The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[skinsinparadise]

Lol, Howie does seem to be a magician.

Also, if he fails, it doesn't deter him, he just looks for a way or should I say player to fix the issue

It's also about how Lurrie has seemingly an unlimited cash budget. I've mentioned a bit on this thread how Lurrie being willing to use upfront money as much as the Eagles need is a weapon that most other teams don't have

 

[skinsinparadise]

I don't see Evans comes here unless he doesn't get what he wants in other places which is possible. He said that his criteria was 4 things:

A QB that he believes in
A team that is truly a SB Contender
A top Notch OC
0A team that will feed him a lot of touches

I will pass strictly on that last criteria myself. We don't need any big ego, past prime guys who still think that they are better than what they are

Evans by reputation, doesn't have a big ego, easy guy in the locker room, and not as money centric with the contract drama stuff that you get from Terry

 

[Higskin]

This write-up is informative on Mafe but I'll trust Logan's take on him over this guy.

TARGET NO. 3: EDGE BOYE MAFE, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS​

After four years with the Seahawks, Mafe is set to hit free agency as a Super Bowl Champion who has recorded 20 sacks in his career.

15 of those sacks came in 2023 and 2024.

In 2025, Mafe’s snap count hit the lowest mark it has since his rookie season in 2022, and he started just four games after starting 27 the two years prior.

Some of that was due to a deep edge rotation used by Macdonald that featured veterans DeMarcus Lawrence and Uchenna Nwosu, among others, but his reduction to a situational pass-rusher raised questions about Mafe’s long-term viability and, hence, his status as a pending free agent.

If Jones sees the potential in Mafe and believes he can help the edge generate that two-year stretch of production more consistently, then this option is cheaper than the others, with a level of uncertainty that can’t be ignored.

Commanders Free Agency: Boye Mafe and Odafe Oweh Headline Edge Rusher Wishlist

With $80M in cap space, Washington Commanders GM Adam Peters targets Odafe Oweh, Trey Hendrickson, and a potential Jonathan Greenard trade to fix the pass rush.

www.si.com

 

[DWinzit]

ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi believes the Browns could explore the trade market at wide receiver.

With limited cap space and the ability to have the trading team absorb some of a player’s cap hit, it makes plenty of sense for the Browns to dive back into this. It would be a blow to Jerry Jeudy’s already-faltering fantasy football value if the Browns brought in another wideout, though it’s possible they settle for someone even less-renowned than Jeudy.
4m ago
Source: ESPN

 

[skinsinparadise]

I didn't realize Dowdle wasn'tt good in pass pro that's disappointing. Etienne is still my top target with Walker right behind him.

I like Etienne but to me Walker by a mile over Etienne. Walker to me is special. Etienne is good.

 

[DWinzit]

I like Etienne but to me Walker by a mile over Etienne. Walker to me is special. Etienne is good.

Either one would be the best RB we have had in years. I am not keeping my expectations too high. I could see a Dowdle type guy.

Similar if we ended up with Doubs at WR

 

[SkinsFTW]

Nobody is talking about Gainwell. If they are looking for a pass catching back to replace Ekeler he is probably one of the best in the league and he's only 26.

 

[Command The Best]

Nobody is talking about Gainwell. If they are looking for a pass catching back to replace Ekeler he is probably one of the best in the league and he's only 26.

Without looking it up wasn’t he the Steelers top pass catcher this season… never understood why he’s not valued more all he does is ball out

 

[Riggo44]

I don't really trust Schultz, mostly because he contradicts the locals that are a lot more proven. Keim has repeatedly said they weren't going to spend big on C. Schultz I think tends to be an agent mouthpiece, so grain of salt here.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Nobody is talking about Gainwell. If they are looking for a pass catching back to replace Ekeler he is probably one of the best in the league and he's only 26.

He's got some mentions here including from me. But if they are looking for more of a featured back, he doesn't seem the type including becaause of his size. But as a third down back ala the Ekeler 2024 role, he's be great, him or R. White.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I don't really trust Schultz, mostly because he contradicts the locals that are a lot more proven. Keim has repeatedly said they weren't going to spend big on C. Schultz I think tends to be an agent mouthpiece, so grain of salt here.

Yeah it would surprise me not just because of Keim but also because of all their needs for premium positions that cost big capital and you can't do it all.

Also the idea that there is belief between teams doesn't come off like a great rumor. If its an agent, that would be different.

The thing I like about it though is it seems like reporters think Washington is the mix for just about everyone.

 

[Conn]

I don't really trust Schultz, mostly because he contradicts the locals that are a lot more proven. Keim has repeatedly said they weren't going to spend big on C. Schultz I think tends to be an agent mouthpiece, so grain of salt here.

Agreed. We have copious amounts of cap space so of course his agent would like teams to think we’re in on him

 

[skinsinparadise]

Agreed. We have copious amounts of cap space so of course his agent would like teams to think we’re in on him

And considering Ravens are supposedly trying to sign Linderbaum furiously pre the start of FA, the more noise the better about other teams pouncing.

Keim isn't perfect. But when its been him on a report versus a national reporter about this team, can't recall the last time Keim lost a battle like that. But will see.

And don't get me wrong for the Linderbaum fans and those that push the O line. i am ditto on both points. I just don't see how the math adds up without forgoing a big push in a premium position and as much as I love Linderbaum, I want a big signing at CB, edge, WR -- and a medium one at TE-RB.

 

[skinzplay]

Interesting observation that not all 5-12 are the same. Flip that to one year earlier and I think our FO were blinded by our 12-5 regular season record. Not all 12-5 records are the same too, perhaps creating a false interpretation of our true position on the path to success.

Lessons learnt hopefully, time to aggressively reset large elements of the roster.

Reminds me a lot of Pierre Garçon, as does Elijah Sarratt.

 

[DogofWar1]

For RB I'd probably lean White first, then Gainwell just because if we add someone in FA it should probably be someone with high level pass catching skills so Bill can continue to grow.

Also ensures that IF we did go Love in the draft we don't have an even bigger car pile-up than we'll already have, assuming we re-sign CRod, but also gives us a well-rounded backfield if we don't.

 

[skinsinparadise]

For RB I'd probably lean White first, then Gainwell just because if we add someone in FA it should probably be someone with high level pass catching skills so Bill can continue to grow.

Also ensures that IF we did go Love in the draft we don't have an even bigger car pile-up than we'll already have, assuming we re-sign CRod, but also gives us a well-rounded backfield if we don't.

I think if they sign Walker who IMO is a stud, just looked at PFF rankings on this, top RB in 2025, #1. He clearly isn't the best back in the league but IMO he's in that 5-10 range. No need for Love, then.

If its him or maybe even Dowdle or Allegier, wouldn't surprise me if they let Rodriguez walk as a RFA or try to get a pick from a team that signs him.

 

[Canuck]

He's got some mentions here including from me. But if they are looking for more of a featured back, he doesn't seem the type including becaause of his size. But as a third down back ala the Ekeler 2024 role, he's be great, him or R. White.

IMO, Walker is the only potential feature back available, the rest are best served in a rotation and even Walker was rotated frequently w Charbonnet.

I agree with you about Gainwell being a great Ekler repleacement though, even more so that White.

 

[skinsinparadise]

IMO, Walker is the only potential feature back available, the rest are best served in a rotation and even Walker was rotated frequently w Charbonnet.

I agree with you about Gainwell being a great Ekler repleacement though, even more so that White.

I like White a hair over Gainwell but both would be great third down backs.

The more I digest them maybe chasing Walker the more I lol don't want to get my hopes up. He's a great back. He's the dude I pushed early on in this thread. It's not recency bias because of the SB -- I think he's a stud.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Either one would be the best RB we have had in years. I am not keeping my expectations too high. I could see a Dowdle type guy.

Similar if we ended up with Doubs at WR

I just watched some Dowdle. Not IMO a Walker. But good back.

He's about patience and vision. If you add someone like Jennings to run block, he'd excel. He's very much about seeing it and following his blocks. Good hands, I didn't know that about him until this morning when I looked up his passing numbers -- but yeah watching him he's active in the passing game. He's not explosive.

To my eyes, he's a slightly less strong, slightly less fast version than Rodriguez but very similar on both fronts. But more patient, better vision, better hands than Rodriguez. Is he an improvement over Rodriguez? I think by about a peg mainly because his hands, he's fluid as a pass catcher including getting downfield on occasion so its not just quick screens. Don't love him. But like him.

He's very dependant to my eyes on blocking. And I don't mean that in a bad way. It's that his superpower IMO is reading blocks and following where the blocking takes him. Something that Croskey-Merritt isn't always hot at ironically. But if you give Dowdle good blocking to my eyes he will capitalize on it more so than the typical back.

 

[Skinfanjon]

I like White a hair over Gainwell but both would be great third down backs.

The more I digest them maybe chasing Walker the more I lol don't want to get my hopes up. He's a great back. He's the dude I pushed early on in this thread. It's not recency bias because of the SB -- I think he's a stud.

The Walker steam right now seems especially interesting because it’s free agency eve, which means free agency has already started lol. So this noise popping up has legs if you ask me. Maybe we land him and maybe we don’t, but I’m buying that we are on the short list.