# NFL 2026 Offseason Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-nfl\ **Created:** [February 13, 2026, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644 "2026-02-13T18:22:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/261 "2026-04-30T12:00:59Z")
Speaking of, where’s Nelson Muntz when you need him [https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2026/04/how-deshaun-watson-emerged-from-minicamp-with-an-edge-over-shedeur-sanders-and-has-the-inside-track-to-be-named-qb1-mary-kay-cabot.html](https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2026/04/how-deshaun-watson-emerged-from-minicamp-with-an-edge-over-shedeur-sanders-and-has-the-inside-track-to-be-named-qb1-mary-kay-cabot.html) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/262 "2026-04-30T15:49:37Z")
He’s well rested. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/263 "2026-04-30T23:25:41Z")
NFL Football idiotic meathead favorite Diego Pavia (aka Tim Tebow without the hyper-Cjristianity and size) signed a 3 year contract withthe Baltimore Ravens. I feel bad paying him this much attention. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/264 "2026-04-30T23:35:39Z")
His muscles are probably also quite limber from frequent massages, ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/265 "2026-05-01T12:01:38Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > NFL Football idiotic meathead favorite Diego Pavia (aka Tim Tebow without the hyper-Cjristianity and size) signed a 3 year contract withthe Baltimore Ravens. Yes, 3 year contracts for both him and Fagnano, which is the league minimum for UDFAs. Basically, it doesn’t really mean anything. Baltimore couldn’t have them in the building otherwise. The chance they’ll carry 4 QBs on the regular season roster is nil. And there’s not a great chance they’ll carry 3. They’ve got Jackson, with Huntley as backup. It’s not impossible Huntley will be displaced as backup but it’s also not very likely. The most likely scenario is they want to put one of Pavia and Fagnano on the practice squad and the other will be out of luck. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/266 "2026-05-01T17:51:34Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Basically, it doesn’t really mean anything. Baltimore couldn’t have them in the building otherwise. That’s not true. A player can come into a minicamp for a workout without a contract. These camps last 2-3 days, and a major reason for going into one of these minicamps is to try to _earn_ a contract. So, yes, it _does_ mean something; it means that the Ravens at least want a chance to try these players out, and it means that they at least had the feeling that another team would want either Fagnano or Pavia. > **[ACC/NC Updates: 2026 NFL Free Agent Signees, Minicamp Invitees –...](https://ncsportsnetwork.com/acc-nc-updates-2026-nfl-free-agent-signees-minicamp-invitees/)** > In the aftermath of the 2026 National Football League draft, hundreds of college football players signed contracts with NFL teams as undrafted free agents, and many others accepted invitations to one or more rookie minicamps. > Whereas a player who signs a contract as an undrafted free agent becomes contractually tied to that NFL franchise, those without contracts can accept invitations to multiple rookie minicamps. Now, it doesn’t mean they’re guaranteed to make the team, and I agree with you that in all likelihood only one of those players (at most) will make the team, probably on the practice squad. The 3 year contract is the minimum for any player who is a UDFA, correct, and it doesn’t imply any real commitment on the part of the team (aside from the fact that the player is going to make some money; which is usually about $250,000 guaranteed compared to the minimum $885,000 they would get per year minimum if they stay on the team). ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/267 "2026-05-01T18:10:17Z")
Ok, fair enough, it’s doesn’t mean ‘nothing’ but it’s pretty darned close. An FBS QB from a decent football school is more likely than not to get signed as a UDFA somewhere. Pavia getting signed as a UDFA is no surprise whatsoever - a Heisman runner-up wouldn’t have been left unsigned for long at all. It’s more surprising a Heisman runner-up goes entirely undrafted. ETA: probably it’s the weird way it was put. The “3 year contract” is technically true but most sports writers report “signed as a UDFA”. If they’re signed at all, it’s a minimum 3 year thing, so the headline makes it sound like it’s more than a bog standard UDFA deal. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/268 "2026-05-01T18:23:19Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > If they’re signed at all, it’s a minimum 3 year thing, so the headline makes it sound like it’s more than a bog standard UDFA deal. Exactly; they mention it as if it’s something special rather than literally the minimum. It would be like talking about a pencil that is multifunctional; it can be used to write, to draw, it even comes with a device on the other end that can remove marks! It can be used for both numbers **and** letters! Or pictures! It can draw things both real and fantastical! You can even keep re-sharpening it over and over again to increase its usefulness!!! Anything mundane can seem special when you add a lot of unnecessary details. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2026, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/269 "2026-05-03T07:32:42Z")
so the Steelers are trying out 313 pound punter Gabriel Nwosu weighs 313 pounds. nobody’s going to run into HIM ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/270 "2026-05-04T07:28:58Z")
> **[Steelers Invite 313-Pound Mammoth to Rookie Minicamp](https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/gabriel-nwosu-rookie-minicamp-nfl-news/)** > > The Senior Specialist All-Star Game X account posted the Pittsburgh Steelers invited Penn State punter Gabriel Nwosu to rookie minicamp. > To say the least, Nwosu is massive for a punter,” wrote Steelers Now’s Chris Ward. “Nwosu had a standout season for the Nittany Lions last season with 15 of his 38 attempts being pinned within the 20 yard line. > > “He averaged 46 yards per punt in his lone season as a punter. Against Michigan State, Nwosu booted a career-long 68-yard punt.” ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/271 "2026-05-04T21:13:35Z")
Packers sign QB Tyrod taylor: > **[Packers sign QB Tyrod Taylor ](https://www.packers.com/news/packers-sign-qb-tyrod-taylor-may-4-2026)** > > Green Bay releases QB Desmond Ridder Brian ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/272 "2026-05-08T23:43:50Z")
In the draft thread, we had a bit of conversation about the Packers trading up to draft Florida kicker Trey Smack in the sixth round. It seemed a bit of a reach, especially as the team had veteran Brandon McManus on the roster. McManus was great as a mid-season pick-up in 2024, but struggled with a quadriceps injury in his kicking leg last season. Today, the other shoe\* dropped, with the Packers announcing that McManus will be a post-June 1st cut, despite having paid him a $1 million roster bonus in March. It’s not clear if McManus requested to be released, and/or if the Packers were concerned about the injury, or simply wanted to clear some cap space. > **[Packers to cut kicker Brandon McManus after drafting Trey Smack](https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2026/05/08/packers-to-cut-kicker-brandon-mcmanus-after-drafting-trey-smack-report/89995397007/)** > > After paying Brandon McManus a $1 million bonus in March, the Packers released the veteran kicker after drafting Trey Smack. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/273 "2026-05-13T05:20:32Z")
This happened at the beginning of the month, but wasn’t commented on here. After several months of public saber-rattling, including the league making plans for replacement officials, the NFL and the NFL Referees Association reached an agreement on a new 7-year CBA. Exact details are not available, but it appears that it includes significant raises for officials, increased training, and the ability for the league to use performance metrics to determine post-season assignments, rather than seniority. > **[Referees Association, NFL ratify 7-year CBA to avoid work stoppage](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/48713349/referees-association-nfl-ratify-7-year-cba-avoid-work-stoppage)** > > The NFL Referees Association ratified a new 7-year collective bargaining agreement with the NFL on Friday, eliminating the possibility of a work stoppage prior to the 2026 season. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/274 "2026-05-13T20:23:06Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Exact details are not available, but it appears that it includes significant raises for officials, increased training, and the ability for the league to use performance metrics to determine post-season assignments, rather than seniority. I like that last part. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/275 "2026-05-13T20:45:42Z")
No kidding. That should have happened ages ago. MLB is notoriously slow on making changes to the game and they incorporated merit based postseason criteria years ago. Though, clearly seniority is still a consideration (why, oh why was Angel Hernandez still allowed to ump postseason games for so long?!) ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/276 "2026-05-13T20:56:34Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > the ability for the league to use performance metrics to determine post-season assignments, rather than seniority. I thought that was something they already did. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/277 "2026-05-13T22:28:57Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > I thought that was something they already did Yeah, I thought so too, and it looks like they did. Googling turns up an article from last year (Jan 2025) discussing the nuances of the all-star playoff crews they go with vs keeping crews together: > **[Once again, NFL will create new officiating crews for the postseason](https://sports.yahoo.com/once-again-nfl-create-officiating-191352142.html)** > > When the playoffs start on Saturday, the NFL will have dismantled the 17 regular-season crews and assembled six new ones, based on their performance from Week 1 through Week 18. > On one hand, keeping regular-season crews intact results in high-performers being left out. And, as one source with knowledge of the practice explained it to PFT, high-performing officials were happy to see their less-competent (relative to others) colleagues left out of games with the highest stakes. > > On the other hand, some coaches see the value in keeping established officiating teams in place. Reshuffling the deck after 18 weeks of regular-season football forces individual styles together on the fly. And since the league tries to keep qualifying officials on the same crew as the one they worked in the regular season, those from the same regular-season crew could overpower, subtly but distinctly, the new members. And the new members could be more concerned about going along and getting along than getting the calls right. Those last two sentences are interesting. They should probably go the opposite way and deliberately separate crewmates from the regular season when assembling playoff crews. It looks like in @kenobi_65’s effort to summarize, we lost the two words that are doing all the heavy lifting in describing what’s different with this new agreement: greater latitude. (Doh! heh.) > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > the ability for the league to use performance metrics to determine post-season assignments, rather than seniority. > [@The Article](#): > > will have **greater latitude** to use performance metrics for postseason assignments rather than seniority. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/278 "2026-05-13T23:57:31Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > It looks like in @kenobi_65’s effort to summarize, we lost the two words that are doing all the heavy lifting in describing what’s different with this new agreement: greater latitude. Thank you — that’s accurate. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/279 "2026-05-14T12:16:03Z")
The schedule gets released today, but [it’s been leaked](https://x.com/Schultz_Report/status/2054682356607279460) that the season opener will be a Super Bowl rematch Pats at Seahawks on Thursday night. There’s about a 42% chance that the schedule works out to allow a rematch, so nice it did this year. It will be interesting to see if the Vrabel/Russini story still has legs then, and if the Seattle fans take advantage of that. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644/280 "2026-05-14T14:48:50Z")
Pretty good slate for Thanksgiving. Doesn’t hurt that the NFC Central is a legitimate power these days, as opposed to the traditional meaningless Lions games. Thanksgiving Eve night Packers @ Rams Thanksgiving Bears @ Lions Eagles @ Cowboys Chiefs @ Bills Black Friday Broncos @ Steelers [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-offseason-thread/1027644.md?page=15)