Front Office NFL Chat
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Sam Robinson
4:03
Hey everyone, NFL business is on again now that training camps are underway. Let's get started!
M’s Fan
4:17
The Seahawks RB room scares me, Price fumbles too much and has never been a volume back, ZC tore his acl like 3 months ago, and GH is a practice squad type. What’s your read? Any good vets left?
Sam Robinson
4:17
Hey M's Fan, the Seahawks made two notable moves to address this situation by drafting Price weeks after signing ex-Packer backup Emanuel Wilson. The latter did not require much to sign ($550K guaranteed), so I can see your point here regarding the transition from a healthy Walker and Charbonnet to what it is now.

The market still has a few vets of note, but they are either near the end or coming off injury. Nick Chubb, Raheem Mostert, Austin Ekeler and Kareem Hunt are available. On the younger side, there is Najee Harris. Harris met with Seattle after the Wilson signing. It is possible the Hawks are waiting on his recovery from Achilles surgery. He'll land a job somewhere. If Wilson struggles in camp, Seattle makes sense (though, having two RBs coming off a major injury might be pushing it).

The Hawks seemingly would only need a stopgap while Charbonnet recovers, but Wilson looks like that player. Price's lack of volume (280 Notre Dame carries) could be viewed as a plus, a la Josh Jacobs' Alabama workload
The Ghost of George Young
4:26
What is a realistic asking price for Vita Vea, should Tampa decide to move on from him before the season?  If the Giants offered Kayvon Thibodeaux, which team would have to add a sweetener, like a mid round draft pick for the deal to be agreed upon?  Thanks.
Sam Robinson
4:26
The Giants received No. 10 overall for Lawrence. That is unrealistic for a 31-year-old DT. The Bucs likely view Vea as at or very close to Lawrence's level. I think a second-rounder would be required.

If the Giants offered Thibodeaux for Vea, they would need to throw in another quality asset. Thibodeaux, coming off injury and in a contract year (amid an inconsistent career), would be viewed as the second asset in a trade package for a player like Vea.

The Giants do make sense as a team who would be interested. They have taken a quantity-based approach to replacing Lawrence. They did give D.J. Reader a two-year, $12.5MM deal to be their NT. Vea is better and a year younger, but New York has made some moves here.

One component working against the Bucs will be an acquiring team needing to extend Vea, who is underpaid (as the 19th-highest-paid DT). I'm a bit surprised it took Vea until now to voice frustration on his contract. The Bucs have relied on him for years
RB Deals
4:36
Do you think Robinson and Gibbs will both sign extensions soon? Is it a given the second one to sign will automatically get more than the first?
Sam Robinson
4:36
This NFL contract pattern can be odd at points, as lesser players use deals for stars as springboards (take Jaycee Horn landing more than Patrick Surtain last March). But in this case, the two players are comparable; I don't think it's automatic Gibbs would get more than Robinson if he goes second, but that does happen often in the NFL.

The 2015 franchise tag deadline saw Dez Bryant's deal give the Broncos Demaryius Thomas framework; he agreed to the same terms minutes later. The Falcons and Lions have much more time than those teams did back then, as both RBs are under contract through 2027. But the first team will provide the second with an important benchmark.

The Lions have done well to complete extensions with core players early. They paid Penei Sewell and Aidan Hutchinson with two years left on their deals, and they did a deal with Jack Campbell shortly after declining his fifth-year option.

While the second player may carry the AAV crown, guarantee structure will be the component to watch here.
Roger
4:44
Hi Sam. A couple of Buccaneers questions ... what kind of extension would you have offered Mayfield? It seems to me he had a case for 2/100 when you have a guy like Daniel Jones getting 2/88. What do you think will happen with Vea? Thanks.
Sam Robinson
4:44
Hey Roger, this is a bold strategy on the Bucs' part, but Jason Licht regularly lets players play out contracts. He did so with Evans (in 2023), Shaq Barrett, Jamel Dean, Carlton Davis, Ryan Jensen and others. Mayfield also played out his 2023 contract, re-signing on the eve of free agency in 2024. Given his play and the Bucs' lack of alternatives at sports' premier position, this is a riskier move for the team.

Mayfield has the franchise tag price and the Bucs' likely issues finding a better replacement as leverage. I'm guessing he pushed for money at the Goff/Purdy level ($53MM AAV) due to cap growth. I would have attempted to find a sweet spot between the Jones tier and where those two are (as Mayfield is 31 and has played through significant injuries). Even something like a three-year deal at 50/51 per would not have been a dealbreaker for me.

Licht does well to complete business at the 11th hour. He will bank on doing it again next year if Baker bounces back. ...
Sam Robinson
4:50
As for Vea, I think the Bucs will keep him. He has bailed out Bowles' defense for years while the team has struggled to replace Barrett on the edge after his Achilles injury.

With Bowles on the hot seat and Licht's post-2021 years topping out with the Bucs second-tier contenders, sending out a Vea-less defense is too risky.

Vea is underpaid. As I mentioned above, I'm surprised it took this long for him to make this an issue. He is durable and has two Pro Bowls on his resume.

The Bucs have done well to retain their own even if they let them play out contracts. I'll bet the sides work something out either now or before free agency, along the lines of how TB kept a soon-to-be 31-year-old Mike Evans off the market in 2024.
TD-Machine
4:56
Could/would the Bucs blow things up if 2026 doesn't go well?
Sam Robinson
4:56
Hey TD-Machine, we'll round up this Bucs part of the chat...I can see that, but they are likely to be at least a seven- or eight-win team this season. They have too much talent -- barring a Mayfield injury -- to land a high draft pick next year. Mayfield's camp knows this, strengthening his leverage.

But if this year unfolds like 2025, Bowles is out. And Licht would have several years in the NFL's middle class since Brady's age-44 season. Considering where the Bucs were before Brady's Super Bowl slate the year prior, Licht has been given plenty of time.

The Bucs have several good (and well-paid) players on extensions. I don't see a Dolphins-style teardown in 2027. But you raise a good point. They are drifting into the NFC's Steelers. Mayfield gives them more hope, however. And better roster health in 2026 -- they lost just about everyone on offense last year, and Mayfield (like in 2021) played hurt -- should translate to a bounce back
Sin City Steve
5:05
Will the Raiders pull the plug on Cousins if he doesn't start well, or is there too much risk in putting in Mendoza early?
Sam Robinson
5:05
Steve, the Raiders are bucking the rookie-scale-era trend by merely rostering Cousins. The last six teams to take a QB first overall (Cards, Bengals, Jags, Panthers, Bears, Titans) did not have this setup and gave the keys to their rookies. That largely led to struggles early but growth (though, the jury is out on Ward and Young) in the long term. I expect Mendoza to play before the midpoint.

The only No. 1 pick in the option era (2011-) to sit more than eight games was Goff in 2016. Vegas' bye is not until Week 13, but I still can't see Cousins keeping the reins for that long. The Raiders have no plans (at least, they shouldn't) of contending this season. They also paid earth-shattering money for a center. There is too much to be gained by Mendoza learning on the job this season to sit him for too long.

But a Jon Kitna-Carson Palmer scenario would be intriguing. Palmer was signed for six years under an old CBA. Clocks are sped up with the current rookie-scale deals, and teams have responded accordingly
DJ
5:13
Which "bigger name" free agents are just burning out the camp clock and which are struggling to find palatable offers?
Sam Robinson
5:13
DJ, well Clowney is one that is burning out the camp clock; he's a pro at this. I would think Diggs has received offers as well. The other WRs (Hopkins, Allen, Samuel, Hill) probably sit behind him. Will there be enough jobs to go around? Lockett is also still free.

Jonnu Smith is still available at TE, Taylor Decker and Cam Robinson at LT.  The C/G market is thin. I would think a team calls Zeitler (even at 36) with a viable offer given his durability. Becton may be one of those in the "struggling to find palatable offers" category due to injuries and inconsistency. Von Miller's age (37) may have him in that category too.

Miller (9 2025 sacks) is still a rotational guy at worst. EDGE also has options: Floyd, Reddick (second category for sure), Van Noy. It's probably Eagles or re-retirement for Graham. But EDGE and WR are two spots to watch, as big names are still free. Najee Harris' rehab process is likely responsible for his UFA status.
Sam Robinson
5:13
We will wrap there for today. Thanks for the questions, everyone. Have a good weekend!
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