The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[burgold]

This is just a Snyder-era scar. For years, decades even, we saw us draft players and immediately sign mediocre free agents or hasbeens which because of their contracts forced the draftees to never get their chance off the bench. To some degree, I think we even saw this last year with them choosing to play Johnson over Hartman. That one's a bad example, but since the season was done there was no risk in letting the pups on the field to see if they could do anything at all. And I'd rather see a draftee get some burn than win a meaningless last season game. I really would have liked to unleash Kain Madrano and Magee and every other bench player and give them starter's reps at the end. Why not?

As I said, that's a bad example. I guess a better one would have been when we would have a running back injured and instead of playing their backup we signed an off the street free agent and made them start. I remember that happening three or four times over the Snyder years.

Back to the original point, I think this all hinges on where you think the team's ceiling is and what you are trying to develop. Signing a Deebo or Diggs makes us better this year. After that, they're gone and Daniels has to start from zero again. So, there's a part of me that wouldn't hate betting on upside and long term even if it's a riskier proposal. I'm just not convinced that a Diggs or Deebo moves the needle enough for it to make a huge difference in our season's chances which is weird because I would like us to sign Diggs and to be honest I would be comfortable with Deebo, but I'd rather see Williams as the move slot guy than Deebo. I'd rather see McCaffrey get reps to see if the lightbulb really went off then giving those reps to a one year rental... unless the year turns out to be a special one.

I think 2026 can be a good year. I have my doubts that it can be a Super Bowl year. Frankly, I don't think adding Aiyuk, Diggs, or Deebo leads us closer to the Super Bowl. They're safer players. They're probably productive players, but they're players to move you closer to average than great. I concede that it looks unlikely that playing McCaffrey, Lane, and Williams leads us to great, too, but that's just where my head's at.

 

[Boone]

I understand the mindset, but it's also a bit of a 'suckers choice' argument. It's not 'either/or'. It's unlikely we cut a guy like Jaylin Lane because we added a vet who has actually proven they can contribute consistently. You are of course right burgold that the team has to factor in player age and $$ when making roster decisions, but when you have a lack of talent at a position, and clear upgrades are sitting out there available, and you do nothing - that's questionable in my mind. The primary goal is ALWAYS to field the best team. It doesn't preclude building for the future but you want to give yourself the most competitive opportunity every season. Besides - if the goal is to prioritize building 'for the future' at all costs, why in God's name are you throwing away mid-round picks to rent an older player for a season in the first place?

I agree that in general we should be making more decisions with the long-term in mind. But adding a vet WR is really a no-brainer right now. We have the $$. There are upgrades available. Sign one of them dammit.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I also don't think adding another outside WR is like "the missing piece" on offense. While I think they can be really good to great offensively, if there is a hole to fill, I am more frustrated they didn't do more at RB. I would gladly have taken a much better weapon at RB and keep the WR room the way it is. They're putting a heck of a lot more on Bill and White than they are on Burks/Van Jefferson/DBrown on a play to play basis.

One quick thing on this: it could have been a killer second TE. It could have been signing Kenneth Walker. But those ships have sailed. So what’s left? WR. So your point of them lacking at RB or whatever, I am good with that point. Where I disagree if not this then do that.

My point in simple terms:

A. Jayden is the Golden Goose.

B. Most teams with young franchise QBs feed that Golden Goose nonstop, surrounding him with so much talent that it’s almost impossible not to spit out golden eggs.

C. Peters has not done that.

D. I’m actually nicer to Peters than most. I think he’s been solid. Other GMs graded his FA class poorly in The Athletic. Another national outlet ranked him 25th among GMs. An NFC East reporter wrote an entire article arguing that he sucks. I’m the one saying he’s been fine — but “fine” hasn’t earned him carte blanche trust.

E. I like what Peters has done on defense. But in the aggregate, and specifically in the context of helping the Golden Goose, I’d argue he’s been the worst GM in the league. That’s my hang-up with him. I’ve forgiven just about every other bad move, so I think I’m plenty balanced on Peters overall.

F. Whether it’s a killer RB, a killer second TE, or multiple WRs — and yes, you need multiple WRs when you don’t have multiple high-end TEs or a dominant RB — Jayden’s offensive supporting cast simply isn’t close to what most young franchise QBs are given.

I know some push back on that, but that’s the minority view. Just about every national observer, regardless of the format or methodology, ranks the offensive talent around Jayden near the bottom of the league. That doesn’t mean they’re all right. But it does mean the idea that Jayden has been properly surrounded with talent is very much the outlier position.

 

[skinsinparadise]

This is just a Snyder-era scar. For years, decades even, we saw us draft players and immediately sign mediocre free agents or hasbeens which because of their contracts forced the draftees to never get their chance off the bench. To some degree, I think we even saw this last year with them choosing to play Johnson over Hartman. That one's a bad example, but since the season was done there was no risk in letting the pups on the field to see if they could do anything at all. And I'd rather see a draftee get some burn than win a meaningless last season game. I really would have liked to unleash Kain Madrano and Magee and every other bench player and give them starter's reps at the end. Why not?

As I said, that's a bad example. I guess a better one would have been when we would have a running back injured and instead of playing their backup we signed an off the street free agent and made them start. I remember that happening three or four times over the Snyder years.

Back to the original point, I think this all hinges on where you think the team's ceiling is and what you are trying to develop. Signing a Deebo or Diggs makes us better this year. After that, they're gone and Daniels has to start from zero again. So, there's a part of me that wouldn't hate betting on upside and long term even if it's a riskier proposal. I'm just not convinced that a Diggs or Deebo moves the needle enough for it to make a huge difference in our season's chances which is weird because I would like us to sign Diggs and to be honest I would be comfortable with Deebo, but I'd rather see Williams as the move slot guy than Deebo. I'd rather see McCaffrey get reps to see if the lightbulb really went off then giving those reps to a one year rental... unless the year turns out to be a special one.

I think 2026 can be a good year. I have my doubts that it can be a Super Bowl year. Frankly, I don't think adding Aiyuk, Diggs, or Deebo leads us closer to the Super Bowl. They're safer players. They're probably productive players, but they're players to move you closer to average than great. I concede that it looks unlikely that playing McCaffrey, Lane, and Williams leads us to great, too, but that's just where my head's at.

Depends on your goals, IMO. I’ve noticed that some of the people pushing back on the criticism of Peters also don’t seem to think this season is going to be anything special. We’ll see. And I get the defense of his off season a bit more if the goals are more modest. I do think this team at a minimum is sort of a Rivera level lets say 2022 version but with a better QB.

But if that’s true, then 2024 was at least somewhat of a mirage. I actually agree to an extent that it was. Where I differ is that I think a better defense, a better O-line and better weapons — which they still don’t have, IMO — could put this team in position to make a real run. If I didn’t believe that, I’d chill too. I wouldn’t give a crap whether they added another WR. So from that perspective, I get it.

If we’re still rebuilding, then sure, give the mid-round picks every opportunity. Most will bust, but you have nothing to lose by letting it play out.

For me, though, this starts to feel like Rivera-era cringe. Every year there was some obviously weak position group, followed by endless rationalizations about the developmental guy already on the roster. Give Armani Rogers time — he’s an athletic freak. We don’t need a TE. Give Braeden Daniels time — yeah, he struggled in camp, but look at the athleticism. There were so many versions of this. And for all Rivera’s faults, he was actually very good at giving mid-to-late-round picks and UDFAs real opportunities.

But my premise is different: the window is now. The Patriots drafted Kyle Williams higher than McCaffrey or Lane. He had more pedigree. They still signed and traded for WRs. The Bears already had Kmet and still drafted Loveland.

That’s what aggressive teams do: stack talent and shoot higher. If the young player is really that good, he’ll prove it and beat out the veteran. If Lane were a first-round pick, I’d understand protecting the runway. But a late fourth-round WR? What’s the hit rate — 10%? And if he really is a diamond in the rough, adding legitimate competition isn’t going to hide him. He’ll force his way onto the field.

 

[Conn]

This is just a Snyder-era scar. For years, decades even, we saw us draft players and immediately sign mediocre free agents or hasbeens which because of their contracts forced the draftees to never get their chance off the bench. To some degree, I think we even saw this last year with them choosing to play Johnson over Hartman. That one's a bad example, but since the season was done there was no risk in letting the pups on the field to see if they could do anything at all. And I'd rather see a draftee get some burn than win a meaningless last season game. I really would have liked to unleash Kain Madrano and Magee and every other bench player and give them starter's reps at the end. Why not?

As I said, that's a bad example. I guess a better one would have been when we would have a running back injured and instead of playing their backup we signed an off the street free agent and made them start. I remember that happening three or four times over the Snyder years.

Back to the original point, I think this all hinges on where you think the team's ceiling is and what you are trying to develop. Signing a Deebo or Diggs makes us better this year. After that, they're gone and Daniels has to start from zero again. So, there's a part of me that wouldn't hate betting on upside and long term even if it's a riskier proposal. I'm just not convinced that a Diggs or Deebo moves the needle enough for it to make a huge difference in our season's chances which is weird because I would like us to sign Diggs and to be honest I would be comfortable with Deebo, but I'd rather see Williams as the move slot guy than Deebo. I'd rather see McCaffrey get reps to see if the lightbulb really went off then giving those reps to a one year rental... unless the year turns out to be a special one.

I think 2026 can be a good year. I have my doubts that it can be a Super Bowl year. Frankly, I don't think adding Aiyuk, Diggs, or Deebo leads us closer to the Super Bowl. They're safer players. They're probably productive players, but they're players to move you closer to average than great. I concede that it looks unlikely that playing McCaffrey, Lane, and Williams leads us to great, too, but that's just where my head's at.

I’ve probably said this a couple times, but this whole mindset is incorrect and not backed by data or history. Adding a veteran WR will raise the team’s floor, but doesn’t limit the ceiling of developmental guys at the position. Guys break out after earning it, they don’t just magically become productive because there were no better options…those offenses are just bad. Puka Nacua broke out immediately but not because he was forced onto the field due to no other viable options, ASRB flashed early, Terry was a difference-maker the moment coaches saw him in practice, and he earned the reps to continue developing. Stefan Diggs, 5th round pick, same thing. Victor Cruz, UDFA, didn’t just happen. He had a 3-TD preseason game and was immediately on peoples’ radar (injuries ruined his career).

You can fairly easily name all the really good mid and late round WR’s in the last 10-15 years because it’s a rare occurrence and they all had the talent to force the issue.

4th round and beyond WR’s very rarely become productive NFL players, never mind foundational offensive pieces. It isn’t because there’s too much competition in front of them, it’s just a very low hit-rate position with that pedigree. Lane (and McCaffrey, who was basically also a 4th round pick) isn’t going to miss his breakout if it’s coming, he’ll flash and earn snaps and targets. Good teams don’t hinge their season on that happening. It’s not either-or. Young players will still break out and take over even if you bring in a Diggs-type, if they were ever going to.

 

[burgold]

I’ve probably said this a couple times, but this whole mindset is incorrect and not backed by data or history. Adding a veteran WR will raise the team’s floor, but doesn’t limit the ceiling of developmental guys at the position.

It shouldn't, but in practical terms we've seen it a lot. Take last year, should Bobby Wagner have played as many steps as he did in pure passing situations? The stature, rep, and certainty/trust a coach has in players leads some risk averse coaches to avoid their bench. It happens all the time that the guy who never gets a chance to prove himself may never get to prove themselves. Likewise, there was this narrative that x receiver was open a lot, but he was always the fourth or fifth option in the progression which meant that the QB more often than not took off running or threw the ball away before giving the 4th or 5th receiver a target.

Likewise, we've heard a lot that in practice there actually isn't that much opportunity for a back up to get starter reps. So, when do they get the chance to prove themselves and step up? When do they get enough consistent reps that they start to show their true potential?

I'm overstating/exaggerating a bit, but what you say sounds right and should be right in a fair world, but this world is not fair. Hell, look how long it took them to bench Lattimore! His reputation and his contract kept him out there way too long and you can't tell me there weren't other players who could have done as well or better (because they eventually did but it took a season and a half practically of dog shit play for the coaches to even make the move to give someone else their run.)

 

[DWinzit]

It's a shame Lane doesn't have the skills, size or strength to play the deep ball and contested catches. When they drafted him I liked his returner abilities and all the short to medium slot/gadget/screen abilities and had high hopes for his ball tracking skills to improve enough to play Z. He has shown little in this area and had a few key drops. Lane always telegraphed his route running in college and based on what we heard last year, that had not changed a great deal which is a real shame.

 

[burgold]

It's a shame Lane doesn't have the skills, size or strength to play the deep ball and contested catches. When they drafted him I liked his returner abilities and all the short to medium slot/gadget/screen abilities and had high hopes for his ball tracking skills to improve enough to play Z. He has shown little in this area and had a few key drops. Lane always telegraphed his route running in college and based on what we heard last year, that had not changed a great deal which is a real shame.

Yeah, I hope he can develop, but man he really had a disappointing year as a receiver. I'm never one to write off a rookie and we saw him get open deep enough and do that I think there is something there (besides the obvious punt returning skills.) When the reporters talked about too many drops in minicamp I'm sure most of us thought about him. I think it's fair to say he was used very differently than he was in college and that may have contributed to his problems. Hopefully, part of it was that he was so busy thinking and concentrating on not screwing up that it threw him off. Reps could help with that. Giving him plays that he can be successful can help with that, too, and help him build confidence to do other things.

But yeah, despite my earlier advocacy, I loved the way he flashed open and hated the way he so rarely was able to secure the ball and take advantage of his opportunities.

 

[clskinsfan]

Peters has not done that

I am no Peters fanboy. But in fairness to him he did outbid everyone else on the highest rated WR in FA this year. That player chose to take less money to stay put. They have drafted mid round WR's in the past two drafts. And Peters has done what was needed to solidify the OL for JD. Sometimes things just dont work out no matter how hard you try.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I am no Peters fanboy. But in fairness to him he did outbid everyone else on the highest rated WR in FA this year. That player chose to take less money to stay put. They have drafted mid round WR's in the past two drafts. And Peters has done what was needed to solidify the OL for JD. Sometimes things just dont work out no matter how hard you try.

Mid-round WRs are lottery tickets, not a serious commitment to building a receiving corps. Who doesn’t take swings on mid-round WRs? Peters hasn’t drafted a single WR in the first or second round across three drafts.

And yeah, after two offseasons of mostly meh at WR, he finally took some bigger swings — and missed. Fine. But “almost” doesn’t count when we’re evaluating whether he actually gave Jayden a legitimate supporting cast. You don’t get credit for the weapons you tried to acquire. Jayden has to play with the ones you actually landed.

 

[DWinzit]

Mid-round WRs are lottery tickets, not a serious commitment to building a receiving corps. Who doesn’t take swings on mid-round WRs? Peters hasn’t drafted a single WR in the first or second round across three drafts.

And yeah, after two offseasons of mostly meh at WR, he finally took some bigger swings — and missed. Fine. But “almost” doesn’t count when we’re evaluating whether he actually gave Jayden a legitimate supporting cast. You don’t get credit for the weapons you tried to acquire. Jayden has to play with the ones you actually landed.

He has barely drafted a WR in the 3rd rounds either with Luke being the final selection in the 3rd round (100).

 

[method man]

I’m not sure about depth. Non-zero chance Douglas is our best outside CB right now. It really depends on how the young guys develop (and Amos’ health)

Douglas is our best outside corner currently, especially in the zone heavy scheme we plan on running. He is a guy who had been up and down over his career but when he is up, he is a legit difference maker.

I’m really happy with the signing and we now have great depth at the position with 5 corners now with starting experience and a solid player like Hamilton likely on the PS.

On defense now, we generally are deep everywhere, which is nice.

 

[Chris]

Serious question (no sarcasm intended)- does the Douglas signing really move us from ‘the secondary is a real problem’ to ‘great depth at the position’?

 

[DWinzit]

Serious question (no sarcasm intended)- does the Douglas signing really move us from ‘the secondary is a real problem’ to ‘great depth at the position’?

I'd say it puts the defense in a much more comfortable position. There are still questions regarding how the new scheme, coaching and players will gel. The questions with Quan and Mikey along with Amos's health still exist

 

[Ashburn Dave]

Mid-round WRs are lottery tickets, not a serious commitment to building a receiving corps. Who doesn’t take swings on mid-round WRs? Peters hasn’t drafted a single WR in the first or second round across three drafts.

And yeah, after two offseasons of mostly meh at WR, he finally took some bigger swings — and missed. Fine. But “almost” doesn’t count when we’re evaluating whether he actually gave Jayden a legitimate supporting cast. You don’t get credit for the weapons you tried to acquire. Jayden has to play with the ones you actually landed.

This reminded me of Yoda's "Do, or do not.... there is no try.

AP has failed JD with acquiring needed WR's. Sign Diggs and let's move on.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[skinsinparadise]

From a forner scout. I don’t agree that its awful. But interesting to see someone else crap on this RB room after Warren Sharp did.

 

[burgold]

We're going to surprise some folks.

 

[DWinzit]

From a forner scout. I don’t agree that its awful. But interesting to see someone else crap on this RB room after Warren Sharp did.

The Jags are really going to miss Etienne and appreciate what they let go. Our RB room is better than theirs but their WR group is outstanding. Really wish we signed Etienne but also really wish AP had efforted to trade for Brian Thomas

 

[Dah-Dee]

I think unless/until they prove otherwise, every WR on the roster not named McLaurin is barely Just A Guy and all they've done is shuffle the deck chairs in that room.
I still think we need to sign two of Aiyuk/Diggs/Deebo.
I still think AP/Quinn have somehow managed to convince themselves yet AGAIN that they've MacGyvered the receiver situation, and we are most likely to sign not even one of that trio.