The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[ExoDus84]

And if Allegretti goes down in week 1 how do you feel about letting Biadasz go for nothing then?

I have a hard time believing Peters just let Biadasz go for nothing if there really was a valid trade market for him. Is it the consensus here on the board that Peters is that incompetent? Do we have one of the worst GMs in the league?

 

[Boone]

That's a 'sucker's choice' argument. If you don't like a Peter's decision you must think he is an idiot. That's not the only possible conclusion.

 

[philibusters]

I guess I don't really care if they overspend on a player if it fundamentally doesn't impact their other roster decisions. An overspend does impact their cap #, but practically, if they aren't going to spend to the cap, it's a distinction without a practical difference.

Eventually they are going to spend to the cap. Jayden Daniels will get a 60 million AAV deal and while it won't be year 1 of that deal eventually we are going to have make hard decisions and let good players go. Rolling over a little cap is a rainy day fund that could help a bit more downline, but even more important not doing huge overpays on the books for 3 or 4 years, paying 27 million for a player who is probably worth 22 million aav is essential. Sure it doesn't matter if you are looking at this season, but if you are looking at the next 5 seasons, it matters.

 

[SkinsFTW]

I have a hard time believing Peters just let Biadasz go for nothing if there really was a valid trade market for him. Is it the consensus here on the board that Peters is that incompetent? Do we have one of the worst GMs in the league?

He's definitely not close to the worst but he has a long way to go to prove that he's up there with Phillys GM or a few others. Just no more trades with Roseman or the Chiefs. It usually doesn't look good, unless Roseman wants to throw us another 3rd rounder for a Jag WR. Maybe a 3rd for McCaffrey?

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I guess I don't really care if they overspend on a player if it fundamentally doesn't impact their other roster decisions. An overspend does impact their cap #, but practically, if they aren't going to spend to the cap, it's a distinction without a practical difference.

Yeah, I don’t agree. Because every decision has ramifications. It might have changed the tenor of the Tunsil negotiations, the way that people approached Peters and thought they could get more from him.

And if it didn’t work, it’s a disaster.

Being aggressive is fine. But you have to have discipline while being aggressive or you end up being stupid.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

And if Allegretti goes down in week 1 how do you feel about letting Biadasz go for nothing then?

I think they need to find another center no matter what. Either to start or be a backup. But I think they knew they were in that position when they released him.

Clearly they thought Biadasz should not even be the backup. Because if they thought he could be the backup, then they just let it ride and have him and Allegretti battle in camp, and whoever wins the battle wins the job.

But they didn’t even want that. So they knew they needed another center.

I also think they need at least 2 more backup OL in general.

It’s also not even certain Allegretti will start. They could still sign somebody or draft somebody who could start.

I would have thought they would have signed another guy by now but they haven’t.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

That's a 'sucker's choice' argument. If you don't like a Peter's decision you must think he is an idiot. That's not the only possible conclusion.

There was some reporting that they shopped Biadasz a little bit but there really wasn’t a market because teams knew we were going to release him.

I wish they could have gotten something for him.


I do find that he landed so quickly a little odd.

I have no idea if Peter’s was right about this or not. I also have no opinion, becuase frankly I have no idea of Biadasz was a good center or not. I’m not qualified to have that opinion. I know nothing about center play at all.

It’s a risk though. That’s for sure.

 

[Discobob]

Eventually they are going to spend to the cap. Jayden Daniels will get a 60 million AAV deal and while it won't be year 1 of that deal eventually we are going to have make hard decisions and let good players go. Rolling over a little cap is a rainy day fund that could help a bit more downline, but even more important not doing huge overpays on the books for 3 or 4 years, paying 27 million for a player who is probably worth 22 million aav is essential. Sure it doesn't matter if you are looking at this season, but if you are looking at the next 5 seasons, it matters.

We are well past the point of high priced free agents, and they have ~$50M in cap space. I don't see that as a "save a little bit to role over" scenario. To me, they are probably operating on a soft cash budget (that they probably won't ever publicly admit to). So they could have signed Linderbaum to an overpriced deal, but structured the contract to eat a larger than normal amount this year, so the remaining years are a bargain.

If there's a plan is to eventually use the cap space to sign more FAs or to cover JDs extension next year ... great. But if this is just them controlling costs, I'd rather see them spend more $$$, even if it's an overpay... just my 2 cents

 

[SkinsFTW]

Everybody has now spent an entire month pondering the reason why the team got rid of Biadasz but hasn't it been obvious the whole time?

We all saw the Chunky commercial. JD blamed him for the redesign of his mother's pantry. She's got more pull than anybody knew, until now.

 

[Boone]

There was some reporting that they shopped Biadasz a little bit but there really wasn’t a market because teams knew we were going to release him.

I wish they could have gotten something for him.


I do find that he landed so quickly a little odd.

I have no idea if Peter’s was right about this or not. I also have no opinion, becuase frankly I have no idea of Biadasz was a good center or not. I’m not qualified to have that opinion. I know nothing about center play at all.

It’s a risk though. That’s for sure.

I agree most of us aren't qualified to know if he was 'a good center' or not. But he was good enough to start for an NFL team for 2 straight seasons, and to play the snark card, he was good enough to start for a team that was one win away from the Super Bowl, lol...

I think the fact that he got a big contract from the Chargers suggests he had adequate value that someone might've given up a draft pick for him had we held out a bit. I think that happening right after we released him rightfully raises some eyebrows.

 

[burgold]

We are well past the point of high priced free agents, and they have ~$50M in cap space. I don't see that as a "save a little bit to role over" scenario. To me, they are probably operating on a soft cash budget (that they probably won't ever publicly admit to). So they could have signed Linderbaum to an overpriced deal, but structured the contract to eat a larger than normal amount this year, so the remaining years are a bargain.

If there's a plan is to eventually use the cap space to sign more FAs or to cover JDs extension next year ... great. But if this is just them controlling costs, I'd rather see them spend more $$$, even if it's an overpay... just my 2 cents

It feels like that but I think I read that we spent the third most of any NFL team this season. So, I'm not sure how the two go hand in hand.

 

[Boone]

It feels like that but I think I read that we spent the third most of any NFL team this season. So, I'm not sure how the two go hand in hand.

We were at the top of the NFL in terms of free agency cash to spend. We could've spent quite a bit and still not maximized our spending power.

That's how the two go hand in hand

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I agree most of us aren't qualified to know if he was 'a good center' or not. But he was good enough to start for an NFL team for 2 straight seasons, and to play the snark card, he was good enough to start for a team that was one win away from the Super Bowl, lol...

I think the fact that he got a big contract from the Chargers suggests he had adequate value that someone might've given up a draft pick for him had we held out a bit. I think that happening right after we released him rightfully raises some eyebrows.

Yeah. I’m not sure why but they were completely done with him in any capacity apparently.

It’s really odd and a big risk.

But they didn’t want him playing for this team and shipped him out.

I might have waited to see what happened with Lindy and others, the draft, etc. But they just clearly don’t want him around anymore.

 

[RedWolf]

I think we pick another Center in the 4th or 5th round

Quick look

2026 NFL Draft: 5 center prospects who could interest Titans

The Tennessee Titans need to add some talent to the interior of their offensive line, and here are five prospects who could catch their eye.

titanswire.usatoday.com

Top Centers 2026 NFL Draft

 

[Higskin]

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

This guy clearly wants more money than the market wants to pay him or else he would have been signed.

 

[Dlts20]

 

[Dlts20]

This guy clearly wants more money than the market wants to pay him or else he would have been signed.

He does but I think his plan now is to hold out until the draft. He's betting that one team will not get a WR and would raise their offer. I could see us doing so if we don't draft a WR I in the first. I don't see us going WR in the 3rd. I think at that point in this draft, you will find guys closer to Luke and Lane than you will getting lucky on a McLaurin again.

I don't think that AP will still go super high on him but I think that he will raise his offer if we draft Love or go defense and we probably won't be the only team feeling the same way. We still have enough cap to where we may go pretty big but only for a one year deal

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

He does but I think his plan now is to hold out until the draft. He's betting that one team will not get a WR and would raise their offer. I could see us doing so if we don't draft a WR I in the first. I don't see us going WR in the 3rd. I think at that point in this draft, you will find guys closer to Luke and Lane than you will getting lucky on a McLaurin again.

I don't think that AP will still go super high on him but I think that he will raise his offer if we draft Love or go defense and we probably won't be the only team feeling the same way. We still have enough cap to where we may go pretty big but only for a one year deal

You’re probably right about him waiting for after the draft.

I do wonder if at some point they just say screw it and bring Deebo back. He wouldn’t be an outside guy but he is at least a starting WR and we need those. And probably wouldn’t cost that much at this point. It’s probably after the draft but if they don’t go WR at 7, I think either they bring Deebo back of get Jennings.

All of that would be in addition to Aiyuk if. He ever becomes available.

 

[DWinzit]

He does but I think his plan now is to hold out until the draft. He's betting that one team will not get a WR and would raise their offer.

Or he plans to sign just before the draft, anticipating one team will throw more at him to remove the WR need come draft day. Otherwise the teams that need a receiver will all take one and remove the demand that exists today.