Archer: Cap space coming next week

[phildadon86]

I can't think of a much "dummer" free agent signing than Hendrickson!

We had one of the worst pass rushes in the entire league last year.

Your plan is what exactly?

 

[Kwyn]

He deserved the benefit of the doubt. #4...just doubt.

But there was no doubt. He was clearly in decline. This was clearly a player making one last cash grab. He knew he was going to retire. He waited until training camp and then held out when it was too late for the team to pivot.

 

[ghst187]

I think that they are going to sign Dean from the Eagles.

They’d be dumb not to if they can do it reasonably. Instantly the best LB on the roster, leader, and top 2-3 players on the defensive unit, not that that is saying a lot.

 

[starfan1]

Steele outplayed Guyton.

Your point is what? Guyton can go too. I’ll at least entertain the thought that Guyton could be a future piece instead of playing him out of position

They both suck in pass blocking and guyton missed games due to injury and if Steele outplayed him it couldn’t have been by much but I can look that up

 

[phildadon86]

They’d be dumb not to if they can do it reasonably. Instantly the best LB on the roster, leader, and top 2-3 players on the defensive unit, not that that is saying a lot.

Great him and overshown can hang out on IR together.

 

[Jarntt]

Sometimes I wonder if this team actually watches the game film or instead just re-reads their past draft cheat sheets every year...

 

[exciter]

We had one of the worst pass rushes in the entire league last year.

Your plan is what exactly?

No we didn't.
We had a back end issue.
OSA had 52 pressures (6th in league), QWilliams 51 (7th), Clark 44 (15th).
It was fairly obvious they had Eze focus on stopping the run.
They'll let him open it up next season.
They need a SAM 34 LB who can play the run, drop back in zone and provide a pass rush.
A FA acquisition to look at for that would be someone like Boye Mafe.

What they don't need is a 32yo DE looking for 35-40m a year who's coming off a season where he missed 10 games and had season ending hip/pelvic surgery.

 

[CWR]

I think if the LT situation was more stable they would do it. Passing on a cap savings of 14m relative to his performance is criminal.

Also don’t forget that they are proud of themselves for ‘finding’ that UDFA…the insane second deal they gave him is clear evidence.

It’s insane how they fight with their top players but hand dudes like him no hassle over payment.

They just dont want to create another hole. If hes cut, they either have to draft his replacement or pay his replacement.

We reviewed FA cost awhile back and it wasnt going to work in our favor.

It sucks but given all of our other needs our best hope is for him to improve or we move on next year.

I agree with you on lack of stability at the other tackle position directly influencing what we do with Steele.

 

[fivetwos]

They just dont want to create another hole. If hes cut, they either have to draft his replacement or pay his replacement.

We reviewed FA cost awhile back and it wasnt going to work in our favor.

It sucks but given all of our other needs our best hope is for him to improve or we move on next year.

I agree with you on lack of stability at the other tackle position directly influencing what we do with Steele.

Well they would gain 14m in cap space, so the idea would be to allot that toward fixing this horrendous defense.

Yes they would need a RT, but the argument could easily be made that we are better off with off with Thomas (or a stopgap type vet) at RT and a 14m LB or DB than with just Steele at RT.

I’d see it as addition by subtraction. I never thought he was any good. That deal he got was stunning, but that’s Jerry for you. ‘Look at us! WE turned a UDFA into a highly paid player. WE are great.’

One of those ‘he’ll play well because I pay him to’ Jerry situations.

 

[phildadon86]

No we didn't.
We had a back end issue.
OSA had 52 pressures (6th in league), QWilliams 51 (7th), Clark 44 (15th).
It was fairly obvious they had Eze focus on stopping the run.
They'll let him open it up next season.
They need a SAM 34 LB who can play the run, drop back in zone and provide a pass rush.
A FA acquisition to look at for that would be someone like Boye Mafe.

What they don't need is a 32yo DE looking for 35-40m a year who's coming off a season where he missed 10 games and had season ending hip/pelvic surgery.

Right. They didn’t have a pass rush issue.

I forgot. We count pressures.

I don’t want Hendrickson. I’m saying that would show they have changed their free agent strategy. That’s all.

This team absolutely had an issue with sacks last year. It’s amazing. Parsons leave and they can’t get to the QB and the corners look terrible. Same corners who were getting the ball from the other team at a record clip for the years parsons was on the team.

Sure thing!

 

[Established1971]

They're not paying any attention to offense. They will completely fixate on defense so that this time next year they can be surprised that the offense declined.

lol they have arguably the best O in football

 

[big dog cowboy]

No we didn't.
We had a back end issue.
OSA had 52 pressures (6th in league), QWilliams 51 (7th), Clark 44 (15th).
It was fairly obvious they had Eze focus on stopping the run.
They'll let him open it up next season.
They need a SAM 34 LB who can play the run, drop back in zone and provide a pass rush.
A FA acquisition to look at for that would be someone like Boye Mafe.

What they don't need is a 32yo DE looking for 35-40m a year who's coming off a season where he missed 10 games and had season ending hip/pelvic surgery.

Good argument! And with a strong delivery. I can see you pointing to the CZ members with conviction!

 

[big dog cowboy]

They're not paying any attention to offense. They will completely fixate on defense

 

[starfan1]

Right. They didn’t have a pass rush issue.

I forgot. We count pressures.

I don’t want Hendrickson. I’m saying that would show they have changed their free agent strategy. That’s all.

This team absolutely had an issue with sacks last year. It’s amazing. Parsons leave and they can’t get to the QB and the corners look terrible. Same corners who were getting the ball from the other team at a record clip for the years parsons was on the team.

Sure thing!

I’m of the opinion It was both. They couldn’t cover for squat but they also couldn’t get the qb on the ground. But I feel like the larger issue was up front . Heck we need help at all 3 levels

 

[CWR]

Well they would gain 14m in cap space, so the idea would be to allot that toward fixing this horrendous defense.

Yes they would need a RT, but the argument could easily be made that we are better off with off with Thomas (or a stopgap type vet) at RT and a 14m LB or DB than with just Steele at RT.

I’d see it as addition by subtraction. I never thought he was any good. That deal he got was stunning, but that’s Jerry for you. ‘Look at us! WE turned a UDFA into a highly paid player. WE are great.’

One of those ‘he’ll play well because I pay him to’ Jerry situations.

This just a quick AI response, but it goes along the logic of various podcast and such I've listened to. Mind you, I'm not saying I agree with the decision. Its just their supposed logic. I dont believe they feel they can settle for Thomas and spend that 14 million on defense.

They would have to find an upgrade at the position for that cost or less.
 

terence steele vs nate thomas pff grade

In 2025Terence Steele generally outplayed Nate Thomas despite struggling in pass protection, with Steele holding a 77.6 run-blocking grade in some reports. While Steele faced issues with pressures (43 allowed), Thomas graded worse overall, including a 45.9 PFF score against the Jets and poor performance in the Arizona game.

Terence Steele (2025): 77.6 run-blocking grade (21st among tackles), but 56.5 pass-blocking grade, with 6 sacks and 43 pressures. He had a high 89.6 pass-blocking mark in one specific game against the Chiefs.
Nate Thomas (2025): 39.2 overall, 31.6 pass-blocking, 52.9 run-blocking, with 3 sacks allowed on 342 snaps, per PFF.

Steele has maintained a solid, elite run-blocking presence, whereas Thomas has struggled to solidify a spot as a reliable starter in pass protection, often leading to lower overall grades.

 

[gimmesix]

If they sign Dean it’s not a move in the right direction.

Him and overshown can share stories on IR though so there’s that I guess.

I don't know if it is a step in the right direction. I'm wary of signing players coming off injuries and with an injury history.

I'm just saying we'll know how they view it based on the contract. If they give him the usual one-year deal, then it simply means that this is another player they got because they could get him cheaper due to the injury. If they give him a multiyear deal (more than two), then it means they actually see him as a player they are not just taking a chance on and hoping for the best.

This team loves to hand out one-year prove it deals, and the result of that is that most players prove that they are what their team and the rest of the league thought they were. We occasionally hit like with Javonte or Malik Hooker and the player is rewarded with a bigger deal. Most of the time, we end up with contributors at best and players who should not be on the field at worst.

 

[exciter]

Right. They didn’t have a pass rush issue.

I forgot. We count pressures.

I don’t want Hendrickson. I’m saying that would show they have changed their free agent strategy. That’s all.

This team absolutely had an issue with sacks last year. It’s amazing. Parsons leave and they can’t get to the QB and the corners look terrible. Same corners who were getting the ball from the other team at a record clip for the years parsons was on the team.

Sure thing!

One corner was playing in Jacksonville.
Another was playing on one leg coming back from an injury that he shouldn't have been on the field until December... in a scheme that didn't fit what the players were best at.

 

[ghst187]

Great him and overshown can hang out on IR together.

Two players to get one full time person on the field lol smh