2026 Off-Season Thread

[ChaosTheory]

Originally Posted by Hoopsdoc

Hard to disagree with this. The only place we are objectively better is defensive tackle. Everything else is the same or worse.

How you frame it in your mind matters. A lot of people will say, as they have in years past, that Ballard sat on his hands and didn't get any difference makers. Because for some reason, Free Agents don't count if they were on your team last year.

The more accurate framing is that you likely got the #1 QB and the #1 WR available in the '26 FA class. Just pretend one came from Cincinnati and one came from Tampa Bay if it helps. And to do stuff like that, you don't get to keep your other $20m+ WR.

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Anyway, to the substance of the point... I fucking hate losing Cross. As excited as I was for Wohler, that one will probably sting. Hopefully he's the rare type to be reliable right away.

LB is funny... Because it's simultaneously the biggest unknown and also one of the least worrisome positions to me personally. I guess it's the combination of ease of transition from college to pro, Lou's emphasis on DBs, and Ballard's track record at LB.

I think DL will be hammered in the draft. May luck into Grover's replacement, otherwise depth behind him and Buckner.