The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Conn]

I think it was more that AP and crew didn't have the balls to go beyond a one year deal for him. My guess is, given the relationship DLaw has with DQ, he would've chosen here if we'd given him the same 3 year deal for similar money

They need to nut up and spread some cheddar around this offseason. I’m usually a much more nuanced poster but it’s that simple with our FA spending imo. It’s a pay-to-play league and we need starter level (and better) players almost all over the roster. Until they prove they can draft better, which is going to take time, they need to spend.

 

[RedWolf]

The scary thing about being so dependent on Terry is that it makes it riskier to sign another gray beard merc. Take the Deebo example. All things being equal, I wouldn't necessarily hate bringing Deebo back even on a "fair" deal, but can you really have two 30 plus receivers as your primary weapons? Can you really have two thirty plus year old receivers and possibly none that Daniels can grow with in 2027? I would hate to have to start the receiver corp from scratch next year. So, we need to inject some high end youth into this receiving corp. That could be a 25-27 year old FA, that could be a draft pick, but we need a player that we hope we can pencil in as a starter for at least 2 or three years.

HAIL YEAH

 

[Anselmheifer]

Trade for Bryan Thomas next year. In terms of having a WR1 to grow with Jayden.

 

[method man]

They need to nut up and spread some cheddar around this offseason. I’m usually a much more nuanced poster but it’s that simple with our FA spending imo. It’s a pay-to-play league and we need starter level (and better) players almost all over the roster. Until they prove they can draft better, which is going to take time, they need to spend.

What could’ve been…DLaw aside, how awesome would it be to have Milton Williams instead of Kinlaw on this defense? If we had someone as disruptive as him, as the Pats showed, you could get by with two average EDGEs like Chiasson and Landry

 

[method man]

Trade for Bryan Thomas next year. In terms of having a WR1 to grow with Jayden.

After the lack of toughness he showed this year, he has a lot to prove regarding being a #1 WR

 

[method man]

Pittman would be a need too, we don't have that big bodied, possession receiver either, unless Burks tickles ones fancy

Burks can’t separate like Pittman at the first level. In the receiving game, the value Pittman brings is as a first down machine.

skinsinparadise I remember Cooley saying years ago on Sheehan that he thought Terry would be a better Z than an X. Pittman is a true X who would allow Terry to play the Z and run more deep routes

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

No idea if this is true or not about Riggins, but this is from a supposed family Facebook page.

When I heard someone here saying something about it (with the caveat of it being unsubstantiated, like a neighbor said it I think, think it was skinsinparadise), I looked this up and saw that there were some FB hoaxes discussing Riggins, Monk, others.

Clickbait.

So, we will hear it occasionally from people who believe FB posts without checking veracity, but yes this is untrue.

 

[Conn]

Tunsil, Daniels, and Aiyuk all hanging out together (on vacation?) per Tunsil’s instagram

 

[HOF44]

I think dollars are a bad way to compare player to player. I wish they would use percentage of cap. As the cap keeps rising the dollar mount can go up but when you compare to previous players signed the year before the percentage could be less.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

@Voice_of_Reason likes to joke that I am Keim or his kid. Nope.

I think I’ve settled that you ARE Keim masquerading as a message board poster in order to advance your readership.

I’m on to you Keim.

 

[burgold]

As far as Aiyuk goes, he's fallen to vet min plus incentives category in my book. I don't think he would sign for that, but he's got so much to prove at this point.

 

[Riggo44]

I think I’ve settled that you ARE Keim masquerading as a message board poster in order to advance your readership.

I’m on to you Keim.

Does he need to change his Avatar?

 

[method man]

I think I’ve settled that you ARE Keim masquerading as a message board poster in order to advance your readership.

I’m on to you Keim.

Nah SIP is way sharper than Keim

 

[DWinzit]

Bill had a higher ypc this year than Etienne has had in every season except one. He had more TDs this year than every year of Etiennes career except one. He won the rookie of the week award 4 times.

All of this while playing on a far inferior team to the Jags and with Kliff always running out of the gun and mostly straight up the gut with no deception. Idc where someone is drafted. Bill was better in a limited role then Etienne mostly ever has been. Dude can't even make it to 4ypc half the time.

Yes he can pass pro but Bill can get better as a rookie. Bill was also underrated in the pass game and I feel like he could have been used more

I believe you are downplaying the importance of Etienne's receiving abilities, experience and especially his pass protecting skills. JD needs a RB that's good in pass pro, especially with the heavy pressure D's of today like we saw in the playoffs and SB. Bill and Etienne together is a nice package with CRob.

 

[DWinzit]

Digesting the Keim podcast some more. I am wondering if Kyle Pitts is in play. Yeah its buyer beware with him. But he's a rare vertical threat for a TE.

I am beginning to think the same or they look at Fant. Either could take a load off the WR search and Fant would be cheaper

Fant has semi dropped off but if used correctly could be in line for a big rebirth. There weren't enough balls in Cincy to to around to the loaded WR and TE group. We are all familiar with their incredible WR room. Their TE room last year with Fant was Gesecki, Sample, Hudson and the injured Alt.

 

[DWinzit]

Sticking with Cincy but looking at DE/Edge/LB if we look opposite the guy we all talk about Hendrickson, maybe we should be thinking Joseph Ossai.

25 years old, with good bend/flexibility, who can rush the QB and drop into coverage. The contract estimate is under $10mill sign him to a multiyear deal to ease our move to the draft and bring back Martin and use the 3rd rounder on an edge

 

[Ashburn Dave]

When I heard someone here saying something about it (with the caveat of it being unsubstantiated, like a neighbor said it I think, think it was skinsinparadise), I looked this up and saw that there were some FB hoaxes discussing Riggins, Monk, others.

Clickbait.

So, we will hear it occasionally from people who believe FB posts without checking veracity, but yes this is untrue.

This is why I didn't create a separate thread for Riggins passing. I figured it was BS but since I don't do FB, I couldn't really delve deeper into it.

I'm just glad it's not true.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I think I’ve settled that you ARE Keim masquerading as a message board poster in order to advance your readership.

I’m on to you Keim.

If so, I am too humble publicly while craving for attention for my takes here. I am shy at anyone piercing together the tea leaves publicly or ever breaking a story but on message board my alternate persona comes alive.

Actually in all seriounsess, part of to me why Keim is so good is it amazing to me how everyone else who covers this team knows nada. You got zero nuggets from anyone else. Sheehan on occasion knows a thing or two but rarely and he's not evehn a reporter. Standig on occasion will piece things together and make some good guesses. But really no one knows squat but him which amazes me.

 

[Anselmheifer]

I’m surprised there hasn’t been much mention of Odafe Oweh. He’s PFF’s number two ranked pass rusher, behind Hendrickson. Has been very productive. Ie extremely athletic and would probably do very well in a Flores type scheme. He’s also only 27 years old. Do you guys think he’s getting franchised?

 

[skinsinparadise]

I’m surprised there hasn’t been much mention of Odafe Oweh. He’s PFF’s number two ranked pass rusher, behind Hendrickson. Has been very productive. Ie extremely athletic and would probably do very well in a Flores type scheme. He’s also only 27 years old. Do you guys think he’s getting franchised?

Am interested but with the Chargers trading for him, hard to picture them not figuing out how to bring him back but will see.