2025-26 NFL Thread

[GB Warrior]

It's a good thing the Packers play in Wisconsin because they need as many 300 pounders as they can find

[MU82]

Shaheed is staying with the Seahawks - 3/$51M. In interviews, Shaheed had voiced his desire to stay with Seattle, and it looks like he took less than the going rate for a #2 WR who also is a dynamic return man.

Would have loved to have kept Bryant, but I'm mostly pleased with how the Seahawks dealt with their own free agents. Now they have some work to do regarding other available FAs out there, especially at RB and DB.

[WhiteTrash]

League decided that Matt Ryan, not Cunningham, is the Falcons' top football executive.

They are calling it a lateral move. Basically still Asst. GM, but the title of GM.

Additionally, I think the Rooney Rule is being phased out.

[Dish]

So Linderbaum's contract, for all intents and purposes, is FULLY guaranteed for all 3 years.

They'd have to cut him next March (2027) to avoid guaranteeing 2028.

This is the most unfathomable contract in the history of sports (yes, I said that).

It makes no sense whatsoever. They didn't fly by Creed Humphrey's contract, they engulfed it in flames, dropped a nuke, and then ran it over with a semi truck.

I mean...was there another team even close to offering this???

[MU82]

So Linderbaum's contract, for all intents and purposes, is FULLY guaranteed for all 3 years.

They'd have to cut him next March (2027) to avoid guaranteeing 2028.

This is the most unfathomable contract in the history of sports (yes, I said that).

It makes no sense whatsoever. They didn't fly by Creed Humphrey's contract, they engulfed it in flames, dropped a nuke, and then ran it over with a semi truck.

I mean...was there another team even close to offering this???

Insane.

The Raiders went berserk, overpaying left and right. Brady said: "Hey, it ain't my money."

[Pakuni]

So Linderbaum's contract, for all intents and purposes, is FULLY guaranteed for all 3 years.

They'd have to cut him next March (2027) to avoid guaranteeing 2028.

This is the most unfathomable contract in the history of sports (yes, I said that).

It makes no sense whatsoever. They didn't fly by Creed Humphrey's contract, they engulfed it in flames, dropped a nuke, and then ran it over with a semi truck.

I mean...was there another team even close to offering this???

In The Athletic's 10 best free agent fits story today, Linderbaum is listed first:


Tyler Linderbaum, C, Raiders

As expected, Linderbaum reset the center market. What most didn't expect was how much he would do it by.

Linderbaum's $27 million average yearly salary is $9 million more than the Chiefs' Creed Humphrey, the position's previous leader. The Raiders came into free agency with the second-most cap space in the league and needed to hit the spending minimum, especially after trading away Maxx Crosby's salary.

The price was hefty, but this was a position that new head coach Klint Kubiak values more than most. A great center is vital in an outside-zone blocking scheme because most runs will cut vertically or back. Also, in his system, the center makes the protection calls, mike checks, and run-blocking adjustments. Linderbaum has ample experience doing those things. He'll bolster the run game and make presumed first pick Fernando Mendoza's life a lot easier. The overpay was an investment in making sure the rookie quarterback has a strong ecosystem to step into.

I look at Linderbaum's contract as more of an interior offensive lineman market reset rather than just a center one because of how important the center is to this system. Also, the Raiders will likely have two starting guards on rookie contracts. Despite the huge contract, this move makes a ton of sense.


https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7103156/2026/03/10/free-agent-fits-linderbaum-evans-willis/

[Dish]

I think the Linderbaum fit, as a player and a strategy, is great.

To fully guarantee three years to a Center at $27M per is insane for resetting the market for Centers. I personally will leave Guards as their own market.

I will say I do think the 2027 Raiders could be a really good and very fun team to watch.

[MU82]

A year ago, the Seahawks wanted to keep Geno Smith. But he wanted a lot more money, so they sent him to Vegas, brought in Sam Darnold, and the rest is history.

After a bad year with a horrible Raiders team, Geno was just traded to the NFL purgatory known as the New York Jets.

Good luck!

[Pakuni]

The 2026 salary cap is $301.2 million.
The Dolphins will carry more than $151 million in dead cap.
Good luck, Jeff Hafley.

[The Sultan]

The 2026 salary cap is $301.2 million.
The Dolphins will carry more than $151 million in dead cap.
Good luck, Jeff Hafley.

I'm sure this was always going to be the plan. And it makes sense to do a hard reset, gather some nice draft picks in the process, and build from the ground up.

I just hope their notorious prickly owner sticks with it.

[WhiteTrash]

A year ago, the Seahawks wanted to keep Geno Smith. But he wanted a lot more money, so they sent him to Vegas, brought in Sam Darnold, and the rest his history.

After a bad year with a horrible Raiders team, Geno was just traded to the NFL purgatory known as the New York Jets, where he supposedly will re-structure his contract.

Good luck, Geno!

Is Latrell Sprewell his agent?

[Dish]

What Trey Hendrickson wants and what the market is offering appear to be two vastly different things.

[wadesworld]

What Trey Hendrickson wants and what the market is offering appear to be two vastly different things.

https://x.com/AaronNagler/status/2031506188269957179

Hmm

[Pakuni]

WTF???

[WhiteTrash]

Did he even have a physical yet?

[Pakuni]

Did he even have a physical yet?

Yep, that's the reason Baltimore says they backed out.
But they knew he had knee surgery in January when they traded for him. I think they just got cold feet.

[WhiteTrash]

Yep, that's the reason Baltimore says they backed out.
But they knew he had knee surgery in January when they traded for him. I think they just got cold feet.

Well OK then. Seahawks are on the clock.

[cheebs09]

Maybe they thought they were getting Mason Crosby.

[WhiteTrash]

Hendrickson to Baltimore?

[WhiteTrash]

Is Linderbaum still getting that fat contract if Maxx is back to stay in LV?

[Dish]

Lots of dominos could fall with this Crosby news. Will Dallas now back out of the Gary trade?

[CreightonWarrior]

Lots of dominos could fall with this Crosby news. Will Dallas now back out of the Gary trade?

reporting you to the mods. This joke crossed the line.

[The Sultan]

Yep, that's the reason Baltimore says they backed out.
But they knew he had knee surgery in January when they traded for him. I think they just got cold feet.

Or they did an MRI and didn't like what they saw.

[Pakuni]

Or they did an MRI and didn't like what they saw.

https://x.com/TomPelissero/status/2031537016828047404?s=20

[Pakuni]

Is Linderbaum still getting that fat contract if Maxx is back to stay in LV?

The Raiders had $100+ million in cap space before trading Crosby.