2026 Free Agent News Tracker

[mradtke66]

Look up contracts by non-rookie edges in that $18M a year area. He blows a few away honestly. I could also see a reconstructed contract and trade potentially but I think GB and him likely are agreeing to just part ways clean and release.

Assuming it happens, I suspect the two sides just don’t agree on his value. I e long been a supporter and defender of him, but something was off late last year. I’d just an unreported injury, then bring him back.

 

[DoURant]

Well, the bears are now in the market for a center. I think our 2nd rounder is b4 theirs. If there is a worthy center at that time I'd love to get him. I don't believe in traditional thoughts that a center isn't worth it there. Man, I still can't get over the huge mistake we made last time we drafted a center around there

Bears trading 5th rd pick for Patriots C Garrett Bradbury. Won't be official until the new league year starts next Wednesday. Bradbury started his career in Minnesota, signed 2 yr deal with Patriots last year.

 

[Pkrjones]

Maxx Crosby to Baltimore for (2) 1st Rounders - '26 (#14) & '27. Mendoza will arrive to Raiders who have bare cupboards... will be VERY lean years coming up for them.

 

[milani]

Bears trading 5th rd pick for Patriots C Garrett Bradbury. Won't be official until the new league year starts next Wednesday. Bradbury started his career in Minnesota, signed 2 yr deal with Patriots last year.

Kind of surprised. Pats need someone to protect their young QB after watching him get Seahawked.

 

[DoURant]

Kind of surprised. Pats need someone to protect their young QB after watching him get Seahawked.

Hopefully Bradbury gets Williams Packered, Lioned, and Vikinged... along with other opponents, numerous times this upcoming season.

 

[tynimiller]

Bears trading 5th rd pick for Patriots C Garrett Bradbury. Won't be official until the new league year starts next Wednesday. Bradbury started his career in Minnesota, signed 2 yr deal with Patriots last year.

I suspect Jared Wilson their 2025 center drafted out of Georgia may get the nod. He played LG for them but center is his better spot.

 

[El Guapo]

Hopefully Bradbury gets Williams Packered, Lioned, and Vikinged... along with other opponents, numerous times this upcoming season.

Kenny Clark wore Bradbury like a pair of old underwear. I didn't watch him as a Patriot (didn't even know he was there) but if he hasn't improved, then Devonte Wyatt should be able to dominate the middle of the Bears line.

 

[El Guapo]

Maxx Crosby to Baltimore for (2) 1st Rounders - '26 (#14) & '27. Mendoza will arrive to Raiders who have bare cupboards... will be VERY lean years coming up for them.

I was listening to the radio this morning. They talked about all of the big FA's in the past 5yrs that commanded two 1st round picks in the trade, including Parsons. All were in their mid-20s. Crosby is 29 and turning 30 this season I believe. He plays with an incredible motor, but all motors wear down. Time will tell if this was a good move for Baltimore, but they are certainly in a win-now mode.

 

[Sanguine camper]

Bears trading 5th rd pick for Patriots C Garrett Bradbury. Won't be official until the new league year starts next Wednesday. Bradbury started his career in Minnesota, signed 2 yr deal with Patriots last year.

Bradbury started in Minnesota but was the brunt of Viking's fans frustration with the middle of their O line. He only netted a 5th round pick and was shipped out after one year in NE so he must not be getting it done. The Bears didn't upgrade IMO.

 

[OldSchool101]

ESPN reporting

Trade between Indianapolis and Green Bay:Colts receive DT Colby Wooden and Packers receive LB Zaire Franklin.A former seventh-round pick, Franklin spent eight years in Indianapolis and was an organizational favorite who led the NFL in tackles in 2024 with 173.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FranZa00.htm

Zaire was a 2nd Team All Pro OLB in 2024. He’s a highly productive LB in the mold of a turbo version of ILB, Eric Wilson

 

[tynimiller]

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[tynimiller]

I’ll be honest it is a heck of a way to turn Wooden into a guy that likely will play a much larger role than Wooden ever would for us in future and just 2026 in general.

Zaire is a guy many likely remember and has shown out recently in the NFL somewhat.

 

[OldSchool101]

I’ll be honest it is a heck of a way to turn Wooden into a guy that likely will play a much larger role than Wooden ever would for us in future and just 2026 in general.

Zaire is a guy many likely remember and has shown out recently in the NFL somewhat.

No offense to Wooden as he was a serviceable Starter. @tynimiller. Would you agree that Brian is about to make a move at iDT?
I ask that because it just sniffs like a precursor to something bigger

 

[Pkrjones]

I’ll be honest it is a heck of a way to turn Wooden into a guy that likely will play a much larger role than Wooden ever would for us in future and just 2026 in general.

Zaire is a guy many likely remember and has shown out recently in the NFL somewhat.

Franklin is a $7mil cap hit ($6.24 base salary, $.765 per game roster) in '26 & $9mil for '27. GB's available cap just dropped by $5.7mil. IF Gute has DT plans it probably won't be a high-ticket guy.

** EDIT **
Franklin's base salary of $6.24mil can be converted to a bonus, allowing GB to spread it out over multiple years IF void years are added. This could create a similar cap hit of $1.6mil (vs. Wooden's $1.334mil).

 

[DoURant]

Packers have also resigned LB and Special Teamer, Nick Niemann, to a 1 yr deal, terms not disclosed, per Bill Huber. I Really like this news.

 

[OldSchool101]

Packers have also resigned LB and Special Teamer, Nick Niemann, to a 1 yr deal, terms not disclosed, per Bill Huber. I Really like this news.

Yes. Also we can basically do several lower signing deals without affecting the cap projections. As long as they don’t exceed around $1-1.5Mil annual because we should have a 900K offset per, through the first half dozen signings or so. Great place to lock down some Teams guys there

 

[OldSchool101]

Franklin is a $7mil cap hit ($6.24 base salary, $.765 per game roster) in '26 & $9mil for '27. GB's available cap just dropped by $5.7mil. IF Gute has DT plans it probably won't be a high-ticket guy.

Zaire is a highly involved LB. He’s also very tough and reliable Since 2022 he’s played in 84/85 games.

Averaged Per season?

161 Tackles
8 TFL
6 QB hits
2.5 Sacks

This guy is a ball magnet.

 

[OldSchool101]

Just for full disclosure, I am seeing some internal Colts fans really disliked Zaire. Basically saying he is Blake Martinez 2.0. Now that’s my verbiage but you get the general point there. Had some poor Pass Coverage grades and played a ton of coverage (589 snaps). He might not be used as much in that role though in GB.

 

[tynimiller]

No offense to Wooden as he was a serviceable Starter. @tynimiller. Would you agree that Brian is about to make a move at iDT?
I ask that because it just sniffs like a precursor to something bigger

Oh I've suspected Gannon might lure Calais Campbell into us or Cardinals just parted ways with Dalvin Tomlinson...both guys are past their prime BUT offer solid play and know Gannon. Davlin was a BEAST back in his Giants era and okay of late....if he could be a touch of his old self for a year be good signing.

Just for full disclosure, I am seeing some internal Colts fans really disliked Zaire. Basically saying he is Blake Martinez 2.0. Now that’s my verbiage but you get the general point there. Had some poor Pass Coverage grades and played a ton of coverage (589 snaps). He might not be used as much in that role though in GB.

Yeah Zaire is far more athletic than Blake but doesn't have a massively high football IQ is my notes and that might be why many feel he falls into stats. Either way he's consistently out there, has been very healthy and in the last four years was been average to above average until last year which was one of his worst.

 

[OldSchool101]

Oh I've suspected Gannon might lure Calais Campbell into us or Cardinals just parted ways with Dalvin Tomlinson...both guys are past their prime BUT offer solid play and know Gannon. Davlin was a BEAST back in his Giants era and okay of late....if he could be a touch of his old self for a year be good signing.




Yeah Zaire is far more athletic than Blake but doesn't have a massively high football IQ is my notes and that might be why many feel he falls into stats. Either way he's consistently out there, has been very healthy and in the last four years was been average to above average until last year which was one of his worst.

Ok yeah o was actually thinking about Calais. Just sounds to me like Zaire market is worth about? $8/yr etc. which is exactly where we’re at.

 

[milani]

I was listening to the radio this morning. They talked about all of the big FA's in the past 5yrs that commanded two 1st round picks in the trade, including Parsons. All were in their mid-20s. Crosby is 29 and turning 30 this season I believe. He plays with an incredible motor, but all motors wear down. Time will tell if this was a good move for Baltimore, but they are certainly in a win-now mode.

Well, in their division the Ravens face 3 other smash mouth teams. On paper the Ravens should not only win that division but should win it by 3 or 4 games. But the AFC North has 2 new HCs, the West still has KC and Denver. The Pats put the AFC East with the Bills back on the map. So it is a good gamble for them.

 

[milani]

Zaire is a highly involved LB. He’s also very tough and reliable Since 2022 he’s played in 84/85 games.

Averaged Per season?

161 Tackles
8 TFL
6 QB hits
2.5 Sacks

This guy is a ball magnet.

Had the Colts not lost their starting QB and made the playoffs I doubt the naysayers would be so ******* Zaire. He is not why they failed to get there. The Jags and Texans surprised the league by putting the South on the map for a change.

 

[Magooch]

2nd team all-pro in 2024 and in the conversation for worst LB in the league in 2025.

Wonder which version we’ll get lol

 

[milani]

2nd team all-pro in 2024 and in the conversation for worst LB in the league in 2025.

Wonder which version we’ll get lol

You will get the former.

 

[milani]

2nd team all-pro in 2024 and in the conversation for worst LB in the league in 2025.

Wonder which version we’ll get lol

So what changed in the Colts defensive scheme for him to have a drop off. Indy, I believe was 7-2 at one point before falling.