Five Thoughts: Expectations for Commanders and free agency

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Just as they heads up for ESPN, we will be doing capsules on every free agent signing, whether

it's a resigning once the period starts, or if it's a somebody from another team.

So, that'll all start next week, so we'll have capsules on there, every team, every move

the commanders make during that period.

I will be filing a capsule about what it means, how this player fits, is there a risk

involved, etc.

So, that will be, look for that on ESPN.com, I'll be doing videos as well, doing, I'll

be doing a podcast pretty much every day because I think they're going to be that active and

I think it's going to be that worthwhile.

So, and for Tuesday night, there is a chance I'll be doing a live stream with Bram, we'll

have to kind of lock that in, so, but you know that about that on Monday when we do a podcast,

when I do a podcast, after the day, the first day of legal tampering, when they will agree

to deals with players, when anybody can go agree to deals with players, because that's

the start of the legal tampering period, and the unofficial kickoff to Friggy somehow,

the period starts at noon, and somehow teams are in players are able to agree to deals

at 12-01.

I don't know how that happens, folks.

Anyways, the official lead year starts on Wednesday at 4 o'clock, that's when players

from outside, players from other teams can then sign with the commanders, right?

So, you can re-sign your own players up until that point, but that's when players you

agree to deals with from other teams are allowed to sign.

Anyways, there you go, so that's the heads up there.

Today, I'm going to be doing a five thoughts as we head into this period, and just kind

of getting you ready for this.

Before I get there, just a couple of things, they did re-sign kicker, Jake Moody.

They did not tender him last week, which seemed to signal a different direction, but really

what it meant is they could re-sign them at a cheaper amount.

So that's what they're doing here, and then, so he'll be back.

I don't know if they'll bring in competition.

I think when you haven't had this position settled in a while, you would like to think

there'd be some competition.

So, because I don't know how you consider and say problem solved.

I just don't think anybody can be at that point yet, but for right now, Jake Moody's

the only kicker on the roster, but they did sign to one year deal.

They also re-signed trade-birds to one year deal.

Now, there's incentives that take it up to four million.

This was another expected move.

I told you the other day that they were talking to him about this, so I expected him back

all along and make sense.

I would not view this as any other way as a guy that, hey, he could help you at the back

end of the receiver rotation, because unless something really big develops with him this

summer, you got Terry.

They're going to be active trying to sign another guy.

I'll get into some of those guys, so maybe two guys are adding.

You still have McCaffrey and you still have Jaylen Lane, and then you get a guy like

trade-birds.

The other ones have roles for you on special teams in other ways, and that's why, like

I said, with Berks, I think you did a nice job here.

I think it warranted bringing him back, but I don't think you can overstate exactly what

he added.

He made some tough catches.

I think there's still some ways I can get open a little bit better, can you do some things,

but I do think he helps.

I think it was a smart sign, because if he's your fifth or sixth guy, I think you're in

a pretty good spot.

I think that's the difference between here and Tennessee is that he can be that guy.

He can be the guy that can come in and help when you need him in Tennessee.

When you're drafting the first round, then you have to go out there and be the guy, and

that's not what he was able to do, and they don't need him to be that here, so he provides

good quality depth, but I would not look at it like anything again.

I'd still expect them.

They're definitely going to go pursue phrase and receivers, and again, maybe a couple of

them as well, and I'll explain that in a minute, but again, a good signing for sure.

All right, so number one, they will be aggressive.

Now, I've talked, listen, the stuff I've heard leading into this is different than I've

heard the last two years, and that's the last two years I knew they're going to

be active.

They'll be aggressive, but they're not necessarily going to go sign the top of the market

guys.

Sometimes, because it didn't fit what they needed, right?

Sometimes, if some of the top of the market guys may not fit what they needed, there were

a couple of guys that I sure just sweat would have been one of them.

There wasn't a whole lot of them, but I think so I think there's a couple of things they

have to play here.

One, there's the need, obviously, they need to improve this roster.

There's no doubt this roster needs to be improved, and I've told you that, like I talked about

this during the season, how one executive for sure told me during the season, and even

just a week and a half ago, that how Jane Dan was covered up a lot of sins on this roster,

how it's not a very good roster, they need improvement here, so we know that.

They know that.

One thing I will say coming after this season is, they're not saying they're saying, hey,

it was just about the injuries.

Their actions suggest they know it was about much more than that, and that when Jane

was down, they just kind of fell apart, and it wasn't just about Jane, they were obviously

other injuries, but I also think there were some just fundamental issues as well that they're

trying to correct, but anyways, so they're going to be way more aggressive.

This is not the same, in the last couple years, you would not hear, think top of the market

guys, now that's what I'm hearing, whether or not they get them, I don't think it's

going to be a matter of, hey, they're out on them.

But also, in some cases, guys have to be available, like last year, I think there would

have been some guys at the Ronnie Stanley's in the world that they probably would have

gone after had they been available, but they weren't.

So now, if these, some of these guys are available, and I do think they will be, then those

are the guys, like, position to need, corner, that's what, I would say this, here are the

three positions that I've heard consistently that you're going to, that maybe they would

spend more at which defensive end, receiver, and corner, and those are all premium positions

where it's costly.

Now, I'll get into each of those, but that's kind of what you're hearing, but again, when

I'm hearing this year is different than what I heard the last two years, and knew they

would be active, and again, aggressive, when you say, when I say aggressive, it can be

a different, different definition to others.

Like, to me, it's just like aggressive, like, this is the guy you want, go get them.

Like, they wanted Frank Louvue, they went and got him, that's aggressive.

It may not be a top of the market guy, but it was aggressive, it was active.

They've been active.

They have to be active.

They have, I think, as I record this, 56 players signed on the roster, so that means

you need 34 more guys to be signed, you'll get six draft picks, minimum, or right now

you have six draft picks, and then let's say seven or eight, you know, undrafted free

ages, maybe 10, let's say maybe 16, so that means you're going to have to get at least

20, and then how many you get in free agency will dictate then how many undrafted

free ages you might bring in, right?

So, they're going to need guys, and they will, for sure.

So, that's the active part, but again, like, I've definitely been told this time that,

if there is a top of the market guy, they're not necessarily going to shy away from just

because of that.

But, this is not a return to the Dan Snyder era when I cover that.

I know that era very well, and that was about just getting top of top name guys who

cost a lot, regardless of fit, Adam Archelletta, not a great fit, Albert Hangeworth, not a

great fit.

They went out and spent big because that's what the owner wanted to do, and they're

multiple guys like that, right?

So, that's not what they're doing, that's not what they want to do here.

Now, whether or not it turns out their way, but that's not Paul Richards, and not a great

fit, but they needed speed, and the owner, the owner and team president said, we need speed,

so they went, got that, despite the coaches telling them, they don't want that guy.

That's what happened here.

So, I don't think you're going to have that, but I think, like, what has always been

told me, they'll go for that guy if it is the right fit.

That's the keyword.

That person is the right fit, and they're top of the market, they'll absolutely pursue

them, but again, now, pursuing is one thing, they got to sign some of these guys, because

that's the job, right?

So, if you don't, it's great to be aggressive, it's great to be in the hunt, but you've

got to sign them, if you want to turn this thing around, you've got to get some of these

guys signed.

They will be signing more guys, I believe, to the three-year deals, because one of the

things they talk about is wanting to lay a stronger foundation, and you do that with

the three-year deals, they didn't do that many last year or the year before, so they're

going to do more of those, I would anticipate more of those.

They will still have one-year deals, because you cannot have everybody on your roster on

multi-year deals.

They have avoided bad contracts in the past, but now you're going to have to feel more,

get more multi-year deals, so you're not having to turn this out every year.

Houston does this, too, by the way, and they've been pretty good, but you don't want

to be in this position every year, where you're 20, 30 guys that you're churning out

every year.

That's a lot, and you can bring guys back, as we've seen, it's still a lot, so you want

to get more on there, the three-year deals, I think, are great, because if they're bad,

then you can get out of them after two years, for sure.

Anyways, anyway, I just, one thing I do, I wanted to play you, here's a clip from a conversation

I had with Dan Quinn at the combine, little one-on-one, that led to a story I wrote earlier

this week about all of this, right?

But here's two minutes with him, and by the way, he was talking about finding different

makers, and players saying they want to be here.

Now, when he says that players are saying they want to be here, or that what they're hearing

is players want to be here, that's those are from public comments from guys like Brandon

Ayuk.

I think guys, they are likely to talk about that, too, so there are other players that they've

heard, that they've heard publicly say they want to be this, so when he says that, they

haven't, whether or not they've talked to him, they're basing it off of public comments,

so, anyways, here's what Quinn had to say.

I think what we're all saying is, like, some different makers, and what does that look

like on offense, what does that look like on defense, but knowing that there's some that

we can go after, like, that's a big deal, and knowing that there's different makers

that want to be here, that's a big deal.

I know that Adam's obviously going to be going out and doing stuff, but for you, like,

is there going to be a different strategy than even last year, like, we know, getting a

lot of guys on one year deals versus getting maybe the Tyler Doris move level, ascending

guys on three of them, and so first part, we were trying to, in your one add, you know,

to the roster, and the competitiveness to it, and last year we added some players back,

you know, in a returning space, some still on the one year, and as we're continuing,

to build depth, like, that's what you do, and they hear for a year, and, okay, do it

again or not, and add somebody to it, but the goal is obviously to add depth, you know,

pieces that are going to develop the players, and so we know there'll be some of that,

but there's also going to be some different makers, you know, that'll be a part of this.

Do you feel like there's a good class for what guys need?

I do, and what gets challenging is when you go through it all, just like the draft

process, yes, and yes, and yes, you really have to, over the next few weeks, what kids,

how does it fit, and, but there's definitely some candidates on both sides of the ball

that we know that really make an impact, and that's exciting.

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Like I said, they need a lot of help elsewhere, but the three positions consistently, three

years, is end receiver corner, they obviously need other guys, they need guys, they need running

backs, you need linebackers, so there are guys at those spots, but those are all the premium

positions and those, I mean, they have to build up that defensive front, they have to build

that up.

Anyway, well, let's get into that.

So that's number two, the targets are end receiver and running back.

Now receiver will be interesting because Brandon Ayuk is out there, and we know like that's

gonna be something that I definitely think would be on the table here, for sure, like that's

Jaden, he and Jaden are very tight, he's made it be known that he would like to be here with Jaden,

and that has been related to the people in charge.

I don't know how much Jaden and Brandon are working out together at this point, I do know that Ayuk

is working out at this point, so any questions about him like this, he still want to play,

well, the answer is yes, because he's working out.

I know all the issues the last couple of years, we'll see if they're not going to trade for him,

he can't, I don't think he can be related, they're going to do it, they're going to, I believe

what'll happen is that by waiting this long, they would release him and get a post June first

date, so my guess is that something like that wouldn't happen until a little bit later in the week,

for a move here, if that's where they go, but they're not, like my understanding is if they

went and signed him, it would be for a one year approval deal, ideally you get him for like in

that seven or eight range, right, seven or eight million range, less than 10, so, but I would not

be surprised by that move, if that's where they did, I think if they went and got him, I still

think they'd be in the market for someone else, because I don't know that coming off the injury,

it does sound like they feel comfortable with the health, and Peter Adam, Peter's knows him,

and again, Jaden knows him, and I think if you're going to take a chance on him, the one year deal

is pretty much to me the only way you can go, the prove it deal, right, and if you want, the theory

is always, like you get him on his best behavior, because if he wants to get another contract,

you better play it, you better show out, and you better put to rest some of the fears that may exist

about you because of how things have been handled over the last year or so, and then coming off

the injury too, so, but, so I think like that, I would say that's definitely, that would be on the

table, if they go out and get him, I still think they'd go out and sign someone else, because you

can't just get the one year deal, so it wouldn't shock me if you go out and get another receiver who

is a bit higher up. Now, the guys who are obviously going to make, now this is also the, the IU

one probably depends on, hey, what if Alex Pierce indeed is free, because right now, as I record

this, he still is, and we know like, and to me, the closer you get to free agency, why wouldn't you

test it, unless you absolutely want to stay unless they come up to where you think, hey, this is

what I would have gotten to free agency, so let's not go sign. Good agents will have an idea

of what their guys will get in free agency, so you can then say like, this is about what it is,

just stay here, and a lot of times people want to do that, so we'll see, but if he's free,

he obviously would fill in need for this team as a, as a big play guy. I think there's, you know,

I think he's faster, more than he is quick, but he absolutely adds that element to this offense,

a big play element, when you get Jayden Danes getting down field off the play action, etc,

they're in opposite McCorn, and then it can open up some stuff underneath for others as well,

so there is that element, so that, I think if you're looking for a receiver and you want more

explosion, I mean, that's, that's the guy. I think the question though is, how much are you

willing to spend for him? Because if the price tag gets up to 27, 28 million, well, he's never,

he's had one year with over a thousand yards, yards per catch are terrific, you know, in some ways,

he's a little bit like a Dishon Jackson, although I think Dishon was better on some of those

comeback routes and all that, but in terms of big, that's what he provides is that big play,

so how much are you willing to pay for that, and that price tag gets up there, what's the,

you know, they're just because you're going to be in it on some, doesn't mean you think that the

price tag, no matter what makes sense, that's, it still has to make financial sense and be a good

signing for you, and so, you know, I think if he, there are a lot of teams that want receivers,

and he's going to be the number one guy, number one target, if he indeed comes free,

so you, so that price tag could go up, and, you know, what's your comfort level with paying him,

or do you go, let's say, again, Ayuka, one year deal, then you get a Joanne Jennings,

he's a, he's not the explosive guy, but he's a, he can move change, move the change for you,

right, he's going to be, he runs good routes, he can help you in the red zone, Romeo Dobbs,

like over the middle guy, right, like there are other ways you can add that, you know, do you get

pierced for that much money, or do you maybe get two guys who can do a lot, you know, can add this,

and add that, or you get a guy that's, you know, let's say you get a Jennings, but you still want

a guy, when the draft comes, you may have Carnell Tate, or, or one of the other receivers,

whomever it is, right, there's a couple of receivers there, this, you know, you can get a receiver

later in the draft too, that could help you in the third round, that could help you as well, so

there are other ways to accomplish that, I don't think if they sign, like I said, if they,

if they went and got a uke, I don't think that would be the only move at receiver, because there's

just a lot of factors that I'll get into, one of which is, we saw this with Noah Brownbacher,

they kind of relied on what was he going to bring, bring, and they did not have a good enough

depth beyond that, and once, you know, he never, he didn't play, like we, you know, you know, he's

going to get hurt, but you kind of anticipate 12 games, not two or three, whatever it was,

and then you don't anticipate Terry getting hurt, but the bottom line is, you can't just rely,

on like, hey, you got brand new, when you approve it, that's enough, it's not going to be enough,

because there's, I think there's just too many questions out there, but those are Rashid Shaheed,

that's another one you put on the list, because again, speed, he would help you as a returner as well,

you get him, you get Jaylen Lane as a returner, you have arguably the best return game in the NFL,

so, you know, though it, but he again adds that speed, what's the cost there? I think

Jennings to me would be interesting, partly because if you want to run the ball better and more,

that's a big, that's a guy who does all that, like he adds all those other elements to, to the game

as well, so the blocking, et cetera, and you're bigger, you can, he plays in the slot, so you can,

you're bigger guy there, so they, there's a lot there, but he's just not explosive, but you know,

I think there's, there's a lot of ways to look at, look at this, but those are some of the possibilities

here, and I don't like, Mike Evans, I know, his name has been thrown out there,

I haven't heard that, doesn't mean it wouldn't happen, like I would say this, there's things you

hear for sure, and then there's things that surprise you later, because you didn't hear them,

you're not going to hear everything, like I know the approach they're taking, I feel comfortable

saying that, I don't, you know, there's some guys I think, like I feel pretty good about it,

but then you don't still don't know everything, I shouldn't know everything, if I knew everything,

folks, we're, we're all in trouble, because that, that just shouldn't be the case, but Evans,

Evans being 33, like if they're looking to get younger, I think last year maybe he would have

fit in with what they want to do, I think this year you need to get guys, we say, okay, this guy,

we got this, you know, for them, they have to say, we got this guy, he's going to be with us for

three years, boom, go, he'll grow with Jane Danes, that's how they have to say it, you know, so,

anyway, the other part of that too is, and I know when we did our little empire media trilogy,

the other day, Ben was big on, like they should just do everything on offense and pour it all in

there, like one thing that Quinn told me in this interview too, that he values and really wants

is roster balance, so kind of think of it the same way, like you don't want to just go out there,

like hey, you've got all these receivers, just go throw the ball, make it, that's what you got to do,

it's balance, right, you want roster balance, you know, because if you soak all the money over here,

you're going to get worse over here, so you can't do that, so they're not going to go to attack

one side of the ball, which wouldn't be prudent, they will look for that roster balance, so

defensive end, Jalen Phillips, the guy in the watch, for sure, right, like if Philly lets him get

out of there, but again, like these are the kind of guys that sometimes get signed last minute,

because, you know, just because now if the Eagles are in on Max Crosby, all right, well then that

kind of signals that they're going to let that guy go, he's young, he's athletic, he's had some,

he had the injury, you know, he's had the ACL, and I think it was the Achilles, but you know,

he had a good year last year, offers you, offers something that I think would fit in this defense,

that that would be one you got like, you know, Boehme Offe, you know, away from the Chargers,

like there's elements of them that would certainly help here, and if they sign those guys,

I'll get more into it, I've watched a lot of these guys of the last couple days, and we'll be

watching more of them over the weekend, just to get a better feel for what would they offer

Washington, and you know, just kind of digging into more, but I'm not going to talk all about this,

because I haven't signed anybody yet, they haven't agreed anything yet, so when they do,

that's when we'll talk more about them to see, is this good or not? And, you know, Jonathan Granard

from Minnesota, available, sounds like available in a trade, I don't. Clearly, Durante Jones knows him,

he's together for two years, he's a very good player, it does, you know, everything you hear or

read, when I, you know, check in with people in Minnesota, like what you hear still sounds like,

like a second round, but listen, if you're a Minnesota, you want to get a second round pick,

minimum, right? Something like that. So, these guys don't have a second round pick,

but the point is, you're not giving up the first, you're not giving up a future first by any means,

but, you know, do you have a pick that you could trade from, because that's what it would take?

If you somehow free, and they caught them well, of course, but I just, man, if they did that,

I just, I would have a hard time seeing that, but, you know, we'll see. And let's see, who else is

there? Trey Hendrickson, you would think they kicked the tires on him? There was some, I know there

was some interest last year, there was not, there were no trade talks about trying to pick him up,

because the last thing they want to do is give up, um, ask trade assets, as well as money.

So, but the fact that he's going to be free, the hard part is he's 31 coming off an injury,

can you get a younger guy, maybe with some more versatility, than what, you know, do you have to

have the top-top pass rusher, or can you get a guy like Phillips and a couple other guys that

maybe just help the overall defense? So, it doesn't allow you to get a Phillips or an O-way or a

Mafe plus one of the top corners available, um, what's the better route for your defense?

They have to fix their front seven. I don't, I think they're going to look at all spots in that

front seven, too. Like, I don't think it's just going to be edge, um, by any means, like, you know,

you could, I mean, so I think that's something to keep in mind now the, the money goes toward the

edges, but I think they're going to look at, you know, just adding depth along the front for sure.

You know, it's, I don't know how many, like, really, you know, top defensive tackles. I don't

think they'd go after a top guy, like, if you're going after another defensive tack, or maybe you

bring back a guy like a Tim Settle, who played here, you know, he's been fine, and he can, I think,

still adds that quickness, um, and, you know, he can do a couple things for you, so, like, but that's

the level, you know, but you get a few guys like that, then you can maybe bolster your depth,

right? And, um, I don't know about guys like Eddie Goldman. I haven't heard a whole lot with him,

um, and what they want to do, and I know, like, they still have Doron Payne and Kinlaw,

but the funny thing is, like, with Payne, I would say, and I'm going to get into this in a minute,

because, let me see, yeah, I'll get into this in a minute with, with some of the trade stuff and

all that, but obviously, Payne and Kinlaw have been their guys. We know that Payne's contract

situation, we know that the cap hit, and, et cetera, but we also know he hasn't been extended for

a reason, right? And, um, Adam Peters kind of said the other day, well, we're about that at the end

of the year, but the other part is, like, what if you sign a guy or two that you really like,

it's like, you know, what? Maybe you can trade him, right? And maybe you, like, it's not like,

it wouldn't be the first time that Payne has been on, that has been discussed in a trade.

But, you know, then a team, because there's no extension, the team can do that on their own.

So, if you want to try and recoup, I don't know if that's going to happen, um, and I know,

I, you know, when this came out about his contract several weeks ago, like, didn't, you know,

they think there's other reasons why it makes sense, but it also makes sense for that reason to

if they wanted to go down that road. And I don't know that they will, but, you know, if you want to,

like, that's where you actually, you could maybe get a draft pick that way and you get some

cap space and then what else do you do with that, right? So we'll see, we'll see, but it's just,

I think with that, at this point, I would put a lot of things on the table at this point. So,

but yeah, like, there's, you know, so you could go out and get some more help in the interior,

or just along the line, but the big money's got to go to the edges. So what they do there, we'll see,

and, you know, we'll see, I don't know what's going to happen there. Cornerback, that's going to be

an interesting one as well. They, they only have two legit starters under contract. Obviously,

Tray and this and Mikey Sanrestone. So I think with Sanrestone, they still,

I would keep, I keep asking, like, insider outside, and it depends who you talk to you, like,

more outside, because the vision, he can play, he played with good vision there last year. The

problem is, like, he did not have a, he had a very inconsistent year, but they also have felt,

like, this defense will be good for him. So we'll see, all right? This is what they're saying,

but they, you know, I think ideally for them, you get a guy who has some versatility. So when,

when you have Jones who likes to disguise coverages, it helps you do that. So like, a guy like

Alante Taylor, he can play in the slot. He's got some length. He's coming off a good year. Now,

the previous couple of years missed a lot of tackles, folks. Last year, not as much. So did

much better job in that area was a much more consistent player last year, but again,

their versatility, he can cover inside, he can go outside, he has some length. They need more length

in the secondary. They have, they absolutely need more length in the secondary, whether it's

safety, whether it's corner, Mike, he's a small guy, but his best attributes are the vision,

and he can make, you know, he cuts well, moves well, but you want more guys with, like, Amos has

some length, but you need more than that. Like, you know, so I think that's something that I would

look at, Jamal Dean, Jalen Watson, they're both free. Well, as of now, Tariq Wullen from Seattle,

with Watson, you know, we'll see because obviously the Chiefs just make it a trade with the

corner. So maybe they bring them back that would, you know, we'll see on that. But anyways,

so there's interesting guys available. Now, they all have some question marks. That's what you're

getting free and see, and that's, that's always the risk here. So for everybody that always just

wants to spend, spend, spend. And by the way, like, they, they, they showed out a lot of money last

year. I think it was like 11th overall in terms of spending, because they had a lot of guys assigned,

but they were like, they were in the 20s with as far as average per player. I can't remember where

it was, but it's not a little bit lower. So which tells you the level, there were a lot of guys

that were getting a lot of one year lower cost deals, but they did, but in terms of spending,

they were like 11th overall. But the, the warning is always like, I've seen the crazy freedom

spending that people didn't like under Snyder, but they always want every, it's kind of funny.

What they need is some of those draft picks to hit better. That's what they need. And then

fill in with some of these guys. Like, you cannot, it's kind of like college football. You're still,

you know, by and large, as you go, move forward, like, it's still going to be about homegrown talent,

and then adding and filling in gaps and, and doing that via the trash reporter or here free agency.

So like, you don't, you know, you'll get some of those guys, but you can't rely on always

getting them. Like, some of these guys are not going to work out. That's just the way it is.

The Eagles have had guys like that. Like, they don't work out, but because they have some,

they did have done well drafting, maybe the lessons, the mistakes that you make and it kind of

push it because player X came because like guys like Zach Ball and come through when you don't

expect it, someone else that you signed that you did expect, they're like, oh, yeah, they

signed him too and you don't work out, but you're still good because you find guys like Ball.

That's what they've got to do. So anyway, you know, that's, that's, that's, that's very possible too.

That's part of free agency as well is getting guys like that. All right. Number three,

let's get to Terry McCorn and it's funny because with Terry, there's now this, I know Matthew,

Barry, love Matthew. We used to be at ESPN now at NBC Sports, but he mentioned something coming

from the comma like, oh, this, you know, the Terry's last year. Well, this is something a few of us

have been talking about. You know, Nikki's mentioned it, Ben has mentioned it. The contract is such that,

yes, this is very possible his last year here because he's cap hit goes up to 34 million next year.

That's not going to be something that's going to be palatable for this team. That's why that

contract you signed, I was always, you know, it was, it was not a great deal for him, right?

It's not the one I think that they would have wanted. When you look at the, you know, the average

per year, okay, it's over 32. But again, it's, it gets there because it's 34 and it's like 34, 36,

something like that. The following year is, it's prohibitive. It's not going to work. So yes,

like this has always been on the table. It shouldn't be a surprise to anybody because the contract

is such that this is what you're looking at. Like this has always been the case. It was just not

the contract like that's going to keep him here a while. Everybody's got their own approach and

like sometimes you just want to get done. You get to the average you want. But, you know, if it had

been, if it had been like some of the deals that they originally offered, he probably plays out

that deal could play out that deal. As long as he's still producing. Now, if he's producing,

could you, could I see him coming back? Well, I guess you can do something with the contract.

But this is why you need to get another guy in here who can be a solid receiver to grow with

Jaden and whether it's, you know, again, whether it's drafting somebody or signing, you know,

if you get a pierce, I don't know. Can those guys be a number one? That's what you have to have.

Terry's obviously has been a, it was a solid number one for sure and a reliable guy. So like,

he would be hard to replace. So you've got to be active there. If you're looking ahead

to needing to build something with Jaden and another guy. So, but anyways, I just, I just have

found it kind of funny. Like, I, you know, this has been a possible outcome for sure since that deal

was signed because it's just not a deal that's conducive to him sticking around and finishing his

career in Washington. It's just not. So it doesn't mean he won't in some way, but the, but not based

on this current deal. And that's, you know, and so that, that's where I'm, but yeah, I just,

I wanted to point that out because it's just, I find it interesting. Some of the attention it got

because it's something that has been on the table all along and they need building blocks at that

spot. That's for sure. And so you've got to find some this offseason and, you know, they like,

they still like guys like Lane and McCaffrey. They're not the guys that, you know, you need a guy that

could be a number one, get somebody in here that can be the guy to build with Jayden. So can you

find that this offseason? Again, whether free agency and or the draft. All right. Number four,

Tyler, be honest. So I wanted to talk about Tyler because he went out and signed a good contract

with, with the, with the chargers similar to the deal he signed in Washington. I say that because

you look at, oh, you know, three years, 30 million. Well, we don't know the terms yet. Like, it could

be low first year, high second and third. Maybe he doesn't see those years, right? So I don't know

what the terms are. And this is always my warning going into free, free agency is don't overreact

to the initial terms. Like, again, I look at Ken Law last year, 15 million per year. Oh my god.

But the first year was under six million on the cap. So like, just, understand, like, just wait

to the terms come out. And I say that. And nobody ever does. I mean, media included, like, but that's

always the key. The key is total guarantees and the true value of the contract. And that is

tasted until until it's filed, you're not going to know that. So, so you react. So everybody,

everybody reacts to the initial terms. And then it's always, oh, when it comes out, like, oh,

that's not bad. Or oh, that's worse than I thought. But with be honest, I think that's one thing

I would be curious on. Now, the question I keep getting is, why didn't they trade him? And the

answer I would say is any time a guy is cut, who's a starter, you can be rest assured that they

would have offered him to other teams. He actually had, I think he went on a visit there with the

Chargers too. Like, it wasn't like a guaranteed signing. So it wasn't like, okay, get it, you know,

he's free. Boom. Got it done. It wasn't something like that. But again, like, this is a, this is a team

that they, they went out and they, they traded Johan Dodson. They traded Brian Robinson,

Ridgeway, Sam Howell. Like, guys that they were going to cut and they traded them. So like,

my point is, yes, if they, if they could have, I would say it's pretty safe to say they would

have done so. And this is, this is someone who's been very active in terms of making deals. You

know, Debo, Tunsell, Latimore, you know, a couple of trades in the draft. Like, you know,

trading back in 2024, passing up on Cooper Dejean, which certainly, right now, it has not played out

the way they would want. This year's a big year for the guys like, you know, some of the

synods and Sam are still not that. So is there still time to make it look good? Yes. The first two

years, Cooper Dejean's been pretty damn good. Very good, right? So we all know that, but the point

is like, very active team with trades. So yes, you can be rest assured that if they were going,

if they could have gotten something for Tyler, be honest, pretty sure they would have folks. So

I don't, I don't think it's like, I think it's kind of funny. People assume that they didn't try

to do that. You know, and this is like, it's customary procedure for since I've covered this team

that when there's a situation like this, they will offer first. And then, and sometimes you hear

like, yeah, they're offering this guy around league, you know, maybe in the summertime, you know,

before cuts as a possibility, right? But like, when you, you know, teams know once you start doing

that, like, especially now, like if you're doing it now, you know, they're going to be cut. The only

question is, will there be enough of a market of teams wanting to sign them after that point

that you can create a maybe a trade market? But how much do teams want to invest in center? Like,

this team clearly is okay, investing what they are right now. Like, I do not, they're not going

to go out and sign a Tyler Lindervon. They're not going to invest heavily at that position. They do

like Allegretti as a Nick Allegretti as a possible replacement there. You know, it could just be a

situation like where he goes and competes for it. So you maybe bring someone else in to compete

for that job and feel, and clearly they feel okay with that. So if they're right, we'll see.

But that's why I'm just, my only point is on the trade talk, like, it's not like they said,

oh, shoot, we could have traded them. That's not how this works. Like, you always, like, especially

people who are always on the phone with this and making deals. Like, this is what they do.

So whether or not it works out, I don't know. But like, that's the only part I do know is that

that's how that's how this works. But again, whether, again, that's why, that's why I say like,

with the pain stuff, I can't rule any of that stuff out at this point. Because you just don't know,

like, you know, like, what I know with pain is that he's on a one year deal. If a team wants to

trade for him, let's say a team offers him a third round pick for him or like, you know, that,

okay. But what they did is by keeping him on that contract, if nobody wants it, no, if you

somehow, if somebody, if they, if somebody was interested and they don't give you what you

would like to get to make that move, well, you can always let him play it out and then get a

comp tick after he leaves next year. But if you're, but if you're keeping that door open,

then you keep that contract like that. So that way, if a team wants him, they probably would not trade

unless you could do something with, unless you could extend him and this allows them to do that.

Because you nobody, I don't think it'd be, I think it'd be hard to have anybody have him play

for the cap number he's at. So you could get him for much, you know, in the trade, get it down by

extending him. So anyways, but the point is like, that's what these guys do, like not just here,

but, but anywhere. And, you know, it's, it's why like, you know, like I said, I don't know what's

going to happen with any of that. I don't know. But you, but you look at, I think when you're looking at

all this stuff, you look at what could be on the table, what's it, you know, what could be something

that they do because like they're, I think, you know, when you're trying to rebuild your roster,

you have to look at everything and everything that makes, you know, just so you look at, you kind

of examine everything for sure. So, and then number the last one, when I kind of dig into some

other position, but starting with Titan, because I know that's been a point of emphasis here.

So I don't think they're going to spend big at Titan. Now, what does that mean? That part, I don't

know. What I do know is, and I told you this about the Zachard situation that they would like to pursue

Titan free, free agency, add somebody to that position and what level I don't know. But I was

also told they're not going to overspend at the position. So, but again, what does that mean? Is

$10 million overspending, $14 million overspending? What might Isaiah likely cost? Chigokonko, like those are,

like I think, and if I, you know, Chig might be, I don't know, I might put him ahead a little bit,

but both would give Washington something that they don't have is, which says that athletic

pass catcher, or proven, a more proven athletic pass catcher. I think, like, Colson Yankoff is

athletic. Lawrence Kager, I've heard people talk about him, but folks, we haven't seen him in a game,

so I don't know. But I do know, like Ben Cinnett, like, you know, you see Kate Otten out there,

or when I watch him, some of those things are things that Cinnett can, I think, could do, like,

especially out of play action, block release, get open, get out, you know, and run. Like, I think he

can do that. So I think he can help you in that role, but can you get that athletic guy who can

also hurt a defense and maybe, and be a move, moveable piece that, like, you know, that, that they

need. And so you could get that from Chigokonko, likely, can move around as well. So our guys out there

that fit that, but they're not going to overspend at that position. And my one thought on that is

that, you know, if you improve your receivers enough, then you need a guy, you just, you know,

if you have Cinnett in baits and get one more as a moderate price guy, then you can be okay.

Because like, you're going, you know, you should be okay. And I know T.J. Hockinson's name might

be out there. I don't know what's going to happen. He maybe gets contract restructured,

but he obviously did. The blah would know him. There's some ties there. So, I know, but anyways,

I think, like, that's, those are some of the guys you could, you could look at for sure. I don't

think, and Joe Kuh would be a guy that they would look at. I think Chig would be a guy that would

be, would make more sense. And, but again, what's the price? And if it's seven or eight million,

is that going to be too high for them? I don't know. And then it's, you know, well, you have to get

a running back. You need, you know, at least one running back, you know, as if I'm taping this,

they haven't brought back, make nickel, German, make nickels yet. I don't, I haven't heard yet. I

would be surprised if they didn't because he fits here. They like him, but you still got to

improve there. And there are guys that you can go get that, that makes sense. I don't know if

they want to spend for ETN, right? I think the one, you know, the one thing to keep in mind that I

would always keep in mind at running back is like, even last year, back into the first round,

it's a good running back class. And what I kept here is they're not going to take a running back

in the first round. So, that's, is that a sign of how they value the class or how they look at the

position and investing in that position. Crisky Merit did a nice job, but you need a guy who's,

to me, a proven guy who can help you running and catching. So, there are, you know, obviously

guys out there like that, ETN would be the top guy with that, with Rees Hall, franchise,

Rashad White is a guy that, that, you know, clearly has made it known that he'd like to play here,

and he can fill those roles. So, like, you can get a guy like that in moderate price and get

another guy, you know, Chris Rodriguez, as of, I'm doing this, has not resigned yet. He's a

restrictive for agent. So, get more information on him, but you have guys, but you definitely need

to add a couple more guys at this position. Linebacker's another one. Don't know yet what they're going

to do there. Wilson's a for agent. Of course, Jones had him. He was with him in Minnesota. I don't

think he'd be a big money guy, you know, there, but what do you do there? So, I haven't heard anything

yet officially on Bobby Wagner. I have a hard time believing that he would come back in the same

role that he had if he came back. If he came back, to be in that similar role, I think, I

definitely think they want to get younger, more athletic in that front seven. So, you know,

but Wilson would be a guy that would make sense because he's playing the system, but, you know,

we'll see. I don't, and McGee is going to be playing more too. So, that's another, listen,

there's another spot that you can say, like, oh, I don't think they'll address that outside of,

you know, a couple like, they just have a lot that they need. You know, I think they need to build

depth. I think in talking to, there's one, talking to one high ranking team official or team

source earlier this year. And like the one thing that they said they learned this year is how much

they need to improve that depth. So, this is a time to do that. Get a couple guys and you heard Quinn

talk about this, some depth pieces, but also difference makers because they're difference makers

at the positions that they need. And there you go. I think, and going back to Tyden just for a

quick minute and why, why they don't want to invest overly, overspend there, I should say, overspend

there because like the other positions are high impact positions, right? Again, and more high

money edge receiver and then corner. But the other thing to keep in mind, like, I know there was a lot

of talk about Zach Urts last year. Urts was solid. Urts is exactly what you thought, but the deficiencies

stood out in terms of the explosiveness or the lack thereof because you didn't have it on the

outside. But if you can add it on the outside and then if you can, you can create some place for

Senate in play action and even a little bit more for baits, but more Senate. And then if you added

one more piece or if those other guys develop, now you're in a better spot. Like you just need to

get some athleticism in there. But you, you know, and I think what Urts really provides is it's

security blanket. If you get like dobs can provide that from the receiver position. Jennings could

provide that too. Obviously, Terry can give you more than just that. He can give you the explosiveness

and he can give you that dependability and in certain downs. So I don't know that I have

anything else folks. That's about all I got. I think it's about time that free agency got here

because I'm kind of tired of talking about what might happen. Let's finally go see what will

happen and then react to that. I will be like I said, I'll be doing podcasts throughout the week

because I think there's going to be that much interest in it throughout the week to talk about

whether they do something big or not because if they don't, that to me is as big a topic because they,

they, I mean, I kept I kept hearing that like this is it's different. I'm telling you the stuff I

hear is in from the team is different than what it has been. But you still got to go do it because

if you talk like that and you don't do it, that's an issue. But these are got like Josh Harris,

a guy that's used to getting stuff done. I think there's, I think they're going to get a few things

done here and who that will be. I don't know and you know, I'm sure some of the names I discuss

will be on those lists or on some of the guys there will definitely pursue for sure. But we'll

see who they get and that'll be, you know, this is a little bit like Christmas morning coming up

for sure. And so folks, that's all I got. Let's get to free agency. So happy legal tampering coming

up on Monday. And I will talk to you again Monday night wrapping up whatever they do on that first

day. And if anything happens else over the weekend, of course, but I don't know what that would be.

I don't know. I'm not expecting anything big, but you know what this time of the year?

Who the heck knows? Because you have to kind of be at my job. You have to be prepared at any time

to react to anything. And you don't leave the house. You know, you're afraid to take showers.

Too much information, but because like you got to have your phone, you've got to have that.

So you take it early or you make sure you take it very early. I would say that. So that's probably

too much information. I apologize for that. Anyway, folks, I'm done. I'm Ramblin. I'll talk to you

next time.