Let's talk 2025 roster build (12/7)

[pugsnotdrugs19]

I know we got a threepeat to complete, but I'm thinking ahead today... let's take this position by position:


QB: I'd bring Wentz back. Perfect backup and IDK where else he can go and find a better job unless (God forbid) he plays this year.

RB: I'd bring Hunt back on a minimum deal. Go into the draft with Pacheco and Hunt, find a speed back in the draft who is capable of taking the job post-2025.

WR: If not for Rice's impending suspension, I'd feel good here. I'd look to bring Hopkins and Hollywood both back on 1-2 year deals. If the group will stay healthy, I think we will find they're really good. Rice and Worthy will be perfect complements to one another as WR 1 and 2. But you need to get by while Rice is out and you need depth for injury. I'd be fine with Hardman and Watson as WR 5 & 6.

TE: Does Kelce retire? If he doesn't, this can be left alone probably unless they think Wiley sucks. If Kelce does retire... I'd think you need to at least slap a solid vet bandaid on and see if Gray can take the TE1 reigns. I think he can simply because he's so steady. Not Kelce, but damn solid.

OT: Biggest need obviously. We will see if Humphries earns a new deal. Scares me with his injury history but if he looks good... we can't let a good LT walk away. Hopefully Kingsley can become a legit swing tackle at minimum with a shot to take over a starting job in 2026. Taylor is here another year, perhaps two more.

IOL: I'd give Thuney a short extension to alleviate his cap hit if he plans to play much longer. Let Wanya, Nourzad, and Hanson compete for the RG job. If someone falls to you in the draft, take it and run. Protecting Pat is always priority #1.

---

DL: Need another legit pass rusher with juice. I'd hope that also retaining Omenihu is a priority. I'd prefer that over Trey Smith and maybe even Bolton at this point, especially if it can be a one-year deal that he takes to try and get paid in 2026. Need to bring our big run stuffers back on 1-year deals per usual.

LB: Tranquill hasn't been as good this year, which makes keeping Bolton seem a bit more important. I hope he can be retained at a reasonable cost, and if he can, we can roll with the same trio into 2025.

CB: Have to get another slot corner who can be there in case Trent can't -- which only takes a single injury to the room. Get another young guy or two in the room for in the inevitable departures of some of our 2022 Fab Five guys. Preferrably mid rounds.

S: I think Hicks is ready to take over Reid's role by next year. Not an urgent need at the position, especially if you add another viable slot corner that lets Conner stay at safety.

Specialists: Bring Araiza back on RFA deal, everything should stay the same there.

Rough stab at what a 53-man could look like in '25:

QB - Mahomes, Wentz
RB - Pacheco, Hunt, draft pick
WR - Rice, Worthy, Hopkins, Hollywood, Hardman, Watson
TE - Kelce, Gray, Wiley
LT - Vet (Humphries?), Morris
LG - Thuney, Nourzad
C - Humphrey, Nourzad
RG - Kingsley, Hanson
RT - Taylor, Driscoll

-

DE - Karlaftis, Danna
DT - Jones, Wharton or an early draft pick
NT - A couple cheap fatties, vets or rookies
DE - Omenihu, FAU, draft pick (first two days)
LB - Bolton, Tranquill, Leo
CB - Trent, Watson, Williams, vet slot corner, draft pick
S - Hicks, Cook, Conner

Feel like I'm probably leaving out a fairly nice FA signing or two but hard to project there until we see what the market will be.

[Couch-Potato]

Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19

With McDuffie as cornerstone of the secondary plus Rice and Worthy here cheap for at least the next three or four years, yeah, I’d keep prioritizing the lines above all.

If the lines are good, with Mahomes you’re always gonna be in that mix of 4-5 legit SB contenders late in the year.

I agree, let’s work on the trenches. Plenty of options already on the roster at WR, I’d like to see a CB addition but it’s not my biggest concern.

I’m intrigued by Simmons potential to fall to #32 due to injury and penalty concerns, his camp says he’ll be ready to go by NFL training camp but I’m assuming that’s a likely bit of propaganda representing an aggressive timeline to keep his stock high in the draft. Ultimately, our OL isn’t bad but could use some improvement, we can roll with what we have and wait patiently for him to heal up before throwing into the mix. Feels like we’re one solid LT away from being a top tier OL that the NFL pundits worship again, especially if we’re able to retain Smith and he locks back into his previous play level.

[RunKC]

Veach tried like hell to sign Trey and after watching a game in person I see what Bolton’s value is. The defense functions so well in large part bc of his brain. Every play Bolton was telling guys where to line up or what signs there were.

Remember the Nazeeh Johnson TFL on the screen? Bolton telegraphed it to him pre-snap. He knew it was coming. Same with the Hicks INT. Bolton showed a hand signal as the ball was about to be snapped and that’s when Hicks/Cook rotated. He knew the ball was going to Nico and not Dell.

If Veach gets Bolton and Trey done I think they go for DL, corner and more playmaker help with the first 4 picks. If they lose one of Bolton/Trey I think it’s DL, corner, replacement for who they lose and a weapon.

[pugsnotdrugs19]

3 weeks later, checking back in while the vibes are high....

The thing that's shifting for me now is maybe we do pay George.

Obviously there's a ceiling there, you can't pay him top of the market cash. However, he's getting better. You can see he rushes with more of a plan now. He seems to know exactly when to use his spin move and it works.

If he will do this type of stuff we've seen the past couple weeks against top competition in the playoffs, I have zero issue paying that guy. He stands for all the right stuff. Super young. Great head on his shoulders and will play his ass off until he hangs up his cleats.

It's not all that different than Tamba was for us. Cornerstone group of the defense for 2025-2027 is going to be Jones, Karlaftis, Bolton probably**, McDuffie, and Hicks.

You keep a nice core like that in place and you'll never slouch down to 2018 levels. Look at Buffalo. They had to ripcord their D, and it eventually is catching up to them now. They're another draft away from having it back in a stable place in the secondary.

[smithandrew051]

Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19

3 weeks later, checking back in while the vibes are high....

The thing that's shifting for me now is maybe we do pay George.

Obviously there's a ceiling there, you can't pay him top of the market cash. However, he's getting better. You can see he rushes with more of a plan now. He seems to know exactly when to use his spin move and it works.

If he will do this type of stuff we've seen the past couple weeks against top competition in the playoffs, I have zero issue paying that guy. He stands for all the right stuff. Super young. Great head on his shoulders and will play his ass off until he hangs up his cleats.

It's not all that different than Tamba was for us. Cornerstone group of the defense for 2025-2027 is going to be Jones, Karlaftis, Bolton probably**, McDuffie, and Hicks.

You keep a nice core like that in place and you'll never slouch down to 2018 levels. Look at Buffalo. They had to ripcord their D, and it eventually is catching up to them now. They're another draft away from having it back in a stable place in the secondary.

Let’s say George has a great postseason.

Would you at least listen to offers?

Sacks aren’t everything, but Brian Burns has had similar sack production in his career. His trade comp was pick 39 and a 5th the next year.

Let’s say George commands something similar.

You either get George or an early 2nd (say pick 45) and the cap space.

[pugsnotdrugs19]

Originally Posted by smithandrew051

Let’s say George has a great postseason.

Would you at least listen to offers?

Sacks aren’t everything, but Brian Burns has had similar sack production in his career. His trade comp was pick 39 and a 5th the next year.

Let’s say George commands something similar.

You either get George or an early 2nd (say pick 45) and the cap space.

I'll always listen but if he has a great postseason, it's gonna take a lot to bite. We still have two more really cheap years left on his deal.

Going back to my OP this morning, he's not a guy I worry about getting fat and happy off a contract extension. I think he brings a consistent no-nonsense approach that pays dividends with the other guys around the defense long term.

[RunKC]

Roland-Wallace has done a fine job in the slot the last 4 or so games. They will draft a corner but probably not until rd 3 at the earliest

[Chris Meck]

I think I'd re-sign Omenihu; he and George work nicely with Jones.

I'm still hoping we get something from Humphries that says he could be the guy for a couple of years, because other than that it's taking a run at Cam Robinson. That's fine, too.

Probably letting Smith walk.

[Coogs]

Ty Robinson from the Huskers might be a nice addition to the defensive line.

[Palangi]

If like to see a remake of the DT position after this year. Start thinking about life after Chris Jones. I know this is bad timing as we played well without him on Christmas. But I don’t think it is sustainable with the guys we have inside. Look to get a little younger and higher ceiling. I think we have 3 quality prospects on the practice squad this year too. And I would look to add a guy in round 2-4.

Mike Pennel has been a really nice player. And he is one I would think about bringing back as a run stuffer only.
Turk Wharton is a dime a dozen. I know he has played well. But let him go out and sign a contract and get a comp pick back for him
Derrick Nnadi needs to go. I haven’t gotten the fascination with him other than he knows the system.

Siaki Ika is a guy that makes Pennel replaceable. And he is younger and more athletic.
Fabian Lovette is an intriguing guy. And would be an upgrade to Nnadi. Can back up Ika.
Marlon Tuipulotu is also interesting and could be a Wharton type replacement with better run stopping skills.
Malik Herring I would like to see moved inside as a pass rush option also a Wharton toe replacement with more size.

2-4 Round draft guys to bring in.

TJ sanders 6’4” 290 South Carolina
Deone Walker 6’6” 340 Kentucky
Jared Ivey 6’6” 285 Ole Miss
Jordan Burch 6’6” 290 Oregon
Riley Mills 6’5” 305 Notre Dame
Shemar Turner 6’4” 300 Texas A&M

[Tribal Warfare]

Originally Posted by Couch-Potato

Depending on where you look it seems like we’ll get a chance to draft one of the following OTs @ #32: Jones Jr, Milum, Williams, Ersery, Simmons, Savaiinaea, or Conley Jr.

Curious on CPs opinion of the above names? Are they developmental or bookend LTs? Who fits our offense best? Which will be out of reach and who’s most likely to fall to us?

Feels like we should target LT or Edge in the first.

Josh Simmons IMO fits what Andy looks for in a LT a smooth mover who wins with athleticism. Suamataia is also athletic, but evidently he's mentally a soft bitch.