The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Dah-Dee]

"One unresolved NFL offseason situation is the pending divorce of WR Brandon Aiyuk & the #49ers.If SF believes they can secure even a late-round 2027 draft pick for the 28-year-old, hanging onto him into June makes better financial sense.
A Post 6/1 trade splits their dead cap allocations at: 2026: $13.3M 2027: $21.2M
It's a loss of $20M if they release or trade him before 6/1."

I guess that's just a different way of saying everything else I've seen indicating SF will save $6M against the 2026 cap if they designate Aiyuk for a post-June 1 release.

However, I've also read that a team can't trade a player already designated for post-June 1 release - the player is free to sign elsewhere as of the time of the designation. So I'm not sure what spotrac is talking about with the "post 6/1 trade" reference, that's confusing because what I've seen says the 6/1 rules for splitting dead cap like that only apply to the designated release situation.

Edit: After more reading, I see now that if a trade actually occurs after June 1, the dead cap effect is the same as when, prior to June 1, a team designates a player for post-June 1 release. The team does get to spread the dead cap money over 2 years. So the last sentence of the spotrac post is accurate in that if SF just release Aiyuk (without the 6/1 designation) or actually trades him, before 6/1, they won't get cap savings for 2026. I'm still not sure where they got the $20M figure from.

 

[Conn]

Again imo it doesn’t really matter whether the 49ers actually believe they have even a slight chance at a trade for a 7th rounder in any year, they can use that as cover to not allow the player to get what he wants, and not allow him to freely go to a team early where he may experience even a modicum of happiness or success (or not). That seems to be their main goal and it is what it is. But they’re at least smart enough to give themselves cover while doing so, so they can pretend it’s not personal. It’s clearly personal and because of that we can’t assume anything about the outcome.

He can only be a bonus on top of our actual plans. The injuries alone make that prudent, but his headspace and the 49ers’ motives make it even smarter to consider it that way.

 

[RWJ]

However, I've also read that a team can't trade a player already designated for post-June 1 release - the player is free to sign elsewhere as of the time of the designation. So I'm not sure what spotrac is talking about with the "post 6/1 trade" reference, that's confusing because what I've seen says the 6/1 rules for splitting dead cap like that only apply to the designated release situation.

Maybe the same thing applies to Biadasz. I haven't seen any definite date of cut/release so we could be applying Biadasz after June 1st too. We saw that he has already signed his new contract with the Chargers.

 

[KDawg]

Deebo, Curtis Samuel, Juju, Proche, Gabe Davis, D Hop, Keenan, Valdez-Scantling, Diggs are all available. Some are older but at this point the youth movement needs to go out the window. We need receivers. Sign three of the old fogeys and let’s roll.

 

[DWinzit]

Deebo, Curtis Samuel, Juju, Proche, Gabe Davis, D Hop, Keenan, Valdez-Scantling, Diggs are all available. Some are older but at this point the youth movement needs to go out the window. We need receivers. Sign three of the old fogeys and let’s roll.

Yeah we may need to at this point unless they are planning on waiting for a Jennings decision.

I'm not certain which of those fits best but Deebo are has the relationships so seems to the most sense. I kinda like steady eddie - Keenan the most

 

[HTTR]

I think Keenan Allen as well. Great veteran leadership that can help mentor our young receivers ala Bobby Wagner with the defense. I know he’s ancient, but we’re talking about a stopgap here and he still has a little bit of gas left in the tank.

If we do end up getting Aiyuk, Keenan could move to more of a third down chain mover and goal line role.

 

[KDawg]

Yeah we may need to at this point unless they are planning on waiting for a Jennings decision.

I'm not certain which of those fits best but Deebo are has the relationships so seems to the most sense. I kinda like steady eddie - Keenan the most

What we can’t do is not be in on any of these guys and lose them, too. We’re playing a dangerous game. But, I have to believe that if we are in on Jennings Peters knows where we stand.

 

[Conn]

One weird quirk of this Aiyuk situation (and again, can’t factor him into any plans) is that the more the 49ers pay the cost of the drama to avoid setting him free, the more I think he may actually be able to practice this training camp.

If they thought the dude’s career was realistically over because he botched the rehab on his knee so badly, you’d think they’d just let him go languish on someone’s PUP-IR list with his fall-off-the-bone brisket knee, and come out the victors as everyone sees they were right.

It can’t be THAT bad on scans if they’re so steadfastly trying to prevent him from going somewhere he’d actually play and produce if healthy.

 

[ES1974]

Deebo, Curtis Samuel, Juju, Proche, Gabe Davis, D Hop, Keenan, Valdez-Scantling, Diggs are all available. Some are older but at this point the youth movement needs to go out the window. We need receivers. Sign three of the old fogeys and let’s roll.

Damn I recall being all in on wanting Valdez-Scantling when the was moving on from the Packers. Just checked, 2022. Wow.

 

[Higskin]

One weird quirk of this Aiyuk situation (and again, can’t factor him into any plans) is that the more the 49ers pay the cost of the drama to avoid setting him free, the more I think he may actually be able to practice this training camp.

If they thought the dude’s career was realistically over because he botched the rehab on his knee so badly, you’d think they’d just let him go languish on someone’s PUP-IR list with his fall-off-the-bone brisket knee, and come out the victors as everyone sees they were right.

It can’t be THAT bad on scans if they’re so steadfastly trying to prevent him from going somewhere he’d actually play and produce if healthy.

I heard something along the lines (think it was one of the 49ers reporters) that Kyle was going to be bugged if he went elsewhere and succeeded. He was kind of eluding to Aiyuk being healthy.

As an aside makes you wonder given Aiyuk and Jayden are such buds, if they are secretly on some field working out together. Just saying....

 

[Conn]

I heard something along the lines (think it was one of the 49ers reporters) that Kyle was going to be bugged if he went elsewhere and succeeded. He was kind of eluding to Aiyuk being healthy.

As an aside makes you wonder given Aiyuk and Jayden are such buds, if they are secretly on some field working out together. Just saying....

They were on the same podcast recently (or the clip could’ve been months old, idk) and Aiyuk was kind of having loose lips. Generic comments about how if the 49ers don’t want him to play, he can go put up numbers for another QB, with a slight head nod across the room towards Jayden. And Jayden didn’t really bite, actually made kind of a funny face and just half-nodded like he hadn’t heard lol. So he’s definitely trying to keep it cool. Who knows what their level of contact is, especially in a football sense, but I imagine because it was the 49ers who voided his guarantees and refused him in their facilities that there can’t be any real argument about collusion. They have control of him via his contract and have to choose to give that up for him to come here, it’s not like he’s an impending FA that can be tampered with.

 

[heisenberg]

I heard something along the lines (think it was one of the 49ers reporters) that Kyle was going to be bugged if he went elsewhere and succeeded. He was kind of eluding to Aiyuk being healthy.

As an aside makes you wonder given Aiyuk and Jayden are such buds, if they are secretly on some field working out together. Just saying....

They're just delaying the inevitable then because they have to release him eventually, which makes this situation even more ridiculous.

They dont have to do anything secretly, players can workout with whoever they want in the offseason, its not uncommon for them to workout with players from other teams.

 

[Dlts20]

I wouldn't sign another receiver until I see how the draft plays out. If we take a receiver in the first then we don't need any of the free agents. If we don't draft a WR then some of those guys will still be available by then

 

[Dah-Dee]

I wouldn't sign another receiver until I see how the draft plays out. If we take a receiver in the first then we don't need any of the free agents. If we don't draft a WR then some of those guys will still be available by then

Makes me nervous not having the "Plan B" already in place with a solid veteran receiver - feels too much like last year, when we waited way too long and the best vet available was Gallup.

 

[clskinsfan]

I wouldn't sign another receiver until I see how the draft plays out. If we take a receiver in the first then we don't need any of the free agents. If we don't draft a WR then some of those guys will still be available by then

I think it's highly likely we are drafting a WR somewhere in the draft anyways.

 

[Dah-Dee]

Sources: Dolphins' De'Von Achane not available in trade

The Dolphins have informed inquiring teams that De'Von Achane is not available in a trade, sources told ESPN.

www.espn.com

It's apparently Love or bust, I don't see a FA RB that moves the needle over what we have. I think we're done because the Titans will grab Love.

 

[heisenberg]

Sources: Dolphins' De'Von Achane not available in trade

The Dolphins have informed inquiring teams that De'Von Achane is not available in a trade, sources told ESPN.

www.espn.com

It's apparently Love or bust, I don't see a FA RB that moves the needle over what we have. I think we're done because the Titans will grab Love.

Like I said in the draft thread the dolphins chose an elite running back over a good receiver.

I agree though I dont think its gonna matter because love will be gone, plus we're solid at back now and really weak at receiver, im starting to see the need arguments.

 

[KDawg]

Like I said in the draft thread the dolphins chose an elite running back over a good receiver.

I agree though I dont think its gonna matter because love will be gone, plus we're solid at back now and really weak at receiver, im starting to see the need arguments.

I think you always go an elite player over a good player.

Exception: you already have an elite player in that position and just got him.

Exception: the good player is a quarterback and you’re starting [redacted]

Exception: the elite player is a kicker, punter or long snapper (looking at you, Riverboat)

 

[Dlts20]

I think it's highly likely we are drafting a WR somewhere in the draft anyways.

I think that it's highly unlikely after the first round but I don't know who we are picking in the first round. You don't think that a WR is possible?

 

[heisenberg]

I think you always go an elite player over a good player.

Exception: you already have an elite player in that position and just got him.

Exception: the good player is a quarterback and you’re starting [redacted]

Exception: the elite player is a kicker, punter or long snapper (looking at you, Riverboat)

But cheesman was a perennial all pro.

The only thing worse than taking a long snapper in the 6th round is taking one who cant hit the broad side of a barn. 🤦