The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Darrell Green Fan]

Deebo built up a big friendship with Jayden. They have been catering some to Jaydens alliances plus AP is a Deebo fan for what he brings on and off the field. As a result I will not be shocked if he returns but he cannot be viewed as a WR2 and not at the same cap hit.

Trautman has been the TE I have mentioned a few times in this thread. I was happy to see you list him. He is a good all around TE at still young. I do believe this would be a better move than drafting a TE and hoping he can get up to speed with the NFL and with a new OC's scheme.

Even if they draft a TE rookies most often take a year to develop. I've always been in favor of signing a FA tight end. There are plenty of teams with established tight ends blocking opportunity for a good player. Let's poach one of those players.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

Yes, I agree. Kind of. It’s hard to really judge that gap because minor differences in physical talent, skill and football acumen can be a major difference.

But a gene changing back is vital if we are going to go more under center and ball control offense. It’s non negotiable.

I’m not saying we don’t need an edge. We need to take care of both.

I don't think it's vital. Getting Jayden back to where he was last season and with these backs, which are upgrades over BRob with a back who can take it to the house, and WR additions the offense could be fine. The defense is where this team's real problems are and I'd like to see that first pick used on a potential game changing defensive player.

 

[KDawg]

I don't think it's vital. Getting Jayden back to where he was last season and with these backs, which are upgrades over BRob with a back who can take it to the house, and WR additions the offense could be fine. The defense is where this team's real problems are and I'd like to see that first pick used on a potential game changing defensive player.

I don’t agree, but that’s okay.

The backs we had this year benefit from running quarterbacks. If the team is intent on going away from that and increasing p:r ratio then we need a back who can run without the read option aspect in play as often.

We all saw Alfred Morris eat with RG3 and then become mediocre without him.

A running QB opens the run game for the running backs. Not having a consistent run threat, which is what Quinn wants Jayden to do - dial back the runs - means we need a back who can create on their own.

I’m not okay with mediocrity at RB. It gets us nowhere. Being an upgrade to Brian Robinson doesn’t mean much.

I’m not sure a game changing defensive player will be there at 7. Bailey might go early and I’m not sold on the others being a fit for us. Downs will probably be there but if you ask me Downs or Love my answer is Love.

Right now Bailey is my only other consideration unless we get a creative DC. That opens Bain back up, imo.

But I’d go after Phillips in FA for sure along with a few others.

I agree with the premise of: pretend the draft doesn’t exist. Use FA to the fullest.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

I don’t agree, but that’s okay.

The backs we had this year benefit from running quarterbacks. If the team is intent on going away from that and increasing p:r ratio then we need a back who can run without the read option aspect in play as often.

We all saw Alfred Morris eat with RG3 and then become mediocre without him.

A running QB opens the run game for the running backs. Not having a consistent run threat, which is what Quinn wants Jayden to do - dial back the runs - means we need a back who can create on their own.

I’m not okay with mediocrity at RB. It gets us nowhere. Being an upgrade to Brian Robinson doesn’t mean much.

I’m not sure a game changing defensive player will be there at 7. Bailey might go early and I’m not sold on the others being a fit for us. Downs will probably be there but if you ask me Downs or Love my answer is Love.

Right now Bailey is my only other consideration unless we get a creative DC. That opens Bain back up, imo.

But I’d go after Phillips in FA for sure along with a few others.

I agree with the premise of: pretend the draft doesn’t exist. Use FA to the fullest.

Downs and Love are the safest picks to a great player. I just see the gap between Downs and whatever half ass safety they end up signing is larger than Love to these current backs. JCM has the potential to be a dynamic back.

By the way I share your thoughts on McNichols. He is so underrated. How many dump offs on 3rd and very long did he convert into improbably first downs? He did this a number of times. I also agree on Bailey and like him more than Bain or any other edge we will be looking at at 7.

 

[DWinzit]

Do you all think with Kliff out, a newbie calling the offensive plays and Jayden coming off a subpar injury filled season we have a hard time drawing interest from FA weapons?

 

[method man]

I don’t agree, but that’s okay.

The backs we had this year benefit from running quarterbacks. If the team is intent on going away from that and increasing p:r ratio then we need a back who can run without the read option aspect in play as often.

We all saw Alfred Morris eat with RG3 and then become mediocre without him.

A running QB opens the run game for the running backs. Not having a consistent run threat, which is what Quinn wants Jayden to do - dial back the runs - means we need a back who can create on their own.

I’m not okay with mediocrity at RB. It gets us nowhere. Being an upgrade to Brian Robinson doesn’t mean much.

I’m not sure a game changing defensive player will be there at 7. Bailey might go early and I’m not sold on the others being a fit for us. Downs will probably be there but if you ask me Downs or Love my answer is Love.

Right now Bailey is my only other consideration unless we get a creative DC. That opens Bain back up, imo.

But I’d go after Phillips in FA for sure along with a few others.

I agree with the premise of: pretend the draft doesn’t exist. Use FA to the fullest.

I know you are a U fan but Phillips scares me. Injury prone guy who is a major proven liability against the run

 

[KDawg]

I know you are a U fan but Phillips scares me. Injury prone guy who is a major proven liability against the run

I agree. I don’t want Phillips because of Miami, but rather because he brings immediate pass rush to us. But I don’t think he’s in play given them emphasizing health (which makes sense to me)

 

[method man]

I agree. I don’t want Phillips because of Miami, but rather because he brings immediate pass rush to us. But I don’t think he’s in play given them emphasizing health (which makes sense to me)

Edge defender looks deep in FA but to me it is sneaky shallow for our purposes. Beyond Hendrickson & Phillips,

- Joey Bosa had a good season but is a major injury risk. Someone will pay him
- Mafe, Ossai, Epenesa, Oweh, Chiasson and others are DE2s who would be “upgrades” but question is by how much

 

[Bulldog]

Washington has not had good luck with injury risk candidates so I would think that AP to the degree possible is not going to commit more than minimum or near minimum level deals to veterans to fill holes that have serious injury histories.

 

[DWinzit]

Washington has not had good luck with injury risk candidates so I would think that AP to the degree possible is not going to commit more than minimum or near minimum level deals to veterans to fill holes that have serious injury histories.

I hope not and he mentioned that in the season ending presser. They did however have interest in Bosa last year

 

[Bulldog]

Yeah, I think that was part of the 'plug the gaps' with veterans philosophy when the team thought it was going to the Super Bowl.

I doubt you would see anyone in the building suggest that type of signing out of the box for 2026.

 

[Conn]

Edit: whoops, got caught up in the ongoing conversation and thought this was the draft thread.

I would absolutely try to sign Hall. An “expensive” RB is pretty affordable compared to an above average player at a more premium position. I think it can be a sneaky way to steal value in this league because the pendulum has swung so far towards “never pay RB’s!!!”

Hall has been an expensive playmaker. For the fucking Jets. Think about that.

 

[aledb11]

I think it is understated how much losing Ekeler hurt the offense. We need to replace him. Love is a much better Ekeler. So is Hall. Either is fine by me, but we need a RB for sure.

 

[Skinfanjon]

I’m not okay with mediocrity at RB. It gets us nowhere. Being an upgrade to Brian Robinson doesn’t mean much.

Didn’t you spend several years telling everyone how good Birdbox Robinson was?

 

[KDawg]

Didn’t you spend several years telling everyone how good Birdbox Robinson was?

I don’t know what bird box is.

I liked him as a third rounder.

Then he got shot.

Then he played well. And then he stopped hitting holes. I never once evaluated him unfairly. When he left he was middle of the road and wasn’t finding holes.

But no, I did not spend years telling everyone how good Brian Robinson was. I spent draft thread saying how good he was and how excited I was we got him, though.

Whatever the reason, I wound up incorrect.

 

[Skinfanjon]

I don’t know what bird box is.

I liked him as a third rounder.

Then he got shot.

Then he played well. And then he stopped hitting holes. I never once evaluated him unfairly. When he left he was middle of the road and wasn’t finding holes.

But no, I did not spend years telling everyone how good Brian Robinson was. I spent draft thread saying how good he was and how excited I was we got him, though.

Whatever the reason, I wound up incorrect.

I’m ribbing you a bit but I’m positive I read quite a few day after threads where you extolled how so so good he was and vital to a successful offense.

Birdbox is my nickname for him…

 

[KDawg]

I’m ribbing you a bit but I’m positive I read quite a few day after threads where you extolled how so so good he was and vital to a successful offense.

Birdbox is my nickname for him…

He was vital to the success of the team and he had some really good performances. The problem was when he fell off he fell off a cliff, hit a rock, bounced into the ocean and floated off into the sunset.

 

[Skinfanjon]

He was vital to the success of the team and he had some really good performances. The problem was when he fell off he fell off a cliff, hit a rock, bounced into the ocean and floated off into the sunset.

That’s interesting because his production was similar each year he was here and his YPC and TDs increased each season. But I digress.

I agree we need a serious upgrade, but cannot afford to shop in the luxury aisle of Love. We can throw plenty of money at Breece though and I’m all for it. He and Bill would be a nice pairing.

And I agree about McNichols, he’s been a really nice change of pace, but he’s already 30. And I like CRod too. Would be very pleased with a room of Breece, Bill, CRod, and McN.

 

[method man]

That’s interesting because his production was similar each year he was here and his YPC and TDs increased each season. But I digress.

I agree we need a serious upgrade, but cannot afford to shop in the luxury aisle of Love. We can throw plenty of money at Breece though and I’m all for it. He and Bill would be a nice pairing.

And I agree about McNichols, he’s been a really nice change of pace, but he’s already 30. And I like CRod too. Would be very pleased with a room of Breece, Bill, CRod, and McN.

I’d love Breece and believe his complete game provides fewer answers to defenses.

Being realistic though, if they choose to save the money for the defense, there are still going to be a bunch of backs who would be upgrades here at half the price. Dowdle, if the Panthers let him walk, would get me pumped. He’s a badass

 

[method man]

The All Pro teams are depressing for the “what could have beens.”

A lesson learned here is FA is definitely a key element to build your roster. Denver, for example, signed one first team All Pro in Zach Allen and a second team All Pro in Hufanga