The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[DWinzit]

Wilson really scares me. The NFL, like MLB, is full of scrubs that have 1 big year and return to scrub status after.

You could say the same for Lloyd given he was a disappointing player his 1st 3 years before his breakout this year but he at least has the 1st round pedigree and is 26

Sure Lloyd would be great, he is the best player available for the position. Our chances of getting Lloyd are probably slim as many teams will covet him and extremely expensive.

I do get the concern but Wilson was good enough to wear the green dot for Minny which is an advantage for Jones to have him here

 

[method man]

Sure Lloyd would be great, he is the best player available for the position. Our chances of getting Lloyd are probably slim as many teams will covet him and extremely expensive.

I do get the concern but Wilson was good enough to wear the green dot for Minny which is an advantage for Jones to have him here

I would have no qualms about making him highest paid ILB in the league with some healthy guarantees. He would be the first blue chip player we have on this defense, which is just sad

 

[skinsinparadise]

To my point earlier, 20th in the power rankings for 2026. By saying the ship has sailed I don't mean for this team to bounce back -- but the buzz coming off of the 2024 season is dead with the national media. -- there isn't some assumption that the team will bounce back albiet I do think they bounce back.

Early 2026 NFL Power Rankings: How do all 32 teams stack up?

After the conclusion of the 2025 NFL season, how do all 32 teams stack up for 2026? Here are our early rankings for next season.

www.espn.com

20. Washington Commanders​

Offseason in three words: Rebuild the operation


After going from the NFC Championship Game to 5-12 in back-to-back seasons, Washington has already changed both coordinators and let go of four other defensive coaches. Now, the Commanders have to turn to talent acquisition. According to OverTheCap.com, they have the fifth-most cap space -- but only seven teams have fewer roster spots filled for 2026, so that space must be spread around. They also need to add more explosiveness on offense, whether at tight end, receiver or both. If Washington does all this and stays healthy, then it has a chance to get back on the track it was on a year ago. -- John Keim

 

[HTTR]

To my point earlier, 20th in the power rankings for 2026. By saying the ship has sailed I don't mean for this team to bounce back -- but the buzz coming off of the 2024 season is dead with the national media. -- there isn't some assumption that the team will bounce back albiet I do think they bounce back.

Early 2026 NFL Power Rankings: How do all 32 teams stack up?

After the conclusion of the 2025 NFL season, how do all 32 teams stack up for 2026? Here are our early rankings for next season.

www.espn.com

20. Washington Commanders​

Offseason in three words: Rebuild the operation


After going from the NFC Championship Game to 5-12 in back-to-back seasons, Washington has already changed both coordinators and let go of four other defensive coaches. Now, the Commanders have to turn to talent acquisition. According to OverTheCap.com, they have the fifth-most cap space -- but only seven teams have fewer roster spots filled for 2026, so that space must be spread around. They also need to add more explosiveness on offense, whether at tight end, receiver or both. If Washington does all this and stays healthy, then it has a chance to get back on the track it was on a year ago. -- John Keim

I’m sure you were relieved to see the Giants at 25 😁

 

[skinsinparadise]

I’m sure you were relieved to see the Giants at 25 😁

I was.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I talked about it on the defensive coaching thread. I am very impressed with Jones's press conference. He was asked what type of players he likes: tough, physical, versatile. The tough-physical is cliche but versatile is very Flores scheme driven.

But yeah if you like the over the top bluster type interviews, Jones won't be your cup of tea. IMO Whitt was bluster too albiet he did it in a low key way by lowering his voice.

Daronte comes off like a good dude, sincere, lol when he says things I believe him.

Sounds like Flores scheme willl be a heavy part of what he does, mixed with Zimmmer's double (Mug look) A blitzes, and simulated pressure.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[KDawg]

With Flores’ scheme and Double Mug being a think I have absolutely no idea the type of backers we’re looking at.

Double Mug would fit guys like Pace and Trotter and Styles (and Lloyd).

Pure Flores would take guys like Pace and maybe Trotter away a bit as there is a major reliance on coverage.

 

[Conn]

To my point earlier, 20th in the power rankings for 2026. By saying the ship has sailed I don't mean for this team to bounce back -- but the buzz coming off of the 2024 season is dead with the national media. -- there isn't some assumption that the team will bounce back albiet I do think they bounce back.

Early 2026 NFL Power Rankings: How do all 32 teams stack up?

After the conclusion of the 2025 NFL season, how do all 32 teams stack up for 2026? Here are our early rankings for next season.

www.espn.com

20. Washington Commanders​

Offseason in three words: Rebuild the operation


After going from the NFC Championship Game to 5-12 in back-to-back seasons, Washington has already changed both coordinators and let go of four other defensive coaches. Now, the Commanders have to turn to talent acquisition. According to OverTheCap.com, they have the fifth-most cap space -- but only seven teams have fewer roster spots filled for 2026, so that space must be spread around. They also need to add more explosiveness on offense, whether at tight end, receiver or both. If Washington does all this and stays healthy, then it has a chance to get back on the track it was on a year ago. -- John Keim

People are going to say “good”, they prefer low expectations, low hype etc. The same way people are afraid of night games and prefer to play at 1:00pm under less pressure and hype. I get it, as a mental block. But it’s a coping mechanism for having a bad team.

I don’t expect the mindset in the fanbase to change overnight. And we have to get good again first.

But I really hope that it’s in our future that we are comfortable having high expectations placed on us, comfortable with some hype, and relish the big games under the lights, confident we can live up to expectations.

Every time someone says they want a schedule of 1:00pm games across the board (not bc they don’t want to stay up late lol, but out of fear of night games) I cringe. Such a loser mentality (understandably).

But…hit dogs holler.

 

[skinsinparadise]

People are going to say “good”, they prefer low expectations, low hype etc. The same way people are afraid of night games and prefer to play at 1:00pm under less pressure and hype. I get it, as a mental block. But it’s a coping mechanism for having a bad team.

I don’t expect the mindset in the fanbase to change overnight. And we have to get good again first.

But I really hope that it’s in our future that we are comfortable having high expectations placed on us, comfortable with some hype, and relish the big games under the lights, confident we can live up to expectations.

Every time someone says they want a schedule of 1:00pm games across the board (not bc they don’t want to stay up late lol, but out of fear of night games) I cringe. Such a loser mentality (understandably).

But…hit dogs holler.

Yeah agree with this. The only thing I like about it is I felt Peters and Quinn could use a dose of humility and I like Jayden coming off a season where he's written off. So I like driving competitive people with some negativity.

But as far as the fan base goes, agree we need to adjust hopefully to expecting and enjoying prosperity. The fact that this team has only one winning as to two seasons in a row in the last 30 and more years is nuts.

 

[Conn]

Yeah agree with this. The only thing I like about it is I felt Peters and Quinn could use a dose of humility and I like Jayden coming off a season where he's written off. So I like driving competitive people with some negativity.

But as far as the fan base goes, agree we need to adjust hopefully to expecting and enjoying prosperity. The fact that this team has only one two seasons in a row in the last 30 and more years is nuts.

For sure. For where we are today, and in the scope of this regime’s timeline…we needed some humility. They needed a heavy dose of reality injected into them, that what we were doing was not working. They needed to kickstart the scrappiness and creativity and sheer ballsiness that 2024 was built from. But they only get this one mulligan imo. At least until they build a longer track record of success. If they want to make deep playoff runs for a few years and then have a down season, we can talk about deserving more patience, maybe. Depends on if we believe they can get over the hump, in that hypothetical future. Right now, they’ve used up all their video game lives, the hearts in the top corner of the screen are gone, and they now have to deliver. They can earn more, but it’s going to be harder.

 

[skinsinparadise]

With Flores’ scheme and Double Mug being a think I have absolutely no idea the type of backers we’re looking at.

Double Mug would fit guys like Pace and Trotter and Styles (and Lloyd).

Pure Flores would take guys like Pace and maybe Trotter away a bit as there is a major reliance on coverage.

I've only watched his highlights but purely based on that and scheme: Jacob Rodriguez? Sonny Styles. Maybe Anthony Hill (though raw), York (though a tweener)

As to FA, Devin Llloyd if they wanted to go cheaper Devin Bush. Don't know about Chenal, more of an old school RB, but supposedly improved in coverage, so maybe.

 

[skinsinparadise]

For sure. For where we are today, and in the scope of this regime’s timeline…we needed some humility. They needed a heavy dose of reality injected into them, that what we were doing was not working. They needed to kickstart the scrappiness and creativity and sheer ballsiness that 2024 was built from. But they only get this one mulligan imo. At least until they build a longer track record of success. If they want to make deep playoff runs for a few years and then have a down season, we can talk about deserving more patience, maybe. Depends on if we believe they can get over the hump, in that hypothetical future. Right now, they’ve used up all their video game lives, the hearts in the top corner of the screen are gone, and they now have to deliver. They can earn more, but it’s going to be harder.

Yeah going back to my go to Rocky 3 analogy. I am good with allowing the rematch with Mr. T. But they better win round 2. I got zero interest in anything less than a playoff season.

While I have echoed that injuries played the key factor in the season going off the rails. It was a piss poor off season IMO from both Peters and Quinn.

I happened to be listening to Chris Russell (lol, not loved by many fans) right now and he goes no sense of urgency last year. Absolutely. I agree that's to me the theme about 2025.

I bailed on Rivera for lacking a sense of urgency and having excuses for everything. I'll give Quinn that he isn't about excuses like Rivera, and he does come off like he has a sense of urgency. But will see.

To me what happens in FA coming up is everything to me. I want to see Peters attack this roster with real urgency.

To me 2025, was like a student who got an A in the course previously, started feeling cocky about it, and got an F the next semester.

Lol, to me season 1 for Quinn was Rocky. They had an edge, attitude, But they skipped Rocky 2 and went right to Rocky 3 in year 2 where that edge was gone. I give an A for season 1. And F for season 2. They need to have an A minus year this season. I know some suggest a C is an improvement from the F so lets give him more time if it goes down that way. Not me. A C means the whole three years averages a C. And if you have a C grade with a franchise QB, that's poor coaching and IMO you got to go in that case.

 

[DWinzit]

With Flores’ scheme and Double Mug being a think I have absolutely no idea the type of backers we’re looking at.

Double Mug would fit guys like Pace and Trotter and Styles (and Lloyd).

Pure Flores would take guys like Pace and maybe Trotter away a bit as there is a major reliance on coverage.

I'd lean with SIP that my Pace and Trotter are probably not going to be the answer and Styles may be more in style....oooof, so sorry for that one

 

[skinsinparadise]

I'd lean with SIP that my Pace and Trotter are probably not going to be the answer and Styles may be more in style....oooof, so sorry for that one

I am just guessing of course trying to match scheme to players.

Your guy Anthony Hill might work, he's a menance as to sacks, forced fumbles, definitely a good blitzer. J. Rodriguez also picks, forced fumbles, sacks, both with OK albiet not great PFF coverage grades.

Feels like they are taking Downs or Styles if I had to guess right now.

Styles has that sideline to sideline range, doesn't miss tackles, can blitz, an ex-safety who can play some coverage, too.

So we don't derail the talk here I'll put the LB stats on the draft thread.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

My biggest takeaway the more I dived in as for things I didn't understand previously.

He plays zone behind the blitz a lot. that's rare because you typically plan man behind the blitz. The disadvantage with zone with the blitz is you got 6 defenders instead of 7 covering turf. And the issues is the flat-underneath. So you need 2 guys basically to cover the range of what three guys typically cover in zone.

So to offset that they play match which turns to man depending on what the offense is running and or they hope their LBs-safeties can cover more range than the typical LB-safety. That's why I land on Downs or maybe to a lesser extent Styles -- and underneath player who can cover a lot of territory.

Also that slot CB and or big nickle needs to be a good blitzer. Also speaks to Downs.

It's the zone fire blitzes. They work as long as the blitz works. The Edge/OLB/DL that drop off is there to get the QB to avoid the quick Hot throws by dropping into that throwing lane. These blitzes work best when you know the offense will likely have specific hot routes in case of quick pressure.

You get the QB to not throw it immediately at like dropback step 2. So they hold it, step back again and then hopefully the pass rush better be there because the Edge/OLB/etc shouldn't actually be expected to cover that guy any longer. If he does, and the QB completes it, then the failure is on the pass rush (either schematically or players not doing well).

 

[skinsinparadise]

It's the zone fire blitzes. They work as long as the blitz works. The Edge/OLB/DL that drop off is there to get the QB to avoid the quick Hot throws by dropping into that throwing lane. These blitzes work best when you know the offense will likely have specific hot routes in case of quick pressure.

You get the QB to not throw it immediately at like dropback step 2. So they hold it, step back again and then hopefully the pass rush better be there because the Edge/OLB/etc shouldn't actually be expected to cover that guy any longer. If he does, and the QB completes it, then the failure is on the pass rush (either schematically or players not doing well).

Yep. Del Rio was known to do the same so we used to talk about that when he was hired on ES.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

Oh was he? I don't remember that about Del Rio's prior teams. I don't think Del Rio did much of that here right? Odd play or two where an Edge drops back, but generally a pretty static 4 man rush look.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Oh was he? I don't remember that about Del Rio's prior teams. I don't think Del Rio did much of that here right? Odd play or two where an Edge drops back, but generally a pretty static 4 man rush look.

Didn't seem like he did it a lot but it was part of the scheme

Commanders Scheme Breakdown: The Zone Blitz

Breaking down the zone blitz and how the Commanders’ defense makes use of it

markbullock.substack.com

Here’s a good example of a zone blitz from the Commanders last season. The Bears face third and eight, so the Commanders want to bring pressure as its third down, but also want to have a relatively safe zone coverage behind it as the Bears still need eight yards for a first down. So defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio calls for a zone blitz.

In this example, we can see how the defense starts in a two deep safety look, but one safety ends up rotating to the deep middle with the cornerbacks sinking either side of him, while the other safety steps up into the underneath hole. Linebacker Cole Holcomb joins the rush as the fifth rusher, lining up on the line of scrimmage with the four defensive lineman and looping from the left side of the line to the right as part of a defensive line stunt.

 

[RWJ]

More on Tress's 1 year extension.

He will only count for $1.65 million against the cap, while earning close to $3 million.

Washington Commanders Free Agency: Tress Way extended for another year

MVP is back!

www.hogshaven.com