2026 Free Agent News Tracker

[Pokerbrat2000]

Sorry, but Jaire is cooked. He's been dumped by what, 3 teams in the last year or so? His body is done at the NFL level.

I think it is more his mind than his body. I'm not making light of his mental health either. A combination of a big pay day and multiple injuries took Jaire out of playing football years ago.

 

[SudsMcBucky]

I think it is more his mind than his body. I'm not making light of his mental health either. A combination of a big pay day and multiple injuries took Jaire out of playing football years ago.

Agreed.

 

[milani]

I think it is more his mind than his body. I'm not making light of his mental health either. A combination of a big pay day and multiple injuries took Jaire out of playing football years ago.

Hard to evaluate this dude. Some of our former CBs and Safeties have done well after leaving us but we rarely resign them. Tramon Williams comes to mind. But he did not have any physical or mental issues. You watch early film of Jaire and you are baffled.

 

[GreenBaySlacker]

There you go. Go work a trade with a team that has depth. Similar to our Wicks trade but reverse it.

I still think Brian will draft a pair of CB’s and this is reasonably good class. I’m about 60% sure there will even be guys we have on our board in that Top 150-175 area all the way well into RD6-7. Call them a pair of Top 25 College players at CB

My guess is we”ll go at CB something like this.
RD4
RD5

Or
RD3
RD7

The only way a team can negate a good pass rush and run defense is to attack the CBs and win over the top. Our defense will hemmorage yards and points if our CBs can't stop them.... Nixon, Valentine, and Bullard. Who is backing them up?

Add the two rookies too.

But we need a #1 to bump all those guys down a notch on the depth chart. Between diggs and Jiare, I believe we would have that accomplished. Or at least give us some depth on the top of our depth chart.... Two mid rounders isn't the answer in 2026. Imo.

Both our lines depth is weak. Our CB depth is non existent... Doesn't matter if we end up with three pro bowl receivers if love gets hurt, or our defense hemorrhages yards deep....

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Diggs in a sub-$4M deal with zone defense being his fortay I'm not opposed to, BUT only if the draft doesn't provide Gute with THE right corner or the right duo of corners.

Originally, I thought Gute picked Diggs up off of waivers last season to get in a really good kicking of his tires. While I didn't expect the Packers to keep Diggs on the contract he had, I expected that if they liked him, they would release and resign him under a new contract. That didn't happen and now that he has been a free agent for over 3 months, I just don't think the Packers liked what they found in his tires. He only got in for 1 play in the Packers playoff loss to the Bears, that also told me a lot. They saw him in practice and they saw him play most of the game against the Queens in Week 18.

There is the chance that Diggs wants too much money and he is just waiting for a desperate team to give it to him. Or, word is out that his personality and play really aren't what teams are looking for.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Hard to evaluate this dude. Some of our former CBs and Safeties have done well after leaving us but we rarely resign them. Tramon Williams comes to mind. But he did not have any physical or mental issues. You watch early film of Jaire and you are baffled.

If I had to guess, the injuries and rehab took their toll on Jaire's mental state. When he seemed to be healthy again, he didn't want to suit up. On the few occasions that he did, he was a shell of his former self. He seemed gun shy when it came to making hits. I remember isolating on just watching him and if the ball wasn't anywhere near him, he would just stop and watch.

Big bank, fear of more injuries, fear of failing, etc. finally took its toll on JA. Hard to come back from that, especially when you financially don't need to.

 

[GreenBaySlacker]

I think it is more his mind than his body. I'm not making light of his mental health either. A combination of a big pay day and multiple injuries took Jaire out of playing football years ago.

Injuries heal with a little time. I'm 47 and in great shape after many many injuries. Most log builder my age with my miles broke down years ago.... But I got my winters off every year. I sat on my lazy ***. Googled what interested me. Chilled my brain. And in the spring that sore weak elbow, and achy back went away. And I was stoked to come back and build.

I admit the older you get, the longer it takes to get back into work mode. But it's all part of the process.

Also, I walked away from building for like 5 years, mid career. Did trim work finishing houses. Building stuff in shops. Sawmills. Point is when I came back to building. All of a sudden those mistakes I used to make in layouts disappear. The flow of the job was consistent, instead of always being "behind".... The comfort was there , and the results shown in the physical. I was definitely a better builder 5 years removed. Like the subconscious finally had time to slow down, think things through and find the way. Something that never would've happened me tally, if I never stepped away from the race to get a new perspective....

I promise you. Jiare flipped the switch off. He can flip it back on if he wanted to.... I'm thinking.

It's times like these, when I think back to the blues brothers, getting the band back together.....lol. "I hate illinois Nazis." Lmao.

 

[GreenBaySlacker]

Originally, I thought Gute picked Diggs up off of waivers last season to get in a really good kicking of his tires. While I didn't expect the Packers to keep Diggs on the contract he had, I expected that if they liked him, they would release and resign him under a new contract. That didn't happen and now that he has been a free agent for over 3 months, I just don't think the Packers liked what they found in his tires. He only got in for 1 play in the Packers playoff loss to the Bears, that also told me a lot. They say him in practice and they saw him play most of the game against the Queens in Week 18.

There is the chance that Diggs wants too much money and he is just waiting for a desperate team to give it to him. Or, word is out that his personality and play really aren't what teams are looking for.

It's the money, combined with his questionable ACL recovery... Look at the CB free agency list. Everyone looking for CBs have thin options already.

This fact tells me Diggs will need to do a prove it year before he gets any more $20m+/yr offers. I'm speculating.

Even desperate teams can't throw money away like that on what ifs.

 

[gopkrs]

I think it's physical with Jaire. I don't think his knee ever made it back. It certainly looked bad when he was with GB. My guess it just didn't get to a place where he could be comfortable with it in filadelphia

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

It's the money, combined with his questionable ACL recovery... Look at the CB free agency list. Everyone looking for CBs have thin options already.

This fact tells me Diggs will need to do a prove it year before he gets any more $20m+/yr offers. I'm speculating.

Even desperate teams can't throw money away like that on what ifs.

I'd rather bring young guys in, that are fine with not starting, but learning their craft and becoming quality players. Cheaper and more motivation. I know people give me crap when it comes to money, but I honestly think that players that have made bank (Millions) and fallen off their game, are far less motivated to put in what it takes to be a top player again.

I think it's physical with Jaire. I don't think his knee ever made it back. It certainly looked bad when he was with GB. My guess it just didn't get to a place where he could be comfortable with it in filadelphia

Jaire recently opened up about a significant struggle with his mental health and self-confidence that ultimately led to his decision to step away from the NFL. Yes, the injuries started the ball rolling, but he has a lot of work, mentally still to ever play (at a high level) in the NFL again.

Jaire Alexander opens up about his mental health struggles

The Ravens traded cornerback Jaire Alexander to the Eagles on Nov. 1, and he stepped away from football on Nov. 12 without playing a game for his new team.

www.nbcsports.com

 

[GreenBaySlacker]

I'd rather bring young guys in, that are fine with not starting, but learning their craft and becoming quality players. Cheaper and more motivation. I know people give me crap when it comes to money, but I honestly think that players that have made bank (Millions) and fallen off their game, are far less motivated to put in what it takes to be a top player again.



Jaire recently opened up about a significant struggle with his mental health and self-confidence that ultimately led to his decision to step away from the NFL. Yes, the injuries started the ball rolling, but he has a lot of work, mentally still to ever play (at a high level) in the NFL again.

Jaire Alexander opens up about his mental health struggles

The Ravens traded cornerback Jaire Alexander to the Eagles on Nov. 1, and he stepped away from football on Nov. 12 without playing a game for his new team.

www.nbcsports.com

I tell you. What these top players are getting in contracts , blows my minds. Can't hardly afford to keep your successful rookies anymore. Or like our WR/TE class that year we picked Musgrave/kraft, wicks, doubs, reed. Bet we would've just kept them all if we didn't have a cap.

I like the comp pick method the NFL uses to give value for teams who draft well and can't keep everyone due to cap. But GB never gets comp pick value for talent we lose, because we spread the ball around too much for our guys to meet criteria for high comp picks....

I'd rather us identify the players we will inevitably lose because of cap, earlier. And maybe showcase them for a higher pick in trade ... .

As far as jaire's mental health. He had his ego crushed in two of the nfls toughest , most physical defenses. He probably realizes now, how GB was catering to him.

I'm guessing he would not be the same uncompromising cocky diva he was when we let him go.

 

[OldSchool101]

It must be a tough life retiring at 30yrs old with tens of millions in your bank account!

 

[milani]

It must be a tough life retiring at 30yrs old with tens of millions in your bank account!

It must be horrible. Stuck spending the rest of your days playing the Packer Forum Weekly Prediction Contest with the rest of us and all those bingoes.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I tell you. What these top players are getting in contracts , blows my minds.

Honestly, it isn't the high salaries, although they are as you say, mind blowing for sure. For me, it is the guaranteed money that is handcuffing teams and diluting the product that teams put out on the field every week. I wouldn't have a problem devoting a ton of cap space to a guy that is considered top 5 at his position, but when he is injured/no longer playing like a top 5, the team is screwed. Jaire and Bahk were good examples of how that played out for the Packers.

I wish the NFL would go back to players only being guaranteed the current years pay. The result of doing so would allow teams to build a better and deeper roster each season. Right now, teams are seeing a good portion of their caps being wasted on "Dead Cap".

Look at these Dead Cap hits of teams. I mean, come on man!

1. Miami Dolphins — $179,204,257​

2. New Orleans Saints — $112,108,154​

3. New York Jets — $111,246,438​

4. Cleveland Browns — $91,602,938​

5. Arizona Cardinals — $73,320,820​

11. Green Bay Packers — $43,199,303​

Ranking every NFL team by their dead cap hits in 2026

The NFL calendar barely slows down after the season ends. Once the final whistle of the year sounds, front offices move fast. In March, free agency opened the door to new starters. Draft prep starts right away. Teams do not…

sports.yahoo.com

 

[GreenBaySlacker]

$179.2m dead for Miami? OMG theyvcan only afford rookies. Yikes

 

[mradtke66]

Look at these Dead Cap hits of teams. I mean, come on man!

11. Green Bay Packers — $43,199,303​

Almost all of that is Gary and Clark. We traded them and took the accelerated cap hit. They are not necessarily bad contracts.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Almost all of that is Gary and Clark. We traded them and took the accelerated cap hit. They are not necessarily bad contracts.

I mentioned Jaire and Bahk's contracts as not working out for the Packers due to all the guaranteed money that they included and was never "earned". As far as Gary and Clark's contracts, I believe most of their dead cap hits were as a result of Packer Cap accounting and pushing a lot of the what turned out to be dead cap, forward.

Now one could argue that both Gary and Clark didn't fully "earn" their final contracts with the Packers, due to their level of play during them, but that is a separate discussion.

 

[mradtke66]

I mentioned Jaire and Bahk's contracts as not working out for the Packers due to all the guaranteed money that they included and was never "earned". As far as Gary and Clark's contracts, I believe most of their dead cap hits were as a result of Packer Cap accounting and pushing a lot of the what turned out to be dead cap, forward.

Signing bonuses have more or less existed since the beginning of the NFL. Namath got the first one in the 1960s. I don't think we can ever put that genie back in the bottle.

 

[gopkrs]

Signing bonuses have more or less existed since the beginning of the NFL. Namath got the first one in the 1960s. I don't think we can ever put that genie back in the bottle.

Especially if the league allows it and some teams are willing to pay it

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Signing bonuses have more or less existed since the beginning of the NFL. Namath got the first one in the 1960s. I don't think we can ever put that genie back in the bottle.

To be clear, I was talking about guaranteed money. While a signing bonus is guaranteed, it is usually way less than the fully guaranteed pool of money now being offered up to top players.

So yes, signing bonus have occurred for a long time and came into existence before the salary cap. However, and I could be wrong, the amount of guaranteed money, in relation to the overall size of the contract, has become absurd.

 

[mradtke66]

To be clear, I was talking about guaranteed money. While a signing bonus is guaranteed, it is usually way less than the fully guaranteed pool of money now being offered up to top players.

So yes, signing bonus have occurred for a long time and came into existence before the salary cap. However, and I could be wrong, the amount of guaranteed money, in relation to the overall size of the contract, has become absurd.

Contracts have certainly gotten weirder and more complicated. It's why we now have the stupid "guaranteed" vs. "practical guaranteed"

Looking at Gary's last contract with us, (and it's harder to get details from the usual sources as it isn't his current contract) he received a total pay out of $39,532,706. The signing bonus was about 34,636,928 as his base salary that year was 4,895,778. He had a roster bonus and guaranteed salary in 2025, but both of those have a single year impact. His dead cap is (from what I can find) entirely unaccounted signing bonus.

Now there can also be other tricks, like converting salary into bonus money, but those tricks are treated the same as signing bonuses. IE, lump sum today, hits the cap over the follow N years.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Contracts have certainly gotten weirder and more complicated. It's why we now have the stupid "guaranteed" vs. "practical guaranteed"

Looking at Gary's last contract with us, (and it's harder to get details from the usual sources as it isn't his current contract) he received a total pay out of $39,532,706. The signing bonus was about 34,636,928 as his base salary that year was 4,895,778. He had a roster bonus and guaranteed salary in 2025, but both of those have a single year impact. His dead cap is (from what I can find) entirely unaccounted signing bonus.

Now there can also be other tricks, like converting salary into bonus money, but those tricks are treated the same as signing bonuses. IE, lump sum today, hits the cap over the follow N years.

While I wish there were no guarantees on contracts, my preferred would be for the 1 year salary be guaranteed on the day they make the 53 man roster.

My 2nd preference on "guaranteed" money is to have it kick in on the 3rd day of the new league year. This gives time for teams to trade or cut a player that would now be sucking more new cap than they would be earning.

As you and others have said; "The genie is out of the bottle and it might be impossible to put it back in." While I agree, the only reason it will never change is that every NFL team makes money, no matter how bad their roster is for a given season. Since they too have "guaranteed money" in the way of massive revenue sharing and national media deals. So really the only one that suffers from the way that the NFL and other major sports handle their caps and contracts are the fans. I doubt many fans actually notice to be honest.

 

[mradtke66]

I mentioned Jaire and Bahk's contracts as not working out for the Packers due to all the guaranteed money that they included and was never "earned".

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.

 

[mradtke66]

While I wish there were no guarantees on contracts, my preferred would be for the 1 year salary be guaranteed on the day they make the 53 man roster.

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

My 2nd preference on "guaranteed" money is to have it kick in on the 3rd day of the new league year. This gives time for teams to trade or cut a player that would now be sucking more new cap than they would be earning.

There are such guarantees!

As you and others have said; "The genie is out of the bottle and it might be impossible to put it back in." While I agree, the only reason it will never change is that every NFL team makes money, no matter how bad their roster is for a given season.

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.

 

[OldSchool101]

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.

I always say. The conclusion of collusion is not an illusion, but I’m not sure it’s as much conclusive as it is elusive.