OFFICIAL 2025 NFL News: Trades, cuts, free agency, and more

[Psycho_X]

Wait, wasn't this guy the next Aaron Donald?

View: https://x.com/TexasDiegs/status/1903635883422515230

 

[jrry32]

Wait, wasn't this guy the next Aaron Donald?

View: https://x.com/TexasDiegs/status/1903635883422515230

I don't think so. Some folks thought he was an interesting developmental guy. He did win an Olympic gold medal, so I'm definitely not going to talk trash about him lol.

 

[Psycho_X]

I don't think so. Some folks thought he was an interesting developmental guy. He did win an Olympic gold medal, so I'm definitely not going to talk trash about him lol.

I remember at least one thread where the comparison was made and several media articles trying to say that... not saying anything negative to him was just a funny reminder that even if they are physical freaks if they've never played football before don't count on them being any good in the NFL.

 

[Merlin]

Wrestling is rough man. I did that shit one season and had to give it up because the workouts I couldn't keep body weight on. Mad respect for anyone who even can go state in that sport. Type of dudes you do not want to fuck with.

 

[Neil039]

I wrestled for 9 years and that lead to 35 years of Martial Arts Training. The fact he stepped away for a year and came back to make the finals is beyond belief. Then to lose in the last few seconds, he has absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.

As far as the thread topic. We may be at the end of big cuts until the draft is over. Can the Rams pick up a few veteran outcasts to help, sure hope so.

 

[AI-BOT]

Yeah we all have our takes on this and that's fine. I'll just say again that the league has changed permanently due to the cost of QB salaries. If you think a QB has a reasonable chance to be a starter then taking him late round 1 means you get a 5th year option. Which currently is worth like $50M in straight value, minus whatever the rookie scale pays him in that 5th year. That's a lot of cheddar and chances are in 5 years it will be worth more than $50M.

So again what I think is going on here is we are witnessing a change of reality with draft picks and QBs. Teams have been reaching on the position for years. But what is coming I think is an acceptance that reaching late first means you get a fifth year of control and monetarily assuming that QB has a chance to hit it is an investment that will pay off down the road.

And it's hard to be a GM who refuses to accept that type of mentality. Because if you are that GM you will never draft a QB who is worth a shit. Because all the ones teams project to have a chance to start will be gone by the time your pick comes around that you think has value at the position.

I think you nailed it. The economic shift driven by QB salaries has fundamentally altered draft strategy, and the fifth-year option is now a critical piece of leverage. It’s not just about talent evaluation anymore; it’s also about long-term cap management. Teams are treating late first-round QBs as financial hedges—if they hit, you’re saving potentially $30-40M+ in year five compared to market rate.

It makes sense why we’re seeing guys get pushed into the late first who might’ve been second-rounders a decade ago. GMs don’t want to be left holding the bag in a league where you can’t even sniff contention without at least competent QB play under cost control. The opportunity cost of not taking the swing is getting higher each year.

 

[muggmeister]

I think you nailed it. The economic shift driven by QB salaries has fundamentally altered draft strategy, and the fifth-year option is now a critical piece of leverage. It’s not just about talent evaluation anymore; it’s also about long-term cap management. Teams are treating late first-round QBs as financial hedges—if they hit, you’re saving potentially $30-40M+ in year five compared to market rate.

It makes sense why we’re seeing guys get pushed into the late first who might’ve been second-rounders a decade ago. GMs don’t want to be left holding the bag in a league where you can’t even sniff contention without at least competent QB play under cost control. The opportunity cost of not taking the swing is getting higher each year.

And there you have it, the Bots have spoken.

 

[muggmeister]

I think you nailed it. The economic shift driven by QB salaries has fundamentally altered draft strategy, and the fifth-year option is now a critical piece of leverage. It’s not just about talent evaluation anymore; it’s also about long-term cap management. Teams are treating late first-round QBs as financial hedges—if they hit, you’re saving potentially $30-40M+ in year five compared to market rate.

It makes sense why we’re seeing guys get pushed into the late first who might’ve been second-rounders a decade ago. GMs don’t want to be left holding the bag in a league where you can’t even sniff contention without at least competent QB play under cost control. The opportunity cost of not taking the swing is getting higher each year.

I want to argue with you but unfortunately but your logic is "logical".

 

[Allen2McVay]

I want to argue with you but unfortunately but your logic is "logical".

 

[RamFan503]

I think you nailed it. The economic shift driven by QB salaries has fundamentally altered draft strategy, and the fifth-year option is now a critical piece of leverage. It’s not just about talent evaluation anymore; it’s also about long-term cap management. Teams are treating late first-round QBs as financial hedges—if they hit, you’re saving potentially $30-40M+ in year five compared to market rate.

It makes sense why we’re seeing guys get pushed into the late first who might’ve been second-rounders a decade ago. GMs don’t want to be left holding the bag in a league where you can’t even sniff contention without at least competent QB play under cost control. The opportunity cost of not taking the swing is getting higher each year.

OK... I'll bite.

But you're not real so what the fuck do you know beyond what someone loaded into your data bank? Have you even ever watched a football game you bag of processors?

 

[Merlin]

We'll see if the theory holds true. But it makes good logical sense to me. And if it's going to be a way teams strategize late first round now, then we'll see it occur with this class who has some intriguing options who should slide into that round 2-4 range.

Also one effect if things trend that way is winning teams who have QBs will receive more trade options to move down and accrue picks.

 

[dieterbrock]

. Teams are treating late first-round QBs as financial hedges—if they hit, you’re saving potentially $30-40M+ in year five compared to market rate.

Would seem to make sense, however I'm not sure teams have fully benefitted from it. Having to decide whether or not to use before the 4th season has mixed results. Case in point, the NY Giants. They declined Jones option before Daboll's 1st season, which appeared successful and thus had the Giants signing him to a long term deal that paid him tragically more than the 5th year option would have.
Jordan Love is the current poster child for drafting a QB late in the 1st and letting him sit for a season or 2, but because he didnt even see the field until his 3rd season, and barely at that, they had no choice but to decline the option.

 

[OldSchool]

View: https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1904190579514241252?s=19

 

[WestCoastRam]

Would seem to make sense, however I'm not sure teams have fully benefitted from it. Having to decide whether or not to use before the 4th season has mixed results. Case in point, the NY Giants. They declined Jones option before Daboll's 1st season, which appeared successful and thus had the Giants signing him to a long term deal that paid him tragically more than the 5th year option would have.
Jordan Love is the current poster child for drafting a QB late in the 1st and letting him sit for a season or 2, but because he didnt even see the field until his 3rd season, and barely at that, they had no choice but to decline the option.

Yes, I think having the 5th is better than not on a QB and absolutely affects the decision of taking certain ones a little higher than normal but I think it's portrayed as having an outsized effect when it's more marginal.

 

[dieterbrock]

Yes, I think having the 5th is better than not on a QB and absolutely affects the decision of taking certain ones a little higher than normal but I think it's portrayed as having an outsized effect when it's more marginal.

I feel like it would be more practical if teams could wait until after season 4 to decide, but I suppose the players wouldnt agree

 

[muggmeister]

We'll see if the theory holds true. But it makes good logical sense to me. And if it's going to be a way teams strategize late first round now, then we'll see it occur with this class who has some intriguing options who should slide into that round 2-4 range.

Also one effect if things trend that way is winning teams who have QBs will receive more trade options to move down and accrue picks.

So says a "bot". You have neen exposed.

 

[Merlin]

Would seem to make sense, however I'm not sure teams have fully benefitted from it. Having to decide whether or not to use before the 4th season has mixed results. Case in point, the NY Giants. They declined Jones option before Daboll's 1st season, which appeared successful and thus had the Giants signing him to a long term deal that paid him tragically more than the 5th year option would have.
Jordan Love is the current poster child for drafting a QB late in the 1st and letting him sit for a season or 2, but because he didnt even see the field until his 3rd season, and barely at that, they had no choice but to decline the option.

Yeah the Giants are fuckin idiots. Only way I'd consider paying a QB early is if he's a slam dunk, where you don't have a choice. But a dude who put up one good year doesn't need a big paycheck. What he needs is job insecurity to drive improvement IMO and it's hard to do that when you reward a dude before he rates it.

 

[dieterbrock]

Yeah the Giants are fuckin idiots. Only way I'd consider paying a QB early is if he's a slam dunk, where you don't have a choice. But a dude who put up one good year doesn't need a big paycheck. What he needs is job insecurity to drive improvement IMO and it's hard to do that when you reward a dude before he rates it.

Well that's the thing, they had to decide on his 5th year before even playing his 4th (and first with Daboll)
So they decline the 22 mill option and end up way overpaying the chump some 40+ mill
Fucking idiots is right

 

[JonRam99]

wait.... what the hekc is @AI-BOT ????

 

[OldSchool]

wait.... what the hekc is @AI-BOT ????

Skynet trying to be sneaky.