The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Voice_of_Reason]

We’ll see. I was a big Antonio guy before the draft, and I’d love to see him start, but I get the sense he’s not quite as far along as they hoped. In his defense, expecting a third-round rookie WR to immediately be the guy who complements Terry always felt like more of a reflection of how low the bar has been in this WR room the last three years pre-Diggs than something most teams would typically count on.

At this point, I get the vibe Burks will get more reps at Z than anyone else and, by extension, be the guy in 11 personnel.

Maybe, I don't think they signed Diggs to just play the slot. I think he's going to move around a bunch. I think in pressure/critical situation, they will want their best receiving weapons on the field. The four obvious ones would be McLaurin, Diggs, Chig and White. Who's the 5th and where do they play would be a real question. I could actually see them going with a 2 TE set and the other guy is Yankoff. I could also see Williams, and I could see Burks.

It will be interesting to see how what they do when they get into those situations.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

Maybe, I don't think they signed Diggs to just play the slot. I think he's going to move around a bunch. I think in pressure/critical situation, they will want their best receiving weapons on the field. The four obvious ones would be McLaurin, Diggs, Chig and White. Who's the 5th and where do they play would be a real question. I could actually see them going with a 2 TE set and the other guy is Yankoff. I could also see Williams, and I could see Burks.

It will be interesting to see how what they do when they get into those situations.

The Comms do use analytics and I think Diggs success in the last two years came in diminished snaps. So I am guessing there will be a good amount of snaps he may not be lining up for, but like you said, in critical situations, I expect him out there.

 

[Commander Wraith]

The Comms do use analytics and I think Diggs success in the last two years came in diminished snaps. So I am guessing there will be a good amount of snaps he may not be lining up for, but like you said, in critical situations, I expect him out there.

He actually averaged over 80% in 2024, but had the acl mid-year. Would have thought last year his snaps would have increased throughout the season as he got over the aftermath of his injury, but they didn’t. And now he’s 32.

So it’s going to be interesting to see it play out.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

He actually averaged over 80% in 2024, but had the acl mid-year. Would have thought last year his snaps would have increased throughout the season as he got over the aftermath of his injury, but they didn’t. And now he’s 32.

So it’s going to be interesting to see it play out.

I think a wise course for a guy who has shown he can be effective in limited snaps and is older… is to limit their snaps.

To me, the upside is huge with that strategy, and ostensibly it helped the Pats to a SB appearance last year. Seems like an ok blueprint.

(By the way, I appreciate how in many of your posts you come with the numbers.)

 

[Commander Wraith]

I think a wise course for a guy who has shown he can be effective in limited snaps and is older… is to limit their snaps.

To me, the upside is huge with that strategy, and ostensibly it helped the Pats to a SB appearance last year. Seems like an ok blueprint.

I think that’s the smart way to play it.

But… I could see a temptation (by all relevant parties, including Diggs himself) to play him more than the Pats did.

(By the way, I appreciate how in many of your posts you come with the numbers.)

Thanks! Guess I never really took “curiosity killed the cat” to heart.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

NFL Future Power Rankings: 2027-29 projections for 32 teams​

• Aaron Schatz
  ,
• Ben Solak
  ,
• Louis Riddick
  ,
• Seth Walder

20. Washington Commanders (Overall score: 76.5)​

Category	Score	NFL rank
Overall Roster excluding QB	71.25	28
Quarterback	86.5	11
Coaching	75	26
Front Office	76.25	17

Reason for hope: A healthy Jayden Daniels season would go a long way to elevating the Commanders' standing here -- doubly so if it comes with a strong showing from first-time playcaller David Blough. Perhaps more than any other team in the bottom half, the Commanders have a chance to vault into the top five with a reminder of Daniels' near-MVP-level ability from 2024. Tons of new defensive infusions -- via free agency and in the coaching ranks -- should give that unit a shot in the arm, too. -- Solak

Reason for concern: Everything that surrounds Daniels concerns me -- the offensive line, makeup of the receivers room, big-play ability of the running backs room and early competency of Blough. Daniels is a superstar. Make no mistake about that. I'm just afraid we won't get to see the best of him if general manager Adam Peters doesn't support him better. -- Riddick

Nugget to know: Washington was the oldest team last season by snap-weighted age, ranking No. 1 on defense and special teams, and No. 4 on offense. -- Schatz

Bold prediction for 2027-29: The Commanders will trade OL Brandon Coleman for a nice return ahead of the 2027 season. Coleman will step in at left tackle while Laremy Tunsil recovers from triceps surgery. Coleman has had a strong 90.7% pass block win rate at tackle over his career, including a 92.3% last season (albeit with a lot more double-team help than Tunsil had). A big season from Coleman could garner the interest of another team. -- Walder

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49582613/2026-nfl-future-power-rankings-projections-32-teams-roster-coaching-quarterback

Interesting Bold Prediction. 2027 draft is supposed to be loaded too.

Another version of it, would be declaring Conerly a bust (if he doesn't improve) and moving Coleman to RT.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Maybe, I don't think they signed Diggs to just play the slot. I think he's going to move around a bunch. I think in pressure/critical situation, they will want their best receiving weapons on the field. The four obvious ones would be McLaurin, Diggs, Chig and White. Who's the 5th and where do they play would be a real question. I could actually see them going with a 2 TE set and the other guy is Yankoff. I could also see Williams, and I could see Burks.

It will be interesting to see how what they do when they get into those situations.

He won't just play the slot. But considering that's his niche these days and Quinn saying like 4 times or so in a press conference that Diggs will play slot, i am thinking that's where he's primarily playing.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

He won't just play the slot. But considering that's his niche these days and Quinn saying like 4 times or so in a press conference that Diggs will play slot, i am thinking that's where he's primarily playing.

I hadn't heard that presser. If that's the case, it strengths the case that Diggs won't lead the team in targets or catches, because I expect them to use a lot of 12 personnel so they can get Bates on the field as a blocking RB and run the ball a lot.

If Diggs is going to be primarily slot, then I wonder who's going to play outside opposite McLaurin in 12 personnel.

 

[CapsCommies]

I hadn't heard that presser. If that's the case, it strengths the case that Diggs won't lead the team in targets or catches, because I expect them to use a lot of 12 personnel so they can get Bates on the field as a blocking RB and run the ball a lot.

If Diggs is going to be primarily slot, then I wonder who's going to play outside opposite McLaurin in 12 personnel.

It would prob be Diggs across from McLaurin in 12 personnel and he moves to the slot in base/11 personnel

 

[SkinsGuy99]

Seattle signs Trevon Diggs to one year deal.

Seahawks sign CB Trevon Diggs as Terrion Arnold deal remains in limbo

The Seahawks have made another addition to their cornerback room. Former Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs is signing a one-year contract with Seattle, per ESPN.

www.nfl.com

 

[Conn]

I hadn't heard that presser. If that's the case, it strengths the case that Diggs won't lead the team in targets or catches, because I expect them to use a lot of 12 personnel so they can get Bates on the field as a blocking RB and run the ball a lot.

If Diggs is going to be primarily slot, then I wonder who's going to play outside opposite McLaurin in 12 personnel.

They’ll go into the season with that plan but they won’t be able to justify keeping Diggs off the field in 12 personnel imo, Jayden will just be much more comfortable with him, anticipation thrower that he is, even though it’s not the most efficient way to use him at his age. I just see it naturally happening until he’s playing way more snaps than they planned, just like with Zach Ertz that first year, tends to happen with competent vets. Will he stay healthy? We’ll see. Older WR’s can play in this league when they’re talented enough.

 

[Anselmheifer]

They’ll go into the season with that plan but they won’t be able to justify keeping Diggs off the field in 12 personnel imo, Jayden will just be much more comfortable with him, anticipation thrower that he is, even though it’s not the most efficient way to use him at his age. I just see it naturally happening until he’s playing way more snaps than they planned, just like with Zach Ertz that first year, tends to happen with competent vets. Will he stay healthy? We’ll see. Older WR’s can play in this league when they’re talented enough.

My impression is that Diggs has not been a guy prone to overuse and soft tissue injuries. He’s had the ACL, but that’s not really a use related thing. Is that not so?

 

[Conn]

My impression is that Diggs has not been a guy prone to overuse and soft tissue injuries. He’s had the ACL, but that’s not really a use related thing. Is that not so?

You’re right, he’s been a fairly durable and consistent presence on the field for the majority of his career. That begins to change for a lot of older guys as their bodies break down, which leads to the age cliff, but I think Diggs is already showing he has a good chance to be an exception. For how long, we’ll have to see. Father Time always wins eventually

 

[DWinzit]

Looks like another team will be looking for help at Center

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that Ravens C Danny Pinter suffered a torn patellar tendon on Wednesday.​

This is terribly unfortunate. We expect him to be placed on injured reserve soon, and we do not expect him to return until 2027. The Ravens brought in Pinter and C Ethan Pocic, who is coming off a season-ending Achilles tendon rupture, to compete for the starting center role after losing C Tyler Linderbaum in free agency to the Raiders. Pocic, 31, has been a reliable NFL starter since earning a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2017. He earned a 62.3 PFF pass-blocking grade and a 63.2 PFF run-blocking grade before injuring his Achilles in Week 14 last year.
- Nic Bodiford

 

[burgold]

The good news is that according to the radio Allegretti's okay and the tests came back negative so they're holding him out only as a precaution. The bad news is that he has had almost no snaps and he may not be great if healthy. I still hope that Peters is quick on the waiver wire trigger.

 

[DWinzit]

The good news is that according to the radio Allegretti's okay and the tests came back negative so they're holding him out only as a precaution. The bad news is that he has had almost no snaps and he may not be great if healthy. I still hope that Peters is quick on the waiver wire trigger.

Yeah it is rough that he has no snaps with Jayden or making the line calls so the line as a group can be on the same page. Also it is rough on the other centers because they have no or almost no NFL experience with calls. Working with him would have really helped them

 

[Conn]

Waiver order is still based on last year’s draft order at this point, right? So we’re pretty high

 

[Conn]

Doubt the veracity of it, but figured I’d post once I saw it, just in case. Seems like speculation just because our CB room is warmed-over doodoo

 

[Boone]

The good news is that according to the radio Allegretti's okay and the tests came back negative so they're holding him out only as a precaution. The bad news is that he has had almost no snaps and he may not be great if healthy. I still hope that Peters is quick on the waiver wire trigger.

Not to quibble, but there's no way they are holding him out just as a precaution. Quinn and Blough know it's critical if he is going to be our starting center that he get reps with the 1st team (and asap). If he were physically healthy and able to do so, he would be doing so. It's good news that there doesn't appear to be major structural damage - but he IS hurt.

 

[COWBOY-KILLA]

Doubt the veracity of it, but figured I’d post once I saw it, just in case. Seems like speculation just because our CB room is warmed-over doodoo

I dont know enough and havent looked up the data about how good he actually is, my question would be is he worth it? Because if he is, then yes I would trade for him.