# NFL offseason 2018
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-2018/810308
**Category:** The Game Room
**Created:** [March 9, 2018, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-2018/810308 "2018-03-09T23:13:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2018, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-2018/810308/41 "2018-03-13T15:04:06Z")
> [@Jasmine](#):
>
> No doubt. The Patriots are a prime example. With a modest corps of wide receivers, an oft injured tight end, and a defensive that was average at best, they managed to get to the Super Bowl and give a Philadelphia team that was much stronger overall a run for their money.
You underestimate the Patriots defense. They were the 5th best scoring defense in the league last year. You know how many Super Bowls Brady has won without a defense that ranked in the top 10 of scoring in the NFL for the season? None. Note: I’m not saying Brady isn’t elite, he clearly is, and possibly the best QB of all time. But the Patriots have generally been one of the best scoring defensive teams in the league.
> [@Jasmine](#):
>
> The NFL is totally a “QB-centric” league.
So many teams thing to think so. Which explains why so much money, so many high draft picks, and so much focus on getting even just average NFL QB’s.
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### Author:  [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2018, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-2018/810308/42 "2018-03-13T16:39:04Z")
> [@](#):
>
> So many teams thing to think so. Which explains why so much money, so many high draft picks, and so much focus on getting even just average NFL QB’s.
The Vikings were 13-3 with modestly talented Case Keenum.
Edited to add: They have just added somewhat more talented Kirk Cousins
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### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2018, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-2018/810308/43 "2018-03-13T16:46:23Z")
So Sam Bradford is available?
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2018, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-2018/810308/44 "2018-03-13T17:26:12Z")
> [@Jasmine](#):
>
> Well, it’s an incentive laden deal, so they won’t be out big money if he flops.
And if he excels and has a Pro Bowl year they are still getting more than their money’s worth. I think the Niners really came out on top with that deal.
Richard is a really smart guy. REALLY smart, the guy used to tutor people at Stanford. He’s very intelligent. But a player shouldn’t represent himself no matter how smart he is, an agent does that sort of thing for a living and you leave that to a professional who knows what they’re doing. But Sherm is gonna do what he wants.
> [@ElvisL1ves](#):
>
> True, an elite QB does matter. But Philly won the Super Bowl with Nick Foles.
To be fair, Nick played what was undoubtedly the best game of his career. He didn’t resemble Nick Foles in that game. He was superb.
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### Author:  [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2018, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-2018/810308/45 "2018-03-13T19:23:16Z")
> [@zimaane](#):
>
> They have just added somewhat more talented Kirk Cousins
Reportedly 3 years, $84 million, all of it guaranteed. Aaron Rodgers’ extension just got a shitload more expensive.
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### Author:  [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2018, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-2018/810308/46 "2018-03-13T19:23:24Z")
Vikings, Broncos, Jets, and Cardinals were the four teams in the hunt for Cousins.
Now that Cousins is going to the Vikings, their three QBs are going to the Broncos (Keenum), Jets (Bridgewater), and Cardinals (Bradford)
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### Author:  [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2018, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-2018/810308/47 "2018-03-13T19:30:55Z")
> [@Hamlet](#):
>
> Reportedly 3 years, $84 million, all of it guaranteed. Aaron Rodgers’ extension just got a shitload more expensive.
I’ve been planning on Rodgers getting ~$30 million a year, and this pretty much solidifies that. The only questions now are how many years, what kind of guarantees are built in, and how it’s structured.
The fully-guaranteed part is questionable, to me. As much as I dislike it, NFL teams don’t fully guarantee contracts for a reason, especially of this size. If Cousins goes down or stinks up the joint, this could be an albatross for a couple years.
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### Author:  [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2018, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-2018/810308/48 "2018-03-13T19:38:21Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#):
>
> If Cousins goes down or stinks up the joint, this could be an albatross for a couple years.
I’ve never been entirely sold on Kirk Cousins. As my daddy used to say, “We shall see what we shall see.”
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### Author:  [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2018, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-2018/810308/49 "2018-03-13T19:45:01Z")
Amendola is going from the Pats to the Fins - [Danny Amendola to leave New England Patriots for Miami Dolphins](http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22748887/danny-amendola-leave-new-england-patriots-miami-dolphins)
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### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2018, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-2018/810308/50 "2018-03-13T20:42:51Z")
Enough winning, time for some cash, huh, Danny?
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### Author:  [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2018, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-2018/810308/51 "2018-03-13T20:55:16Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#):
>
> True, an elite QB does matter. But Philly won the Super Bowl with Nick Foles.
Nick Foles was ridiculously elite in the playoffs.
72.3% Comp; 323.7 yd/gm; 6/1 TD/Int; 115.7 Rat
Wentz was elite to get them there.
Case Keenum was Case Keenum in the playoffs and that’s why the Vikings just paid Cousins. Without a above average-to-elite QB you’re roadkill in the post-season.
This year is a awful example of the “don’t need a elite QB to win” trope.
Finding and keeping an elite QB is hard, but it sustains you for 10+ seasons when you succeed. Building a transcendent defense that can overcome a decrepit Peyton Manning is harder…and impossible to sustain for more than a couple seasons.
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### Author:  [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2018, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-2018/810308/52 "2018-03-13T21:17:35Z")
The Bears have continued their spree, [signing Tre Burton away from the Super Bowl Champs](http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22746873/former-philadelphia-eagles-te-trey-burton-signing-chicago-bears) and [locking up Taylor Gabriel](http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22749955/former-atlanta-falcons-wide-receiver-taylor-gabriel-expects-sign-four-year-deal-chicago-bears).
Burton is getting a eye-popping 4 years, $32M. Supposedly it’s incentive laden, and it better be since there’s no way he’s worth $8M/year based on his track record. Still, Eagles fans rave about him and seem uncommonly positive about him; they keep patting Bears fans on the back.
Gabriel’s is also a 4 year deal, but no dollars being reported yet. I like Gabriel and the signing, but this implies that Kendall Wright probably won’t be back which is disappointing. Gabriel is probably a little better and definitely faster, but Wright and Trubisky had some chemistry and I value continuity for a young QB’s development.
In related news…the [Packers have cut Jordy Nelson and signed Jimmy Graham](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/packers-reportedly-releasing-longtime-top-wide-receiver-jordy-nelson/). As a Bears fan…I love seeing the Packers screw up free agency.
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### Author:  [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2018, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-2018/810308/53 "2018-03-13T21:41:14Z")
> [@Omniscient](#):
>
> In related news…the [Packers have cut Jordy Nelson and signed Jimmy Graham](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/packers-reportedly-releasing-longtime-top-wide-receiver-jordy-nelson/). As a Bears fan…I love seeing the Packers screw up free agency.
I feeling like Jordy Nelson had the magic ability to always burn us on 3rd down. Hopefully he goes to the AFC.
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### Author:  [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2018, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-2018/810308/54 "2018-03-13T21:44:49Z")
So far the Lions have very Liony with two meh LBs signed. But I’ll give Patricia a chance to build his team his way before judging too much.
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### Author:  [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2018, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-2018/810308/55 "2018-03-13T21:45:20Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#):
>
> I feeling like Jordy Nelson had the magic ability to always burn us on 3rd down. Hopefully he goes to the AFC.
Knowing the Packers…he’ll probably come back on a reduced deal.
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### Author:  [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2018, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-2018/810308/56 "2018-03-13T21:47:10Z")
> [@wolfman](#):
>
> So far the Lions have very Liony with two meh LBs signed. But I’ll give Patricia a chance to build his team his way before judging too much.
It’s amazing to me how excited the Loins fans are about Fatt Patricia. This is going to go hilariously for the rest of the division.
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### Author:  [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2018, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-2018/810308/57 "2018-03-13T22:03:58Z")
> [@Omniscient](#):
>
> Nick Foles was ridiculously elite in the playoffs.
Nothing like after-the-fact determinations of elitism, eh? Would you have said Nick Foles was elite before this playoff run? Do you think he’s going to be elite after this run? Yes, Foles played extremely well, even elite if you want to call it that, for those games. But the point is that any team could have had him on their team, and short bursts of outstanding play does not make a QB “elite”. Look at Flacco or Eli. Two guys with Super Bowl rings, who played extremely well for short periods, and pretty much meh outside of that.
> [@Omni](#):
>
> This year is a awful example of the “don’t need a elite QB to win” trope.
Sure, when you get to determine elitism after the performance is in and you ignore games like Super Bowl 50 (Manning’s 141 yards passing and 56.6 passer rating), I suppose so. That’s what makes this easy on you, you just get to determine which QB is elite AFTER they play the game.
> [@Omni](#):
>
> Finding and keeping an elite QB is hard, but it sustains you for 10+ seasons when you succeed. Building a transcendent defense that can overcome a decrepit Peyton Manning is harder…and impossible to sustain for more than a couple seasons.
Of course finding and keeping an elite QB is the best way to build sustainable success. I don’t think many people disagree with that. But there are many QB’s, like Foles, Manning, and Flacco, who can win Super Bowls with their teams by being very good for a short period of time. When you decide to define every QB who can (or has, with your amazing hindsight) do that as “elite”, the term loses all meaning.
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### Author:  [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2018, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-2018/810308/58 "2018-03-13T23:17:20Z")
> [@Omniscient](#):
>
> Supposedly [Allen Robinson is going to the Bears](http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22741296/2018-nfl-free-agency-allen-robinson-intends-sign-chicago-bears).
>
> Awesome news. This is the guy I’ve been fantasizing about all offseason. I love his game, the size and the ability to compete for the ball. Great fit on the Bears and suddenly a Bears WR corps of Robinson, Meredith, White and Bellamy (and hopefully Wright and Inman) is legitimately useful and potentially scary. The biggest red flag of course is that those first 3 guys are all coming off season ending injuries (White x 3).
>
> No idea what the contract looks like, but the Bears have a ton to spend and aren’t usually guilty of creating cap problems in future years.
>
> Lots of think pieces circulated in the last week or two about which WR was the cream of the crop and people have made some pretty sound arguments that AR15 is a one-year wonder and that Watkins is actually the real deal, but just based on my own personal eye-test Watkins never once scared me as an opponent. He’s a home run hitter that disappears and misses easy balls, doesn’t move the chains and doesn’t help you in the red zone. Watkins is a between the 20’s guy, Robinson is a whole field guy. Hope I’m right and Robinson is more than a Bortles garbage-time player, I really think he is. If anything Jacksonville has held him back.
Best stat I’ve heard today.
Allen Robinson is 7 months older than Calvin Ridley.
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### Author:  [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2018, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-2018/810308/59 "2018-03-13T23:21:45Z")
> [@Hamlet](#):
>
> But the point is that any team could have had him on their team, and short bursts of outstanding play does not make a QB “elite”.
No shit. The point is that you almost always need elite QB play to win in the postseason. Foles being great was basically a totally random event. No team can plan for that outcome, it was basically great luck. Using Foles as an excuse to simply be “good enough” at QB is misleading.
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [March 14, 2018, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-2018/810308/60 "2018-03-14T00:53:59Z")
> [@Omniscient](#):
>
> No shit. The point is that you almost always need elite QB play to win in the postseason. Foles being great was basically a totally random event. No team can plan for that outcome, it was basically great luck. Using Foles as an excuse to simply be “good enough” at QB is misleading.
Foles was like Popeye eating his spinach. He was briefly superhuman. To me he was a non- elite QB who briefly played like an elite QB when his team needed him to.
I want to know what he ate for breakfast that last month of the season…
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