The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[KDawg]

And this is the free agency thread so...

Right, which means we emphasize the shopping for groceries and come back to the point that this offseason is leagues better than the previous. But our stated goal was weapons for Jayden (and, not spoken about enough, our OC) and so far - we’ve swung and whiffed.

If we really aren’t adding more receivers we need to find a way to snag another tight end. We need at least a WR2 or a high end running back, too.

This is where Peters and the pro scouts are going to need to make their money. Maybe they see something in Jefferson and Brown that we aren’t aware of.

 

[Anselmheifer]

Mark Bullock said one of the things which stood out in Daniels’ rookie year is that he needed a lot of reps to get comfortable, but what he was great at was the on-schedule, in the rhythm of the offense plays.

In other words, he got to read 1, 2 and 3 in the timing of the play and would let the ball go. However the number of reps allowed him to trust the recover was going to be in the place where he was supposed to be.

Bullocks assessment of 2025 is Daniels never had the reps with the offense to build that trust, starting with Terry’s holdout and the. Running through all of the injuries, his and others. And because of this he was not trusting his eyes or his receivers, and instead of throwing with anticipation, he waited to see the receiver open.

That threw off the timing and made everything less effective.

I think that’s probably very true.

And since they have gone out of their way this year to make sure there is going to be a coherent group around Daniels from OTA’s on, I am betting it won’t be a problem again.

They need to settle WR 2. But just about everything else is somewhat set

This is exactly why I find the 49’ers holding onto Aiyuk so annoying. It better not extend into OTA’s.

I’m still unsure our IOL group is strong enough. Agree with the premise of your post though.

I bet they are hoping that Coleman can step up at LG. He brings a mobility in the run game that Paul just does not. I agree though. I’d feel a lot better with a solid, established center. Especially in our division.

 

[actorguy1]

 

[ES1974]

This is exactly why I find the 49’ers holding onto Aiyuk so annoying. It better not extend into OTA’s.



I bet they are hoping that Coleman can step up at LG. He brings a mobility in the run game that Paul just does not. I agree though. I’d feel a lot better with a solid, established center. Especially in our division.

Center on day 3 of the draft is my guess

 

[skinsfan4128]

I suppose this doesnt bode well for a McNichols return. I liked McNichols and figured they'd resign him eventually. Otherwise, not knowledgeable enough about Ford to make a comment one way or the other.


HTTR!

 

[KDawg]

I suppose this doesnt bode well for a McNichols return. I liked McNichols and figured they'd resign him eventually. Otherwise, not knowledgeable enough about Ford to make a comment one way or the other.


HTTR!

Might bring him in for camp still. But RB is mostly set. Either Love, late round back or late FA addition to be made.

 

[Bulldog]

Ford is 26 and ran for 800 yards two years ago, last year he had 600 and averaged 5.4 per carry.

Peters is not bringing back the geezers, and at age 30 McNichols as a depth running back is long in the tooth.

So, it appears the depth picture in the backfield has been filled in, still giving the team the chance to add Love in the draft to complete the complement of four on the roster if they go that route.

Chris Paul? I am surprised he is coming back. At the same I wonder if he is a fit for Blough, but we don't resign him if Blough was opposed to it. So, it appears he may in competition with Coleman for a job at LG again, this time in a scheme that favors Coleman a bit more.

But overall you get two more guys that are in their maneuverable primes at 26/27 to help build out the roster.

You could see the handwriting on the wall, though, that one of the oldest backfields in the NFL in 2025 with Ekeler, McNichols, etc. was not going to come back with that group intact again in 2026.

 

[Higskin]

Jerome Ford seems to be a youngish, middling, load of a guy. Kareem Hunt light?

 

[Boone]

Yeah... youth movement is on. Not sure what Ford's ceiling is but seems like a good relief guy with decent ceiling.

 

[Anselmheifer]

I knew very little about Ford. Just looked him up. 4.46 40 at the combined 5’10” and 210 pounds. Really good 2024 season rushed for 5ypc on a bunch of attempts. Fell of last year in Cleveland. Also looks like a solid receiving option. Had 44, 37, and 26 receptions the last 3 years, trending down. Only 26 years old.

Jerome Ford Career Stats - NFL - ESPN

Complete career NFL stats for Washington Commanders Running Back Jerome Ford on ESPN. Includes scoring, rushing, defensive and receiving stats.

www.espn.com

 

[skinsinparadise]

Mark Bullock said one of the things which stood out in Daniels’ rookie year is that he needed a lot of reps to get comfortable, but what he was great at was the on-schedule, in the rhythm of the offense plays.

In other words, he got to read 1, 2 and 3 in the timing of the play and would let the ball go. However the number of reps allowed him to trust the recover was going to be in the place where he was supposed to be.

Bullocks assessment of 2025 is Daniels never had the reps with the offense to build that trust, starting with Terry’s holdout and the. Running through all of the injuries, his and others. And because of this he was not trusting his eyes or his receivers, and instead of throwing with anticipation, he waited to see the receiver open.

That threw off the timing and made everything less effective.

I think that’s probably very true.

And since they have gone out of their way this year to make sure there is going to be a coherent group around Daniels from OTA’s on, I am betting it won’t be a problem again.

They need to settle WR 2. But just about everything else is somewhat set

Comfortable at RB and slot WR? I don't mean in the context of this team pre 2024, quest for 9-8 but a SB.

Jayden is a rythmn QB, no doubt. But you needs weapons that are in the right place to feed off of it. Jayden has had forever with Ben Sinnott but he according to Logan struggles to be at the right spot. Ertz on the other hand is a master of it. So its not of course purely about having reps with the weapons but also weapons who are good at seperating and run routes crisply. Part of the reason why some WRs are better than others of course are being students of the game and are in the right spots for the QB to throw to.

 

[Higskin]

I knew very little about Ford. Just looked him up. 4.46 40 at the combined 5’10” and 210 pounds. Really good 2024 season rushed for 5ypc on a bunch of attempts. Fell of last year in Cleveland. Also looks like a solid receiving option. Had 44, 37, and 26 receptions the last 3 years, trending down. Only 26 years old.

Jerome Ford Career Stats - NFL - ESPN

Complete career NFL stats for Washington Commanders Running Back Jerome Ford on ESPN. Includes scoring, rushing, defensive and receiving stats.

www.espn.com

FYI, he had a shoulder injury last year so kind of fell off in '25.

 

[Bulldog]

There really was no comparison though. Jerome Ford ran for 800 yards two years ago and McNichols has run for 800 yards in his entire 7 year career.

Both he and White catch the ball out of the backfield so there is coverage there too.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I haven't watched Ford since his college Cincy days. I think he lost his job this year to the dudes Cleveland drafted last year and then got hurt.

 

[Bulldog]

FYI, he had a shoulder injury last year so kind of fell off in '25.

5.4 yards per carry is not too shabby for a guy that projects to be a rotation player for us.

 

[skinsinparadise]

On a per carry basis, Ford was more productive in 2024, but he lost touches throughout the year. The writing was already on the wall that his role could shrink, but the additions of Judkins and Sampson confirmed that. While it seemed like Ford may begin the year as the team’s starter, he ended up earning only 24 total carries all season long.

It became pretty clear that Ford would be headed for the exit door this offseason, especially with free agency looming. He has quickly found a new home, though, as reports indicate he signed a one-year contract with the Washington Commanders, who also recently scooped up former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White on the open market earlier this week.

Browns Lose Key Offensive Weapon to Commanders in Free Agency

The Cleveland Browns have lost Jerome Ford in free agency, as he's signed a one-year contract with the Washington commanders.

heavy.com

 

[skinsinparadise]

5.4 yards per carry is not too shabby for a guy that projects to be a rotation player for us.

4.3.

5.4 was his best year.

 

[Dlts20]

I think the other thing folks don't think about when it comes to QB sophomore slumps... DCs have a season's worth of tape at that point and at least have some idea how to attack a young QB. The lack of surrounding talent certainly didn't help but I think that played a role in JD looking less JD-ish last season.

I didn't see any of that with Jayden. It looked mostly all self inflicted. He started taking off a lot immediately without going through progressions and even when guys were wide open, he was off target a lot. His accuracy was pin point as a rookie and way down last year.

Honestly, his demeanor was way different. He was much more of a goof ball last year compared to him as a rookie. It honestly bothered me to see guys like Maye look focused and serious while Jayden was laughing and smiling in crucial moments and after all his bad plays.

The prior year he was more non chalant and calm. Not being a goof ball 24/7.

 

[Bulldog]

Yep, different roles, Washington doesn't look to have bell cow back but a rotation in 2026.

Besides new regimes want new players.

 

[Bulldog]

4.3.

5.4 was his best year.

Yes, last year in his most recent and relevant sample size.

If I can go back I would rather extrapolate what he has done the past two years than what he did as a rookie 4 years ago.

That's one of the puzzle marks with Van Jefferson. He's 29 and has bounced around but there is that 2021 season where he won a Super Bowl with the Rams and caught 50 balls for 800 yards and 6 touchdowns for McVay.

Hard to judge what he is capable of now though.