The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[method man]

They just extended Cross. JSN is heading into his 4th year with the 5th yr option a complete given. They'll extend him next year. After last night, I see no chance Seattle lets him walk.

So you think they franchise him? Otherwise, he can do as he pleases and there are better situations for him out there

 

[method man]

I’m fairly nervous at running back.

The Chiefs tried to trade for Breece Hall at the end of the trade deadline and they didn’t get it done… but they have to try again here. The appeal of playing with Mahomes and a traditionally strong football team is going to be difficult for us to usurp with DQ and Blough as the guys at the controls. Jayden gives us a bit of a chance, but I think he goes to KC.

Walker is going to be in high demand if he gets to FA - I’d look right at Minnesota. They need a back, they have a good defense and KOC knows how to get their use out of backs. They need to figure out the QB situation, but I can see Walker finding them appealing.

Etienne might be our most realistic opportunity. I can see Carolina going after him, but I think we can compete with them. The thing is, though, Carolina with an offensive minded HC and trending positive.

I think we have some chance at these guys but it’s not high.

Then I look at the receivers/tight ends… Pierce, Evans, Doubs, Pitts, Likely…

I think Indy is going to do their best to get Pierce back, but if not I think we have a chance there.

Evans to Tampa.

Doubs I like but if they are worried about concussions he’ll be off our board. But he doesn’t have a real high injury rate all things considered.

Pitts I’m not all that high on myself but I think we can be in the running there - very dependent on a few things. I think the Titans are going to back the brinks up. We need to see what they are doing with their coaching staff. But we can be in play here.

Likely is another one I think we can be in play with. We are close proximity to Baltimore which can be a positive. I actually think of all the names I’ve talked about here he might be the most… likely.

So let’s say we wind up with Likely in this group… we still need a receiver and a back to make the offense move.

Defensively we need a pass rushing edge. Badly. We need a linebacker or two. We need two safeties.

If we fill two of these with high quality starters, that still leaves us with a ton of holes heading into the draft and a lack of picks.

I’m concerned. I’m not worried yet - but I’m concerned.

If Carolina were to go after Etienne, would Dowdle be a bad consolation prize?

Also I’m not worried about TE. Too many good and solid ones hitting FA. I really like the idea of Njoku on a 1-2 year deal

Again, I would be very very open to signing a couple of these good F TEs and running a lot of 13 personnel next year

 

[RWJ]

I'd be diggin some RB Breece Hall myself, if he's available.

 

[DWinzit]

I'd be diggin some RB Breece Hall myself, if he's available.

Pretty sure he is most of our RB1. It's more about about who else if he and even Walker are not available.

Pacheco could be another name if we can't get a top name. He hasn't had a particular injury concern but has been dinged numerous times by all different things

 

[burgold]

Pretty sure he is most of our RB1. It's more about about who else if he and even Walker are not available.

Pacheco could be another name if we can't get a top name. He hasn't had a particular injury concern but has been dinged numerous times by all different things

I don't know if it's really true, but I kinda fear that Pecheco has a lot of mileage on his tires. I can see him breaking down more and more.

 

[Riggo44]

So you think they franchise him? Otherwise, he can do as he pleases and there are better situations for him out there

Maybe. But I still think they resign him.

 

[DWinzit]

I don't know if it's really true, but I kinda fear that Pecheco has a lot of mileage on his tires. I can see him breaking down more and more.

Could be or just part of his running style. I don't think he was over used in college

 

[KDawg]

If Carolina were to go after Etienne, would Dowdle be a bad consolation prize?

Also I’m not worried about TE. Too many good and solid ones hitting FA. I really like the idea of Njoku on a 1-2 year deal

Again, I would be very very open to signing a couple of these good F TEs and running a lot of 13 personnel next year

I wouldn’t hate Dowdell, but I think he’d stay in the scenario that they went and got Etienne. Hubbard would probably be the odd man out.

Pacheco isn’t a bad option, but we’re kinda playing in the JAG pool at that point. Well call them JAG+.

Wouldn’t mind the tight end plan. Would take some pressure off of finding receivers. Could roll with essentially the current receiver group + Likely, Njoku and Sinnott/Bates.

 

[Conn]

Something to keep in mind with the Panthers at RB is they have Johnathon Brooks coming back (finally). He’s had terrible injuries but they’re apparently very high on him, think he’s retained his athleticism, and because he was drafted young even after missing essentially two years he’s still the same age as many 1st year RB’s. I’m sure they won’t bank on having him healthy but they have to see what they have in him the rest of his rookie contract, and he’s talented. Given they like Hubbard they may not be in on a larger priced RB acquisition on day one or two of FA.

 

[DogofWar1]

Yeah I'd take Kam Curl back

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

Yeah I'd take Kam Curl back

That's really interesting to me.

I was reading (just a fan opinion I think, but it made sense to me) -- AP maybe eval'd Kam Curl with some feedback from his coaches and thought he was someone they could let go.

Looking back I wonder on that wisdom.

 

[Riggo44]

That's really interesting to me.

I was reading (just a fan opinion I think, but it made sense to me) -- AP maybe eval'd Kam Curl with some feedback from his coaches and thought he was someone they could let go.

Looking back I wonder on that wisdom.

I think Shula has done a great job with him--he's a much better coach. When Curl was here, he was solid, but he was not a playmaker. He had a good rookie year--3 INTs, including a pick 6--he was pedestrian after that. 0 Ints, 1 forced fumble the next three years.

 

[DogofWar1]

Well he had an INT about 10 minutes ago. Was mildly game changing lol

 

[Riggo44]

Well he had an INT about 10 minutes ago. Was mildly game changing lol

That he did and I was cheering for him. Shula has made him a much better player. Maybe we can do that on defense some time soon too.

 

[36ST21]

Well he had an INT about 10 minutes ago. Was mildly game changing lol

That INT also got Collingsworthless' tongue out of Caleb's cornhole, which was nice.

 

[Riggo44]

That INT also got Collingsworthless' tongue out of Caleb's cornhole, which was nice.

His line about "Go win a Super Bowl right here..." made me roll my eyes so hard, it actually pulled in objects off my desk from the gravitational pull.

You still have to:
A. Win this game. THEN
B. Go to Seattle and win there. THEN
C. Beat probably the Patriots.

 

[RexTomb]

Caleb made some nice throws, but he his absolutely anti-clutch. And *sigh* we should have kept Cam Kurl.

 

[RexTomb]

Yeah I'd take Kam Curl back

 

[Riggo44]

And *sigh* we should have kept Cam Kurl.

Chinn was better than Curl. From what I understand, they wanted to match Chinn's offer and he never allowed them to--he also has McLaurin's agent.

 

[KDawg]

Chinn was better than Curl. From what I understand, they wanted to match Chinn's offer and he never allowed them to--he also has McLaurin's agent.

Honestly should have kept both.