The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Discobob]

I don't get why you guys wouldn't just automatically trust AP. AP traded for Marshon Lattimore. Some would argue that the Lattimore trade was a bust. I don't think it's so clear cut. Nobody knows exactly whether it was a failure or not except for AP. And AP made the trade, and not only kept him for the rest of the season, but also the season after. If AP liked what he saw for multiple years, who am I to disagree?

Sorry, this is a NO Shattimore zone... $100 fine

 

[NickyJ]

Sorry, this is a NO Shattimore zone... $100 fine

If Lattimore were a moderator here, he would have been a couple yards away from blocking this message or injured himself trying to.

 

[Discobob]

If Lattimore were a moderator here, he would have been a couple yards away from blocking this message or injured himself trying to.

Careful, he's a dog ass moderator

 

[The Rook]

While reading this thread, I became curious about the meaning of the work "Aiyuk".

After a short investigation, I believe it means "ad nauseum".

The Rook

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

This is the point that gets me with some fans and even some in the local media. Is Ben Sinnott suddenly a proven No. 2 tight end? I understand the argument that this system is a better fit for him, and it absolutely could be. But that's still a projection, not evidence.

That's really what's driving my skepticism. It takes me back to the Rivera era, when every "if," "but," and "maybe" was treated as if it were money in the bank. Some people hear my point and others who have said similar things and think we are saying all these players are going to fail. That's not what I'm saying at all.

The truth is, I have no idea. I'm not overly negative or overly positive about Sinnott, Lane, McCaffrey, Burks, or any of the other developmental flyers. They could hit, or they could disappoint.

What I do know is that it's a little homerish to assume the most optimistic projection for every one of those players is also the most likely outcome. History says it rarely works that way. Usually a couple hit, a couple plateau, and a couple don't pan out. That's why I don't like building a roster around best-case scenarios. But the thought process reminds me a lot of the Rivera era.

Especially since I'm penciling in Chig as a Big Slot more so than TE. Bates will do his role well, but Sinnott at times will need to be the primary and in-line threat as a receiver. That could get really awkward against some teams that can handle bigger slots...unless Sinnott can get vertical space.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Especially since I'm penciling in Chig as a Big Slot more so than TE. Bates will do his role well, but Sinnott at times will need to be the primary and in-line threat as a receiver. That could get really awkward against some teams that can handle bigger slots...unless Sinnott can get vertical space.

Yeah the TE stuff seems ridiculous to me. It's becoming like the rallying cry to defend the WR room. It would be one thing if this was like the Bears who have Loveland as their #1 and Kmet as their #2 or name that team with two stud TEs. But the assuming that Chig is already a star, and Sinnott has already broke out feels a bit nuts to me. Apparently, Ertz being the #2 receiving weapons for the last two years is something that was just dreamt up, it never happened. Finally we got a TE who will be the #2 option, and boy does that open a new world for this team.

As to the video below, another group of haters, idiots, stressing the need of a #2 WR, don't they get the Washington is one of the only teams that has a pass catching TE on their roster and a pass catching RB, and that totally precludes the need for this? lol, in all seriousness, like some of us here believe that they'd get an A if they signed Diggs, WR is what makes the off season incomplete. The national media in just about every form, love the NY Giants off season -- it was good but overrated IMO.

Sarcasm not directed at anyone here, its some within the local media who seem to be blown away that this team has a TE who can catch where it comes off as lol like some exotic luxury than fans don't appreciate the depth of what it means.

 

[Ashburn Dave]

Training camp can't get here soon enough.

 

[DWinzit]

Training camp can't get here soon enough.

For sure.

The discussions will continue about the roster weaknesses at WR, DB, C and TE

 

[Conn]

For sure.

The discussions will continue about the roster weaknesses at WR, DB, C and TE

Yeah, those discussions aren’t gonna stop once we’re seeing 1-on-1’s between our two weakest position groups lol.

 

[HTTR]

I, personally, don’t like this logic. Why even have a forum if we are either supposed just go with everything that happens and say, “this will work. I trust AP.” Or “this will fail, I don’t trust AP”?

Even the best make mistakes. Sometimes people are too close, sometimes they aren’t close enough, sometimes they are pressured, sometimes they are desperate.

To me, this isn’t an issue of “trust AP”. It’s a personal opinion.

And whether he knows more or not, whether this is an act or not - it comes across as unhinged behavior.

Full stop.

That cannot be denied.

And he’s using us - potentially opening us up to collusion investigations and more - to further his own agenda.

You know what I trust? Behavior. Mistakes happen. People DO grow from them. But Aiyuk mistreated his former team, and now he is using us in a way to advantage him (but it doesn’t…). This isn’t learning. This is repeating the pattern.

Count me all the way out. Regardless of what AP thinks.

I’m not saying you have to automatically trust AP on all matters. In fact, you don’t have to trust him on anything if you don’t want to, I agree you’re entitled to your opinion. I’m only talking specifically about the Aiyuk situation. And it’s because he has inside knowledge that none of us are privy to, and much more so than in normal player personnel situations. I’m just acknowledging that AP has much more information to make this decision than we do. So I will trust it, despite what appears to be unstable behavior. Again, it’s possible it’s all an act, which you yourself have stated. This does not in any way mean I trust AP on everything, or that I’m insisting you do so. You’re 100% out regardless, and that’s cool. A perfectly reasonable opinion. But it’s a deflection to make it about fans blindly trusting AP.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I wouldn't go that far, but it brings home what KDawg said pre FA, running back might be a need more than some will admit. But I do think they can make due with what they have.

 

[bowhunter]

I wouldn't go that far, but it brings home what KDawg said pre FA, running back might be a need more than some will admit. But I do think they can make due with what they have.

View attachment 15096

Wow!!! Is that Pre-FA or current?

 

[HTTR]

#32? Not very good

 

[skinsinparadise]

Wow!!! Is that Pre-FA or current?

Current. I get it—on paper it's not a sexy group. It lacks the prototypical No. 1 back. I know some here think Croskey-Merritt is destined to become a star, but that doesn't seem to be the prevailing view around the league.

It's not a huge deal to me. I think the RB room is fine. But it's just one example of why so many people in the national media, the analytics community, and the draft world remain skeptical of this roster.

A lot of national analysts aren't even sold on the offensive line. Some don't think much of the tight end room. Most don't like the receiver corps. Put it all together, and it's not hard to understand why many of them are projecting this team to disappoint.

When former PFF analysts like Sam Monson and Steve Palazzolo ranked Washington as having the fifth-worst roster in the NFL, it was a good reminder of how differently this team is viewed outside the fan base.

Some people here act like those of us asking for upgrades are being overly negative. In reality, we're pretty mild compared to much of the national media, which has been far more critical of this roster than anything you'll read on this board.

 

[DWinzit]

Current. I get it—on paper it's not a sexy group. It lacks the prototypical No. 1 back. I know some here think Croskey-Merritt is destined to become a star, but that doesn't seem to be the prevailing view around the league.

It's not a huge deal to me. I think the RB room is fine. But it's just one example of why so many people in the national media, the analytics community, and the draft world remain skeptical of this roster.

A lot of national analysts aren't even sold on the offensive line. Some don't think much of the tight end room. Most don't like the receiver corps. Put it all together, and it's not hard to understand why many of them are projecting this team to disappoint.

When former PFF analysts like Sam Monson and Steve Palazzolo ranked Washington as having the fifth-worst roster in the NFL, it was a good reminder of how differently this team is viewed outside the fan base.

Some people here act like those of us asking for upgrades are being overly negative. In reality, we're pretty mild compared to much of the national media, which has been far more critical of this roster than anything you'll read on this board.

Wow, it is crazy that we are ranked dead last and that the RB group has improved since last season. I am with you, it's not a huge deal as I am good with the group

 

[Discobob]

#32? Not very good


View attachment 15097

Well, ya know hindsight is always 50/50

 

[skinsinparadise]

Wow, it is crazy that we are ranked dead last and that the RB group has improved since last season. I am with you, it's not a huge deal as I am good with the group

Compared to the national media

A. I think the defense will be a lot better than they do.

B. TE I think some locals overate the unit. I think its ok, not special. I don't see much media comments on it but I know Greg Cosell, wasn't high on that unit

C. O line, national media mostly sees it as bad, PFF is OK with it. I think its good, not special, but good enough

D. WR national media is down on it. It's the one thing that I agree with them on.

E. RB room, its not just Sharp who thinks it's bad to meh. I do think some locals overrate the unit. But to me its average, not terrible, it should be good enough.

 

[skinsinparadise]

While I think this defense is improved, it will be tested. The schedule is a bear, for example they got to play 3 of those 5 teams so this defense will be tested

 

[Faithful Fan]

I wouldn't go that far, but it brings home what KDawg said pre FA, running back might be a need more than some will admit. But I do think they can make due with what they have.

View attachment 15096

I’m surprised to see us so low, but then again not really. There’s a reason many of us wanted to draft Jeremiyah Love. We haven’t had a consistently productive running back since Alfred Morris, and the last really good back we had was Clinton Portis.

White should be fine in Ekeler’s role, but he’s a JAG. Bill flashed in a few games but he also had problems with ball security, pass protection, receiving, and vision. McNichols often looked like our best back last year, but he’s an old JAG. Ford is a JAG. I have some hope for Kaytron Allen, but Penn State’s all-time rushing leader could just as easily have a career like Evan Royster as Saquon Barkley.

Hopefully Allen or JCM prove themselves, but they haven’t yet. White is likely to be the lead guy otherwise, so yeah, that’s uninspiring

 

[skinsinparadise]

I’m surprised to see us so low, but then again not really. There’s a reason many of us wanted to draft Jeremiyah Love. We haven’t had a consistently productive running back since Alfred Morris, and the last really good back we had was Clinton Portis.

White should be fine in Ekeler’s role, but he’s a JAG. Bill flashed in a few games but he also had problems with ball security, pass protection, receiving, and vision. McNichols often looked like our best back last year, but he’s an old JAG. Ford is a JAG. I have some hope for Kaytron Allen, but Penn State’s all-time rushing leader could just as easily have a career like Evan Royster as Saquon Barkley.

Hopefully Allen or JCM prove themselves, but they haven’t yet. White is likely to be the lead guy otherwise, so yeah, that’s uninspiring

I don't think its a bad as Sharp and some in the national media think, but not as good as some here who are really high on the group.

Keim seems to be heavily hinting to not count on JCM to win the #1 job, so feels like Rachaad has a shot for the first time in his career to be the #1, but will see.