Lingering questions with the free agency dust settled

Summary of Lingering questions with the free agency dust settled

by The Athletic

48m•March 19, 2026
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Overview of The Athletic Football Show — "Lingering questions with the free agency dust settled"

This episode (Robert Mays with Eric/Derek) takes stock of the NFL after the first two waves of 2026 free agency. With most headline free agents now placed, the hosts run through roughly a dozen lingering questions — mostly team- or position-specific — about gaps that remain, likely trade targets, and issues that will shape draft strategy over the next month.

Main lingering questions (concise list and why they matter)

  • Chargers — How will they solve edge depth?

    • Khalil Mack re-signed but is older/injured; Bud Dupree is limited. Options: sign a veteran band‑aid (AJ Epenesa, JaDavion Clowney type), trade for a mid-cost rusher (Max Crosby, Lucas Van Ness), or draft an edge early (1st/2nd round).
    • Draft vs FA/Trade is the key strategic choice.

  • Seahawks — Who starts at running back in Week 1?

    • Emmanuel Wilson (cheap depth) and George Holani are current options; Zach Charbonnet’s availability is uncertain.
    • Seattle has cap space but few draft assets (only 4 picks) so they may be limited in acquiring an immediate starter — could be a stopgap/late draft dart or an internal solution.

  • Trade market — who moves before the season?

    • Candidates discussed: Max Crosby, AJ Brown (big money topic), Lucas Van Ness, Dexter Lawrence, Keon Coleman, and others.
    • Jesse Bates (Falcons safety, 1 year left) flagged as a realistic buy-for-a-3rd/4th target for competitive teams that want an immediate upgrade at safety.

  • Young QB dice-rolls — why so few trades for developmental QBs?

    • Players like Anthony Richardson, Will Levis, Tanner McKee, Spencer Rattler, Malik Willis are on the radar.
    • Teams that make sense as landing spots: Rams (Richardson), Cowboys/Dallas (backup upside), Green Bay (backup with upside after losing Malik Willis), Steelers (they might prefer a swing for Malik Willis vs. Aaron Rodgers).

  • Bears — where will pass rush/pop up-front help come from?

    • They added some interior pieces (Neville Gallimore, James Lynch) but still need more edge/tackle pop; likely draft focus in R1/R2 unless trade is made.

  • Ravens — center and receiver spot(s)

    • Center is an open problem: options include drafting a center or signing a veteran (Lloyd Cushenberry-type). The Ravens also hosted David Njoku; pass-catcher depth could include Jawan Jennings-style fits as chain-movers/blockers for the Ben Johnson offense.

  • Chiefs — will they use the No. 9 pick for a pass-catcher or a trench player?

    • Debate: take a premium wide receiver/size X‑type (rare to find later) or prioritize trenches (tackle/edge). Draft shape at #9 will reveal their choice — hosts lean that a top-10 receiver with prototypical size might push them to pick a receiver.

  • Lions — edge/front‑seven depth concerns

    • After Aidan Hutchinson, depth is thin (only a few rotational names). Detroit could look to add a complementary edge rusher either via draft or free agency.

  • 49ers — Trent Williams contract situation

    • Williams reportedly wants more guarantees; 49ers want to lower cap hit. If Williams leaves, San Francisco needs a high-level left tackle: draft, trade, or short‑term veteran solution.

  • Broncos — interior defensive line after losing John Franklin-Myers

    • Need for more interior push/pop; could be addressed with mid-round picks or free-agency depth.

  • Steelers — Who is the quarterback?

    • Still unresolved; the hosts voice frustration at Aaron Rodgers being the likely short-term answer and argue the team should consider a higher-upside swing (e.g., Malik Willis) given the team’s assets and future cap flexibility.
    • Notable quote: “I would rather sign Kirk Cousins than bring back Aaron Rodgers” — shows skepticism about the Rodgers approach.

  • Linebacker rooms (Bengals, Cowboys) — did not see expected offseason additions

    • Both clubs underwhelmed at linebacker acquisition; Bengals added veteran help (Bobby Wagner mentioned) but play quality/mentorship versus on-field performance remains a question.

Trade candidates and the market (who to watch)

  • High-profile/expensive-to-move names: A.J. Brown (big name), Max Crosby (trade candidate), Dexter Lawrence (Giants — conversation around restructuring vs moving), Jonathan Greenard (transcript spelled “Grenard” — pass-rusher whose future/fit and pay expectations make him a plausible trade target).
  • Mid/low-cost swing options: Lucas Van Ness, Keon Coleman, Quentin Johnston (former 1st-rounders who might be moved for draft capital).
  • One-year/expiring deals to watch: Jesse Bates (Falcons) — realistic for competitive teams who need safety help.

Note on transcript uncertainty: a few proper-noun spellings in the original transcript were inconsistent (e.g., “Grenard”); context suggests Jonathan Greenard (pass rusher) was meant.

Draft implications — where teams are likely to look

  • Edge rushers: Chargers, Bears, Lions and many playoff-caliber teams still view R1–R2 edges as priorities.
  • Interior OL/center: Ravens and teams with uncertain center situations will consider R1–R3 centers or veteran stopgaps.
  • Running back: Seahawks unlikely to find an elite draft solution unless they trade up — RB class perceived as thin; teams may rely on late-round/small-dollar signings.
  • Quarterback: Several teams could take cheap swing bets on developmental QBs via trade at low cost (day 3 picks) or target them in R3–R7.
  • Receiver/trench tradeoff (Chiefs example): Some teams picking high (Chiefs at #9) must choose between premium receiver sizing/ceilings and rare trench help.

Notable player movements/visits called out

  • Khalil Mack re-signed to the Chargers (context: impacts edge decisions).
  • David Njoku visited Ravens — potential fit as a hybrid/plug‑and‑play TE in new offense.
  • Anthony Richardson — proposed trade target for the Rams (or elsewhere) as a developmental/second‑phase QB.
  • Malik Willis — Green Bay experiment yielded interest; hosts argue Steelers could have been a good match.

Actionable things to watch before/during the draft

  • Key cap moves: restructures that enable teams to pursue big-name trades (49ers/Trent Williams, Vikings and any pass-rusher salary decisions).
  • Trade market activity for names like Max Crosby, Jesse Bates, and potentially Greenard — any moves will signal teams’ win-now strategies.
  • Draft day decisions at positions flagged above — particularly Chargers (edge), Ravens (center), Seahawks (RB), Chiefs (#9 decision), and teams needing QB depth (Steelers, Packers, Bengals).
  • Visits and workouts (David Njoku to Ravens is a prototype example).

Final takeaways / hosts’ tone

  • Free agency closed many storylines but left important roster questions that will likely be resolved by a mix of trades, veteran signings, and draft picks.
  • Many teams are at strategic crossroads: use cap/picks now (veteran band-aids) or bet on draft youth. The draft will answer several of those.
  • The hosts express particular skepticism about “safe” veteran QB moves (Aaron Rodgers → Steelers) and favor higher-upside gambles in specific contexts (Malik Willis for a rebuild/transition team).

Next episode

  • The show shifts to draft coverage tomorrow with Dane Brugler and Dave Hellmann: “Idiot’s Guide to the 2026 NFL Draft” — deep draft prep and how the remaining open questions might be answered on draft weekend.