FA's over 30: You may only pick 2

[EmotionallyUnstable]

Here is a look at a projected 53 man roster for 2026, as it stands today. As you can see, I’ve bolded obvious openings, as well as have taken the liberty to cut some dead weight noted at the bottom. 

 

QB: Allen, QB2

RB: Cook, Johnson, Davis

FB: 

TE: Kincaid, Hawes, TE3

WR: WR1, Palmer, Shakir, WR4, Coleman, Shavers

OL: Dawkins, Torrence, Brown, Anderson, VanDemark, Van Pran Granger, Lundt, Grable, LG, C

 

Defense: 

 

DE: Groot, DE2, Hoecht, Solomon, Jackson, DE6

DT: Oliver, Walker, Sanders, Carter 

LB: Bernard, LB2, Williams, Andreesen, LB5

CB: Benford, Hairston, Johnson, Strong?, CB5

S: Hancock, Bishop, DB 3, DB 4, DB 5

 

K:

P:

LS: Ferguson

 

Notable players under contract likely cut; 

- Rapp, Bass, Knox, Samuel. 

 

That leaves us with 15 spots on the roster for next season. We have 7 draft picks in 2026. Familiar faces will no doubt be back. 

[GunnerBill]

5 minutes ago, EmotionallyUnstable said:

Here is a look at a projected 53 man roster for 2026, as it stands today. As you can see, I’ve bolded obvious openings, as well as have taken the liberty to cut some dead weight noted at the bottom. 

 

QB: Allen, QB2

RB: Cook, Johnson, Davis

FB: 

TE: Kincaid, Hawes, TE3

WR: WR1, Palmer, Shakir, WR4, Coleman, Shavers

OL: Dawkins, Torrence, Brown, Anderson, VanDemark, Van Pran Granger, Lundt, Grable, LG, C

 

Defense: 

 

DE: Groot, DE2, Hoecht, Solomon, Jackson, DE6

DT: Oliver, Walker, Sanders, Carter 

LB: Bernard, LB2, Williams, Andreesen, LB5

CB: Benford, Hairston, Johnson, Strong?, CB5

S: Hancock, Bishop, DB 3, DB 4, DB 5

 

K:

P:

LS: Ferguson

 

Notable players under contract likely cut; 

- Rapp, Bass, Knox, Samuel. 

 

That leaves us with 15 spots on the roster for next season. We have 7 draft picks in 2026. Familiar faces will no doubt be back. 

 

I think Knox will be back with a re-worked deal and a pay cut. Gilliam will be back. Cam Lewis will probably be back on a not much more than vet minimum deal too and I can see Shaq Thompson deciding if he is going to play in 2026 the familiarity of this defense is the place to do it. I suspect Mitch stays as well. Can't imagine huge demand for his services they like him, Josh likes him, he can move some (which matters for backups IMO).

 

On the flip  side I am not sure Strong is going to play again from the rumours I have heard and personally I expect Keon Coleman to be elsewhere. Can see them trading him for relative peanuts.

 

In terms of impact spots they need:

 

- At least one starting outside receiver and a second guy who can be more of a rotational player but with deep speed. 

 

- At least one starting interior offensive lineman (I suspect Anderson will get a shor to start at the other spot).

 

- At least one legit veteran starting level safety. Not a Taylor Rapp replacement level player.

 

- A legit edge rusher who is s pass rush guy not a run and contain guy.

 

I'd rather they prioritse their free agency dollars and premium draft choices (1st, 2nd, 3rd) on those five spots and make do and mend elsewhere. They will point again to this year and say look at how important our depth is, and I get it. But I'd rather be prioritising my cap dollars on the best possible team I can have and then if the injury bug wipes out half my defense and the season goes with it, so be it. I feel like Beane's roster build is always "prepare for everyone to be injured" and lo and behold it happens.

 

[GASabresIUFan]

1 hour ago, finn said:

You think Milano still has gas?

To many hot wings.

1 hour ago, Goin Breakdown said:

This is where the Pats are going to be able to pull ahead of the Bills. 

We are going to have to hit on a few early draft picks

[Freddie's Dead]

Praytor?  I see you working....  I picked Shaq and Bosa.  Shaq just has that nasty streak sorely missing in this defense, and Bosa?  5 FF is just amazing.

Edited 1 hour ago by Freddie's Dead

[EmotionallyUnstable]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I think Knox will be back with a re-worked deal and a pay cut. Gilliam will be back. Cam Lewis will probably be back on a not much more than vet minimum deal too and I can see Shaq Thompson deciding if he is going to play in 2026 the familiarity of this defense is the place to do it. I suspect Mitch stays as well. Can't imagine huge demand for his services they like him, Josh likes him, he can move some (which matters for backups IMO).

 

On the flip  side I am not sure Strong is going to play again from the rumours I have heard and personally I expect Keon Coleman to be elsewhere. Can see them trading him for relative peanuts.

 

In terms of impact spots they need:

 

- At least one starting outside receiver and a second guy who can be more of a rotational player but with deep speed. 

 

- At least one starting interior offensive lineman (I suspect Anderson will get a shor to start at the other spot).

 

- At least one legit veteran starting level safety. Not a Taylor Rapp replacement level player.

 

- A legit edge rusher who is s pass rush guy not a run and contain guy.

 

I'd rather they prioritse their free agency dollars and premium draft choices (1st, 2nd, 3rd) on those five spots and make do and mend elsewhere. They will point again to this year and say look at how important our depth is, and I get it. But I'd rather be prioritising my cap dollars on the best possible team I can have and then if the injury bug wipes out half my defense and the season goes with it, so be it. I feel like Beane's roster build is always "prepare for everyone to be injured" and lo and behold it happens.

 

I also think Epinessa could be back, especially sans Bosa. 
 

Despite his bonehead penalty last week, he’s had a solid year. Given the fact we’ll be down to Groot, a player they refuse to play at DE in Solomon and two guys coming off major injury (Hoecht/Jackson) it is a major question mark at the edge. 
 

Of the five major needs you’ve identified, I think that DE is the most obvious that McBeane will go after despite the numbers in 2026.  Given their track record of consistently attempting to address (and often failing) to bring in impactful players at Edge, it makes a lot of sense to me they’ll try and draft one early and bring in a vet presence. 

[EmotionallyUnstable]

Another interesting one to me in Daquon Jones. They’re pretty set a tackle but if they wanted a vet and he wants to keep playing, I am sure a team friendly deal could be worked out. They could potentially save $2 mill in accelerated dead money if they re-sign him before the start of the league year. Of course they wouldn’t actually save money in re-signing him but it would help ease some of the dead cap while bringing in a vet presence if a guy like Carter isn’t up for it.