The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[HTTR]

I still say Keenan Allen out of those fallback options. Yeah he’s older, but all of these guys are old too and/or have other issues. It’s why they are still available. As a one-year stopgap, Keenan is just as likely to be productive as any of them. Would not be shocking to see him give us a Bobby Wagner/Zach Ertz type season. And to me, he’s the one guy who is a solid professional that can provide a great example for our younger developing receivers. Obviously it’s not plan A, but I don’t mind if we have to wait another year to find our future WR1, rather than try to force it this year. Most likely there will be a better crop of receivers in both free agency and the draft next year.

 

[Commander Wraith]

I keep mentioning him but have no idea how the hell we’d pull off getting him without involving one of our few picks.

And Payne alone wouldn’t be enough.

My first thought was “pick swap”, but then I realized JAX doesn’t have a 1st and their 2nd is pretty late. With that said, they do have three 3rd rounders and 2 5th/6th rounders, so I suppose something like their 2nd, plus two of their three 3rds would be a possibility, but it gets messy (and risky for both teams) fast. Can’t see it happening with so many factors involved.

There is some sense in it though (IMO). WAS fills a big need with BJT and gets multiple picks in the range where some really interesting players could fit our needs. We’re going to have a lot of spots to fill next year, so those added picks could be a big help. JAX gets a blue chip player at 7, a solid player at a position of need (Payne), and would still have a bunch of picks left.

Speaking of our 2027 forecast:
S - Quan and Harris are FAs
LG - Paul a FA
RB - just JCM left
WR - possibly Terry gone
DT - Payne gone
LB - Luvu a FA
DE - just Oweh and JJB signed (yikes)

 

[Faithful Fan]

I still say Keenan Allen out of those fallback options. Yeah he’s older, but all of these guys are old too and/or have other issues. It’s why they are still available. As a one-year stopgap, Keenan is just as likely to be productive as any of them. Would not be shocking to see him give us a Bobby Wagner/Zach Ertz type season. And to me, he’s the one guy who is a solid professional that can provide a great example for our younger developing receivers. Obviously it’s not plan A, but I don’t mind if we have to wait another year to find our future WR1, rather than try to force it this year. Most likely there will be a better crop of receivers in both free agency and the draft next year.

Agree completely but I’m afraid he wants to stay in LA.

 

[DWinzit]

Agree completely but I’m afraid he wants to stay in LA.

I was under the impression LA was trying to move from him because of age of course but also he and Ladd are somewhat redundant

 

[Dlts20]

 

[Dlts20]

Great that he's leaving the division. Sucks that all of Jayden's peers are being surrounded by talent.

 

[Commander Wraith]

Regarding the FA receivers, it seems like Allen and Jennings are probably the best fits for us. Allen’s at that stage that he can opt to not move east though. He’s made enough money and he’s a pro’s pro, so he can wait for an injury with a team out west.
Jennings priced himself out of a job early, but he’ll probably have suitors post-draft. I think I’d try to sell him on a 1 year deal with the benefit of playing with Daniels and the appeal of being able to prove himself away from Kyle’s scheme.

Other guys could help us of course, but aside from gambling on Aiyuk, none of them really move the needle much unless maybe Blough thinks he could feature Deebo.

Point being, I’m not sure we can afford to roll the dice in the draft - ie on a high ceiling, low floor type, unless we either double down on receivers or have a gentleman’s agreement with one of the FAs (if such a thing is possible).

 

[KDawg]

I think sometimes we forget that these free agents can choose elsewhere as well. I would hope the FO has done their homework and spoken to agents and have a plan at receiver based on responses they’ve received.

We’re going to find out soon.

 

[clskinsfan]

 

[burgold]

Good for him, but it would have been better if he had left Dallas. I would have welcomed him here.

 

[clskinsfan]

Good for him, but it would have been better if he had left Dallas. I would have welcomed him here.

He is worth every penny they paid him and more.

 

[RWJ]

Who would have thunk a PK would be making 7mill per year at this time, per Schefter? Not me. I thought it would have been down the road. NFL salaries are and have been skyrocketing for years now. I don't know how the NFL will continue to find a way to extend the yearly salaries. It cost money to fly teams over to other countries and play in their stadiums. Not all countries are blessed like our country is to pay and watch play and you can only sign so many contracts with other cable outlets to get revenue to increase.

 

[clskinsfan]

 

[Faithful Fan]

I was under the impression LA was trying to move from him because of age of course but also he and Ladd are somewhat redundant.

I hope so, as I think he would be a good fit for us, a productive and reliable vet at a position of need and a good role model for all the youngsters.

But Allen and the Chargers are both talking like they want him back in LA:

Keenan Allen leaves little doubt about his Chargers future with latest comments

Chargers WR Keenan Allen certainly sounds like he wants to return to the team in 2026.

boltbeat.com

Chargers Aren’t Shutting Door on Franchise Legend’s Return in Free Agency

The Chargers could still bring back a fan favorite after the NFL draft.

www.si.com

 

[Conn]

Who would have thunk a PK would be making 7mill per year at this time, per Schefter? Not me. I thought it would have been down the road. NFL salaries are and have been skyrocketing for years now. I don't know how the NFL will continue to find a way to extend the yearly salaries. It cost money to fly teams over to other countries and play in their stadiums. Not all countries are blessed like our country is to pay and watch play and you can only sign so many contracts with other cable outlets to get revenue to increase.

The players get less than half of the league profit share, and the salary cap still goes up massively almost every year now. The teams and owners are doing okay, the salaries will keep going up for a while yet.

I do think we eventually see a meta evolve that includes paying certain positions a percentage of the overall salary cap year-to-year, but that’s a big change and will probably take a while to happen.

 

[HTTR]

Agree completely but I’m afraid he wants to stay in LA.

Maybe, but we could offer him more money and also more targets. LA is not offering him anything he thinks is reasonable or isn’t even interested at all. Otherwise he would have already re-signed most likely. The clock is ticking on his career so I would think he might want to jump at this opportunity rather than sit around on his couch hoping a better opportunity surfaces.

I hope so, as I think he would be a good fit for us, a productive and reliable vet at a position of need and a good role model for all the youngsters.

But he and the team are both talking like they want him back in LA:

Keenan Allen leaves little doubt about his Chargers future with latest comments

Chargers WR Keenan Allen certainly sounds like he wants to return to the team in 2026.

boltbeat.com

Chargers Aren’t Shutting Door on Franchise Legend’s Return in Free Agency

The Chargers could still bring back a fan favorite after the NFL draft.

www.si.com

We’ll see. It all sounds a lot like our team talking about Bobby Wagner. Of course they are going to say those things about Keenan, he is a legend there. But with Bobby, we know he’s not coming back, and there’s a decent chance it’s the same situation there with KA.

 

[Faithful Fan]

Who would have thunk a PK would be making 7mill per year at this time, per Schefter? Not me. I thought it would have been down the road.

This is not just any PK though, Aubrey is the best in the business.

 

[HTTR]

Who would have thunk a PK would be making 7mill per year at this time, per Schefter? Not me. I thought it would have been down the road. NFL salaries are and have been skyrocketing for years now. I don't know how the NFL will continue to find a way to extend the yearly salaries. It cost money to fly teams over to other countries and play in their stadiums. Not all countries are blessed like our country is to pay and watch play and you can only sign so many contracts with other cable outlets to get revenue to increase.

It is costly, but it’s an investment in the future. They are developing worldwide fan bases for these teams. We’ve already seen it happen in Europe. Long-term the globalization of the game will keep the revenue flowing in, even if Americans eventually get tired of being squeezed.

 

[Dah-Dee]

 

[clskinsfan]

I would be shocked if this happens. Cant really see anyone taking on that contract.