The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Conn]

I’m sorry but I don’t see how this shit wouldn’t be a huge turnoff for AP & Co.

He’s just trolling, and using us to do it. Yeah maybe he really wants to be here. Maybe he’s just mentally unbalanced and feuding with his org.

If Shanahan/Lynch are as petty as they seem, what’s to stop them from causing all sorts of drama by claiming tampering? Even if it’s bullshit, how many months do we need to then spend seeing dumb national stories about how the league is trying to subpoena text messages and shit.

If he was just a rational dude who made a poor decision signing a deal with the devil for big money like many of us would, who wants to successfully play football again for another franchise (us specifically, in this case)…is this how he would be acting? Or would he shut the fuck up until it’s time to report and then do everything in his power to quietly get cut with public opinion on his side?

This is just messy and the way he’s making it about joining our franchise so much, I don’t find it flattering. I find it weird and off-putting and impulsive.

The lowest common denominator fans are eating this shit up “oh look how much he wants to play for us, nobody gives us love like this”. Yeah that’s because it’s not about us, it’s about him and his ego-battle with SF. Reflects poorly on us that we’d even be associated with such a dummy.

(If he eventually gets cut I still want to see if he can play football for less than $10M though, since apparently this FO doesn’t believe in any other moves right now)

 

[CapsCommies]

OTOH, to my knowledge no team has even brought him in for a physical in those several weeks which makes it likely that it's Diggs' team who are setting on their hands. Maybe they are waiting for an injury so they can jack up the price to a deseperate team? Maybe Diggs just doesn't want to participate in OTAs? Who knows?

Right. With Jennings, we knew Minnesota was interested and moving to get something done. It's been nichts neues im Westen with Diggs.

The longer Aiyuk remains unavailable, too, the less AP may view him as a feasible option for week 1. It's possible he expected Aiyuk to report to mandatory OTAs and get cut, and now that they're canceled and the date is pushed all the way to camp, that he's circling back around to Diggs.

No prognostications, just (more) speculation.

 

[ES1974]

He’s just trolling, and using us to do it.

Agree, we are pretty much guilty by association, without really doing anything publicly.

It’s just a very bad look for all parties.

 

[RedWolf]

Until he catches an 80-yard bomb from JD in a critical game in the 4th quarter and everybody goes crazy

 

[RedWolf]

 

[Conn]

Until he catches an 80-yard bomb from JD in a critical game in the 4th quarter and everybody goes crazy

We’d all love that. Right now he’s an idiot having a very public mental breakdown, who I don’t want to be associated with. I’m fine being associated with him if he can get himself cut, leave us out of it until then.

I want him on the roster because the pickings are slim.

But I saw a tweet the other day that resonated with me: this guy has 180 less career catches than Sterling Shepard. This isn’t some all-pro stud, he’s not worth the drama until he’s a FA. Then, sure, bring him in.

 

[NoCalSkins]

We’d all love that. Right now he’s an idiot having a very public mental breakdown, who I don’t want to be associated with. I’m fine being associated with him if he can get himself cut, leave us out of it until then.

I want him on the roster because the pickings are slim.

But I saw a tweet the other day that resonated with me: this guy has 180 less career catches than Sterling Shepard. This isn’t some all-pro stud, he’s not worth the drama until he’s a FA. Then, sure, bring him in.

That's the thing for me, Aiyuk even at his peak is not the WR some think he was/is. Even if fully recovered from surgery. I do think that he could be a solid contributor in the #2 role as long as Terry's game doesn't dip, but the bigger need at WR to me is still ultimately finding a #1 WR replacement for Terry rather than try to get worked up over the rest of the room. I think we see good coordinators scheme skill position players into being wide open all the time as long as the unit on offense is working as a machine. Regardless of who is right behind Terry on the depth chart, the organization has made it clear that *for now* they believe Terry still has the goods to lead the unit and I think that decision working out in the short term is the bigger question mark rather than all the focus being on the supporting cast.

EDIT: This wasn't meant to be me questioning Terry's skills. At his best I am perfectly fine with him having been the #1 WR option on the team, it is more me forecasting out the next few seasons and looking at where the likely turnover or at least depth chart movement of the roster might end up.

 

[HOF44]

Yeah the way to look at it Terry hopefully after this year would be the #2 for the next few years and we find a way to get that dude from Ohio State.

 

[Conn]

Yeah the way to look at it Terry hopefully after this year would be the #2 for the next few years and we find a way to get that dude from Ohio State.

lol if we find a way to get Jeremiah Smith, then that means probably everyone was fired. He’s a top-3 pick unless a bunch of QB’s emerge, and even then.

 

[skinsinparadise]

lol if we find a way to get Jeremiah Smith, then that means probably everyone was fired. He’s a top-3 pick unless a bunch of QB’s emerge, and even then.

If they draft him, considering the buzz about Burks, Lane, etc would Jeremiah even crack the lineup?

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

lol if we find a way to get Jeremiah Smith, then that means probably everyone was fired. He’s a top-3 pick unless a bunch of QB’s emerge, and even then.

If we get a Top 3 pick it's because Jayden Daniels has a brutal injury and is knocked out. Everyone is fired. His health can not be relied upon, and the team goes QB.

Extremely slim chances there's a catastrophe of a season but somehow Jaydens health and ability are not a cause for concern.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

My gut feeling - Either everyone in the building is buying into Blough bringing out the best the current WR group and not needing help, or they don't think Boutte, like Jennings moves the needle enough to bring him in

Boutte was just the WR2 who got replaced by Doubs.

If he was really worth trading for he probably would just be the WR2 for the Patriots.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

This message brought to you by Aiyuk’s agent.

 

[Conn]

Boutte was just the WR2 who got replaced by Doubs.

If he was really worth trading for he probably would just be the WR2 for the Patriots.

So for a WR to be an upgrade over *checks notes* Treylon Burks and Dyami Brown, they need to be able to beat out a $17M/yr FA WR signing?

Watching you talk yourself further and further into our WR depth chart, after we all entered this offseason wanting major upgrades, has been fascinating.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

So for a WR to be an upgrade over *checks notes* Treylon Burks and Dyami Brown, they need to be able to beat out a $17M/yr FA WR signing?

Watching you talk yourself further and further into our WR depth chart, after we all entered this offseason wanting major upgrades, has been fascinating.

Actually, I can’t remember who said it, it was either Standig or Keim. The point was the team think they have that guy on the roster already and don’t need another of the same guy.

I actually think in that regard, they might be right.

If they wanted to trade a 7th for a guy who was just replaced, fine. But honestly it wouldn’t make me feel much different.

I’ve said that if it were me, I’d bring in Diggs at this point and play him outside and let the slot competition happen between Williams and whoever. They don’t seem to want to do that, I would.

Shrug. I’m not as panicked about it as others. But I wouldn’t mind another guy.

I wouldn’t sign Diggs and have him play inside though.

But nobody has signed Diggs. He's just sitting out there. No idea why.

Aiyuk doesn’t exist to me. He’s not even a remote option to contribute until he is here and passes a physical and shows he isn’t completely coocoo bananas.

 

[Conn]

Actually, I can’t remember who said it, it was either Standig or Keim. The point was the team think they have that guy on the roster already and don’t need another of the same guy.

I actually think in that regard, they might be right.

If they wanted to trade a 7th for a guy who was just replaced, fine. But honestly it wouldn’t make me feel much different.

I’ve said that if it were me, I’d bring in Diggs at this point and play him outside and let the slot competition happen between Williams and whoever. They don’t seem to want to do that, I would.

Shrug. I’m not as panicked about it as others. But I wouldn’t mind another guy.

I wouldn’t sign Diggs and have him play inside though.

But nobody has signed Diggs. He's just sitting out there. No idea why.

Aiyuk doesn’t exist to me. He’s not even a remote option to contribute until he is here and passes a physical and shows he isn’t completely coocoo bananas.

That’s all fine, I know your take, you’ve expanded on it well. Even less reason you need to engage in mental gymnastics that sound like “a guy being replaced by AJ Brown (2028 1st round trade capital) and Romeo Doubs ($17M+/yr FA acquisition) probably wouldn’t beat out our universally scorned WR2 candidates anyways”

Just say “they think they have someone similar enough (or better) in-house. I trust them enough to see how it plays out before making judgements.” Way less crazy than making it about a guy wanting to be traded after a team invested very major cap and capital resources into a position.

I think Boutte (and Diggs) would be an improvement here, I’ve said so. I don’t expect them to chase either at all. I just don’t agree with your logic, saying things like this makes it sound like you’re trying to talk yourself into it more and more when really it boils down to “they think they have a plan, I trust it for now”

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

Actually, I can’t remember who said it, it was either Standig or Keim. The point was the team think they have that guy on the roster already and don’t need another of the same guy.

I actually think in that regard, they might be right.

If they wanted to trade a 7th for a guy who was just replaced, fine. But honestly it wouldn’t make me feel much different.

I’ve said that if it were me, I’d bring in Diggs at this point and play him outside and let the slot competition happen between Williams and whoever. They don’t seem to want to do that, I would.

Shrug. I’m not as panicked about it as others. But I wouldn’t mind another guy.

I wouldn’t sign Diggs and have him play inside though.

But nobody has signed Diggs. He's just sitting out there. No idea why.

Aiyuk doesn’t exist to me. He’s not even a remote option to contribute until he is here and passes a physical and shows he isn’t completely coocoo bananas.

So the Patriots did not think Diggs was capable of playing outside anymore. He wound up being inside only for them.

Does this change your opinion of what should be done?

 

[Boone]

Boutte was just the WR2 who got replaced by Doubs.

If he was really worth trading for he probably would just be the WR2 for the Patriots.

This one doesn't make a lot of sense to me. The Patriots are a different team with a different roster. There are WR2's and WR3's on some teams who would be WR1 on others. I don't know if Boutte is worth trading for... I'm not in favor of trading away draft picks except in extreme need situations, and even then it gives me trepidation. But the fact the Patriots thought Doubs was an upgrade doesn't in any reality equate to Boutte not being an upgrade over our other options beyond McLaurin.

 

[DWinzit]

Boutte was just the WR2 who got replaced by Doubs.

If he was really worth trading for he probably would just be the WR2 for the Patriots.

Boutte is a young proven capable commodity at a position that none of our WR's outside of Terry are.

Do we have players that can compete to earn that starting role? Yes, but to date none have been able to do so.

Would I have liked Doubs over him, absolutely. He was the WR I identified as the one I would have gone after first in March.