The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Discobob]

Yes, I am really worried, but there's plan....I am sure of it.....I mean, there must be a great plan....right?....I mean, there has got to be.....right????

Of course they have a plan.... cut Biadasz

....wait, you meant after that?

...sure, ya know, go do good things?

 

[SkinsFTW]

I mean, he just fired his had picked OC and DC. I’m not sure the problem is sentimentality. Maybe personnel. Maybe decision making. But, not an inability to change directions.

He should have fired his DC after 2024.

 

[Bulldog]

Nick Allegretti played 2 games at center after the team was eliminated from the playoffs and in the last game against Eagles backups and that qualifies as enough evidence to cut a starter and project him to a more prominent role?

Two year extension?

Seems like we are just doubling down on the mediocrity currently on the roster.

The trouble with this team is they don't want to go all in on a rebuild and tear it down to the studs but at the same time they don't want to go 'all in' and sign players to the point they may have to manipulate the cap a bit in the future to spread the money out.

What this team is beginning to look like is McDonald's drive through.

It's better than vending machine food but not up to the standards of a sit down restaurant with a tablecloth and comfortable chairs.

If I were the owner I don't know I would want to spend $6B for the team and then do it this way.

 

[method man]

This furor over the Allegretti deal is ridiculous. At this point, we don't know what the terms of the this new contract are. If they are going to pay him like a starting center, then yes, it is ridiculous.

His remaining 1 year made it untenable to keep him on it. He is very clearly a guy they like in at least a backup swing interior OL capacity who has shown he can be a spot starter at three positions if needed. Last year, Wylie took a paycut to stay here. I bet that is what Allegretti is doing here. His contract is likely swing interior OL backup with some accelerators if he ends up starting

 

[Kalu44]

I think Allegretti is a cheap backup at a few positions, nothing more. Certainly not a starting center. He has experience with this current group and staff. I believe it’s much more likely they sign a McGovern type for center.

 

[Bulldog]

OK, so that makes things even a bit worse. That means they don't have a center candidate on the roster at all and cut Biadasz hoping they can find someone to come in and play the position.

Biadasz was not a top 10 player at his position but he was in the teens and isn't going to be replaceable by a second tier guy or backup they sign in free agency from another team.

And I didn't think this team had a strong enough roster where we were going to spend megabucks on Linderbaum or McGovern, who are going to cost a LOT more than Biadasz.

Oh, and then there's the little item of the money needed to feed Laremy Tunsil too..........................

 

[method man]

It would actually be a bad sign for me if they went after Flott. Flott is an outside corner. That would mean they are going to try to jam Mikey at slot where he will inevitably fail again.

It'd be more encouraging if the CB they do pursue is a slot guy like Mcreary or Kahou. I'd like Alontae Taylor too because he can play both inside and outside

 

[method man]

OK, so that makes things even a bit worse. That means they don't have a center candidate on the roster at all and cut Biadasz hoping they can find someone to come in and play the position.

Biadasz was not a top 10 player at his position but he was in the teens and isn't going to be replaceable by a second tier guy or backup they sign in free agency from another team.

Have you looked at the available center options at all in free agency? It is one of the more stacked groups with value upside guys like Hennessey to boot. This draft is also stacked with centers. I don't see us taking one at 71 but other teams with take them with an expectation they will start Day 1, meaning some of the current FAs won't resign with their teams or the current starters will get.

 

[SkinsFTW]

It all looks dubious yet nobody knows. That is a plus versus what we used to have here.

(Unless they sign nobody)

 

[KDawg]

Allegretti was a must re-up. Don’t think there’s any reason to get worked up beyond the fact we cut Biadasz for the laughs.

 

[Bulldog]

Yes, I have seen and mentioned a couple of the top centers. I also read their projected contract values.

If you are going to go after a mid-range guy whose grade is in the 10-20 range in the NFL, isn't that what we already had in Biadasz?

At the end of the season Washington had the outlines of a respectable offensive line with everyone healthy and so many needs elsewhere.

But for some reason the front office decided that tinkering with the offensive line was on the table as well.

Wasn't there enough to do anyway? We couldn't have gone with Tyler in 2026 and found a center in 2027 after we have solidified WR, TE and areas of the defense that are critically deficient?

 

[SkinsFTW]

Yes, I have seen and mentioned a couple of the top centers. I also read their projected contract values.

If you are going to go after a mid-range guy whose grade is in the 10-20 range in the NFL, isn't that what we already had in Biadasz?

At the end of the season Washington had the outlines of a respectable offensive line with everyone healthy and so many needs elsewhere.

But for some reason the front office decided that tinkering with the offensive line was on the table as well.

Wasn't there enough to do anyway? We couldn't have gone with Tyler in 2026 and found a center in 2027 after we have solidified WR and areas of the defense that are critically deficient?

They either have a plan or they are going to look like idiots. Lets watch!

 

[RexTomb]

It all looks dubious yet nobody knows. That is a plus versus what we used to have here.

(Unless they sign nobody)

Right, the same people who were clutching their proverbial pearls over the leaks and media pipelines are now upset that we don’t know what is going on? Can’t have your cake and eat it, too.

 

[Bulldog]

I will trust Peters free agent moves when they start paying off with younger players that raise the talent and skill level of this team and live up to their contracts.

No more geezers. No more trades to give up draft picks when there are free agents you can sign for cash only and keep the picks.

In terms of waiting to see what happens.................yeah, we have no choice but to do that.

At the same time the 'let's be patient' and 'they know what they are doing' commentaries are the same ones some fans were hanging onto when Bruce Allen was signing Jason Hatcher from Dallas at age 32 and running Kirk Cousins and Trent Williams out of DC.

 

[SkinsGuy99]

Derek - no ever is in the business of intentionally lessening their team - but it happens all of the time. It's called miscalculation and making bad decisions. I agree that we have no idea what they are thinking with the Biadasz move or what the plan is. It may be fine. But that doesn't mean it's going to work out and/or make us better.

They put up this article on Commanders Wire about what's behind Biadasz being let go:

Commanders did not release Tyler Biadasz because of salary cap

More insight as to why the Commanders moved on from center Tyler Biadasz.

commanderswire.usatoday.com

Seems it was more of a cash move than a salary cap move.

Cash for free agency.

 

[SkinsFTW]

I will trust Peters free agent moves when they start paying off with younger players that raise the talent and skill level of this team and live up to their contracts.

No more geezers. No more trades to give up draft picks when there are free agents you can sign for cash only and keep the picks.

Who was on Tunsils level out there for cash only?

 

[Conn]

We need a Z but we don't have a legit slot guy now with Deebo leaving.

I don’t disagree with you, but I do wonder if Peters torpedoes the Jaylin Lane project that quickly. We have no clue if banking on him to develop is in the cards, but I have to think that’s the role they foresaw for him when he was drafted. Not even going to mention McCaffrey lest the thread go down a rabbit hole. But signing Robinson would definitely signal defeat on both of those developmental WR picks in the 3rd/4th rounds. Fine that they’re both good ST’s players but definite whiffs if NEITHER are trusted to become the slot guy of the future.

 

[SkinsFTW]

They put up this article on Commanders Wire about what's behind Biadasz being let go:

Commanders did not release Tyler Biadasz because of salary cap

More insight as to why the Commanders moved on from center Tyler Biadasz.

commanderswire.usatoday.com

Seems it was more of a cash move than a salary cap move.

Cash for free agency.

They are lacking for cash?

Did they start a go fund me yet?

 

[SkinsGuy99]

They are lacking for cash?

Did they start a go fund me yet?

Everyone has a finite amount they can spend in free agency.

The team didn't want to spend the cash on Biadasz this year, I suppose.

Apparently, fans on message boards thought more of his play than the front office and the coaches did.

 

[Conn]

Question on TE's and Isiah Likely. The board seems to like him overall. A top FA priority.

He is more of an F-TE. Better utilized as a receiver but runs a 4.8 at 245 lbs.

Smaller TE's seem to be viewed somewhat negative in that they tip the had of the offense somewhat. Even if they are willing they are just average at best in the run game, and so they better be pretty dang good as a receiver or why not just put a WR on the field?

So if your a Likely fan how do you see his skill set and why do you like the fit? And do you like Kenyon Sadiq as a consolation if the draft doesn't fall as we might hope? Is Sadiq a ++ Likely?

My opinion has been that I want Likely (or Chig), but that I also want a lesser more well-rounded guy, like a Colby Parkinson or Trautman. In that scenario, Likely doubles as a jumbo slot as well as a top-2 TE. Bates remains the blocking specialist but isn’t the #2 guy threatening no one down the seam unless he’s forgotten, and Sinnott learns to speak Special Teams fluently unless he beats someone better out (and gets some FB looks)