Front Office NFL Chat
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Sam Robinson
5:03
Hey everyone, Week 1 is here! Let's get started
Stroud extension
5:13
Could you see the Texans extending Stroud midway through the season if he shakes off last year's playoff performances?
Sam Robinson
5:13
I've never been much of a believer in the Steelers' policy of cutting off extension talks at Week 1, but Nick Caserio said last week he wants that timetable in place for Stroud negotiations. Taking him at his word, I'd be a little surprised if we saw a deal around midseason.

Then again, we just saw Mayfield and the Bucs return to the table more than a month after the QB's self-imposed deadline. And the Texans might be able to find some value if they make a midseason offer. But if Stroud truly reestablishes himself as a reliable passer with upside, he would be best served by waiting until 2027.

There will be more QB deals getting done next year, and based mostly on cap growth, a Stroud bounce-back season could vault him past the Mayfield-Allen-Stafford-Love-Lawrence-Burrow sextet at $55MM AAV. I wouldn't be comfortable with that if I'm the Texans, but Stroud has a lot to play for this year.
Unclemike1526
5:21
The Kyler Gordon situation has become a nightmare for the Bears obviously. The fact that hilariously( Or not) that Rome Odunze has a calf injury now and is being helped by Bears trainers and Gordon feels a need to find outside help is lame at best. When is the best time to move on? As soon as he makes it back on the field? The deadline? The Off Season? He obviously has to show he can play to be worth anything right? Thanks
Sam Robinson
5:21
Hey Unclemike, we are close to sunk cost at this point. Even if the Bears disappoint to start this season, I can't imagine they'll get many trade inquiries at the deadline on Gordon even if he returns at some point before then. The injury situation has crushed the slot CB's value -- for now, at least.

The best-case scenario for the Bears would be a return to form at some point this season, because trade talks could conceivably be revisited before next March. If Gordon is on the Bears' roster on Day 3 of the 2027 league year, a $10MM guarantee kicks in. The way this is going, Chicago will cut Gordon before that vests.
TD-Machine
5:31
Which team has made the biggest jump from 2025 to 2026 in terms of offseason roster/coaching moves?
Sam Robinson
5:31
Hey TD-Machine, I suppose I could say the Rams because no team has added that kind of talent this year. But they were already in the NFC championship game. In terms of talent added, though, I have to go L.A. due to the Donald-Garrett-McDuffie-Watson moves. That should be transformative for Chris Shula's defense, which already ranked 10th last season.

Points to the Bengals and Cowboys, however, as each team used three avenues (FA, trade, early-round picks) to throw resources at their defenses while their offenses are at the top level. Fascinated to see how those two units perform.

As far as coaching, I think I'll say the Raiders will be far more buttoned-up under Klint Kubiak than the disjointed mess they have been under late-career Carroll and the overmatched Pierce.
Hollywood Hank
5:42
When do you think Donald will make his season debut for the Rams? Should he be anything more than a part-time player?
Sam Robinson
5:42
We are certainly on unexplored terrain here. I mentioned in our Rams Offseason In Review piece the Reggie White comeback took place after one season away. The all-time great was also 39 at that point. Deion Sanders came back three years after retiring. He played in Week 1 for the 2004 Ravens but missed eight games that year.

The Rams are clearly building a runway for Donald with Super Bowl LXI in mind. Donald has done individual drills since May, per him, and has now gone through 1 1/2 weeks of work as a Ram again. The current CBA places a low cap on padded workouts in-season, so there is not much Donald will get to do on that end until he plays games.

This may be a situation where they simply avoid the Australia game and concentrate on a Week 2 part-time role and build his snaps up from there. If they wanted to construct a longer onramp -- perhaps an October debut -- that would make sense, but they are paying him $20MM. It would be odd if that was for two-thirds of a season.
Sam Robinson
5:44
As far as expected Donald usage goes, Adam La Rose's most recent PFR mailbag covered that pretty well
5:59
Best of luck to your real and fantasy teams in Week 1. We've waited a long time for this. Hope you've enjoyed our Offseason In Reviews this year. A few more coming before Sunday action. Have a good weekend, everyone!
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