The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[actorguy1]

Following up on SIPs Keim reporting, (I actually paid $3 a month during the season to have live video chats with Keim and couple other fans before every game 😂) he said expect free agent signings on the level of Luvu and Armstrong, not quite the tip of the list.

 

[DWinzit]

Following up on SIPs Keim reporting, (I actually paid $3 a month during the season to have live video chats with Keim and couple other fans before every game 😂) he said expect free agent signings on the level of Luvu and Armstrong, not quite the tip of the list.

That's what I am expecting as well. They really need to hit on some solid above average starters and a couple studs early. Then dip in later when the market settles and when cuts come from other teams.

 

[philibusters]

For what its worth Luke McCaffrey was kind of emerging as a poor's man Alec Pierce last year. He basically played in 8 games last year (he technically played in 9, but he was lost for the season on the opening kickoff against Seattle) and had 11 catches for 203 yards so he was on pace for like a 430 yard season at the time of his injury. He had multiple deep ball catches. He runs a 4.46 so I don't think he'll ever be at Alec Pierce's level on the vertical plane, but he given that he is new to the position he showed a lot of ability to track the ball in the air and adjust. Like on on the post route against the Chargers he changes the the route slightly to adjust to the throw. Could McCaffrey be a playerwho gets 450 yards on only 25 catches cause they use him on the vertical plane? Its possible...

 

[philibusters]

You sure? I'm fine having him back as part of Training Camp, but he should be fighting for a spot with Luke McCaffrey (in his final year where WRs have suddenly made a leap). Burks was supposed to be this even bigger version of Deebo to replace AJ Brown, another beefy wide receiver.

Burks Career:

• Year 1 - 33 catches, 444 yards, 1 TD, 50% Success Rate, YAC per Reception of 4.9
• Year 2 - 16 catches, 220 yards, 0 TD, 43.3% Success Rate, YAC/R of 4.4
• Year 3 - 4 catches, 34 yards, 0 TD, 37.5% Success Rate, YAC/R of 1.3
• Year 4 - 10 catches, 130 yards, 1 TD, 40% Success Rate, YAC/R of 3.4

...sure looks like his Rookie Year showed the most promise

• Year 5 - WR's never suddenly "get it" in Year 5. It's going to look a lot like Years 2-4.

If we acquired Aiyuk, then Aiyuk-Burks-McCaffrey should all be competing for one roster spot. If we assume 6 roster spots go to WRs, then here's an example:

1. Terry McLaurin
2. Jaylin Lane (maybe develops Year 2, at least he returns punts)
3. A healthy outside WR Free Agent (maybe Pittman if he's cut or Doubs)
4. A healthy slot WR Free Agent (maybe Nailor or Shaheed?)
5. Rookie WR (maybe even at #7 overall?)
6. Aiyuk - Burks - McCaffrey

Here's another way of looking at this. This is an attempt to rationally find a list of who we can rely on to help Jayden Daniels. For the sake of this, we'll say Jaylin Lane (A) is 2nd year Lane that develops a little, and Jaylin Lane (B) is 2nd year Lane that is who he was as a rookie:

1. Terry McLaurin
2. $20M+ a Year Healthy WR Free Agent (preferably Outside WR)
3. $12-15M a Year Healthy WR Free Agent or a Day 1 Rookie
4. Jaylin Lane (A) or a Rookie (Preferably Day 1 or Day 2)
5. Jaylin Lane (B) or a Rookie (Preferably Day 2)
6. Jaylin Lane (B) or a Rookie (Day 3) or one of the super risky trio of Aiyuk - Burks - McCaffrey...(Aiyuk has the most severe injury risk, then Burks, then McCaffrey. McCaffrey has a better shot of developing than Burks as Year 3 leaps has happened compared to year 5 leaps)

I think any other off-season plan by this Front Office is a failure and irresponsible. (Well...trades could happen I suppose). We need to spend serious money on the WR position in free agency because this group is just that thin and barren. The less money spent in Free Agency means the 1st Round pick in the draft starts becoming a WR Need pick instead of a BPA or other Need. I mean, anything else falls under the Ron Rivera School of Roster Building where we just pray back of the roster talent suddenly becomes front of the roster talent via hopes and dreams.

P.S. A low quality roll of the dice last off-season were Free Agent WR's at $10M a year. Here's who signed for that last season. Tutu Atwell, Dyami Brown, and Josh Palmer. They all sucked. Our Floor for the 2nd FA we grab has to be higher than that.

I get the instinct — the room feels thin, Jayden is young, and you want to insulate him with as many credible options as possible. But there’s a difference between upgrading the room and over-allocating resources to one position group. Let’s just walk through the math calmly. We’ve got roughly $73M in cap space. If Lattimore is released, that bumps to about $93M. The draft class will eat roughly $13M, so now we’re around $80M. You have to keep at least a $10M in-season cushion for injuries and emergency signings, so realistically you’re operating with about $70M. And that’s to sign roughly 12 players — not counting camp bodies or the six draft picks. If you sign two legitimate WRs — say one at $20M AAV (structured at ~$16M year one) and another at $12M AAV (structured at ~$8M year one) — that’s $24M in Year 1 cap hits. Now you’re down to about $46M for 10 players. And that’s before addressing:

• A starting guard (or re-signing Chris Paul)
• Possibly Isaiah Likely
• A high-end RB if that’s part of the plan
• 4–5 starting-caliber defensive additions (edge, CB, LB, maybe safety)
• Depth across OL and DL

That money disappears fast. You can absolutely sign one high-end WR and still be balanced. But signing two quality WRs and using the #7 overall pick on a WR? That’s how you create positional surplus while other units become weak links. You don’t win because you have the best WR room. You win because you don’t have structural holes. The last two Super Bowl Champs the Eagles and Seahawks and very good overall rosters.

Look at recent examples:

• The Dolphins had Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle — arguably the best duo in football — and still stalled when the OL and defense weren’t consistent.
• The Cowboys had CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens — didn’t matter when protection and run defense broke down.
• The Bengals had Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins — elite room, but the OL and defense limited ceiling.

High-end WR duos don’t override roster imbalance. The league has shown that repeatedly.

 

[DWinzit]

I saw a tackle re-upped and it was Wylie.

*sigh*

Though as a guard I actually kinda like him.

Lol yeah I thought the same.

Well he has been a pretty good G and can fill in a T. He is Rivera's position flex...that term, makes me throw up a little in my mouth. Thanks Ron

They need to get Tunsil extended now, then maybe Mariota

 

[Riggo44]

We won't hear much about the Tunsil deal for a while, right up until about the time it's done. All we heard for weeks with Terry was how far apart they were, and then it was done. This organization has done a very good job sealing up the leaks

 

[bowhunter]

We won't hear much about the Tunsil deal for a while, right up until about the time it's done. All we heard for weeks with Terry was how far apart they were, and then it was done. This organization has done a very good job sealing up the leaks

If there is one good sign of encouragement, we aren't seeing any cryptic tweets from Laremy. Hopefully there is a trustworthy process happening quietly behind the curtains

 

[SkinsFTW]

If there is one good sign of encouragement, we aren't seeing any cryptic tweets from Laremy. Hopefully there is a trustworthy process happening quietly behind the curtains

Theres still time.

 

[Higskin]

We won't hear much about the Tunsil deal for a while, right up until about the time it's done. All we heard for weeks with Terry was how far apart they were, and then it was done. This organization has done a very good job sealing up the leaks

Makes you wonder if that huge guarantee amount (~$80 mil) that has to be escrowed causes the team wait as long as possible?

 

[Riggo44]

It might not be the team waiting--it could be Tunsil. If Linderbaum gets $20-$25m, then how much would a top LT get?

 

[Higskin]

It might not be the team waiting--it could be Tunsil. If Linderbaum gets $20-$25m, then how much would a top LT get?

Most of the estimates I've seen are in the $29-30 mil per range

 

[skinsinparadise]

Why are people so ready to jettison LMC--both here and Twitter/X? He's an excellent kick returner entering year 3.

High intangibes, very good kick returner, good run blocker, decent Y-Z backup.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Should coincide with a Pittman release, at least

I hope. Wonder if some WR starved team like the Raiders take on his salary and give up a mid round pick.

 

[Conn]

Makes you wonder if that huge guarantee amount (~$80 mil) that has to be escrowed causes the team wait as long as possible?

I hope not. We can’t keep playing this game every year with extensions. The Terry situation has extenuating factors so they kind of have a fresh slate from me on this, but I don’t want a whiff of “the money guys have X, Y, Z requirements” around our football business. At all. The best teams don’t, and this ownership group either wants to be the best or we should start caring a lot less.

 

[DWinzit]

This is good news for Ertz. Is it good news for the Commanders? I mean, he had a good run in Washington but time to move on

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports Zach Ertz (ACL) intends to return for a 14th season in 2026, and that he hopes to be cleared “right around” Week 1.
The 35-year-old was injured in early December. Ertz had already become a catch-and-fall specialist even before his injury, but he has maintained a route-running savvy and strong pair of hands. His injury timeline makes him a tricky bet early in free agency, perhaps making it more likely he holds out for more guaranteed money on the eve of training camp. By then, teams will have a better idea of his health, as well as their own needs.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[DWinzit]

^Well that sure leaves you thinking AP has an eye on Aiyuk

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[Canuck]

Following up on SIPs Keim reporting, (I actually paid $3 a month during the season to have live video chats with Keim and couple other fans before every game 😂) he said expect free agent signings on the level of Luvu and Armstrong, not quite the tip of the list.

So something like;

RB White
WR Wandale or Nailor
TE Goeddert
Edge Mafe
LB Wilson or Dean
CB Wright
S Brisker

Not saying those players specifically, but that calibre.

 

[skinsinparadise]

^Well that sure leaves you thinking AP has an eye on Aiyuk

Yep. Keim for weeks as I've mentioned seems to allude not to rule it out with Aiyuk.