The 2026 Free Agency Thread

bowhunter said:
I'm done for every upgrade and addition we can get!! Isn't he the guy that is more receiver and YAC guy but not so good at blocking? I'm OK if we add him, Pierce, Shaheed/Doubs AND a TE. Write those checks!
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Yes but I'm ok with it since we have the best blocking TE in the league in Bates to offset him
 
KDawg said:
The Rams traded for Trent McDuffie and then immediately extended him on a four year 124M with 100M guaranteed contract. That’s how you invest in a big time trade extension. Well done by the Rams FO.
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It is still a gamble though.

If they figure out how to make him flourish as an outside corner, it's an overpay (including draft compensation) but possibly worth it for the Stafford before-he-retires-window.

If he's just a Nickel? And he's a damn good Nickel, but Nickel has like the lowest position value in the league. Then his contract alone is 200% the next highest paid Nickel, and add in the draft compensation and woof.

I mean normally teams in the NFL find advantages by getting distressed assets for cheap that become no longer distressed in their scheme.

Like the Legion of Boom had a unique core that only featured a single 1st rounder, and several Day 3 picks. Teams tried to copy that method and prospects with those characteristics became heavily overvalued in the next few drafts. 2000 Steelers defense was led by 2 firsts (Hampton, Polamalu) and a lot of Day 3 guys that worked really well in their scheme.

McDuffie was not a distressed asset, it is a wildly overvalued asset now unless the scheme can emphasize the impact a Nickel defender will have over a LB, an outside CB, or a Safety. This does not make them ahead of the times though because they are paying an insane premium for it.

All of that said. And I really hope this is true because it would be so fun. Is if the Rams have a new defensive scheme cooking by some mad scientist and really make teams hate having to account for McDuffie.

I've always had a soft spot for McVay, but I'm eager to see how the Rams do now. Because that trade, and that cap value, and how they might utilize McDuffie is such a colossal gamble...

...but they did it because the QB window is so short for them.

P.S. ...(Looking for the Commanders here to realize how short the timeline we have with Jayden's rookie contract is and how we need to gamble)
 
Wow, reading some of the conjecture hear makes me feel like if some of you are even 75% right:
- DQ is definitely on his own "prove it" deal at this point. I can believe that.
- AP may be on a prove it deal of his own. This is not quite as believable but it is possible at this point. Depends on Harris and his time horizon for some of his goals. He has repeatedly signaled, at least early on, that he was going to be patient because he wanted to build a perennial winner and not a 1-year flash. Then he got signs that he had a 1-year flash... and hit the reset button. Anyway... AP possibly has a longer leash still.

If he (AP) does finally sign those longer contracts (which has been signaled), then finally he is ready to take charge. All of this 1 year stuff, you can argue for it and I have, but serious team building just doesn’t have this high of a percentage I think.

Last point: Comms missed on Macdonald by not going big enough. This FA period- time to put up or shut up to some degree.
 
0rder 0f 0ut said:
The more I watch Pierce the less I'm impressed. He doesn't catch the ball clean. Below average hands. For a deep threat, he can't catch the ball over his shoulder to save his life.

I'm totally fine with Aiyuk/Okonkwo for weapons.
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You're not wrong - he only has a 53% catch rate, but that's not why he is at the top of the list of NFL WR free agents. He's lead the NFL in yds/reception for 2 straight years. He isn't a prolific WR - but he is a big play downfield WR, and that's something highly coveted. I want an outside guy (whether it's Pierce or someone else, and I really want Wan'dale Robinson who IS prolific in the slot, over 90 receptions the past 2 seasons.

We just need weapons. Period.
 
Wonder how many players we target from the Seahawks then.

Could be a modern day Jetskins scenario incoming.
 
Boone said:
You're not wrong - he only has a 53% catch rate, but that's not why he is at the top of the list of NFL WR free agents. He's lead the NFL in yds/reception for 2 straight years. He isn't a prolific WR - but he is a big play downfield WR, and that's something highly coveted. I want an outside guy (whether it's Pierce or someone else, and I really want Wan'dale Robinson who IS prolific in the slot, over 90 receptions the past 2 seasons.

We just need weapons. Period.
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Wandale is my top choice at WR also, but sounds like he will sign w Tennessee
 
With anticipation, I am looking forward to the improvements on our team today (and this week)!!!
 
I take all of that as maybe Linderbaum from Keim. I needed to see it from him or Schefter to buy the rumor seriously.

I love the player. But I don't see how they pull off big spends on CB, Edge, WR -- and a decent size spend at RB and TE and also the most expensive center in NFL history. So if that comes at the expense of one of those positions, I don't love it, even though I love the player.
 
RedWolf said:
With anticipation, I am looking forward to the improvements on our team today (and this week)!!!
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I have given AP the benefit of the doubt since he got here. Realizing a lot of things go on behind the scenes that we are not privy to.

However there is no reason that we should not be major players in FA this year;
......Lots of cap room
......Lack of top end talent across the team
......Can only improve so much in this years draft especially given our lack of picks
......The front office realizing that jobs most likely are on the line if a big improvement over last year is not realized

I'm cautiously optimistic that we come out of this FA period much improved.
 
Canuck said:
Wandale is my top choice at WR also, but sounds like he will sign w Tennessee
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Doesn't sound like they are targeting their WR as a slot. So I'd be borderline shocked.

The one thing though about FA especially whenm you got money is it can pivot anywhere. Lets say they can't get Jennings, Doubs, Pierce, Shaheed -- then it becomes someone else.
 
skinsinparadise said:
Doesn't sound like they are targeting their WR as a slot. So I'd be borderline shocked.

The one thing though about FA especially whenm you got money is it can pivot anywhere. Lets say they can't get Jennings, Doubs, Pierce, Shaheed -- then it becomes someone else.
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I'm stretching here, but I wonder if this has to do with the TE they are going after? If you get a move TE that works underneath, he absorbs some of the slot WR role. Obviously, having multiple options there is always better, but it may be a factor...
 
method man said:
I had this debate with Conn but I really don’t see how he is an upgrade over CRod except that he’s proven he can handle a heavy workload. I’d be really disappointed if they signed him.

If we are going with a mid option, I hope it’s Dowdle given his 2 1K rushing seasons + what he has shown as a pass catcher. I’ll take White too given he is a plus receiver and plus blocker who may improve as a runner. One of JD’s guys
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He's a similar player, I've been saying the same thing. What made me feel a little better about him is looking at some of his PFF RB metrics in 2022, 2024 really good numbers.

But yeah I don't see it from the perspective of wanting to add pass catching. If they are shooting lower than Walker than I'd prefer a bunch of RBS including Dowdle.
 
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