The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Gooseneck]

Reminds me of the time Jennifer Lawrence almost married me.

that two timer; I was showing her my dead slug collection and she ran off with someone else

 

[lovemaskins]

How quick we forget how terrible we had it with our former owner. If any fanbase should be able to look at a situation and see a possibility of a front office be manipulating the narrative to prove their decision, we know whats possible.

Good point, but for all Snyders faults, I don’t remember a time him holding a player hostage quite like this. He always seemed to be a fan of the player and would ruin the team over the relationship.

What San Fran is doing is downright evil almost, like they want to ruin him and his reputation. As a player, I’d never play for them. I’d take less elsewhere…

 

[Dlts20]

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

Ship him out for an early-ish day 3 pick and draft a DL with that pick. Save a load of cash and cap space in the process.

A rookie day 3 pick DT is a warm body, nothing more. Payne at times has played well, especially in a contract year. I'm not ready to leave such a gaping hole on a poor defense over a bit of cap space. They will still absorb a cap hit I believe and they have the cap space this year. I'm not ready to punt 2026 so quickly and leaving such a big hole is really putting the team at a disadvantage going into the season.

 

[KDawg]

A rookie day 3 pick DT is a warm body, nothing more. Payne at times has played well, especially in a contract year. I'm not ready to leave such a gaping hole on a poor defense over a bit of cap space. They will still absorb a cap hit I believe and they have the cap space this year. I'm not ready to punt 2026 so quickly and leaving such a big hole is really putting the team at a disadvantage going into the season.

The idea behind trading Payne isn’t for cap space, it’s getting something for a player we are likely to not have next season.

Generating assets off of Payne is the ideal step forward. It isn’t necessarily based on his play, it’s more so to recoup assets.

Now, there is nuance there. Do I trade Payne for a 7th rounder? Probably not.

Do I trade Payne in a package for Brian Thomas, Jr? Yes.

Do I trade him for a third rounder? Yes.

One thing good teams do is get assets for guys that they won’t be re-signing.

We have done the opposite so far. We extended Tunsil, which is excellent. But we gave up assets for Deebo and right now it looks like we aren’t going to re-sign him.

Was that worth it? I’d say for the player, yes. But for the team’s performance with that player? No. Which isn’t Deebo’s fault (bring him back, Commanders.)

Generating assets off of guys we aren’t going to keep keeps our cupboard full and gives us more tickets in the lottery (for trades, draft selections, etc.)

If they think they might re-up Payne and plan to do that? Okay - keep him. I don’t think they will, but maybe.

 

[Boone]

I think this also goes back to AP 'going off course' during the 2025 season, getting sucked into the idea that the best course of action was to maintain the status quo that 'almost got to a Super Bowl' and only add some veterans to get us over that hump. That approach betrayed the one truth many are so hesitant to admit.

We are a rebuilding team. We were in 2024. We should've been in 2025. And we still are in 2026. Rebuilding teams probably shouldn't hold onto expensive veteran assets who won't be a key part of things once we realistically are ready to compete for it all. In my mind, we are probably looking at 2027 at the earliest depending on whether we bounce back in 2026 and the coaching staff gets more time, and also depending on how our two brand new inexperienced coordinators progress.

Payne is exactly the kind of guy you move for assets. It's not about 2026. We made that mistake last season. Let's not continue making it.

 

[DWinzit]

Would the team have been better off signing Keenan Allen over Van Jefferson?

I know, Jefferson is fighting for a slot but we currently still more than likely need 2 WRs.

And yes, Allen is old. He is also in my eyes the best current FA WR. Diggs would have been the only other option I think butt I like Allen more

Signing him would have given us a legit WR2 and taken pressure off moving into the draft.

 

[Commander Wraith]

Some questions for you guys:

If Terry produces this year, is he a potential trade candidate next year? Base salaries of ~23 and 25mil in ‘27/26, but he’d be 32/33. Conversely, is his 34mil cap hit for us next year that crazy considering Pierce’s contract?

Correct me if I’m wrong here, but seems like signing Jennings gives us a lot of flexibiiity in the short and long term. Of course, he can also (and would, most likely) be moved around within games, but… he can play in the slot if we draft a Z (like Tate) or if Aiyuk is signed and they trust him (Aiyuk) at Z. Jennings can also play outside if we don’t land a Z and/or could move outside in ‘27 if Terry (or Aiyuk) is gone.

How would playing time look if we were to sign Aiyuk and draft a starting caliber Z (like Tate)… assuming (big assumption) Aiyuk is healthy and ready to produce?

If (big if) Aiyuk were to play well, but split snaps (with Tate/Jennings/whomever), would a longer term deal that might be a discounted value make sense… perhaps in conjunction with shipping off/cutting Terry (for salary reasons)?

 

[burgold]

I think it really depends how well Terry produces and where the team is. If 2026 mirrors 2024 except with young, fast talent then you may want to keep Terry for one more go. If the team is average then a trade makes sense. Here's where Terry would fit in relative to top receivers next year. Given NFL inflation, Terry would have to be a top five receiver to make sense. OTOH, you always have to include replacement cost to any move. So, if we dump Terry or trade him, his cap hit plus the new wide receiver needs to be be equal to or better than Terry in terms of production and cap.

 

[Commander Wraith]

Would the team have been better off signing Keenan Allen over Van Jefferson?

I know, Jefferson is fighting for a slot but we currently still more than likely need 2 WRs.

And yes, Allen is old. He is also in my eyes the best current FA WR. Diggs would have been the only other option I think butt I like Allen more

Signing him would have given us a legit WR2 and taken pressure off moving into the draft.

I’d feel a good bit better if he were added. I feel like the staff is looking for more explosiveness and youth, but Allen’s a good insurance policy to your point. While I get wanting a downfield threat - to take advantage of PA and open things up for Terry - for me personally, my priority is giving Daniels someone he can depend on; a guy that will be in the right place at the right time.
Of course (also to your point) it’s not like Jefferson’s an explosive playmaker…

 

[Boone]

I can 100% understand that AP and company swung and missed at finding a #2 WR in free agency. All they can do is try and they certainly appear to have tried. But I am puzzled that having missed during the early days of free agency, they don't seem to be feeling any urgency to at least bolster our still weak WRing corps during the 2nd and 3rd waves of free agency by doing something more aggressive like 1) resigning Deebo, 2) get a deal for Jauan Jennings done, 3) signing a proven older vet as a bridge, 4) worked something out with San Fran to obtain Aiyuk, etc..

We can't know what they are and aren't doing. But we can see that the glaring holes at WR have not been adequately addressed more than a week into free agency.

 

[Commander Wraith]

I can 100% understand that AP and company swung and missed at finding a #2 WR in free agency. All they can do is try and they certainly appear to have tried. But I am puzzled that having missed during the early days of free agency, they don't seem to be feeling any urgency to at least bolster our still weak WRing corps during the 2nd and 3rd waves of free agency by doing something more aggressive like 1) resigning Deebo, 2) get a deal for Jauan Jennings done, 3) signing a proven older vet as a bridge, 4) worked something out with San Fran to obtain Aiyuk, etc..

We can't know what they are and aren't doing. But we can see that the glaring holes at WR have not been adequately addressed more than a week into free agency.

I agree. To be fair though - Deebo, Jennings, Allen, Diggs (and, in theory Aiyuk at some point) are all still available for whatever reason. So it could be that’s it both still a high priority, but also that they feel they can afford to wait - whether it’s waiting to see if the market changes, what the draft brings, etc.

 

[method man]

I agree. To be fair though - Deebo, Jennings, Allen, Diggs (and, in theory Aiyuk at some point) are all still available for whatever reason. So it could be that’s it both still a high priority, but also that they feel they can afford to wait - whether it’s waiting to see if the market changes, what the draft brings, etc.

I think that’s right. I can see Jennings signing somewhere before the draft but the other guys may be waiting out there post draft

I know the local media has reported the team doesn’t see Deebo as a fit in Blough’s new offense. Not a Deebo guy but wondering if there is a number where they resign him to a 1 year deal

 

[Discobob]

Some questions for you guys:

If Terry produces this year, is he a potential trade candidate next year? Base salaries of ~23 and 25mil in ‘27/26, but he’d be 32/33. Conversely, is his 34mil cap hit for us next year that crazy considering Pierce’s contract?

Correct me if I’m wrong here, but seems like signing Jennings gives us a lot of flexibiiity in the short and long term. Of course, he can also (and would, most likely) be moved around within games, but… he can play in the slot if we draft a Z (like Tate) or if Aiyuk is signed and they trust him (Aiyuk) at Z. Jennings can also play outside if we don’t land a Z and/or could move outside in ‘27 if Terry (or Aiyuk) is gone.

How would playing time look if we were to sign Aiyuk and draft a starting caliber Z (like Tate)… assuming (big assumption) Aiyuk is healthy and ready to produce?

If (big if) Aiyuk were to play well, but split snaps (with Tate/Jennings/whomever), would a longer term deal that might be a discounted value make sense… perhaps in conjunction with shipping off/cutting Terry (for salary reasons)?

I think they could just restructure Terry to give him some of his $$$ early, add a void year, and keep his cap number manageable. But we are going to have to decide when the $$$ is too much for declining production.

I don't see Jennings as a great stop gap because he's not that much younger. I prefer the what-if of Aiyuk, even if he too isn't that young. I think we need to seriously consider a WR at #7 or we're gonna be in WR hell really soon!

 

[Conn]

I think this also goes back to AP 'going off course' during the 2025 season, getting sucked into the idea that the best course of action was to maintain the status quo that 'almost got to a Super Bowl' and only add some veterans to get us over that hump. That approach betrayed the one truth many are so hesitant to admit.

We are a rebuilding team. We were in 2024. We should've been in 2025. And we still are in 2026. Rebuilding teams probably shouldn't hold onto expensive veteran assets who won't be a key part of things once we realistically are ready to compete for it all. In my mind, we are probably looking at 2027 at the earliest depending on whether we bounce back in 2026 and the coaching staff gets more time, and also depending on how our two brand new inexperienced coordinators progress.

Payne is exactly the kind of guy you move for assets. It's not about 2026. We made that mistake last season. Let's not continue making it.

You’re 100% right, and that’s why it sort of sucks that the guys weighing in on this decision are starting over with coordinators who want their fair shot to succeed while the staff is potentially feeling their seats warm up. That misstep last offseason really set us back because now they’re trying to preserve jobs AND rebuild AND support their young QB. Tough needle to thread. One bad offseason (and then season) does a lot of damage.

 

[Conn]

Would the team have been better off signing Keenan Allen over Van Jefferson?

I know, Jefferson is fighting for a slot but we currently still more than likely need 2 WRs.

And yes, Allen is old. He is also in my eyes the best current FA WR. Diggs would have been the only other option I think butt I like Allen more

Signing him would have given us a legit WR2 and taken pressure off moving into the draft.

These sorts of decisions will certainly be interesting to see play out, I agree that’s a move I would’ve preferred. One thing I’m learning about Peter’s (and these grades don’t mean anything but just to illustrate my point):

If he misses out on A + B at their price points, he’d always prefer to pay D at D-level pricing than pay C at B-level pricing. If that makes sense. And I think there’s a definite benefit to that logic in terms of discipline and responsible roster-building.

But you need to draft well if you’re going to stick hard and fast to this philosophy otherwise your depth will always be bottom of the barrel and the middle of your roster where those B + C players really make up your core will get hollowed out.

 

[RexTomb]

that two timer; I was showing her my dead slug collection and she ran off with someone else

I refused to sign the prenup, so I was jettisoned.

 

[Gooseneck]

update accounts for all 72 players

$49,350,067

$42,605,912

72

$257,608,623

$20,692,736

 

[ES1974]

A rookie day 3 pick DT is a warm body, nothing more. Payne at times has played well, especially in a contract year. I'm not ready to leave such a gaping hole on a poor defense over a bit of cap space. They will still absorb a cap hit I believe and they have the cap space this year. I'm not ready to punt 2026 so quickly and leaving such a big hole is really putting the team at a disadvantage going into the season.

I’m personally not interested in Payne waking up in a contract year. Good GMs move him on.

 

[Conn]

I’m personally not interested in Payne waking up in a contract year. Good GMs move him on.

Or at least trade him at the deadline if he’s balling out, if you’re going to anticipate his contract year heroics. Even if it looks like a playoff berth is possible or probable