non-Vikings NFL off season news

[TheLeviathan]

20 minutes ago, Original_JB said:

It is certainly interesting at this point. Supposedly, the Steelers made their pitch to Rodgers and are awaiting to hear from him. Rodgers is supposedly looking for 2 years guaranteed. The Vikes need a backup/mentor QB. Atlanta wants to hold out, to extract max value from Cousins instead of just cutting him loose, by waiting to see what desperate teams might offer up. Gotta be honest, I think Kirko (for the vet minimum) would be the play here, him already knowing the team/playbook, over Rodgers/Carr?/Wentz?/unknown QB2; but we don't really have draft capital to give up either. Really don't want Rodgers here.

Either the Falcons are waiting for desperation to set in (smart play) or they aren't going to move him.  (dumb play)  Honestly not sure what the hell they are doing with Kirk.

[nicksaviking]

26 minutes ago, gunnarthor said:

I'd rather they gave up a draft pick to get Mullins back than have Aaron Rodgers on this team.

No Rodgers and no Wilson for me. I don't really want Cousins back either, and I wouldn't give up a pick for him.

[gunnarthor]

The Bengals ponied up a lot of money but kept both Higgens and Chase. I did not think they would do that. They are now paying the QB, WR1, WR2 over 100m/season for the next four years.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/44287720/nfl-contract-bengals-jamarr-chase-tee-higgins-joe-burrow

[TheLeviathan]

1 hour ago, gunnarthor said:

The Bengals ponied up a lot of money but kept both Higgens and Chase. I did not think they would do that. They are now paying the QB, WR1, WR2 over 100m/season for the next four years.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/44287720/nfl-contract-bengals-jamarr-chase-tee-higgins-joe-burrow

Paid Gesicki quite a bit too.  It's a lot of money into skill positions.

[Mike Sixel]

Looks like the saints are totally screwed. You hate to see it....

[gunnarthor]

Least surprising story of the off-season but the Ravens have moved on from Justin Tucker. 

https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/2025/5/5/24424439/baltimore-ravens-have-cut-k-justin-tucker-sexual-assault-allegations-nfl-breaking-news

Tucker is old, had a bad season (for him), has really bad off-field accusations, and the Ravens drafted a kicker in the 6th round. I wonder how long he'll have to wait for the HOF. 

[nicksaviking]

22 hours ago, gunnarthor said:

Least surprising story of the off-season but the Ravens have moved on from Justin Tucker. 

https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/2025/5/5/24424439/baltimore-ravens-have-cut-k-justin-tucker-sexual-assault-allegations-nfl-breaking-news

Tucker is old, had a bad season (for him), has really bad off-field accusations, and the Ravens drafted a kicker in the 6th round. I wonder how long he'll have to wait for the HOF. 

As good as he was, he's still a kicker. I'd guess he'd have to be unequivocally exonerated to get in. And that seems unlikely considering how many women are coming forward. 

[nicksaviking]

George Pickens to the Cowboys.

So second banana to Ceedee Lamb. I don't see Pickens being happy there, and if he's not happy, he's going to make the Cowboys miserable.

But if he makes a scene and the media constantly talk about what a disaster he is, it's a win for Jerry Jones, because he just wants people talking about his team.

[Vanimal46]

2 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

George Pickens to the Cowboys.

So second banana to Ceedee Lamb. I don't see Pickens being happy there, and if he's not happy, he's going to make the Cowboys miserable.

But if he makes a scene and the media constantly talk about what a disaster he is, it's a win for Jerry Jones, because he just wants people talking about his team.

On the flip side, the Steelers are setting themselves up to bottom out. Whether or not Rodgers actually plays for them, their talent on offense is abysmal. I’m avoiding any and all Steelers players in fantasy drafts this summer. 

[Vanimal46]

Without googling it I could not name the Steelers RB… Turns out it’s the Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson who I do like… Just not this year. Their WR room is DK Metcalf and a group of people I’ve never heard of. 

Without Rodgers their QB room is Mason Rudolph and ??? They’re a 6 win team at best. 

[nicksaviking]

2 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

On the flip side, the Steelers are setting themselves up to bottom out. Whether or not Rodgers actually plays for them, their talent on offense is abysmal. I’m avoiding any and all Steelers players in fantasy drafts this summer. 

That offense should be bad. But to be fair, it should (has) been bad for years.

I'm also curious how Rodgers is supposed to work on the Steelers. Rodgers infamously runs plays that HE wants to run out on the field and then throws the OC under the bus when it doesn't work out. How is everyone going to handle it when Rodgers is throwing 65% of the downs even though everyone knows Arthur Smith is calling for a run on 65% of the downs?

[nicksaviking]

4 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Without googling it I could not name the Steelers RB… Turns out it’s the Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson who I do like… Just not this year. Their WR room is DK Metcalf and a group of people I’ve never heard of. 

Without Rodgers their QB room is Mason Rudolph and ??? They’re a 6 win team at best. 

Mason Rudolph isn't good. But neither were Justin Fields, Russell Wilson or Kenny Pickett. That team always finds a way to win 9 games.

Which, is way worse than winning 5 games in my book. I have no clue how they ever break that cycle without finding a good QB, and that's hard to do when you're always drafting 20th. Just let go of the .500 streak. It was impressive but largely meaningless. I'd want a reboot if I were a Steelers fan.

[gunnarthor]

11 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Without googling it I could not name the Steelers RB… Turns out it’s the Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson who I do like… Just not this year. Their WR room is DK Metcalf and a group of people I’ve never heard of. 

Without Rodgers their QB room is Mason Rudolph and ??? They’re a 6 win team at best. 

Their draft was such a Steelers draft. 5 of the 7 were defensive picks, including DT Harmon (who will be good). Kaleb Johnson, one of their offensive picks, will be good but is also a very Steelery-player. I said on draft day, the Steelers plan on playing in a lot of 16-10 score games.

[Vanimal46]

3 minutes ago, gunnarthor said:

Their draft was such a Steelers draft. 5 of the 7 were defensive picks, including DT Harmon (who will be good). Kaleb Johnson, one of their offensive picks, will be good but is also a very Steelery-player. I said on draft day, the Steelers plan on playing in a lot of 16-10 score games.

Yeah I didn’t remember Johnson went there and I agree. Very much a Steelers type of player. Could be LeVeon Bell 2.0 for them if their OL doesn’t stink 

[Vanimal46]

17 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

That offense should be bad. But to be fair, it should (has) been bad for years.

I'm also curious how Rodgers is supposed to work on the Steelers. Rodgers infamously runs plays that HE wants to run out on the field and then throws the OC under the bus when it doesn't work out. How is everyone going to handle it when Rodgers is throwing 65% of the downs even though everyone knows Arthur Smith is calling for a run on 65% of the downs?

It’ll probably go exactly how it did with the Jets. I don’t think Rodgers fits what they’re trying to do at all, but he has no where else to go after we turned him down. 

[nicksaviking]

3 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

It’ll probably go exactly how it did with the Jets. I don’t think Rodgers fits what they’re trying to do at all, but he has no where else to go after we turned him down. 

I could see him waiting out an injury too.

Which would let him skip training camp, which he'd absolutely avoid if at all possible.

[Danchat]

8 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Without googling it I could not name the Steelers RB… Turns out it’s the Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson who I do like… Just not this year. Their WR room is DK Metcalf and a group of people I’ve never heard of. 

They also have Jaylen Warren who is a very solid change-of-pace RB and also a quality receiver, he'll pair well with Johnson.

But they now have the exact same problem in the WR room with one quality starter... except they traded a this year 2nd rounder to get Metcalf and overpay him and didn't get a great return for Pickens.

The Steelers really have a thing for drafting a headcase/character-issue WR and getting better results than expected from him, but then have to trade him. Antonio Brown, George Pickens, Diontae Johnson, Martavis Bryant, Chase Claypool (no character issues)...

 

[Vanimal46]

30 minutes ago, Danchat said:

But they now have the exact same problem in the WR room with one quality starter... except they traded a this year 2nd rounder to get Metcalf and overpay him and didn't get a great return for Pickens.

 

Yeah it’s Metcalf, Robert Woods that’s about 4 years past his expiration date, and something called Calvin Austin at slot WR. I don’t care who the QB is, that’s tough sledding to work with. 

[TheLeviathan]

20 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Yeah it’s Metcalf, Robert Woods that’s about 4 years past his expiration date, and something called Calvin Austin at slot WR. I don’t care who the QB is, that’s tough sledding to work with. 

Don't worry, if A-Aaron signs there he's got Allen Lazard, the husk of Jordy Nelson, and wheel-chair bound Donald Driver on their way as reinforcements.

[Parfigliano]

On 5/6/2025 at 10:37 AM, gunnarthor said:

Least surprising story of the off-season but the Ravens have moved on from Justin Tucker. 

https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/2025/5/5/24424439/baltimore-ravens-have-cut-k-justin-tucker-sexual-assault-allegations-nfl-breaking-news

Tucker is old, had a bad season (for him), has really bad off-field accusations, and the Ravens drafted a kicker in the 6th round. I wonder how long he'll have to wait for the HOF. 

What is with the NFL and getting handsy with massage therapists.  Idiots.

[Parfigliano]

9 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

It’ll probably go exactly how it did with the Jets. I don’t think Rodgers fits what they’re trying to do at all, but he has no where else to go after we turned him down. 

I don't think Rogers act fits anywhere.  He just isn't good enough anymore for a team to want to deal with his BS prima donna foolishness.

[Parfigliano]

8 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

Don't worry, if A-Aaron signs there he's got Allen Lazard, the husk of Jordy Nelson, and wheel-chair bound Donald Driver on their way as reinforcements.

Don't forget coach Hackett

[Mike Sixel]

Why trade for Metcalf and do the rest of this? Mind. Boggling. 

[nicksaviking]

10 hours ago, Parfigliano said:

I don't think Rogers act fits anywhere.  He just isn't good enough anymore for a team to want to deal with his BS prima donna foolishness.

Jerry Jones would love to bring that circus to Dallas; if only Dak wasn't still under contract.

He'd let Rodgers and Mcafee stream some nutjob halftime show from the locker room.

[nicksaviking]

10 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Yeah it’s Metcalf, Robert Woods that’s about 4 years past his expiration date, and something called Calvin Austin at slot WR. I don’t care who the QB is, that’s tough sledding to work with. 

Well it's an Arthur Smith offense. If he had the 1998 Vikings WR corps, Moss gets about 100 targets and Carter and Reed are playing pinochle on the sideline while the team is constantly running two RB, two TE sets.

[The Great Hambino]

10 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Why trade for Metcalf and do the rest of this? Mind. Boggling. 

It is strange.

My theory:  Their plan was to bring in a win-now veteran QB.  But when that market dried up save for Rodgers, and they didn't like what they saw/heard when they gave him a closer look, they pivoted to punting on this year, passed on a meaningful investment in QB in the draft (Kenny Pickett taught them that sometimes "none of the above" is an acceptable answer when trying to pick a franchise QB out of a given draft class), and look for a long-term answer at QB in 2026.

Maybe they are still in on Rodgers and we've only seen the tip of the iceberg of the George Pickens Experience (similar to Antonio Brown), so they're unloading him before he becomes radioactive.  Either way, Cam Heyward can't be too happy right now.

[Vanimal46]

1 hour ago, The Great Hambino said:

Maybe they are still in on Rodgers and we've only seen the tip of the iceberg of the George Pickens Experience (similar to Antonio Brown), so they're unloading him before he becomes radioactive.

Mike Tomlin has a damn good track record of getting rid of head case WRs before they self destruct… Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant, Diontae Johnson. 

Edit: Forgot about Chase Claypool too. But IIRC that was more of a work ethic issue than being a disruptive personality 

[Vanimal46]

 

[TheLeviathan]

7 hours ago, The Great Hambino said:

It is strange.

My theory:  Their plan was to bring in a win-now veteran QB.  But when that market dried up save for Rodgers, and they didn't like what they saw/heard when they gave him a closer look, they pivoted to punting on this year, passed on a meaningful investment in QB in the draft (Kenny Pickett taught them that sometimes "none of the above" is an acceptable answer when trying to pick a franchise QB out of a given draft class), and look for a long-term answer at QB in 2026.

Maybe they are still in on Rodgers and we've only seen the tip of the iceberg of the George Pickens Experience (similar to Antonio Brown), so they're unloading him before he becomes radioactive.  Either way, Cam Heyward can't be too happy right now.

I think this is probably right, but it's still such an overall poor outcome.  Still no Rodgers.  Now you only have one WR of any note.  They do have an improved offensive line, a better backfield, and an infusion of talent to an already good defense.

They'll probably be good again, but they won't get much past that until they actually fix the QB position.

[Danchat]

2 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

I think this is probably right, but it's still such an overall poor outcome.  Still no Rodgers.  Now you only have one WR of any note.  They do have an improved offensive line, a better backfield, and an infusion of talent to an already good defense.

They'll probably be good again, but they won't get much past that until they actually fix the QB position.

It's inexcusable that in the time since Big Ben retired, they've taken one legit shot on a QB and that was Kenny Pickett. They should have tried to jump up in the 2024 draft and taken Nix or McCarthy even with as pricey as a trade-up that far would cost them.