The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[NickyJ]

I am quickly losing faith in the team for being able to accomplish what should be an easy slam dunk: Get a WR who is better than mediocre. Today's occurrence has 3 possible explanations that I can see.

1. The team let Jennings walk either because pennies are too expensive.
2. They think Dyami and Van Jefferson are better than Jennings.
3. They have are chasing a different WR.

If it's 2, they are staking their jobs on the weirdest bet instead of bringing in competition and letting the best men win. If it's 3, they should be running at a dead sprint when the choices are a dwindling pool of Diggs, Keenan Allen, Deebo, and anyone else who hasn't reached retirement age yet. But if they are sprinting to get that WR, Zach Ertz could run laps around them at the speed they're sprinting.

I know the real explanation is that they think they've already got Aiyuk in everything but legal contract. But Aiyuk is dead to me. He's been out for coming on 2 years, and is going to have to prove he can still play well enough to contribute meaningfully on week 1.

 

[KDawg]

The team has to have some sort of budget. It’s the only explanation for the Biadasz thing and some of the “not signings” and pivots.

And if we were only able to make some of the moves because guys like Pierce went elsewhere and that freed up FA dollars, then I’m nervous that Pierce was our top FA target among all.

I keep trying to find reasons to give the benefit of doubt, but the only one is budget.

And if there IS a budget and they ARE saving their budget for Aiyuk / later potential FA signings… who do they plan on using it on?

Or is there specific ownership approvals for some free agents and not others?

I’m not tragically heartbroken about Jennings. But Jennings would have helped.

The one thing that is clear is they seem to be completely banking on Aiyuk at this point.

 

[ES1974]

The team has to have some sort of budget. It’s the only explanation for the Biadasz thing and some of the “not signings” and pivots.

And if we were only able to make some of the moves because guys like Pierce went elsewhere and that freed up FA dollars, then I’m nervous that Pierce was our top FA target among all.

I keep trying to find reasons to give the benefit of doubt, but the only one is budget.

And if there IS a budget and they ARE saving their budget for Aiyuk / later potential FA signings… who do they plan on using it on?

Or is there specific ownership approvals for some free agents and not others?

I’m not tragically heartbroken about Jennings. But Jennings would have helped.

The one thing that is clear is they seem to be completely banking on Aiyuk at this point.

Agree, there is clearly some financial based restriction in place, either cash or cap related, or both. Perhaps we’ve got this multi year plan mapped out that factors in the Jayden deal. Risky strategy if so.

Something doesn’t sit right. There’s an overly cautious approach to recruitment that appears detrimental to our growth. That’s my view.

As for the banking in Aiyuk, that’s also a strange plan. Another risky strategy that kind of seems quite unnecessary.

 

[burgold]

One of the things that kept crossing my mind when it came to Jennings is that the first team to pass on him was the 49ers and that even when his price tag went down they still never showed any interest in circling back to him. There's something in that story, too. Why are the coaches and GMs that know him best avoiding him?

Edit: And I agree that part of it for DC has to be budget related. Otherwise, even if there are reasons we didn't want Jennings that shouldn't have been the case when it came to DB where we clearly went on the cheap and still lack depth.

 

[DWinzit]

Once they said they were out on Jennings they never looked back. They evidently didn't have the interest in him many of us thought or hoped they did.

They must see Diggs as being worthy that $ though...but do they see him fitting the title of Commander?

Wonder if they will turn to the defensive backfield and Kenny Moore or Sneed.

 

[HOF44]

I was huge on theory of them having cash cap last offseason. I was hopeful I was wrong. This season started off better, but while it’s clear they increased their cash cap, it's also pretty clear one still exists.

 

[Riggo44]

The only reason the team took Chig, the younger version of Ertz, is because they missed on Doubs.

Where did Keim say it was one or the other?

 

[skinsinparadise]

So 1 year $13M (up to $13M even!) in the end, and low interest from us (which was apparent)

If Aiyuk isn’t healthy and fully integrated into this offense and productive by October, this regime will have a lot to answer for if we aren’t a playoff team. They may have bet their jobs on this situation

Also the implication that if we’d gotten Doubs, we would’ve potentially then passed on seriously pursuing Chig…is worrying. I worry this FO doesn’t have a clue and that offense/skill positions are a serious blind spot for them for whatever reason.

Vikings aren't satisfied with just Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison who by a mile beat Washington's top 2, they need a #3. Philosophy. Prioritizing that spot.

But we got some fans, some in the local media saying don't sleep on Washington's slew of #4 types. And heck even if they aren't hot put this on Jayden he is supposedl to elevate everyone. Gag.

 

[skinsinparadise]

details came out, its an 8 million base salary

 

[Riggo44]

Why are the coaches and GMs that know him best avoiding him?

This is an excellent question. Why was he still available this late into the free agency?

I would definitely feel better about this receiver room with Jennings, but I think it's fair to ask these questions too.

 

[Boone]

I am reserving judgment to a certain extent on our efforts to upgrade WR. To date, other than drafting Antonio, we have swung and missed. I have to believe we have one more big move planned whether it's Aiyuk or Diggs or something unforseen. We have the $$ and the pressing need for a #2. I have to think there is another shoe left to drop after AP's comments at the start of the offseason that the best way to protect Jayden Daniels is to surround him with talent.

 

[DWinzit]

details came out, its an 8 million base salary

Wow, that's much cheaper than he was looking for. He may have a hard time reaching incentives with all the other weapons on the roster

 

[skinsinparadise]

One of the things that kept crossing my mind when it came to Jennings is that the first team to pass on him was the 49ers and that even when his price tag went down they still never showed any interest in circling back to him. There's something in that story, too. Why are the coaches and GMs that know him best avoiding him?

Edit: And I agree that part of it for DC has to be budget related. Otherwise, even if there are reasons we didn't want Jennings that shouldn't have been the case when it came to DB where we clearly went on the cheap and still lack depth.

They wanted him but not as his price tag. That's been reported a lot. Also we can't look at it from a Washington point of view of how the 49ers look at the spot. SF like most teams don't fart around at WR. So once it was clear they weren't going to meet Jenning's price tag, they already loaded up their room both in FA and the draft. They aren't in a lets load our WR room with #4 WRs and see if we can manage. They addressed the spot. They didn't wait aroud to see if Jennings price would come down.

But lets say they did fart around and dealt with the WR position Washington style. As Keim among others talked about in the context of Kam Curl, once the team and the player are at an impasse on money, the player often doesn't want to take in their minds the discount at their current team, they are more inclined to take it elsewhere.

8 million base salary. the extra 5 is incentives.

I gather they are counting on Aiyuk or bust. They seemed surprised that Gallup couldn't play anymore after taking a year off. Aiyuk hasn't played in more than one season, and coming off a major injury, and looks out of shape in his photos, and SF might not release until August 31st -- so to assume he's going to be awesome, is a big assumption if that's what they are banking on.

 

[Boone]

Can you expand on 'looks out of shape in his photos'? No player who is not actively playing pro sports is going to look like they look when they are actively playing pro sports... I'm just curious what you are referring to?

 

[skinsinparadise]

Can you expand on 'looks out of shape in his photos'? No player who is not actively playing pro sports is going to look like they look when they are actively playing pro sports... I'm just curious what you are referring to?

His photos-videos on Instagram, he looks on the heavier side. Some will say will tough tell -- that's fair to say.

But heck even Logan Paulsen, who is a sunny side up about this roster pretty much every season has talked about recently how hard it is to get it game shape when you missed a season and can understand why some players are not the same coming off a year out of the sport.

He goes it takes quite some time for your body to readjust to the rigors and physicaliy of the NFL and some are never quite the same.

Heck off the top of my head, I recall Von Miller sucking coming off the ACL the year after. Laveon Bell sucking after taking a year off. Michael Gallup here sucking after taking a year off.

And players sans Adrian Peterson haven't been hot coming off ACL surgery, Aiyuk has had more serious surgery that went beyond his ACL.

This from the SF writer who actually has had Aiyuk's back

 

[Hailer]

The team wanted Jennings but not at his price tag? 8mill base?? No seems to me the team did not want Jennings at all.

I am holding out on my verdict on our 2026 appproach to WR till games begin. I understand the stack talent theory but in practice the question is what talent? We were very aggressive on Pierce and Doubs. After that there were a bunch of warm bodies in free agency, of which we picked out a couple.

2025 offseason was lackadaisical and a mistake but I wouldnt want AP to add names this offseason just to appear as more aggressive.

 

[Boone]

I think there are a couple of obvious things that come to mind. First of all, of course it is going to take time to get back into game shape and get back to where you were pre-injury. Expecting anything else is unrealistic. Secondly, guys who come back and pick up right where they left off don’t get a lot of media hype.

Not saying you are arguing against any of that. But this ‘he looks fat and out of shape’ stuff is such a social media thing. We heard it all offseason about Deebo and he was our best offensive weapon.

 

[DWinzit]

They wanted him but not as his price tag. That's been reported a lot. Also we can't look at it from a Washington point of view of how the 49ers look at the spot. SF like most teams don't fart around at WR. So once it was clear they weren't going to meet Jenning's price tag, they already loaded up their room both in FA and the draft. They aren't in a lets load our WR room with #4 WRs and see if we can manage. They addressed the spot. They didn't wait aroud to see if Jennings price would come down.

But lets say they did fart around and dealt with the WR position Washington style. As Keim among others talked about in the context of Kam Curl, once the team and the player are at an impasse on money, the player often doesn't want to take in their minds the discount at their current team, they are more inclined to take it elsewhere.

8 million base salary. the extra 5 is incentives.

I gather they are counting on Aiyuk or bust. They seemed surprised that Gallup couldn't play anymore after taking a year off. Aiyuk hasn't played in more than one season, and coming off a major injury, and looks out of shape in his photos, and SF might not release until August 31st -- so to assume he's going to be awesome, is a big assumption if that's what they are banking on.

It does feel like after the early FA WR whiffs, they have been farting around with the position. They lowered their bars dramatically by adding FA meh's and a 3rd round draft pick.

I will not be able to understand thee amount of faith they seem to have in Aiyuk playing in Washington and being as effective as he was pre-injury, seemingly right away.

Right away health wise, mentally being able to fully trust his knee, getting familiar with a brand new team, players, first time OC that must create a first time playbook...

 

[Chris]

Can you expand on 'looks out of shape in his photos'? No player who is not actively playing pro sports is going to look like they look when they are actively playing pro sports... I'm just curious what you are referring to?

 

[Riggo44]

I am going to bring this up again too, because I think it is getting lost: offenses are more than just wide receiver.

To say we have not surrounded Daniels with talent is untrue. I absolutely wanted Pierce, Doubs, and Jennings--more the former two than the latter. We chased, we missed. However, every other area of the team is as good or better:

OL--as good. If you want to talk about a drop off from Biadasz to Alegretti, I won't argue. But, I will counter with Conerly improving at a more important position, that will more than offset that. This is still a top-10 unit. Peters has clearly prioritized this over receiver
RB--Better, deeper, more versatile. This is overlooked because of our gaping hole at WR. This is going to have a better impact than people realize
WR--Technically, it's better, McLaurin's health, younger, faster, more athletic. But that's a really, really low bar. So low, you need a back-hoe to find it. We really need two of LMC, Lane, Burks, and Williams to break out. The biggest hole on the team, bar none. I think everyone agrees with that.
TE--Better. I look forward to a TE that does not immediately go down as soon as he catches the ball. I am also the lone remaining Ben Sinnott Breakout Believer remaining
QB--Better. Daniels' health, more "easy buttons" in Konk, White, Ford (if he makes it), and an overall better commitment to the run with the actual running backs

I pointed this out too, that this approach isn't dissimilar to George Paton's approach to the Broncos last year: He shored up the defense, added Dobbins and Engram in free agency, and went with unproven young receivers in Franklin and Mims across from Courtland Sutton.