The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Chris]

Reports are that the cowboys are going to put the 2nd round tender on him and we'd have to acquire a second round pick to even make him an offer.

Highly unlikely so I wouldn't get your hopes up.

Hasn’t that ship sailed? Didn’t the window to do so end yesterday?

 

[Conn]

Hasn’t that ship sailed? Didn’t the window to do so end yesterday?

Yep, he’s a FA unless they sign him within the next week

 

[heisenberg]

Hasn’t that ship sailed? Didn’t the window to do so end yesterday?

I could be wrong but I believe the franchise tag window passed yesterday but the decision for which tender to place on restricted free agents hasn't yet.
We have two restricted free agents as well in tyree Jackson and Chris Rodriguez and I haven’t heard what tender on either one of them yet, or if we're even going to tender them but I suspect we will.

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Restricted free agent (RFA)
A player with three accrued seasons and an expired contract. RFAs are free to negotiate and sign with any team, but their original team can offer them one of various qualifying offers ("tenders") that come with the Right of First Refusal and/or draft-pick compensation. If the tender is withdrawn by a team, the RFA becomes an unrestricted free agent. Teams must submit these tenders before the start of the 2026 League Year (4 p.m. ET on March 11). These amounts change annually but the following numbers are for the 2025 season (players can choose either (a) or (b) regardless of which is greater in the applicable tenders below). The 2026 season amounts will be released later this spring.

 

[Conn]

Good info, didn’t know that

Kind of crazy a kicker is playing hard ball when they’re trying to make him the richest K in history, then. Take your guaranteed money before you hit a cold streak, fella

 

[heisenberg]

Good info, didn’t know that

Kind of crazy a kicker is playing hard ball when they’re trying to make him the richest K in history, then. Take your guaranteed money before you hit a cold streak, fella

Yeah i believe the primary reason kickers dont make more is because they can be so wildly inconsistent from year to year or just fall off a cliff and never get their mojo back.

I dont see much risk here in him testing the waters though, reports are the cowboys are offering 7 per and I'd bet its probably 3 years with outs, the tender is almost 6 and maybe some team with a late 2nd offers him 8 or 9 per and the cowboys either have to match or let him walk.

Either way I think the original offer will probably be there even if he tests free agency.

 

[36ST21]

If true and it transpires, 🤢

I would rather much, much, much rather see NYG get Walker than Love. Walker was last year's SB MVP, great job and he deserved it. He also split carries with another back who isn't exactly elite for the entire season. I think he peaked in the SB and will be solid going forward but won't really move the needle for whatever team he signs with.

 

[Anselmheifer]

Yeah that trio, would be fire. Feels like Aiyuk is inevitable, too but especially if they sign another WR where Aiyuk is gravy, I'd be more than cool with that.

I was literally just thinking about this. Terry, Shaheed, and Aiyuk are very complementary players. If Aiyuk is actually healthy, that trio could be super potent. I mean, I think I’d be over the moon if we signed Shaheed, Okonkwo, and Aiyuk. And imagine adding Love to that.

 

[36ST21]

Reports are that the cowboys are going to put the 2nd round tender on him and we'd have to acquire a second round pick to even make him an offer.

Highly unlikely so I wouldn't get your hopes up.

Yet another situation where lack of draft capital results in a lost opportunity. The highest level tender that WAS can afford is "chicken".

 

[method man]

If you sign Shaheed, besides a good deep threat, you also get the league’s best return man. What do you do w Lane and LMC if you sign him?

 

[SkinsFTW]

If you sign Shaheed, besides a good deep threat, you also get the league’s best return man. What do you do w Lane and LMC if you sign him?

That's why they probably don't sign Shaheed. AP has to look like he has successfully drafted somebody all these years.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[Riggo44]

The one time a year I am more excited for a Monday than I am for the weekend

 

[Dlts20]

I would rather much, much, much rather see NYG get Walker than Love. Walker was last year's SB MVP, great job and he deserved it. He also split carries with another back who isn't exactly elite for the entire season. I think he peaked in the SB and will be solid going forward but won't really move the needle for whatever team he signs with.

I'm still not sure that NY will make a big splash at RB. Skattebo will be ready for the start of the season and Tyrone Tracy looked good also. Even if adding, I don't see them drafting a Love at 5 when they already have solid guys in house and other options but I guess that we are in a similar position and still may draft Love but who knows

 

[DWinzit]

If you sign Shaheed, besides a good deep threat, you also get the league’s best return man. What do you do w Lane and LMC if you sign him?

Funny that we'd have a glut at top returners. Most other teams would be jealous of us and for so many years we have lacked good returners.

 

[Boone]

I think they need to improve our roster. I have said I think Shaheed is a better return man than WR but setting that aside, I don’t think our mentality should be ‘don’t bring in a talent upgrade because we have guys that can’t kind of do that already’. Our problem at WR is we don’t have proven WRs beyond Terry. If they think Shaheed can be a number two then sign him. What happens to Lane and/or McCaffrey as a result - that shouldn’t be an impediment.

 

[DWinzit]

I could be wrong but I believe the franchise tag window passed yesterday but the decision for which tender to place on restricted free agents hasn't yet.
We have two restricted free agents as well in tyree Jackson and Chris Rodriguez and I haven’t heard what tender on either one of them yet, or if we're even going to tender them but I suspect we will.

I expect to hear we have tendered both of them, feels like no brainer moves...

 

[skinsinparadise]

Keim

But, one team source said, while they won't spend recklessly, if there's a player they want who commands top-of-the-market money and is considered a good fit, they will spend. After all, this is a pivotal year for the franchise after going 5-12 following a 12-5 season and trip to the NFC Championship Game.

...And the Commanders have multiple needs: They're expected to be aggressive pursuing players at edge rusher, receiver and corner in particular. They'd like to add another tight end -- Chig Okonkwo, among others, is a possibility -- but they'll invest more money in other areas. They only have one running back, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, currently signed and will need more help at linebacker.

Expect Commanders to go big in free agency this offseason

Washington is expected to be aggressive pursuing players at edge rusher, receiver and corner in particular.

www.espn.com

 

[Riggo44]

they won't spend recklessly

Looks like some of the Whine-Os are going to be disappointed.

 

[Ashburn Dave]

Keim

But, one team source said, while they won't spend recklessly, if there's a player they want who commands top-of-the-market money and is considered a good fit, they will spend. After all, this is a pivotal year for the franchise after going 5-12 following a 12-5 season and trip to the NFC Championship Game.

...And the Commanders have multiple needs: They're expected to be aggressive pursuing players at edge rusher, receiver and corner in particular. They'd like to add another tight end -- Chig Okonkwo, among others, is a possibility -- but they'll invest more money in other areas. They only have one running back, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, currently signed and will need more help at linebacker.

Expect Commanders to go big in free agency this offseason

Washington is expected to be aggressive pursuing players at edge rusher, receiver and corner in particular.

www.espn.com

I hope so but I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[HTTR]

I hope so but I'll believe it when I see it.

That’s where I’m at. Cautiously optimistic. I’m not getting my hopes up. Seemed like a no-brainer that it would’ve happened last year and it didn’t. Now we have to hope that a) peters lives up to these rumors and b) top free agents will choose us over other destinations now that we are no longer really considered a SB contender.