The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Skinfanjon]

I’m sorry but we gotta move on from Ertz and Wags. If either of them are back it’s just an obvious failed off season to not have upgraded those spots. Appreciate the hell out of them for the last two years but the jig is up.

 

[Conn]

He's an option for WR2, moveable position piece and might be more in our FA price range.

And maybe more importantly, whether we’re interested in him or not, his being a FA adds another WR option and makes it more likely we get who we DO want

 

[method man]

A sometimes worthwhile exercise to find depth with upside potential is to pick up former first round pick busts. Burks and Igbinoghene are examples of this on our team.

When I look at the 2022 first round guys who didn't have their 5th year options picked up who will be available on the cheap, here are the names:

Evan Neal
Kenyon Green
Jahan Dotson
Treylon Burks
Trevor Penning
Kenny Pickett
Kaiir Elam
Cole Strange
Lewis Cine

We can rule out some of these guys for obvious purposes. If we decide to move on from Paul, Evan Neal and Cole Strange are a couple guys to throw into the mix to compete with Coleman and Wylie for the starting LG spot. I would consider Pickett as an option at backup QB if Mariota ends up leaving.

 

[DWinzit]

I really wouldn’t mind bringing him on a cheap deal and PUPing him and letting him be extra depth when others go down during the season

Njoku, Ertz, Bates, Sinnott would be a very nice TE room

I am not big on bringing him back, I'd rather just add Njoku, Bates and Sinnott. Then either stick with Yankoff or bring I maybe a late round YAC potential TE or a similar FA

Regarding Jennings, I don't know if we want to call Jennings our WR2 but he would be a good addition to our WR room

 

[burgold]

I’m sorry but we gotta move on from Ertz and Wags. If either of them are back it’s just an obvious failed off season to not have upgraded those spots. Appreciate the hell out of them for the last two years but the jig is up.

I wouldn't go that far, but I'm close.

We need to start developing this team for the long haul. Ertz and Wagner are patches. There's a reason they can't get more than one-year contracts. At this stage of their career their best role is to fill in for a season or be a trusted back up, but neither can be part of a long term plan. Green dot linebacker should not be a year to year guy. Safety blanket, QB's best friend shouldn't be either.

 

[skinsinparadise]

This is my skepticism with Etienne. Feels a little like fool’s gold. I’d rather “overpay” proportionally for Walker let’s say (or Hall obviously but not looking like he’d be available) than get a slightly better deal on Etienne.

For a guy who is supposed to provide explosives, CRod beat his top speed last season in a much worse overall offense. That’s not encouraging.

Don't know. I do know he was banged up with a shoulder injury in November, and often but not always a hot start and subsequent decline towards the end of a season for a RB is injury based. Dowdle another RB hot start, slowed down, also got banged up.

He had 4.45 speed just a few years ago. Has he now slowed down now, I don't know?

But you won't get an argument for me about Walker he was one of the first players i pushed here and did so well before his hot post season run.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[Riggo44]

John Schneider gave a rather non-committal response to re-signing KWIII. I still think he stays in Seattle, but the possibility of him hitting the open market is increasing.

On the other hand, I really struggle to understand why people are obsessed with receivers like Aiyuk and Dyami Brown. The former is an injured head case, and latter just sucks, and has never done anything in the league.

 

[DWinzit]

John Schneider gave a rather non-committal response to re-signing KWIII. I still think he stays in Seattle, but the possibility of him hitting the open market is increasing.

On the other hand, I really struggle to understand why people are obsessed with receivers like Aiyuk and Dyami Brown. The former is an injured head case, and latter just sucks, and has never done anything in the league.

Bringing back Dyami feels like bringing back Ertz, been there done that can we please move on.

With Aiyuk you have AP and Jaydens familiarity combined with his pre injury abilities to be a star WR. Then adding in the fact that many of the other teams probably won' look at him based on character and injury concerns that developed over the past 6 months. I see them looking at him as a great chance to get him at a good rate already knowing he has interest in playing in Washington. But he scares me like he does with yourself. Lots of very public baggage

Walker would be an incredible addition, as would Hall or Etienne as my top tier RBs.

 

[HTTR]

John Schneider gave a rather non-committal response to re-signing KWIII. I still think he stays in Seattle, but the possibility of him hitting the open market is increasing.

On the other hand, I really struggle to understand why people are obsessed with receivers like Aiyuk and Dyami Brown. The former is an injured head case, and latter just sucks, and has never done anything in the league.

I don’t think so. They are prioritizing other positions. They need to replace guys who are leaving, and they’re going to have to overpay everybody they want to keep. They want to run a 2 back system, splitting time. And Walker is going to get workhorse money. I think he’s been ready to move on, and winning the Super Bowl isn’t enough to change his mind. With Breece hall off the table, Walker is the only FA running back I’d be interested in signing before the draft.

No idea why people are obsessed with Dyami, I didn’t even realize they were. With Aiyuk it’s obvious— chance to get a solid number two WR with #1 upside on the cheap and without much risk. This is appealing in a market with little to no difference makers at receiver. You say he’s a head case, but I will rely on Peters who knows him a lot better than any of us. And Jayden already has a connection with him as we all know.

 

[Canuck]

FA WRs are severely lacklustre, I'v ementioned Wandale before, I think he is the best of the bunch, but he is not a no.1 and should not be paid as such.

IMO, adding a higher end TE may be the way to go as opposed to paying big money at WR.

 

[0rder 0f 0ut]

Overpay for Pierce. A #2 with a super power. He is still the top target for me. Aligns so well with what Blough envisions in my opinion.

When Pierce gets tagged then I would move on to Walker as the target.

 

[Bulldog]

Aiyuk had several pedestrian seasons in SF and then had a breakout not coincidentally when his rookie deal was coming up for extension.

Since he signed his new contract he looks like Haynesworth, a self-satisifed player that now has the money he wants and one wonders if he really has the focus and commitment to playing football at a high level going forward.

What's often forgotten is that there are just some guys that play a sport because they are athletic and it puts them in position to use it as ticket to success, their commitment to winning a Super Bowl or being a historically good player in the NFL may just not be there. Once the goals of getting to a 'better' life are achieved their willingness to sacrifice and continue to prepare and play hard fades.

Meanwhile there are guys that get paid the generational wealth contracts and go on to acheive even MORE than they did beforehand.

Based on what I see from Aiyuk to date I am not sure but I am leaning towards the former rather than the latter.

And while a team might be able to sign Aiyuk at some point over the summer on a much more reasonable contract, the reality is that while Washington might not pay a lot for him the team will be behind the eight ball if it pencils him in as the #2 and expects a bounce back prove it season and he merely takes $5M or $7M or whatever he's earning and mails it in.

 

[HTTR]

Aiyuk had several pedestrian seasons in SF and then had a breakout not coincidentally when his rookie deal was coming up for extension.

Since he signed his new contract he looks like Haynesworth, a self-satisifed player that now has the money he wants and one wonders if he really has the focus and commitment to playing football at a high level going forward.

What's often forgotten is that there are just some guys that play a sport because they are athletic and it puts them in position to use it as ticket to success, their commitment to winning a Super Bowl or being a historically good player in the NFL may just not be there. Once the goals of getting to a 'better' life are achieved their willingness to sacrifice and continue to prepare and play hard fades.

Meanwhile there are guys that get paid the generational wealth contracts and go on to acheive even MORE than they did beforehand.

Based on what I see from Aiyuk to date I am not sure but I am leaning towards the former rather than the latter.

And while a team might be able to sign Aiyuk at some point over the summer on a much more reasonable contract, the reality is that while Washington might not pay a lot for him the team will be behind the eight ball if it pencils him in as the #2 and expects a bounce back prove it season and he merely takes $5M or $7M or whatever he's earning and mails it in.

Not sure I would say pedestrian. He had some injuries early in his career, but he definitely flashed at times too. His breakout season was not unexpected. I get the speculative connection you’re making to Hainsworth based on his recent behavior, but I just can’t believe that Jayden, with his work ethic and love for the game, would be so close with someone like that.

 

[Bulldog]

People are often blind to the flaws of those closest to them.

Jayden Daniels is not the GM and even in New England or KC we didn't see a Brady or Mahomes dictating to the team who to draft or trade for.

 

[Commander Wraith]

Aiyuk had several pedestrian seasons in SF and then had a breakout not coincidentally when his rookie deal was coming up for extension.

Since he signed his new contract he looks like Haynesworth, a self-satisifed player that now has the money he wants and one wonders if he really has the focus and commitment to playing football at a high level going forward.

What's often forgotten is that there are just some guys that play a sport because they are athletic and it puts them in position to use it as ticket to success, their commitment to winning a Super Bowl or being a historically good player in the NFL may just not be there. Once the goals of getting to a 'better' life are achieved their willingness to sacrifice and continue to prepare and play hard fades.

Meanwhile there are guys that get paid the generational wealth contracts and go on to acheive even MORE than they did beforehand.

Based on what I see from Aiyuk to date I am not sure but I am leaning towards the former rather than the latter.

And while a team might be able to sign Aiyuk at some point over the summer on a much more reasonable contract, the reality is that while Washington might not pay a lot for him the team will be behind the eight ball if it pencils him in as the #2 and expects a bounce back prove it season and he merely takes $5M or $7M or whatever he's earning and mails it in.

Semantics maybe, but if 748/5 tds, 826/5 tds, and 1015/8 tds is pedestrian, sign me up. He didn’t play in ‘25 obviously, but in the 7 games he played in ‘24, he put up better numbers than Dyami did in 16 games. Not that Dyami is a great barometer of course, but he and Zaccheus both parlayed their ‘24 seasons into 10 million dollar deals. Aiyuk has been far, far more productive… the question becomes whether the risk is worth it. I think it probably is (depending on his health), with the caveat that we need to also improve our receiver depth (specifically outside receiver) in order to at least somewhat mitigate the risk.

It’s the potential upside, coupled with a lower cost, while also factoring in that (assuming Pierce and Pickens get new deals or tagged) FA has very little to offer at receiver. The next best FA receiver might be Doubs(?), and his best season is on par with Aiyuk’s worst. There’s also not a clear answer in the draft (maybe Tate, but I’m not loving the odds of us landing him).

Up to Peters to decide if Aiyuk’s healthy and if his character fits the team. Might end up a moot point if someone trades for Aiyuk instead

 

[Canuck]

Without Ertz, Jayden loses his security blanket, I think this makes TE an even bigger need.

 

[Skinfanjon]

I don’t think so. They are prioritizing other positions. They need to replace guys who are leaving, and they’re going to have to overpay everybody they want to keep. They want to run a 2 back system, splitting time. And Walker is going to get workhorse money. I think he’s been ready to move on, and winning the Super Bowl isn’t enough to change his mind. With Breece hall off the table, Walker is the only FA running back I’d be interested in signing before the draft.

No idea why people are obsessed with Dyami, I didn’t even realize they were. With Aiyuk it’s obvious— chance to get a solid number two WR with #1 upside on the cheap and without much risk. This is appealing in a market with little to no difference makers at receiver. You say he’s a head case, but I will rely on Peters who knows him a lot better than any of us. And Jayden already has a connection with him as we all know.

Personally I think Aiyuk is on the AB84 train to Crazytown and it’s not going to work out.

Having said that, there’s not another WR available that offers nearly as much bang for the buck. 2023 Aiyuk would completely transform this offense. If you can get like 75% of that guy, for what I imagine will be a prove it deal on the cheap, it’s probably the best shot we can take ***as long as*** it does not deter them from taking a WR at 7 or after a trade down.

Add Aiyuk + Tate/Lemon to Terry/LMC/Lane and either Burks or a more reliable vet and I’ll feel good about that room. Just scooping Aiyuk by himself doesn’t do much for me. We need to do a lot more than take a gamble.

Sign Likely.
Sign one of Breece/Walker/Etienne.
Sign Aiyuk.
Buy a defense.
Draft Tate or Lemon
Throw the rest of our picks at defense.

I don’t feel there’s a plan that results in a better team heading into next year than the above. Offense could be legitimately lethal and there’s no reason we can’t field an average defense if you throw enough resources at the new scheme.

With health, that should be enough to get 5 back to the playoffs. Then you have real options heading into the next offseason. You don’t have a gun to your head with Terry, can splurge on a big ticket signing if someone makes sense, can really look at BPA in the draft…it’s all very doable if the purse strings are open.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

A sometimes worthwhile exercise to find depth with upside potential is to pick up former first round pick busts. Burks and Igbinoghene are examples of this on our team.

When I look at the 2022 first round guys who didn't have their 5th year options picked up who will be available on the cheap, here are the names:

Evan Neal
Kenyon Green
Jahan Dotson
Treylon Burks
Trevor Penning
Kenny Pickett
Kaiir Elam
Cole Strange
Lewis Cine

We can rule out some of these guys for obvious purposes. If we decide to move on from Paul, Evan Neal and Cole Strange are a couple guys to throw into the mix to compete with Coleman and Wylie for the starting LG spot. I would consider Pickett as an option at backup QB if Mariota ends up leaving.

Just...no.

• Lewis Cine is already out of the NFL. He plays for DC Defenders in the UFL now.
• Kenyon Green spent all of 2025 bouncing around other teams practice squads.
• Evan Neal was a healthy scratch in 2025 for the whole season, they tried to trade him throughout the season but got no takers. They moved him to Guard to try and salvage him and was apparently even worse. He never dressed for a game.
• Kaiir Elam, 3 teams during 4 years, he's really bad
• Kenny Pickett, 4 teams during 4 years
• ...why do we want Dotson back? We already know he sucks.
• Cole Strange, 3 teams during 4 years, supposedly worse version of Chris Paul, can pass block decently but run blocking is a full loss. Could bounce around the league a bit more.
• Trevor Penning was atrocious at guard, but might bounce around the league a little as a backup Swing OT. We've already got Coleman, who is much better than Penning.
• I'm expecting Burks to compete in Training Camp on the vet minimum contract.

I get it if it's wrong scheme or something. But most of those guys are beyond awful and about to be out of the league.

If we sign any of these guys to compete for a starting spot, then our roster is in a really bad spot.

 

[Discobob]

Without Ertz, Jayden loses his security blanket, I think this makes TE an even bigger need.

I want a TE upgrade.... but, we can get the same security blanket effect from a power slot type of player. I don't specifically have one in mind, but it's an option.