The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Chris]

I still laugh at the term ‘legal tampering’.

 

[Conn]

I wouldn’t be so quick to just assume K9 re-signs with Seattle. We don’t know for sure how he feels about having to split time with Charbonnet, and not get goal line carries. And as soon as Charbonnet is healthy, they’re going to go back to it. Obviously, it’s all sunshine and rainbows this morning in Seattle, but if he feels slighted by their offer come free agency time, I can see him opting to go elsewhere where he can be assured the bell cow role that he deserves. Not saying it’s likely, but it’s possible. Or maybe I’m just dreaming

Definitely possible. Especially given the group of RB’s slated to (maybe) be available in FA, it could depress all their prices especially since different teams will prioritize different scheme fits and not necessarily be competing for the same RB’s.

 

[Bulldog]

Seattle is not going to let the Super Bowl MVP go in the offseason of the same year.

You may see that with guys like Larry Brown who Dallas let go in free agency because they simply outperformed in the SB, but Walker IS along with JN the skill players that make the offense go and have most of the season.

 

[burgold]

I wonder which team regrets cutting/letting go Darnold the most.

Darnold was not the reason they won the Superbowl, but by playing a mistake free game and taking advantage of the shots he could take Seattle was able to win. In every other playoff game, the Patriots were able to capitalize on mistakes and force turnovers which made up for the lousy offense they had throughout their run.

He may not be the hero of the Superbowl, but there's a lot to be said for a QB who can do enough to help his team to two fourteen win seasons in a row.

 

[Conn]

Seattle is not going to let the Super Bowl MVP go in the offseason of the same year.

You may see that with guys like Larry Brown who Dallas let go in free agency because they simply outperformed in the SB, but Walker IS along with JN the skill players that make the offense go and have most of the season.

Maybe. Then again I think Charbs getting hurt kind of forced their hand to make him the playoffs bellcow and they really benefited from it. For instance, if Charbs gets 50% of Walker’s touches last night I think the Patriots have a better shot at winning.

So that could show that they think Walker is fragile and more fit for a limited snap count that they won’t want to pay elite level money for. Or there is some other disconnect. I don’t believe they were saving him for the playoffs and then his bellcow role just so happened to coincide with Charbs getting hurt, it was a direct result. Walker averaged like 13 touches per game through the season up to that point. If they think he’s most effective/sustainable in that role then what’s that worth if he’s demanding RB1 money, but they want him to reduce touches again going forward?

I do think in a vacuum it’s unlikely they let their SB MVP leave in FA. But it’s not impossible for many reasons

 

[burgold]

Was Dilfer the last Superbowl MVP not re-signed?

I don't know who they should have picked, but the real MVP of that Superbowl played on defense.

 

[Conn]

I wonder which team regrets cutting/letting go Darnold the most.

Darnold was not the reason they won the Superbowl, but by playing a mistake free game and taking advantage of the shots he could take Seattle was able to win. In every other playoff game, the Patriots were able to capitalize on mistakes and force turnovers which made up for the lousy offense they had throughout their run.

He may not be the hero of the Superbowl, but there's a lot to be said for a QB who can do enough to help his team to two fourteen win seasons in a row.

I thought about this as well.

The Jets, if you’re a fan you have to know he needed to go elsewhere to realistically develop and become what he became. It wasn’t happening in New Jersey. Plus, him helping prevent a Patriots SB win probably makes him one of the most effective Jets draft picks in a generation 😂

Carolina, he was up and down there. Still wasn’t meeting his potential, they couldn’t commit to him based on what he showed and they clearly weren’t capable of squeezing more out of him. Or he just wasn’t there yet, mentally, in his experience for the game.

SF, they were a stopover for him. He learned a ton there and I’m sure they saw potential, but Purdy was already a thing so I don’t think they can have any regrets. But clearly this was the most important stop on HIS journey to being developed. He needed that time in SF.

MIN…those fans and that FO (fired)/coaching staff (not fired yet) have to be feeling bad. He was this finished product for him but they bypassed it for the JJ McCarthy mystery box. Can’t blame them in terms of roster construction but McCarthy left college as a limited game manager with no established clutch gene, so it’s not like they passed on Darnold for a definite stud. They have to be kicking themselves, with the Flores D they had, and the offensive firepower, they could have gone to the SB themselves with good QB play. It’s a fumble for them. They could’ve let McCarthy keep developing, eventually trade him, etc. if they kept Darnold.

So I do think the answer by a mile is MIN. They should feel bad about themselves and they blew it. But it’s also understandable how that happened, given the McCarthy investment. But there’s conflicting stories on who did vs didn’t want McCarthy vs Darnold in their building so who knows.

 

[Bulldog]

Walker's vision and ability to turn plays into long gainers is a rare skill. Most backs don't have that kind of ability.

It is much easier to find a companion back that can catch passes out of the backfield and block in short yardage/goal line.

 

[Bulldog]

Minnesota is clearly open to criticism because after Darnold left the team had pretty pedestrian performances at qb in 2025.

To me it's not always who you get rid of, teams have their reasons, but who they REPLACE them with and how effective that move is.

McVay moved on from Jared Goff and acquired Matt Stafford but that was the CORRECT move as it turned into a Super Bowl win the very next season and continued high quality performance from Stafford over the past 5 years.

 

[HTTR]

Maybe. Then again I think Charbs getting hurt kind of forced their hand to make him the playoffs bellcow and they really benefited from it. For instance, if Charbs gets 50% of Walker’s touches last night I think the Patriots have a better shot at winning.

So that could show that they think Walker is fragile and more fit for a limited snap count that they won’t want to pay elite level money for. Or there is some other disconnect. I don’t believe they were saving him for the playoffs and then his bellcow role just so happened to coincide with Charbs getting hurt, it was a direct result. Walker averaged like 13 touches per game through the season up to that point. If they think he’s most effective/sustainable in that role then what’s that worth if he’s demanding RB1 money, but they want him to reduce touches again going forward?

I do think in a vacuum it’s unlikely they let their SB MVP leave in FA. But it’s not impossible for many reasons

Of course they’d love to have him back, but unless they’re going to tag him, it’s not their decision. All they can do is make an offer, and as you say it’s going to be hard for them to budget bell cow money for a back they want to use part time. I know he said after the game last night he wants to stay, but they all say that right before they end up going for the money.

 

[GhostofWoodson]

I thought about this as well.

The Jets, if you’re a fan you have to know he needed to go elsewhere to realistically develop and become what he became. It wasn’t happening in New Jersey. Plus, him helping prevent a Patriots SB win probably makes him one of the most effective Jets draft picks in a generation 😂

Carolina, he was up and down there. Still wasn’t meeting his potential, they couldn’t commit to him based on what he showed and they clearly weren’t capable of squeezing more out of him. Or he just wasn’t there yet, mentally, in his experience for the game.

SF, they were a stopover for him. He learned a ton there and I’m sure they saw potential, but Purdy was already a thing so I don’t think they can have any regrets. But clearly this was the most important stop on HIS journey to being developed. He needed that time in SF.

MIN…those fans and that FO (fired)/coaching staff (not fired yet) have to be feeling bad. He was this finished product for him but they bypassed it for the JJ McCarthy mystery box. Can’t blame them in terms of roster construction but McCarthy left college as a limited game manager with no established clutch gene, so it’s not like they passed on Darnold for a definite stud. They have to be kicking themselves, with the Flores D they had, and the offensive firepower, they could have gone to the SB themselves with good QB play. It’s a fumble for them. They could’ve let McCarthy keep developing, eventually trade him, etc. if they kept Darnold.

So I do think the answer by a mile is MIN. They should feel bad about themselves and they blew it. But it’s also understandable how that happened, given the McCarthy investment. But there’s conflicting stories on who did vs didn’t want McCarthy vs Darnold in their building so who knows.

There are a lot of criticisms of McCarthy but not having an established clutch gene is flat out not one of them as someone who watched him much more closely than you during his career. The issue is reps and mechanics. He can throw lasers but even in college he needed to "settle in" (I likened it to Patrick Ramsey, who also had some very interesting pro performances in the 'clutch' but seemed to be antsy at the beginning) with a nice run or some contact, and his lasers often require him to do this torque motion with his body instead of the "Vick flick" which is one of the most effective releases at QB (besides Marino) in football history. Also, those lasers are often not required for that given throw, though he's lofted passes and thrown deep easily before. Even this year he started to play much better by not focusing on mechanics and just going out there and playing, which should have been the focus at the beginning of the season. Save the mechanics for offseason. One thing that did not occur to most people was durability concerns but if I had to guess, sort of like RG3 just was a mess after his ACL, McCarthy's ankle injury vs. Penn State made him susceptible to a knee injury (meniscus) and then made him rely on worse mechanics even moreso.

 

[Bulldog]

I think there is a reason McCarthy was taken where he was in a quarterback rich draft.

He's an excellent prospect but there were some other passers that had a more varied skill toolbox to develop with in the NFL.

Again, I don't have a horse in the race. I am only saying that Minnesota will be judged on what McCarthy does and how far the team goes towards being a contender.

 

[Conn]

There are a lot of criticisms of McCarthy but not having an established clutch gene is flat out not one of them as someone who watched him much more closely than you during his career. The issue is reps and mechanics. He can throw lasers but even in college he needed to "settle in" (I likened it to Patrick Ramsey, who also had some very interesting pro performances in the 'clutch' but seemed to be antsy at the beginning) with a nice run or some contact, and his lasers often require him to do this torque motion with his body instead of the "Vick flick" which is one of the most effective releases at QB (besides Marino) in football history. Also, those lasers are often not required for that given throw, though he's lofted passes and thrown deep easily before. Even this year he started to play much better by not focusing on mechanics and just going out there and playing, which should have been the focus at the beginning of the season. Save the mechanics for offseason. One thing that did not occur to most people was durability concerns but if I had to guess, sort of like RG3 just was a mess after his ACL, McCarthy's ankle injury vs. Penn State made him susceptible to a knee injury (meniscus) and then made him rely on worse mechanics even moreso.

This is fair, the “not clutch” comment probably wasn’t fair.

I still think he isn’t good (yet) and I didn’t like him as a prospect because of how little was on his shoulders on that team, and how different that would be in the NFL. Which made him a great candidate to sit and develop for multiple years at his young age if they had made the right call and kept Darnold. They almost had it all.

 

[method man]

Because McVay is always looking to upgrade and is very aggressive as we have seen with the Stafford trade, Ramsey trade and the signings of guys like Davante Adams, etc.

While other teams are trying to figure out who is going to play DE, this guy is usually ready at midnight when free agency starts or at the trade deadline to make the deal or deals that count.

How would Hall be an upgrade over a guy who has averaged nearly 1500 all purpose yards and 15 TDs a season the last 3 years, one who also recently got extended to boot?

 

[DWinzit]

This should be one of our FA targets and now we know he will be available:

David Njoku announced on instagram that he will not return to the Browns in 2027.
The veteran tight end took to instagram to announce that he would not be returning to Cleveland this offseason as he departs for free agency. It will mark the first year of his career not a member of the team that drafted him in 2017, ending a nine-year run with the franchise. The soon-to-be 30-year-old lost playing time in 2025 to electric rookie Harold Fannin Jr and apparently saw the writing on the wall regarding the direction of the franchise moving forward. The announcement directly contradicts previous reports that Njoku was looking to return to the Browns.

 

[method man]

This should be one of our FA targets and now we know he will be available:

David Njoku announced on instagram that he will not return to the Browns in 2027.
The veteran tight end took to instagram to announce that he would not be returning to Cleveland this offseason as he departs for free agency. It will mark the first year of his career not a member of the team that drafted him in 2017, ending a nine-year run with the franchise. The soon-to-be 30-year-old lost playing time in 2025 to electric rookie Harold Fannin Jr and apparently saw the writing on the wall regarding the direction of the franchise moving forward. The announcement directly contradicts previous reports that Njoku was looking to return to the Browns.

Most obvious fit to me here given bang for the buck. Coming off a down year

 

[method man]

I brought him up a week or two ago but I would keep a close eye on Zaven Collins. Rumors are Cardinals want Aubrey Pleasant who has been living in an event front scheme past few years with the Rams.

Zaven has been a standup linebacker, either off ball or now as EDGE, his whole career. I can't think of many AVG types who play the EDGE but he is one.

He has a year left on his deal. With the Cardinals eating his signing bonus, he'd cost us $4.3M for 1 year. He's a guy I'd look at in a 5th for 6th swap or a 6th for 7th type of swap

 

[HTTR]

I can get on board with Njoku. Yes, he’s a tad older than I’d prefer, but we’re not going to be able to sign a young guy at every spot. You could do a lot worse than Njoku for the next two or three years by which time hopefully we will have found a longer-term solution tight end in the draft.

 

[burgold]

I still laugh at the term ‘legal tampering’.

Astounding that "legal tampering" is allowable under the "spirit of the cap."

 

[skinsinparadise]

I'm more optimistic. I think the hurdles are pretty high, but the Patriots more or less did this year what we did in 2024 (which was to swap out half the roster) and install a new offense and defense. The main difference is they spent bigger. Almost all of Peters spending outside of trades has been on the cautious, bargain basement side. So, the question for this team is at least fourfold.

1) How do the bargain free agents acquired in 2025 come back from injury?
2) Do we decide to actually use free agency to provide pieces instead of patches?
3) What degree of growing pains do Blough and Jones go through?
4) What degree of growing pains do the players go through in learning the new schemes?

So yeah, going through these questions (and there are others) I do see choppy sees, but I don't think the ship has sailed. Hell, I think that when Quinn took over the defense even though it was depleted and had no reason to fight, it started looking competent. Likewise, when Terry and Burks got up to speed, the offense started to look almost pretty good despite relying on our second and eventually third string QB.

So, I want to believe our cupboard looks incredibly bare because of recency. We forget that for the last half of the season we were starting our fifth and sixth string defensive end. We forget we were starting our 3rd, 4th, and 5th string corners. We forget that we played without Harris who was supposed to be a starting safety. We forget that Robbie Chosen for almost half the season was treated like our number 1 wide receiver. All this provides me hope. We basically played with street level free agents and backups at almost every position for almost the entire year. I don't see that happening again as I don't really remember ever seeing it happen before.

Still, each of those four questions have to be answered in a positive direction. If so, based on what we saw throughout the playoffs, Daniels is a far superior QB than Maye and that alone gives us a gambler's chance. We still have an oline that could be a strength. I actually like our running back group and hope Bill can take a step forward in the offseason. I sort of feel the way about him that I did about Brandon Coleman at the end of 2024. I'd love to see him get a chance to grow into his potential. Remember, as great as Walker was for the Seahawks yesterday, he had more two yard runs than four yard runs. It was feast or famine because of how the Patriots stacked the box. So waybe Bill if we actually have a wide receiving corp and a TE will be ready to show us more. Maybe he can improve in his pass blocking and receiving.

This post probably does nothing to convince anyone that we are Super Bowl bound as it is limited by too many "ifs," but I don't think we're far off from being competitive and this team when competitive can do some stuff. There is, however, a lot of work to do, a little luck required, and smarter choices to be made.

I am optimistic as heck and I've mentioned it plenty of times. I am saying perception wise it feels like the ship has said. It's glaring to me that cynical anayltical types and national media types including more serious ones like Fowler pick the Giants, not Washington as the team to watch next season as to being a SB threat.

Feels wild to me. But last season was so bad. And questions surfaced (which I don't agree with) about Jayden. Whereas guys like Dart and Ward by some seem to be more intriguing down. Quinn on the hot seat. Peters seen as making mistakes. Last year this team was the darling, that's way gone now, that's what I mean by the ship has sailed.

I said before the season if this is a triology, the 2nd one is often the darker chapter. And it went down that way in a bigger way than I expected. And from a purely perception standpoint this not only isn't seen as an automatic bounce back team from some in the national media but it also doesn't seem like an interesting team to them compared to some other teams that they feel are more intriguing upstarts.

But I like that doom and gloom backdrop as to this team bouncing back. Unlike some here, if someone fails, I want to see how they react, what's next. How do they respond. I think it would work out well. Albiet, I disagree with some stragglers here who think Quinn should survive if what next is so so and the hope moves to 2027.

I think they bounce back. As I mentioned this summer feels like the team is in a Rocky 3 movie, lost their edge and are about to get their ass kicked by Mr. T. And I am eager for the rematch. But lol, if Mr. T beats Rocky again, I am not interested in Rocky 4. But I do think Rocky wins the rematch, will see.