The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[philibusters]

Im not sure that number is accurate.

im seeing 3.5 million not 6.5 from a few other places.

this guy is the only one I've found who says 6.5.

spotrac says 3.5.

Jeremy Reaves Contract, Salary & Cap Hit 2026 | Spotrac

Jeremy Reaves signed a 1 year, $3,500,000 contract with the Washington Commanders with an average annual salary of $3,500,000.

www.spotrac.com

Over the cap is saying the exact same thing.

It looks like its 6.5 milion over the next two years which combines the year he had left on his deal plus the 1 year extension.

 

[heisenberg]

It looks like its 6.5 milion over the next two years which combines the year he had left on his deal plus the 1 year extension.

It is but everybody started assuming it was a 6.5 million dollar extension the way he had written it.

 

[Bulldog]

I didn't believe it. Adam Peters is far too frugal to give a 30 year old special teams player a $6.5M wrap for 2026.

That would be a case of negotiating against ourselves.

 

[HTTR]

Reaves is not just some special teams scrub. He has been a team leader, and a great locker room presence. His special teams play has been stellar. And he’s even shown he can play some safety in a pinch as a back up. If they gave him a few extra million, I say why not. For the third year in a row we are barely going to spend the minimum on players let alone use the entire cap. I would rather reward a guy like Reeves than put that money back in the owners pockets.

 

[Chris]

Reaves is not just some special teams scrub. He has been a team leader, and a great locker room presence. His special teams play has been stellar. And he’s even shown he can play some safety in a pinch as a back up. If they gave him a few extra million, I say why not. For the third year in a row we are barely going to spend the minimum on players let alone use the entire cap. I would rather reward a guy like Reeves than put that money back in the owners pockets.

Yes. IMO he is better at safety then just in a pinch. Definitely depth if the room is right though.

 

[bowhunter]

I'm still trying to figure out the Jauan Jennings thing. Obviously he over estimated his value during the 1st wave, and we should be glad that AP said "No." But I would love to see a deal work in a way that he can be added to our team. I see our biggest needs to be WR, RB, and def secondary. In essence Tate/Love/Downs in whichever order you like. Adding BA and Jennings would fill one of those holes ( although just adding BA basically would not.) I know that AP has the reputation of being a firm negotiator, the type who would walk away from a car dealership if the price isn't what he likes even if he loves the car. So what should APs' price be? I'm guessing he was at $18M AAV and JJ maybe wanted $26?? If so, would $23 be a fair market value?

 

[method man]

Akhello would be good veteran depth here. Broke his scapula twice and was on IR twice last year. I think of him as the Van Jefferson of the CB room

 

[Anselmheifer]

I'm still trying to figure out the Jauan Jennings thing. Obviously he over estimated his value during the 1st wave, and we should be glad that AP said "No." But I would love to see a deal work in a way that he can be added to our team. I see our biggest needs to be WR, RB, and def secondary. In essence Tate/Love/Downs in whichever order you like. Adding BA and Jennings would fill one of those holes ( although just adding BA basically would not.) I know that AP has the reputation of being a firm negotiator, the type who would walk away from a car dealership if the price isn't what he likes even if he loves the car. So what should APs' price be? I'm guessing he was at $18M AAV and JJ maybe wanted $26?? If so, would $23 be a fair market value?

23 million is a hell of a lot of money for what the team is probably hoping will be WR3.

 

[Riggo44]

What's funny is Jennings numbers are fairly comparable to Doubs, yet Doubs got $30m/yr.

 

[Conn]

What's funny is Jennings numbers are fairly comparable to Doubs, yet Doubs got $30m/yr.

Jennings has the top blocking WR trump card, and Doubs has the concussion issues. So you’d think they’d be fairly comparable.

But it probably comes down to Jennings being 29 this year and Doubs being 26. You’re overpaying for more potential upside with Doubs rather than for a finished product in Jennings.

I still want Jennings personally, pretty badly. I wonder if he’s into 1 year/$14M including incentives type territory now.

 

[bowhunter]

23 million is a hell of a lot of money for what the team is probably hoping will be WR3.

I would think that JJ would be WR2 and BA being WR3 with a strong bench of of Brown and LMC in relief. That would give us a year or two to find that young WR to develop at a lower cost. And if Love and Downs were gone by pick 7, us no longer being in a position to have to take someone and allowing us to entertain offers.

Edit, meant to say Burks and LMC, not Brown

 

[Riggo44]

If they sign JJ and BA, I think Brown gets cut

 

[CuredFromBatteredFanSyndrome]

Jennings likely wants more guaranteed money than any team was willing to part with. At this point, I don’t expect any movement for Jennings until after the draft.

 

[philibusters]

What's funny is Jennings numbers are fairly comparable to Doubs, yet Doubs got $30m/yr.

Doubs deal is worth between 17 and 20 million AAV.

 

[philibusters]

I'm still trying to figure out the Jauan Jennings thing. Obviously he over estimated his value during the 1st wave, and we should be glad that AP said "No." But I would love to see a deal work in a way that he can be added to our team. I see our biggest needs to be WR, RB, and def secondary. In essence Tate/Love/Downs in whichever order you like. Adding BA and Jennings would fill one of those holes ( although just adding BA basically would not.) I know that AP has the reputation of being a firm negotiator, the type who would walk away from a car dealership if the price isn't what he likes even if he loves the car. So what should APs' price be? I'm guessing he was at $18M AAV and JJ maybe wanted $26?? If so, would $23 be a fair market value?

Jennings is a good player, no question. He’s big, physical, competitive, and a really solid route runner. He is a great run blocker. He’s basically the ideal possession receiver. But he just doesn’t have downfield juice. He ran in 4.72 coming out of college and he’s not getting faster, so you’re not getting a guy who threatens vertically or creates explosive plays.And I do think some of his production is tied to the Kyle Shanahan system. That offense is really good at scheming guys open, especially receivers who can win underneath, block, and play with physicality. Jennings fits that perfectly. The question is how much of that translates if you pull him out of that ecosystem.

I’d still like to have him, especially depending on what else they do at WR. But I’m not paying $23M AAV for that profile. At that number, you want a guy who can tilt coverage and give you explosive plays, not just move the chains. If AP had a ceiling around $18M like you mentioned, I’m completely fine with him sticking to that. That feels much closer to fair value for what Jennings actually brings.

 

[Riggo44]

Doubs deal is worth between 17 and 20 million AAV.

I saw the fully guaranteed and read that as the AAV. My bad.

 

[heisenberg]

Doubs deal is worth between 17 and 20 million AAV.

I was wondering myself.
Maybe he meant pierce.

 

[Anselmheifer]

Doubs deal is worth between 17 and 20 million AAV.

And Doubs is significantly younger get and faster.

Jennings is a good player, no question. He’s big, physical, competitive, and a really solid route runner. He is a great run blocker. He’s basically the ideal possession receiver. But he just doesn’t have downfield juice. He ran in 4.72 coming out of college and he’s not getting faster, so you’re not getting a guy who threatens vertically or creates explosive plays.And I do think some of his production is tied to the Kyle Shanahan system. That offense is really good at scheming guys open, especially receivers who can win underneath, block, and play with physicality. Jennings fits that perfectly. The question is how much of that translates if you pull him out of that ecosystem.

I’d still like to have him, especially depending on what else they do at WR. But I’m not paying $23M AAV for that profile. At that number, you want a guy who can tilt coverage and give you explosive plays, not just move the chains. If AP had a ceiling around $18M like you mentioned, I’m completely fine with him sticking to that. That feels much closer to fair value for what Jennings actually brings.

I’d bet that AP’s number is lower than that. Maybe 14 or 15. He’s been pretty tight with the money and has signed guys to pretty good contracts.

Also, for everyone saying that we are going to cut Terry next year, I kind of doubt it. 34 million is a big cap hit, but I think we save 27 if we cut him. And then you have to replace him. And WR contracts are getting crazy. Maybe we aim for or trade for another top guy and then cut Terry if we land another WR1, but…

How high a pick in the 2027 draft would you guys give up for Brian Thomas Jr?

 

[Bulldog]

Receiver is among the most expensive position to find franchise talent.

If the team believes there is a guy on their board they can take at #7 or move down and take at say #11 or #12 that represents franchise value they should take him.

There's arguments about defense and all that, but let's face it the Washington rebuild is MOST in need of offensive weapons for Jayden Daniels to continue to grow and get better.

We can get a bit too cute and try and sign players and double up to have the greatest starting defense in history but if we do nothing at WR and Terry gets hurt again, then we are back to depending upon guys like Lane and McCaffrey and lower tier free agents like Dyami Brown.

Raachad White helps and Okonkwo helps too especially as flexible replacements for Deebo Samuel and the busted pick that Ben Sinnott seems to be in the short to intermediate passing game.

But we need more QUALITY at outside receiver, not simply numbers of guys to don the requisite number of jerseys in camp.

Again, I see other needs. But when folks bring up that we have Oweh and Chaisson but Chaisson and Omenihu are only signed for a single season, I get it, but at WR I am looking at NO ONE right now at WR2 for 2026, which is infinitely worse than having a guy for 2026 but worrying we might need more at that particular position in 2027.

That's something I worry about this time next year.

 

[bowhunter]

Jennings is a good player, no question. He’s big, physical, competitive, and a really solid route runner. He is a great run blocker. He’s basically the ideal possession receiver. But he just doesn’t have downfield juice. He ran in 4.72 coming out of college and he’s not getting faster, so you’re not getting a guy who threatens vertically or creates explosive plays.And I do think some of his production is tied to the Kyle Shanahan system. That offense is really good at scheming guys open, especially receivers who can win underneath, block, and play with physicality. Jennings fits that perfectly. The question is how much of that translates if you pull him out of that ecosystem.

I’d still like to have him, especially depending on what else they do at WR. But I’m not paying $23M AAV for that profile. At that number, you want a guy who can tilt coverage and give you explosive plays, not just move the chains. If AP had a ceiling around $18M like you mentioned, I’m completely fine with him sticking to that. That feels much closer to fair value for what Jennings actually brings.

If he maintains that great blocker, steady hand, reliable outlet personna, it sounds like he would make a great Robin to Terrys batman. Like an Ertz with 4 steps