![Daily Slop: 7 Mar 26 – John Keim: The Commanders will be “way more aggressive [in free agency] than the last couple years”](https://glance-mob.glance-cdn.com/public/cardpress/binge-magazine-card-generation/spaces/US/en/sb-nation/images/ppid_2cf3d240-image-177289509654614715.webp)
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Newly-extended DE Deatrich Wise speaks to the Washington media
Commanders Roundtable
Treylon Burks Back For Second Season with Washington Commanders
Wide receiver Treylon Burks becomes the latest to agree to terms on a new deal with reports breaking on Friday evening that he will return to the Commanders on a new one year deal. Per Ben Standig, the new deal is worth up to $4 million.
He becomes the seventh player to re-sign with the team this offseason after Nick Allegretti, Tress Way, Andrew Wylie, Shy Tuttle, Drake Jackson, Deatrich Wise Jr
and Jake Moody, whose status was finalized on Friday days after electing not to tender the kicker.
Commanders Roundtable
Washington Commanders make final decision to retain Jake Moody
Days after making a decision on his restricted status ahead of free agency, the Washington Commanders are bringing another back from the 2025 roster on a new deal.
Multiple reports broke on Friday morning that the Commanders are re-signing kicker Jake Moody. Washington declined to tender Moody ahead of free agency, which would have made him an unrestricted free agent beginning next week, but have moved ahead with a lower cap hit to retain their specialist.
Moody becomes the second specialist to agree to an extension this offseason after punter Tress Way became the first player to agree to a new deal.
Commanders.com
2026 free agency preview | DBs
The opinions expressed in this article do not reflect those of the team.
Cornerbacks
Alontae Taylor, New Orleans Saints
- Taylor has been one of the most consistent cornerbacks over the last four years, averaging 13 pass breakups per season in that span. He was at his best in zone coverage in 2025 with a grade of 80.3 from Pro Football Focus. He also split time between the outside and the slot, so there is some versatility to his skill set.
Joshua Jobe, Seattle Seahawks
- Jobe was a full-time starter for the first time in his career in 2025 and responded to that extra responsibility with a career-high 12 pass breakups. Unlike Woolen, Jobe has a more traditional frame for a cornerback, but he was a key cog in the Seahawks’ top-rated defense.
Safety
Nick Cross, Indianapolis Colts
- Cross has been a reliable player for the Colts since being named a starter. A former Maryland Terrapin, he’s recorded two 100-tackle seasons with four interceptions. Plus, at only 24 years old, he’s got plenty of productive years ahead of him. He could be a player on the rise.
Heavy.com
Commanders tabbed as favorites for ‘Forgotten’ 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk
Aiyuk will almost certainly be released at the start of the league year on March 11 — he cut off communications with the 49ers some time ago, and they voided all the guaranteed money in his contract.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano thinks that could likely mean Aiyuk winds up with the Commanders, where his best friend and college teammate, Jayden Daniels, is the quarterback.
“Aiyuk is kind of forgotten, but I think he’s going to reunite with his college quarterback, Jayden Daniels,” Graziano said on Friday. “He also has familiarity with general manager Adam Peters. No one is really talking about Aiyuk, and for a lot of reasons.”
The Commanders might also be the only team dumb enough to take on Aiyuk, who has shown himself to either be a locker room cancer or such a question mark when it comes to injuries that relying on him in any meaningful way seems like a doomed venture.
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They’re going to be way more aggressive the last couple years; that’s what I’m hearing. [Of course,] guys have to be available. Like, last year, I think there would have been some guys like the Ronnie Stanleys of the world that they probably would have gone after had they been available, but they weren’t. So now, if these some of these guys are available — and I do think they will be — then those are the guys [they will go after].
There are three positions that that I’ve heard consistently that maybe they would spend more at, which [are] defensive end, receiver, and corner. And those are all premium positions where it’s costly.
But again, what I’m hearing this year is different than what I heard the last two years. I know they [will] be active. And, again, aggressive
COMMANDERS REVAMP: How Treylon Burks’ RETURN SHIFTS 2026 Offense
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NJ.com
The Eagles-A.J. Brown trade saga is reportedly almost over
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Thursday night that it “certainly seems” like Brown will be playing for one of two teams in 2026: the Philadelphia Eagles or the New England Patriots.
The timing of all of this is important. Free agency starts on Monday, and it would be ideal if the Eagles had all this figured out beforehand. Brown potentially moving on has significant cap implications, and a trade will affect how the Eagles allocate their funds.
Most Eagles fans don’t want to lose Brown, the three-time All-Pro receiver, and general manager Howie Roseman is in the same boat.
Earlier this week, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported that the Eagles have a high price tag on Brown — a “Quinnen Williams-type” of price tag. Williams, the All-Pro defensive tackle, was traded from the Jets to the Cowboys for a first-rounder, a second-rounder and a player.
wfaa.com
Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey faces uncertainty with potential offers impacting his future
“I don’t really have much going on at the moment. Just sitting around waiting,” Aubrey said, during an appearance at the TOCA Social opening at Grandscape in The Colony.
“Obviously, the [second round] tender is what the Cowboys have talked about. It’s a good amount of money. It’s a big pay raise for me from before, but it’s not ideal for any player, so we’ll see what happens.”
With a second-round tender, the Cowboys would pay Aubrey approx $5.8 million in 2026 if no other team offers a better deal. If a team is willing to pay him more, the Cowboys have the right to match the offer. If the Cowboys refuse to match, the team signing Aubrey would need to give up a 2nd round draft pick to the Cowboys as compensation.
TLDR: The Cowboys have the leverage in this negotiation.
Dallas either keeps their All-Pro kicker at a price they’re comfortable with, or they let him go for a second-round pick, which can help fill other teams’ needs.
Big Blue View
NY Giants news: James Hudson, the tackle who committed 4 penalties on one drive, released
The New York Giants have released offensive tackle James Hudson after a disastrous one-year stint with the team, per Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.
Hudson signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the Giants last season to be their swing tackle. The move saves the Giants $5.305 million against the salary cap, with a dead money hit of $2.305 million.
The Giants signed Hudson after four seasons with the Cleveland Browns. He was largely brought to the Giants as protection for Andrew Thomas, who was recovering from Lisfranc surgery.
Hudson’s inability to control his emotions quickly ruined the 26-year-old’s tenure with the Giants.
During OTAs, largely non-contact practices held in shorts and t-shirts, Hudson’s antics led to a fight with star edge defender Brian Burns that saw both land on the turf at the Giants’ practice facility.
During a Week 2 start against the Dallas Cowboys with Thomas still rehabbing from injury, Hudson was penalized four times on the opening offensive drive of the game. He committed two false starts and two unnecessary roughness penalties.
Hudson was benched after that series and played just one offensive snap the remainder of the season.
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ESPN
Sources: Raiders to trade Maxx Crosby to Ravens for two 1sts
In the biggest trade in franchise history, the Baltimore Ravens are acquiring five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders for first-round picks in 2026 and 2027, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday night.
The deal is contingent on Crosby passing a physical, which can’t occur until the start of the new league year Wednesday.
This marks the first time in the Ravens’ 31-year existence that they have used a first-round pick to trade for a veteran player. Baltimore had the No. 14 pick in this year’s draft.
Among the teams the Ravens beat out for Crosby were the Dallas Cowboys, who were willing to offer a first- and a second-round pick for the star pass rusher, sources told Schefter.
ESPN
Texans release Joe Mixon, who missed 2025 season due to foot
The Texans released veteran running back Joe Mixon on Friday after he missed the 2025 season with a foot injury.
Mixon requested his release Thursday, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. A day later, the Texans granted it, releasing him with a non-football injury designation.
It saves Houston $8 million in cap space.
Mixon, 29, suffered a mysterious foot injury during the offseason, the specifics of which the Texans never disclosed. As a result, Mixon missed all the team’s offseason workouts and training camp.
Houston then placed Mixon on the non-football injury list at the end of training camp, which automatically sidelined him for four games.
Although there was hope he could come back, Mixon’s foot never healed. As a result, Houston leaned on rookie Woody Marks (team-high 703 rushing yards) and free agent signing Nick Chubb (506). Houston finished just 22nd in the league in rushing yards per game (108).
NFL.com
Bears acquire center Garrett Bradbury from Patriots to replace retired Drew Dalman
The Chicago Bears are acquiring Bradbury in a trade with the Patriots for a 2027 fifth-round pick, giving them a quick and venerable replacement for the retired Drew Dalman, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday afternoon. The deal cannot become official until Wednesday’s start of the new league year.
Dalman surprisingly announced his retirement on Tuesday. Bears general manager Ryan Poles moved swiftly to find his replacement, working out a trade on the same day that Dalman was officially placed on the reserve/retired list. Bradbury was a 2019 first-rounder for the Minnesota Vikings, playing six years with them before he was released and joined the Patriots.
Bradbury, who started all 21 games for New England through its loss in Super Bowl LX, has one season left on his current contract and is due $3.7 million.
With Bradbury gone, it opens the door for Jared Wilson to move from left guard to center, where he played at Georgia.
The Athletic (paywall)
Did Packers defensive end Rashan Gary say farewell or was his account hacked?
Rashan Gary’s tenure with the Green Bay Packers is over, he announced Friday on social media, though he deleted the post soon after.
Gary, 28, was a 2019 first-round pick and the Packers’ longest-tenured player. He signed a four-year, $96 million contract during the 2023 season and had two seasons remaining on that deal. It’s unclear whether he will be released or traded, but either move would free up about $11 million in cap space this year, according to Over the Cap, as Gary’s $28 million cap number was the second-highest on the team behind quarterback Jordan Love.
In Weeks 10 through 18 last season, Gary had no sacks while 325 other players did. He didn’t register a tackle for loss in that span while 507 different players did. As the 13th-highest-paid edge rusher in the league, according to OTC, Gary also ranked 39th in pressure percentage during that period among players with at least 100 pass-rush snaps, per TruMedia. In stark contrast, Gary ranked fifth in the NFL through eight weeks with 7.5 sacks and tied for 11th with seven tackles for loss during that span before his production disappeared. He wasn’t on the injury report all season, either.
Gary’s departure would leave the Packers with an edge rusher room of Micah Parsons, who could miss the first month of next season finishing ACL rehab, Lukas Van Ness, Barryn Sorrell and Collin Oliver. Kingsley Enagbare is set to hit unrestricted free agency and Brenton Cox Jr. will be a restricted free agent.
Over the Cap
Looking Back at the Free Agent Outcomes from 2024
As we get ready for free agency to kick off this week I thought it might be informative to go back and look at free agency from two years ago to see how some of those signings have worked out. I only wanted to look at multiple year contracts and contracts that averaged at least $4 million a year. These include tagged players who re-signed.
For 2024 there were 116 players that met that criteria.
Here is the list of all of the players who have been released before finishing their original contract out and maybe get an idea of all the risks that come with free agency each year.
