The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Dlts20]

 

[Dlts20]

AP with a interview on the NFL network today. I think that you will want to read some of it

Adam Peters talks about picking Sonny Styles, Antonio Williams; Jayden Daniels’ offseason

Adam Peters speaks to the media

www.hogshaven.com

 

[Dlts20]

I think it's becoming clear that they leaked the Delane stuff so they can get Sonny.

The biggest thing to me is Williams and it's becoming consistent when you hear them talk. They had a 2nd round grade on him and probably a 1st round grade coming into last year which is consistent with other analyst and scouts.

Most of all, no one is asking them but they keep volunteering, on their own that he can play outside or flat out is an outside guy who can obviously play the slot. They also keep saying that they believe that he's ready to play right away.

Again I think he's our starting number 2 receiver in their eyes who can either stay outside if someone like Luke wins the 3rd receiver or can go to the slot if Dyami or Burks wins the 3rd receiver but he will start in 2 wr sets.

I still think they feel like Aiyuk is coming but have no expectations and view him as icing on the cake at this point. It doesn't matter if SF releases him late because Williams can hold it down to start the season and possibly even if Ayuik was released today.. It all depends on how he looks

If he's prime Ayuik and released today then he starts and Williams is the slot. If he's looking lesser than, Williams can start with Ayuik coming in on 3 wide. The same goes for if he's released later.

I also think that we have to remember that AP clashed some with Kliff and now hr is gone. Meaning, AP has had some unsatisfactory picks but he still may want to give himself one last chance to prove his point and let Blough see what he can do with Luke Lane, and Sinnot before he brings in a bunch of others to take their spot.

 

[SmiffySkins]

Just hypothetically, what would you guys give up for AJ Brown?

They've done business with us in the draft, and for Jahan Dotson. Roseman is a businessman. I don't think it's necessarily 100% out of the question if the offer was right.

Heard on a pod yesterday that the price that the Pats are paying is a 2028 1st as no one is willing to give up 2027 picks

 

[Anselmheifer]

Heard on a pod yesterday that the price that the Pats are paying is a 2028 1st as no one is willing to give up 2027 picks

I'd pay that price maybe. Maybe sweeten it. I definitely would if not for the age. AJ Brown and a CB would make us real contenders to win the NFCE. And we could still draft a Terry replacement in '2027.

 

[skinsinparadise]

The argument I was attacking was Darr's assessment that teams "improved across the board!" while we apparently sat on our hands and drooled on ourselves, which, I think, is a demonstrably false statement.

But to your point--yes the wide receiver room is deeper in NE, but, right now, all they have are #2s. Doubs has never been a #1. Terry McLaurin is better than any receiver they have. I would absolutely take Boutee across from him though, and wanted Doubs as the #2 here. Until they trade for Brown, they don't have a #1. As for Douglas--I think Lane or LMC can do what he did, but they haven't, so it's really moot. But I think the potential is there.

Peters did go hard and whiff on Pierce and Doubs, but they choose other teams for different reasons. So, I do give him credit for that, but, still doesn't solve the issue at WR. Personally, I think Pierce is an idiot for choosing Jones over Daniels, but again, pointless to argue that point. I wish was had upped the ante for Doubs. Maybe we did, and he still chose the Pats. It's easy to like the Pats more right now.

This is where we probably diverge--your focus is on the wide receiver room alone; and their receivers are better. However, those weapons are useless if the QB is getting pounded into the turf and has no time to throw. I will absolutely take the Texans receiving corps over ours; but our OL and RBs are better. Likewise, I think Konk will match Schultz, production wise, but, again, he hasn't so, it's entirely debatable.

The Bears should be commended with how they've built too--but to get there, they had a lot of things break their way, especially in the draft--namely the Bryce Young trade. But, again, they did, we didn't, hats off to them. I still think we'll be better this year.

OK. We don't diverge at all on the O line. You seem to be searching for teams with worst O lines than this team and who have young QBs, and say see. I want a good O line but there are teams accomplishing both -- weapons and an O line. It's not pick one.

My take the whole time has been to compare Jayden with the other teams who took QBs in the 2024 draft. Could I find GMs who have done a worse job than Peters to your point if you combine the O line and WR in one conversation? Yes. But is that the bar? There are worse GMs if you combine both factors. Yeah agree.

But there are no worse GMs IMO from that 2024 QB class. Peters is the worst IMO in that group. As for the whole NFL, he is one of the worst on the aggregate using your metrics but agree he's not the absolute worst on your combined O-line-WR metrics if you are doing the whole league. He's near the bottom, but not the absoluie bottom.

But for me, I am looking at this with ambitions for a SB, not whether we are as bad as the putrid Saints.

For me its tough for me to attack NE. So many rumors that they are dead serious to consume that AJ Brown trade post June 1st. Last year they had Diggs. they have 2 pass catching TEs, and then added a third in one of my favs from that draft in Raridon.

Staying on that theme, the idea from some of our fans that we don't need another TE because of Chig. I hate that mindset, keep stacking talent, Bears have two young TEs and lol they add my other fav TE from this class in Rousch.

So 1 good pass catching TE is plenty. For some other teams, 2 pass catching TEs isn't enough. Give them 3.

I think part of the reason why they whiffed on Doubs is a product of their own lack of effort to load up Jayden in 2025, hence the narrative that Maye is the better QB that some have. Not saying that's why it happened. But it didn't help. And it seemed like Doubs hinted that the Pats didn't have the highest offer but he wanted to play with Maye.

Stack talent. Think bigger. Or lol just give Jayden a legit #2 WR for the first time in his career -- that's not too much to ask for.

 

[bowhunter]

I'd pay that price maybe. Maybe sweeten it. I definitely would if not for the age. AJ Brown and a CB would make us real contenders to win the NFCE. And we could still draft a Terry replacement in '2027.

Is a '28 first still considered the equivalent of a '27 second? I hate the idea of giving up a first regardless of which year

 

[burgold]

I'd pay that price maybe. Maybe sweeten it. I definitely would if not for the age. AJ Brown and a CB would make us real contenders to win the NFCE. And we could still draft a Terry replacement in '2027.

My fear is both the age and some of the diva stuff. He's been a discontent in that locker room for years. If he slows down because of the wear on the tires and needs to be a second banana I could see him becoming insufferable.

 

[Riggo44]

OK. We don't diverge at all on the O line. You seem to be searching for teams with worst O lines than this team and who have young QBs, and say see. I want a good O line but there are teams accomplishing both -- weapons and an O line. It's not pick one.

My take the whole time has been to compare Jayden with the other teams who took QBs in the 2024 draft. Could I find GMs who have done a worse job than Peters to your point if you combine the O line and WR in one conversation? Yes. But is that the bar? There are worse GMs if you combine both factors. Yeah agree.

But there are no worse GMs IMO from that 2024 QB class. Peters is the worst IMO in that group. As for the whole NFL, he is one of the worst on the aggregate using your metrics but agree he's not the absolute worst on your combined O-line-WR metrics if you are doing the whole league. He's near the bottom, but not the absoluie bottom.

But for me, I am looking at this with ambitions for a SB, not whether we are as bad as the putrid Saints.

For me its tough for me to attack NE. So many rumors that they are dead serious to consume that AJ Brown trade post June 1st. Last year they had Diggs. they have 2 pass catching TEs, and then added a third in one of my favs from that draft in Raridon.

Staying on that theme, the idea from some of our fans that we don't need another TE because of Chig. I hate that mindset, keep stacking talent, Bears have two young TEs and lol they add my other fav TE from this class in Rousch.

So 1 good pass catching TE is plenty. For some other teams, 2 pass catching TEs isn't enough. Give them 3.

I think part of the reason why they whiffed on Doubs is a product of their own lack of effort to load up Jayden in 2025, hence the narrative that Maye is the better QB that some have. Not saying that's why it happened. But it didn't help. And it seemed like Doubs hinted that the Pats didn't have the highest offer but he wanted to play with Maye.

Stack talent. Think bigger. Or lol just give Jayden a legit #2 WR for the first time in his career -- that's not too much to ask for.

I'm actually losing what your argument is, you brought up the Saints draft picks as "stacking weapons" in a previous post; like wise praised the Texans receiving corps while ignoring their horrid OL. I am not picking one or the other--I am looking at the entirety of the offense, you seem to be focused on the WR/TE rooms alone. Maybe I'm misreading your point, we are starting to get into a circular argument here....as is tradition at this point in the offseason.

But to your last post...we're lamenting a third-string pass catching TE? How many targets is he actually going to get? That seems like a dumb use of resources there--especially given the Bears lack of a pass rush, but that's a different argument. Sinnott is still only 23, and was miscast in Kingsbury's offense, I think we agree on that one. So I, as the official Ben Sinnot Believer on this board, still hope for the upside. (And remember, SIP, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things...) He can absolutely mirror the 20-catch season Hooper did last year. But yes, objectively, NE currently has better depth at both WR and TE. BUT, I am going to throw another caveat: the Pats played the single easiest slate of defenses that DVOA has ever recorded. In the playoffs, they got exposed, offensively. I think it's fair to question how much of their offensive production was mirage.

I wouldn't be shocked if Brown ended up on the Patriots--but until that happens, he's still an Eagle. If/when he does, we'll discuss it then, and that changes things. But for right now, McLaurin is better than any receiver they have. I don't think they've improved without Brown. Again, story changes if/when that happens. But this argument really is based on Darr's tweet that everyone got better while we sat around smelling our own farts. That's untrue.

And as for Peters, no, he's not the worse. Terry Fontenot was the one who drafted Penix, signed Cousins, and already had London, Pitts, and Robinson in place. He has subsequently been fired. So he's objectively worse. Like wise, Paton and Poles both have multiple-year head starts on Peters. How much better does this team look if Peters is running the draft for since 2021 or 2022 (Paton and Poles, respectively, ran their first drafts in those years)? Both had three straight losing seasons before making the playoffs. I also want to make this point of emphasis: George Paton gave FIVE picks, including two first- and two second-round picks for Russell Wilson. If you want to hold Eliot Wolf up as doing a better job, I wouldn't argue, even though he hired Mayo as his first HC.

 

[Faithful Fan]

Staying on that theme, the idea from some of our fans that we don't need another TE because of Chig. I hate that mindset, keep stacking talent, Bears have two young TEs and lol they add my other fav TE from this class in Rousch.

So 1 good pass catching TE is plenty. For some other teams, 2 pass catching TEs isn't enough. Give them 3.

I saw the TE coach interviewed and he said he thinks our TE room is the best in the league. I wouldn’t say that, but I do think it is pretty good.

Chig should be good. I doubt he is a future Hall of Famer like Zach Ertz, but he is younger and more athletic. I worry he has never had more than 600 yards in a season, but he has been consistently productive and has a 71% catch rate. He should be good for his usual 50-60 catches for 500-600 yards at least.

Bates is one of the best blockers there is and has proven to be a sneaky good receiver—catching about 70% of his targets—when asked to do it. There is a reason he got that contract.

The fact that Sinnott didn’t get more opportunities when Ertz went down is a mystery, but on paper it looks like he has made the most of his chances: He has caught 16 of his 18 targets in his career with zero drops. I hope he gets more involved here in year three of his rookie contract.

Yankoff is also an interesting piece, he only has two catches, but he has shown enough in camp and preseason for us to roster 4 tight ends.

I get wanting to put more weapons around Jayden in principle, and it sounds like you’re disappointed we didn’t draft a guy you liked, but there is no need to pretend our roster is weak in areas where it isn’t.

 

[DWinzit]

I saw the TE coach interviewed and he said he thinks our TE room is the best in the league.

I'd have required a drug test after that statement.

At least he's positive

 

[method man]

Yup and Doubs > Hollins or Boutte

I know Boutte has been discussed as a part of trade packages for Brown and maybe it’s already been agreed that he is a part of it.

If he’s not, I’d look at him for WR2 if Jennings or Diggs aren’t in the cards. The were teammates at LSU and think they are friends despite their initial chemistry issues on the field

 

[36ST21]

Is a '28 first still considered the equivalent of a '27 second? I hate the idea of giving up a first regardless of which year

I am not a fan of trading high draft picks for anything other than a transcendent player. Jeremiah Smith is worth FRPs in 2027 and 2028.

 

[Hailtoem]

I'd pay that price maybe. Maybe sweeten it. I definitely would if not for the age. AJ Brown and a CB would make us real contenders to win the NFCE. And we could still draft a Terry replacement in '2027.

I wouldn't make that trade for Brown however I would make that trade for Pickens, I know Pickens could be a pain in the butt and he sometimes looks as if he isn't trying on some plays but his age is 25, and I think we would be getting the equivalent of how he played with the Cowboys, yes we would have to pay him over 30 million a year and extend him, we could get Terry walk next year and with the draft being deep at receiver next year we could draft a good receiver next year in the second round.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I'm actually losing what your argument is, you brought up the Saints draft picks as "stacking weapons" in a previous post; like wise praised the Texans receiving corps while ignoring their horrid OL. I am not picking one or the other--I am looking at the entirety of the offense, you seem to be focused on the WR/TE rooms alone. Maybe I'm misreading your point, we are starting to get into a circular argument here....as is tradition at this point in the offseason.

But to your last post...we're lamenting a third-string pass catching TE? How many targets is he actually going to get? That seems like a dumb use of resources there--especially given the Bears lack of a pass rush, but that's a different argument. Sinnott is still only 23, and was miscast in Kingsbury's offense, I think we agree on that one. So I, as the official Ben Sinnot Believer on this board, still hope for the upside. (And remember, SIP, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things...) He can absolutely mirror the 20-catch season Hooper did last year. But yes, objectively, NE currently has better depth at both WR and TE. BUT, I am going to throw another caveat: the Pats played the single easiest slate of defenses that DVOA has ever recorded. In the playoffs, they got exposed, offensively. I think it's fair to question how much of their offensive production was mirage.

I wouldn't be shocked if Brown ended up on the Patriots--but until that happens, he's still an Eagle. If/when he does, we'll discuss it then, and that changes things. But for right now, McLaurin is better than any receiver they have. I don't think they've improved without Brown. Again, story changes if/when that happens. But this argument really is based on Darr's tweet that everyone got better while we sat around smelling our own farts. That's untrue.

And as for Peters, no, he's not the worse. Terry Fontenot was the one who drafted Penix, signed Cousins, and already had London, Pitts, and Robinson in place. He has subsequently been fired. So he's objectively worse. Like wise, Paton and Poles both have multiple-year head starts on Peters. How much better does this team look if Peters is running the draft for since 2021 or 2022 (Paton and Poles, respectively, ran their first drafts in those years)? Both had three straight losing seasons before making the playoffs. I also want to make this point of emphasis: George Paton gave FIVE picks, including two first- and two second-round picks for Russell Wilson. If you want to hold Eliot Wolf up as doing a better job, I wouldn't argue, even though he hired Mayo as his first HC.

Let me simplify this, because if my point is getting lost after dozens of posts, that’s on me for not stating it clearly enough.

A. If you look at the 2024 teams that drafted quarterbacks—same class, same timeline—they’ve generally done more to improve the supporting weapons around their young QBs than Washington has for Jayden. That’s the apples-to-apples comparison I keep coming back to.

B. Your pushback about the Patriots and Bears taking a third tight end actually reinforces my point, not weakens it. This isn’t about me being high on specific prospects like Rousch or Rairdon. It’s about philosophy. You see those picks as redundant because they already had pass-catching tight ends. I see it as intentional talent-stacking to support a young quarterback.

Because what happens if Chig gets hurt? Now you’re relying on Sinnott—who has even said he’s not a polished route runner in the mold of Ertz—to suddenly become that guy. That’s not planning, that’s hoping. Other teams aren’t operating on hope—they’re building depth and versatility so their QB isn’t exposed if something goes wrong.

That’s the distinction: stacking talent vs. patching holes.

I’ve brought up other teams like the Saints after this draft not because I’m sold on every player they’ve added—I’m not even a big Tyson guy—but because of the mindset. They’re clearly prioritizing adding more weapons, even when they already have someone like Olave. Whether it’s for scheme flexibility or injury insurance, the intent is to make life easier on the quarterback.

And to your point about the offensive line—fine, I’ll include it. Washington comes out ahead of New Orleans when you combine protection and weapons. But that’s not really my argument. I’m isolating weapons because that’s where I think the gap in approach is most obvious.

Also, it’s not perfectly apples-to-apples with teams like the Saints anyway—they’ve had less time with their young QB than Washington has had with Jayden.

So to be clear, my argument isn’t that Peters has done the worst job in the entire league building an offense. You’ve made a fair case that there are worse situations. My point is narrower and more specific:

Within the 2024 QB class, Washington has done less than its peers to surround its quarterback with weapons.

Even if you expand the criteria to include offensive line play, they still land near the bottom—not dead last, but close enough in the NFL at large.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I'd have required a drug test after that statement.

At least he's positive

It brings me back to how Rivera was in love with his TE room. And Logan Paulsn who I like, lol backed him on it.

Curtis Hodges, Armani Rodgers, etc.

This new version is what to you get a load of journeyman 220 pound, Lawrence Cager.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Yankoff is also an interesting piece, he only has two catches, but he has shown enough in camp and preseason for us to roster 4 tight ends.

I get wanting to put more weapons around Jayden in principle, and it sounds like you’re disappointed we didn’t draft a guy you liked, but there is no need to pretend our roster is weak in areas where it isn’t.

This has nothing to do with being disappointed about a seeing specific players ending up elsewhere. Zero. It’s about stacking talent. Clearly, some here disagree with the idea. One is plenty of name that thing. I am just not in that group. It's an attrition sport. We saw that last year.

Think of it like this: one person already has two $300 bottles of elite French Pinot. Another has a $30 California red. Then the person with the elite bottles goes and grabs Dom Pérignon. And we’re supposed to say, “Who cares, we’ll just grab another cheap red later and it’ll all work out—trust us.” Just trust it, even though this same regime hasn’t drafted a single proven starting-caliber WR or TE yet. But sure, year three will be the charm, and we’ll get it right next time.

Look, I’m as intrigued as anyone by the next Samuel Reyes, Curtis Hodges, Armani Rogers, or Cole Turner. But this isn’t a new storyline for me. Until they actually develop someone like Ben Sinnott into a legit pass-catching tight end—or show real results from that room, whether it’s someone like CJ Yankoff or even their confidence in a 29-year-old Lawrence Cager—I’m just not buying the rhetoric at WR and TE.

That’s not sarcasm. They just haven’t earned that trust yet.

 

[washington football]

They wont trade Brown in division unless a total overpay.

 

[Dlts20]

The 12-0 stat is real. The 2-12 stat is subjective and not fully real. I say this because in his 2-12 record it's usually way above 24. We've given up 52 in the playoffs, 40s a few times and 30s a few times including high 30s so he's not losing most of those games with the opponent averaging 24.

They are averaging easily over 30 plus. I just didn't feel like adding it. Plus no weapons last year and he did finish most of the games. It does prove that we didn't go overboard on defensive signings. We needed a lot of help. If the defense is just average or a little below average instead of worst in the league, he will win

 

[SmiffySkins]

They wont trade Brown in division unless a total overpay.

Yeah there would be a division tax for sure. I share some of the doubts burgold has re character and age so I probably pass it by for us. I also agree with 36ST21 that our 2028 1st rounder would be better spent if it got us into the conversation for WR1 in next years draft. Still I am surprised that it’s only the Pats that are apparently in the mix at that price.