The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[DWinzit]

Of course the downside of signing an aging vet as a one year stopgap player is that you create two holes the following season. You lose the vet to old age and the developmental player you had to cut (or at a minimum PS and gave no game reps to.) Obviously the best outcome would for us to find a true quality WR worthy of an extended contract. Kicking this roster can down the road year after year is not for the weak of heart

That's been a huge issue with the way has tried building this team. I have been one of the loudest advocates here for signing more players to multi-year deals. Who else are you bring in on a multi years deal? Maybe they should have signed Dyami for 2 years? This WR room for 3 years has been the most frustrating part of the AP era

 

[bowhunter]

That's been a huge issue with the way has tried building this team. I have been one of the loudest advocates here for signing more players to multi-year deals. Who else are you bring in on a multi years deal? Maybe they should have signed Dyami for 2 years? This WR room for 3 years has been the most frustrating part of the AP era

Sadly I don't think there are many FA WR out there at this point in time worthy of a multi year deal, exception being Jennings and I never see us linked to him. If BA gets here, I'd offer a 3 year deal with minimal base but tons of incentives. This last sentence typed in italics as a sign of solidarity with KDawg

 

[skinsinparadise]

Why do we care what the media thinks about these teams?

I’ve never really understood it. Power rankings are done for something to talk about, engagement, that have no real value.

The Giants got better. Zero question.

Our defense got better. Zero question.

The Cowboys look like they got better.

The Eagles re-load and re-tool and even when they look worse wind up doing pretty well.

It is what it is. The games tell the story, not the media. (The mobile app just changed my font to italics and I can’t change it back. So enjoy!😆)

I get it—it’s the standard response: the media doesn’t play the games. We’ve all heard it. And whomever makes a post like yours will get 15 million likes and dittos. Because yeah on the surface, its of course true.

But if you’ve rooted for a team that’s been irrelevant for decades, and recall when the team was relevant. This stuff does matter to me and some others — not over winning of course. But the idea that this team was talked about with some hype and got all those prime time games was a lot of fun for me. It made conversations with some of my football friends, not of this team, more interesting. And the key thing for me was lol it made it easier to keep selling fandom to my kids.

I’m not one of those parents who just lets my kids drift to whatever team is “cool” at the moment. I’ve put real effort into making them fans of this team. And whether people want to admit it or not, national buzz, media attention, and what other fans are talking about—it all has an osmosis effect, especially on kids.
I’ve seen it firsthand.

When I went to D.C. for that Steelers game in 2024, the energy was different. Vendors were selling bootleg Jayden shirts on the street. There was real buzz around the team. And my kids felt it. They got pulled in. My daughter—who normally wouldn’t care—wanted to watch playoff games… and then wanted to go to one. We ended up going to New Orleans.

That doesn’t happen in a vacuum. My son lol now has to be pulled back in after that bleak season. JP Finlay talked about this as to the next generation of fans in the DC area, kids that are friends with his, wearing jerseys of other teams. But felt like it was coming back in 2024 and the off season of 2025.

So for me its not meaningless. It’s not the core of why I root for the team—but it matters on the margins for me.

lol. Especially when you’ve got competing influences. In my house, I’ve got in-laws—and my wife—pulling my kids toward the Giants. So no, I don’t exactly love when the Giants are the “cool” team getting all the shine. So if you don't give a shit about it. I get it. But I do.

The NFL calendar isn’t just the season. The season is 4.5 months. The conversation is 12 months—and the offseason alone is 7.5 months of it.

So yeah, I care a little about how this team is talked about during that time—because my football world doesn’t just exist on this forum. It exists in real life, with my kids, my family, and the people around me.

I know some don't think much of this point. And heck even I don't think a lot of it. But its not meaningless-irrelevant to me. And I have had some sympathizers on this point over the years Conn among them.

I can recall some of the goofs of this team, a dude on ESPN going on about the teams they will get no ratings on if they talk about and picked Washington and the Titans as those teams, among other people who have made similar points that center on who cares about Washington.

And plenty who think who cares if they don't talk about Washington, who cares if they don't get a SNF game again, who cares if this team has buzz or not. That's cool. I care a little. And I've explained why.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Exactly. Thank goodness they showed enough urgency to select a WR in the 3rd. I agree that it feels like Williams was an upgrade.

When they first read the announcement of the William pick, I wasn't enamored because it meant 3 years, 3 slot type WR's. I liked Fields more because of his size and what he brings to the group.

Today I am more settled with Williams but very disappointed if their work is done at WR unless Aiyuk is freed

I was thrilled about Antonio. Not because I think he is a superstar but because he's exactly what this team needs a high floor-good route runner who can seperate. And IMHO he was the last one left on the board at that time.

Different dude than the projects Peters has been taken at WR.

 

[KDawg]

I get it—it’s the standard response: the media doesn’t play the games. We’ve all heard it. And whomever makes a post like yours will get 15 million likes and dittos. Because yeah on the surface, its of course true.

But if you’ve rooted for a team that’s been irrelevant for decades, and recall when the team was relevant. This stuff does matter to me and some others — not over winning of course. But the idea that this team was talked about with some hype and got all those prime time games was a lot of fun for me. It made conversations with some of my football friends, not of this team, more interesting. And the key thing for me was lol it made it easier to keep selling fandom to my kids.

I’m not one of those parents who just lets my kids drift to whatever team is “cool” at the moment. I’ve put real effort into making them fans of this team. And whether people want to admit it or not, national buzz, media attention, and what other fans are talking about—it all has an osmosis effect, especially on kids.
I’ve seen it firsthand.

When I went to D.C. for that Steelers game in 2024, the energy was different. Vendors were selling bootleg Jayden shirts on the street. There was real buzz around the team. And my kids felt it. They got pulled in. My daughter—who normally wouldn’t care—wanted to watch playoff games… and then wanted to go to one. We ended up going to New Orleans.

That doesn’t happen in a vacuum. My son lol now has to be pulled back in after that bleak season. JP Finlay talked about this as to the next generation of fans in the DC area, kids that are friends with his, wearing jerseys of other teams. But felt like it was coming back in 2024 and the off season of 2025.

So for me its not meaningless. It’s not the core of why I root for the team—but it matters on the margins for me.

lol. Especially when you’ve got competing influences. In my house, I’ve got in-laws—and my wife—pulling my kids toward the Giants. So no, I don’t exactly love when the Giants are the “cool” team getting all the shine. So if you don't give a shit about it. I get it. But I do.

The NFL calendar isn’t just the season. The season is 4.5 months. The conversation is 12 months—and the offseason alone is 7.5 months of it.

So yeah, I care a little about how this team is talked about during that time—because my football world doesn’t just exist on this forum. It exists in real life, with my kids, my family, and the people around me.

I know don't think much of this point. And heck even I don't think a lot of it. But its not meaningless-irrelevant to me. And I have had some sympathizers on this point over the years Conn among them.

I can recall some of the goofs of this team, a dude on ESPN going on about the teams they will get no ratings on if they talk about and picked Washington and the Titans as those teams, among others.

And plenty who think who cares if they don't talk about Washington, who cares if they don't get a SNF game again, who cares if this team has buzz or not. I care a little. And I've explained why.

So, just to let you know… I’ve cheered for this team for decades and remember when they were good. I just don’t care what the media thinks. And here’s the dirty secret - we’ve sucked for the majority of three decades. We had one good season, received some love, and bombed again.

You imply that my football world only exists on this forum - it doesn’t. I live football. Every day of my life.

I don’t get why this is shocking.

It’s all opinion. If this stuff gets your juices flowing, go for it. I won’t be the one commenting on how much of a fan you are because of it. Everyone needs to live their life.

I just don’t get it.

And the reason why posts like mine get likes (we’ll see about that…) is because others feel the same as I do, just like when yours get likes.

You’re allowed to care how you care. It doesn’t effect me.

But these guys are always wrong for the most part. They will be again. And I’ve taught my son (Bills fan) that these power rankings don’t matter at all - and he’s convinced his friends of the same.

We’re different, that’s allowed.

But it doesn’t make sense to me why we should be worked up when we’ve sucked for three decades minus a couple one offs.

We get consistent and get disrespected? I’ll probably be with you.

 

[burgold]

As to the Giants, I think a lot of it depends on how Dart develops. I don't think it's a given he's a star yet. He looked pretty bad against our defense last year and our defense made every QB look like a superstar. Heck, I passed for 400 yards and five touchdowns against them in a half. Right now, they have an intimidating edge rush, a punishing running back (coming back from injury) and a promising wide receiver (coming back from injury)

 

[HTTR]

Bram could be right but I hate hearing the dude who announces this team's games buying into the Giants hype, its nauseating enough to hear from the national media about don't be surprised to see them in the playoffs. Heck even McShay now getting into the hype saying bet on the over with Giants who are at 7.5 games with Vegas.

The Giants definitely have surpassed Washington as the cool kids on the block in that division.

The media sucking up to a New York team is nothing new. Happens every single time there is even the slightest sniff of positive energy around one of them. Vegas knows the real truth though, and that’s why the O/U number is so low. My money is on Vegas being right, and the media being wrong. Give me the under!

 

[skinsinparadise]

So, just to let you know… I’ve cheered for this team for decades and remember when they were good. I just don’t care what the media thinks. And here’s the dirty secret - we’ve sucked for the majority of three decades. We had one good season, received some love, and bombed again.

You imply that my football world only exists on this forum - it doesn’t. I live football. Every day of my life.

I don’t get why this is shocking.

It’s all opinion. If this stuff gets your juices flowing, go for it. I won’t be the one commenting on how much of a fan you are because of it. Everyone needs to live their life.

I just don’t get it.

And the reason why posts like mine get likes (we’ll see about that…) is because others feel the same as I do, just like when yours get likes.

You’re allowed to care how you care. It doesn’t effect me.

But these guys are always wrong for the most part. They will be again. And I’ve taught my son (Bills fan) that these power rankings don’t matter at all - and he’s convinced his friends of the same.

We’re different, that’s allowed.

But it doesn’t make sense to me why we should be worked up when we’ve sucked for three decades minus a couple one offs.

We get consistent and get disrespected? I’ll probably be with you.

Your point was, “why do we care?” Not you but we. Since I’m part of that “we,” I’m just explaining why I do.

I’m not worked up about it. I post about a million different things—this is just one topic I touch on occasionally. But I do care a little.

For me, it mostly comes down to the next generation of fans—and yeah, that hits home. The buzz around a team, who’s getting attention, who’s considered “cool”—that stuff has an impact, especially on kids. And when it’s the Giants getting all that hype, it’s a little more personal for me given what I’ve already explained.

Fandom often starts young, and it’s usually tied—at least in part—to whether a team feels relevant and exciting at that time. Not always, but often. I don’t even know if I’d be a Washington fan today without my dad pushing it AND the team having success back then. If they were irrelevant at the time, who knows how that would’ve played out with other influences around me?

I’ve even passed on opportunities to do media coverage at games for ES back in the day—things I know you’ve done—because for me, going to games was being there with my kids. That’s one of my favorite things we do together.

So yeah, it’s not everything. But it’s not nothing either to me. And 2024 was a blast. But the energy and hype of the off season in 2025, the prime games that they got and all of that was a fun bonus.

 

[KDawg]

Only issue is he's coming off a torn Achilles in week 17.

Probably wont contribute much if anything early.

I don’t realize he tore his Achilles in November. Thanks for the heads up. He’s probably not an option.

 

[KDawg]

Your point was, “why do we care?” Not you but we. Since I’m part of that “we,” I’m just explaining why I do.

I’m not worked up about it. I post about a million different things—this is just one topic I touch on occasionally. But I do care a little.

For me, it mostly comes down to the next generation of fans—and yeah, that hits home. The buzz around a team, who’s getting attention, who’s considered “cool”—that stuff has an impact, especially on kids. And when it’s the Giants getting all that hype, it’s a little more personal for me given what I’ve already explained.

Fandom often starts young, and it’s usually tied—at least in part—to whether a team feels relevant and exciting at that time. Not always, but often. I don’t even know if I’d be a Washington fan today without my dad pushing it AND the team having success back then. If they were irrelevant at the time, who knows how that would’ve played out with other influences around me?

I’ve even passed on opportunities to do media coverage at games for ES back in the day—things I know you’ve done—because for me, going to games was being there with my kids. That’s one of my favorite things we do together.

So yeah, it’s not everything. But it’s not nothing either to me. And 2024 was a blast. But the energy and hype of the off season in 2025, the prime games that they got and all of that was a fun bonus.

To me, this seems like the issue is more the team’s performance than the media’s view

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

No, he’s not asking for Terry money. All indications are somewhere between 20 and 25 million, and at this point the number will more likely be 20 or less.

Regardless of whether he’s as good as he thinks he is or not, he is the best available at the moment, would you not agree?

He might be.

Something just stinks.

And if the

Bram could be right but I hate hearing the dude who announces this team's games buying into the Giants hype, its nauseating enough to hear from the national media about don't be surprised to see them in the playoffs. Heck even McShay now getting into the hype saying bet on the over with Giants who are at 7.5 games with Vegas.

The Giants definitely have surpassed Washington as the cool kids on the block in that division.

one of the reasons I like Bram is even though he’s a fan and has covered the team forever, he has never been shy about criticizing the team or stating his opinion.

I don’t always agree with it, but I appreciate he isn’t just some mindless homer trying to blow sunshine up my ass.

Unlike Larry Michael (no S, just Larry Michael), who was absolutely nauseating to listen to as he hawked whatever Snyder was selling, and was as big a spin doctor as there was. (And apparently was apparently part of the Snyder treat women badly/bullying club. )

I will say, I can’t listen to Bram’s show any more though. Since Callow left for whatever reason he’s on by himself an it’s just a monologue and not really interesting or a good listen.

I listen to him when he’s on with Keim. But he can’t carry a show by himself.

 

[HTTR]

I'd feel better if I just heard the team was planning to meet with Allen, or name that WR or at least is showing interest in one

Maybe they’re just keeping things quiet, but it certainly doesn’t seem like they are nearly as concerned about getting a receiver as we are. The most logical explanation is that they are quite certain that Aiyuk will be coming at some point based on information the rest of us don’t have.

 

[Boone]

Maybe they’re just keeping things quiet, but it certainly doesn’t seem like they are nearly as concerned about getting a receiver as we are. The most logical explanation is that they are quite certain that Aiyuk will be coming at some point based on information the rest of us don’t have.

We are coming off a disastrous 2025 season. Some of the disaster was caused by horrible injury luck. But we let both of our coordinators go. That suggests that their judgement on what we need to be worried about is suspect at best - especially Dan Quinn's judgement.

 

[Anselmheifer]

As to the Giants, I think a lot of it depends on how Dart develops. I don't think it's a given he's a star yet. He looked pretty bad against our defense last year and our defense made every QB look like a superstar. Heck, I passed for 400 yards and five touchdowns against them in a half. Right now, they have an intimidating edge rush, a punishing running back (coming back from injury) and a promising wide receiver (coming back from injury)

Dart is a disaster waiting to happen. He is super reckless and takes some monster hits. They could easily be looking for a replacement.

Their defense should be great under Harbaugh.

The division certainly has gotten better around us, but so have we. I’d feel a lot better about it if we added a solid QB and WR instead of waiting for Aiyuk.

I might put us at 10 wins with a solid chance at a really really good roster next year.

 

[Riggo44]

The division got harder just by adding Harbaugh, one of the best coaches in the business, and the Giants do have some talent.

Over the history of the NFL--how many long-term coaches like Tomlin, like Harbaugh, get fired and go on to have success in their second stint? Andy Reid is one, Don Shula is another. Anyone else? The list is very, very short.

 

[method man]

Over the history of the NFL--how many long-term coaches like Tomlin, like Harbaugh, get fired and go on to have success in their second stint? Andy Reid is one, Don Shula is another. Anyone else? The list is very, very short.

Dan Quinn? 😂

 

[ES1974]

Offer the Ravens a pick for Bateman or package picks together for Brian Thomas.

I’d still also consider a move for Njoku.

 

[DWinzit]

Sadly I don't think there are many FA WR out there at this point in time worthy of a multi year deal, exception being Jennings and I never see us linked to him. If BA gets here, I'd offer a 3 year deal with minimal base but tons of incentives. This last sentence typed in italics as a sign of solidarity with KDawg

Yup, the FA swings and misses stunk. Last years almost lax approach to resolving the WR room stunk. And yes the current FA's do not have great answers.

I would have been calling Jennings or Allen or both the moment they drafted Williams in the 3rd. It meant they knew they were not getting one of the bigger decent WRs in the draft (ones that could contribute much this year). I honestly would have been on the pulse of at least one WR I liked prior to the draft.

 

[NickyJ]

Talking more about the media power rankings, I think that they also make a decent measure of hype rankings. Hype isn't always deserved, and I doubt NFL players are devotedly checking power rankings through the season and offseason, but the hype a team or player receives can influence where a free agent desires to go.

The Giants got a new head coach and spent big to support him. The Commies have a head coach who is on the hotseat, fired his staff, and are being financially responsible by not signing any 1st or even 2nd rate WRs. Until there's a frugality power ranking for the Commies to absolutely crush, there's not going to be anyone listening to the hype we have to offer.

 

[KDawg]

Talking more about the media power rankings, I think that they also make a decent measure of hype rankings. Hype isn't always deserved, and I doubt NFL players are devotedly checking power rankings through the season and offseason, but the hype a team or player receives can influence where a free agent desires to go.

The Giants got a new head coach and spent big to support him. The Commies have a head coach who is on the hotseat, fired his staff, and are being financially responsible by not signing any 1st or even 2nd rate WRs. Until there's a frugality power ranking for the Commies to absolutely crush, there's not going to be anyone listening to the hype we have to offer.

This is exactly what they are, hype rankings.

We made some good moves for sure on defense, but Leo Chenal isn’t exactly going to garner national praise. Nick Cross? Probably not. Chaisson? No. Oweh got some. But our biggest offseason additions have been: Oweh and Styles nationally. Even Chig isn’t a main stream guy.

And we have two new coordinators. One was a position coach for 1 month. It makes sense from the perspective you presented.