The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[method man]

This won't surprise you but I trust Keim over the national ESPN reporters. Heck it was an ESPN story like that last year saying expect Washington to chase both Josh Sweat and Milton Williams.

Keim thinks they are going hard for Edge, WR and medium at CB, and TE.

The only issue with WR though is its a small crop and there seems to be a lot of competition for that small pool.

But wouldn't surprise me if they chased Jennings or Doubs or Shaheed.

At WR, that pool is starting to look deeper than we thought with a Pittman release and Evans actually hitting FA.

 

[skinsinparadise]

At WR, that pool is starting to look deeper than we thought with a Pittman release and Evans actually hitting FA.

I like both. lol, will see if Keim is right but he's pounding the table on his podcasts that they will take a decent size swing at WR.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I totally agree with the sentiment, though I think it’s worth pointing out that there are a lot of interesting receivers in the draft. No guarantees obviously, but I think it’s pretty likely we can find a guy that can at least be legitimate competition for McCaffrey/Lane/Burks (if we bring him back). Again, you’re absolutely right that we can’t go into the draft expecting to find the needed solution to our receiving corps.

Yeah but you’re not picking a WR in the 3rd and expect them to start opposite McLaurin.

Depth, sure. But we need more than depth.

And even if they sign Atul, they still need to sign another WR because you can’t trust his health or head at this point.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I like both. lol, will see if Keim is right but he's pounding the table on his podcasts that they will take a decent size swing at WR.

I haven’t heard that but it’s a good guess.

Edge, TE, WR, CB seem like the safe bets where they will take a swing. I think most reporters are saying the same thing.

I doubt anybody has heard anything from inside the organization, but maybe agents or other folks are saying something.

 

[Higskin]

The move will save Washington only about $2.9 million in salary cap space, but $8.3 million in cash, according to the contracts website Spotrac.

Seems saving cash is a high priority.

Glad you mentioned "cash" because a lot of local guys keep saying AP/group are operating on a Cash Cap.

 

[KDawg]

It’s a bit surprising to open another hole. I’m not sure I agree on our depth though. Wiley’s decent depth at G/T (I know you said “beyond Wiley”, but he obviously counts), and Coleman is probably (at worst) decent depth at LT considering he was a fairly serviceable starter. Alegretti ain’t great, but helps solidify our interior depth. Would really like to draft a C though. The bigger problem, for now anyway, is the starters - LG, C and needing to get Tunsil’s extension done.

I totally agree with the sentiment, though I think it’s worth pointing out that there are a lot of interesting receivers in the draft. No guarantees obviously, but I think it’s pretty likely we can find a guy that can at least be legitimate competition for McCaffrey/Lane/Burks (if we bring him back). Again, you’re absolutely right that we can’t go into the draft expecting to find the needed solution to our receiving corps.

To be fair, right now Allegretti and Coleman are starters. At this moment. So Wylie IS our current depth.

 

[Canuck]

IDK, but for me the 2 biggest areas of need (Edge & WR) really lack anyone special, hope I'm wrong, but I dont see it.

Wandale is probably the best WR option at DE I have no idea, they are all flawed (guess that's why you have to dradft and develop at that position).

 

[KDawg]

IDK, but for me the 2 biggest areas of need (Edge & WR) really lack anyone special, hope I'm wrong, but I dont see it.

Wandale is probably the best WR option at DE I have no idea, they are all flawed (guess that's why you have to dradft and develop at that position).

Hendrickson is the best edge option by a landslide. I’d even argue he’s likely worth the money. I watched him big time last offseason and he’s a monster.

Having said that, I need to catch up with last year’s Hendrickson.

But there are a few edge guys around in this FA class that I think are markedly better than our current crop and would fit in well with what I think Daronte is going to do.

Safety is the only position in FA that I look at and think… “not a whole lot of help there”. Though, I’d be looking at getting Curl back in the building.

 

[Canuck]

CB, TE, S and LB is where I would be looking to spend, lots of interesting options;

TE: Likely, Okomkwo, Higbee, Njoku
CB: N. Wright, Taylor, Jobe
S: Curl, Cook
LB: Elliss, Dean, Walker, Chenal

Likely, Ellis/Dean, Wright would be my priority targets.

 

[Canuck]

Hendrickson is the best edge option by a landslide. I’d even argue he’s likely worth the money. I watched him big time last offseason and he’s a monster.

Having said that, I need to catch up with last year’s Hendrickson.

But there are a few edge guys around in this FA class that I think are markedly better than our current crop and would fit in well with what I think Daronte is going to do.

Safety is the only position in FA that I look at and think… “not a whole lot of help there”. Though, I’d be looking at getting Curl back in the building.

For me, Hendrickson is too old and was injured. Hendrickson from 3 yrs ago would be a different story, plus, I think he goes to more of a SB contender.

 

[Canuck]

Hendrickson is the best edge option by a landslide. I’d even argue he’s likely worth the money. I watched him big time last offseason and he’s a monster.

Having said that, I need to catch up with last year’s Hendrickson.

But there are a few edge guys around in this FA class that I think are markedly better than our current crop and would fit in well with what I think Daronte is going to do.

Safety is the only position in FA that I look at and think… “not a whole lot of help there”. Though, I’d be looking at getting Curl back in the building.

Agreed on Curl, I found it interesting that Jones talked up Quan, I don't see it.

I'm willing to give Harris another year.

Reaves and Butler are not starter claibre, but good depth I suppose.

 

[KDawg]

For me, Hendrickson is too old and was injured. Hendrickson from 3 yrs ago would be a different story, plus, I think he goes to more of a SB contender.

He’s not that old. But your last sentence is where I think the problem lies for us - he won’t choose us even if we choose him unless we overpay him. And this regime doesn’t pay, let alone overpay.

 

[Canuck]

He’s not that old. But your last sentence is where I think the problem lies for us - he won’t choose us even if we choose him unless we overpay him. And this regime doesn’t pay, let alone overpay.

He's 31 so not old I suppose, but safe to sya he is at his peak or on the decline. Better option than Bosa, Mack or Clowney if we are talling a multi year deal

 

[skinsinparadise]

Just watching different highlight videos of Chad Okonkwo, and I did watch college stuff with him back in the day. For these undersized TEs sometimes you wonder how that translates to the NFL.

I don't have the patience to watch actual games for FAs so am just going with how these guys move.

Wow, this dude can move. 4.5 speed and he looks it. He's definitely an F type TE, more of a WR style TE. Supposedly improving as a blocker. Watched some interviews comes off smart-high character -- and has that rep, too.

I'd be excited if they signed him. I think he can explode playing with Jayden.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I haven’t heard that but it’s a good guess.

Edge, TE, WR, CB seem like the safe bets where they will take a swing. I think most reporters are saying the same thing.

I doubt anybody has heard anything from inside the organization, but maybe agents or other folks are saying something.

Keim been's beatintg the points: edge, WR amd CB. He's probably said it like 4 times so I doubt he's spit balling. Also Peters has said edge. And Quinn opn Sheehanm referenced edge, CB and playmaker. So there is enough noise for me to buy in.

TE, too. But its seems like there is a limit to what they are willing to spend on that spot.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

IDK, but for me the 2 biggest areas of need (Edge & WR) really lack anyone special, hope I'm wrong, but I dont see it.

Wandale is probably the best WR option at DE I have no idea, they are all flawed (guess that's why you have to dradft and develop at that position).

I would argue secondary is on that list after we have witnessed receivers running wide open each and every week for 2 seasons.

 

[skinsinparadise]

IDK, but for me the 2 biggest areas of need (Edge & WR) really lack anyone special, hope I'm wrong, but I dont see it.

Wandale is probably the best WR option at DE I have no idea, they are all flawed (guess that's why you have to dradft and develop at that positio

I like Wadale but IMO he's not the best.


Pittman might make it to FA.
Mike Evans
Romeo Doubs
R. Shaheed
J. Jennings

deeper down
Jalen Nailor

Wonder about Tutu Atwell, banged up last season, but underated slot WR with speed.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Keim been's beatintg the points: edge, WR amd CB. He's probably said it like 4 times so I doubt he's spit balling. Also Peters has said edge. And Quinn opn Sheehanm referenced edge, CB and playmaker. So there is enough noise for me to buy in.

TE, too. But its seems like there is a limit to what they are willing to spend on that spot.

I don't believe it because of what Keim has speculated about. And I don't know that it's spitballing, but I don't think he (or anybody else) has even one iota of information from inside the team. But I would call it speculation.

However, if I was to opine, in the absence of any other information except the pressers from Quinn and Peters what they were going to do and where they have super huge obvious holes, I'd say:
Edge - They only have Armstrong as a returning starter under contract and he's coming off of a season ending injury. They got no pressure last year, it's obvious that they need to upgrade at edge.
Weapon - They had Terry and a bunch of guys in 2024, they had just a bunch of guys + Terry sometimes in 2025. This is obvious as well.
Tight End - They don't have a starter on the roster. This is obvious.
CB - Lattimore is going to be released, they need another starter, because assuming they think Sainristil is a starter somewhere, and Amos is a starter, they still lack a third starter. All the rest are FA's or terrible. This is obvious.

They only have a total of 5 draft picks, and only 2 in the first 3 rounds. They can't address all of the above with those picks.

Ergo, they are going to have to spend to solve these holes. It's also year 3, they had a great first year and a mess of a second season. It's obvious they are going to have to make moves to make the team better. Nobody has to report that to make it make sense.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I don't believe it because of what Keim has speculated about. And I don't know that it's spitballing, but I don't think he (or anybody else) has even one iota of information from inside the team. But I would call it speculation.

However, if I was to opine, in the absence of any other information except the pressers from Quinn and Peters what they were going to do and where they have super huge obvious holes, I'd say:
Edge - They only have Armstrong as a returning starter under contract and he's coming off of a season ending injury. They got no pressure last year, it's obvious that they need to upgrade at edge.
Weapon - They had Terry and a bunch of guys in 2024, they had just a bunch of guys + Terry sometimes in 2025. This is obvious as well.
Tight End - They don't have a starter on the roster. This is obvious.
CB - Lattimore is going to be released, they need another starter, because assuming they think Sainristil is a starter somewhere, and Amos is a starter, they still lack a third starter. All the rest are FA's or terrible. This is obvious.

They only have a total of 5 draft picks, and only 2 in the first 3 rounds. They can't address all of the above with those picks.

Ergo, they are going to have to spend to solve these holes. It's also year 3, they had a great first year and a mess of a second season. It's obvious they are going to have to make moves to make the team better. Nobody has to report that to make it make sense.

I guess we are about to test again his inside info soon as to whether they chase Likely. He's also hinted maybe Okonkwo. He had some FA stuff last year that he nailed including Von Miller.

Your point is Peters doesn't talk so no way he can know. Well, someone talks sometimes. Whether its the agent, Peters' dog, someway somehow. Clearly not about everything but something.

His other points are broad: aggressive, younger players, edge, WR, CB.

He seems to be hinting Chris Paul probably is not back. Ditto Deebo.

Wagner depends on if he takes a lesser role.

TE they are willing to walk away if the price gets too high in FA.

WR they are determined to find a #2.

As for the type of players, they are going younger I'd guess guys like Mofe, Phillips versus a Hendrickson. WRs maybe someone like Doubts who is younger, etc. He hasn't gotten specific as to edge players. For WR, not specific either except they are VERY eager to land a good #2. He suggested they'd go for Pierce but that doesn't matter since he's not hitting the market. He did suggest Shaheed in one podcast but that's awhile ago and he hasn't doubled down. I've learned lol that I need to hear Keim say it at least twice for me to buy in that its serious.