The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Conn]

I think AP wrongly assumed we were going to land Linderbaum.

I just find that so confusing. He had to know that contract was going to get insane, and by cutting our guy first he also lost all leverage. Could have easily released him once it became clear we were indeed upgrading during the tampering period, if it had played out that way. No way he should’ve been shocked that Linderbaum got overpaid by an even worse team, even if it was by a higher percentage than people were projecting

The risk-reward calculation in that scenario was way out of wack and I still don’t quite get it. Meanwhile we paid Reaves half of what Biasdasz was getting anyways

 

[Anselmheifer]

Keim has said specifically that they were going to release Biadasz regardless of any plan to pursue Linderbaum.

Also doesn’t make sense to me. He was done as a starter. Could be partially that injury. Partially the plan to move to a zone blocking scheme. Part of me has wondered whether there might have been a personal issue. Drinking, harassment drugs, or something. That’s really the thing that would make the most sense to me.

 

[Chris]

There has to be more to the story. All of us outside will most likely never get the details or the reasoning. And I’m ok with that.

 

[Bulldog]

I am OK with replacing Biadasz with an NFL center. At this point after 2 games I don't consider Nick Allegretti to be that.

If we make a move in secondary free agency after the draft for a veteran or draft a guy that starts as a rookie then so be it.

But I have seen this team cut off it's nose despite its face before in regards to personnel.

I trust Peters about 75-80% at this point. But there's still that 20-25% that needs to be convinced after that 2024 draft produced nothing but question marks after Daniels and we traded all those picks for Lattimore, who came here injured and did nothing but get injured again as he had for most of the previous 2 years in New Orleans.

 

[SkinsGuy99]

I think AP wrongly assumed we were going to land Linderbaum.

GMs don't work like that.

If Biadasz's fate were tied to Linderbaum, Peters would've waited till he actually aquired Linderbaum. Then he would've released Biadasz.

Peters wouldn't release Biadasz, then cross his fingers and hope against hope that they land Linderbaum. He'd wait till they succeeded.

Biadasz release had nothing to do with Linderbaum. He was let go because he just wasn't any good.

 

[HTTR]

I just find that so confusing. He had to know that contract was going to get insane, and by cutting our guy first he also lost all leverage. Could have easily released him once it became clear we were indeed upgrading during the tampering period, if it had played out that way. No way he should’ve been shocked that Linderbaum got overpaid by an even worse team, even if it was by a higher percentage than people were projecting

The risk-reward calculation in that scenario was way out of wack and I still don’t quite get it. Meanwhile we paid Reaves half of what Biasdasz was getting anyways

Agreed. I doubt it had anything to do with somehow assuming he would get Linderbaum.

I definitely don’t think Reaves had anything to do with it… not sure where you’re going with that part of it?

 

[Bulldog]

GMs don't work like that.

If Biadasz's fate were tied to Linderbaum, Peters would've waited till he actually aquired Linderbaum. Then he would've released Biadasz.

Peters wouldn't release Biadasz, then cross his fingers and hope against hope that they land Linderbaum. He'd wait till they succeeded.

Biadasz release had nothing to do with Linderbaum. He was let go because he just wasn't any good.

Well, Jim Harbaugh seems to think that Biadasz is an NFL center and he has a lot more experience judging talent at both the college and pro levels than you or I do.

And it isn't the fact he got signed by someone as a backup plan, the guy literally was out on the street for less than a week and had a multi-year deal in his pocket.

 

[ES1974]

GMs don't work like that.

If Biadasz's fate were tied to Linderbaum, Peters would've waited till he actually aquired Linderbaum. Then he would've released Biadasz.

Peters wouldn't release Biadasz, then cross his fingers and hope against hope that they land Linderbaum. He'd wait till they succeeded.

Biadasz release had nothing to do with Linderbaum. He was let go because he just wasn't any good.

Disagree.

 

[SkinsGuy99]

Well, Jim Harbaugh seems to think that Biadasz is an NFL center and he has a lot more experience judging talent at both the college and pro levels than you or I do.

And neither you or I have the same level of experience judging talent at the college and pro level Peters and Quinn have.

So by your logic, we shouldn't be questioning their moves either.

 

[Bulldog]

Someone explain to me in that scenario why Washington released Biadasz and took an $8.1M dead cap hit before they knew they were going to win the Linderbaum stakes (again using the assumption stated in the thread that was the team's plan).

It makes no sense.

 

[SkinsGuy99]

Disagree.

Feel free to disagree.

But John Keim also said the two had nothing to do with each other.

But you do you.

 

[HTTR]

Someone explain to me in that scenario why Washington released Biadasz and took an $8.1M dead cap hit before they knew they were going to be in it to win it with Linderbaum (again using the assumption stated in the thread that was the team's plan).

It makes no sense.

That’s kinda the whole point of this discussion we’re having. It makes no sense. Therefore, there must be information we don’t know about.

 

[DWinzit]

Can you expound about what you mean by this?

Yes. You mentioned bringing in Jennings would assist our run game which I agree.

I should have explained this jump in topics, my bad.

Regarding our OL and the run game, I am shocked that the only thing we have done to "improve" is to cut out starting C and replace him with his meh backup.

Crazy. Most of us thought a new LG would be in the works and perhaps bring in a new backup C that could compete with Biadasz. I just don't get that situation

 

[Conn]

Agreed. I doubt it had anything to do with somehow assuming he would get Linderbaum.

I definitely don’t think Reaves had anything to do with it… not sure where you’re going with that part of it?

The Reaves comment was really just pointing out that it’s not like we had some grand plans for the saved cap dollars (not that it was in question, given we still have an enormous amount of cap space)

 

[Anselmheifer]

Well, Jim Harbaugh seems to think that Biadasz is an NFL center and he has a lot more experience judging talent at both the college and pro levels than you or I do.

And it isn't the fact he got signed by someone as a backup plan, the guy literally was out on the street for less than a week and had a multi-year deal in his pocket.

I don’t know what scheme they run, but that could be a difference.

Really though, that could support the idea to me of it being something personal. And that we just care more about him slapping asses or showing up drunk than Harbough.

Also, while Keim said that releasing him didn’t save us money on the cap, it did save us CASH, and most teams run on a cash budget with regards to free agency. That probably played some roll. At least Keim suggested so.

 

[ES1974]

Feel free to disagree.

But John Keim also said the two had nothing to do with each other.

But you do you.

AP swung and missed on several of the census top 10 free agents. It not a crime to think our GM isn’t quite the finished article yet. Nor are we as a premier destination.

We cleared the decks to sign multiple high end FA and most rejected us. That’s a fairly stark reality, in my opinion.

 

[SkinsGuy99]

Someone explain to me in that scenario why Washington released Biadasz and took an $8.1M dead cap hit before they knew they were going to win the Linderbaum stakes (again using the assumption stated in the thread that was the team's plan).

It makes no sense.

It makes no sense because it's ridiculous and it didn't happen.

Biadasz was cut independent of any other moves, center or otherwise. Mainly because he wasn't any good and probably because with their large salary cap money this off-season, they can eat his dead cap money and get it off the books with no difficulty.

The idea that Peters wanted to aquire Linderbaum and cut Biadasz before he aquired his replacement and had him in hand is absurd. That's basically saying that Peters is operating at a level of incompetence that would make Dan Snyder look like a genius in front office football operations.

And I don't think anyone here is so irrational to think Snyder is better than Peters.

 

[SkinsGuy99]

AP swung and missed on several of the census top 10 free agents. It not a crime to think our GM isn’t quite the finished article yet. Nor are we as a premier destination.

We cleared the decks to sign multiple high end FA and most rejected us. That’s a fairly stark reality, in my opinion.

Missing out on some top free agents has nothing to do with what I was talking about, which is the absurd notion that Peters is cutting players before acquiring his want to be replacement.

Do you think Peters was sitting in his office saying...

Peters: "Man, Linderbaum would be a great starting center for our team. I'll think I'll go after him. In fact, go ahead and cut Biadasz to make room for Linderbaum".

Peter's assistant: "But sir, shouldn't we actually aquire Linderbaum before we let go of Biadasz? We don't have him yet and our chances of acquiring him are not solid."

Peters: "Nonsense. I have my rabbits foot in my desk, a four leaf clover in my shoe, and his contract offer on my hope chest at home. I'm sure we'll get him. That how front offices work."


Yeah, I'm sure that's how it happened.

 

[Boone]

It makes no sense because it's ridiculous and it didn't happen.

Biadasz was cut independent of any other moves, center or otherwise. Mainly because he wasn't any good and probably because with their large salary cap money this off-season, they can eat his dead cap money and get it off the books with no difficulty.

The idea that Peters wanted to aquire Linderbaum and cut Biadasz before he aquired his replacement and had him in hand is absurd. That's basically saying that Peters is operating at a level of incompetence that would make Dan Snyder look like a genius in front office football operations.

And I don't think anyone here is so irrational to think Snyder is better than Peters.

You make some good points but this one is a little off imho. It doesn't matter if there was correlation - 'We can cut Biadasz because we're going to sign _____'. What matters is we let a (at worst) serviceable center with starting experience walk for nothing, and don't have a clear substitute on the roster (even after free agency).

That doesn't mean Peters assumed anything about getting someone specific to replace him. It just wasn't necessary to create that hole at that particular moment with no guarantee of an upgrade. Now - if they really think Allegretti is a major upgrade, I'm okay with it but you could still argue letting a quality OL player with lots of starting experience go for nothing is unwise.

I don't think I've said anything controversial so far

 

[SkinsGuy99]

You make some good points but this one is a little off imho. It doesn't matter if there was correlation - 'We can cut Biadasz because we're going to sign _____'. What matters is we let a (at worst) serviceable center with starting experience walk for nothing, and don't have a clear substitute on the roster (even after free agency).

That doesn't mean Peters assumed anything about getting someone specific to replace him. It just wasn't necessary to create that hole at that particular moment with no guarantee of an upgrade. Now - if they really think Allegretti is a major upgrade, I'm okay with it but you could still argue letting a quality OL player with lots of starting experience go for nothing is unwise.

I don't think I've said anything controversial so far

But it does have everything to do with the correlation because that what some are ridiculously claiming here. That he foolishly cut one player before he aquired the player he wanted to replace him.

It's your opinion, though, that he was "serviceable".

Apparently, they didn't think so.

I'm not contending I know what ther plan is, whether it is Allegretti or something else, and I'm not trying to minimize anyone's concerns.

I was just simply reacting to the absurd levels some are going to in an effort to criticize Peters. He's not perfect, of course, but I give him a whole lot more credit than they are willing to give him.