The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Conn]

Do you think with all this offseason distraction/mess going on surrounding Aiyuk, that a one year prove it deal is what should be on the table? I am fine with bringing him in to see what he can do now that he is presumably healed up, but I am wondering how much his desire to play here with JD5 supersedes the scenario where each side are on different pages when it comes to the kind of contract we are looking at.

He’d have to be certifiably insane to think he’s getting a competitive WR2 or better contract (WR3 even), and it would be good to know that he’s certifiably insane before signing him. So finding out will be exciting, if we can’t agree on a prove-it deal that works for both parties after his last two calendar years, then he won’t be a player that works for us anyways. Early test: red flag or green flag?

 

[skinsinparadise]

Do you think with all this offseason distraction/mess going on surrounding Aiyuk, that a one year prove it deal is what should be on the table? I am fine with bringing him in to see what he can do now that he is presumably healed up, but I am wondering how much his desire to play here with JD5 supersedes the scenario where each side are on different pages when it comes to the kind of contract we are looking at.

I am in the Diggs >> Aiyuk camp. And don't love that he seems to be their last resort but it is what it is.

I think it would be a one year deal and if he agrees to it, who knows?

Don't get me wrong, I am with the crowd who have concerns about Aiyuk. But at the same time the status quo at Wr makes me cringe so I am still ok with rolling the dice on Aiyuk but its clearly not ideal.

 

[Faithful Fan]

Stefon Diggs is still out there - he had 85 catches for 1,000 yards last season with the Patriots. He’d immediately be our #2 and a chain mover.

He had the off field issue and maybe there is more out there we don’t know about. But all things being equal we should be at least looking hard at him.

Yes, Diggs is coming off a great season, I see Patriots fans are still high on him, and he would probably be our #2 option. Another plus, he is a hometown hero from Montgomery County.

But the off-the-field problems are a big concern. Also, his age is a factor, he turns 33 this year and we’re trying to get younger. The age thing may be the main reason teams aren’t interested. Keenan Allen, Tyreek Hill, and Deebo Samuel are still out there for the same reason—teams just don’t want receivers on the wrong side of 30.

 

[Faithful Fan]

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[skinsinparadise]

Yes, Diggs is coming off a great season, I see Patriots fans are still high on him, and he would probably be our #2 option. Another plus, he is a hometown hero from Montgomery County.

But the off-the-field problems are a big concern. Also, his age is a factor, he turns 33 this year and we’re trying to get younger. The age thing may be the main reason teams aren’t interested. Keenan Allen, Tyreek Hill, and Deebo Samuel are still out there for the same reason—teams just don’t want receivers on the wrong side of 30.

Its part of the reason why I am wary of trusting Terry to stay in peak form and injury free. A lot riding on Terry

 

[Discobob]

Its part of the reason why I am wary of trusting Terry to stay in peak form and injury free. A lot riding on Terry

Great point - even if Diggs has lost a step (or 2)... it'd be great to have a WR on the roster who's been a #1 before to pinch hit if Terry gets dinged up... just sayin'

 

[Dah-Dee]

Heh.

 

[ES1974]

Ok, Diggs and Aiyuk, get them in.

 

[CommDownMan]

Location.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Catching up with some Take Command podcasts, in one of them Grant mentions he was standing next to a reporter watching practice who covers the team who goes on that they don't understand why this FO haven't done more to help Jayden at Wr, especially considering they have the cap room.

lol, trying to guess, which one, I'd guess Nicki. Maybe Standig. But Standig is typically sort of a low key understated type, so not sure its his style.

Standig on Sheehan the other day, agreed that they tried to address WR, but feels like I do that can you give Peters is a passthis is now three of season where they haven't got it done at WR? And in contrast Denver, Chicago, the Patriots have helped their young QBs on that front. I am with him on that.

This whole WR debate, lol, might be one of the bigger divide with the fan base and local media about the roster since maybe the Kirk-RG3, Beck-Rex, Jayden-Maye discussions. So be interesting if it spills into the season. I hope it doesn't and everything works out. But if it does, wonder if it turns to a trading deadline discussion.

The WR is fine group:
Lynell
Russell
Grant -- though he also agree that this is a bad WR corp compared to the league but thinks they can survive it, also said he's not totally confident that he's right
Finlay
Mitchell


For the WR is a problem
Nicki
Rouhier
Sheehan -- he does think they at least tried so he's not too hard on Peters but he thinks that room needs a WR big time, pushing Diggs
Loverro
Standig -- does it in a low key way as he does everything but voiced concerns repeatedly

Keim -- he comes off a bit neutral on it, defends their effort to improve it, thinks its likely fine as long as Terry stays healthy, but more vulnerable than the typical team if they lose him

Logan talked about this in his last podcast where he said he doesn't like to say anything negative about players and likes to look at how things can turn out well. So hearing him explain that makes me sympatheize even more with that, I assumed so. And again, Logan is great at what he does. I don't mind the homerism. I get it, he works for the team.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[ntotoro]

Is he having a seizure... ?

 

[DWinzit]

Is he having a seizure... ?

Yes for at least a week now!

 

[The Rook]

He's about one week away from doing push-ups in his driveway.

The Rook

 

[KDawg]

How can anyone still be okay with that circus? I’d rather go with what we have, which is quite an accomplishment for Aiyuk to achieve.

 

[RexTomb]

Is he having a seizure... ?

 

[ntotoro]

Yes... the full-body dry heave set to music... 🤣

 

[DWinzit]

How can anyone still be okay with that circus? I’d rather go with what we have, which is quite an accomplishment for Aiyuk to achieve.

Yeah he has turned himself into a hot mess, an embarrassment and turned into the opposite of all that AP and DQ preached as being "a Commander"

 

[formerly4skins]

Finally caught up on this monster of a thread, so I’m throwing my two cents into the void even if some of this has been repeated ad nauseum. .

Everyone calling Aiyuk "crazy" or saying g "hard pass" because of the social media circus is IMHO missing the forest for the trees. This isn't a mental breakdown, it's performative leverage.

When you look at the situation, public perception and not showing up are the only two real pieces of leverage he has. Because he's already staying away from the team, he can't "not show up" any more than he already is. But, to keep pushing and keep the heat on the front office, he has to continue performing for the camera.

I think he realizes that using social media to try to make himself seem like the ultimate good guy is much harder than kind of playing the heel. But, playing the heel still lets him create the perception that this relationship is so toxic it just can't go on.

And if "it can't go on" is the final outcome, it doesn't matter if it's the result of pure toxicity or him being the good guy who was right...the end result is exactly the same. He'll be off the team, and he'll be happy. And he's got so much money in his bank account that that seems to be what matters to him vs. a bunch of extra 0's.

If he comes in and puts up good numbers, all this stuff with the 9ers will just fade into the past.