The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Canuck]

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.

There are options, but IMO, after the top 5-6 its all kinda the same.

Doubs and Shaheed are WR3, Evans is old and has maybe another 1-2 yrs left? I think he's looking to join a contender.

Jennings is intriguing and the re is the SF connection.

Wandale has proven to be a reliable target, not a #1, but a good #2 behind Terry.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

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.

I'm going to reply to this in the "Covering the Commanders" thread.

 

[Canuck]

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

Don't disagree, DB has numerous options luckily.

 

[HTTR]

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.

Go Terps! He is a beast. I know he hasn’t been that productive so far, but Tennessee has been a shit show, and he may well be ready to blossom now with a change of scenery. Good plan B if we can’t get Likely.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Go Terps! He is a beast. I know he hasn’t been that productive so far, but Tennessee has been a shit show, and he may well be ready to blossom now with a change of scenery. Good plan B if we can’t get Likely.

He's been productive enough and he hasn't had great QB play. But yeah I think he's a good fit.

 

[HTTR]

He's been productive enough and he hasn't had great QB play. But yeah I think he's a good fit.

Only 26 so just going into his prime. There is untapped potential here. Same goes for Likely. These are exactly the kind of free agents we should be pursuing so it’s good to hear that they are.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Never thought I could hate the Giants more than I already do but then came John Harbaugh.

 

[Anselmheifer]

Never thought I could hate the Giants more than I already do but then came John Harbaugh.

View attachment 14244

It’s easy to look a good with Lamar Jackson as your QB. I could t be more sick of the Giants.

 

[DWinzit]

I wouldn't mind seeing them add DB Kobe Bryant. He seems like a good fit with Daronte's D

 

[Bulldog]

What happened to matching scheme to talent?

So on offense we are going to keep Daniels, Cosmi and Tunsil as starters along with McLaurin at 31 and then have to go out and find new players everywhere else to fit a new scheme from a rookie OC?

What a mess.

Gibbs came here and learned after 0-5 to leave Air Coryell behind and work with the outline of players we had here and then continuing to bring in talent over time.

We ended up running the ball more than throwing it although that was not what Gibbs’ teams did for the previous 10 years in the NFL in SD and St. Louis.

 

[SkinsLife]

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.

I dont get the fit for Okonkwo for this team. He is a 6'3 TE which is on the small side. Ertz is 6'5 and was our main and often only real redzone threat. Unless this team goes for big WRs (which i dont see many in FA) we will lose some redzone production from the TE group. I haven't seen enough from Bates or Sinot to take up that slack. He was ranked #28 in contested catch rate.
I would be more on board with Otton or Njoku = size + after the catch ability

Not saying we couldn't use him... but not as Ertz replacement

 

[Bulldog]

The tight end room such as it was in 2025 needs a makeover from top to bottom.

Ertz is 36 and needs to find something else to do while his wife is playing soccer.

Bates is overpaid for being an additional tackle on the field on running plays.

Sinnott is not an NFL tight end - unless Kliff was more incompetent than even I thought by keeping a potentially productive player on the bench for TWO YEARS.

 

[method man]

I dont get the fit for Okonkwo for this team. He is a 6'3 TE which is on the small side. Ertz is 6'5 and was our main and often only real redzone threat. Unless this team goes for big WRs (which i dont see many in FA) we will lose some redzone production from the TE group. I haven't seen enough from Bates or Sinot to take up that slack. He was ranked #28 in contested catch rate.
I would be more on board with Otton or Njoku = size + after the catch ability

Not saying we couldn't use him... but not as Ertz replacement

Njoku is my favorite option of the bunch. He didn’t have a good year last year and next 30 is his age 30 season. Tight ends age well and he can be productive well into his early 30s.

I think Chig can be good value too but he is strictly an F, which is an issue if Bates gets hurt next season

 

[philibusters]

I dont get the fit for Okonkwo for this team. He is a 6'3 TE which is on the small side. Ertz is 6'5 and was our main and often only real redzone threat. Unless this team goes for big WRs (which i dont see many in FA) we will lose some redzone production from the TE group. I haven't seen enough from Bates or Sinot to take up that slack. He was ranked #28 in contested catch rate.
I would be more on board with Otton or Njoku = size + after the catch ability

Not saying we couldn't use him... but not as Ertz replacement

Ertz was particularly effective in the redzone because he was so good at attacking leverage and the nuances of route running. At this point in his career the speed was gone, but in a condensed space where its harder to utilize speed, he was a very productive player. Okonkwo at least when he was at Maryland was quite the opposite. They would throw him short stuff to give him the chance to run after the catch where he was fiesty or run him on routes where he could run away from the defender (drags, crossers, seam shots) It seems to me he could be better between the 20's than Ertz, but a dropoff in the redzone.

 

[DWinzit]

I dont get the fit for Okonkwo for this team. He is a 6'3 TE which is on the small side. Ertz is 6'5 and was our main and often only real redzone threat. Unless this team goes for big WRs (which i dont see many in FA) we will lose some redzone production from the TE group. I haven't seen enough from Bates or Sinot to take up that slack. He was ranked #28 in contested catch rate.
I would be more on board with Otton or Njoku = size + after the catch ability

Not saying we couldn't use him... but not as Ertz replacement

I like Njoku the most but Otton is sneaky good. There are other options, some beer receivers like Okonkwo but another that doesn't get much mention is Adam Trautman, good blocker, good hands, 29 years old, 6'5" 255.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I dont get the fit for Okonkwo for this team. He is a 6'3 TE which is on the small side. Ertz is 6'5 and was our main and often only real redzone threat. Unless this team goes for big WRs (which i dont see many in FA) we will lose some redzone production from the TE group. I haven't seen enough from Bates or Sinot to take up that slack. He was ranked #28 in contested catch rate.
I would be more on board with Otton or Njoku = size + after the catch ability

Not saying we couldn't use him... but not as Ertz replacement

Ertz wasn't much of a blocker. Yes he's a bigger dude but played much more of an F role later in. his career. Slot-WR. As Sutter would say in his film breakdowns for Sheehan, Ertz had no interest in blocking.

Agree if the idea is apples to apples specific to Ertz as if he's the TE built in a lab to model the next one for, he's not the guy. Cade Otton is more of that body prototype, poor man's version of Ertz.

But for a team that lacks explosive playmakers, having a TE who can both stretch the field and burn you with YAC -- like Okonkwo would work IMO.

 

[DWinzit]

We will be hearing of a few depressing moves over the next day of tagging players. Boooooo

 

[skinsinparadise]

Keim as I mentioned rarely name drops players purely hypothetically when talking about the draft or FA, in his last podcast he referenced Doubs and Jennings.

the combine is often the place to be to get rumors and stuff from agents, etc and Standig was there. So a rare nugget or two from him on his blog which I subscribe to.

He's heard they are interested in chasing top market WRs, ala what Keim's been saying for weeks. Also Jennings and Doubs. But actually mentioned a specific one in T. Thorton. Thorton is fast but a one trick pony, I am cool with it if its a backup role.

Keim mentioned Shaheed weeks back but not recently so wonder if the buzz on him as to Washington changed,

Keim saying more or less expect Likely and Okonkwo at TE but only at the right price. Standig dropping no names at TE and suggesting they might forgo TE altogether and go in house.

They both expect of course edge.

 

[Commander Wraith]

Keim as I mentioned rarely name drops players purely hypothetically when talking about the draft or FA, in his last podcast he referenced Doubs and Jennings.

the combine is often the place to be to get rumors and stuff from agents, etc and Standig was there. So a rare nugget or two from him on his blog which I subscribe to.

He's heard they are interested in chasing top market WRs, ala what Keim's been saying for weeks. Also Jennings and Doubs. But actually mentioned a specific one in T. Thorton. Thorton is fast but a one trick pony, I am cool with it if its a backup role.

Keim mentioned Shaheed weeks back but not recently so wonder if the buzz on him as to Washington changed,

Keim saying more or less expect Likely and Okonkwo at TE but only at the right price. Standig dropping no names at TE and suggesting they might forgo TE altogether and go in house.

They both expect of course edge.

Going in-house for TE is crazy talk IMO. I said before that I can see the change in scheme helping Bates/Sinnott, but none of our guys have shown much of anything in the pass game. With a good amount of FA options, the relatively low cost of TEs, and the position being “a qb’s best friend”, eschewing adding one seems risky at best. I’m not opposed to the “leaving the door open” to Ertz idea, but not as our starter. Guess we’ll see.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Going in-house for TE is crazy talk IMO. I said before that I can see the change in scheme helping Bates/Sinnott, but none of our guys have shown much of anything in the pass game. With a good amount of FA options, the relatively low cost of TEs, and the position being “a qb’s best friend”, eschewing adding one seems risky at best. I’m not opposed to the “leaving the door open” to Ertz idea, but not as our starter. Guess we’ll see.

Hopefullly its off.

Keim seems to think they will shoot for one but won't overpay. Clearly Likely is a target, he's said his name like 4 times. And probably Okonkwo. But sounds like if they miss out, they might run it back and bring back Ertz on the cheap. That's sort of the vibe I get from Keim's podcasts.

I just reread the Standig article. It comes off more like he doesn't know at TE but wouldn't be surprised if they ride with the status quo.

At a minimum the WR chasing should be entertaining. Buffalo among other teams also interested in that spot. I'd guess day 1 some of these guys are going to go and Washington will be in the mix.

Edge clearly, too but tougher to guess whom they chase. Not much of a hint from Keim or Standig on this aside from them chasing them and more likely younger up and comers like Mafe.

Also corner they are going to chase clearly. Keim has name dropped now twice Woolen and once Taylor but did it so subtly that its hard for me to tell of that's a legit hypotetical or a hint. The Likely mentiones clearly isn't a hint, he keeps going back to that name. To some extent ditto Okonkwo.