The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[HTTR]

Yeah, but throw it up to Drake London isn't hard.

Touché. Can only imagine what Jayden could do with a receiver like that!

 

[Discobob]

I agree with this. But it’s not the type of player I prefer. I want a tight end who can impact the running game too. If you want to make him a slot receiver, I think we can find a better one of those as well.

First of all, I truly don't have a strong opinion here... but just to continue the idea...

There is a world where Pitts playing as effectively a slot WR does help your run game. As an example... one of the reasons SF has such and effective run game (besides the Shanahan run scheme) is that they consistently find WRs that can block on the edge. How is Pitts when matched against a DB at blocking? I don't honestly know, but I'd hope he's much better than your typical slot WR 🤷

 

[method man]

I'm pausing on Likely now. The Ravens choosing Andrews over him, like HTTR mentioned above, is worrisome. Looking at PFF (again, grain of salt, but they're a good starting point, I think), but his receiving metrics aren't that different from Sinnot's; just more snaps/targets. I think the staff's approach to TE this offseason will tell us a lot about whether Sinnot is a bust or not. If they go for Likely or Pitts--or even bring Ertz back, Sinnot will not be on the field much, again.

I saw a stat that his yards per route run efficiency is lower than both Andrews and Kolar, another Ravens Y TE we could look at. That's probably the concern with him. However, we've never seen Sinnott flash. Likely has had some big games like the 111 yard opener against the Chiefs Week 1 last year.

He's a guy who converts his targets at a 70% clip, which is inline with Ertz, but he will also provide better blocking too

 

[Bulldog]

After all the injury problems at WR on this club and with some of these guys in multiple years, I don’t understand the fascination with Aiyuk, a player who still has to prove he can come back and show production after ACL/MCL.

My preference would be to use a high pick on a WR to groom to play with Daniels and add depth with a veteran free agent signing or two.

But guys that are at least healthy coming in the door 😎

 

[skinsinparadise]

He's a late bloomer, and not much as to setting the edge. But as a pass rushing specialist, maybe...

*Bolstering the defensive performance was the Detroit pass rush, which had one of its more statistically impressive showings 29 total pressures, according to PFF, and five sacks on Dallas QB Dak Prescott. Al-Quadin Muhammad had three, with Jack Campbell and Alim McNeill each credited for one. The team’s 79.1 pass-rushing grade was the unit’s best since Week 5 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

PFF grades, snap counts: Unexpected defender leads Lions in win over Cowboys

The Lions got some important effort out of a backup to help secure a much-needed win over the Cowboys.

www.mlive.com

 

[Discobob]

After all the injury problems at WR on this club and with some of these guys in multiple years, I don’t understand the fascination with Aiyuk, a player who still has to prove he can come back and show production after ACL/MCL.

My preference would be to use a high pick on a WR to groom to play with Daniels and add depth with a veteran free agent signing or two.

But guys that are at least healthy coming in the door 😎

I mean, he's not old, he's gonna be a bargain compared to what he last showed, and he's best friends with our QB. It seems pretty clear why people are asking the question.

Your point about injury is valid. As long as the compensation is modest and they sign / draft other WRs, it's a gamble that could pay off.

 

[DogofWar1]

I've got one foot out the door already on Aiyuk and it's just hard to drag me back in.

4 problems overcome just for him to be good for us next year.
1. He needs to actually be released.
2. His knee needs to be 100%.
3. His price needs to be right.
4. His attitude needs to not be an issue.

There are absolutely universes where I could see all 4 happening, but man that is gonna take some real legwork to confirm.

And even then he'll be 28 next year. The soft wall for WRs is 30 and for someone with a previous MAJOR knee injury (really 3 knee injuries in one) I can't reasonably sit here and expect him to be a high level WR beyond 2027.

Now, sure, that might be fine. I am penciling in Terry as WR1/X next year but then assuming we will not have him at that after 2026, so maybe the extra year Aiyuk gives us will be enough.

But, considering the line between competent offense and complete disaster was Terry this year, it feels very scary and dangerous to me to have the line between those two being held by an even older Terry and Aiyuk's knee.

Pickens would be "better" tho he of course has all the same concerns except injury, and probably costs more than Aiyuk too.

If I was building the WR room for next year I'm grabbing one of Doubs/Pierce and then drafting Tate/Tyson in the first.

 

[Chris]

Just a general point to keep in mind…I have seen some somewhat frequent references to the amount of available Cap Space the team has and that that will be a panacea for alleviating the talent deficiencies that are both obvious and compelling.

Overthecap has that number currently at 82m. Spotrac has it at 95m but includes the 12m of dead money due Deebo, which OTC does not.

But…that is only for the 34 players currently under contract for 2026.

Of course some salary cap magic can be utilized to massage the numbers somewhat but it’s not like the team can go all ‘Powerball winner’ this offseason in free agency.

 

[Riggo44]

But…that is only for the 34 players currently under contract for 2026.

I like Over The Cap's Effective Cap Space, which currently sits at $59m and change. Effective Cap Space is the cap space a team will have after signing at least 51 players and its projected rookie class to its roster. We are 7th in that regard, but the number keeps changing--and that will also go up when they cut Lattimore.

However, the Daniel Jones injury all but kills my Alec Pierce dream. The Colts will resign him now, most likely, since Jones is out of the picture--unless they do something incredibly dumb

 

[SmiffySkins]

Another point to consider is how this current run of form will affect how next years FA class view a move here. Would Breece Hall be keen to leave the Jets to take an offer here over say a move to the Chiefs? AP may have to be prepared to pay an additional premium to move the needle for players like Breece who will be in high demand should they reach FA. Will AP have that flexibility given the number of players we will need just to fill the roster? Should we be tempering our expectations here that we may not be in the position to get a splash FA like Breece?

 

[Chris]

I like Over The Cap's Effective Cap Space, which currently sits at $59m and change. Effective Cap Space is the cap space a team will have after signing at least 51 players and its projected rookie class to its roster. We are 7th in that regard, but the number keeps changing--and that will also go up when they cut Lattimore.

However, the Daniel Jones injury all but kills my Alec Pierce dream. The Colts will resign him now, most likely, since Jones is out of the picture--unless they do something incredibly dumb

Help me out a bit here-

The difference between OTC’s Cap Space and Effective Cap Space is about 23m. Divided over 17 players (51-34) that is 1.35m per. Doesn’t seem like much of a needle mover for 33% of the roster. You are right that Lattimore’s 18m will create more available money to the account.

 

[Riggo44]

Help me out a bit here-

The difference between OTC’s Cap Space and Effective Cap Space is about 23m. Divided over 17 players (51-34) that is 1.35m per. Doesn’t seem like much of a needle mover for 33% of the roster. You are right that Lattimore’s 18m will create more available money to the account.

It's not. It's the cap space over just filling the roster with draft pick slot values and minimum wage players. It is not supposed to consider "move the needle" players--just the money available over the "this what it will cost to just field a team" baseline

 

[Chris]

It's not. It's the cap space over just filling the roster with draft pick slot values and minimum wage players. It is not supposed to consider "move the needle" players--just the money available over the "this what it will cost to just field a team" baseline

Well, that’s a relief. 🤣 Nothing dashes my hopes more than ‘field a team’. 😉

 

[Riggo44]

Well, that’s a relief. 🤣 Nothing dashes my hopes more than ‘field a team’. 😉

Well for the Harris-is-Cheap crowd, and the Peters-Only-Signs-One-Year-Deals crowd, it'll be perfect!

 

[SkinsLife]

I've got one foot out the door already on Aiyuk and it's just hard to drag me back in.

4 problems overcome just for him to be good for us next year.
1. He needs to actually be released.
2. His knee needs to be 100%.
3. His price needs to be right.
4. His attitude needs to not be an issue.

There are absolutely universes where I could see all 4 happening, but man that is gonna take some real legwork to confirm.

And even then he'll be 28 next year. The soft wall for WRs is 30 and for someone with a previous MAJOR knee injury (really 3 knee injuries in one) I can't reasonably sit here and expect him to be a high level WR beyond 2027.

Now, sure, that might be fine. I am penciling in Terry as WR1/X next year but then assuming we will not have him at that after 2026, so maybe the extra year Aiyuk gives us will be enough.

But, considering the line between competent offense and complete disaster was Terry this year, it feels very scary and dangerous to me to have the line between those two being held by an even older Terry and Aiyuk's knee.

Pickens would be "better" tho he of course has all the same concerns except injury, and probably costs more than Aiyuk too.

If I was building the WR room for next year I'm grabbing one of Doubs/Pierce and then drafting Tate/Tyson in the first.

I am with you... would stay away from Aiyuk for all of the above reasons. Beyond that, he is a Terry clone.. younger and slightly better.. but same type of WR - 6ft, possession WR
Pickens is the MUCH better option IMO especially if the team does not plan to draft a WR at the top of the draft.
I am tired of teams like Cowboys and Eagles taking chances on "problem" players... and bing validated with them being stars, while Wash keeps playing the dumb " not a culture fit" card and watching others hit gold. Also, Pickens is a different type of WR..something we sorely miss - size. He is 6'2 and fast.
Saying all that ... getting him is a pipe dream. Jerry isnt letting him walk out the door. He will franchise tag him.

 

[Discobob]

I am with you... would stay away from Aiyuk for all of the above reasons. Beyond that, he is a Terry clone.. younger and slightly better.. but same type of WR - 6ft, possession WR
Pickens is the MUCH better option IMO especially if the team does not plan to draft a WR at the top of the draft.
I am tired of teams like Cowboys and Eagles taking chances on "problem" players... and bing validated with them being stars, while Wash keeps playing the dumb " not a culture fit" card and watching others hit gold. Also, Pickens is a different type of WR..something we sorely miss - size. He is 6'2 and fast.
Saying all that ... getting him is a pipe dream. Jerry isnt letting him walk out the door. He will franchise tag him.

I kinda feel like you addressed the real issue... Aiyuk might be trying to come here, and will not command top dollar, whereas Pickens has no clear ties to this team and will likely want to break the bank.

 

[Bulldog]

Actually for a team with 3 or 4 wins which this team will have in 2025 we should anticipate a lot of cheap adds to the back of the roster with emphasis on younger players, picking up more picks and signing more priority UDFAs.

 

[method man]

Actually for a team with 3 or 4 wins which this team will have in 2025 we should anticipate a lot of cheap adds to the back of the roster with emphasis on younger players, picking up more picks and signing more priority UDFAs.

I think this whole we need cheap young depth narrative lacks some nuance.

- Given JD's injury issues and Mariota's injury history, I certainly hope we have an older veteran QB with starting experience next year vs a 6th round pick/UDFA.

- OL is one of the few groups that didn't get destroyed by major injuries this year but we've seen banged up OLs in the past. I loved all the veteran depth we had this year. I think we should draft a rookie center to possibly take over for Biadasz in 2027 but I hope we bring proven veterans with a lot of starting experience like Wylie and Fant back as depth. Go find a Nate Herbig or two to bring into camp

- No player does the little things better on this team than Jeremy McNichols. Do you not bring him back just because he will be 30 next year? I think he is one of the better 3rd down backs in the league, has stayed healthy and will be cheap

- Von Miller and Jacob Martin are providing something vs James Smith Williams and Casey Toohill did in 2023. I'd love for these two guys to come back as depth

- Eddie Goldman is doing an ok job as a veteran backup NT on a minimum deal. Bring him back

- Tress Way is awesome

There are more examples out there.

 

[method man]

Signing Aiyuk certainly does not rule 1st round receiver out of the picture. You would essentially have both Terry and Aiyuk on one year deals in 2026 so you may want to have some longer term stability in place at such a key position past next season.

I pointed this out earlier but, given Aiyuk's elite route running ability, you could have him play slot also. If they are worried he has lost some burst due to knee injury, slot may be a better fit for him given the variation of releases and routes he could run from the position

 

[Riggo44]

Kyle Pitts 6 rec 111 yards 2 TDs...IN THE FIRST HALF! Yes please!