The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[ES1974]

Good question. Perhaps is was what the player/agents wanted?

Yep, bit of a prove it window and then get another go in FA at a young age.

 

[Dah-Dee]

Don't take this as a complaint but why only two years, for a 24 year old??!!

Maybe trying to stay flexible-ish heading for next JD5 contract? Not sure. Maybe also some prove-it happening there, Cross only ranked 69th of 98 safeties by PFF.

 

[ClaretSkins]

He nailed all 3 signings - pretty incredible!

 

[RWJ]

 

[Dlts20]

 

[BayouBrave86]

Zac Ertz did as much or more in 13 games. Somebody explain why we are happy about this?

I get we plugged a whole in the roster with a young guy who is reasonably productive, but these aren’t great numbers by any stretch.

He was the Titans leading receiver for one. They had next to no talent in the receiving game minus Ridley who only played 7 games. He’s gonna eat here.

 

[Discobob]

Zac Ertz did as much or more in 13 games. Somebody explain why we are happy about this?

I get we plugged a whole in the roster with a young guy who is reasonably productive, but these aren’t great numbers by any stretch.

Chig has had a pantheon of garbage QBs, so that's a huge factor

If semen (“spoog”) gets into a keyboard, the goal is to remove residue without pushing liquid deeper into the switches or circuitry. The approach depends on whether it’s a mechanical keyboard or a membrane/laptop keyboard, but the general method is similar.

1. Power Off and Disconnect
2. Remove Surface Residue First
- Use something dry or slightly damp, not wet.
- Paper towels or microfiber cloth
- Cotton swabs (Q-tips)
Blot the affected keys—don’t rub hard, which can push fluid inside.
If it has dried, lightly dampen a cloth with isopropyl alcohol (70–90%) and wipe the key surfaces.

3. Clean Between Keys

4. Let Everything Dry
Before reconnecting:
- Wait 15–30 minutes for alcohol to fully evaporate.
- Ensure no moisture remains.

WTF?

 

[Bulldog]

He’s having a good offseason with player acquisition.

But we’ve won too many offseason championships for me to answer this question yet 😆

In some regards though it comes down to character and work ethic.

In the past Washington was indiscriminate in signing players that had questionable work habits or were prickly to get along with at their previous stops and the culture here really wasn't strong enough to handle that kind of negativity.

So, that was one factor.

The other was the previous regimes simply picked players that in the main couldn't play.

How many guys like a Trung Canidate or Jason Hatcher or Haynesworth came in here and showed us absolutely nothing on the field.

Most of these players from the bios look like guys who are motivated to achieve and get paid for their efforts.

Everyone named in fact except Aiyuk is a guy who has been a team player elsewhere.

That's one reason I am not that happy seeing us bring on board a guy like Aiyuk at this stage. Once we are consistently winning team with a core culture that doesn't tolerate any nonsense then you can gamble on guys like that because the locker room will eat them alive if they cause any trouble.

 

[SkinsLife]

As far as I know, they never put themselves in the situation for that to be a decision.

Hence the statement “ low risk, high reward”

 

[skinzplay]

Zac Ertz did as much or more in 13 games. Somebody explain why we are happy about this?

I get we plugged a whole in the roster with a young guy who is reasonably productive, but these aren’t great numbers by any stretch.

He did this in Tennessee, despite Tennessee

 

[KDawg]

In some regards though it comes down to character and work ethic.

In the past Washington was indiscriminate in signing players that had questionable work habits or were prickly to get along with at their previous stops and the culture here really wasn't strong enough to handle that kind of negativity.

So, that was one factor.

The other was the previous regimes simply picked players that in the main couldn't play.

How many guys like a Trung Canidate or Jason Hatcher or Haynesworth came in here and showed us absolutely nothing on the field.

Most of these players from the bios look like guys who are motivated to achieve and get paid for their efforts.

Everyone named in fact except Aiyuk is a guy who has been a team player elsewhere.

Agreed with all.

Still not pronouncing anything a win until we, you know, win.

 

[DontTazeMeBro]

Aiyuk had 4 big hurdles to clear to make sense to come here.
1. He needed to be released cleanly (no assets for him)
2. He needed to be cheap (sounds like a 1 year prove it deal is coming)
3. His knee needs to be okay
4. His attitude needs to be okay

It seems likely we can check off 1 and 2.

3 is much harder. He tore his ACL, MCL, and had meniscus damage. Basically 3 of 6 things you can mess up in your knee(ACL, PCL, MCL, LCL, and two meniscuses) he did. Setting aside the rumor mill about his rehab, even rehabbed there's a real chance he's not the same Aiyuk.

4. So I was willing to entertain the "Kyle Shanahan is a control freak and ruined their relationship" possibility, but Aiyuk has NOT acted like a mature actor here. Remember the video of him driving 100mph past the stadium from like 2 months ago? Just a bad look. Who knows, maybe its a Pickens situation but I am skeptical.

1 year prove it deal is fine but he should not be the only WR added. That's dangerous.

I say pass. Tired of us signing or trading for injured players and them being gone after a year or two.

 

[Chris]

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

So guessing our pick will be Downs, Tate, or Love at this point. Downs would play FS with Cross at SS?

I think the Cross move means odds are highest it is just Tate or Love. Downs would not have greater chance than say Styles if he's there (I think). Downs does a variety of things on that Ohio State defense, but FS isn't really one of them. That would be more of a question mark for translating to the NFL.

 

[bowhunter]

Imagine Jordan Reed only much faster. Come on Blough, add that into your bag of tricks.

 

[Bulldog]

The Titans should be furious with us and need to draft Tate to help their passing game now that we got Chig. 😉

What would be really ironic is if Treylon Burks ends up living up to being the #18 pick while here in DC and the Titans have to watch him on TV each Sunday light 'em up.

Now THAT would burn a fan base.

 

[Conn]

it will. we're not gonna carry 4 TEs. Bates, Sinnott, and Yankoff are a lock.

Maybe. But there’s no reason that has to be the case if you can get a Chig and a Goedurt. Bates OT3, Goedurt well-rounded guy who is also almost an extra OT, Chig move TE/jumbo slot

In that case I don’t really care about Yankoff. Sinnott is on thin ice but can keep developing and play some FB

 

[skinzplay]

AP is quietly having a damn good FA. I'm happy with the moves and the non-moves. I like this Chig signing. I think he'll be used effectively, and Sinnott will be utilized differently (and better) than was the case under KK and Raih, in a way that highlights his skill set.

 

[NickyJ]

Hence the statement “ low risk, high reward”

I wouldn't call it low risk when we've seen how quickly an offense can fall into one receivers hands because everyone else inexplicably got injured. The people you listed before were healthy and egotistical, not self destructive enough to refuse their teams' rehab. If someone is going to have an ego problem on the team, the least they can do is be healthy while having that ego problem. Hopefully Aiyuk can do at least that, but I don't trust him as far as Sam Hartman can throw him.

 

[Bulldog]

He did this in Tennessee, despite Tennessee

Consider though the quality of the quarterbacks and coaches in TN.

The coach was fired. The starting quarterbacks before Ward were cut.

Hands down TN has been among the worst franchises in recent NFL history - they fired Mike Vrabel and the GM that did it did nothing in the draft but select guys who couldn't play and was fired.

Adams is a cheap ass owner that doesn't have a clue. Always hires the wrong people. A lot like Snyder.

Vrabel was the good choice in all that crap and they threw him out the back door.

Just wait till Okonkwo comes to the offseason program and we start to learn what really was going on in TN over the past few years, I am sure there is a LOT more we don't know.