The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Primus Porcus]

Motivated Payne is very intriguing. He'll be motivated by that final big contract.

That said, I won't exactly cry a river if he's let go

At some point why keep depending on that? Is a motivated Payne worth $28M and what's the guarantee he's motivated?

 

[Riggo44]

At some point why keep depending on that? Is a motivated Payne worth $28M and what's the guarantee he's motivated?

Contract, money. It's what he cares about, we all understand that I think. Last contract year, he put up 11 sacks. Even if he puts up 8, that's a solid contribution

It's not like we're hurting for cap money. But again, if they cut him, I'm fine with that too. But watch the meltdown if he balls out on a one year deal next year

 

[HOF44]

Payne might try to pull a Terry and hold out. If we could trade him for anything I’d ship him out. If not and he held out cut him immediately. If he has any sense he would get in here and collect that paycheck. He ain’t gettin better.

 

[Primus Porcus]

Contract, money. It's what he cares about, we all understand that I think. Last contract year, he put up 11 sacks. Even if he puts up 8, that's a solid contribution

It's not like we're hurting for cap money. But again, if they cut him, I'm fine with that too. But watch the meltdown if he balls out on a one year deal next year

I get it, i just wonder how many times we can tap that keg

 

[Riggo44]

Payne might try to pull a Terry and hold out. If we could trade him for anything I’d ship him out. If not and he held out cut him immediately.

If he holds out, trade him to someone stupid. Jets, Raiders, Browns, Titans immediately come to mind. Get whatever you can for him

 

[Riggo44]

I get it, i just wonder how many times we can tap that keg

We only need it one more. I have no interest in keeping him past next year

 

[Higskin]

Payne isn't going to hold out.

 

[peanut0862]

If he holds out, trade him to someone stupid. Jets, Raiders, Browns, Titans immediately come to mind. Get whatever you can for him

But it seems more often than not that we are the stupid ones. We would give him to Philly just to swap a 5th for a 4th

 

[Riggo44]

But it seems more often than not that we are the stupid ones. We would give him to Philly just to swap a 5th for a 4th

Yeah Jahan Dotson, Brian Robinson have really come back to bite us in the ass...

 

[Riggo44]

Payne isn't going to hold out.

I wouldn't bet my mortgage on it though

 

[burgold]

Payne isn't going to hold out.

The quote worries me for a different reason.

Payne has always seemed a low-motor guy. If he's content with his money situation (somehow I doubt he's sincere about that even though he's right that he should have all the money he'll ever need) then what's driving him? What's pushing him to do more and be better?

 

[burgold]

At some point why keep depending on that? Is a motivated Payne worth $28M and what's the guarantee he's motivated?

Right, but also, once you give him that contract what's left to keep him motivated. We haven't really seen it.

 

[Primus Porcus]

Right, but also, once you give him that contract what's left to keep him motivated. We haven't really seen it.

I’m not advocating to keep him. I’m actually more leaning towards releasing him

 

[Higskin]

The quote worries me for a different reason.

Payne has always seemed a low-motor guy. If he's content with his money situation (somehow I doubt he's sincere about that even though he's right that he should have all the money he'll ever need) then what's driving him? What's pushing him to do more and be better?

He's definitely an enigma but maybe he's being truthful about wanting to win a Superbowl and that's somehow his motivation?

 

[method man]

I’d probably err more toward the side of letting Payne go in FA. There aren’t really any impact DTs put there in FA but there are a lot of good nose tackles (Franklin Myers, Lopez, Hand, etc) who can at least help us solve the run defense issue.

The top of round 3 is generally a decent spot to find a rotational one if we want to take that route.

It’s also a position I don’t mind plugging with an older veteran or two like Calais Campbell and David Onyamata while we hunt for an impact guy

 

[DieselPwr44]

Don't kill the messenger...

 

[Riggo44]

Why are so many of our sports personalities in this area so fucking dumb?

 

[Higskin]

 

[McD5]

Diggs is too good for this team.

He'll go to a playoff team quickly.

 

[DWinzit]

Any concerns with the things that caused his release? There appears to be some baggage