The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[MartinC]

I wouldn’t trade a bag of used footballs for Aiyuk. If/when he’s released bringing him in a prove deal is fine, but he shouldn’t be a big part of how we see our WR depth chart right now.

I’d be on the phone to Juan Jennings agent seeing if what he wants is now somewhat realistic or if he is still hoping for a huge deal from WR needy teams (like us) who didnt get that first round receiver. He’d be a solid #2 and the X receiver, allow us to move Terry around and create matchups.

 

[Dlts20]

Sorry but it's honestly mind boggling to me that everyone wants to throw big money at Jennings when he hasn't put up anything close to the numbers of Diggs, Allen, and yes Ayuik. There is literally no defense in the NFL that Jennings is putting any fear in. Spare me with the safe choice bs. We need a true difference maker who can possibly even lead a team if Terry goes down for any amount of time.

Those other guys have been clear cut ones. Jennings never has. He's in his prime and is still free for a reason. He is no way near what Ayuik could bring. Do you want to go into Philly next December with Jayden throwing to Jennings or Ayuik? Which one gives you more confidence? Would you be shocked if Ayuik went for 140 and 2 TDs in a major match up next year? You don't expect Jennings to do that at all. Come on now. There are levels to this.

Think about us going into Philly with Chig at TE, Williams in the slot, Terry on one side, Ayuik on the other, with Jayden slinging that thing. Jennings just doesn't hit the same if you are being honest

 

[CapsCommies]

Aiyuk will be here, it's just a matter of when. SF could cut him after 6/1 after it's abundantly clear nobody will trade for him.

 

[Bulldog]

If Aiyuk will be here is a different question from whether he should be here.

As for Jennings he isn’t worth $23M or in that neighborhood at 29 for what he does.

I would actually like to look at some guys that are not 49ers discards.

 

[MartinC]

Sorry guys but it's honestly mind boggling to me that everyone wants to throw big money at Jennings when he hasn't put up anything close to the numbers of Diggs, Allen, and yes Ayuik. There is literally no defense in the NFL that Jennings is putting any fear in. Spare me with the safe choice bs. We need a true difference maker who can possibly even lead a team if Terry goes down for any amount of time.

Those other guys been clear cut ones. Jennings never has. He's in his prime and is still free for a reason. He is no way near what Ayuik could bring. Do you want to go into Philly in next December with Jayden throwing to Jennings or Ayuik? Which one gives you more confidence? Would you be shocked that Ayuik went for 140 and 2 TDs in a major match up next year? You don't expect Jennings to do that at all. Come on now. There are levels to this.

Think about us going into Philly with Chig at TE, Williams in the slot, Terry on one side, Ayuik on the other, with Jayden slinging that thing. Jennings just doesn't hit the same if you are being honest

I don’t want to throw BIG money at him - but there is not a ‘difference maker’ available on the street, or realistically by trade, right now. There rarely is. So I’d be very open to throwing some money at Jennings who would immediately give us a solid #2 with some size. Doesn't impact the development of Williams (or Lane), they get to compete for the slot role.

Aiyuk will become available at some point and he can compete if we sign him but he’s got a lot of rust to shake off.

Jennings is being linked with the Vikings and we don’t seem interested so this is all probably moot. But I don’t feel good about our skill positions on offense right now. It’s Terry and a bunch of hope and potential IMO.

 

[Dlts20]

I don’t want to throw BIG money at him - but there is not a ‘difference maker’ available on the street, or realistically by trade, right now. There rarely is. So I’d be very open to throwing some money at Jennings who would immediately give us a solid #2 with some size. Doesn't impact the development of Williams (or Lane), they get to compete for the slot role.

Aiyuk will become available at some point and he can compete if we sign him but he’s got a lot of rust to shake off.

Jennings is being linked with the Vikings and we don’t seem interested so this is all probably moot. But I don’t feel good about our skill positions on offense right now. It’s Terry and a bunch of hope and potential IMO.

Chig is a proven threat

 

[MartinC]

Chig is a proven threat

His production is around what Ertz provided - 50 catches for 500 ish. But less touchdowns - he never had more than 2 in a season since his rookie year when he had 3. He’s been solid and certainly has more speed and potential after the catch than Ertz had. But it’s a stretch to call him a proven threat. He has the potential to become that and we hope he does.

Hope and potential.

 

[Dlts20]

His production is around what Ertz provided - 50 catches for 500 ish. But less touchdowns - he never had more than 2 in a season since his rookie year when he had 3. He’s been solid and certainly has more speed and potential after the catch than Ertz had. But it’s a stretch to call him a proven threat. He has the potential to become that and we hope he does.

Hope and potential.

Nah, he's a proven threat to me. No one would have gotten more numbers than that with the system, QBs he's played with, and talent around him. Those numbers you listed led the Titans. It was a terrible offense. He would have had much better numbers nearly everywhere else

 

[Boone]

Nah, he's a proven threat to me. No one would have gotten more numbers than that with the system, QBs he's played with, and talent around him. Those numbers you listed led the Titans. It was a terrible offense. He would have had much better numbers nearly everywhere else

That's a valid point. How he fits into the larger offense is a big factor. But we don't even know what kind of offense we will run with an inexperienced first time OC. I tend to agree with your point, but we just won't know until we know.

 

[HTTR]

If Aiyuk will be here is a different question from whether he should be here.

As for Jennings he isn’t worth $23M or in that neighborhood at 29 for what he does.

I would actually like to look at some guys that are not 49ers discards.

Well yeah I suppose if he was worth 23 mil he woulda signed already. But how much is he “worth”? We have soooo much cap room and a huge need. If we can get him for two years on an overpay within reason, and I think we can, it’s not gonna hurt our cap flexibility in the long run. Giving JD5 better weapons is crucial right now. If you have a better suggestion who isn’t an ex niner count me in. But who?

 

[Boone]

I like the Williams pick but I still think we need a 3rd legit WR added.

 

[ES1974]

Thoughts on Rashod Bateman if the Ravens look to move him on ?

 

[Discobob]

Sign Diggs and then grab Aiyuk late in the summer when released.... I know the issues with Diggs, but on a 1 yr deal, I don't see the risk.... here is how I'd view it:

WR#2 is basically Diggs for the first half of the season and maybe Aiyuk for the second half. This accounts for Diggs being older and likely to experience nagging injuries. It also gives Aiyuk half the season to come up to speed. Between the two of them, there's good chance you can cover a single WR slot.... anything else is gravy.

 

[heisenberg]

Sign Diggs and then grab Aiyuk late in the summer when released.... I know the issues with Diggs, but on a 1 yr deal, I don't see the risk.... here is how I'd view it:

WR#2 is basically Diggs for the first half of the season and maybe Aiyuk for the second half. This accounts for Diggs being older and likely to experience nagging injuries. It also gives Aiyuk half the season to come up to speed. Between the two of them, there's good chance you can cover a single WR slot.... anything else is gravy.

Diggs may not even be available for the beginning of the season.

He's currently involved in two different court battles either of which could land him in the personal conduct policy.

 

[skinsinparadise]

If Aiyuk will be here is a different question from whether he should be here.

As for Jennings he isn’t worth $23M or in that neighborhood at 29 for what he does.

I would actually like to look at some guys that are not 49ers discards.

I think the 49ers would love and engaged Aiyuk that's interested in playing for them. But Aiyuk made it clear that he wants out. So now SF has been exacting their revenge.

Jennings, they did want back from what I read. He's a tone setting and so plays the way they want their WRs to play -- might be the best blocking WR in the league. But they couldn't get a contract agreement last year. They knew he'd be out of their price range and moved on.

 

[Discobob]

Diggs may not even be available for the beginning of the season.

He's currently involved in two different court battles either of which could land him in the personal conduct policy.

I was assuming any real punishment for those issues would be pushed off to the future based on past issues (see Rashee Rice, et al.) - but point taken... we would have to be confident that he'd be available for the first 1/2 the season for my suggestion to make sense.

 

[washington football]

I'm out on both diggs. the DB diggs...he sucks. stefon has too many legal troubles and I don't want his toxic ass on the team. someone suggested Keenan Allen. I'd rather have Keenan for an additional veteran in the room that can teach the young ones the right way we to be a pro.

The Wr I could see being out on. I dont know where u get a CB other then Diggs.

 

[Hailtoem]

Diggs may not even be available for the beginning of the season.

He's currently involved in two different court battles either of which could land him in the personal conduct policy.

The personal conduct policy penalty has been a slow process, I think no matter what the court outcomes are for Diggs, the penalty wont happen until next year, by then it wont be a problem for the Commanders if we sign him for one year. Rashee Rice is the perfect example of how long the penalty process has been taken.

 

[Anselmheifer]

Sign Diggs and then grab Aiyuk late in the summer when released.... I know the issues with Diggs, but on a 1 yr deal, I don't see the risk.... here is how I'd view it:

WR#2 is basically Diggs for the first half of the season and maybe Aiyuk for the second half. This accounts for Diggs being older and likely to experience nagging injuries. It also gives Aiyuk half the season to come up to speed. Between the two of them, there's good chance you can cover a single WR slot.... anything else is gravy.

I hate the idea of signing a bad character guy, just because it rubs me the wrong way to root for that, not because of how it affects the team. Diggs had 85 catches for more than 1000 yards last year, was the leading receiver on a Super Bowl team, and clearly still has it. Diggs, Terry, Williams, and Aiyuk, would be
A hell of a top 4.

After a quick google though, Diggs plays about 50% of his time in the slot. Williams could also split time. And it could lead to some ability to confuse a defense as to who will be where, play to play. But I’m not sure about the fit, based on that. And I’ve heard nothing from Keim about Diggs.

Diggs may not even be available for the beginning of the season.

He's currently involved in two different court battles either of which could land him in the personal conduct policy.

I know the first is the domestic abuse accusation. What is the second?

I think the 49ers would love and engaged Aiyuk that's interested in playing for them. But Aiyuk made it clear that he wants out. So now SF has been exacting their revenge.

Jennings, they did want back from what I read. He's a tone setting and so plays the way they want their WRs to play -- might be the best blocking WR in the league. But they couldn't get a contract agreement last year. They knew he'd be out of their price range and moved on.

It seems like there is going to be a big focus on running the ball this year, and on play action. Jennings would seem to be a great scheme fit.

For all the people talking about not wanting to pay Jennings 23 million dollars, he’s not going to cost that. Or he would already have received that contract. He will be lucky to get 15 million this year IMHO.

However, we currently have 50 million in cap space, per Spotrac. Next year we have 100 million. But, we don’t have a lot of guys signed for 2027, will need to add a lot of players to the roster, and Jayden is eligible for an extension next year. I can see the wisdom in rolling our money over.

Maybe that’s why they are thinking about rolling with what we have, plus Aiyuk.

 

[Riggo44]

The more I look at it, the less I think we sign anyone of note at receiver; the only caveat being injury. I heard someone talking about this, I don't remember who, but if Blough wants to emulate Ben Johnson' offense, who is the big, tall receiver in Detroit? This last year, it was Isaac TeSlaa; a 3rd round rookie, had 27 targets. Their top targets were St. Brown, Williams, Gibbs, and LaPorta.

I think Burks a 40-rec, 500 yrd, 5-6 TD 3rd/4th targeted receiver behind Terry, Williams, and Konk as the primary targets; with White and Bill mixed in. I know Bill did nothing in the passing game last year but I would be flabbergasted if that was not in the plan for him. Just a hunch, we shall see how it goes.