The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Primus Porcus]

I agree, but they are SO thin at CB and Mikey is not prototypical size for an outside guy, so I still think they need one solid starter in FA. Doesn't have to be a top-end, shut down, polish my bust for Canton type guy, but at least a guy who can stand in and be trusted to cover and not wet himself wen a receiver puts a move on him.

I'm not sure who that is, but I think they have to sign one or two "active roster" type CBs even with a better scheme.

I agree that there is room for depth talent there. We were all getting excited at watching Anthony Hamilton out there for gods sakes, but I wouldn't put it as a 'must dedicate the most resources' type of move.

That being said, I also don't think there's an Edge rusher out there that we're going to be investing heavily in, simply because I don't think that guy ison the market... so there could be a decent investment at CB simply because we have resources, and it can be a beneficial upgrade. Unfortunately were picking top 10 in a draft that is not exactly bubbling over with talent, so I think they're going to have to creative to upgrade some of these positions, without overspending on less than premium talent.

 

[0rder 0f 0ut]

I'm just real nervous about WR. If Pierce resigns or gets tagged it goes to "code red" for me. Options are real thin at WR. If a Doubs is our big offseason add for weapons It will be real cringe for me. A one year rental would be the same. Kicking the can down the road at WR will leave me stressed.

Bears set the example to me on getting weapons for Caleb. When it comes down to it I would sacrifice defense and load up on weapons for JD.

 

[KDawg]

In FA, the easiest positions for us to upgrade are: tight end, depth receiver, corner and depending on who the target is safety because the bar is so low there.

Among the biggest upgrades we can get are RB and WR, if all the guys available hit FA.

But those two positions don’t have enough depth in them. Running back especially. The only mid tier guy I’d consider is White at the moment, and signing him wouldn’t rule out getting another for me.

Edge is another spot where the bar is so low there are absolutely upgrades all over the place for us.

I think we need to come away with CB, S, WR, TE, ILB, Edge help in FA. We don’t have to plug every hole. But all those positions need attention.

RB is dependent on target.

 

[KDawg]

I'm just real nervous about WR. If Pierce resigns or gets tagged it goes to "code red" for me. Options are real thin at WR. If a Doubs is our big offseason add for weapons It will be real cringe for me. A one year rental would be the same. Kicking the can down the road at WR will leave me stressed.

Bears set the example to me on getting weapons for Caleb. When it comes down to it I would sacrifice defense and load up on weapons for JD.

Doubs and Aiyuk or Pittman and Dobbs or Aiyuk and Pittman…

That would be a great addition to the roster.

That + re-signing Burks and we look much better. And reality is a guy like Lane and/or McCaffrey may have to fill in at some point, but we wouldn’t be shopping for skinsinparadise to come tryout off the beach in Florida…

 

[skinsinparadise]

Doubs and Aiyuk or Pittman and Dobbs or Aiyuk and Pittman…

That would be a great addition to the roster.

That + re-signing Burks and we look much better. And reality is a guy like Lane and/or McCaffrey may have to fill in at some point, but we wouldn’t be shopping for skinsinparadise to come tryout off the beach in Florida…

I do think I can play better than Chris Moore so am ready in a pinch

 

[KDawg]

I do think I can play better than Chris Moore so am ready in a pinch

I’m still wondering why we didn’t go after He Hate Me at some point.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I’m still wondering why we didn’t go after He Hate Me at some point.

True. If you are an undrafted FA or old XFL player or heck maybe even just a dude who had some HS WR experience 20 years or so ago -- Peters wants you to catch balls for the Commanders.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Not a huge fan of Aiyuk and he is getting close to Antonio Brown level stupidity .. but i do love me a good deal.. and he is bordering that.
If I am Peters i am using this situation to my advantage....assuming his rehab is on track. I go to him and say...

We love you man.. we'd love to have you play with Jaden but here is where we are....
1. you're coming off a major inj
2. Your exit from Niners wasnt good
Sign an incentive laden deal with us for 2 years... keep your head down, work hard and in 2 years you'll be one of the highest paid receivers in the game.. either with us, or another team.
I use Pickens as an example of how he rehabbed his value and now a year later will get a huge deal or a franchise tag at ~30mil a year

Offer him ~20mil over 2y and some incentives... call it a day

I am ok with Aiyuk is there is a net behind him. Peters didn't really have a net behind any outside WR in 2024 and it blew up in his face so am assuming he doesn't repeat that mistake.

 

[Higskin]

 

[KDawg]

The transition tag is going to make things difficult: could drag negotiations out with Hall, too. I think he is going to fall in the “not an option” category. But we’ll see.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

It's bad news, as the Jets could wait out the full 7 days before deciding to match. Which means the first team could miss out on all other RB options.

 

[HOF44]

Are poison pill contracts still a thing?

 

[Conn]

Free Agent WR talent is average at best. Realistically sub par

Pierce is likely the top WR available, he is at best a 2, more likely a 3. If we are going to spend, funds are better allocaed to a top TE or RB

Pierce is absolutely a 2, he’s developed nicely. But he also likely won’t be available.

I agree with prioritizing TE though due to the weak FA class. Maybe even two of them.

We’ll still sign at least one WR, probably two. But they won’t be super impressive. Someone like Nailor is an intriguing projection into a larger role, but he can’t be THE offensive weapon you come out of FA with. You need to have a good starting TE.

And RB, agreed. Have talked a lot about that but I’m aiming for tier 1 (if they hit FA) or tier 2 there. I’d consider White tier 3 and he’d be a backup plan for me.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

The Jets are going to Jets. However one thing in the article, if the jets choose not to maych, they new contract does not apply to comp picks. So they might rescind the transition tag before an offer is made.

All this seems overly complex. Either sign him or not, don’t fart around with it.

But the Jets are going to Jet. As I already said.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

agree with prioritizing TE though due to the weak FA class. Maybe even two of them.

Also, we have none on the roster who can catch which makes it a bit of a priority….

 

[Conn]

Are poison pill contracts still a thing?

They are explicitly not

 

[peanut0862]

Asking because I don't know, can a player like Chubb be signed now since he was released by Miami or does he have to wait till the new league year starts?

 

[DWinzit]

Asking because I don't know, can a player like Chubb be signed now since he was released by Miami or does he have to wait till the new league year starts?

Pretty certain he can sign anytime because he was released

 

[Boone]

I believe as long as they have played at least 4 seasons, released players can be signed right away. If they have not, the waiver wire comes into play.

 

[DWinzit]

AP has prided himself on prior drafting, keeping within a budget and making a few key trades.

The more I look at FA, our lack of 2026 draft picks and all of the holes we have, I am expecting him to make a trade of future draft capital for a big name FA to fill either a WR2, Edge1 or CB1 role.