The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[clskinsfan]

I think Pitts is a free agent this year isnt he?

 

[RWJ]

I think Pitts is a free agent this year isnt he?

Top 25 NFL free agent rankings in 2026

The 2026 NFL free agent class is packed with young stars and established veterans who could change the landscape of the league. From game-breaking offensive playmakers to disruptive defensive forces, this group offers plenty of talent that teams will be lining up to pursue. Tyler Linderbaum...

www.thebiglead.com

 

[Riggo44]

Do you guys think any TE we get in free agency is really going to cover Kraft, Pitts, or Robinson?

TEs on defense? Iron Man football?!

 

[method man]

Do you guys think any TE we get in free agency is really going to cover Kraft, Pitts, or Robinson? Having a more athletic player may give you better options in man coverage. In zone coverage, there is a chance a more athletic player is worse. LB'ers tend to be bad in coverage. Its why the position has been so devalued over the past 20 years. Wagner is far from the only LB who is a liability in coverage. He has some feel for zone even if his range is not good. In man coverage he can be a liability, but he is a good blitizer and is a good option on man blitzes. Would Magee be better in coverage than Wagner? Its certainly possible, but not a given. Due to his speed he would almost certainly be better in man coverage, but does he have a feel for space in zone. Can he pass rusher as well? Those are legitimate questions.

Of the off ball LBs in FA, there are some that would be able to cover some of those guys, one example being Devin Lloyd. The issue with him and others in the FA pool with more athletic juice is they are unproven as the green dot

 

[heisenberg]

Top 25 NFL free agent rankings in 2026

The 2026 NFL free agent class is packed with young stars and established veterans who could change the landscape of the league. From game-breaking offensive playmakers to disruptive defensive forces, this group offers plenty of talent that teams will be lining up to pursue. Tyler Linderbaum...

www.thebiglead.com

Not one person on that list who plays for us.

I guess a good glass is half full way of looking at it is that we won't have much competition to keep who we want to and it'll be virtually impossible to not improve through free agency this year.

 

[SkinsLife]

Interesting thing with Debo.. if Wash does not resign him we are likely inline for a 3rd or 4th rd comp pic. (assuming they dont make any big FA signings)

 

[philibusters]

Interesting thing with Debo.. if Wash does not resign him we are likely inline for a 3rd or 4th rd comp pic. (assuming they dont make any big FA signings)

I don't think that is correct cause we added void years to his deal to spread the cap cost. That means we are releasing him rather than him hitting free agency and means we are not eligible for a comp pick. There is a decent shot we'll spend a decent chunk of change in free agency making the point moot, but I was not a fan of the restructure cause of that point.

 

[Conn]

Interesting thing with Debo.. if Wash does not resign him we are likely inline for a 3rd or 4th rd comp pic. (assuming they dont make any big FA signings)

No need to worry about the fact that Deebo signed an extension (it just happens to void immediately), because we will be signing players around the same money he’s going to make (whatever that is) if not much more.

If we don’t we’re in trouble in a whole other way.

 

[Riggo44]

I'm actually of the mind to keep Payne. We save 16.8m on the cap by releasing him; with 11m dead cap. Finding a starting DT of Payne's potential at 16.8m is going to be tough. I would prefer to keep him and let him earn another contract from another team.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

I'm actually of the mind to keep Payne. We save 16.8m on the cap by releasing him; with 11m dead cap. Finding a starting DT of Payne's potential at 16.8m is going to be tough. I would prefer to keep him and let him earn another contract from another team.

That has been my lean as well. Such a frustrating player, and his play dropped off this season again. But when motivated he can still be a good player at a need position so like you I say take advantage of Motivated Payne for one more season.

With no safeties on that list of top 25 free agents I'm even more in the camp that wants Downs to be the pick. Impact players is the name of the game.

 

[skinsinparadise]

No need to worry about the fact that Deebo signed an extension (it just happens to void immediately), because we will be signing players around the same money he’s going to make (whatever that is) if not much more.

If we don’t we’re in trouble in a whole other way.

Absolutely. If we are getting a comp pick for Deebo, it means an uninspiring FA crop. And lol, then I'd be out on Peters. I am giving him a pass thus far. But if he has a half speed off season, it would piss me off.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I'm actually of the mind to keep Payne. We save 16.8m on the cap by releasing him; with 11m dead cap. Finding a starting DT of Payne's potential at 16.8m is going to be tough. I would prefer to keep him and let him earn another contract from another team.

I am torn. He's just an OK player. He has flashes of greatness but is mostly a freakish athlete who is an underacheiver without a hot motor. But agree at 16 million it won't be easy to replace him.

 

[Riggo44]

I am torn. He's just an OK player. He has flashes of greatness but is mostly a freakish athlete who is an underacheiver without a hot motor. But agree at 16 million it won't be easy to replace him.

last time he played on the last year of his deal, he put up 11 sacks...

 

[RWJ]

last time he played on the last year of his deal, he put up 11 sacks...

I don't even want to get started about Payne. I hope he's released the day after the season ends.

 

[philibusters]

Steve Suter with his constant complaints about Payne's motor have turned me off Payne. Payne definitely has some talent and can flash some nice plays, but I don't want to spend that type of money on a player whose motor sucks.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Steve Suter with his constant complaints about Payne's motor have turned me off Payne. Payne definitely has some talent and can flash some nice plays, but I don't want to spend that type of money on a player whose motor sucks.

The one thing Suter did unintentionally was back PFF's grades over the years. They were giving him mostly pedestrian grades. And a PFF guy was asked to explain and they said its about his consistency -- hot and cold and they don't just ignore the cold.

Having said that Keim said in a podcast the only two players that concern defenses according to one D coordinator from another team are Payne and Kinlaw. But lol, that shows the lack of talent on that unit.

 

[Riggo44]

I don't even want to get started about Payne. I hope he's released the day after the season ends.

And replace him with who?

 

[Primus Porcus]

And replace him with who?

Honestly i think the $17m in savings is worth more than paying him the $28m he counts against the cap if we retain him. If he wasn't on this defense, i don't think we see much of a setback, so that in itself is enough to tell me it's not worth holding on to. Pushing Newont / Kinlaw / Wise / Insert offseason addition here at a minimum is status quo.. so what's the point of holding on?

 

[Riggo44]

Honestly i think the $17m in savings is worth more than paying him the $28m he counts against the cap if we retain him. If he wasn't on this defense, i don't think we see much of a setback, so that in itself is enough to tell me it's not worth holding on to. Pushing Newont / Kinlaw / Wise / Insert offseason addition here at a minimum is status quo.. so what's the point of holding on?

Motivated Payne is very intriguing. He'll be motivated by that final big contract.

That said, I won't exactly cry a river if he's let go

 

[RWJ]

And replace him with who?

Whomever they choose if they release him which I'm hoping for. Yes, he plays hard for the next contract. Otherwise, a huge disappointment.