The 2026 Free Agency Thread

Not much out there at the moment receiver wise. Evans, Kirk, Pierce, Pickens (not my favorite), OZ, Juju, Duvernay - some of these would simply be gap fillers. Not a whole lot to fill a major WR need. (I’m interested in where Denzel Boston and Elijah Sarratt slot in the draft. I want them on this team. Sarratt reminds me of Garçon)

Hall is the obvious RB FA.

Phillips and Hendrickson for the edge spot.

Kam Curl at safety.

Guard is likely a system guy.
 
I want zero part of Hendrickson--that has cap killer, albatross written all over him. Someone is going to pay him $30m/aav. He had 4 sacks in 7 games, injuries piled up. They usually don't get better for a 32 year old. But there is precious little out there for DE/EDGE. Most of the top ends this year are injury prone or huge risks.

For guard, I would take a 1-year flyer on Alijah Vera Tucker--very good when healthy. Leaving the Jets is always helpful to anyone's career.
 
AP mentioned not wanting to look at players with injury concerns or history. I know the all have some injury history hasn't been that good

I believe they absolutely bring in a FA RB. WR wise they will need to figure out Deebo and look to bring in another plus a draft pick.

AP spoke of explosive weapons, right now most FAs are not overly explosive
 
Pierce, Hall, Pitts are probably the most explosive players available, on offense. We shall see if any of them actually hit free agency
 
I know folks are fixated on edge rusher but if the best WR in the draft is sitting there at #7, that’s who I want is to take.
 
Boone said:
I know folks are fixated on edge rusher but if the best WR in the draft is sitting there at #7, that’s who I want is to take.
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This is perfect trade back and gain more picks scenario. But, if we're talking stay put hypothetical, we need D help alot worse than O right now.

Our defense is a dumpster fire and seriously needs a great deal this off-season. Sure, a WR would be great as we'll soon need a Terry replacement, but this offense can get by with serviceable WR when JD5 is healthy (2024). We saw this defense flounder way too many times even when healthy.

Go to go with defense, brother, and get that part of our team at least on par with our offense if we're to compete next season, IMO.

HTTR!
 
Nah. Maximizing (arguably “fixing” after this past season) Daniels has to be goal #1. The defense can get a ton of FA money and other draft picks pumped into it, it can get a lot of improvement from a qualified DC being brought in, and yes, it can benefit from the #7 overall pick (or the top pick after a trade back).

But if the talent is comparable, you have to consider getting Daniels (and the new OC) a stud weapon on offense. There’s very little in FA at WR. Our entire franchise hinges on this kid being a stud. It’s a major consideration if the players are in similar tiers
 
Boone said:
I know folks are fixated on edge rusher but if the best WR in the draft is sitting there at #7, that’s who I want is to take.
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FA comes first and both positions need multiple player upgrades (the mix with many other needs). They need to attack FA then see how the chips fall at 7. I find it hard to see them not take a WR or Edge there...I am assuming they fill RB in FA so won't look to Love. If we had a 2nd rounder they could plan to hit both position once in the draft but...
 
skinsfan4128 said:
This is perfect trade back and gain more picks scenario. But, if we're talking stay put hypothetical, we need D help alot worse than O right now.

Our defense is a dumpster fire and seriously needs a great deal this off-season. Sure, a WR would be great as we'll soon need a Terry replacement, but this offense can get by with serviceable WR when JD5 is healthy (2024). We saw this defense flounder way too many times even when healthy.

Go to go with defense, brother, and get that part of our team at least on par with our offense if we're to compete next season, IMO.

HTTR!
Click to expand...


If the best WR in the draft has the ability to be truly special, Elite level... you take him and you thank the NFL for giving Jayden Daniels a premium weapon. This roster has been void of premium, elite talent, for a long damn time. I don't think it's worth passing on Elite, to take 'really good' later in the 1st, and hoping you can find a 'pretty good' later.

Yes, i agree more choices helps round out the 53, but i'm more and more agreeing with guys on this board that if you have a chance at getting an absolute premium talent, you do it.
 
Boone said:
I know folks are fixated on edge rusher but if the best WR in the draft is sitting there at #7, that’s who I want is to take.
Click to expand...
I don’t necessarily care all that much what position we take in the 1st. I think via FA we can at least field an ok receiving group - ala the 2024 unit - and defensive end group, while potentially significantly improving in other areas. Not ideal, but it’d at least represent better depth/rotation/competition for the aforementioned spots.

On the other hand, needing DE help for 2 years (plus), but then foregoing a DE last year (it was seen as a deep position group) and again this year… doesn’t give me the warm and fuzzies. Of course, spending a 1st on a position of need isn’t necessarily the be all and end all, even if we’re lacking picks this year.
 
Primus Porcus said:
If the best WR in the draft has the ability to be truly special, Elite level... you take him and you thank the NFL for giving Jayden Daniels a premium weapon. This roster has been void of premium, elite talent, for a long damn time. I don't think it's worth passing on Elite, to take 'really good' later in the 1st, and hoping you can find a 'pretty good' later.

Yes, i agree more choices helps round out the 53, but i'm more and more agreeing with guys on this board that if you have a chance at getting an absolute premium talent, you do it.
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Eh, I get what you and others are saying. Hell, it makes sense. But I can't help feeling like it'd be akin to putting a new flagpole in front of a condemned building. Lol.

We can't keep glossing over the fact that we have a bad defense that needs a complete overhaul for the sake a shiny new toy on offense (even if it is an elite talent). And believe me, i completely want to give JD5 weapons to be successful. No argument there.

With that said, I also don't want that offense to feel like they have to go hero ball to bail the defense out cause they can't stop anyone. I realize that better coaching could alleviate that to some degree, but to assume that's going to fix the underlying problem (a severe lack of talent) is like putting a screen door on a submarine.

Our offense is alot better when healthy than the defense and, IMHO, isn't even close. With that said though, if AP thinks we can solve the D in FA and takes an elite WR with the first pick, ill be on board. I'll trust in the Fao til they give me a reason not to at this point.

HTTR!
 
skinsfan4128 said:
Eh, I get what you and others are saying. Hell, it makes sense. But I can't help feeling like it'd be akin to putting a new flagpole in front of a condemned building. Lol.

We can't keep glossing over the fact that we have a bad defense that needs a complete overhaul for the sake a shiny new toy on offense (even if it is an elite talent). And believe me, i completely want to give JD5 weapons to be successful. No argument there.

With that said, I also don't want that offense to feel like they have to go hero ball to bail the defense out cause they can't stop anyone. I realize that better coaching could alleviate that to some degree, but to assume that's going to fix the underlying problem (a severe lack of talent) is like putting a screen door on a submarine.

Our offense is alot better when healthy than the defense and, IMHO, isn't even close. With that said though, if AP thinks we can solve the D in FA and takes an elite WR with the first pick, ill be on board. I'll trust in the Fao til they give me a reason not to at this point.

HTTR!
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I hear you but it’s not about a bright fancy new toy. Our WR corps has been so below average that we cannot sustain drives. Because we have no WR outside of McLaurin that scared anyone, teams are able to stack our box and shut down a fairly good RB room. It has a huge impact on our D which nearly always is on the field significantly more than the opponents because we can’t sustain drives.

You can’t separate the impact of offense on defense. I do get that the reverse is true.
 
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Boone said:
I hear you but it’s not about a bright fancy new toy. Our WR corps has been so below average that we cannot sustain drives. Because we have no WR outside of McLaurin that scared anyone, teams are able to stack our box and shut down a fairly good RB room. It has a huge impact on our D which nearly always is on the field significantly more than the opponents because we can’t sustain drives.

You can’t separate the impact of offense on defense. I do get that the reverse is true.
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Yeah this is where i'm at.

The caveat still comes back to your original point, 'best WR in the draft.'

We're not talking about taking a WR vs an Edge that grade out comparably. If the two players grade out the same, I personally take Edge over WR right now, especially if you're talking about an Elite level Edge defender. The bigger point is give me the Elite WR over Montez Sweat. Sweat was pretty good, and has been pretty good, but he hasn't influenced offenses the way an Elite WR can influence defenses. It's time to inject the roster with premium talent.
 
Primus Porcus said:
Yeah this is where i'm at.

The caveat still comes back to your original point, 'best WR in the draft.'

We're not talking about taking a WR vs an Edge that grade out comparably. If the two players grade out the same, I personally take Edge over WR right now, especially if you're talking about an Elite level Edge defender. The bigger point is give me the Elite WR over Montez Sweat. Sweat was pretty good, and has been pretty good, but he hasn't influenced offenses the way an Elite WR can influence defenses. It's time to inject the roster with premium talent.
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I wasn’t all that impressed with what I heard from AP and Quinn in their postseason presser. Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood. But one answer AP gave I did like. It was in response to a question about protecting Jayden. Peters said that the best way to protect Jayden was to give him some elite weapons at WR, TE, and elsewhere. I agree with that strongly.
 
I have to say I am really leaning towards wanting a top tier offensive weapon from the draft this year, for the simple fact that for so long we have been spending our high level draft capital on defense with nothing to show for it. Give me some fire this year please.
 
mcdonaldrw said:
I have to say I am really leaning towards wanting a top tier offensive weapon from the draft this year, for the simple fact that for so long we have been spending our high level draft capital on defense with nothing to show for it. Give me some fire this year please.
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While i'm with you on wanting the fire power, the first round capital invested on the defense was done by completely different evaluators. This front office hasn't spend a 1st round pick on Defense, they've spent it on a potential franchise QB, and a possible bookend RT.

If an elite level defender is there at 7, i equally wouldnt hate it, as long as we're talking about a true difference maker. No matter who they take at 7, either side of the ball, I want people to use adjectives like 'difference maker,' 'matchup problem,' 'nightmare'....
 
Washington has to start using FREE AGENCY as well as trades and the draft as part of its core strategy.

We keep talking about pass rushers and breakaway wide receivers and other impact skill players, but the truth is we don't have enough picks left to fill these holes through the 2026 draft.

And I would not consider trading high 2027 picks as that would put us back in the position we are in now.

What I WOULD do is use cap money and not worry about retaining dollars and ensure at least ONE OR TWO of these critical spots is a priority signing in free agency, even if they are top of the market deals for deserving players.

I don't want to sit here and go into next season with the team sitting there with $20M in unspent cap room.

It's time to move forward and put ALL of our resources into this rebuild, which is what it has become AGAIN after we were sidetracked by a near miracle in 2024.
 
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