The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[method man]

I know the discussion is about WR but I'd like to discuss Jacob Martin. I sure wish he was 23 and an ascending player, but he's 30 and has done little in his career. Until this season. In limited snaps he put on more pressure than anyone else they had on that side. He has actually played pretty damned well. So what to do with him?

He won’t cost a lot to keep. Better pedigreed guys like Ojulari and Fowler got $3M and $5M respectively.

I’d give Jacob Martin a 1 year $5M deal to keep him

 

[Conn]

I think if he heals alright, McCaffrey has earned his spot at the bottom of our gameday active roster.

A good kick returner has a lot of value right now. With the new rules (and if we can secure a better kicker or Moody develops into the guy) a FG is literally two first downs away for some teams. Return out close to the 40, kick a FG at the opponent’s 40. It’s happening every week.

Obviously you prefer TD’s and I’ve seen some convincing arguments that having such a great long distance Kicker is actually hurting Dallas, because it completely changes their decision-making past the 50-yard line and neuters their aggressiveness. So it can be an advantage, but you don’t want your coaches turtling up too much due to it.

But anyways, what McCaffrey does on kick returns is valuable. With a franchise QB we should be scoring TD’s much more often than FG’s. But better field position helps in both cases and worst case, you begin your drive comically close to FG position with a good kick returner these days.

And if he keeps developing as a depth WR, great. But potentially best KR in the league is not a bad outcome for the #100 overall player drafted, if we’re being fair. I’ve been critical of the pick but I’ve come around on the outcome when thinking about it rationally, compared to 80%+ of outcomes for that area of the draft.

 

[method man]

I think if he heals alright, McCaffrey has earned his spot at the bottom of our gameday active roster.

A good kick returner has a lot of value right now. With the new rules (and if we can secure a better kicker or Moody develops into the guy) a FG is literally two first downs away for some teams. Return out close to the 40, kick a FG at the opponent’s 40. It’s happening every week.

Obviously you prefer TD’s and I’ve seen some convincing arguments that having such a great long distance Kicker is actually hurting Dallas, because it completely changes their decision-making past the 50-yard line and neuters their aggressiveness. So it can be an advantage, but you don’t want your coaches turtling up too much due to it.

But anyways, what McCaffrey does on kick returns is valuable. With a franchise QB we should be scoring TD’s much more often than FG’s. But better field position helps in both cases and worst case, you begin your drive comically close to FG position with a good kick returner these days.

And if he keeps developing as a depth WR, great. But potentially best KR in the league is not a bad outcome for the #100 overall player drafted, if we’re being fair. I’ve been critical of the pick but I’ve come around on the outcome when thinking about it rationally, compared to 80%+ of outcomes for that area of the draft.

I wonder how much of LMC’s kick return stats come from the blocking vs his natural skills. Ekeler (last season) and Deebo (this year) were leading the league in kick returns.

Obviously there is a gap between LMC and a scrub like Chase Edmonds but can you put someone like Bill back there with an offseason of training and see similar results?

 

[Commander Wraith]

I know the discussion is about WR but I'd like to discuss Jacob Martin. I sure wish he was 23 and an ascending player, but he's 30 and has done little in his career. Until this season. In limited snaps he put on more pressure than anyone else they had on that side. He has actually played pretty damned well. So what to do with him?

I’d like him back, assuming he won’t cost much (3mil or less, sure. 5 mil? Probably not). He needs to be more like our #4 though, with the hope that a young guy (like JJB) beats him out and Martin’s our #5 instead. Of course, once you get into that territory, wouldn’t you rather another young guy as your #5?
Perhaps we sign 2 guys to round out our top 3 spots (with Armstrong) and then wait until after the draft to decide on Martin/Miller (or someone else).

I wonder how much of LMC’s kick return stats come from the blocking vs his natural skills. Ekeler (last season) and Deebo (this year) were leading the league in kick returns.

Obviously there is a gap between LMC and a scrub like Chase Edmonds but can you put someone like Bill back there with an offseason of training and see similar results?

McCaffrey seems pretty sure-handed as well. A minor thing, but every once in a blue moon could be a significant factor.

Overall, I don’t mind the ST focus in terms of personnel - I think our problem is more the starters and immediate backups.

 

[Conn]

I wonder how much of LMC’s kick return stats come from the blocking vs his natural skills. Ekeler (last season) and Deebo (this year) were leading the league in kick returns.

Obviously there is a gap between LMC and a scrub like Chase Edmonds but can you put someone like Bill back there with an offseason of training and see similar results?

It’s a good question, we clearly have a great ST’s coordinator with a blocking scheme that works, and ST’s players who execute.

Ekeler and Deebo are both guys with a history of incredible vision and RB ability in their YAC skill-set, so it also may be a “coincidence” that they’re basically as good as McCaffrey. Meaning it could mean he’s in great company with those guys and is just also elite in that skillset (as a returner).

 

[philibusters]

I think Luke is a good kickoff return because of his ability to hit the hole at a full sprint. He is not shifty and doesn't really break a lot of tackles, but he is fearless. Most returners even at the NFL level struggle to hit the hole at a full sprint just cause you are setting yourself to take a bit hit that way. It was just such a big hit that broke his collar bone. Its somewhat analogous to receivers catching high balls over the middle in traffic. Most receivers will jump even if they don't have to protect themselves from a big hit but the ones who are really good after the catch will just full extend without jumping even though it leaves to vulnerable to a punishing hit.

 

[Conn]

I think Luke is a good kickoff return because of his ability to hit the hole at a full sprint. He is not shifty and doesn't really break a lot of tackles, but he is fearless. Most returners even at the NFL level struggle to hit the hole at a full sprint just cause you are setting yourself to take a bit hit that way. It was just such a big hit that broke his collar bone. Its somewhat analogous to receivers catching high balls over the middle in traffic. Most receivers will jump even if they don't have to protect themselves from a big hit but the ones who are really good after the catch will just full extend without jumping even though it leaves to vulnerable to a punishing hit.

I do think in addition to this, he has good vision to spot the crease and take it without hesitation. It’s not just pure recklessness, his vision is good enough on returns and his decision-making instinctive enough that I was wanting to see us set him up with more manufactured touches on offense: digs, shovels out of motion, tunnel screens, etc.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

I’d like him back, assuming he won’t cost much (3mil or less, sure. 5 mil? Probably not). He needs to be more like our #4 though, with the hope that a young guy (like JJB) beats him out and Martin’s our #5 instead. Of course, once you get into that territory, wouldn’t you rather another young guy as your #5?
Perhaps we sign 2 guys to round out our top 3 spots (with Armstrong) and then wait until after the draft to decide on Martin/Miller (or someone else).

McCaffrey seems pretty sure-handed as well. A minor thing, but every once in a blue moon could be a significant factor.

Overall, I don’t mind the ST focus in terms of personnel - I think our problem is more the starters and immediate backups.

I brought this up earlier in the season. Luke has great vision and finds the hole. But other Commanders returners this year have really good numbers as well, even Iffy had a big kickoff return. So that leads me to believe Luke is a bit overrated as far as kickoff returns and a lot of it is the blocking. One poster called him potentially the best kickoff returner in the league in another thread. Hard to say that when he hasn't even brought one back for a TD, or even gotten close.

 

[Commander Wraith]

I think our ST blocking is good. I also think McCaffrey is a good returner. Not great, and certainly not irreplaceable, but good. Bill is an interesting choice for the role, but I’d be worried about his hands. I still can’t believe we had Chris Moore out there vs the Eagles. I mean, better than Sainristil I guess…

 

[burgold]

I think Bill's going to work like heck on his hands over the offseason and it will be a problem solved. I just have a feeling this guy has the drive. Maybe it's just the preseason story of him running scout team and always on top of his coaches when the NCAA decided he wasn't allowed to play, but I think he will not rest on his laurels.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I think our ST blocking is good. I also think McCaffrey is a good returner. Not great, and certainly not irreplaceable, but good. Bill is an interesting choice for the role, but I’d be worried about his hands. I still can’t believe we had Chris Moore out there vs the Eagles. I mean, better than Sainristil I guess…

He's pretty close to great over a good returner. He's ranked third per average return, very close number wise to tops.

 

[skinzplay]

I'm impressed with Bill. Hope he gets more playing time next season. I can only imagine how Ben Johnson would use him.

 

[skinzplay]

He's pretty close to great over a good returner. He's ranked third per average return, very close number wise to tops.

Big fan of Luke's as a returner. Would be nice to have onsistently dangerous weapons at KR (Luke) and PR (Jaylin).

I also think ST Coordinator was the smartest choice DQ made for his staff.

 

[DWinzit]

I think Bill's going to work like heck on his hands over the offseason and it will be a problem solved. I just have a feeling this guy has the drive. Maybe it's just the preseason story of him running scout team and always on top of his coaches when the NCAA decided he wasn't allowed to play, but I think he will not rest on his laurels.

He better work on those hands like Tiki Barber did. If he can hand onto the ball and learn to pick up blitzers better, he will be set for a productive NFL career.

You are correct, he does have a drive more than others and I can see that really working to his advantage

Another young talent we have that seems to have a similar drive is Treylon Burks

 

[skinsinparadise]

I wonder how much of LMC’s kick return stats come from the blocking vs his natural skills. Ekeler (last season) and Deebo (this year) were leading the league in kick returns.

Obviously there is a gap between LMC and a scrub like Chase Edmonds but can you put someone like Bill back there with an offseason of training and see similar results?

Deebo has been good in SF on that front, too. Deebo and McCaffrey both a great combo. Ekeler, too.

Blocking helps. But like anything it doesn't carry you, you got to follow your blocks. Ekeler, Deebo, McCaffrey are give or take 30 yard per return guys.

But when they've used others: Chris Moore, Noah I some, Lane and McNichols a little -- they are pretty bad at it. Noah is the best of that group and he still had less than 50% per average return of Deebo, Ekeler, McCaffrey.

My issue with Ekeler doing it is he got hurt, seems like a collusion with that guy sometimes is bound to end poorly. And I don't want to sacrifice Deebo. I can take sacrificing Luke.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Big fan of Luke's as a returner. Would be nice to have onsistently dangerous weapons at KR (Luke) and PR (Jaylin).

I also think ST Coordinator was the smartest choice DQ made for his staff.

Yeah Luke as Keim likes to say brings more than some fans give credit to. Look I got as much angst as anyone about what I didn't like from Peters this off season -- but I try not to be extreme on it, where everything is just bleak and bad like the dude is a hot mess across the board.

Luke for the 100th pick in the draft is a good pick even if all you get is a very good returner, good blocker, and decent 4th-5th type WR. He was coming on some before his injury.

Luke and Lane as returners and this coverage unit could be one of the best special teams in the league. lol, if only though they can find a kicker.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

He's pretty close to great over a good returner. He's ranked third per average return, very close number wise to tops.

Luke averaged 29.6 YPR on 28 returns
Deebo averaged 30.1 YPR on 17 returns
Iffy averaged 27.3 YPR on 7 returns.

The only other player with 7 or more returns was something called Chase Edwards who only averaged 21.4. So that tells me that Luke is not at the top of the league and was relying on excellent blocking.

Washington Commanders 2025 NFL Regular Season Players Stats - ESPN

Full player stats for the 2025 Regular Season Washington Commanders on ESPN. Includes team leaders in passing, rushing, tackles and interceptions.

www.espn.com

 

[skinzplay]

Yeah SIP, I'm eager to see how Luke continues to develop under Engram and Izzy, two very good teachers. He's well-placed to do just that.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

Jake Moody is 6 for 6 on FGs and his only missed PAT was blown by the wind. He was also 8-9 for the Bears. He was a 3rd round pick so clearly he was great in college. Maybe he's one of those guys who figured it out after leaving SF. I'm fine bringing him back,

 

[method man]

Yeah SIP, I'm eager to see how Luke continues to develop under Engram and Izzy, two very good teachers. He's well-placed to do just that.

He needs to make a leap as a receiver and needs to be competing for a roster spot next camp

I don’t really remember him doing anything impressive as a receiver this year. It felt like all his big plays as a receiver came due to busted coverages