The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Faithful Fan]

Peters should sign Taylor Decker, the best available T left in FA. I believe we are somewhere around $43 mill under the cap.

Don’t know anything about him, but we should bring in somebody somehow. I like having Conerly, Coleman, and Wylie as options, but we need another body behind them now.

 

[DWinzit]

Imagine if we had signed him to that fat contract.

The Athletic’s James Boyd reports Colts WR Alec Pierce received a second PRP injection in his injured ankle.​

Pierce remains well behind schedule following offseason surgery on his ankle, with it now coming to light that the veteran receiver required a second PRP injection in his left ankle. Now well beyond the original recovery window following the late-March surgery, Pierce appears to be in legitimate danger of missing time when games start to count if the platelet-rich plasma injections do not speed up his recovery for the second time. Pierce signed a four-year, $114 million contract extension with the Colts this offseason after the team lost Michael Pittman in a trade to the Steelers, signifying an intent to move forward with Pierce as their primary option at the position. That move could prove costly if Pierce misses regular season time. Josh Downs and Tyler Warren would be in line to benefit the most from any absence from Pierce

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Imagine if we had signed him to that fat contract.

The Athletic’s James Boyd reports Colts WR Alec Pierce received a second PRP injection in his injured ankle.​

Pierce remains well behind schedule following offseason surgery on his ankle, with it now coming to light that the veteran receiver required a second PRP injection in his left ankle. Now well beyond the original recovery window following the late-March surgery, Pierce appears to be in legitimate danger of missing time when games start to count if the platelet-rich plasma injections do not speed up his recovery for the second time. Pierce signed a four-year, $114 million contract extension with the Colts this offseason after the team lost Michael Pittman in a trade to the Steelers, signifying an intent to move forward with Pierce as their primary option at the position. That move could prove costly if Pierce misses regular season time. Josh Downs and Tyler Warren would be in line to benefit the most from any absence from Pierce

We got saved from that, however, assuming he recovers eventually, it's not that big a deal.

I mean, there has to be an assumption that every player you sign is going to miss some time eventually, because just about every player misses some time eventually. This will turn concerning, and really blow up in their faces, if he just can't go and isn't the player he used to be.

 

[DWinzit]

We got saved from that, however, assuming he recovers eventually, it's not that big a deal.

I mean, there has to be an assumption that every player you sign is going to miss some time eventually, because just about every player misses some time eventually. This will turn concerning, and really blow up in their faces, if he just can't go and isn't the player he used to be.

It's safe to say that he was overpaid ($114 mil much guaranteed for 4 years) and it is not starting off on the right track

Instead we have a one year $12 mil contract with Diggs

 

[SkinsFTW]

I kind of wanted them to try to get Pierce but not for anywhere close to that price. That's almost 1M dollars a catch. Ridiculous.

Hearing that AP possibly even offered more must mean that they know how bad we needed another WR. Glad that we ended up with Diggs for less than half that price even if it's just 1 year.

 

[SkinsFTW]

Teams will start cutting players in a couple weeks. Hopefully they can find a decent Center if the rookie isn't proving himself worthy at that point.

Actually, they might need to add another tackle as well, especially if they don't get Decker.

 

[skinsinparadise]

It was easily my biggest frustration this offseason. I just couldn’t understand the mindset of not upgrading at WR. All the explanations about how they could “get by” with this guy or that guy were nauseating to me. Why the heck is “get by” the standard? Or maybe we’ll get lucky. Or Jayden will figure it out and make it work. LOL. It made me gag.

You have a young franchise QB. The goal should be to surround him with weapons that help elevate his game, not ask him to elevate a mediocre-to-meh WR corps. And isn’t the goal to win a championship? Aren’t we past the let’s just be competitive or we can address it next offseason stage?

And some people acted like I — and others who kept pushing this — were somehow “haters.” LOL, hell no. It was exactly the opposite. I wanted them to aim higher.

I think this franchise should be done with the 8-8 treadmill mentality, not comfortable settling back into it. The expectations should be higher now. You have the young franchise QB. You have the window. Go build a team that can win a championship, not one that’s merely good enough to hang around.

Anyway, it’s cool to see two reporters I really like, Grant and JP Finlay, come around on this. For months, they were mostly in the they can make it work, they don’t need another WR, it’s not that big a deal camp. Now they seem sold on the idea that upgrading WR really does matter.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

It's safe to say that he was overpaid ($114 mil much guaranteed for 4 years) and it is not starting off on the right track

Instead we have a one year $12 mil contract with Diggs

Eh. I don’t think anybody is overpaid. You get what the market demands.

It’s too early to determine if the deal will work out well or not. We’re still a month away from the regular season. If he misses 5 games then kills it for 11 and is healthy after, might be just fine.

 

[prodigy]

Eh. I don’t think anybody is overpaid. You get what the market demands.

It’s too early to determine if the deal will work out well or not. We’re still a month away from the regular season. If he misses 5 games then kills it for 11 and is healthy after, might be just fine.

always a voice of reason

 

[skinsinparadise]

Judging by reports from yesterday and camp they are in trouble in Allegretti misses time. Good-Jones and Gulpin struggiling.

At least judging by camp, they might be loaded at edge. Chaisson-Oweh have been dominant. Armstrong supposed to be back soon.

Jean-Baptiste and Joshua Jospeps also with big camps.

 

[Boone]

I would be offering the Texans a late round draft pick for Jake Andrews. He has apparently lost his starting job to Keylan Rutledge, but he started 16 games for the Texans last year at center. There is even a possibility they release him as they have some other good backup center options.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Listening to JP-Mitch.

As to WR, the only one not jumping out is Lane but they think he makes the roster because of his punt returner skills.

Burks they feel is slam dunk.

They seem to think they are going with 7.

Terry, Diggs, Antonio, McCaffrey, Burks, Lane. And 7th a battle between Van Jefferson and Dyami.

 

[skinsinparadise]

from a national reporter at practice

• Diggs may be 32, but he is going to be a huge addition to the Commanders. He looked like he and Daniels were old friends in practice. They were perfectly in sync, and Daniels knew just how to hit him in stride. Diggs showed off his hands, making several catches in traffic. He also showed he has the ability to still get open. And he showed his athleticism and awareness on one leaping touchdown catch where he barely got his toes down in the end zone. "This is his field," Daniels said. "He’s a dog. He goes out and makes plays. He brings energy." Diggs and a healthy McLaurin could still be a formidable 1-2 punch, and give the younger receivers — Luke McCaffrey, Treylon Burks, Antonio Williams — room to grow into a larger role.

Jayden Daniels Remains Stellar In Training Camp And Has Commanders Dreaming Big | FOX Sports

Jayden Daniels looks a lot like he did during his spectacular rookie season. And if he's back, the Washington Commanders might be back, too.

www.foxsports.com

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Listening to JP-Mitch.

As to WR, the only one not jumping out is Lane but they think he makes the roster because of his punt returner skills.

Burks they feel is slam dunk.

They seem to think they are going with 7.

Terry, Diggs, Antonio, McCaffrey, Burks, Lane. And 7th a battle between Van Jefferson and Dyami.

What's interesting is Mitch thinks Diyami is a lock and the battle is between Van Jefferson and Burks. Though he is an admitted Diyami homer. But part of his reasoning is Diyami and Daniels seem to just have a really natural connection.

I have no idea why, but for some reason, and maybe it's the way Quinn talks about him, I feel Van Jefferson is a lock, and Burks/Diyami are competing. Though I'm fully cognizant maybe I'm having my chain pulled.

What's clear is one of those 3 is going to get cut. They're not going to cut a 4th round second year guy who's an extremely dangerous punt returner. Nor should they.

Boone Offer one to the Texans for a Center?

Wouldn't it be wild if after all the teeth mashing about WR, we end up trading a guy to another team?

 

[burgold]

You’d then nk based on style of player that Burks and Dyami have traits that set them apart.

Mclaurin is your contested catch guy.

Diggs and Williams are your quick, get open guys.

Burks is the tall receiver unless Bradley becomes the tall guy.

Dyami and Lane are the speed guys, but right now Lane is really the PR guy.

Not sure what unique trait McCaffrey or Van Jefferson bring. Van Jefferson used to be the steady vet who Daniels could trust to be where he was supposed to be. That’s Diggs super power now.

 

[Boone]

I doubt the team bases roster decisions on 'we need a tall receiver - whose tallest?' kind of criteria. They are looking at the entire package - who can be most productive.

 

[burgold]

I doubt the team bases roster decisions on 'we need a tall receiver - whose tallest?' kind of criteria. They are looking at the entire package - who can be most productive.

I agree and disagree.

I don't think "tall" plays into it, but I do think they look for receivers who can do different things. So, a guy who looks to be a possession threat or maybe an easier redzone target has value over someone with similar production potential who is a jitterbug especially if you have three other jitterbugs. It's sort of why all of us are interested in Kaytron Allen taking on the thunder or hammer role. We want a running back who brings something different from what we think White and Bill do because sometimes you do have to play smashball.

So, if Burks and Van Jefferson have relatively equal training camps and Burks offers them something that the other receivers on the roster doesn't, I think that's a tiebreaker.

 

[Boone]

Sure - I agree with that idea. But 'all things being equal'? All things are never equal. I guarantee you they have a very specific ranking of all of the WRs on this roster and they will keep the 6 or 7 best WRs based on their overall assessment of each of their skills and traits. I'm just saying I don't think they look at it and say 'we need a tall receiver, so let's keep Burks...' There are lots of factors, including whether we drafted someone, what their ceiling is, etc..

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

If you're going deep into WR lists, the back guys need to play special teams or they will be inactive on game day. If you already think they will be inactive, then maybe their roster spot goes towards defense instead.

 

[Commander Wraith]

If you're going deep into WR lists, the back guys need to play special teams or they will be inactive on game day. If you already think they will be inactive, then maybe their roster spot goes towards defense instead.

Yeah, I think this is probably the trickiest part of evaluation for us fans in terms of those back end roster spots.