The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Faithful Fan]

Also, don't get it twisted. I would be ecstatic if we added Diggs, Jennings, Pittman, or whomever but if Aiyuk is good then guys are going to be upset about playing time.

He also may switch and not want to come if he knows that we have Terry, Williams, and Diggs. If he's washed then it's no loss but if he is healthy, elite, and goes to another club then we will be upset.

This is a good point, people either really hate our younger developmental players, can’t count, or expect 3 of our top 4 receivers to be hurt again. There simply isn’t room for all these receivers we have plus two more veterans.

As it is we are going to have to cut some guys. Assuming we add one veteran like Aiyuk or Diggs, our top 3 will be: Terry, veteran free agent, and Williams. That leaves LMC, Lane, Dyami, Burks, Jefferson, and a few UDFA fighting for 3 (or at most 4) roster spots and very little playing time. And you can cut another one for each additional free agent you sign.

This conversation bothers me actually. For one, we are trying to get younger and develop our own talent, you don’t do that by cutting promising draft picks on their rookie contracts for aging vets. For another, I really think some of those guys who fans want gone have upside potential we won’t be able realize if we follow their plans.

 

[bowhunter]

This is from today

I'm not usually prone to watching 40 minute videos, but this held my attention throughout. Thanks for sharing

 

[Dah-Dee]

Where are you getting this?

Looks like a kinda sorta thing:

Nick Cross interview:

On Jayden Daniels​

“I met him in L.A. right before free agency and I let him know, like, ‘tell them I want to come home.’ He said, ‘Alright, I’ve got you.’ Then I saw him in the locker room the other day and I said, ‘See? I told you.’ He’s a great guy and a great quarterback, a great person to be around. I’m excited to see what he does this season.”

Commanders’ Nick Cross talks Washington homecoming, Jayden Daniels, Sonny Styles and more

New Commanders safety Nick Cross talked about his Washington homecoming and more in an interview with Kay Adams.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[HailYeah]

I’m worried what happens when aiyuk gets released and we make no move to sign him. Might need some strong drinks around here.

 

[Dlts20]

Where are you getting this?

You're right, I think that I remembered it wrong. He talks about it at the 11min mark but I don't think that Jayden necessarily said anything

 

[Conn]

This is a good point, people either really hate our younger developmental players, can’t count, or expect 3 of our top 4 receivers to be hurt again. There simply isn’t room for all these receivers we have plus two more veterans.

As it is we are going to have to cut some guys. Assuming we add one veteran like Aiyuk or Diggs, our top 3 will be: Terry, veteran free agent, and Williams. That leaves LMC, Lane, Dyami, Burks, Jefferson, and a few UDFA fighting for 3 (or at most 4) roster spots and very little playing time. And you can cut another one for each additional free agent you sign.

This conversation bothers me actually. For one, we are trying to get younger and develop our own talent, you don’t do that by cutting promising draft picks on their rookie contracts for aging vets. For another, I really think some of those guys who fans want gone have a lot of upside potential we won’t be able realize if we follow their plans.

I think that cluster of guys you named all fighting for 3-4 roster spots would be a good place to be, and where most teams want to be. Van Jefferson is the perfect sort of replacement level vet you want young WR’s to show they can beat out, make them put up their best work against a true pro with a limited ceiling and they’ll be better for it and make the team. Same with Burks. The potential is not enough, make him compete against these sorts of guys to show that he can develop everyday consistency. Bump the losers of the competition down to the PS.

This is fine. LMC and Lane aren’t even in danger yet if it’s Diggs or Aiyuk added. Both added, then sure, you’re likely losing Burks or Brown or one of the young guys to bust-status. But that only happens if they aren’t developing AND we sign two vets (which I know some are clamoring for, but I don’t think it actually happens). One addition and we’re right where we want to be (outside of adding more proven premium talents in their prime obviously, which would have superseded this logic but didn’t happen)

McLaurin
Diggs/Aiyuk
Williams
LMC
Brown
Lane
Burks

That’s a realistic WR corps and gives the young guys one more season to show their development before further competition is brought in (and even then, the stopgap vet is probably leaving next year, and possibly McLaurin as well), likely someone gets injured and everyone moves up a bit on the depth chart, the young draft picks all have ST’s roles to keep them active on game day, etc.

Nobody intriguing is in danger yet imo. If we add one solid vet like Diggs, Keenan Allen, or a healthy Aiyuk (unknown), the middle/bottom of the depth chart is competitive but we hang onto all the young guns who may have potential, buying them another year to compete and grow while Jayden has real WR’s to throw to until the young guys are worthy of taking real jobs from real receivers.

 

[Faithful Fan]

I think that cluster of guys you named all fighting for 3-4 roster spots would be a good place to be, and where most teams want to be. Van Jefferson is the perfect sort of replacement level vet you want young WR’s to show they can beat out, make them put up their best work against a true pro with a limited ceiling and they’ll be better for it and make the team. Same with Burks. The potential is not enough, make him compete against these sorts of guys to show that he can develop everyday consistency. Bump the losers of the competition down to the PS.

This is fine. LMC and Lane aren’t even in danger yet if it’s Diggs or Aiyuk added. Both added, then sure, you’re likely losing Burks or Brown or one of the young guys to bust-status. But that only happens if they aren’t developing AND we sign two vets (which I know some are clamoring for, but I don’t think it actually happens). One addition and we’re right where we want to be (outside of adding more proven premium talents in their prime obviously, which would have superseded this logic but didn’t happen)

McLaurin
Diggs/Aiyuk
Williams
LMC
Brown
Lane
Burks

That’s a realistic WR corps and gives the young guys one more season to show their development before further competition is brought in (and even then, the stopgap vet is probably leaving next year, and possibly McLaurin as well), likely someone gets injured and everyone moves up a bit on the depth chart, the young draft picks all have ST’s roles to keep them active on game day, etc.

Nobody intriguing is in danger yet imo. If we add one solid vet like Diggs, Keenan Allen, or a healthy Aiyuk (unknown), the middle/bottom of the depth chart is competitive but we hang onto all the young guns who may have potential, buying them another year to compete and grow while Jayden has real WR’s to throw to until the young guys are worthy of taking real jobs from real receivers.

Fair enough, I agree competition is healthy, you make a good point about how things will look in 2027, and the possible roster you list looks like one I could live with. I might point out you’re keeping 7 WRs when we also have crowded RB and TE rooms, but I suppose having more players than roster spots is a good problem to have.

For what it’s worth, I do agree we should add one veteran wide receiver. It’s more the talk of adding two or more that bothers me, because I like some of the guys we have already, but I guess there is anxiety about Aiyuk’s availability and status, and some hangover from last year’s disaster at the position, which is understandable.

 

[Discobob]

I'm not usually prone to watching 40 minute videos, but this held my attention throughout. Thanks for sharing

There's no new info here, but this conversation gives a plausible explanation for why everything went south. It would be less of a red flag than some have made it out to be.

 

[Dlts20]

 

[Dlts20]

The most underrated signing

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

The most underrated signing

I really had not looked into Nick Cross all that much, I just figured he was a barely above average safety based on nothing more than his PFF.

 

[Conn]

Still don’t think we do it, but the man’s got a point

 

[SkinsFTW]

Well, we do have all that cap room and diggs would at minimum be great McLaurin insurance, hell, he might even be an upgrade considering the injuries last year.

 

[heisenberg]

Too bad kenny moore is a slot cornerback.
The colts just released him.

 

[Discobob]

Still don’t think we do it, but the man’s got a point

 

[BayouBrave86]

Diggs is trash and a bigger trash human being. He has had one good playoff game since Covid. No thanks.

 

[BayouBrave86]

Too bad kenny moore is a slot cornerback.
The colts just released him.

Haha right, have enough of those.

 

[Anselmheifer]

Zah Frazier Draft and Combine Prospect Profile | NFL.com

All Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Zah Frazier

www.nfl.com

Zag Frazier released by the Bears. A hair under 6’3” with arms a hair under 33”. Ran a 4.36 at the combine. He was their 5th round pick last year. Missed all of 2025 due to, “personal reasons”. If he ever got his shit together, he’s at least be worth a practice squad spot with those measurables.

 

[Conn]

So 1 year $13M (up to $13M even!) in the end, and low interest from us (which was apparent)

If Aiyuk isn’t healthy and fully integrated into this offense and productive by October, this regime will have a lot to answer for if we aren’t a playoff team. They may have bet their jobs on this situation

Also the implication that if we’d gotten Doubs, we would’ve potentially then passed on seriously pursuing Chig…is worrying. I worry this FO doesn’t have a clue and that offense/skill positions are a serious blind spot for them for whatever reason.

 

[Primus Porcus]

I thought Jennings would have been a great fit, and at that money? AP knows him so I guess I’ll defer, admittedly I’ve been saying that a lot so I hope he’s right… I’m not liking continuing to say it.