The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[method man]

Conn
We still have holes that we can't fill with the draft and at least we know the guy is dependable. The third round pick is tempting but who are we going to get to fill his shoes? I think he knows his time is limited here and he is going to go balls out to get another contract

Calais Campbell

 

[Anselmheifer]

Regarding Payne, I don’t think we’d get. 3rd, but I’d take a 3rd plus the cap space and then I’d bring in Jennings and look for a cheaper DT option.

 

[skinsinparadise]

It was on the official draft war room footage that was aired.

That's what I was referring to, yeah Quinn was enthused about that pick among some others but I don't see how anything telegraphed they wouldn't like or take Dejean if he were there. If it did, another reason why this group would need to go because IMO it would be wacky and dumb.

Sainristil by just about every measure was a poor man's Dejean. So if they liked Sainristil it would be beyond weird for them not to dig Dejean. It would be like not liking Coca Cola but loving the supermarket's generic Cola.

But yeah if the point is Quinn and Peters liked Sainristil so much, no way he'd have taken Dejean, and would have stuck and picked Sainristil at that spot even if they didn't trade down -- it makes what they did much more egregious IMO -- but no way to know.

 

[heisenberg]

One thing I hadn't thought of in the Payne debate is although its unlikely he'd get us a 3rd round comp pick its much more likely he'd get Baltimore one making him a potential rental/investment for them.

They might get a year of his services in exchange for kicking a 3rd round pick one year down the road.

 

[Skinfanjon]

It's a very valid part of the convo, which is why in my earlier post, i said 'AT BEST'

It’s really not. We will sign an offsetting player in free agency next year. We are a couple years of successful off seasons away from being a team that wins the comp pick game.

 

[skinsinparadise]

It’s really not. We will sign an offsetting player in free agency next year. We are a couple years of successful off seasons away from being a team that wins the comp pick game.

Yeah the comp pick conversation to me is silly. And Voice_of_Reason lol might enjoy a shot at Keim from me, and see I don't always endorse Keim's takes. Keim loves to do the hey they can get such and such comp pick. IMO almost no chance that's happening untill this roster is built up. I don't expect a light FA in 2027 -- keep in mind still a lot of 1 year contracts and in turn likely turnover again.

But even playing along, Payne would be 30 years old and if he has his typical year, how much are you paying for an underacheiving DT who isn't young anymore? I doubt Payne would get a big contract.

 

[Bulldog]

Yeah, I don't understand why at least a couple of these other signing weren't for 2 years to give us some leeway on being able to stabilize the roster to some degree as we move forward.

I wouldn't have given Ford, Dyami Brown or Van Jefferson multi-year deals but may have been willing to pay more to get Chaisson in the fold for 2 plus years.

 

[burgold]

Reading the Free Agency thread, I see that Jayden is currently playing with Davonte Adams in the flag football league. While Adams is too long in the tooth to be a long term answer, he may not be a bad short term fix since Jayden is getting in rhythm with him.

 

[heisenberg]

Reading the Free Agency thread, I see that Jayden is currently playing with Davonte Adams in the flag football league. While Adams is too long in the tooth to be a long term answer, he may not be a bad short term fix since Jayden is getting in rhythm with him.

You want to trade for him?

He's not a free agent.

 

[burgold]

You want to trade for him?

He's not a free agent.

Oh shoot. I must have gotten him mixed up with another gray beard.

As they said on SNL almost before I was born... "Never mind."

 

[Primus Porcus]

It’s really not. We will sign an offsetting player in free agency next year. We are a couple years of successful off seasons away from being a team that wins the comp pick game.

So their point was the fact that it’s not a given, I agreed, you agree but you’re saying it’s not? What am I missing?

 

[Skinfanjon]

So their point was the fact that it’s not a given, I agreed, you agree but you’re saying it’s not? What am I missing?

Idk man. Daron isn’t going to net us much of a comp pick if any at all. If you agree, great. If you don’t, you’re wrong lol.

 

[Primus Porcus]

 

[Skinfanjon]

Way to clear it up lol.

 

[Primus Porcus]

Yeah, and I don't think losing Payne is creating some gaping hole. He's flashed, but he's not exactly a premium interior DT to this point, but he is getting paid like one.



AT BEST you get a 3rd round 2028 compensatory pick for letting Payne walk. If you believe the year before rule, a 2028 3rd round pick is equivalent to a 2027 4th, and a 2026 5th. Next years draft picks is worth 1 round less than it would be in this years draft. To give up a POTENTIAL 2026 5th round pick, and a 2026 6th for a 3rd is a hit already, the 2027 7th rounder would just be a bonus at that point.

But the Comp pick wouldn't be til 2028, so a 3rd rounder in 2026 is worth A LOT more than a 3rd rounder in 2028 when it comes to trade value.

It's a very valid part of the convo, which is why in my earlier post, i said 'AT BEST'

I'm aware, that 3rd round compensatory pick is a big time 'if'. I'm not in the camp of holding on to a mid grade DT, who's only season worth what he's getting paid was in a contract year, in the hopes that i can get a 2028 compensatory 3rd round pick, when i could (according to that scenario) get a 3rd round pick in next months draft.

Maybe nobody is understanding my point, so i'm sorry if i mislead.

I never said the comp pick was a given, my response was that even if we somehow were guaranteed (which clearly we're not) a 3rd round comp pick, it STILL wouldn't be worth a 3rd round pick THIS year, so the trade seems like a no brainer.

Way to clear it up lol.

My opinion isn't a state secret.

 

[Skinfanjon]

My opinion isn't a state secret.

I mean, you’re still kinda dancing around it in all of those replies, even if you’re fine moving on from him. He’s not netting a comp pick. That part of the discussion can just die.

I agree with your stance.

 

[Riggo44]

Yeah man, assuming we get a comp pick isn't a guarantee. Shouldn't be that frustrating to understand...

 

[Primus Porcus]

I mean, you’re still kinda dancing around it in all of those replies, even if you’re fine moving on from him. He’s not netting a comp pick. That part of the discussion can just die.

I agree with your stance.

Im not dancing around anything. Comp pick not guaranteed. Even if i was hypothetically guaranteed... a 3rd round comp in 2028 isn't worth a 3rd round in 2026 which is what we would get in the hypothetical trade with the Ravens. EREGO, the hypothetical trade is 100% worth the move because if you believe the theory in the NFL that a year later is worth a round (ie. a 4th round pick in 2027 is worth a 3rd round pick in 2026) would mean that even if in some hypothetical circumstance that you could even guarantee a 3rd round comp pick (which again is a stretch in itself), it would be the equivalent of a 5th round pick in 2026, so the 3rd round pick would absolutely be worth the move, especially considering the fact that Payne has not proven to be a consistent difference maker to this point, and his only premium season (which got him paid like a top tier DT) came in a contract year, so roughly 15% of his seasons, he's been very replaceable.

 

[Skinfanjon]

Im not dancing around anything. Comp pick not guaranteed. Even if i was hypothetically guaranteed... a 3rd round comp in 2028 isn't worth a 3rd round in 2026 which is what we would get in the hypothetical trade with the Ravens. EREGO, the hypothetical trade is 100% worth the move because if you believe the theory in the NFL that a year later is worth a round (ie. a 4th round pick in 2027 is worth a 3rd round pick in 2026) would mean that even if in some hypothetical circumstance that you could even guarantee a 3rd round comp pick (which again is a stretch in itself), it would be the equivalent of a 5th round pick in 2026, so the 3rd round pick would absolutely be worth the move, especially considering the fact that Payne has not proven to be a consistent difference maker to this point, and his only premium season (which got him paid like a top tier DT) came in a contract year, so roughly 15% of his seasons he's been very replaceable.

Lol bro, it’s cool, we agree. I’d trade him for anything I can get. You’re spending a lot of words though justifying why he should still be traded in this hypothetical world where he maybe but probably won’t net a comp pick. I’m simply saying all that is pointless discussion because it ain’t happening regardless.

 

[RedWolf]

You know it's that time of the year when there are extenuated conversations about potential trades, future comp picks and general minutiae

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