The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[skinsinparadise]

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

Not sure. But listening to some people talk about it. Here's what I suspect.

They have gone 100 miles an hour and spent a lot to improve the facilities for the players including by adding top flight recovery equipment among other things. Put money in the old stadium. They are going to town on the new stadium and putting a ton of money into it. All of which is A plus, fantastic.

And I gather what Harris is doing with all his sports teams is giving a cash figure that he's comfortable with and asking the GMs to go to town with it. But that cash figure isn't low, isn't high but slightly above average. So he probably feels that's enough. They spent the 15th most in FA. But the three trades they made for Tunsil, Deebo, Lattimore involved some high salaries.

I gather Harris figured that worked in 2024 so why not in 2025? But it crashed in 2025 so I suspect but don't know that he releases the purse strings more. I think he'd be foolish not to as to the investment in the team -- I don't think he can afford two bad seasons in a row when he needs to build this fan base back up.

 

[Gooseneck]

Seems like he is spending money improving facilities. Damn, I am going to have to go back to walking the streets of Las Vegas where lovely young ladies spend big bucks to be with a 70 year old, ungodly good looking, bald, old, fat men and donate my profits to the commanders free agent fund.

 

[RedWolf]

We have enough needs, let Payne play out his contract. He will probably go to town this year.

Extend Tunsil and Biadasz.
Make a fair offer to Deebo.
Cut Lattimore.

Get the best we can in free agency and supplement with the draft

We have a shit ton of holes

 

[DWinzit]

I expect we look at the Vikings FA defensive players. Nothing that great to look at but may include which would include LB Eric Wilson and RFA Ivan Pace. Even though Pace is a RFA he was an UDFA so would not be costly. Wilson is 31 so eh with him.

Some of our DBs like Quan might actually look a lot better under the new scheme and I'd expect us looking at some of the Seahawks FA DBs

 

[KDawg]

I expect we look at the Vikings FA defensive players. Nothing that great to look at but may include which would include LB Eric Wilson and RFA Ivan Pace. Even though Pace is a RFA he was an UDFA so would not be costly. Wilson is 31 so eh with him.

Some of our DBs like Quan might actually look a lot better under the new scheme and I'd expect us looking at some of the Seahawks FA DBs

If Ivan Pace is available and we don’t get him it’ll be such a miss. He was my guy in his class. I thought he was the best backer in class. I’m not sure he hits the market as a RFA

 

[DWinzit]

Yup I recall. Another of your LBs you evaluated and wanted us to draft. I had ignored him until you pointed him out and posted some eye popping clips on his ability to move through trash with ease.

I am thinking he will be one of their targets and maybe the only one from the Vikings.

 

[DWinzit]

Not sure. But listening to some people talk about it. Here's what I suspect.

They have gone 100 miles an hour and spent a lot to improve the facilities for the players including by adding top flight recovery equipment among other things. Put money in the old stadium. They are going to town on the new stadium and putting a ton of money into it. All of which is A plus, fantastic.

And I gather what Harris is doing with all his sports teams is giving a cash figure that he's comfortable with and asking the GMs to go to town with it. But that cash figure isn't low, isn't high but slightly above average. So he probably feels that's enough. They spent the 15th most in FA. But the three trades they made for Tunsil, Deebo, Lattimore involved some high salaries.

I gather Harris figured that worked in 2024 so why not in 2025? But it crashed in 2025 so I suspect but don't know that he releases the purse strings more. I think he'd be foolish not to as to the investment in the team -- I don't think he can afford two bad seasons in a row when he needs to build this fan base back up.

He is going to need to at least ease those purse strings to allow an infusion more talented younger players, especially with so few draft picks and 2 new coordinators and their schemes. On a good note for him, the new OC and DC should come fairly cheap.

 

[KDawg]

Yup I recall. Another of your LBs you evaluated and wanted us to draft. I had ignored him until you pointed him out and posted some eye popping clips on his ability to move through trash with ease.

I am thinking he will be one of their targets and maybe the only one from the Vikings.

Don’t give me hope.

 

[skinsinparadise]

If Ivan Pace is available and we don’t get him it’ll be such a miss. He was my guy in his class. I thought he was the best backer in class. I’m not sure he hits the market as a RFA

He was my guy too and in a big way. But looking at his PFF grades for what its worth looks like he's been horrendous in coverage. RFA's almost never hit the market

 

[KDawg]

T

He was my guy too and in a big way. But looking at his PFF grades for what it’s worth looks like he's been horrendous in coverage.

Thats Okay. Scheme around it. Leave him in the box as a true Mike. He is so good at getting downhill and navigating traffic that he would make our run defense automatically better. And our pass D can’t get much worse

 

[skinsinparadise]

T

Thats Okay. Scheme around it. Leave him in the box as a true Mike. He is so good at getting downhill and navigating traffic that he would make our run defense automatically better. And our pass D can’t get much worse

I haven't watched him since college. But I just don't take RFA's seriously, unless the player is bad, they almost never go free. And if the player gets an offer from their team and you claim the player you need to give up a pick, I doubt this team gives up draft capital.

The one guy I think might be in play even though he's an old dude is Smith. Supposedly the Flores defense is predicated much on last second shifts done on to fool the offense presnap with some wild formations And Smith apparently is the wizard behind some of those shifts. I recall reading that in a few places when researching Flores/

72. S Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings

Snaps: 2,966 | PFF grade: 72.3

One of the premier safeties of his era, a 36-year-old Smith was again effective in 2025 with the Vikings. The six-time Pro Bowler allowed just an 81.0 passer rating when targeted and logged a 67.6 PFF coverage grade

Film Session Feat. Harrison Smith

Minnesota Vikings Latest News

www.vikings.com

One might think by this point in his career, Smith has learned all he can from film study.
But that simply isn't the case. It's the greats who are never content.
Vikings defensive backs coach Daronte Jones believes the players who truly utilize film study are the ones who see longevity in the league.
"Our bodies don't move like they used to the older we get. So then, what becomes your advantage? The things that were great for you before may not be great for you now, so how do you adjust your game?" Jones said. "And I think Harrison's done a phenomenal job at adjusting his game, becoming more cerebral. He may be a little step slower than what he used to be, but his mind is two steps faster. So it balances out."

 

[DWinzit]

I haven't watched him since college. But I just don't take RFA's seriously, unless the player is bad, they almost never go free. And if the player gets an offer from their team and you claim the player you need to give up a pick, I doubt this team gives up draft capital.

The one guy I think might be in play even though he's an old dude is Smith. Supposedly the Flores defense is predicated much on last second shifts done on to fool the offense presnap with some wild formations And Smith apparently is the wizard behind some of those shifts. I recall reading that in a few places when researching Flores/

72. S Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings

Snaps: 2,966 | PFF grade: 72.3

One of the premier safeties of his era, a 36-year-old Smith was again effective in 2025 with the Vikings. The six-time Pro Bowler allowed just an 81.0 passer rating when targeted and logged a 67.6 PFF coverage grade

Film Session Feat. Harrison Smith

Minnesota Vikings Latest News

www.vikings.com

One might think by this point in his career, Smith has learned all he can from film study.
But that simply isn't the case. It's the greats who are never content.
Vikings defensive backs coach Daronte Jones believes the players who truly utilize film study are the ones who see longevity in the league.
"Our bodies don't move like they used to the older we get. So then, what becomes your advantage? The things that were great for you before may not be great for you now, so how do you adjust your game?" Jones said. "And I think Harrison's done a phenomenal job at adjusting his game, becoming more cerebral. He may be a little step slower than what he used to be, but his mind is two steps faster. So it balances out."

Pace went undrafted so the Vikes would need to offer a large contract or willing to match what we'd offer for him. I am doubting they are willing to pay that much and would not cost a draft pick for us.

If Pace is moved back to Mike, he did wear the green helmet for a while in Minny FWIW

 

[skinsinparadise]

Pace went undrafted so the Vikes would need to offer a large contract or willing to match what we'd offer for him. I am doubting they are willing to pay that much and would not cost a draft pick for us.

If Pace is moved back to Mike, he did wear the green helmet for a while in Minny FWIW

RFAs almost never hit the market. But the more I digest Pace just now maybe they let him hit it because of his struggles in coverage and missing tackles, looks like he got benched last season.

Be interesting to switch a dude who is still probably one of the best run defenders in the box LBs who struggles in coverage with a younger version who struggles much more in coverage at least judging by their PFF grades and some stuff I read this morning.

What's Going On With Ivan Pace? - Zone Coverage

As the Minnesota Vikings' defense took to the field at the start of Sunday’s game, there was something strange that not many fans may have noticed. While

zonecoverage.com

While almost every defense would like a linebacker to play with aggression, Pace has been uncontrolled. This season, Pace has a missed-tackle percentage of 23.8%, according to PFF... And his game hasn’t been plagued by missed tackles alone. His gap integrity in the run game has also been a concern.

That was especially evident against the Atlanta Falcons. Pace repeatedly shot the wrong gap and tried to make a big play. His gamble often wouldn’t pay off, resulting in the big runs from Bijan Robinson that allowed the Falcons to salt the game away.

...Pace has also struggled in pass coverage this season. While it has never been a strength of his, his struggles are much more pronounced this year. He’s allowing a passer rating of 136.7 when targeted. It’s a clear spot where Wilson has the leg up on Pace. Throughout his career, Wilson has made a name for himself as one of the better linebackers in coverage.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Wonder if Wilson, the dude who took Pace's job when he was benched is on their radar? He's actually a real FA. But not young.

PFF Name Drops Top Free Agent for Vikings

PFF labels Eric Wilson the Vikings’ top free agent, a disruptive 2025 breakout who became central to Brian Flores’ defense and plans.

vikingsterritory.com

Is Eric Wilson the Vikings’ Top Free-Agent Priority?​

The top free agent for the Vikings? PFF says Wilson.


Wilson has reached the point where opposing offenses actively account for him in game plans — a reality that would’ve sounded silly and unbelievable a year ago at this time.

The 2025 season flipped his trajectory with the snap of two fingers. Wilson played like a roaming disruptor, stifling the run and the pass. He led all off-ball linebackers in sacks and pressures, hovered near the top in forced fumbles, and repeatedly blew up plays behind the line of scrimmage. That routine started in Week 1 — out of nowhere — and then it just continued throughout the seasons.

That outcome wasn’t part of the original plan. Minnesota signed Wilson as depth — a rotational piece behind Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr. By December, his production had fans openly questioning how the defense could even function without him.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[skinsinparadise]

Speaking of the Vikings, I can see this as a signing potentially, feels very Peters like going medium versus going large

 

[Conn]

Yeah, agreed. I actually do think he has untapped potential, but that’s very “us”

 

[skinsinparadise]

Yeah, agreed. I actually do think he has untapped potential, but that’s very “us”

Speaking of which. Sheehan on his show, I was listening started by saying they will spend, and implied he heard it from the team. lol, this topic seemed to hit a nerve I gather with the FO.

 

[method man]

I don’t think Harrison Smith is a possibility. He either stays with the Vikings or retires. He is Mr Viking

I think Luvu is a fantastic fit in a blitz heavy scheme. If they want another guy who is run D 1st/blitzer, could just bring back Bobby.

A defense like this could really use Swiss army knives at safety who can do a bit of everything to confuse defenses and protect the inferior corners we have.

The more I think about it, they need to pay Kam and bring him back. He played some free safety in LA and did well in that role too. His teammate Lake who is a similar player signed a 3/42 extension. I’d give Kam anywhere between 3/45 to 3/51.

They then need to somehow find a good post safety and then another versatile safety (or let Harris and Martin compete for that role).

 

[Conn]

Speaking of which. Sheehan on his show, I was listening started by saying they will spend, and implied he heard it from the team. lol, this topic seemed to hit a nerve I gather with the FO.

Good, I hope they feel a little self-conscious about that narrative tbh. But I’ll be watching