The 2026 Free Agency Thread

Kinlaw is an average DT, which around here means he’s among our best. So, I see him in the mix to start in 2026 at age 27 with the contract he has.

What I want to see is a run stuffer taken in middle rounds and a well - earned goodbye given to Daron Payne.

I have watched this guy laze his way through 2 contracts now with the team.
 
clskinsfan said:
We just did that and it failed miserably. This team needs a pass rusher. Preferably a young one. But I will take an older vet if he is a legit player. They people they brought in last year were garbage.
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I’d argue that Martin and Miller haven’t been garbage, and we essentially have no idea how Wise would have played. And as you said elsewhere, Smith was a decent addition. It is/was certainly a problem not having any studs at DE though. It’s going to be tough to solve it (in conjunction with the other fixes that need to occur).

Piggybacking off that, and I could be wrong about this, but I think the plan was pretty clear.
Wise gave them a better chance at setting the edge over what Fowler provided, while also still offering some pass rush juice. JJB backs him up, and Martin was depth/backup pass rush specialist. Armstrong mans the other spot.

Bargain basement shopping, but with a chance at improvement over last year.

In theory our run D is improved, we still field a decent pass rush (LBs adding to it), and have bodies back in coverage.

But we all know what happened - injuries to Wise/JJB, we struggle to set the edge, we’re exposed in man coverage (outside of Amos). Our DTs and the way they were played is another story. Teams can gash us when we have 6 in the box, throw when we put a 7th in the box. Harris/Lattimore/Jones/Amos get hurt, so zone coverage sucks as well. And Whitt doesn’t have answers (to be fair, he had a virtual bare cupboard to work with). Just a shit show all around.
 
I don't study the film, but I listen to Logan Paulsen and Steve Suter breakdowns. Suter definitely has the opinion that Kinlaw is our best DT (he is not a fan of Payne). Logan Paulsen is a bit more measured, but he seems to be a Kinlaw guy too. The PFF grade for Kinlaw is bad though. So thats three opinions based on the film on Kinlaw. One who thinks he is a solid starter (Suter), one who is measured in his takes so its harder to get a firm take on, but who probably thinks Kinlaw is an averagish/serviceable starter (good at times, but inconsistent) (Logan Paulsen) and one that thinks he is not starter quality (PFF). I think everybody agrees that he struggles when he plays too high and lets the O-Lineman get into his chest and have leverage. But he is also big and explosive and has a solid motor. Not doing any real film review myself I am measuring those three opinions and I probably come out closest to Paulson. He has games where he outright good, but is too inconsistent with technique to be like a player on Jon Allen at his peak.

Based on that kind of middle ground approach I don't really see Kinlaw as a true overpay. You'd like to get that level of play cheaper, but to some extent most guy you sign in free agency are going to slightly overpays.
 
I don't think Jacob Martin and Von Miller are garbage, but to use a baseball analogy they are relief pitchers asked to be starters and the result is they are below average starters. As relief pitchers they are okay, nothing special, but workable. As long as hitters are not having multiple looks at their pretty average stuff, they are okay. But once hitters have 2, 3, or 4 looks at them the fact that they only throw their fast ball at 92 mph and only have three pitches catches up with them. Martin is a very high motor play. He is a better pass rusher than edge setter but he is going to try to set the edge and play with a high motor in the run game. They are both undersized as edge setters. If they are playing 12 to 15 reps a game with 2/3rds of them as pass rushers they are fine. But now they are estentially your starters.
 
One factor to take into account with anyone’s review of game film is that the reviewer does not know what is being asked of the players on any given play.

Hopefully (🤞) the coaches do, so that has to be given priority in analysis.
 
To use an analogy based on 2023 we thought most of our offensive personnel sucked. Then we got a significant upgrade at QB and OC and we had a top 5 or 6 offense. You add a true number 1 edge like a Josh Hines Allen quality player (so pro bowl, not all pro level), a role player run stuffing DT who understands his role as just stuffing the run, and a starter level corner with some man to man ability and a new DC and add back the injuried players like Dorrence Armstrong and you could potentially have a top 10 defense.
 
Speaking of game film, agree there is no way to know what the player is asked to do.

I've been slowly rewatching the Dallas game with All 22. Some takes that I gather won't be popular. Just a few small points, nothing deep.

A. J. Martin and V. Miller are high end backups and keepers IMO especially Martin. Martin motor and get off are very noticeable. Add that he's high character and a leader to me he's a keeper. As Suter said if they are healthy and get Armstrong back and they add another impact player or two on the D line it should be an above average unit.

B. Bobby Wagner anticpation skills, read and react are still special especially when lined up neat the line of scrimmage and is a decent pass rusher too. While I'd ideally like a new MLB, I don't think its a code red spot. Plus you can sit him in obvious passing situations even though this coaching staff doesn't do it.

C. Will Harris has a nose for the action. Quan Martin seems a beat behind the action/lost.



Martin listed below.
 
skinsinparadise said:
Bobby Wagner anticpation skills, read and react are still special especially when lined up neat the line of scrimmage and is a decent pass rusher too. While I'd ideally like a new MLB, I don't think its a code red spot. Plus you can sit him in obvious passing situations even though this coaching staff doesn't do it.
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This leads me to believe he's going to be back.
 
Riggo44 said:
This leads me to believe he's going to be back.
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I am starting to think the same. Logan has been hyping about how well Wagner is playing late this season . I also think Quinn isn't exposing him the same in passing downs.

The idea that he is a leader, durable and is a good playcaller on the field -- I can see him back and I'd be good with it.
 
Washington needs a reset at safety.

We don’t have a deep cover free safety that makes a difference in the middle of the field.

Reaves and Butler may be excellent special teamers but we need more from not only starters but depth safeties as well when needed to step in on defense.
 
Bulldog said:
Washington needs a reset at safety.

We don’t have a deep cover free safety that makes a difference in the middle of the field.

Reaves and Butler may be excellent special teamers but we need more from not only starters but depth safeties as well when needed to step in on defense.
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Up until this year with the occasional egregious missed tackles, the one thing that’s bothered me about Quan is that he so rarely seemed to be around the ball when in coverage. Hard to parse him from what he’s being asked to do though, so I don’t know.

To your point, Owens and Butler have the speed to play deep, but they’re lacking something - anticipation, understanding, or whatever. I think Reaves is a solid depth SS though, and Harris seems decent. We could absolutely use a stud there… of course that’s the case with most of our units.
 
Regression across the board by basically every player on the back end. If I'm an agent, I'm not steering my guy towards Ashburn unless there's a new sheriff in town for that D. It's amazing when you look at the coaching staffs put together by Harbaugh, Macdonald and Johnson; just pisses me off. Not to mention Vrabel.

*Edit: Vrabel, not Travel, stupid autocorrect
 
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Do you guys think any TE we get in free agency is really going to cover Kraft, Pitts, or Robinson? Having a more athletic player may give you better options in man coverage. In zone coverage, there is a chance a more athletic player is worse. LB'ers tend to be bad in coverage. Its why the position has been so devalued over the past 20 years. Wagner is far from the only LB who is a liability in coverage. He has some feel for zone even if his range is not good. In man coverage he can be a liability, but he is a good blitizer and is a good option on man blitzes. Would Magee be better in coverage than Wagner? Its certainly possible, but not a given. Due to his speed he would almost certainly be better in man coverage, but does he have a feel for space in zone. Can he pass rusher as well? Those are legitimate questions.
 
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