The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[RedWolf]

You say it in mockery, but Styles and Tunsil have players behind them that are adequate to survive with. Daniels getting hit by a truck is what will happen each game if he has to run across the highway when Dyami and Van Jefferson fail to shake their coverage. The only question will be how hard does the truck hit.

Have some respect man, that's a very poor classless reference.

He was a human being, a son, and a husband.

 

[Riggo44]

You say it in mockery, but Styles and Tunsil have players behind them that are adequate to survive with. Daniels getting hit by a truck is what will happen each game if he has to run across the highway when Dyami and Van Jefferson fail to shake their coverage. The only question will be how hard does the truck hit.

You know it's posts like this that makes me wonder if people actually want this team to suck so they can sit and say "I told you so"

 

[SkinsLife]

Have some respect man, that's a very poor classless reference.

He was a human being, a son, and a husband.

First time on the internet? welcome!

 

[RedWolf]

First time on the internet? welcome!

Weak

 

[NickyJ]

Have some respect man, that's a very poor classless reference.

He was a human being, a son, and a husband.

Who are you talking about? The person I responded to was talking about Jayden. I responded about Jayden. Who do you think it is referring to?

 

[RedWolf]

What former Washington quarterback walked across the highway and got hit by a truck?

 

[NickyJ]

What former Washington quarterback walked across the highway and got hit by a truck?

Dwayne Haskins? RIP, but he couldn't have been further from my mind or the subject of this conversation.

 

[NickyJ]

You know it's posts like this that makes me wonder if people actually want this team to suck so they can sit and say "I told you so"

I don't want an "I told you so" situation. I want the team to use the resources to both maximize Jayden's abilities, and as insurance for McLauren's health. Buying an insurance policy is not a situation of "man, I really hope this house burns down just so I can tell someone I knew it was going to happen!"

 

[ES1974]

And how did that work out?

Mixed results I’d suggest.

 

[prodigy]

I still do not understand the desire to get rid of Terry after this season. I can understand a bit of uncertainty on whether he's going to be retained or too expensive to be retained...but it almost seems like there is a sizeable contingent that desires a separation.

 

[ES1974]

Aiyuk getting in trouble with the law now. I hope we aren’t waiting on him. If so, I hope that wakes us up.

Seems like they are tracking back to a late 2025 incident, however I fully agree with the premise of your point.

The whole situation looks unprofessional to say the least.

 

[KDawg]

I still do not understand the desire to get rid of Terry after this season. I can understand a bit of uncertainty on whether he's going to be retained or too expensive to be retained...but it almost seems like there is a sizeable contingent that desires a separation.

I think the largest contingent is people who think he’s gone next year. This FO doesn’t like to pay that kind of money.

I hope he’s here his whole career. But he’d need to restructure to make that happen I think. And it could. I just won’t hold my breath.

 

[Riggo44]

Mixed results I’d suggest.

Mixed results is very generous.

 

[Riggo44]

Weak

All of his posts are.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Aiyuk getting in trouble with the law now. I hope we aren’t waiting on him. If so, I hope that wakes us up.

You are underestimating the power of this scheme

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

Speaking of Patriot WRs, they have a #1 and a #2, but also basically have three #3 WRs right now, and Boutee IMO is at least a low end #2 WR. One of their WRs will have to sit on the bench a lot barring injuries.

He's not a high end #2, but that's fine, I just want a #2, and he can be that guy. TDs-big plays, good hands and has some history with Jayden, so for a 5th or so I'd do it.

I think he's possibly a bit more of a WR3 than a WR2. He does have a little bit of some baggage too, not too bad though.

He might not have been used the best in New England, but I'm not sure what his ideal usage is. He's just OK. He's not a big separator, he got some downfield catches on plays where Drake Maye bought time and the defense had a coverage issue. Back shoulder throws are part of his game, but Jayden doesn't really throw those as much. I wonder about his ability to separate. We're relying on contested catches being the norm for him, seems a little unsustainable. Especially when a few of those are also well thrown balls that area away from the defenders arms.

I would love to see some All-22 to really form an opinion. But right now, he's somewhere in the good WR3 to bad WR2 range for me.

He's probably an upgrade over our WR room, but he's not physically gifted. His potential might be where he's at currently. 2-3 catches a game, 35-45 yards a game, maybe a few TD's. He's an outside WR though and can run some comebackers and outs if the QB is on time with the throw and places the ball well. He's not really threatening the DB to open their hips on these.

 

[skinsinparadise]

In this case, because he said it and as SIP said Peters confirmed it.

Peters talked about it in his interview with Kay Adams, about 2 minutes 40 seconds in

 

[skinsinparadise]

I think he's possibly a bit more of a WR3 than a WR2. He does have a little bit of some baggage too, not too bad though.

He might not have been used the best in New England, but I'm not sure what his ideal usage is. He's just OK. He's not a big separator, he got some downfield catches on plays where Drake Maye bought time and the defense had a coverage issue. Back shoulder throws are part of his game, but Jayden doesn't really throw those as much. I wonder about his ability to separate. We're relying on contested catches being the norm for him, seems a little unsustainable. Especially when a few of those are also well thrown balls that area away from the defenders arms.

I would love to see some All-22 to really form an opinion. But right now, he's somewhere in the good WR3 to bad WR2 range for me.

He's probably an upgrade over our WR room, but he's not physically gifted. His potential might be where he's at currently. 2-3 catches a game, 35-45 yards a game, maybe a few TD's. He's an outside WR though and can run some comebackers and outs if the QB is on time with the throw and places the ball well. He's not really threatening the DB to open their hips on these.

By reputation, he's better than anything we got at Z. I know the Pats WRs as a whole had really good seperation scores. But as for Boutee, I don't know. But I'd take his TD stats, yards per catch.

Having said that I didn't watch him so I don't know. Judging by this below and PFF grades, sounds like among Hollins, Boutee and Douglas -- its Douglas who is the emerging WR.


AI Overview



The New England Patriots rank among the league leaders in route separation and open target rates rather than holding the undisputed absolute top spot. Star wideout Demario Douglas specifically headlines several individual PFF separation rate metrics, while recent marquee addition Stefon Diggs also grades near the top in getting open against man and press coverage. [1, 2, 3]
The New England Patriots receiving corps boasts a handful of the NFL's most dangerous route runners:

• Demario Douglas: Placed at the very top of PFF's charts for creating at least "one or more steps of separation" (getting open). He logged a remarkably high open target rate (over 70%) on his routes run in the previous season. [1]

 

[Discobob]

And if Daniels is hit by a truck, and if Styles decides his real passion is in the Lord of the Dance, and if Laramey Tunsil suffers a fatal heart attack (not unlike the animator of the Black Beast of Argh)...

Careful what you say about Lord of the Dance or Micheal mother-f***in Flatley will come to your house

 

[Discobob]

What former Washington quarterback walked across the highway and got hit by a truck?

I think your reaching on that one... it's pretty clear that had nothing to do with Haskins