The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[DWinzit]

Keim mentioned Likely on an ESPN segment now. So that's three different mentions from him about him, so am guessing he's heard they are interested. He also mentioned Okonkwo for the first time.

I'd be much happier with Okonkwo over Ertz.

 

[Commander Wraith]

Jaydens new security blanket does not need to be a single player. While it was Ertz for sure, he also liked Ekeler. We can create a number of security blankets for him with reliable pass catching TE, RB and big slot or other WR's to go with Terry.

I don't see it healthy for the growth of this team even garner thoughts of returning Ertz and Ekeler on one year deals.

I absolutely want to move on from these older guys, even if they’ve still shown the ability to produce at a fair clip. Wagner especially would probably still cost 8+ mil. At a minimum, I’d hope the team tries hard to find younger replacements.

For Ekler, I guess if we miss out on a bunch of other options (mainly as a 3rd down back) and/or we land a starting back caliber and he comes back as a cheap insurance policy, maybe that’s not the worst thing in the world?

Ertz is interesting, because if we do land a starting TE, but miss out on adding a 2nd TE with upside (via draft or FA), Ertz could still be available post-draft and his age/injury should cut his cost down a fair bit. I’d feel a bit more comfortable with Ertz as the backup move TE than our current guys. I’d hope Blough would at least still give Sinnot/Yankoff some chances though.

I do agree with the sentiment that (barring injury) if any of these guys are starters for us, it’ll be a fail for the FO.

 

[Higskin]

Keim mentioned Likely on an ESPN segment now. So that's three different mentions from him about him, so am guessing he's heard they are interested. He also mentioned Okonkwo for the first time.

Ref this, for over a week now JP Finlay keeps bringing up "what about Boye Mafe" to every guest he's had on their show. There may be something to Mafe too.

 

[DWinzit]

I absolutely want to move on from these older guys, even if they’ve still shown the ability to produce at a fair clip. Wagner especially would probably still cost 8+ mil. At a minimum, I’d hope the team tries hard to find younger replacements.

For Ekler, I guess if we miss out on a bunch of other options (mainly as a 3rd down back) and/or we land a starting back caliber and he comes back as a cheap insurance policy, maybe that’s not the worst thing in the world?

Ertz is interesting, because if we do land a starting TE, but miss out on adding a 2nd TE with upside (via draft or FA), Ertz could still be available post-draft and his age/injury should cut his cost down a fair bit. I’d feel a bit more comfortable with Ertz as the backup move TE than our current guys. I’d hope Blough would at least still give Sinnot/Yankoff some chances though.

I do agree with the sentiment that (barring injury) if any of these guys are starters for us, it’ll be a fail for the FO.

100%, we need to move on from them. We need for the younger players already on the roster and new ones acquired to be able to shine. Living on older dudes one year contracts is no way to build a team.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

He simply sucked last year. Rated 80/81 by PFF for receivers. He's had 2 WR2 type of seasons and 4 WR3/WR4 type of seasons. He'd be interesting on a 1 year/$10M type of prove it deal but I certainly wouldn't give him a multiyear deal, especially given he is 28

Recent history suggests signing a WR for $10M or less is like lighting that money on fire. You won't get near the return you spent.

 

[Boone]

My recommendations on WR from the pod last night. Do whatever it takes to lure Wandale Robinson away from the Giants (who will be a little cash constrained due to impending Malik Nabers negotiations). Jauan Jennings is also promising as a big physical pass blocking WR, or Romeo Doubs who does nothing but make big clutch plays.

There is a lot of WR talent in free agency for teams willing to pay up for it.

 

[Conn]

Huh. Interesting

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

My recommendations on WR from the pod last night. Do whatever it takes to lure Wandale Robinson away from the Giants (who will be a little cash constrained due to impending Malik Nabers negotiations). Jauan Jennings is also promising as a big physical pass blocking WR, or Romeo Doubs who does nothing but make big clutch plays.

There is a lot of WR talent in free agency for teams willing to pay up for it.

We don't have to do any sort of luring for Wandale Robinson away from the Giants. They're letting him walk. They've made that clear in interviews unless the market for him is way less than they suspect. They don't value him that highly.

 

[DWinzit]

A J Johnson/R Salah reuniting in Tennessee

 

[Boone]

It does sound that way from Joe Schoen. I get Robinson is a slot WR but man, look at that 2025 production (career-high 2025 season with 92 receptions for 1,014 yards and 4 TDs). I would love to get him.

 

[DWinzit]

It does sound that way from Joe Schoen. I get Robinson is a slot WR but man, look at that 2025 production (career-high 2025 season with 92 receptions for 1,014 yards and 4 TDs). I would love to get him.

Yeah, there is no denying he stepped up once Nabers went down and other weapons were out.

 

[KDawg]

I want to live in a world where we get Pittman and Robinson.

 

[Riggo44]

I don't see a world where Indy keeps both Pittman and Pierce. I feel like not grabbing one, if they're available, would be a major miss in FA, even for an overspend.

 

[Anselmheifer]

I want to live in a world where we get Pittman and Robinson.

Imagine Terry, Robinson, Pittman, and Likely. Would be an amazing upgrade.

 

[DWinzit]

Imagine Terry, Robinson, Pittman, and Likely. Would be an amazing upgrade.

It would be amazing if they were able to sign any 2 of those 3. My guess is they after one of them hard

 

[skinsinparadise]

Imagine Terry, Robinson, Pittman, and Likely. Would be an amazing upgrade.

They'd be lol three of my greatest hits favs from the ES draft thread, not Likely but Terry, Wandale, Pittman but man did it take Wandale time to flourish.

 

[method man]

Huh. Interesting

Interesting indeed. Big T’Vondre has been excellent.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

Interesting indeed. Big T’Vondre has been excellent.

Titans fans online seem to disagree? Apparently there are two big negatives. Pass rush is a huge negative whenever he's on the field (supposedly he can be single blocked reliably with no push), and he skips workouts and has been called out publicly by teammates.

 

[Commander Wraith]

100%, we need to move on from them. We need for the younger players already on the roster and new ones acquired to be able to shine. Living on older dudes one year contracts is no way to build a team.

So, I hear you and generally agree, I just don’t lean too much into a “younger for the sake of getting younger” mentality. If, say, we sign Likely but he gets hurt… is Sinnott a better choice to be our starting F over Ertz?
Of course, that’s also why I mentioned Blough still giving Sinnnott/Yankoff chances (even if we do re-sign Ertz as a backup), though that should be at least partially dependent on how they look this offseason - I want them, or some other depth guy we bring in, to have that opportunity to shine as you said.

With that said, I’d still much prefer a younger guy with upside fill that role. I’m just saying if we don’t land a guy like that (or we do but they get hurt or struggle throughout the offseason), Ertz might not be a bad insurance policy.

 

[method man]

Titans fans online seem to disagree? Apparently there are two big negatives. Pass rush is a huge negative whenever he's on the field (supposedly he can be single blocked reliably with no push), and he skips workouts and has been called out publicly by teammates.

PFF is no be all end all but he was their 5th highest graded DL in 2025 with a 84 grade