Mike Kaye’s take: 2026 NFL free agency predictions

[LinvilleGorge]

4 hours ago, MHS831 said:

I found one comment to be interesting.  he mentions Simmons, who has busted as a LB, as a 6' 4" 238 lb safety.  I think they will have him drop 20 lbs and possibly try him at ..... Free Safety ish.  Reason?  he has shown instincts on special teams and he ran a 4.39 at the combine in 2020.  

Why not?

I don’t care what we label him on the roster. Dude was a demon on ST in that playoff game.

[strato]

50 minutes ago, toldozer said:

Question can we sign Coker to a4 year deal or does it have to be 2 based on udfa

I heard an analyst say his camp may not want long term but more a 2 year deal because the money for this next deal won’t match the market in 2 years. Might not even match the market this year but they don’t have leverage.

I haven’t refreshed myself but pretty sure they can buy his RFA season out with a 2 year deal. Then you wouldn’t have to match offers. 

[ProcessBlue2]

7 hours ago, strato said:

I heard an analyst say his camp may not want long term but more a 2 year deal because the money for this next deal won’t match the market in 2 years. Might not even match the market this year but they don’t have leverage.

I haven’t refreshed myself but pretty sure they can buy his RFA season out with a 2 year deal. Then you wouldn’t have to match offers. 

I think they can do it with salary minimum too. I wouldn’t but I think that’s all that’s required salary wise

[csx]

Look at Rashid Saheed contract for 2024. He was more productive than Coker but probably a good reference.

I think it was 1 year 5.2 million.

[theinstrumental]

16 hours ago, MHS831 said:

I found one comment to be interesting.  he mentions Simmons, who has busted as a LB, as a 6' 4" 238 lb safety.  I think they will have him drop 20 lbs and possibly try him at ..... Free Safety ish.  Reason?  he has shown instincts on special teams and he ran a 4.39 at the combine in 2020.  

Why not?

He has every physical attribute you could want but he just has not proven any instincts for being a good defender. I love him as a special teamer and he can bring some depth to a few spots on defense, but I hope they don’t rely on him as any kind of key reserve.

[MHS831]

11 hours ago, LinvilleGorge said:

I don’t care what we label him on the roster. Dude was a demon on ST in that playoff game.

He sure was.  However, my point (and it may not be a sound one because it assumes that nobody else thought of the obvious) is that perhaps, in the Evero system, he could play center field and less as a hybrid SS/LB?  I dunno.  But yes, worth a roster spot if all he does is special teams.

[kungfoodude]

2 hours ago, csx said:

Look at Rashid Saheed contract for 2024. He was more productive than Coker but probably a good reference.

I think it was 1 year 5.2 million.

It was 2 years and $6.185 mil.

That's around what we should probably be offering.

[kungfoodude]

1 minute ago, MHS831 said:

He sure was.  However, my point (and it may not be a sound one because it assumes that nobody else thought of the obvious) is that perhaps, in the Evero system, he could play center field and less as a hybrid SS/LB?  I dunno.  But yes, worth a roster spot if all he does is special teams.

I don't think a 28 year old(which he will be in 2026) safety project is a very wise choice.

Also, consider that we had the tremendously more talented and effective version of what you are talking about with Jeremy Chinn and Evero wanted nothing to do with him. Doesn't fit his defense.

Simmons is a special teams player at this point in his career. As long as he is very good at that, let it be what it is.

[LinvilleGorge]

2 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

He sure was.  However, my point (and it may not be a sound one because it assumes that nobody else thought of the obvious) is that perhaps, in the Evero system, he could play center field and less as a hybrid SS/LB?  I dunno.  But yes, worth a roster spot if all he does is special teams.

Yeah, I'm all for trying to figure out a way for him to contribute on D even situationally. His physical tools are undeniable. I'm generally against carrying core ST guys on the roster unless they're real difference makers on STs and he sure looked like one against the Rams. I mean, we carried Karl Hankton on the roster as a "wide receiver" for nearly a decade and the guy barely ever saw the field on offense in his rostered role. But hey, if you're out there blocking punts and blowing up return men on the regular I can accommodate that on my roster.

[LinvilleGorge]

2 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

Also, consider that we had the tremendously more talented and effective version of what you are talking about with Jeremy Chinn and Evero wanted nothing to do with him. Doesn't fit his defense.

This is valid. Evero doesn't seem very creative in terms of utilizing talent. He does a lot more of square pegs in round holes than he does creating ways to get the most out of his talent.

[kungfoodude]

Just now, LinvilleGorge said:

This is valid. Evero doesn't seem very creative in terms of utilizing talent. He does a lot more of square pegs in round holes than he does creating ways to get the most out of his talent.

Yeah, I think people forget that we basically benched Chinn for a lot of that season. 

He had to dedicate resources to more effective players that fit his defense like DJ Johnson, Trevin Wallace and Christian Rozebum. 

Glad we extended this guy.

[Bear Hands]

Leo Chenal would be my top target for us this offseason.

Think he fits the defense really well, he’s tight with Turk, and would be the much needed proven boost at LB that we need.

Very underrated player IMO.

[LinvilleGorge]

3 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

Yeah, I think people forget that we basically benched Chinn for a lot of that season. 

He had to dedicate resources to more effective players that fit his defense like DJ Johnson, Trevin Wallace and Christian Rozebum. 

Glad we extended this guy.

Yeah, pretty much every guy we've targeted and touted Evero's involvement in the decision has ranged from disappointment to outright flop.

[MHS831]

3 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

I don't think a 28 year old(which he will be in 2026) safety project is a very wise choice.

Also, consider that we had the tremendously more talented and effective version of what you are talking about with Jeremy Chinn and Evero wanted nothing to do with him. Doesn't fit his defense.

Simmons is a special teams player at this point in his career. As long as he is very good at that, let it be what it is.

I had the same thought, and then wondered if he would be a project or situationally, a good fit in the system.  Regardless, there have been CBs convert to S later in their careers, but they were successful CBs for the most part.  Are there sets (or a set) that is right for his skill set?  I suppose the point is--he would be cheap and worth his salary on special teams, so if he can play a role on the defense in the capacity of a S in some alignments or situations, maybe.  Would he be more feared in the deep third that Scott?  (example). I dunno--why I brought it up.  Wanted to hear what folks think.  I agree, but at 6-4 and running a 4.4, man, there has to be more for him.  Maybe the game has slowed down and he sees the field better.  At least he would be depth, but if and when the light ever comes on...