The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Spearfeather]

 

[HOF44]

JD will be imperfect. He can do good, he can do great, he can do amazing things. But he can't be perfect. It's unfair for him to have to be perfect to make up for a destitute roster made up of such sucky players that were picking them up off the practice squad where no other team in the NFL felt they were talented to put on their roster of top 53. Jayden deserves help.

Also he can’t feel like every possession has to be a score or we lose. Hopefully an improved D will help that.

 

[Dlts20]

I don't know if this was posted, but it frames the Aiyuk situation differently... also, I don't know this guy...

Basically it's really arguing that SF fired the first shots...

I wonder was Aiyuk aware that him rehabing on his own was considered breaking his contract however I thought I heard that it was more than that, like he wasn't going to doctor appointments or anything.

His former trainer did say though that SF did some funny stuff, basically like some petty, shady stuff that made Aiyuk not trust them or like them anymore.

Still, I don't believe it has anything to do with them caring about him playing well. Why would that matter when the perception is that he basically quit and wanted out. Not that they forced him out.

Honestly idk why SF is doing this, considering they got a ton of money back so it's not like they got shafted on the tab and lost so much. Like I Said, we have a great relationship with SF, have done a lot of business with them, and even seemingly have given them some great deals so if they screw us on this then AP and DQ better not cut them any deals again and that's if ever do business with them again

 

[Riggo44]

 

[Dlts20]

 

[NickyJ]

Also he can’t feel like every possession has to be a score or we lose. Hopefully an improved D will help that.

Defense should be in better shape this season. I am happy that they got a TE and an RB. But I am still banging the table for a WR. McLauren is not getting younger, and finding the next franchise receiver could easily be an adventure that spans several seasons if it happens at all.

Aaron Rodgers in the 2010s was awesome. I'd argue that he was every bit as good as Tom Brady in his prime. The Packers got complacent with the offense and let it wither around Rodgers. One hit wonders at TE, Randall Cobb somehow hanging around because there wasn't anyone else, and eventually a single excellent receiver in Davante Adams. That the Packers only made it to the Super Bowl once makes me hate the Packers. I will hate Washington if it takes such a promising QB as Jayden and goes cheap at giving him tools to succeed. It's taken the team 40 years to find a franchise QB since Theismann. It's not guaranteed now. Give him tools to help him grow and thrive.

 

[MartinC]

yeah, but it's less money than CRod...by a lot lol

Which, to me at least, makes no sense.

 

[Neophyte]

JD will be imperfect. He can do good, he can do great, he can do amazing things. But he can't be perfect. It's unfair for him to have to be perfect to make up for a destitute roster made up of such sucky players that were picking them up off the practice squad where no other team in the NFL felt they were talented to put on their roster of top 53. Jayden deserves help.

No one is suggesting he has to be perfect. No NFL QB is.

I'm just looking down the road. JD, assuming he recovers his Rookie form or improves, will be one of the best paid players in the league in just a few years. Right now, we don't the weight of a contract for Top 5 QB but that is coming. Once it gets here, hard decisions will have to be made a WR is one of those positions where teams are throwing around silly money. The teams I see that have issues keeping some of their valuable mid-tier guys because of a cap crunch all seem to have one or more crazy expensive WR. If that WR is a Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, JSM type...I get it. Totally worth the money.

However, when I look at the WR list I see big contracts for guys like DK Metcalf, Garrett Wilson, Tee Higgins (making more than Terry and isn't even the #1 on his team), DJ Moore, and Aiyuk (these last 2 have turned in to locker room problems). These contracts look upside down to me in terms of value for cap space.

I'm also not suggesting that we give JD all below average tools to work with. However, if he is going to a legit top 5 QB like most of us believe he can and will be, he should be able to elevate the play of average to slightly above average NFL WRs. That is, after all, why those top QBs get the money they get, so we should be able to save some money other places and reasonably expect JD to close that gap through smart play under center.

 

[Boone]

We don’t have any average to slightly above average WRs though Bob - that’s the whole point.

We have Terry. And projects and scrubs.

Not even Jayden should be expected to elevate what we have to any significant degree.

 

[prodigy]

Which, to me at least, makes no sense.

it definitely defies logic

 

[MartinC]

No one is suggesting he has to be perfect. No NFL QB is.

I'm just looking down the road. JD, assuming he recovers his Rookie form or improves, will be one of the best paid players in the league in just a few years. Right now, we don't the weight of a contract for Top 5 QB but that is coming. Once it gets here, hard decisions will have to be made a WR is one of those positions where teams are throwing around silly money. The teams I see that have issues keeping some of their valuable mid-tier guys because of a cap crunch all seem to have one or more crazy expensive WR. If that WR is a Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, JSM type...I get it. Totally worth the money.

However, when I look at the WR list I see big contracts for guys like DK Metcalf, Garrett Wilson, Tee Higgins (making more than Terry and isn't even the #1 on his team), DJ Moore, and Aiyuk (these last 2 have turned in to locker room problems). These contracts look upside down to me in terms of value for cap space.

I'm also not suggesting that we give JD all below average tools to work with. However, if he is going to a legit top 5 QB like most of us believe he can and will be, he should be able to elevate the play of average to slightly above average NFL WRs. That is, after all, why those top QBs get the money they get, so we should be able to save some money other places and reasonably expect JD to close that gap through smart play under center.

What you reference above about the cost of elite WR on their second contracts is why I think you have to be shooting at WRs high in the draft until you hit.

It’s like QB, if you don’t have one you are using draft assets until you hit. Same with WR.

It’s partly why I think we likely go WR at #7 over Love if say the top WR on our board and Love are available. You can pick up quality backs on cheaper second deals you can’t do that with WRs.

 

[Dlts20]

We don’t have any average to slightly above average WRs though Bob - that’s the whole point.

We have Terry. And projects and scrubs.

Not even Jayden should be expected to elevate what we have to any significant degree.

Yea last year was one of the worst receiving rosters when Terry went down. Only Deebo was good and he was hurt half the time. We were starting guys who literally hadn't done anything in the league and wouldn't make most rosters

 

[Dah-Dee]

We don’t have any average to slightly above average WRs though Bob - that’s the whole point.

We have Terry. And projects and scrubs.

Not even Jayden should be expected to elevate what we have to any significant degree.

Agree. and it's kind of bizarre that we've signed about a quarter of a gameday roster's worth of new players in FA and none of them are WRs. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE what Peters has done in FA so far, just one great signing after another, but it's just weird that after the completely botched 2025 offseason handling of the WR position it apparently wasn't a code red priority this year. I can only hope Peters is extremely confident his WR dominoes are lined up perfectly and that's why we haven't seen anything happen yet.

 

[Discobob]

Yea last year was one of the worst receiving rosters when Terry went down. Only Deebo was good and he was hurt half the time. We were starting guys who literally hadn't done anything in the league and wouldn't make most rosters

Somewhere...... Robbie Chosen is crying

 

[MartinC]

Agree. and it's kind of bizarre that we've signed about a quarter of a gameday roster's worth of new players in FA and none of them are WRs. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE what Peters has done in FA so far, just one great signing after another, but it's just weird that after the completely botched 2025 offseason handling of the WR position it apparently wasn't a code red priority this year. I can only hope Peters is extremely confident his WR dominoes are lined up perfectly and that's why we haven't seen anything happen yet.

We were in on Pierce, I would be sure we are taking to Jennings camp. We clearly understand what even we know about our WR room.

Still a long time to OTAs let alone games that matter.

 

[BayouBrave86]

I’m so hyped about Chenal. I think he’s really going to take another leap with us and be that stabilizer at the middle level we’ve needed for years. I’m really excited about this defense. Attacking and in your face with the swagger we haven’t seen on defense since Taylor (RIP).

 

[Phantvm]

If we sign Aiyuk, and he’s healthy and productive(a big if I know), drafting a recover at 7 means we will be in 11 A LOT. We will have to be in order to justify taking the receiver that high IMO.

That then takes both Sinnott and Bates off the field. Which negatively impacts the run game. Harder to disguise run vs pass being in 11 so much given the nature of our TE room.

That would be my only push back on taking receiver @7. Especially if Love, Styles, Downs, and to a lesser extent Delane are there. A first round receiver at 16 after a trade I’d feel wholly differently about.

 

[Phantvm]

I’m so hyped about Chenal. I think he’s really going to take another leap with us and be that stabilizer at the middle level we’ve needed for years. I’m really excited about this defense. Attacking and in your face with the swagger we haven’t seen on defense since Taylor (RIP).

He reminds me of rich man’s Milano. He’s going to be a damn beast. Heard him say he’s lined up at nose in his presser. Dude seems like Gronk levels of meathead and I love it!

 

[BayouBrave86]

He reminds me of rich man’s Milano. He’s going to be a damn beast. Heard him say he’s lined up at nose in his presser. Dude seems like Gronk levels of meathead and I love it!

Love that comparison on both fronts 🍻

 

[Discobob]

If we sign Aiyuk, and he’s healthy and productive(a big if I know), drafting a recover at 7 means we will be in 11 A LOT. We will have to be in order to justify taking the receiver that high IMO.

That then takes both Sinnott and Bates off the field. Which negatively impacts the run game. Harder to disguise run vs pass being in 11 so much given the nature of our TE room.

That would be my only push back on taking receiver @7. Especially if Love, Styles, Downs, and to a lesser extent Delane are there. A first round receiver at 16 after a trade I’d feel wholly differently about.

That's a big IF, and it presumes that everyone is healthy, which if often NOT true.... also, I'm good with a situation where we have to work to get all our pieces the ball. It's been a long time since we've had that problem