2026 Off-Season Thread

[ChoppedWood]

Man, Ballard is a bad ass! He is so great, he's got all these retired dudes coming back to play for him.

We are so fucked...

[sherck]

Originally Posted by Dam8610

Colts sign S Nasir Adderley
He was a 3 year starter for the Chargers....

3-years, 44 games started

PFF rated him as 62.2 pass defense grade (60.0 is average) in 2022
PFF rated him as 68.1 rush defense grade

Nick Cross rated as 59.8 pass defense grade in 2025
Nick Cross rated as 62.1 pass defense grade in 2025

Upgrade....perhaps.

[Dam8610]

Originally Posted by sherck

3-years, 44 games started

PFF rated him as 62.2 pass defense grade (60.0 is average) in 2022
PFF rated him as 68.1 rush defense grade

Nick Cross rated as 59.8 pass defense grade in 2025
Nick Cross rated as 62.1 pass defense grade in 2025

Upgrade....perhaps.

I don't trust PFF's grades. Do you have access to the raw numbers they produce amd his rankings for the year in each category? I find those to be much better evaluation tools. Also, it's pretty clear that Anarumo values versatility pretty highly in safeties. Bynum's biggest strength is versatility, and it seems like it may be one of Adderley's biggest strengths as well.

[Dam8610]

Looking at what's available on Pro Football Reference, if he plays anything like his 25 year old self, we'll have a really good starting safety.

[ukcolt]

I don't mind the signing, but 3 years away from the league is a REALLY long time. If he provides good competition in preseason, and wins the starting job then brilliant, at the very least i suspect he is going to push the other guys, and that is great way to improve play development generally. But it wouldn't be a huge surprise if he doesn't get past the first couple of weeks of training camp and is cut or retires again.

Safety depth is now looking quite good, with hopes that one of them is at least a league average starter.

[IndyNorm]

Originally Posted by ukcolt

I don't mind the signing, but 3 years away from the league is a REALLY long time. If he provides good competition in preseason, and wins the starting job then brilliant, at the very least i suspect he is going to push the other guys, and that is great way to improve play development generally. But it wouldn't be a huge surprise if he doesn't get past the first couple of weeks of training camp and is cut or retires again.

Safety depth is now looking quite good, with hopes that one of them is at least a league average starter.

Agreed. Unless we signed him for much more than the vet minimum, which I doubt, then it can't hurt to bring him in. Of course I won't be holding my breath in hopes that he'll be any good after sitting out for 3 years.

[Colts And Orioles]

o


2026 NFL Free Agency Grades: Dexter Lawrence II, Kirk Cousins

(By Seth Walder and Ben Solak)

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...-draft-outlook




The Steelers Trade for WR Michael Pittman


The Steelers Receive: ) WR Michael Pittman, 2026 7th-Round Draft Pick

The Colts Receive: ) 2026 6th-Round Draft Pick


The Steelers' Grade: ) C

The Colts' Grade: ) B



For the 2nd straight offseason, the Steelers added a wide receiver via trade. Last year, it was DK Metcalf. This time, it's Pittman in a late-round draft pick swap with the Colts.

The Steelers are giving Pittman a new three-year, $59 Million contract, per NFL Network. Because the trade compensation is so small, we can evaluate this as basically being a free agent deal at that price.

Pittman, 28, fits with the Steelers because he runs short routes, averaging only 8.1 air yards per target. And quarterback Aaron Rodgers ...... who is a free agent but seems likely to be back in Pittsburgh again ...... does pretty much one thing in the late stage of his career: throw short. Seventy-six percent of Rodgers' pass attempts went under 10 air yards last season, the highest rate in the league.

Pittman recorded his best season in 2023, grabbing 109 receptions for 1,152 receiving yards and 2.2 yards per route run. But he hasn't been able to match that since, with his yards per route run dropping to 1.8 in 2024 and 1.6 in 2025 (just 1.2 vs. man coverage). He totaled 784 receiving yards last season on 80 receptions.

His player-tracking based metrics in ESPN's receiver scores tell a similar story. This was most noticeable in his open score, which hit a career-high 67 in 2023 but fell to 53 in 2024 and 49 in 2025.

My biggest issue with this move is wondering why the Steelers didn't go after Wan'Dale Robinson instead. Robinson is three years younger and a better player at this point. Robinson cost $19.5 Million per-year ...... almost exactly the same amount that Pittman does after his new deal.

Why did the Colts make this trade? Pittman was slated to make $24 Million in 2026, and I imagine they didn't think he was worth that ...... especially considering they're giving Alec Pierce a bump to $29 million per year to bring him back. I don't think it would have been unreasonable for them to cut Pittman, so getting just a 6-7 flip is perfectly fine. ) (Seth Walder)

o

[Colts And Orioles]

o


2026 NFL Free Agency Grades: Dexter Lawrence II, Kirk Cousins

(By Seth Walder and Ben Solak)

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...-draft-outlook




The Packers Trade for LB Franklin


The Packers Receive: ) LB Zaire Franklin

The Colts Receive: ) DT Colby Wooden


The Packers' Grade: ) B

The Colts' Grade: ) B



2 days after ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Colts were seeking to deal Franklin in order to help get under the salary cap, Indianapolis found a trade partner in Green Bay. The Packers added Franklin via a player-for-player trade involving Wooden.

Franklin, who will turn 30 this summer, presumably will slot in next to Edgerrin Cooper at linebacker, with Quay Walker departing in free agency. Franklin's deal calls for $7 Million in cash in 2026, which the Colts will save and the Packers will take on. His contract also includes a $9 million non-guaranteed salary in 2027.

Franklin is most known for his 2024 season in which he led the NFL in tackles (173). That's not a particularly great indicator of linebacker skill on its own, and probably overstates his contribution that season, but he was certainly a solid player that year. His metrics took a step back last season. In 2025, Franklin's run stop win rate dropped to the 28th percentile (down from 59th the year prior), along with a 28th percentile tackle rate among linebackers and a worse-than-average missed tackle rate, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

There are a number of linebacker options in free agency, though many of them might end up being a few million more in salary. Franklin brings some risk if his play last season was a signal of decline, but if the Packers believe 2025 was an outlier, then he becomes a player who fills a need with a very reasonably priced contract. ) (Seth Walder)

o

[IndyNorm]

In addition to releasing Moore we also released Nasir Adderley today. Guess he wasn't primed for a comeback after all

[Dam8610]

The Haulcy pick looks even better now.