The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[DWinzit]

I like him a lot. And while a dude like Jamison Crowder was almost yawn in a WR room with Pierre Garcon and Desean Jackson but put that same player in a room with McCaffrey and Lane and Dyami and he's a rock star.

And lol part of me enjoys it because I was surprised I was the only one touting Williams on the draft thread. He seemed to me such an obvious bet if they were going to wait until the third. And I can sense it pisses some people off when I say this but to me taking Williams is a clear sign that aren't sold on McCaffrey and Lane -- you don't take three slot WRs in a row in three drafts if you believe in their predessors. You stack outside WRs, not three slot WRs, especially when your big move in FA on offense is taking an F TE -- whose game is often played from the slot.

I hated the idea of just trusting McCaffrey or Lane to be the slot WR. Not because I don't think either could some day emerge. But its not something I'd want to be on. And it was good for me to see they felt the same way.

Lane and Luke have not proven to be solid receivers, really even as a WR4 but they must be listed that high on our depth right now due to the low quality WR room. Yup, some have visions of grandeur with these guys or at least one or the other of them but so far we are kind of still looking for a pulse outside of ST's.

I wanted an outside guy but I get why they took Williams and why you liked him. I just looked past him because I thought we had not only Luke and Lane but Jefferson who could all be slot. I can see them hoping to move Williams inside and outside which might be good but that's trying to make things work with what you have.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Lane and Luke have not proven to be solid receivers, really even as a WR4 but they must be listed that high on our depth right now due to the low quality WR room. Yup, some have visions of grandeur with these guys or at least one or the other of them but so far we are kind of still looking for a pulse outside of ST's.

I wanted an outside guy but I get why they took Williams and why you liked him. I just looked past him because I thought we had not only Luke and Lane but Jefferson who could all be slot. I can see them hoping to move Williams inside and outside which might be good but that's trying to make things work with what you have.

Yeah that was part of why I was jazzed. I thought is was so risky to focus purely on Z and just assume the slot is handled by McCaffrey or Lane. While i do think the whole upcoming Aiyuk experiment is a wildcard, at least if it hits he's a legit Z.

 

[skinsinparadise]

You may be right. I just think they wanted to place the safest bet they could. I was rooting for Hurst, but while Hurst has star potential he also has bum potential. Williams seems to have NFL lifer potential. Maybe he becomes better than that, but every team needs a good, steady, reliable receiver with a bit of wiggle and speed.

Choosing Williams is a little like choosing the Cheesecake Factory. You know you're not going to be blown away, but you know that the food will be good and everyone can find something to eat. Now, that's not a bad thing. I've had plenty of fine times in the Cheesecake Factory. Who knows, maybe Williams is Bang Bang Chicken and Shrimp? :silly:

There were a bunch of people on the draft thread, not me, arguing against the idea of taking a WR in the third showcasing the stats-high bust rate in that round.

It's not that I dismissed that thought but it made me think about some of those WRs in that range -- so many clearly are boom-bust. And just didn't think this team with the current WR corp could afford a bust.

I'd be really surprised if Williams is a bust.

 

[DWinzit]

Yeah that was part of me being jazzed. I thought is was so risky to focus purely on Z and just assume the slot is handled by McCaffrey or Lane. While i do think the whole upcoming Aiyuk experiment is a wildcard, at least if it hits he's a legit Z.

Yes he is a Z. Can we call him legit if we don't know if he is healthy or if he would be in any kind of football shape physically or mentally?

 

[skinsinparadise]

Yes he is a Z. Can we call him legit if we don't know if he is healthy or if he would be in any kind of football shape physically or mentally?

I don't know if Aiyuk hits or not. I'd sign Diggs myself. But i am resigned to that as our fate so to speak. I see Aiyuk as a wildcard -- I don't know. I am not excited about it but its better than doing nothing IMO.

 

[DWinzit]

I don't know if Aiyuk hits or not. I'd sign Diggs myself. But i am resigned to that as our fate so to speak. I see Aiyuk as a wildcard -- I don't know. I am not excited about it but its better than doing nothing IMO.

I am in agreement in this moment of desperation (or so it feels). I don't think we see any roster additions at least we are through some of the OTAs and the coaches see first had the WR room.

The same may ring true of the CB room.

 

[burgold]

I wonder if this weekend's OTAs will be a turning point. It will be the first opportunity for the coaches to see the roster in practice. It's still not full practice, but maybe it's enough for them to look at their roster in action and think...

"We're good!"

or

"Adam, time to get on the phone!"

 

[skinsinparadise]

I wonder if this weekend's OTAs will be a turning point. It will be the first opportunity for the coaches to see the roster in practice. It's still not full practice, but maybe it's enough for them to look at their roster in action and think...

"We're good!"

or

"Adam, time to get on the phone!"

I think the challenge is the chicken and egg component of eveything. I recall last camp, some thinking this defense is legit. I watched a practice myself and lol thought dudes who are UDFAs like Vigers might be studs because they were shutting down the WRs.

Later we learned that the Wrs were the problem and it elevated how the defense looked.

Seems like joint practices help a lot. I recall some of the NE reporters saying NE owned Washington in that practice. And I recall some pushback from Finlay on that. But I also recall Keim not loving how Washington looked on some fronts in that practice. NE went on of course to dominate them in the preseason game, too.

 

[bowhunter]

49ers OTA started at 9am California time. Wonder if BA showed up

 

[KDawg]

I just got an alert that said we were working on a deal with the Bills for Keon Coleman. I have no idea if that is accurate… but… I hope that’s not the plan

 

[Deebs31]

I just got an alert that said we were working on a deal with the Bills for Keon Coleman. I have no idea if that is accurate… but… I hope that’s not the plan

It was just ESPN analysts pitching realistic trade offers for players like Keon Coleman, Cole Kmet, etc. Not the team actually working on a deal

 

[KDawg]

It was just ESPN analysts pitching realistic trade offers for players like Keon Coleman, Cole Kmet, etc. Not the team actually working on a deal

Well… that’s stupid.

 

[DWinzit]

Keon Coleman is not the answer for sure. He would be another WR4

 

[actorguy1]

 

[burgold]

Reasonable answer. Curious that Jayden considers him his borther and not his brother.

 

[UK Skins]

Choosing Williams is a little like choosing the Cheesecake Factory. You know you're not going to be blown away, but you know that the food will be good and everyone can find something to eat. Now, that's not a bad thing. I've had plenty of fine times in the Cheesecake Factory. Who knows, maybe Williams is Bang Bang Chicken and Shrimp? :silly:

Probably the ony American chain restaurant I wish we had over here. That and PF Changs, although I gather there is one in London somewhere.

 

[Conn]

Just checking, we are still exposed at receiver and corner ?

Like a pervert in a trench coat, baby

 

[Dah-Dee]

FWIW, it does not appear that Aiyuk showed up today for the start of SF OTAs. Sigh.

 

[Discobob]

Like a pervert in a trench coat, baby

Solid candidate for the post of the day

 

[Discobob]

I wouldn't have expected otherwise, but I'm glad he didn't add gas to the fire.

"BA? Yeah, he's in town, staying at my place... just waiting for that moron Lynch to get over himself. FREE Aiyuk baby... we gonna trounce those MFers this season.... Aiyuk to da mooooon!"