The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[burgold]

I am not split at all. I like Croskey-Merritt, I pushed for him before the draft but IMO he's not a #1 back. Walker and Merritt just about the same age by the way.

Walker is a very good back. Not elite. But in that next tier. Sort like when Washington had Clinton Portis -- he wasn't Adrian Peterson -- but you had to game plan to stop Portis.

I am big Love guy. I picked him here in the survey of who I want at 7. But its not Love or bust for me. Walker would be a needle mover type of RB.

I have a few questions when it comes to Bill.

1) How did taking a year off because of the college suspension impact his play or growth as a player?
2) How hard a worker is he? Clearly, weaknesses have been identified. To what degree can he improve his hands and his pass pro?
3) How much improvement should we see because of better (we hope) talent around him?
4) What's his ceiling? I don't think the player we saw last year was a finished product. How much will he improve by being in a pro system for two years?

That's not to say "Don't draft Love" or "Don't get a free agent," but it is to say, "Don't close the book on who a second year player can become."

 

[ES1974]

Kinda think Bill is overrated. Decent RB. But if he’s depth, so bit it. Need a massive RB upgrade.

 

[skinsfan4128]

In honor of this tweet, I will be wear these same speedos all day tomorrow, for luck

View attachment 14294

In honor of this tweet, I will be wear these same speedos all day tomorrow, for luck

View attachment 14294

 

[Bulldog]

In the NFL most teams to be successful need depth at running back and even Seattle was using 2 backs going into the playoffs before Walker put his Superman cape on.

Merritt was a #7 pick and isn't ready for full-time duty although he may in time.

Walker is a guy that comes in and starts from Day 1.

But I like the idea of having some quality depth and competition along the way.

It seems too often we have guys like Daron Payne that are never challenged and are quite smug at the positions they play.

Believe me, the Ravens would have moved on from Payne awhile ago.

They don't mess with that type of contract year player.

 

[burgold]

Kinda think Bill is overrated. Decent RB. But if he’s depth, so bit it. Need a massive RB upgrade.

I've been thinking he's underrated recently.

I'm not sure how many RBs win with 9 in the box and no receivers or tes that the defense has to respect. He was pretty good when the offense had even a beat. Plus, Kingsbury only wanted to use him as a batter ram running straight up the gut which was a pretty weird choice since Bill has wheels.

 

[Bulldog]

He ran for 805 yards in a disconnected, disjointed year where the starting quarterback missed most of the season.

I would think that qualifies as a home run as #7 pick coming in and contributing.

Having him as the #2 back in 2026 behind a starter like Walker seems reasonable to me.

He has the speed to break things outside and he seems fairly durable.

 

[Primus Porcus]

He ran for 805 yards in a disconnected, disjointed year where the starting quarterback missed most of the season.

I would think that qualifies as a home run as #7 pick coming in and contributing.

Having him as the #2 back in 2026 behind a starter like Walker seems reasonable to me.

He has the speed to break things outside and he seems fairly durable.

I think his biggest knock last year (and it may have been from a year off) was a bit of concern around ball security. He absolutely has what it takes to be an NFL RB. He's not Saquan, Jonathan Taylor, or Derrick Henry, and I don't think we should ask him to be. Can be be Devin Singletary or David Montgomery? Sure looks like it, and there's a lot of value in that player within an offense.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I watched lol painfullly whatever game I could find for Croskey-Merritt from New Mexico. He was on my radar because I kept hearing he was on this team's radar. On draft day on the day 3 thread I kept pushing for wanting him.

So to an extent I have some love for Croskey-Merritt.

I think he's a good back in a rotational sense. Not sure he's a lead back type.

He wasn't a pass catcher in college, not much of one in the pros yet. This isn't the typical RB coming out in the draft -- he's going to be 25 next season so what he is now, I think likely is what we get.

I love his cutting ability, he makes sharp cuts in open field, some zig and zag with good contact balance. But I don't think he has the consistency and vision to be a lead back -- and in today's NFL you'd prefer someone who can catch the ball and or pass block. I recall someone on the radio mentioned that there was a stat that shows whenever Croskey-Merritt was on the field, it was very frequently a run considering he wasn't catching passes and they didn't trust him in pass pro. And if you want a play action driven offense, you'd want some unpredictability where personnel aren't telegraphing what's coming.

But to me the larger point is this staff clearly doesn't see him as a lead back if all the rumors about them chasing one are true. Will see.

 

[Canuck]

Bill alone isn't the answer, but Bill, C-Rod and a FA third down back (Gainwell?) are serviceable IMO and wouldn't be the "problem" with the offense.

 

[bigdog24]

I say if can land Linderbaum we need to he is elite. His cap hit as well Tunsil well be lower than the average annual salary they get this year. After this year they can move on from Cosmi and save 12 million. All while have a top 3 LT and the top center in league with a developing RT on rookie contract.

 

[Canuck]

I say if can land Linderbaum we need to he is elite. His cap hit as well Tunsil well be lower than the average annual salary they get this year. After this year they can move on from Cosmi and save 12 million. All while have a top 3 LT and the top center in league with a developing RT on rookie contract.

Agreed, IMO the only potential FAs that are top 5 at their position in the league are Lindenbaum and Devin Lloyd. If we can aquire either I say we do so.

 

[ES1974]

Yeah, let’s not overthink matters. Try and sign 3 or 4 of the best players available. Would feel like a logical start to me.

 

[Bulldog]

By that logic we should offer Aubrey a contract at the #1 pick tender because he is the best kicker and special teams weapon in the league.

But positions do have relative valuations and center doesn't come out to equal with quarterback, left tackle, pass rushing DE and cover corner, etc.

You need a solid player at the center position but few teams spend megabucks there.

Here you are looking at $30M for Tunsil and we are already paying Cosmi what at the time was a top 5-7 salary for a guard.

Do we want to have any money left to actually build a defense so that like Sam Darnold or Drake Maye Daniels doesn't have to score 30-35 points each week on offense to have a chance to win the game?

I remember Ron Wolf saying get the quarterback and the defensive line. Then get the left tackle.

The other positions you fill in over time, but overspending at center or kicker or tight end or another complementary position leaves you short at the more critical ones under the cap.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Thinking about it some more of its Walker and Dowdle then they have a type they are interested in. Dowdle's style to me is basically a less explosive version of Walker. Walker with more speed and more lateral east-west wiggle than Dowdle.

But they are both very patient follow blocks-vision type of RBs with underated pass catching chops.

Croskey-Merritt I think is a good change of pace RB from that style -- he sort of runs with a reckless abandon style that Walker-Dowdle don't so much engage in. Croskey-Merritt is at times, screw waiting for blocks to develop, I am going, i am not waiting. He's doing his thing more so than worrying about blocks and defenders. So its a different style for defenses to prepare for. And this isn't a shot at Croskey-Merritt. That style works at times because he's shot out of a cannon and often enough that leads to good things.

 

[Bulldog]

He's a 23 year old raw #7 pick who missed all but one game his last year in college. I am sure he will add some polish to his game over time.

You can't compare him to guys that have 3-4 years of experience and have gone through the transition to the NFL already and are in their prime.

That's one reason having him as the #2 back in 2026 makes a lot of sense.

But I am not at this point ready to pidgeon hole him and put him as a specialist or part-time player over the course of time.

 

[skinsinparadise]

He's a 23 year old raw #7 pick who missed all but one game his last year in college. I am sure he will add some polish to his game over time.

You can't compare him to guys that have 3-4 years of experience and have gone through the transition to the NFL already and are in their prime.

That's one reason having him as the #2 back in 2026 makes a lot of sense.

But I am not at this point ready to pidgeon hole him and put him as a specialist or part-time player over the course of time.

He's 24 and will turn 25 next month. RB isn't as we know some slow growth position. Often there is a drop off at 28 or so. Kenneth Walker is 25, too.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Where is KDawg I thought he was the lead we need to do better than Croskey-Merritt guy?

 

[skinsinparadise]

On the Linderbaum stuff. Again love the player. I don't take the rumor seriously, yet.

But if they do it, its all about what else they do. If they somehow pull off everything AND a top center. Cool. lol, but i got to see the full movie.

I seriously doubt the rumor. But if it came to life somehow, I'd need to see everything they do. Because from a typical off season perspective, I don't think I've ever seen a team sign 4 players at 20 million plus let alone do it with signing another 20 players plus.

But if there is something I am missing, then hey I am on board. But on the surface, it comes off like it would be a top center instead of a top edge or top CB or top WR, etc -- and that hits me a bit crazy. But yeah if they have something else up their sleave liking letting Cosmi go, ok. But even that would feel a bit weird, Cosmi had a good year and if the idea is to run the ball in an outsize zone scheme, Cosmi is perfect for that.

 

[Riggo44]

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[Bulldog]

He's 24 and will turn 25 next month. RB isn't as we know some slow growth position. Often there is a drop off at 28 or so. Kenneth Walker is 25, too.

One of the factors though in running back attrition is carries and usage over time. The fact Merritt came out of college at 23 instead of 22 or 21 doesn't necessarily mean his NFL career will be shorter.

What we do see are running backs that get heavy carries early in their careers are usually the ones that drop off the map when they are in their late 20's.

There are exceptions like Riggins or a Derrick Henry at come along.

But I see Merritt being PART of a running backs room that can be very productive with the addition of a primary back for 2026 and going forward.

Still doesn't mean I rule out Merritt through injury or attrition being a guy that could be a 1,000 yard rusher for us in 2027 or 2028 if he gets on the field in that role.