2026 Free Agent News Tracker

[Pokerbrat2000]

Cool story--vested vets get their 1 year salary guaranteed if they make the week 1 53.

Of course they do, which is the only "guaranteed" money I see as almost earned. Ideally, for me, pay them at the end of the season what they "actually earned", but that will never happen.

There are such guarantees!

Again, I am aware of this. Which is why I said that for me, those guarantees at least allow a team to bail on a small part of a failed contract.

eh, I think it persists because the players benefit from it and there are 31 other teams. Players can play them off of each other to get the best deal. For the league to collectively refuse to pay them...well now we have illegal collusion and they end up in court.

It persists because of us fans, the networks and a term called "monopoly". As long as the NFL is allowed to keep printing its own money, the owners and Players association will be smoking cigars and loving it. It will be interesting to watch if the NCAA evolves into a semi-professional league. Keeping star players longer with NIL money and no eligibility requirements.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

You have me curious, so I went looking. Again, Sportrac and OverTheCap seem to summarize non-active contracts.

Bhak was almost exclusively signing bonus. On his 2020 extension, he got 30M in bonus and that appears to have been his entire guarantees. The rest was salary and game-day-active bonuses. Sportrac is saying "$61,500,000" total guaranteed, but I can't find where or how they are accounting for that. Perhaps base salary because he was a vested veteran?

Jaire was 30m signing bonus, 30m total guaranteed.

As you said, finding all the details of players that are no longer under contract is difficult. I really don't need to dig too deep though for something most Packer fans know. Both Bahk and Jaire signed huge contracts/extensions, which was followed up by either no play or low performance play. I can't tell you how much each player took home from their deals, but I can guarantee you it was a lot of money that the Packers couldn't spend on the rest of the roster.

Again, I could care less how much physical money the Packers hand to players. However, as a fan, the impact that it has on the Packers future cap restraints is what I look at. Both Bahk and Jaire put the Packers in a position of not having cap available to put real players on the roster.

 

[mradtke66]

Both Bahk and Jaire put the Packers in a position of not having cap available to put real players on the roster.

I don't think they did in the practical sense. Yes, that money couldn't be used, but the pain is relatively short lived. Bhak probably stuck around longer that he should have, but that's hindsight. There was hope pretty much until the end that he was going to get better. Had he done so, he would have earned every chunk of that check.

There is a touch of gamble with signing any player. Or not signing them.

And personally? I'm fine with players getting their bag if they get hurt in the course of the jobs--practice, lifting in the facility, or on game day.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I almost liken the NFL to my yearly neighborhood/area Fireworks display.

I know that every year, I am going to see a Fireworks display. You might be a fireworks enthusiast like me, so this is an important event for you too. You might even contribute to the Fireworks Fund every year. The people that run the event are involved year round. Looking for funds, budgeting, deciding on what fireworks they will buy and how much to spend on them. Most years it's a decent display and I go home satisfied. Some years, it's spectacular and we talk about it for weeks after. Then there are those years that we find out that too much money was spent on the previous year and this years budget is really slim. Couple that with too many duds were purchased at a discount to try and save the year and the display goes off, but is just hard to watch.

Give me a nice hour long display each year and I am happy. Sure, I love those amazing grand finales, but if they come at the cost of years of bad displays, I'm fine doing just above average every year.

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[Pokerbrat2000]

With the draft over and UDFA's signed, will the Packers now pursue and sign any Free agents? Remember, after today, free agent signings will not effect the 2027 Compensatory Picks. I think they have addressed CB and maybe DL. However, even with DDS in the mix, I wouldn't mind seeing them bring in Joey Bosa if the price was right. I think he prefers playing in a 4-3, but he played well in a 3-4 at San Diego. At the right price, I think he would really be a nice addition to the Packers D, especially while Micah is gone.

I did hear on a podcast yesterday that Gute stated that they wanted to resign Christian Watson to an extension. That was confirmed today by what Rob Demovsky had posted. (below).

Packers "absolutely" interested in signing Christian Watson to a contract extension

The Packers signed wide receiver Jayden Reed to a contract extension during the draft and the team may not be done giving new contracts to current members of the receiving corps.

www.nbcsports.com

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I noticed that RB Antonio Gibson is still a FA. He is coming off of a torn ACL in early Oct., but if his recovery looks good and is on track, I wonder if the Packers would consider bringing him in. I really think RB depth is a big question mark for the Packers. Gibson is a solid RB, decent receiver and dependable blocker, and will only be 28 in June. If healthy, I see him as a guy that would fit well into the Packer offense and give them a solid backup to Jacobs.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Calais Campbell, a name some have mentioned as being a potential good FA signing for the Packers, has signed with the Ravens for one year. The deal is expected to be in the $5.5 million range.

 

[Magooch]

Top-10 currently available free agent RBs based on previous contract value

Player	Age (start of 26/27 season)	2025/26 Yards	2025/26 TDs	2025/26 YPC	Previous AAV
Joe Mixon(a)	30	DNP	DNP	DNP	8.5m
Najee Harris(b)	28	61	0	4.1	5.25m
Austin Ekeler(c)	31	43	0	3.1	4.22m
Antonio Gibson(d)	28	106	1	4.2	3.75m
Nick Chubb	30	506	3	4.1	2.5m
Dare Ogunbowale	32	25	1	2.3	1.8m
Raheem Mostert(e)	34	104	0	4.7	1.6m
Kareem Hunt	31	611	8	3.7	1.5m
Alexander Mattison	28	420	4	3.2	1.34m
Miles Sanders(f)	29	117	1	5.9	1.34m

(a) missed entire 25/26 season with "freak foot injury" that occurred "away from team activities"
(b) torn Achilles week 3, missed remainder of season
(c) torn Achilles week 2, missed remainder of season
(d) torn ACL week 5, missed remainder of season
(e) he did also have 12 rec for 70 yards and 23 returns for 673 yards lol
(f) season-ending knee injury and surgery after week 5

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Top-10 currently available free agent RBs based on previous contract value

Player	Age (start of 26/27 season)	2025/26 Yards	2025/26 TDs	2025/26 YPC	Previous AAV
Joe Mixon(a)	30	DNP	DNP	DNP	8.5m
Najee Harris(b)	28	61	0	4.1	5.25m
Austin Ekeler(c)	31	43	0	3.1	4.22m
Antonio Gibson(d)	28	106	1	4.2	3.75m
Nick Chubb	30	506	3	4.1	2.5m
Dare Ogunbowale	32	25	1	2.3	1.8m
Raheem Mostert(e)	34	104	0	4.7	1.6m
Kareem Hunt	31	611	8	3.7	1.5m
Alexander Mattison	28	420	4	3.2	1.34m
Miles Sanders(f)	29	117	1	5.9	1.34m

(a) missed entire 25/26 season with "freak foot injury" that occurred "away from team activities"
(b) torn Achilles week 3, missed remainder of season
(c) torn Achilles week 2, missed remainder of season
(d) torn ACL week 5, missed remainder of season
(e) he did also have 12 rec for 70 yards and 23 returns for 673 yards lol
(f) season-ending knee injury and surgery after week 5

I like Najee, Chubb and Gibson. Najee's achilles tear would be a concern. Chubb has a lot of miles on him and Gibson is coming off of a torn ACL, so that might be why all 3 are still free agents.

 

[GreenBaySlacker]

I like Najee, Chubb and Gibson. Najee's achilles tear would be a concern. Chubb has a lot of miles on him and Gibson is coming off of a torn ACL, so that might be why all 3 are still free agents.

Yea, none of that list really jumps out at me as an upgrade over brooks. Considering injuries.