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Sam Robinson
4:03
Hey everyone, let's get started!
TD-Machine
4:11
Which of the edge rushers set to become free agents will get the biggest deal?
Sam Robinson
4:11
Hey, TD-Machine, this is a close call. I see three candidates that could all have a case.

Trey Hendrickson is the biggest name with by far the most production. Were he with a team that doled out normally structured contracts, a big-ticket deal would have come last year. But the Bengals held the line on post-Year 1 guarantees, and he is now 31 coming off a seven-game season. He surely lost some value in 2025.

Jaelan Phillips is 26 but has never had a nine-sack season. He also has Achilles and ACL tears on his medical sheet. But he was 12th in pressures last season and helped the Eagles. He will be coveted.

I might go with an upset pick, though. Odafe Oweh has 17.5 sacks and 41 QB hits over the past two years, after a slow start in Baltimore, and has no major injury history. Only a few months older at 27, Oweh will do very well soon.

I can easily see this order going three different ways, creating a good market to follow.
Duval Doug
4:20
Do you think the Jags will be able to replicate their 2025 success next season?
Sam Robinson
4:20
Duval Doug, I was skeptical of the Jags' Coen-Gladstone setup, but they proved me wrong in Year 1. The only team to beat a Bo Nix-led Broncos team post-September, Jacksonville is set up nicely. Though, they do carry a shaky cap situation ($12MM-plus over) for the time being.

Them achieving what they did without Hunter or Brian Thomas Jr. contributing too much impressed, and a full offseason with Jakobi Meyers will help (as will Hunter moving to more of a CB role, which is a fascinating adjustment). Coen's work with Baker Mayfield also points Lawrence's arrow up -- at long last.

Keeping both coordinators will help as well, and if they lose Etienne, the Tuten/Allen combo awaits. Losing Devin Lloyd would certainly hurt, though. I am far more bullish on the Jags now after their second-half surge.
Chiefs scalp
4:24
After the Mahomes restructure who do you see them cutting to get under the cap?
Sam Robinson
4:24
Jawaan Taylor is the easy one. Pass block win rate success aside, he has not been worth the four-year, $80MM deal. The Chiefs only kept him last year because his 2025 salary was guaranteed a year early. He will save them $20MM.

I think they also release Kristian Fulton, who failed to make much of an impact despite the team deviating from its stingy CB strategy (2 years, $20MM). Mike Danna is likely out as well. I can see Drue Tranquill ($6.5MM savings) being a cut consideration, as he will turn 31 in August. But I'm not sure that's a lock. Taylor, Fulton and Danna are likely out, however.
walterj23
4:32
Certainly  the steelers are going to trade one of Highsmith or Hrberg . Which would have the most trade value  and which one would you keep playing opposite  of Watt ?
Sam Robinson
4:32
Hey Walterj, if I was told to trade one of them to help bolster draft capital, I'd move Highsmith. Herbig is four years younger (at 24). Both had good seasons, and Highsmith will still have value at 29.

Highsmith's $17MM-per-year deal runs through 2027 and has no guarantees left, giving a team an affordable option and cost certainty. Herbig is only signed for one more season; he'll need to be paid soon and has not achieved what Highsmith has. I think they have comparable trade value.

Moving Highsmith now would clear the runway for a Herbig extension, and the team does need to add assets to potentially move up in the 2027 draft for a quarterback. This is a place to turn, though I'm not sure the Steelers -- who have liked to trade WRs more than pass rushers -- are a lock to do it this offseason. Good either/or scenario to keep on the radar, though. Would be tough to break up that high-end EDGE trio
Blair B
4:34
Oops. I asked a baseball question earlier. Apologies!
Sam Robinson
4:34
If it's not about the Royals or my dynasty team, I'd really struggle to answer it haha
M’s Fan
4:43
What will Riq Woolen get in free agency? Which DB should seattle keep (fa: S Bryant, CB Jobe, CB Woolen)? Need to give Witherspoon an extension too. What’s he get?
Sam Robinson
4:43
M's fan, I'm diving into the Seahawks' offseason right now actually...and this is a good area to monitor. They will have an easier time keeping Jobe, with Woolen's size-speed package and ballhawk past (12 INTs) being attractive to teams. Jobe, on the other hand, was initially a practice squad signee who worked his way up.

I'd say they keep Jobe, who was added under Mike Macdonald (whereas Woolen was a Carroll pick dangled at the trade deadline).

I think they could keep Jobe and Bryant if they choose -- though, the cap space is a bit deceiving due to the extensions needed for Witherspoon, JSN and Byron Murphy (2027 or '28).

With ability to play the boundary and slot, Witherspoon will command a $30MM-per-year deal like Gardner and Stingley (wow is Pat Surtain suddenly underpaid at $24MM AAV). I do wonder if his slot usage reduces the market a bit (slots remain underpaid), but Witherspoon transcends a pure slot CB. He will do very well, especially with the cap going past $300MM
J D
4:49
Is it possible The Patriots cut both Stef Diggs and Hunter Henry before the start of the league year?
Sam Robinson
4:49
J D, it is possible, yes. Both would generate considerable cap savings. But with Maye on a rookie deal and the Pats holding at least $40MM in cap space, I don't think they cut both.

Henry especially showed great chemistry with Maye, averaging 12.8 YPC (his most since working with Phil Rivers in 2017). Entering an age-32 season, I'd presume Henry stays.

Diggs could face a suspension and will turn 33 this season. He could save the Pats $16.8MM in a release. But he was Maye's top target. Considering how hard they tried to add a receiver in 2024, I'm not sure they bail just yet. I'd lean against Diggs (who's on a three-year deal) being a Patriot in 2027, though
A Richardson
4:54
Do I have any trade value for the colts or am I a cut candidate? Who would be willing to give me another chance I'm only 24?
Sam Robinson
4:54
Hey Anthony, bummer about that eye. Hope it has healed well. You really scared some teams with injuries and inaccuracy; the in-game tap-out sequence remains quite unique too. You won't be released; it would cost the Colts $10.8MM. And as a former No. 4 overall pick who's 24, you have trade value.

I see the Colts getting more for Richardson than the Jets got for Zach Wilson (6-7 pick swap with a salary split). The Bears and Pats only got sixths for Jones and Fields, while Lance fetched the 49ers a fourth. Maybe splitting the difference here due to Richardson's dual-threat ability (and a market lacking many FAs or non-Mendoza lock starters).
Vikings QB Room
5:03
Will the Vikings make an offer to Cousins if he's released by Atlanta? Who else could they target to improve and offer competition to McCarthy? Is Anthony Richardson possible?
Sam Robinson
5:03
With O'Connell surely having more power now that the team is GM-less, I can easily see Cousins going back to Minnesota. He said he never wanted to leave, but the Vikes' plan to draft a QB -- before, you know, the Falcons did the same thing without telling him -- changed things. Going into an age-38 season, though, Cousins is not the same QB the team had before his 2023 Achilles tear.

I still think Aaron Rodgers makes some sense due to how badly he wanted to play there in 2025. Kyler Murray in a setup where the Cardinals are paying his salary is intriguing too. Daniel Jones feelers are probably going out at the Combine, and a Mac Jones trade will be considered. After his success in Shanahan's offense, O'Connell has surely envisioned how he would look targeting MIN's WRs and Hockenson.

I suppose Richardson is a possibility -- he was mentioned as a Vikings candidate several weeks ago -- but I'd steer clear there. The Vikings already have a shaky young QB. They don't need two.
John D
5:07
Who are some quarterbacks that could be traded?
Sam Robinson
5:07
John D, Richardson and Mac Jones are two names to monitor. Andy Dalton and Spencer Rattler come to mind as two other logical QB2 trade candidates.

I do not believe Tua will be moved; a cut that smashes Russell Wilson's dead money record appears imminent. I'm not sure Kyler Murray is untradeable, but his 2026 money being guaranteed and the upcoming $19.5MM 2027 guarantee will give teams pause. It is possible, as plenty of QB needs exist, Arizona can pick up some of the tab and move on via trade.
Miami Fan
5:12
With all the recent cuts by the Dolphins to get under the cap, what areas do you see them targeting in free agency to improve the team?
Sam Robinson
5:12
Miami Fan, I do see them pursuing Malik Willis, as the Packer ties are deep here. But he might be too pricey for a team looking set to take on $99.2MM in dead money (wow) split over two years. Jimmy Garoppolo came up recently, and it makes sense as a stopgap since he played for Slowik in San Francisco (with Hafley there for two of those years as well).

They need CB help bad. One first-round pick will not cover it, so I expect a free agent signing there. TE and guard are two other areas to watch in free agency with Miami. If they trade Minkah Fitzpatrick, two safety needs will be present too.
Florio Talk
5:15
I'm reading rumors Aaron Rodgers is a possibility to sign with the Cards since Hackett is their new OC does this make any sense with Murray there?
Sam Robinson
5:15
Wow, what a fun scenario that would be. I don't know that Rodgers would be that eager to continue his career in Arizona.

It's not a bad idea in a vacuum, as he is close with Hackett and played for the older LaFleur. They play indoors and have three quality receiving weapons in Harrison, Wilson and McBride. But the Cardinals are not positioned to contend in 2026.

Rodgers presumably wouldn't just want to return for the sake of playing again. I view the Vikings as the better non-Steelers path for him.
M’s Fan
5:22
What wrong lesson will teams learn from the Pats or Hawks?
Sam Robinson
5:22
M's Fan, I don't know if the notion you can win a Super Bowl without a top-10 QB is necessarily the wrong lesson, but it's one teams may think is easier than it actually is.

The Seahawks built a dominant defense, improved their run game significantly and had the OPOY. This formula worked with the Eagles, too, though Hurts has delivered a higher peak than Darnold. But history shows this is not typically how it's done. You'd better have a loaded roster or a historically elite defense (in the 2015 Broncos' case) to send a middling QB (Manning was that at best in his final year) into a Super Bowl.

That said, I am fascinated to see if some teams do attempt this strategy. Because for many years the leaguewide mantra has been "Find a high-ceiling QB no matter what it takes." The Darnold route was fascinating by contrast. We saw roster strength prevail over QB heroes last year, with the Broncos likely a Bo Nix injury away from an AFC title and the Seahawks dominating with a middle-class passer.
Colts Fan
5:28
With Daniel Jones a free agent and Anthony Richardson asking for a trade who could we bring in besides resigning Jones?
Sam Robinson
5:28
Kind of crazy how history repeats itself here. Three years after the Giants chose to pay Jones and tag Barkley, the Colts have both Jones and Alec Pierce headed for free agency. The tag should be in play here, but Jones at $47MM-plus is borderline irresponsible based on his inconsistent career and injury history. Pierce on the tag makes more sense.

The Colts surely want no part of another QB search; that has defined the post-Luck years and pushed Chris Ballard to the hot seat (though, he sure has a high heat tolerance entering Year 10).

If they needed to search, a scenario where Kyler Murray is cut and comes to Indy -- to play for Steichen, who coaxed Jalen Hurts to his best season -- would make some sense. Given how desperate the Colts would be if Jones left, they'd be a candidate to overpay in a trade for Mac Jones (which would be dangerous since they already traded two firsts for Sauce).

Bottom line, Jones somehow holds big leverage over a team again. He certainly used it to his advantage last time.
Jerry's Dollars
5:34
How will the Cowboys get under under the cap and be able to tag Pickens as well as improve the team this year?
Sam Robinson
5:34
A host of restructures are probably coming. They will restructure Dak's deal; that can save more than $30MM in cap space (they are projected to be more than $18MM over right now). Restructures of Lamb, Tyler Smith, Osa Odighizuwa and DaRon Bland can create roughly $60MM in cap space if the team chooses.

And the Cowboys have gone to the restructure well plenty in recent years. Sometimes, that has burned them -- as Dak wielded extraordinary leverage in part because of restructures on his second contract. But with the QB at $60MM AAV, Dallas has to take this route.

Extending Quinnen Williams would reduce his $21.75MM cap hit, too. A Malik Hooker release would save nearly $7MM. The team just waived Logan Wilson, which saves more than $6MM. So work is beginning here.
Titans Rebuild
5:40
We got our QB last year and we have the most cap space, who do we target in free agency?
Sam Robinson
5:40
They can go pretty big here. Ran Carthon tried this around Will Levis' contract. The Titans have a better QB now but two more years (at least) of rookie-deal control. It's a fun spot to be in, recent losing notwithstanding.

Mike Borgonzi can target WRs, as Calvin Ridley is expected to be cut. Alec Pierce will be the prize if he escapes the tag deadline. That is one player to monitor. Odafe Oweh escaping a Chargers tag would be intriguing here too. Would cutting Lloyd Cushenberry and outmuscling teams for Linderbaum be too drastic? They could do it, as Cushenberry has disappointed (after a contract-year outlier season in Denver).

Tennessee needs CB help, as L'Jarius Sneed has not panned out. That '24 FA/trade crop also serves as a warning. Borgonzi is familiar with ex-Sneed teammate Jaylen Watson. A lot of possibilities for Tennessee here
Draft Day
5:46
I know it is early, but what positions do you see having the best depth in the draft?
Sam Robinson
5:46
The edge rusher position is pretty deep, especially if teams will consider Arvell Reese an EDGE. So is tackle. Corner has a few first-round options. We are about to find out a lot more about this class, though one position that is not deep (QB) will take center stage (as some teams will be angling for assets in 2027).
Sam Robinson
5:46
Think we'll call it there for today. Thanks for all the questions. Hope you all have a good weekend!
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