The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Bulldog]

Well, frankly, I think there were disconnects specifically with Kliff / AP / DQ, where AP and DQ kind of saw things one way, and Kliff saw it another way.

- Pressers showed the disconnect between Kliff and DQ. Multiple pressers showed that DQ wanted more running, even 1-2 ypc runs, and Kliff when asked the exact same question said he was fine. This came up multiple times.
- Here is the less clear one, but I would say it has some real potential to be true. I just don't think AP agreed with how things were called this past year. I think you had positions of strength in OL and RB who were less injured, and you still saw a scheme that was heavily into WR. You had injuries on D, and you had injuries at WR, and you were leaning into philosophies that wouldn't mask those issues at all. Leaning into your strengths is a basic tenet in successful teams in general; Kliff did some shifting - definitely - but a lot of the basic tenets from the previous year were still there, in spite of having a very different reality. Starkly different. So, there was little adaptation, and there were clear signs he was being encouraged to adapt.

Sinnott: I think that 2024 draft maybe occurred kind of soon, kind of early when the working relationship wasn't as tried and true. Maybe their focus was, perhaps rightly, heavily skewed on picking the right QB because #2 was not so cut and dry.

Also, I think DQ had this idea that he would have Kliff be his OC when he was named HC. I don't think he thought that through completely, I think it was a bit rushed and he had this idea already in his head. I think as we went through the two years, obviously he has figured out perhaps that he is more opinionated than he originally thought- he clearly wants something a bit more specific. Or at least, he and AP want something a bit more specific. So - they may be thinking there is a potential for the personnel to perform fairly differently under those circumstances.

I think the entire process was compromised from the get go.

Peters wanted to hire Ben Johnson and then when Ben Johnson chickened out of the interview he was left with a shorter list of coaches because several had been hired already by other teams.

Because Ben Johnson was an OC, Washington never really thought about having to get a coordinator UNTIL it became apparent that Dan Quinn was the only coach on their list they were comfortable with to any great degree.

Quinn no doubt wanted the job badly to get back to HC and prove his detractors wrong and agreed to Kingsbury out of hand without really considering the long-term ramifications of KK style and way of organizing the offense.

Peters then came out and introduced these coaches as the 'ones that we wanted all along'.

That I think was a bit disingenuous at best.

 

[skinsinparadise]

If this staff (or even just AP) becomes successful here in the future and really builds something lasting, I guess we’ll have to chalk it up to growing pains and a pedigreed but new GM taking baby steps. But man, they sure feel like preventable errors that we can see from the outside. Aligning talent with scheme, on either side of the equation (either drafting for your coaches or hiring adaptable coaches), is like 101.

Yeah, I am spit balling on this but wonder how engaged the assistant coaches were in year 1. When they were mic'd up for that draft didn't seem Whitt or Kingsbury were that engaged as for what was going on as to the targets, and arguably they should have been. Race forward to last draft and Kingsbury clear was. But in that first draft, it came off that Peters was explaining to Kingsbury and Whitt on the fly who Sinnott and Sainristill was.

I think you are missing the point of some of us who have concerns. They may want to go with Allegretti as a ‘better fit’. As a fan I’m not qualified to critique that idea. But I am qualified to note they let a signed player who is a two year starter walk vs. holding out for a trade or keeping him as valuable back up depth. Those assessments don’t require football knowledge - it is simply common sense. I don’t buy that the salary savings trump compensation or keeping depth.

I think I follow what has being said. I added the money part of it as part of my explaination. If you think your backup is better than the starter who is getting paid as the 5th best center in the NFL -- and you are about to hopefully go on a spending spree where you need cash. You get 8 million in cash from that release. Peters doubled down he is on a cash budget. You pull the trigger. It's actually IMO a no brainer if their evaluation is right. Is it right? I don't know. You don't keep a center at 8-10 million for depth IMO that's wild and unprecedented.

As for holding out for a trades, multiple reporters (not just Keim) said they always do, so that point they believe is moot. I am inclined to believe them. Heck they got a pick for a lesser player like Ridgeway. It's much easier to get picks for a cheap player or elite ones. Washington isn't the only team that has released good players but who are expensive. It's not easy to pry picks from teams in that context. I get the whining about it on twitter and fans think they could have gotten a pick. Coming from a dude who has ripped Peters a lot, I think borderline no shot they didn't check to see if a team would trade for him. Peters would have to be Rivera level incompetent -- and while I have some questions about him -- I don't think he's incompetent.

 

[BayouBrave86]

Just listened to some of Keim on the radio. He said that Likely wanted to come here but we were set at a number with him and didn't want to go over that for him.

He also said that Paul may have overestimated his value on the market and wouldn't be surprised if he ended up back here.

We might set a record this free agency period on being “in on players” and striking out. 😂 Maybe Peters just sucks at his job.

 

[Commander Wraith]

I think you are missing the point of some of us who have concerns. They may want to go with Allegretti as a ‘better fit’. As a fan I’m not qualified to critique that idea. But I am qualified to note they let a signed player who is a two year starter walk vs. holding out for a trade or keeping him as valuable back up depth. Those assessments don’t require football knowledge - it is simply common sense. I don’t buy that the salary savings trump compensation or keeping depth.

The following statements are super obvious, but for posterity’s sake, here’s what we know: Biadasz was a decent, maybe even pretty good center. There were going to be a number of quality centers available in FA. The draft has some interesting center prospects. They extended Allegretti (who can play G and C). There’s obvious value in your backup center being able to play guard as well. Deiter (our backup center for a time) looked terrible when forced into action. We didn’t know two starting centers would retire early. We cut (didn’t trade) Biadasz. We went after Linderbaum (I’m not positive our level of reaching out though).

I was really unsure about the wisdom of cutting Biadasz, but given the above, I started going through things, and this is what I’ve come up with…

1. I think they see Allegretti and Biadasz as similar, or similar enough to consider the following...
2. I think they wanted a center signed past this year, but cheap enough they could fill the backup role instead if it came to it.
3. It’s certainly possible they considered (or perhaps even tried) to extend Biadasz on the cheap (as they did w/ Allegretti).
4. It’s likely that they considered Biadasz’s contract too expensive for a backup center, particularly one without the ability to play guard.
5. A backup center able to also backup G gives you more roster flexibility.
6. I’m guessing they reached out about trading Biadasz.
7. They probably didn’t want to wind up cutting Biadasz down the road (for a more cost effective, versatile backup, potentially a draft pick).
8. They were up for upgrading the position with a stud (Linderbaum).
9. Allegretti can be a be a cheap, experienced swing C/G if they did/do land an upgrade at center, or if he loses a camp competition.

 

[skinsinparadise]

We might set a record this free agency period on being “in on players” and striking out. 😂 Maybe Peters just sucks at his job.

If we only got Phillips at 31 million, Linderbaum at 28 million, or Pierce at 31 million, we can only dream.

 

[Boone]

Yeah, I am spit balling on this but wonder how engaged the assistant coaches were in year 1. When they were mic'd up for that draft didn't seem Whitt or Kingsbury were that engaged as for what was going on as to the targets, and arguably they should have been. Race forward to last draft and Kingsbury clear was. But in that first draft, it came off that Peters was explaining to Kingsbury and Whitt on the fly who Sinnott and Sainristill was.




I think I follow what has being said. I added the money part of it as part of my explaination. If you think your backup is better than the starter who is getting paid as the 5th best center in the NFL -- and you are about to hopefully go on a spending spree where you need cash. You get 8 million in cash from that release. Peters doubled down he is on a cash budget. You pull the trigger. It's actually IMO a no brainer if their evaluation is right. Is it right? I don't know. You don't keep a center at 8-10 million for depth IMO that's wild and unprecedented.

As for holding out for a trades, multiple reporters (not just Keim) said they always do, so that point they believe is moot. I am inclined to believe them. Heck they got a pick for a lesser player like Ridgeway. It's much easier to get picks for a cheap player or elite ones. Washington isn't the only team that has released good players but who are expensive. It's not easy to pry picks from teams in that context. I get the whining about it on twitter and fans think they could have gotten a pick. Coming from a dude who has ripped Peters a lot, I think borderline no shot they didn't check to see if a team would trade for him. Peters would have to be Rivera level incompetent -- and while I have some questions about him -- I don't think he's incompetent.

I didn’t say they didn’t check, I said they didn’t holdout for one. Based on the contract he got after being released it seems like they absolutely could’ve gotten something. I’m suggesting a lack of patience, not that they are stupid.

 

[BayouBrave86]

If we only got Phillips at 31 million, Linderbaum at 28 million, or Pierce at 31 million, we can only dream.

Didn’t he want to offer Pierce more than what he got from Indy? That’s a big red flag. He also wanted to throw the bank at a Phillips who can’t stay on the field more than 8 games a year. I’m not mad one bit about missing out on those two. I’m moreso just laughing at even when they do try and throw money around , they miss. Very similar to the Capitals right now. We will see how Peters does the rest of the way though. Done clowning on this FO for now.

 

[Dlts20]

Keim also said that Mikey and Robertson are interchangeable but expects Robertson to be more inside with Mikey outside but feels like they will also add a bigger corner at some point.

Expects them to add another edge but may be later in the draft because the position is pretty deep with guys who you may can build into something.

Expects them to add some receivers today.

Wouldn't be shocked if they don't really do anything at RB considering the pool is pretty empty now. Thinks maybe they see about Love.

From talking to the team, he doesn't get the sense that Settle is looked at as the main starter but more so a rotational piece instead

 

[BayouBrave86]

Keim also said that Mikey and Robertson are interchangeable but expects Robertson to be more inside with Mikey outside but feels like they will also add a bigger corner at some point.

Expects them to add another edge but may be later in the draft because the position is pretty deep with guys who you may can build into something.

Expects them to add some receivers today.

Wouldn't be shocked if they don't really do anything at RB considering the pool is pretty empty now. Thinks maybe they see about Love.

From talking to the team, he doesn't get the sense that Settle is looked at as the main starter but more so a rotational piece instead

If we are relying on Settle to be a full time starter…nightmare fuel. Our front 7 has been AWFUL for as long as I can remember outside of that aberration of the Covid 2020 season.

 

[Bulldog]

Just amazing that Washington with all the holes over the roster has enough money to not only add Robertson but also be planning on bringing in a longer #4 to further bolster the top 3 on the outside.

I am just wondering what quality level of player we are anticipating adding - perhaps a veteran discard after the draft.

 

[Hailer]

I didn’t say they didn’t check, I said they didn’t holdout for one. Based on the contract he got after being released it seems like they absolutely could’ve gotten something. I’m suggesting a lack of patience, not that they are stupid.

Assuming the FO did due diligence on trade interest prior to cutting him and found nothing worthwhile, why would we be in a better spot to recoup something post FA/draft?

--

As a kool-aid drinker, consider me happy to see our pick ups and rumored interests come from outside our coaching tree. Giants and Titans rounding up the guys they know, for example.. reminds me of the Rivera Washington Panthers.

 

[Bulldog]

If we are relying on Settle to be a full time starter…nightmare fuel. Our front 7 has been AWFUL for as long as I can remember outside of that aberration of the Covid 2020 season.

If you think so don't go over to the Roster Reconstruction thread, over there folks seem to think that Kinlaw and Payne make a nice inside tandem for the team going forward.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

I still think even if we bring back Paul his starting job needs to be a competition. We've got Wylie there so we already have it, but there's a real chance Wylie is just better in the new scheme.

 

[Bulldog]

Yep, Chris Paul's play before 2025 was questionable at best. So, it's only responsible for the team to protect itself in terms of the length of contract and the need to provide for a clear competition for the interior at OC and LG.

 

[Kalu44]

There may be a veteran center released during the pre-season, so there is always that option - if Allegretti is not coming along.

 

[Riggo44]

I didn’t say they didn’t check, I said they didn’t holdout for one. Based on the contract he got after being released it seems like they absolutely could’ve gotten something. I’m suggesting a lack of patience, not that they are stupid.

Jon Allen got a bigger contract from the Vikings. They could not find a trade partner for him either.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I didn’t say they didn’t check, I said they didn’t holdout for one. Based on the contract he got after being released it seems like they absolutely could’ve gotten something. I’m suggesting a lack of patience, not that they are stupid.

I doubt it. For starters we don't know how long they tried to shop him. The contract he got means nothing to me. Tremaine Edwards got a bigger contract. Plenty of released players, do. Heck some of this teams biggest signings over the years including Desean and Norman were released players and got big contracts from this team at the time. They tried to shop Jonathan Allen last time, got no takers, and he got almost 20 million. and lol, he got released this year for no compensation.

And they'd have to be incompetent too IMO if fans would have a better feel than they do about the Biadaz market. And again, maybe fans do. I don't know. But the level of Peters' imcompetence and laziness would IMO have to be off the charts. Same dude who can pry picks for Jahan Dotson and Ridgeway -- desperate for more picks for this draft just left an easy opportunity to add more because he was too lazy or impatient.

And if they need the cash or want to do right by the player you let him go before FA, just like a slew of olther teams did for their players like T. Edmonds, etc. Building and maintaining good relationships with agents are of course important especially during FA where you are chasing multiple players represented by various agents. It came out for example that the Lattimore release was held out until Peters talked to his agent, its part of the game.

So lets say Peters shopping Biadaz behind the scenes for some weeks and getting no takers, decides F'it, lets hold out further because maybe we will luck out over time -- it would piss me off if I was an agent, if my client can't participate in the first wave of free agency because a team was holding out for a darkhorse offer that likely never comes. And those relationships I hear matter.

 

[Conn]

Just amazing that Washington with all the holes over the roster has enough money to not only add Robertson but also be planning on bringing in a longer #4 to further bolster the top 3 on the outside.

I am just wondering what quality level of player we are anticipating adding - perhaps a veteran discard after the draft.

I mean our CB group has to be among the cheapest in the league right now given we have two 2nd round contracts starting and little else. There’s plenty of room to add a legitimate outside corner with length if they decide to. They damn well should.

Robertson being signed early doesn’t mean he was some huge priority at the expense of another move, it just means they came to terms with a target quickly who otherwise may have resigned in DET or somewhere else, and pulled the trigger when they were comfortable with it. Obviously he was their top realistic add at slot DB, we’ll see if they were right.

I’m not a fan of the signing from the jump but you seem to have this fixation where you think they’re doing one single task at a time and that time spent on players is a zero-sum game. We have a whole FO staff, that’s not the case. Robertson is probably a Newmark pet project.

Like you kept going on that they focused all their energy on Pierce and didn’t move on to a backup plan. Which is such a weirdly linear way to think given all their secondary and tertiary targets other than Shaheed are still out there. And the longer they’re out there comparing offers, the cheaper they get. The main guys we’ve been connected to (Jennings and Doubs) are still out there. There was no need to immediately sign one when Pierce didn’t work out, but you’re stuck on it.

They can do multiple things at once. Striking out on one high end target doesn’t mean they’re now behind on their targets further down the list. It’s not like the HC search.

And this is all from someone who has been very critical of Peters btw. I just think you’re being unreasonable about the wrong things.

 

[Bulldog]

Centers are not by and large a position that teams budget big dollars to over time.

Even Linderbaum was eventually allowed to depart despite the upside at age 25 and the fact Baltimore spent draft capital on him.

It's not that hard to believe that Peters tried to trade Biadasz but had no interest before the draft.

 

[SkinsFTW]

Well, it's that time!!!

🍿