The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[SkinsFTW]

I bet the phone lines are open, but they are not making any calls themselves. If someone blows them away they will act.

Or they could just cut Payne and watch another team sign him immediately. It's not like that hasn't happened before.

 

[Dlts20]

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

How about moving Daron Payne out ?

This isn’t going to die, is it?

Payne has a sunk cost of $12m. Whether he is on the team or not.

moving or releasing him saves ~$16m.

You can’t get a Payne level replacement for that cost.

And you open a hole on the DL which doesn’t currently exist.

Ergo, Payne stays. If they find somebody willing to give up a second or third on draft day, maybe. But then the almost have to use that pick on a DT.

I doubt very much it is going to happen.

 

[ES1974]

This isn’t going to die, is it?

Payne has a suck cost of $12m. Whether he is on the team or not.

moving or releasing him saves ~$16m.

You can’t get a Payne level replacement for that cost.

And you open a hole on the DL which doesn’t currently exist.

Ergo, Payne stays. If they find somebody willing to give up a second or third on draft day, maybe. But then the almost have to use that pick on a DT.

I doubt very much it is going to happen.

I will try to let it die at some point.

Every chance this ends up a very frustrating reflection of average Front Office management if Payne is just allowed to freeload for a season. Maybe AP is also keeping his fingers crossed that Payne can be arsed in a contract year.

However he doesn’t need to perform here. He’ll be well paid in 2027 by a desperate team awash with space.

Time will tell.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I will try to let it die at some point.

Every chance this ends up a very frustrating reflection of average Front Office management if Payne is just allowed to freeload for a season. Maybe AP is also keeping his fingers crossed that Payne can be arsed in a contract year.

However he doesn’t need to perform here. He’ll be well paid in 2027 by a desperate team awash with space.

Time will tell.

I actually see this the opposite way. I think this is great FO roster management. Not getting sucked into an emotional decision, being pragmatic, and looking at the roster and cap management holistically.

It means they evaluate every situation, what the best solution is for every scenario.

I’m not a huge Payne fan. But i recognize the his open market value and the value of replacing him is higher than the value you receive from trading or releasing him. And that’s what Peters has done.

I’ve also been saying this since October. Some of the numb nuts covering the team have been completely obtuse to this point. It’s not hard math. But the narrative in the local media has just been uninformed stupidity.

I give Peters an enormous amount of credit for figuring this out and being pragmatic. And not being forced by Payne’s camp to do something stupid like extending Payne.

This solution allows for Payne to play on his current deal and then potentially be a candidate to generate a comp pick.

The real mistake was giving Payne the mega money deal when Ron was here.

 

[Chris]

Yeah, enough about Payne. Here’s a clean and fresh topic in need of more discussion…Tyler Biadasz. 😉

 

[ES1974]

I’ve also been saying this since October.

I’ve only been here 3 weeks and you’re telling me it won’t die. I see why now. 😎

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[Faithful Fan]

Well I guess if we’re getting 60 combined tackles and 12 sacks, you would be right.

Or we get what he did in the other 7 seasons.

Last year, Payne had a safety, a forced fumble, five passes defended, 7 tackles for a loss, 8 QB hits, and 3 sacks in 15 games. I wouldn’t say that production justifies his salary, but he has been making plays, and our defense would be worse without him. Now if we got a really good offer or needed the cap space, then we should consider it, but otherwise I think you roll with him another year.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I’ve only been here 3 weeks and you’re telling me it won’t die. I see why now. 😎

My “it won’t die” comment wasn’t directed at you. It’s been a running conversation for 6 months. Somewhat sparked by local media folks who were pitching an incorrect narrative.

It really heated up this year before FA.

 

[clskinsfan]

Underachieving a big contract doesn’t mean he sucks. He is a useful piece who happens to be overpaid. Who is it you want to replace him with?

Agreed. I know he gets no respect here. But he is the best DT on this team. And it isnt close imo.

 

[Dlts20]

The thing about Lattimore is that even in the best case scenario, he was a guy clearly trending towards the downside of his career which was the same for all the old guys we signed. I'm glad that now AP is switched to signing guys who are trending up or at least young enough where they have a number of years left at their current level

 

[Discobob]

I mean.... he'd avoid that deal knowing what he does now, but it does no good looking petty and slamming Lattimore's performance. Putting that type of stuff out there just gradually sours agents and players on the GM.

 

[HTTR]

The thing about Lattimore is that even in the best case scenario, he was a guy clearly trending towards the downside of his career which was the same for all the old guys we signed. I'm glad that now AP is switched to signing guys who are trending up or at least young enough where they have a number of years left at their current level

Clearly, in hindsight. But it’s not like he was that old, he just couldn’t get over the injuries. He was 28 when we got him for the stretch run and his age 29 season. I’d say there was the best case scenario where if healthy he would’ve had a couple more good years left in him at that age.

I mean.... he'd avoid that deal knowing what he does now, but it does no good looking petty and slamming Lattimore's performance. Putting that type of stuff out there just gradually sours agents and players on the GM.

Hmm I didn’t really get that at all from the video. He even said he played well last year until he got injured again.

 

[burgold]

I applaud Peter's restraint at not bad mouthing current or ex underperforming-players. It's really a low bar that is just part of every professional front office, but it is a bar that we could not manage to step over prior to the ownership change.

 

[Discobob]

Hmm I didn’t really get that at all from the video. He even said he played well last year until he got injured again.

I guess I view this as Peters "taking the high road"... Yes, I'm speculating

It just seems like a situation where it's obvious that the trade didn't work out, so making excuses or blaming the player is poor form. He basically said, heres what I was thinking at the time... then said something nice about the player...

 

[Dlts20]

Clearly, in hindsight. But it’s not like he was that old, he just couldn’t get over the injuries. He was 28 when we got him for the stretch run and his age 29 season. I’d say there was the best case scenario where if healthy he would’ve had a couple more good years left in him at that age.


Hmm I didn’t really get that at all from the video. He even said he played well last year until he got injured again.

Yea but the previous 2 seasons he played 10 games and 7 games, plus was currently injured when we traded for him

 

[Boone]

Don’t forget about Burks. Maybe they are higher on him than we know. He looked decent in his limited time here thus far.

No slight intended to Burks but he had 10 catches. Any practice squad player in America could have 10 catches. Just sayin... he had a circus catch or two, which is great, but I personally am slowing my roll on thinking he's suddenly going to become a major contributor.

 

[Boone]

I actually see this the opposite way. I think this is great FO roster management. Not getting sucked into an emotional decision, being pragmatic, and looking at the roster and cap management holistically.

It means they evaluate every situation, what the best solution is for every scenario.

I’m not a huge Payne fan. But i recognize the his open market value and the value of replacing him is higher than the value you receive from trading or releasing him. And that’s what Peters has done.

I’ve also been saying this since October. Some of the numb nuts covering the team have been completely obtuse to this point. It’s not hard math. But the narrative in the local media has just been uninformed stupidity.

I give Peters an enormous amount of credit for figuring this out and being pragmatic. And not being forced by Payne’s camp to do something stupid like extending Payne.

This solution allows for Payne to play on his current deal and then potentially be a candidate to generate a comp pick.

The real mistake was giving Payne the mega money deal when Ron was here.

I don't have an opinion on whether they could move Payne or whether they should move Payne, but you sound awfully confident in the front office (the same front office that brought in Lattimore and let Deebo go after giving up a 5th round pick to rent him for a single season). Coming off a 5 win season and having to let both your coordinators walk, I would say there shouldn't be any 'sacred cows' - anything that potentially brightens our future should be considered.

 

[Conn]

I’ve also been saying this since October.

I give Peters an enormous amount of credit for figuring this out and being pragmatic.

Giving the professional GM bonus points for cranking his super-brain up to 11 and landing on the same opinion as a message board poster

We may be doomed, we may not, but we’re gonna go down laughing maniacally together at least either way