By: Lawrence Foster

1st Down: Geno 1st QB domino

As the approach of the NFL’s legal tampering period draws closer, activity is high, as expected.

The sports most important position is constantly under scrutiny with prognosticators doing their best to read the proverbial tea leaves to see who ends up where.

Sam Darnold. Aaron Rodgers. Justin Fields. Rus Wilson.

If one were to have predicted which signal caller would become the initial move, it’s highly doubtful that Geno Smith would have been the name.

Smith was indeed the first domino to fall in the QB carousel as a trade was agreed upon with Las Vegas. The trade, which cost the Raiders a 3rd round pick, reunites Smith with Pete Carroll, who believed in Geno and helped the former Jet excel.

Carroll and the Raiders brass are showing they want to compete now, not in a year or two. Geno brings a stable hand to Sin City and allows Las Vegas to spend its other capital (draft picks and cap space) to solidify other areas of the team.

This unexpected move helps create some clarity as the legal tampering period is set to open on Monday, March 10. For Seattle to send Geno packing, they must have a clear path to another quarterback and the name being most attached to the Seahawks now is Darnold.

From multiple reports, the Vikings are expecting Darnold to be elsewhere in 2025. Although they have 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, I can’t imagine they want to go into the season without a proven veteran.

The most sensational (just headline and story wise) get would be if they signed Aaron Rodgers. If that came to fruition, Rodgers would once again be following in the footsteps of Brett Favre, who left the Big Apple for Minnesota.

A more prudent move for the Vikings would be to bring back Daniel Jones, who they got to get a close look at last season, and let him be the veteran beside McCarthy. The Vikings have enough offensive firepower to let Jones shine.

Other quarterbacks to keep on eye on as we get into free agency are Kirk Cousins (who met with Falcons owner Arthur Blank this week), Russell Wilson, Justin Fields and Gardner Minshew.

3rd Down: Free Agency pool shrinks

In Come On In Sports’ two free agency preview shows, the top players at each position were discussed.

Players like Ronnie Stanley, Tre Smith, Mike Gesicki and Osa Odihizuwa were at the top of their respective position heading into the legal tampering period.

As we discussed on the show, however, a lot of those names would never reach the open market. That proved to be a wise prediction.

Stanley (4-year deal with Ravens), Smith (franchise tag by Chiefs), Gesicki (3-year pact with the Bengals) and Odihizuwa (4-year agreement with Dallas) all were retained well before Monday’s opening bell.

That is the case every year and is why players who make it to the open market often sign eye-popping deals. With a limited supply of big, impact players average players get paid more of a premium simply because the supply isn’t there.

A team like New England who is sitting on $125-ish million doesn’t even get a chance to overpay for some of the best talent. That sound you heard was the collective groan coming from Foxborough when Stanley signed his new deal with Baltimore.

This offseason may end up being more like the NBA in terms of player trades. The Bears have traded for two lineman to protect Caleb Williams. Jacksonville shipped out Christian Kirk. Geno Smith was reunited with Pete Carroll in Las Vegas. Those deals would pale in comparison if trades are made for DK Metcalf, Myles Garrett or another surprise player.

As much as the salary cap helps keep things balanced, it more often seems like it isn’t real. Teams that are constantly battling the cap (i.e. New Orleans) somehow always seem to find money to not just be cap-compliant, but make moves.

Regardless, there will be hundreds of available players for teams to legally tamper with on Monday. Fans will devour it and players will be hailed as “franchise saviors” mainly because of the money involved. That is the fun of free agency.

2nd Down: Bears… actually doing smart things

For a long time, the Chicago Bears have made head-scratching personnel and organizational decisions.

Over the past month and a half, however, Chicago is actually acting like a grown up organization.

To kick off the smart moves, the Bears took the hottest name on the coaching market, former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Getting Johnson, not only weakened a division opponent, but brought in a mind that can help get the most out of second-year quarterback Caleb Williams.

In his rookie campaign, Williams was sacked an alarming 68 times, which is the third most sacks allowed in NFL history. Part of that is due to Williams holding on the ball too long. Even factoring that in, the Bears offensive line was in desperate need of attention heading into the offseason.

Johnson and GM Ryan Poles wasted little time solidifying that unit.

In a span of a few days, Chicago made two trades for proven, veteran offensive lineman. Chicago first traded a 2025 sixth-round pick to the Rams for OG Jonah Jackson and a 2026 fourth-round pick to Kansas City for Joe Thuney.

NFL fans know that pressure up the middle is the easiest way to disrupt a quarterback and offense, regardless of how good either is. You saw it in the Super Bown with the Eagles constant pressure on Mahomes.

By trading for two proven players in the interior, Chicago has ensured that their franchise quarterback will have more time to get rid of the ball.

Chicago isn’t done making moves either. They still have nearly $80 million in cap space and four picks in the top 72 in the NFL draft. Making more moves along the offensive line is likely.

For Bears fans, these smart moves are hopefully a sign of change in the Windy City.

4th Down: Come On In Bills with Jeremy and Lawrence

If you have been reading 4 and Out over the past few months, you know I am a Bills fan. I am not a kool-aid drinking fan. I can look at the Bills objectively and be critical of the team when warranted.

This past Monday, I joined Jeremy on the inaugural episode of Come On In Bills and the Yin and Yang was evident. Jeremy is a glass half full fan, which I envy. I wish I could be that type of fan.

That difference, made for and will continue to make for a good listen for Bills fans.

This week we will be discussing the Bills busy week (resigning Shakir, Bernard, Groot and Reid Ferguson), while reacting to the news from the opening day of legal tampering.

Make sure to check us out on Monday at 8 p.m. Easter/ 7 p.m. Central on our YouTube channel, Twitter and Twitch.

GO BILLS!