The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Higskin]

Think it was JP Finlay that told the story after talking to Coleman, Peters spoke to him about signing Tunsil and moving to RT, he was cool then they drafted Connerly and said he'd be moving inside then Paul beat him out of that position.

Yeah, Coleman is probably a guy with low confidence right now. I'm hoping he can beat out Paul at that LG spot but he's gotta stay healthy and do it.

 

[burgold]

I still believe Peters tried to give Daniels weapons in '25. He just chose wrong and got torpedoed by injuries.

Noah Brown was really good before he got hurt. I totally got why they chose him over OZ despite the greater injury risk.
Deebo was a dynamic playmaker.
Relying on Eckeler and Ertz to be productive was very high risk, but both were excellent in 2024.
Terry was expected to be Terry.

Terry, Deebo, Brown, Eckler, Ertz with Bill and Lane to provide dynamic speed wasn't a terrible plan. No one expected Terry to miss half a season with a quad. People did expect Brown to get hurt but even the cynical might have been surprised that he basically took the entire year off. Deebo was pretty good but couldn't carry the whole team on his back. Ertz got a year older and it showed. Eckeler should have retired (because of concussions) but got knocked out early with a season ending injury. Lane was raw and unready. McCaffrey also wasn't ready though he started to make plays just before he got hurt.

So, there was a plan. It just went to hell. You can argue it was a bad plan but I don't think you can fairly argue that Peters didn't try to provide Daniels with weapons.

So, I think the plan was to massively improve protection and add versatility and speed. You can almost argue that so far Peters has done less this year to provide Daniels weapons than last year.

Still, Chiggy, White, and Ford aren't bad starts. Bringing Dyami back doesn't move my needle much. Likewise, Van Jefferson feels like that bottom of the roster Gallup, Chosen kind of acquisition that you get but you hope you never have to rely on.

 

[burgold]

Think it was JP Finlay that told the story after talking to Coleman, Peters spoke to him about signing Tunsil and moving to RT, he was cool then they drafted Connerly and said he'd be moving inside then Paul beat him out of that position.

Yeah, Coleman is probably a guy with low confidence right now. I'm hoping he can beat out Paul at that LG spot.

I think the final few games where Coleman played tackle again probably did much to restore his confidence. At least I hope so. My take is that Coleman is a tackle and not a guard. Just like, so far, Sainristil is an outside corner and not a nickel.

 

[Dlts20]

He posted it yesterday afternoon and no one else reported it?? Why would everyone else keep it as a closely guarded secret?

They wouldn't. That's the point. Sometimes he actually gets it before them. That's why I will be watching this closely, because if he hits, he has to be a pretty major player on the inside. Until then it's just bs

 

[SmiffySkins]

Might come to nothing but we have a couple of young OL guys with potential signed to futures contracts: Sala Aumavae-Laulu and Tim McKay. I’ll be keen to see if they can progress at camp this year.

 

[Dlts20]

I still believe Peters tried to give Daniels weapons in '25. He just chose wrong and got torpedoed by injuries.

Noah Brown was really good before he got hurt. I totally got why they chose him over OZ despite the greater injury risk.
Deebo was a dynamic playmaker.
Relying on Eckeler and Ertz to be productive was very high risk, but both were excellent in 2024.
Terry was expected to be Terry.

Terry, Deebo, Brown, Eckler, Ertz with Bill and Lane to provide dynamic speed wasn't a terrible plan. No one expected Terry to miss half a season with a quad. People did expect Brown to get hurt but even the cynical might have been surprised that he basically took the entire year off. Deebo was pretty good but couldn't carry the whole team on his back. Ertz got a year older and it showed. Eckeler should have retired (because of concussions) but got knocked out early with a season ending injury. Lane was raw and unready. McCaffrey also wasn't ready though he started to make plays just before he got hurt.

So, there was a plan. It just went to hell. You can argue it was a bad plan but I don't think you can fairly argue that Peters didn't try to provide Daniels with weapons.

So, I think the plan was to massively improve protection and add versatility and speed. You can almost argue that so far Peters has done less this year to provide Daniels weapons than last year.

Still, Chiggy, White, and Ford aren't bad starts. Bringing Dyami back doesn't move my needle much. Likewise, Van Jefferson feels like that bottom of the roster Gallup, Chosen kind of acquisition that you get but you hope you never have to rely on.

True but even when we signed Deebo last year, a lot of people were saying that we still need a true #2 because Deebo isn't that type of receiver and that's where I think that AP dropped the ball. I also liked Dyami over Noah and OZ

 

[RWJ]

Think it was JP Finlay that told the story after talking to Coleman, Peters spoke to him about signing Tunsil and moving to RT, he was cool then they drafted Connerly and said he'd be moving inside then Paul beat him out of that position.

Yeah, Coleman is probably a guy with low confidence right now. I'm hoping he can beat out Paul at that LG spot but he's gotta stay healthy and do it.

Yes, agree or at least Paul motivates Coleman. He has disappointed thus far overall. AP needs to sign/draft a bonafide OC that is a legit run and pass blocker and plays for a decade.

 

[Bulldog]

Evaluators considered McKay to be a Day 3 pick. At some point we need to hit on some of these guys.

 

[Dlts20]

I will say that for our lineman, it's hard to switch during the season and be successful. When you have a full off-season to work at those positions and techniques, they should be better

 

[SmiffySkins]

Evaluators considered McKay to be a Day 3 pick. At some point we need to hit on some of these guys.

Yeah I think he went undrafted due to an injury he picked up before coming out

 

[skinsinparadise]

I really don't think that we are looking at Love, nor do I think that we should. There is just more value at receiver and edge where we may be in the market for again next year but with a lower pick.Then there is equal value at safety and LB.

I really think that AP wants a young receiver to grow with Jayden and we may not pick this high again for a long time. We already interviewed Lemon who is the perfect slot for Bloughs, Ben Johnson type system and we may can trade down to get him or Tyson.

Hope you are right, some draftniks that are plugged in think he's going 4 or 5. If he falls to #7, especially post FA, seems like an easy pick for this team. Keep in mind, Love is a passing weapon, too.

I want a young Wr, I am probably the biggest Tate fan on the draft thread. But no way, I'd pass over Love if he fell to 7.

 

[DogofWar1]

IIRC the latest development in the Coleman situation was he was really developing nicely as a 6th man/swing tackle.

The current OL lineup isn't amazing but I think it will likely work.

LT Tunsil - great
LG Paul - excellent pass protector last year, but really poor run blocker. Hopefully he can improve on the latter over the offseason. If he can maintain his pass blocking and improve his run blocking to even average, he'll be really solid
C Allegretti - everything I've heard since we cut Biadasz points to him getting a shot and sounds like he's excited about it
RG Cosmi - great
RT Conerly - was very good down the stretch. Hopefully picks up where he left off and continues to improve and develop

Wylie can play basically anywhere and Coleman is a good 6th man/swing tackle so overall things are in solid B to B+ territory so long as Paul and Allegretti can be at least average.

 

[Higskin]

I think the final few games where Coleman played tackle again probably did much to restore his confidence. At least I hope so. My take is that Coleman is a tackle and not a guard. Just like, so far, Sainristil is an outside corner and not a nickel.

Hope so on the confidence but this from Mark Bullock.

How will Brandon Coleman handle shifting to guard?

Breaking down the challenges and upside of shifting Brandon Coleman from tackle to guard

markbullock.substack.com

The good news for Coleman is that he has some experience playing left guard already, having played some in college. Many draft analysts projected him as a guard at the next level. The Commanders have been bullish on his ability to play tackle, but with Tunsil and Conerly likely the bookend tackles, the only available spot for Coleman to start at is guard. But is Coleman actually better suited to guard and how will that move mesh with his strengths and weaknesses? Let’s take a closer look.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I think at RB we have a fairly well defined 2/3/4.

And that’s a good thing. But we need to add that #1.

Problem is we are still looking for WR2 as well.

You still want Love after they signed Jerome Ford?

 

[skinsinparadise]

Oweh with a subliminal message

 

[Bulldog]

I am not opposed to drafting Love, but I would suggest that the Chiefs and Patriots, the most recent NFL dynasties, didn't come to the Super Bowl most years with a bell cow back that is in the top 5 at this position.

Teams can win with workman-like solid backs that fill their roles and do their jobs.

Derrick Henry and Adrian Peterson, the top backs of their generation in terms of production, never played in a Super Bowl to date.

 

[burgold]

True but even when we signed Deebo last year, a lot of people were saying that we still need a true #2 because Deebo isn't that type of receiver and that's where I think that AP dropped the ball. I also liked Dyami over Noah and OZ

The fact that Dyami could still be claimed for a one year 3M contract speaks ill for him. He was great during that playoff stretch but it looks like the light switch didn't stayed flipped to the on position.

 

[Bulldog]

Guys that finish with 25-30 catches aren't going to get more than one year deals.

I don't know if Dyami has a role here but he could surprise as a #3 or #4.

Realistically he is a #5.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I am not opposed to drafting Love, but I would suggest that the Chiefs and Patriots, the most recent NFL dynasties, didn't come to the Super Bowl most years with a bell cow back that is in the top 5 at this position.

Teams can win with workman-like solid backs that fill their roles and do their jobs.

Derrick Henry and Adrian Peterson, the top backs of their generation in terms of production, never played in a Super Bowl to date.

Yeah if Jayden becomes Mahomes or Brady you can overcome almost anything -- I don't disagree.

But he's not that yet,

 

[ES1974]

I don’t think they’re completely done yet. But they should be at least competent at IOL. Maybe not elite. However, between Coleman and Paul they should have a good LG.

I’m now really interested to see if they try and slide Coleman to center, where he would seem to be an athletic fit, and Paul at LG. That actually would be very intriguing….

Well there needs to be a plan B in place for center if nothing else.