The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[KDawg]

If the head coach and GM agree with you, that it will be a waste this year to sign him, then why sign him at all? We don't have a deep enough corp that we can stash a receiver who will be useless to us this year. We need a receiver this year not someone we can bank for 2027.

If the coaches think he's worth a prove-it gamble this year then throw the dice. If they want him for the future, we need his roster spot for someone who can do something now.

I’ve been saying go after Diggs. But I wouldn’t mind Aiyuk on a 2 year. I wouldn’t sign him on a one year at all unless it’s before training camp. After mid August it’s a waste.

 

[CapsCommies]

If he signs for 1 year and we are the ones rehabbing and reinventing him to 2024 form, we should be the ones rewarded by a reasonable 2nd year option. We can't give him a roster spot and have him leave our cupboard bare next off season. It would be all risk with little reward. Otherwise we'd be better off signing a safer product in Diggs.

The reward is the ability to use one of the tags (transition or franchise).

 

[DWinzit]

It does seem a bit suspect that the team has not reached out to Diggs. It's a similar feeling as when they were not reaching out to Jennings.

It must just not be what they want or feel they need, which makes me a little woozy lol

 

[burgold]

It does seem a bit suspect that the team has not reached out to Diggs. It's a similar feeling as when they were not reaching out to Jennings.

It must just not be what they want or feel they need, which makes me a little woozy lol

The team has an annoying tendency to not listen to us (when we're right). This has happened over administrations. I remember the first time we switched over to a 3-4 and we all demanded we get a nose tackle and for three years the team just refused to draft or sign one. Then, I remember us telling Rivera to address linebacker and him just doing all but nothing. More recently, I remember us panicking over the fact that the team had no passrushers and the team assuring us that we needn't worry because they could generate passrush via scheme.

This year from the first day of the offseason, we have almost universally been on edge about the wide receiver room and they have addressed it almost on the margins. Maybe this time the coaches will be smarter than the fans, but I worry that it will be another example where Captain Obvious is correct.

 

[Discobob]

For what it's worth, I never worry being on different planets. My starship is warp capable, has a hyperspace engine, and as everyone knows from my posting history can entertain ludicrous speeds even if I rarely go plaid.

 

[skinsinparadise]

The team has an annoying tendency to not listen to us (when we're right). This has happened over administrations. I remember the first time we switched over to a 3-4 and we all demanded we get a nose tackle and for three years the team just refused to draft or sign one. Then, I remember us telling Rivera to address linebacker and him just doing all but nothing. More recently, I remember us panicking over the fact that the team had no passrushers and the team assuring us that we needn't worry because they could generate passrush via scheme.

This year from the first day of the offseason, we have almost universally been on edge about the wide receiver room and they have addressed it almost on the margins. Maybe this time the coaches will be smarter than the fans, but I worry that it will be another example where Captain Obvious is correct.

Captain obvious on our end is the operative point. I know there is some push back a little on this thread, some within the local media, about fans being unrealistic for wanting too much or that we are uninformed yet act like we are smarter than the FO, etc. None of that is true.

It's not that we think are are geniuses who can see it all. It's that we are picking out the obvious. And worried about it. I was worried last summer about the same Wr room, and lol expressed that point plenty of times. Not because I thought I was a genius but because it doesn't take deep thought to see it.

I think it was Burgundy Blog who once said on X and its stuck with me, the Eagles seem to do what fans would do, and it works for them. By that he didn't mean fans are scouts. They way he said it it was about the Eagles filling in their holes with pedigreed players.

If its about giving this FO credit and acceding they know more than we do, we do it plenty. I am just assuming they fixed their D line by their acquistions. I am not a scout, I don't know. If they think Chaisson and Oweh who are late bloomers are going to hit their stride, I'll trust it.

But the idea that Dyami or Van Jefferson or Lane or McCaffrey will be a legit #2 when they never have remotely looked like that kind of player -- and they have flubbed that spot last year with a similar approach -- isn't me and others being disgruntled fans or haters or whatever, its expressing concern about something that seems super obvious.

Ditto other regimes, you mentioned. the idea of hey this spot looks super weak, fans whine about it, and the team has the last laugh with the idea that hey those stupid fans were wrong -- it doesn't alas happen that often where the team is vindicated in those scenarios.

 

[DWinzit]

Yup, Captain Obvious says we desperately need a legit WR.

A plan of wagering all on Aiyuk, if and when he is freed is a bet too rich for my blood. It feels like fools gold.

If they sign Diggs tomorrow there's not going to be much to post about until OTAs

 

[burgold]

Building on the Captain Obvious theme, last year we signed Deebo and attempted to otherwise go ahead with the old crew, figuring McLaurin, Deebo, Brown, McCaffrey, and Lane sounded pretty good. Honestly, it still sounds plausible to me. However, it didn't work. Deebo did, more or less, hold up his end of the deal but neither Lane nor McCaffrey were able to step forward fast enough, Brown was even more injury prone than we feared, and McCaffrey basically took two-thirds of the season to get right after his holdout/injury.

So, if we go forward as we are plus Aiyuk it is not quite doing the same thing, but it feels like it. We're depending on Terry, Lane, McCaffrey, and D Brown (more or less the old crew from 2024 just swapping Browns) with Aiyuk in the Deebo role, Williams in the Lane role, and Van Jefferson in the Robbie Chosen role.

Captain Obvious says, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results" and even if Peters can credibly claim they are not doing the same thing Captain Obvious can squint at what we've done and point out that it's very similar.

 

[KDawg]

The problem is we are relying on potential. The issue with that strategy is non-existent if that potential is realized. But previous sample size says that it probably doesn’t work out. At least well enough that it covers all holes.

Here are the positives and negatives of each receiver:

Terry:
Mr. Reliable. Has made due with far less around him and has been the rock of this franchise through all of the BS. Can play every position.

Not getting younger, been banged up, large contract going into next year (and this team doesn’t like paying those)

Williams:
Versatile, polished route running rookie who has produced at a fairly high level at a P4 program. Is a slot but can play Z.

He’s a rookie, will have some growing pains, if he plays Z I don’t believe he’s in his BEST position but he will be fine.

Burks:
Size, potential, bursts of brilliance. Has all the talent you can ask for.

Has not at all lived up to his pre draft hype. It’s a pattern at this point that he needs to break.

Lane:
Speed, return ability, vertical threat.

Young, needs to develop, hasn’t shown ability to be a huge difference maker.

McCaffrey:
Pedigree, can be a steady receiver if he gets in a rhythm. Has the size to play X/Z and ability to be a slot.

Doesn’t really have a natural position at the moment. Production well under what you want from him.

Jefferson:
Journeyman veteran presence that is consistent and knows the game and understands his role.

Hasn’t shown that he is a reliable 2/3 guy and is more of a back end of the group slot guy, which we have an abundance of.

Dyami:
Rapport with Jayden, good deep ball receiver, doesn’t shrink in big moments.

Despite how much we love him for what he helped us do in ‘24 in the playoffs, he hasn’t really ever had much regular season success.

Chig:
Good athlete, YAC threat, played in a bad situation.

Despite the hype, and YAC ability, his production is in line with Ertz. Which, to be honest, isn’t a bad thing. I just worry that we as fans are looking for him to be a major difference maker - and he may be - but he hasn’t done that yet. I think he’s going to be really good for us, and an upgrade. But he still needs to do it

Sinnott:
Who knows

Who knows

Bates:
Blocker

Blocker

Aside from Terry, we don’t have anyone besides Chig who has averaged 500+ over a 17 game average. And he’s barely there.

Looking at statistics, career yards per 17 games:

Terry: 1106
Chig: 504
Jefferson: 403
Burks: 403
Lane: 255
McCaffrey: 243
Brown: 223
Bates: 144
Sinnott: 73

We all count Jefferson out, but career wise he’s the tied for third with Burks best per 17 game receiver on the roster.

And if all of these guys MEET their per 17 average that is 3,354 yards. And keep in mind not all of these guys are going to be on the roster.

So, accounting for some of those yards to not be met and others to be added from better years, other players, etc… figure about 3k yards.

That means we need at minimum 1k receiving from our backs for Jayden to get to 4k.

And, to get back to 2024 levels of success, figure we need to account for half of JD’s roughly 900 rush yards from elsewhere (rushing, receiving, etc) we just don’t have enough on paper.

Some of these guys are going to have to BIG time over produce their 17 game average.

Thats playing with a LOT of hope.

Btw, Diggs per 17 is 1215. Aiyuk is 1061. Jauan Jennings is 585.

 

[KDawg]

Using per 17, Diggs, Terry account for 2300 yards. Even if they don’t make it, getting 2000ish yards from those 2 is offense changing.

Aiyuk, even cutting his per 17 in half at 500, matches our current second best in Chig.

Between those 4 alone we’d be at 3000.

Add Williams, whatever odd production from other receivers and the backs and I wouldn’t be surprised by 4500 receiving yards + from that group.

Significant difference, imo.

 

[DWinzit]

Even if Luke or Lane had been able to prove themselves a legit WR3, I'd feel a bit more comfortable.

So far this regimes 3 receiving threat draft choices (Sinnott) have not panned out other than on teams.

Because of their play on ST's it is creating the quagmire at WR456. We (and AP and DQ) really need Luke or Lane to come alive

 

[skinsinparadise]

Building on the Captain Obvious theme, last year we signed Deebo and attempted to otherwise go ahead with the old crew, figuring McLaurin, Deebo, Brown, McCaffrey, and Lane sounded pretty good. Honestly, it still sounds plausible to me. However, it didn't work. Deebo did, more or less, hold up his end of the deal but neither Lane nor McCaffrey were able to step forward fast enough, Brown was even more injury prone than we feared, and McCaffrey basically took two-thirds of the season to get right after his holdout/injury.

So, if we go forward as we are plus Aiyuk it is not quite doing the same thing, but it feels like it. We're depending on Terry, Lane, McCaffrey, and D Brown (more or less the old crew from 2024 just swapping Browns) with Aiyuk in the Deebo role, Williams in the Lane role, and Van Jefferson in the Robbie Chosen role.

Captain Obvious says, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results" and even if Peters can credibly claim they are not doing the same thing Captain Obvious can squint at what we've done and point out that it's very similar.

I liked the Deebo signing. But to me the Captain Obvious last year was this...

A. Noah Brown who can never stay healthy as your starting Z? And for good measure he wasn't healthy that off season so they were betting on getting VERY lucky. And its not as if Noah even healthy is a legit #2.

B. Playing off of A who is the back up as to outside WR? What happens if Noah indeed isn't healthy who starts in his place? What happens if Terry is hurt? In essense they rode with Noan and Terry without a net for either one. And it blew up on them big time.

 

[DWinzit]

The team has an annoying tendency to not listen to us (when we're right). This has happened over administrations. I remember the first time we switched over to a 3-4 and we all demanded we get a nose tackle and for three years the team just refused to draft or sign one. Then, I remember us telling Rivera to address linebacker and him just doing all but nothing. More recently, I remember us panicking over the fact that the team had no passrushers and the team assuring us that we needn't worry because they could generate passrush via scheme.

It amazes me that this has been a recurring theme over numerous regimes and still stands without Snyder. When the heck will they start reading our threads and learn how to get the team playoff bound!!!

 

[skinsinparadise]

Even if Luke or Lane had been able to prove themselves a legit WR3, I'd feel a bit more comfortable.

So far this regimes 3 receiving threat draft choices (Sinnott) have not panned out other than on teams.

Because of their play on ST's it is creating the quagmire at WR456. We (and AP and DQ) really need Luke or Lane to come alive

Yeah they basically have the deepest collection of #4 type WRs in the NFL.

I got big hopes for Antonio but you don't know about rookies until they play.

Otherwise you can argue that there isn't a clear #3 in this room let alone #2.

And no that's not because I have no faith in any of these younger WRs developing. But this is the last year potentially of the rookie contract as it is now -- this isn't the time to fart around and experiment.

And for those worried that they might lose out on secret superstars on the roster, where Lane becomes Desean Jackson or whatever but it gets lost in the sauce -- if there is one spot i am not worried about as to missing a player making a big climb its WR. Camp is such a showcase for that spot.

 

[burgold]

I liked the Deebo signing. But to me the Captain Obvious last year was this...

A. Noah Brown who can never stay healthy as your starting Z? And for good measure he wasn't healthy that off season so they were betting on getting VERY lucky. And its not as if Noah even healthy is a legit #2.

B. Playing off of A who is the back up as to outside WR? What happens if Noah indeed isn't healthy who starts in his place? What happens if Terry is hurt? In essense they rode with Noan and Terry without a net for either one. And it blew up on them big time.

Yep, and you said this in real time. I actually liked the us re-signing Noah because he brought so much to the table before that internal injury. I hoped it was a fluke thing. I'll admit I did start to get worried when he wasn't ready to play in the preseason, but they weren't playing anyone and I hoped it was just a precaution.

It turns out I was very wrong or maybe just too hopeful. As a fan, I can afford to look through the glass half full lens. As a team builder, it's far more dangerous.

 

[Riggo44]

Yeah they basically have the deepest collection of #4 type WRs in the NFL.

going into last year, the. Broncos had the 22nd ranked receiving corps, per PFF--Sutton and several young, unproven receivers.

The Patriots had Diggs and several young and unproven receivers. Boutte had 2 catches for 19 yards his rookie season.

There's a difference between going into the season with 28-year olds who have never done anything and 22, 23, 24 year olds in their 2nd and 3rd seasons.

There seems to be an assumption that our young receivers won't improve the way others have.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Yep, and you said this in real time. I actually liked the us re-signing Noah because he brought so much to the table before that internal injury. I hoped it was a fluke thing. I'll admit I did start to get worried when he wasn't ready to play in the preseason, but they weren't playing anyone and I hoped it was just a precaution.

It turns out I was very wrong or maybe just too hopeful. As a fan, I can afford to look through the glass half full lens. As a team builder, it's far more dangerous.

I used to not care as much about holes on the roster. The idea of lets see what McCaffrey's got, or whatever to me feels old school for this team. To me the bar is rasied higher than years ago. We aren't hopefully living in that 8-8 country where the roster doesn't have to be special.

they got a franchise QB on a rookie contract. carpe diem. Compete with the Rams and the Eagles. Not the Titans and the Cardinals.

 

[skinsinparadise]

going into last year, the. Broncos had the 22nd ranked receiving corps, per PFF--Sutton and several young, unproven receivers.

The Patriots had Diggs and several young and unproven receivers. Boutte had 2 catches for 19 yards his rookie season.

There's a difference between going into the season with 28-year olds who have never done anything and 22, 23, 24 year olds in their 2nd and 3rd seasons.

There seems to be an assumption that our young receivers won't improve the way others have.

Denver with a top 3 O line, top 2 defense. #2 in yards, #1 in sacks.

If I thought Washington has an elite defense -- F'd it lets win 1985 Bears style.

If you feel that they can make run at the SB with this WR crew, cool, I don't, doesn't matter how many times we debate it.

And Denver obviously aren't satisfied now with 2 good WRs, they go for a third.

NE wasn't expecting to make a SB run in 2025 after a bad season in 2024 -- but I agree with the premise, that if your expectations aren't hot, why shoot at this aggressively.

 

[skinsinparadise]

If we’re talking about who they’re excited about at WR as to young players, it’s clearly Antonio Williams. Whether it’s Keim, Logan, or others, the consistent message is that the front office is genuinely high on what he can become.

They’ve had Lane and McCaffrey in the building for a while. It’s not that receivers can’t develop in Year 2 or 3—they can—but usually you start to hear the buzz before the breakout. That kind of optimism just hasn’t been there with those guys. And watching both of them both in the pros and some college games -- to me the idea that they are both special team studs and high floor #4 types fit everything I've seen. And if they are more special than that, I'd love it, but like I said it won't get lost in the sauce in camp.

And if they were that confident Lane or McCaffrey could become a legit No. 2, it wouldn’t line up with their actions—pursuing Pierce, Doubs, showing interest in Aiyuk, and then drafting another slot-type receiver. That tells you what they really think.

If this were Rivera’s team, sure—roll it out and see what happens. But if the goal is to compete for a Super Bowl against loaded rosters like the Rams, you don’t hope—you build.

And honestly, if I didn’t believe Jayden was the guy, I wouldn’t care this much about the receiver room.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Definitely a fit but will they?