The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[skinsinparadise]

This one I don't like. Being outbid for outrageous prices for Linderbaum and Phillips I am ok with. But one of the 2024 teams that took a QB who have stressed more to take care of their young QB than this team actually outbidding this team for a weapon --- hits my button. But I can deal with it. What I can't deal with is lol the post that NE does this AND outbids Washington for Okonkwo.

 

[BayouBrave86]

The way free agency is going is about what I expected. AP seems to have a sweet spot when he makes an offer and either he doesn't like bidding wars or just doesn't think the juice is worth the squeeze on these tier 1 free agents we are losing out on.

I know we were supposed to be aggressive in free agency but what does that actually mean, aggressive just means you're going to sign a lot of players but it doesn't tell you what kind. I don't think we like overpaying for tier 1 free agents, seems to be a thing with this FO.

Well if that’s the case, they need to get A LOT better at drafting because 2024’s draft is looking very, very ugly right now. One full time starter from that draft. Loved the Conerly and Amos picks and Croskey could be a great second option so last years was a bit better but even as great as we all think Amos and Conerly can be, they still have a lot to prove. 2024 second round is giving me 2008 draft vibes. Devin Thomas, MalCOMB Kelly, Fred Davis…what a haul 😂

 

[SkinsFTW]

Well to be fair, most of these guys aren't really Tier 1 players. Besides Lindenbaum, who was seriously overpaid, who else is a top 10 starter in the league?

 

[DogofWar1]

I think for me the book on AP may very well be written with how this seasons FA finishes up. Year 1 FA, made some good pick ups with Eckler Luvu, and Ertz, but if I'm being fair that's not enough when rebuilding EVERYTHING. Then we see how well his midseason trade for Lattimore worked out for the team. Fast forward to year 2 FA. No real splashes of any kind. We gave a 5th for Deebo which turned out decent, might have been a good pick up had the entire team not ended up injured so much. And traded for Tunsil, which was a Great pick up. Now coming into year 3. Added a good edge, but have fully neglected the offense up to this point. I am holding out hope, however, failure to address some elements on the O will really sour me on AP.

I liked year 1 FA bc he had a LOT of holes to fill and managed to mostly do it while not putting us in cap hell. Lattimore trade was bad, but I'll let him have one swing and a miss.

Last year was...fine. Underwhelming but not fatal. Tunsil trade, Deebo trade, Kinlaw. Hindsight they should have done more. FORESIGHT they should have done more at like safety. But it was middling at best by any account and they left 25M on the table and when injuries started rolling in we really started wishing we'd used that money.

This year tho, no excuses. You can justify a middling FA in 24 bc of the turnover. But we cannot justify middling FAs three years in a row when at one of the two of 24 and 25 should have been big years.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[actorguy1]

 

[CapsCommies]

Real or Jacksonville negotiating thru Schefter?

 

[KDawg]

This one I don't like. Being outbid for outrageous prices for Linderbaum and Phillips I am ok with. But one of the 2024 teams that took a QB who have stressed more to take care of their young QB than this team actually outbidding this team for a weapon --- hits my button. But I can deal with it. What I can't deal with is lol the post that NE does this AND outbids Washington for Okonkwo.

Wait, I missed they signed Okonkwo?

 

[skinsinparadise]

Deserved or not, one shift from 2026 from 2025 is the growing perception that Maye > Daniels (I disagree with it but it is what it is until the 2026 season happens) and Vrabel > Quinn. So if the money is equal, NE more attractive perhaps.

 

[CapsCommies]

I said in a post yesterday that my issue isn't losing out on any one particular deal, it's leaving the party with far less than you need. At some point you need to exceed your internal valuation threshold and overpay someone to make sure you fill some holes. Oweh is great but not enough. They lost out on Linderbaum, lost out on Alec Pierce, lost out on Doubs... fine then who are you getting? We need some top-end guys.

 

[BayouBrave86]

Vrabel is levels above Quinn and some may see Quinn as a lame duck coach, but then again..money talks more often than not so we should still be able to lure some FAs here.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Wait, I missed they signed Okonkwo?

No but someone here mentioned NE is in on Okonokwo so I was said that happens after Doubs -- then you'd see some angst from me directed at Peters.

 

[BayouBrave86]

What San Fran free agents are there to sign at this point? 😂

 

[Discobob]

Deserved or not, one shift from 2026 from 2025 is the growing perception that Maye > Daniels (I disagree with it but it is what it is until the 2026 season happens) and Vrabel > Quinn. So if the money is equal, NE more attractive perhaps.

Well.... we s*** the bed last year, so we are back to being a pariah

If White and Aiyuk want to come here and play with JD, we probably need to make that happen. Not being able to sign Aiyuk until June sucks...

 

[skinsinparadise]

Vrabel is levels above Quinn and some may see Quinn as a lame duck coach, but then again..money talks more often than not so we should still be able to lure some FAs here.

They might have to overpay. Jayden doesn't have the same buzz that he did in 2025. Quinn feels like a lame duck. There isn't any cool aura around this team.

 

[Chris]

Schefter shut down the BTJ trade rumor. He says it keeps living in social media but he spoke with the Jags and they are not interested in trading him.

I bet you’re fun at parties. 😎

 

[BayouBrave86]

They might have to overpay. Jayden doesn't have the same buzz that he did in 2025. Quinn feels like a lame duck. There isn't any cool aura around this team.

Agreed. Hopefully Jayden and the team are hitting their stride once the new stadium opens up and we really get some great value deals then.

 

[KDawg]

Well, if this trend continues (again, it’s still too early) then we may be in position to draft Jeremiah Smith with a whole new coaching staff with Tunsil, Jayden and Love (speaking Love into existence).

But I don’t want to do that. I want to be way out of position to draft Smith at pick 32.

 

[CapsCommies]

They might have to overpay. Jayden doesn't have the same buzz that he did in 2025. Quinn feels like a lame duck. There isn't any cool aura around this team.

Jayden can't stay healthy; Maye hasn't missed a start. That's a real difference

 

[skinsinparadise]

Sounds like the money was similar. Maye the belle of the ball now like Jayden was last year. Vrabel also the belle of the ball like Quinn was last year.