The 2026 Free Agency Thread

Biggest upgrade we need next year is COACHING, if we can get some competent D coaches, the existing players will look better. Then a few right skill pieces and we have a decent D to build on.
On O we need a couple of pieces. Let old, oft injured vets walk. Get younger.. draft a WR that takes the top of the D.

If i had my way, id send Quinn and everyone below packing.. but sadly this FO doesn't possess my foresight
 
I don't agree with Riggo's Rag and others that because Kinlaw and Newton can't stop the run that we are in the position of having to resign Daron Payne.

I don't recall this DT unit being that effective WITH Payne on the field at key moments during the season.

We are stuck with Kinlaw for another year plus due to a contract that you can blame Peters for in looking back at a former #1 draft pick he helped make that he stubbornly didn't want to give up on and brough to DC.

But resigning any of the older players on this team and especially those around 30 who are inconsistent and up and down in terms of production should be a hard stop for the organization.

Acquiring a legit pass rushing DE with the athleticism to challenge an OC may be a difficult commodity to come by, but looking around the NFL teams find run stuffers as mid round draft picks and mid-tier free agents.

On a 4-13 team there are few sacred cows and on THIS defense I would make the argument that outside of Amos and Sainristil who are both young and on cheap rookie deals with some upside, there is NOBODY I would feel is a must to bring back in 2026 based on performance.
 
Since when were we good at stopping the run with Daron Payne. On paper, everyone claimed we had a stout middle with Allen and Payne, but I remember being gashed at will under Rivera and Quinn.
 
Right, so the last thing we need is to bring back underachieving, overpaid veterans like Payne.

I would rather give #6 and #7 picks we make in April a chance to play the position.

Payne went from 11.5 sacks and a host of tackles for a loss to being damn near invisible after getting paid the first time.
 
Since when were we good at stopping the run with Daron Payne. On paper, everyone claimed we had a stout middle with Allen and Payne, but I remember being gashed at will under Rivera and Quinn.

This might be a a bit of a false memory about Rivera’s defenses. While they were a little worse in rushing than passing, they were actually one of the best defenses in football a couple of times:

In 2020, our defense was 2nd in the NFL in yards allowed (2nd in passing and 13th in rushing) and 4th in scoring.

In 2022, our defense was 3rd in the NFL in yards allowed (4th in passing and 11th in rushing) and 7th in scoring.

The strength of those teams was that defensive line with all the first round talent: Young, Payne, Allen, and Sweat. It’s really a shame how that group turned out in the end.
 
I'd argue they may have been statistically good, but terrible in practical terms. I don't remember a JDR defense ever being able to stop an offense when the game was on the line or the defense needed to get a stop.
 
Thank you! I’m also so confused by this Deebo hate. He is easily our leading receiver this year and he’s been a great culture guy.

Deebo was a great idea and it worked out reasonably well. I'd grade the trade a 9 out of 10.

In a season where the expectations were playoffs -- adding a unique weapon like Deebo was tailor made. It's not his fault that more than half the starting lineup got hurt and he'd play mostly with a backup QB.

He ends up by a mile our most productive Wr. And was the only who could stay healthy for most of the season. Beyond that for me he was the oasis in the desert watching the offense -- the only dude I consistently enjoyed watching almost every game.

The idea that he couldn't single handily overcome this roster means nada to me. That player doesn't exist. Did Jamar Chase single handily overcome the Burrow injury to keep Cincy's season afloat.

If we use that same logic it would mean EVERY acquistion from a team in a lost season was bad.
 
I don't remember a JDR defense ever being able to stop an offense when the game was on the line or the defense needed to get a stop.
It was super frustrating watching them give away late game leads (on those rare occasions) with the bend and don't break or the dreaded prevent defense
 
I'd argue they may have been statistically good, but terrible in practical terms. I don't remember a JDR defense ever being able to stop an offense when the game was on the line or the defense needed to get a stop.

Heinicke had a winning record as a starter here primarily because of JDR’s defenses. There were definitely examples of his defenses stepping up w the game on the line
 
How do we get edge help on defense and stay young in FA? Help me understand that please.
 
How do we get edge help on defense and stay young in FA? Help me understand that please.
Don’t know. Well, aside from not re-signing Von Miller and shaving a few years off there. To your implied point, the proven, available DEs aren’t young. It’s going to be interesting to see what choices they make this offseason. I could see at least 1, but maybe 2 of Martin, Smith and Miller returning. I think that’ll depend on what the draft brings, as in maybe they sign one pre-draft and then one after if they don’t select a DT. And of course you’d think they’ll try to sign a higher profile starter prior to the draft as well.

Overall (on defense), moving on from Wagner, and adding a DE and/or DT via the draft moves us in that direction. Replacing Lattimore with a (hopefully decent or better) corner in their prime would be a good idea, though we also (likely?) have to replace Igbinoghene, who’s still pretty young.
 
How do we get edge help on defense and stay young in FA? Help me understand that please.
The best way would be if Baptiste or some of the injured guys came back strong. Feels like a longshot though.
 
Probably it wouldn't make sense to bring all these guys back but these are the guys I would have some interest in bringing back and potential terms:
Deebo 3 years 36 million 22 guaranteed
Wagner 1 year 9 million 7 million guaranteed
Mariota 3 years 30 millions 19 million guaranteed
Jonathan Jones 1 year 5 million 2 millin guaranteed
Andrew Wylie 2 year 8 million 3 million guaranteed
Deatrich Wise: 1 year 4 million 1.5 guranteed
Tresss Way 1 year 3 million 2.5 guaranteed
Jacob Martin 3 year 13 million 8 million guarnteed
Noah I 2 year 5 million 2.5 million guaranteed
Trent Scott 1 year 1.8 million .8 guaranteed
Jeremy McNichols 2 years 5 million 3 million guaranteed
Eddie Goldman 1 year 1.6 million .6 guaranteed
Chris Rodriguez 3 years 7 millin 3 million guaranteed
Chris Paul 3 years 24 million 14 million guaranteed

Again realistically I don't think you can bring that many guys back, but some of those guys may not be willing to sign for the amounts in the range that I am willing to pay, but those are guys I have tenantive interest in bringing back from that list.
 
As good as Wagner still is (and he's still pretty good) I'd much rather sign him as an assistant linebackers coach or as a linebackers coach than as a player. Not sure if he has any interest in that, but I think to move forward we have to take a risk of going backwards.

There are several other players who don't deserve not to be brought back that I would let test the waters. Jeremy McNichols has done everything we asked of him and been so much better than he should be. I don't know that I bring him back. Noah I, Jonathan Jones are both competent, but not better than depth. I want depth that can push to start. Deebo is a tough, tough call. I think they will want to bring him back because it's tough to trade away a draft pick and let the guy go a year later, but at this point, I think he's fine and I don't see greatness in him. Wylie is another I'd let walk. He's fine as a depth piece and I think we can trust him as a spot starter, but that's his ceiling at this point. The team really seems to like Trent Scott. He caught Daniels first TD pass. Probably not, but maybe.

I think I would bring back CRod if he'll take the above contract offer. I think he's been undervalued and that his toughness is useful. I think I'd give Chris Paul another go. Mariota is a good backup/low end starter. I'm curious about Jacob Martin. I like his hustle.
 
Wagner would be a good coach. It’s unlikely that he pursued an MBA in Business and purchased an interest in a WNBA franchise because he desires to be an assistant coach though. Just taking a wild guess.
 
That list seems incomplete to me. Aren’t Moody, Drake Jackson, and Burks FAs?

I’d definitely re-sign Tunsil, Mariota, and bring back Rodriguez (ERFA). Probably could put Tress in that group.

Most likely try to bring back Paul.

Returning McNichols and Jacob Martin makes some sense, and I’d consider Goldman, Wylie and Scott as proven, relatively cheap depth.

Burks and Drake Jackson are the kind of young depth that can compete to make the squad, preferably against other young guys. Lucas Niang and Tyree Jackson aren’t as young, but fill that same need - cheap competition for depth roles that also have some upside.

I’d like Igbinoghene back, but I don’t know if putting him on the trade block last offseason makes that more difficult.

In theory, we then need to add:
A quality, proven WR, DE, TE and Corner (this, to me is going to be the difficult part of the offseason, particularly the receiver and DE).
A veteran outside receiver to compete with Burks, and slot receiver to compete with Lane/McCaffrey.
A vet LB to compete with our young guys there.

See what the draft/UDFA brings and fill in remaining gaps with cheap vets (like bringing back Von Miller, Johnathan Jones, Hamilton, etc.).

From a FA perspective, that’s sort of the baseline IMO (aside from a bunch of mostly young guys to fill out the 90). I’d like to add some sort of center depth as well.

If we also land a quality safety, a stud linebacker, a Breece Hall type, etc, then great, but that’s more “cherry on top” territory for me. Not a luxury, per se, but we can likely field a quality team without those.
 
It's such a shame Maxx Crosby signed that big contract with Vegas in March. He would have been the perfect block for our D to build around.
 
As good as Wagner still is (and he's still pretty good)
I agree in the box. He is a major liability in pass defense though. I wouldnt mind having him back as an early down player. But I cant see him being willing to be a part time player. Plus Magee has shown enough to earn more playing time. If Wagner doesnt retire I would expect him to be playing elsewhere next season.
 

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