Front Office NFL Chat
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Sam Robinson
4:04
Hey everyone, hope it's been a good week. Let's get started!
TD-Machine
4:15
Several NFL stadiums are getting grass temporarily installed for the World Cup. Do you think players will ever get their wish and have all fields switched to grass full time?
Sam Robinson
4:15
Hey TD-Machine, if the NFLPA wants to draw a line here, this could be a deal point the owners concede on in exchange for the long-rumored 18-game expansion. The '70s, '80s and '90s -- and even into the 2000s -- featured Astroturf, and the game phased that out. If the players make this a priority, I can see owners giving in.

The 2011 CBA reshaped NFL offseasons and cut down dramatically on padded workouts in-season, while the 2020 agreement -- among other items -- significantly changed the scope of drug testing. If we are headed for 18 games, players need to have some pillar issues they want changed.

I think there's a great chance of the players succeeding and landing the double-bye format -- a 1993-only arrangement the owners denied them when the season expanded to 17 games five years ago -- and we will find out in the not-too-distant future if grass fields are that important to the union.
M’s Fan
4:24
What are the chances that the supporting cast in Miami is so bad that we can’t clearly evaluate Malik Willis’ play at QB?
Sam Robinson
4:24
Hey M's Fan, this is a very good point. The Cardinals appear to have no delusions they will be Super Bowl contenders this season, but if they are to throw Carson Beck into action, Trey McBride, Michael Wilson, Marvin Harrison Jr. and now Jeremiyah Love are in place. Even with De'Von Achane, the Dolphins do not have a comparable skill cadre and will struggle to evaluate Willis.

The Dolphins took a quantity-based approach to WR -- and other spots -- in Jon-Eric Sullivan's first draft, taking two in Round 3 and one in Round 6. One of those third-rounders, Chris Bell, is coming off an ACL tear. I don't know if Jalen Tolbert and Tutu Atwell is a sufficient veteran base, and Greg Dulcich struggled mightily with health (in Denver) the last time he was asked to be a starting TE.

Miami obviously will not profile as a trade buyer, but I agree here. Willis may not have enough to succeed -- even for a bridge option -- and it is not hard to see the Dolphins joining the Cards, Jets and Co. in the 2027 QB derby.
Tampa Tom
4:37
Do you think the Bucs should commit a long-term extension to Baker Mayfield? Has he done enough to deserve a big raise into his 30s?
Sam Robinson
4:37
I suppose it depends on where Mayfield wants this to realistically end up, price-wise. The Bucs have said the right things, but it is clear the sides are far apart. The Daniel Jones $44MM-per-year deal almost certainly would need to be the floor for Mayfield, and Patrick Mahomes raising the QB ceiling yesterday won't help the Bucs in an effort to keep the AAV near his current place ($33.3MM).

The Bucs won their Mayfield bet three years ago, and his 2023 and '24 seasons are probably more indicative of his talent than 2025, when most of Tampa's offense went down in a season that led to an OC firing. I do think he's done enough for an extension. Would he accept something between Jones' deal and Jalen Hurts' $51MM-per-year pact?

Aside from Brady's extension, the Bucs have no history with second contracts for starting QBs. They've never had a QB1 last longer than six seasons. Mayfield may not get to seven (which would be 2029), but the team's near-future options will be limited if it plays hardball now
Roger
4:45
Sam, what are your expectations for the Chiefs? They look like the third best team in the AFC West to me. Maybe nine or ten wins and a wild card. Thanks.
Sam Robinson
4:45
Hi Roger, this is a storyline that maybe is being underdiscussed. How much were the Chiefs reliant on close-game magic from 2023-24, and did they improve this offseason?

The Patriots rarely had to thwart strong divisional challengers during their dynasty, and the post-Peyton Manning period played into the Chiefs' hands. But the Broncos have pieced together a great nucleus, while the Bolts have raised their floor considerably. The Chiefs' rebound road will be tougher than the 2009 Pats'.

I liked the McDuffie trade, as the Chiefs have proven they can find rookie-deal CB talent. But I am a bit worried about Mahomes in Year 1 post-surgery due to his play style. The team needs second-rounder R Mason Thomas to develop quickly to help Jones and Karlaftis.

I can see KC taking an early division lead -- Denver's schedule is vicious to start -- while still seeing this ultimately look more like a transition year than one where they contend for home-field advantage.
Bledsoe2Moulds46
4:54
Do you think the Bills will reclaim the AFC East this year? I'm skeptical of the Brady hire, but I also see negative regression for the Pats. It should be close.
Sam Robinson
4:54
This is a solid deep cut; Moulds may now be a bit underrated. I do see Buffalo as the AFC East favorite. We just saw the Patriots enjoy one of the smoother roads to a Super Bowl in NFL history last season, and even though they have A.J. Brown now, some regression  will be expected. I'm curious to see how their O-line looks this season as well.

The Bills have the best-performing QB in the NFL right now, as no passer is more important to his team than Allen, and did well to re-sign McGovern up front. I like Bradley Chubb in the DE2 role, and it is interesting he's following the path ex-teammate Von Miller took. They need Hairston to show he was worth a first-round pick, as CB injuries keep haunting the team in the playoffs.

These tweaks (to go with the Moore-Brady reunion) may well be enough to lift the Bills back to home playoff games, as the foundation is still solid. I also loved the Jim Leonhard DC hire, though I'll be curious how the unit looks after nine seasons in McDermott's scheme.
Rocco Becht's Modern Life
5:03
People are sleeping on the Eagles after the Brown trade. That's still a hell of a roster. Yeah, the Rams are paper champions right now, but lets see how they look in January. They still have to get through a grueling division.
Sam Robinson
5:03
We are just on a run of solid question identities here. I agree. Like the Bills, the Eagles are a high-floor operation -- even if Hurts and Allen are not on the same tier.

I'll be curious to see how Philly's post-Jeff Stoutland O-line looks, but Vic Fangio gives them an all-time great at DC. Teams with high-end DCs that don't have realistic HC paths -- like Spagnuolo in KC -- have built-in advantages.

PHI did well to find a Phillips replacement in Greenard, and I trust Fangio to get plenty out of him. The other pieces on defense look solid. Offensively, I am a bit concerned. Sean Mannion was clearly not the first choice for OC, and how will Hurts look without Brown? Lemon and Wicks are nice additions, but will they be enough in 2026? We also have to be leery of Barkley (1,826 carries) wearing down or seeing his good injury fortune (through 2 Eagle years) end.

Slight NFC East favorite, I'd say, but the Cowboys should be improved to go with a better (not sure how much yet) Commanders squad w/ Daniels
Pete W.
5:08
What do you think of the Brendan Sorsby "punishment" that was just handed down? To follow up, if you were an NFL general manager, even one desperate for a talented quarterback, would you go anywhere near this guy?
Sam Robinson
5:08
Hi Pete, certainly surprised by it. It obviously sets a dangerous precedent, but I suppose we shouldn't be surprised by more chaos in college football. The 2020s have shown the NCAA to be a toothless organization. That said, I still see a reasonable chance Sorsby's injunction is reversed on appeal and a supplemental draft path reforms.

I was surprised to read a report that one team could be willing to sacrifice a 2027 2nd to draft Sorsby. I'd need to be secure in my job status if I were to roll the dice here, especially in the supplemental draft. Giving up something like a 2027 fourth-rounder to take him next month is reasonable from an asset perspective, but I'd be really nervous about adding a guy so soon after his gambling addiction was made public.
M’s Fan
5:09
Thanks for doing these chats Sam!
Sam Robinson
5:09
You got it!
Sam Robinson
5:09
And thanks, everyone, for the questions today. Have a good weekend!
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