy this year, Jalen Naylor.

1:05:40Dave Helman: So I actually think he's a better player. To me, he's definitely a better player than De 'Ami Brown. Josh Palmer, I think because they're so different, that can get a little bit sticky. But I actually do think Naylor had some flashes. And if they were, if the Vikings were not totally griefed by their quarterback play this year, I actually do think he probably could have more seriously commanded that amount of money. So that one actually think makes a lot of sense.

1:06:00Robert Mays: Yeah. So he's one that was mentioned. And then the other one we talked, we hinted at it a little bit. David Edwards making like 15, 16 million dollars a year is just I mean, that's one where he was a backup for the Rams. Like he signed as a backup for the Bills like three years ago when he initially got there before kind of moving into that starting role because they moved McGovern to center. And so the fact that he's going to get 15 or 16 million is, I think David Edwards is 29? Yes. So, yes, he turns 29 in two weeks, okay? I mean, that's solid player. But the idea that, like, if you are a slightly above-average guard, you are now worth$15 million a year is, oh boy.

1:06:40Robert Mays: I know that's where we are, but every time I think about it, it still is a little bit surprising.

1:06:46Derrik Klassen: I said, and for the record, I would be happy to pay them, like I said, but Illuminor and Juwan Taylor, I just imagine for what they can do for you and where they're at, I think the price tag would be bigger than the average person would suspect, would be my guess.

1:07:03Robert Mays: Yeah, I think that makes sense.

1:07:04Derrik Klassen: And I've said Romeo Dobbs a few times this week.

1:07:06Robert Mays: I mean, that's going to be, now, if you're the team that misses out on Pierce. That's what I'm saying. Scarcity is... Evans goes back, yeah.

1:07:13Derrik Klassen: I think if you can't hang in the Pierce bidding, then I mean that only benefits Romeo Dobbs the number of teams that'll be calling him

1:07:22Dave Helman: especially with like me said oh yeah so I my I think this is not based on like the quality of player necessarily but we've talked about this a little bit some of these markets are going to get really weird Logan Hall if you are looking for a young three tech starter he is literally the only guy on on the market like there are some older guys some like 30 year olds you know Sheldon for a year or two. There's some of those. If you are trying to find the second contract guy I can bet on at 3Tech, it is just Logan Hall. And I think for the first three years of his career, he was not great in Tampa Bay.

1:07:55Dave Helman: I think the light started to come on a little bit last year. And so I think there's a shot that somebody pays him a lot more money than anybody is really considering right now, especially with how weird the Bucs defense had been overall the past couple of years.

1:08:07Derrik Klassen: I like that one a lot. I think that's a really good one to point out. I'm not willing to say he gets more than people expect. I'm genuinely curious what you think Caleb on chase on might get. Like, I mean, he had this breakout year. He was a big part of the Super Bowl team, but he's such a specific type of player. Like, is that enough for him to just enter this new tax bracket? Like, I kind of, I don't think I think so. Like, I think he would still be more affordable than you might guess based on how big the spotlight was on him in the last, like, six weeks of the year. So it's interesting. There's, at Edge Rusher specifically,

1:08:43Robert Mays: there aren't really that many guys making between like eight and 11 million dollars a year there's almost none so i think that in your at first glance like maybe 10 million dollars a year those edge rushers don't exist anymore like essentially you are a depth or rotational piece or you're getting like 11 million dollars a year like 11 million is kind of the floor for starting level players. Here are the edge rushers making$11 million or right around it. Dorrance Armstrong making$11 million a year. Alex Wright's extension was exactly what Dorrance Armstrong was from the Browns. Malcolm Koontz got$11 million a year on his one-year deal.

1:09:23Robert Mays: And then if you go one step down from that, Samson Ebukam, Patrick Jones got$7 million a year on their, or$7 or$8 million a year on their extensions. Patrick Jones was last year with the Panthers. So Patrick Jones getting$7 million a year, like chase on getting 12. Is that, would that surprise you? No, probably not. Probably not. Right. I would be a little bit scared because I'm,

1:09:49Dave Helman: because I'm kind of with Dave in the sense of like, I almost wonder if some teams look at the way that chase on played and he played well, but it's also like he was playing next to one of maybe the best defensive tackle pairing duos in the league. And I think that they kind of allowed to create a lot of space for him. It was also a team that blitzed a lot and really was able to get him some one-on-one. So I just wonder if there's a little bit of like, we're six years into Chason's career. We kind of know what he is. And I think lucky is the wrong word, but it was very good conditions for him to have produced last year in a way that maybe not every team looking to sign him is going to have.

1:10:23Robert Mays: PFF, just looking at their free agent tracker, their projected contract for Klavan Chason is three years,$15 million a year.

1:10:30Derrik Klassen: Yeah, that's, I mean. Oh my gosh. that's that's why I asked because I wouldn't be surprised if it's significantly lower than you would guess just because he was successful on a good team would you rather have Klavan chase on for 15 or Arnold Ebiketti for eight oh man eight how like how like how many years eight two years eight million a year two years eight million um I'll take honestly yeah I'll take

1:10:57Dave Helman: you could kind of convince me if you put Ebiketti next to Christian Barmore and Milton Williams you could kind of convince me he could do it are you saying that's not the quality of defensive

1:11:05Robert Mays: tackles he was playing with in atlanta over the last couple years unfortunately for him it very much was not we gestured at this one earlier wanted to do just best finishing moves best like last little tweaks that you could make to an otherwise contending roster that might be the things that put you over the top i had a couple old guys i mentioned cleo mac as this year's marcus lawrence potentially had a couple more rico doudle of denver is one that we talked about earlier like I think he could be that sort of back for a team like the Broncos and the last one I had again I think you could he's going to be this every single year Zytler like if you just need a right guard the one million one year nine million dollars Kevin Zytler plays at like a borderline Pro Bowl level he solves right guard we never have to think about it again

1:11:49Derrik Klassen: I'm not trying to hate I the reason so you brought up Demario Davis for the Bears I want one step up of team to go after Demario Davis how dare you I want I want Demario Davis on the Rams, Bills, Eagles, or Packers, which I, oh man, Bears fans are going to let me have it for saying like the Packers are another step up from the team that won the division.

1:12:11Robert Mays: Yeah, it's the team that went to the NFC Championship game this year. You know what? If the Bears want Demario, that's fine. I would like, I just would encourage you to go look at the Packers record against the Bears last year. It was one and two.

1:12:24Derrik Klassen: One and two, I believe. Including in the playoffs. That's okay. The Bears can have him too. I want DeMario Davis to sign with a contender, a team that's going to matter. And the Bears should be that. That's fine, whatever. I just want DeMario Davis to be on a good team. John Franklin Myers is a finisher. Like, I mean, more expensive, but I just think a team that doesn't have a whole lot of holes should be looking to add a guy like that.

1:12:47Robert Mays: I think he, in the same kind of vein, like, he reminds me of what DeMarcus Lawrence was last year. He's a little younger than DeMarcus Lawrence, but when it comes to, like, you drop him into the right situation and what he does is an accelerant for the rest of your defensive line group, I think we could have a similar sort of conversation.

1:13:02Dave Helman: I mean, if he's on like the Chargers defense and is a significantly better version of like what Deshaun Hand is for them who like, actually, by the way, I meant to mention Deshaun Hand in the bargain thing. I think that he could be like a nice low level starter for somebody. But if the Chargers wanted to like get a much better version of that player, I think that that can make a lot of sense. One of mine is, I know there's a good chance that Mike Evans is probably just going to stay home in Tampa Bay and that's totally fine. But one of my finishing moves potentially for Denver is Mike Evans. Like I think getting a version of like kind of like an older version of what the Bengals have in Jamar Chase and T Higgins.

1:13:39Dave Helman: And like, all right, let's just have Cortland Sutton, Mike Evans, these big kind of veteran. Just both going to throw it outside the numbers and we're just going to chuck it.

1:13:47Derrik Klassen: That's like this grotesque sizism. Kroger Kroger brand Jamar and T in Denver.

1:13:53Robert Mays: Grotesque sizism. It's just like all I want is another 6 '5 receiver that I can drop on the outside.

1:13:58Dave Helman: Listen, we know Sean Payton likes him.

1:14:02Derrik Klassen: I mean, I'd be into it. It's just, yeah, the discount's funny. His 2025 stat line is misleading probably. It's funny. I'm just going to bring up Saints players who I want to see have one final act. But if you are close enough to contending where you're just filling in gaps, Like get Cam Jordan on your team to be like the vibes guy who can chip in like three and a half sacks. Like if Brandon Graham can do it, Cam Jordan can do something for you, even if he's not that Cam Jordan anymore, which I know he's not. But like, again, we're talking about teams that are just right on the cusp. Like you don't need him to be a real difference maker.

1:14:45Derrik Klassen: But that's what's going to happen to the Bears. They're going to sign Cam Jordan instead of Demario Davis. That's what's going to happen to me. That not that not good. Like I want Cam Jordan to be like the fifth edge for the Rams and just be fun. And he can go across the street to NFL Network during the bye week and do TV stuff for them. That's what I want. The Bears, no, they have a bigger needed edge than Cam Jordan.

1:15:08Robert Mays: All right.

1:15:08Derrik Klassen: Player you're scared of.

1:15:10Robert Mays: Guys that you, a little buyer beware when you're thinking about what they might make. This will be the last one we do.

1:15:15Derrik Klassen: It's nothing personal. it's a huge price tag for Alec Pierce to meet. It's huge. I'd be scared of that deal. And if Drake May is just throwing howitzers to him all through next season, then I'll eat my words. But I would be scared of the size of that contract.

1:15:36Dave Helman: Does it have anything to do with Alec Pierce or is it just throwing that amount of money at a free agent receiver in general?

1:15:41Derrik Klassen: No, it's just when you, it's not Alec Pierce specific. I mean, we went over the history of free agent wide receivers yesterday.

1:15:47Robert Mays: 47 catches last year. Going to make $27 million a year, at least.

1:15:52Dave Helman: They were pretty valuable catches. I love Alec Pierce.

1:15:57Robert Mays: I was on this week two. I was like, that guy's a star. He clearly had gotten so much better. The layers he had added to his game, I love him as a player. I understand where you're coming from.

1:16:08Derrik Klassen: It is not about Alec Pierce specifically. It is that you have to be excellent to live up to a price tag like that. and it's a little bit of projection.

1:16:21Robert Mays: That's all I'm saying. Similar sort of conversation. You have to be excellent to live up to that sort of price tag. If you look at the history of that position when you're shopping at the top, top, top of the market, Devin Lloyd would just scare me if I was paying$20 million a year for Devin Lloyd. And again, Devin Lloyd had a really good year. I think Devin Lloyd is a good player. I just think if we're creeping up and up and up to like the top, top of the market, that would be one that would frighten me a little bit.

1:16:44Dave Helman: and that attitude is maybe me just being more of like a linebacker elitist than a wide receiver elitist Alec Pierce does it for one year and I'm like he's good it's it's all fine he can go do it again for 25 million dollars or whatever it is Devin Lloyd does it one year linebacker and I'm like I don't know I kind of want to see it again before I would be comfortable paying that amount

1:17:02Robert Mays: of money the other one I had I kind of a couple more but this one is just like that production just did not match up with what he was down to down I had a great time watching him last year Nishan Wright would frighten me if I were going to throw a bunch of money at somebody. That's one where the interceptions were very cool. That's about as far as I'm willing to go with it.

1:17:22Derrik Klassen: I wouldn't want to do that. And I'll throw in Kway Walker's another guy where it's easy to imagine the light coming on and all the talent just being consistent all the time. And it's so easy to imagine him being an all-pro caliber player. But it becomes a hefty price tag. And I don't think there's enough evidence that you can count on that to where I would want to hand out that contract.

1:17:45Dave Helman: I'm actually in the opposite boat with Quay Walker. I kind of think he would because the Green Bay defensive interior was so bad and so banged up for most of the year. I think you started to like we started to see the light come on for Quay Walker at the end of 2024, a little bit early in 2025 before it really started to fall apart for him. And then obviously a lot of the defense started to fall apart for a number of reasons. But like I it is going to be kind of expensive and there's a little bit of a gamble. But I do think there's I would rather sign Quay Walker for whatever he's going to sign for then sign Devin Lloyd.

1:18:17Dave Helman: And maybe that's not like, you know, all we have to consider. But I would be OK, I think, with what Quay Walker is going to get.

1:18:22Derrik Klassen: I have both of them on my list for the record. I'd be nervous signing either, but I think I'd rather roll with Devin Lloyd. And I hear what you're saying. Like I can go find a dozen really kick ass way more than that. I can find so much kick-ass stuff from Koi Walker if I go back and look, but is it consistent enough for what it's going to cost to sign him on the open market? He's only 25, turns 26 this year.

1:18:46Robert Mays: That position specifically, and again, it'll depend on the price, but I can imagine Koi Walker's best football being in front of him.

1:18:55Dave Helman: That's kind of where I'm at. Especially if it's the right defense, I could kind of get excited about it.

1:19:01Derrik Klassen: Again, it's the same thing as Alec Pierce. I can imagine the highest highs in the world for both of those guys. But when the price tags get involved, it's just, it gives me pause. That's, I'm a huge coward when it comes to free agency. I don't want to. It's the right mindset. Yeah. Like, I don't want to, I don't want to pay damn near anybody unless they've already proven themselves on my team. Like, all, most of the guys that I'm attracted to in any given year are deals that are not going to wreck me if they don't work out. because you just, you never know for sure. Last one for me,

1:19:35Robert Mays: we talked about this a little bit over the course of the week, but just Tariq won, like Tariq won at a very expensive price tag. I just, yes.

1:19:44Derrik Klassen: Derek's, you're not afraid of anyone. You're just like, give me all of the freaks. Give me all the badass players. It doesn't matter how much they cost.

1:19:51Dave Helman: I just think there's some level of like, a free agency just is expensive and is what it is, but I just don't think Reek is going to command like an obscene amount of money for the what if it's like 15 million dollars a year yeah what's your definition of who else was making like 15 last year was that like charverius ward and like so dj reed was at 16 if he's making a million less than dj reed yeah i think that's totally acceptable i just wonder what he looks like because he's like 6 '2 but i just i don't think

1:20:21Derrik Klassen: it's a coincidence that almost everyone we're talking about is like a yeah a huge long crazy athletic player. Yeah, I think you love all those guys.

1:20:31Robert Mays: I just, I think that Tariq Wallen was really good this year. I think that what he looks like outside of Seattle, and again, the fact that like Josh Jobe was, started over him this year. Like that was the choice that they made. And so there's just, I don't know, there's a couple things that would give me pause about giving him like a ton of money and dropping him into a different situation.

1:20:52Dave Helman: But like he had looked decent at points before Mike McDonald was there. Sure, no, he absolutely did. I again I'm also not on the side of like you signed to recall and your secondary is fixed but I think he at least for one is me that I'm not like going into it assuming it's going to go poorly whereas there are a couple that there are a couple other guys that I'm scared of like my DB that I'm scared of I've talked about this a little bit Brian Cook from the Chiefs just that feels very almost like what you're saying with like specific defense like I think him stepping out of the spags defense scares me a little bit and then my one other guy that feels like I think every now and then there's a like fantasy football brained style of player that people love I think Isaiah likely is a little bit that at tight end like it just feels like people are really chasing the you want the tall long athletic tight end and it's like in reality he's not really good enough to be a wide receiver and he's not really a blocker for you it's hard to figure out where you want to put him um had a couple of injuries and stuff like he's the one who it feels like people are going to chase something that's not quite there and we talked about this with Chico

1:21:54Robert Mays: Conkwo this week just like that like that undersized like receiving tight end like what is he right now and like what is the price tag and what should you be paying for guys like that

1:22:03Derrik Klassen: I think is a worthwhile conversation to go back to the Seattle thing real quick I was looking at them while I was prepping and for a team that just won the Super Bowl and doesn't have a quarterback on a cheap contract they just they have way more money than you would expect the reigning champs to have. And they're and we'll see what they do when the market actually opens, but their willingness to let Walker and Reek and Mafé all potentially leave, that's interesting to me. Especially in the case of a Reek-Woolen where defense Moses, Mike McDonald who everybody, and myself included, respect the shit out of.

1:22:41Derrik Klassen: They're not making it a huge priority to retain him. It just makes me go you know what? That's kind of where I'm at.

1:22:47Robert Mays: It's just something to pay attention to. Yeah. All right. That is all we've got for today. As a reminder, 11 a.m. on Monday, right here, we will be starting our day one of free agency live stream. We're not going to have a show that's coming out on Monday because we're going to be live at 11 a.m. Central. And so we're going to break that live stream probably up into a couple different podcasts. And so you will be getting the same amount of them over the course of the week, but no Monday show coming your guys' way unless something crazy happens on Sunday. I don't know. I'll be around. We'll figure that out later.

1:23:16Robert Mays: But as of right now, no Monday show planned, but we will be here 11 a.m., 11 to 4 Central Time on Monday. Very excited about it. A bunch of different guests rolling through. One of my favorite days of the entire year. Encourage you guys to come join us for that. For now, that is all we got. Appreciate you guys listening. We'll talk to you very soon.

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1:24:54Robert Mays: Oh, could this vintage store be any cuter? Right? And the best part? They accept Discover. Accept Discover? In a little place like this? I don't think so, Jennifer. Oh, yeah, huh. Discover's accepted where I like to shop. Come on, baby. Get with the times.

1:25:09Dave Helman: Right. So we shouldn't get the parachute pants?

1:25:12Derrik Klassen: These are making a comeback. I think.

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