The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Riggo44]

Not necessarily a target for us, but I suppose Linderbaum, Walker, among others will be extended in the next 43 days.

 

[Riggo44]

PFF top free agents: https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-free-a...ocial&utm_campaign=dhtwitter&utm_content=null

 

[method man]

Not necessarily a target for us, but I suppose Linderbaum, Walker, among others will be extended in the next 43 days.

Damn. Had an eye on him as a rotational DT.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

My sleeper move of the offseason is they cut Biadasz. Despite solid individual play, it wouldn't surprise me if they see him as the onfield embodiment of whatever failures they are placed on Bobby Johnson

Sorry, this is a little crazy.

Biadacz is clearly their starting center. And the OL as a whole played exceptionally well the vast majority of the season.

I'll be honest, I have no idea why Bobby Johnson was fired. Maybe because he was a Kliff guy somehow?

I don't think there's a chance they cut Biadacz.

 

[mcdonaldrw]

If they cut Biadasz I'm going to really think that Snyder is still calling the shots somehow.

 

[Higskin]

Discussions between the two sides have focused on Payne playing out the final year of his contract without a financial restructure, pay cut or extension, a source close to the situation told Last Man Standig.

The current expectation is that Payne will be back for a ninth season, though not all variables are set in stone. The Commanders have yet to hire a new defensive coordinator, a decision that will help shape personnel priorities. Washington enters the offseason with roughly $63 million in cap space, the sixth-most in the league. Moving on from Payne would save an additional $16.75 million toward the cap at a time when quarterback Jayden Daniels playing on a price-controlled rookie contract allows for aggressive choices by the front office.

In his eighth season, the power-packed defensive tackle finished with 3.0 sacks, 46 tackles, seven tackles for loss and eight quarterback hits. While he often drew extra attention from opposing offenses, that production doesn’t align with the sixth-highest salary cap charge ($27.95 million) among interior defensive linemen in 2026.

Releasing arguably their top defensive performer would create a 6-foot-3, 320-pound void in the middle of the line. The overall unit is already facing questions across all three levels, but it's the line where General Manager Adam Peters said earlier this month that help is required.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

IF, and this is a big IF, Payne is on this team next year on the last year of his deal, there are a whole lot of posters I argued with over the season that said there was no chance of that happening, and I want LOUD apologies of questioning my ALL KNOWING predictions.

In all seriousness, this isn't surprising. Payne would make statistically about the same against the cap in 2026 as 2025.

If they were willing to pay him in 2025, then why wouldn't they be willing to pay him in 2026.

I don't think they can trade him for anything of note. And then they have to replace him, and they have enough holes to fill, this would just add another one.

I always thought it was a possible option Payne just played out his contract.

That might change, and I'm not sure I love it, but it's always been a much bigger option than a lot of people thought it was.

 

[Conn]

The quoted Patriots tweet shows the sort of FA we need to have. And the crazy thing is none of those deals are ridiculous. A single 4-year deal, a bunch of 3-year deals. None of that is going to ruin your cap situation. We aren’t talking 6-7 year backloaded deals like the Snyder era. Just sign some actual talented starting caliber players. The talent floor of this roster needs to be higher if AP wants to get the chance to learn on the job and keep stacking drafts until he nails one John Schneider style. This will buy his young guys time to develop and buy him time to crush a draft or two an go win a SB. What he’s done so far in FA is not going to cut it.

 

[method man]

Suter would point out Payne’s obvious lack of effort every single week. I’m kind of surprised but the FA DT class, as a whole, is pretty weak

 

[RWJ]

DT is supposed to be strong in the upcoming draft. I'd rather we take a 7th for Payne getting something for him and moving on from most if not all his salary than him being on the team. His lack of effort can be a disease of virus to other players, IMO which we don't need on this team.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Sheehan wasn't sure but speculated



Here's the reference to a cash budget which Conn referenced

 

[HOF44]

Yeah I’m pretty sure AP is being given X amount of dollars to spend and that’s it, regardless of cap space available. If this is true AP has gotta be thinking how the heck do I get out of this misrepresented mess.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Yeah I’m pretty sure AP is being given X amount of dollars to spend and that’s it, regardless of cap space available. If this is true AP has gotta be thinking how the heck do I get out of this misrepresented mess.

It's possible. And if so, I can let it go last year because it worked the year before that. The key for me is do they double down on this again after a miserable season, I suspect not but will see in March.

 

[HOF44]

If they are cash strapped now wait till they try to sell all those PSL’s in the Thong with a crap team.

 

[KDawg]

If they are cash strapped now wait till they try to sell all those PSL’s in the Thong with a crap team.

I love that The Thong is being seen and appreciated.

Man, I don’t know. Maybe they are cash strapped. They are fixing facilities and building a stadium so it’s possible. They had a lot of money to spend to get things right.

But it just doesn’t feel right.

If it’s true it gives us a truly odd dichotomy.

Cash spending owner who meddled vs cash strapped owner who is hands off

 

[method man]

Sheehan wasn't sure but speculated



Here's the reference to a cash budget which Conn referenced

I don’t think ownership has the capability to be the #1 cash spender without a massive boost in revenue. Remember that most of the owners are just investors who care more about their ROI than how the team does.

Harris is trying to hit whatever returns he pitched them from a reputational standpoint while doing what he can to help us content

 

[method man]

Sheehan wasn't sure but speculated



Here's the reference to a cash budget which Conn referenced

I don’t think ownership has the capability to be the #1 cash spender without a massive boost in revenue. Remember that most of the owners are just investors who care more about their ROI than how the team does.

Harris is trying to hit whatever returns he pitched them from a reputational standpoint while doing what he can to help us content

 

[RWJ]

To give up what they did in the trade for Tunsil, I'd hope they sign him to a LTD. Time will tell. 👀

 

[HOF44]

To give up what they did in the trade for Tunsil, I'd hope they sign him to a LTD. Time will tell. 👀

I’m starting to have my doubts. Not sure Harris can/ wants to give up the amount of cash upfront that will require.

 

[method man]

I’m starting to have my doubts. Not sure Harris can/ wants to give up the amount of cash upfront that will require.

Come on. Even Michael Bidwill gives out long term deals.

I’m not that worried about this one. It’s straightforward. Make him the highest paid tackle in the league.