The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[philibusters]

There was some reporting that they shopped Biadasz a little bit but there really wasn’t a market because teams knew we were going to release him.

I wish they could have gotten something for him.


I do find that he landed so quickly a little odd.

I have no idea if Peter’s was right about this or not. I also have no opinion, becuase frankly I have no idea of Biadasz was a good center or not. I’m not qualified to have that opinion. I know nothing about center play at all.

It’s a risk though. That’s for sure.

I think it was unexpected that Drew Dalman and Ryan Kelly would retire. That had not happened yet when they released Tyler Biadasz. Two teams who thought they were set at center also became center needy. That may have altered the center market in a way that was unforeseeable at the time Biadasz retired. If those guys had retired a couple weeks earlier maybe a team does give us a 5th for Biadasz as they realize that the amount of teams needing a center and amount of starting caliber centers on the market don't match.

 

[DWinzit]

And if Allegretti goes down in week 1 how do you feel about letting Biadasz go for nothing then?

I found it interesting that the Bills not only resigned their starting C McGovern (who I thought might be our C target) but the also signed Lloyd Cushenberry to be the backup (best available C in the poor remaining field). He has 80 starts at C, only 28 but coming off an injury so took a one year prove it contract. Gives them a lot of experience just in case,

We need a smart rookie or vet with experience playing C and calling adjustments. I am not a big fan of just bringing in a player and saying he can learn the C position. If Allegrettti goes down their backup must be relied heavily on.

 

[DWinzit]

I think it was unexpected that Drew Dalman and Ryan Kelly would retire. That had not happened yet when they released Tyler Biadasz. Two teams who thought they were set at center also became center needy. That may have altered the center market in a way that was unforeseeable at the time Biadasz retired. If those guys had retired a couple weeks earlier maybe a team does give us a 5th for Biadasz as they realize that the amount of teams needing a center and amount of starting caliber centers on the market don't match.

That is a solid point. They cut him on 2/26. Dalman announced his surprise retirement on 3/3 and Kelly on 3/6

 

[Ashburn Dave]

That is a solid point. They cut him on 2/26. Dalman announced his surprise retirement on 3/3 and Kelly on 3/6

There was no advantage to releasing him on 2/26. This is my issue with it. It appears we did him a solid at our expense.

 

[SkinsFTW]

That is a solid point. They cut him on 2/26. Dalman announced his surprise retirement on 3/3 and Kelly on 3/6

And there was no reason to release our starting center, who is now getting paid MORE to be the Chargers starting center, weeks before the start of FA.

I'm sure they didn't want anything to do with him anymore, obviously, but would there have been 3+ teams willing to trade for him? It definitely seems like it.

It kind of reminds me of when the eagles cut Desean Jackson and we scooped him up. But that was Chip Kelly being a dumb ass. This isn't quite that bad but still makes you wonder why they couldn't wait and see what happens.

 

[DWinzit]

There was no advantage to releasing him on 2/26. This is my issue with it. It appears we did him a solid at our expense.

No argument from me, I was shocked and ticked when I read the announcement.

I was just stating that those retirements assisted in a miscalculation by AP. It's one thing to do a player a sold, it is another thing if it in any way hurts and this one hurt.

 

[Ashburn Dave]

No argument from me, I was shocked and ticked when I read the announcement.

I was just stating that those retirements assisted in a miscalculation by AP. It's one thing to do a player a sold, it is another thing if it in any way hurts and this one hurt.

Yep, real headscratcher.

 

[Anselmheifer]

There was no advantage to releasing him on 2/26. This is my issue with it. It appears we did him a solid at our expense.

Agree. The only two explanations that make sense are that they wanted the saved cash to chase big time FA’s, or again, that there was a personal or character issue.

Peter’s isn’t an idiot. Even if they thought Allegretti was better, why not make it a camp fight, or keep Biadasz as the backup.

It has to be one of those two things. Has to.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

There was no advantage to releasing him on 2/26. This is my issue with it. It appears we did him a solid at our expense.

Maybe. Unless they just thought there was no way he could play for the team.

Hindsight being 20/20, maybe they should have done it differently. I dunno.

It was odd.

And risky.

But if they thought “he’s never playing for us again in any circumstance” then it made sense.

However, I’d like to think he would have been at least a good backup.

One thing, Bram and Keim I think were both on this, Coleman took snaps at center last year and Quinn said he did well in practice.

With Paul back, the plan might be for Paul to slide back in at LG and Coleman to compete with Allegretti for center.

I do think Coleman has to play this year.

If that starts to come into focus, that would make sense.

I also think we’re going to draft another interior lineman somewhere as depth.

The timing is still odd. You might be right that they just did him a solid for no reason. That seems like something Quinn would do. I’m not so sure about Peters though.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Agree. The only two explanations that make sense are that they wanted the saved cash to chase big time FA’s, or again, that there was a personal or character issue.

Peter’s isn’t an idiot. Even if they thought Allegretti was better, why not make it a camp fight, or keep Biadasz as the backup.

It has to be one of those two things. Has to.

It could be they didn’t like what it might do to the locker room having that competition.

I really do think there’s is something more than meets the eye. Maybe it’s the cash but I’m really not sure that makes sense. I know Keim and Standig have speculated about it, mostly as a theory which fits the facts, but neither has reported it. To me that makes it guess work.

I don’t know what it was.

It could also be just they made a mistake. They thought they could be too cute and get Lindy, and it all fell through. They wanted to do Biadsz a solid and thought it would be fine because they were covered.

I dunno. I think the simplest reason is they didn’t want him on the team as even a backup. So they moved on and tried to address the opening and it failed.

We’ll see.

They have a glaring hole at WR, a “meh” RB room and an unsettled middle of the OL.

I hope like he’ll pick 7 addresses one of those needs and pick 71 addresses another.

They have not done enough offensively in my opinion.

 

[Anselmheifer]

I still wonder what happens to the passing game if Okonkwo gets hurt. There’s not another guy remotely like him on the roster. Or even just a real receiving TE.

Quoting myself. Like a total douchebag.

But, there has to be a plan at receiving TE. We can’t have this position be like WR in 2025. We will be building an offense with at least some Ben Johnson flavor and we can’t just have no receiving TE if Okonkwo goes down.

I honestly would be in favor of signing Njoku. If we don’t do that, and don’t grab a TE in the draft, we need to grab someone before training camp.

I wish the Zach Ertz injury had occurred earlier that December 7th. I wouldn’t hate him as a pure backup plan, but you just can’t trust that he is going to be ready in time to be a backup plan.

 

[DWinzit]

They have a glaring hole at WR, a “meh” RB room and an unsettled middle of the OL.

I hope like he’ll pick 7 addresses one of those needs and pick 71 addresses another.

They have not done enough offensively in my opinion.

They definitely have not done enough offensively. (same with the D)

The WR2 is a giant hole followed by C2.

We can survive with the current improved RB room.

I am sure about working Coleman into the backup C is the smartest thing. He has proven to need time to develop at any position and didn't pass the sniff test at LG. He has proven okay at both OT's and is valuable at swing.

The biggest concern with Coleman based on what I've read is that he hasn't been able to stay healthy. Do they want to count on him as their C2?

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

They definitely have not done enough offensively. (same with the D)

The WR2 is a giant hole followed by C2.

We can survive with the current improved RB room.

I am sure about working Coleman into the backup C is the smartest thing. He has proven to need time to develop at any position and didn't pass the sniff test at LG. He has proven okay at both OT's and is valuable at swing.

The biggest concern with Coleman based on what I've read is that he hasn't been able to stay healthy. Do they want to count on him as their C2?

They need to have him stay healthy and play. Somewhere. Coleman played well enough his rookie year. He has to absolutely be on the field this year.

 

[DWinzit]

They need to have him stay healthy and play. Somewhere. Coleman played well enough his rookie year. He has to absolutely be on the field this year.

I get that. I thought he earned a starting OT spot.

I was kind of expecting him to be the starting LG but based on Tunsils comment when Paul was brought back, I'd say they are giving that spot back to him (to lose)

 

[Commander Wraith]

Quoting myself. Like a total douchebag.

But, there has to be a plan at receiving TE. We can’t have this position be like WR in 2025. We will be building an offense with at least some Ben Johnson flavor and we can’t just have no receiving TE if Okonkwo goes down.

I honestly would be in favor of signing Njoku. If we don’t do that, and don’t grab a TE in the draft, we need to grab someone before training camp.

I wish the Zach Ertz injury had occurred earlier that December 7th. I wouldn’t hate him as a pure backup plan, but you just can’t trust that he is going to be ready in time to be a backup plan.

Good call on Ertz, he’s been on my radar but I totally forgot about him when replying to you. I’m not all that concerned about timing - even if he’s not ready until October, we probably can get by were Oknonwo to get hurt early. Now, if we don’t land a quality receiver or 2 to before then, that stretch could look rough.

It’ll be interesting to see what they do once Ertz is healthy. If they brought him in with Okonkwo healthy, you’d think Yankoff or Sinnot will almost certainly have to be cut. You’d assume it would be Yankoff, but I think he’s pretty clearly the better ST player…

 

[Anselmheifer]

They need to have him stay healthy and play. Somewhere. Coleman played well enough his rookie year. He has to absolutely be on the field this year.

This is a critical season for Coleman. I think if he’s healthy all offseason, he probably plays a lot this year. He’s way better suited to a zone running scheme than Paul. And if Coleman isn’t healthy again this year, that’s a big enough sample size for me. Cut him loose. We don’t need Chris Thompson/Jordan Reed at OG

Who do you guys see as potential cut candidates after the draft? We may get some good opportunities there.

Also, Diggs must be the worst character liability ever to not have a job yet. Lead his team in receiving with more than 1,000 yards and got cut

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I get that. I thought he earned a starting OT spot.

I was kind of expecting him to be the starting LG but based on Tunsils comment when Paul was brought back, I'd say they are giving that spot back to him (to lose)

I mean, he played well at LT in 2024.

But Tunsil is a top 5, if not top 3, LT. So, upgrading there made sense.

Then they drafted a RT who’s probably a better tackle than Coleman, so that’s an upgrade.

Coleman needs to start at Guard or center.

If it is Guard then that’s fine, but there’s an open question at Center.

If it’s Center, then Paul and Allegretti compete for LG.

One way or the other, he’s got to win a spot somewhere. I think they’re going to give him every opportunity to do so. But they won’t give it to him.

And I think they might still sign a guy and draft a guy to compete at both center and guards.

 

[ES1974]

Same, fully expect an IOL pick up, draft or free agent, brought in as more than just camp fodder. Competition is still needed.

 

[Commander Wraith]

I mean, he played well at LT in 2024.

But Tunsil is a top 5, if not top 3, LT. So, upgrading there made sense.

Then they drafted a RT who’s probably a better tackle than Coleman, so that’s an upgrade.

Coleman needs to start at Guard or center.

If it is Guard then that’s fine, but there’s an open question at Center.

If it’s Center, then Paul and Allegretti compete for LG.

One way or the other, he’s got to win a spot somewhere. I think they’re going to give him every opportunity to do so. But they won’t give it to him.

And I think they might still sign a guy and draft a guy to compete at both center and guards.

I’d love for Coleman to earn a starting job (at guard or center), though I’m not sure I agree that he “needs to”? He’s a quality backup tackle (at least on the left side), and if he grows into a quality backup guard and/or center, there’s a lot of value there.

At guard, we have Paul and Cosmi penciled in as starters, Wiley, Coleman, Scott as depth, with the potential for Allegretti to be added to that group if he doesn’t start at center. Or perhaps he takes Coleman’s spot as guard depth were Coleman to start at center (which I think is a long shot). Sure, we could stand to get better there, but it’s a decent blend of guys. We’ll have some camp competition added (and already have some on the roster), though I agree we could really use a quality center to at minimum compete with Allegretti. I feel pretty comfortable with this guard group though.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I’d love for Coleman to earn a starting job (at guard or center), though I’m not sure I agree that he “needs to”? He’s a quality backup tackle (at least on the left side), and if he grows into a quality backup guard and/or center, there’s a lot of value there.

At guard, we have Paul and Cosmi penciled in as starters, Wiley, Coleman, Scott as depth, with the potential for Allegretti to be added to that group if he doesn’t start at center. Or perhaps he takes Coleman’s spot as guard depth were Coleman to start at center (which I think is a long shot). Sure, we could stand to get better there, but it’s a decent blend of guys. We’ll have some camp competition added (and already have some on the roster), though I agree we could really use a quality center to at minimum compete with Allegretti. I feel pretty comfortable with this guard group though.

He needs to in order to justify his draft position.

Maybe a better way of saying it is Peters needs him to.

And I think he’s actually penciled in at LG. Paul will have to unseat him. Again.