The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Discobob]

He is the only star receiver who will likely hit FA but there are some interesting names. Doubs, Shaheed, Meyers, Wan'Dale Robinson and Pierce are all guys who can win against man coverage and are legitimate NFL starting receivers who would start here.

Obviously, I think we all want the best WRs possible, but last year proved that Jayden can elevate mid tier WRs. This year it's basically one gadget guy and a bunch of WR5's. So there is a way to dramatically improve the position without having to go sign the biggest of names.

 

[Phantvm]

Obviously, I think we all want the best WRs possible, but last year proved that Jayden can elevate mid tier WRs. This year it's basically one gadget guy and a bunch of WR5's. So there is a way to dramatically improve the position without having to go sign the biggest of names.

Why not both?

 

[skinsinparadise]

At TE, Austin Hooper I gather will be cheap. Kyle Pitts though dissappointing is still putting up decent numbers. Foster Moreau, not killer, but decent, and not old, coming off an injury. David Njoku is decent but he seems in love with being a Brown.

Jauan Jennings one of my fav late rounders before that draft. Fun watch at Tennessee. Supposedly wants big money albiet his production doesn't warrant it. He's a baller with the ball in his hands and as a blocker albiet he's not fast.

Tutu Atwell, he's sort of doing the Zaccehus thing but he's better IMO. Speed. Dealing with a hamstring this season.

Joey Bosa, who turned them down last FA, is having a decent year

I'd break the bank for Trey Hendrickson for obvious reasons.

 

[method man]

Obviously, I think we all want the best WRs possible, but last year proved that Jayden can elevate mid tier WRs. This year it's basically one gadget guy and a bunch of WR5's. So there is a way to dramatically improve the position without having to go sign the biggest of names.

Yeah I’d also look at bringing guys like Dyami and OZ back as depth. They both showed they can be productive here and win on occasion against man unlike the scrubs we have out there this year.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Jennings feels very them. Tone setter. Monster run blocker. The issue with him is like Deebo because of his style of play he can get banged up. And don't love his Terry style whining about his current contract.

He was so fun to watch in college, one of my most fun watched in all the years of looking at draft prospects. You add him, and lets say another good run blocker in the draft like Tyson, it would be a fun combo.

 

[method man]

You are on this early, love it!

At this stage I'm assuming Kliff will be the OC and DQ possibly the DC with others that somewhat follow his style D...possibly Whitt still pew

I am not familiar with some of the guys. I'd look at Emerson and McFadden. I might offer two year deals with some of these guys. I know they may not bite thinking they want a one year prove it in hopes of a big contracts the following year but it's their crap shoot

Pierce would be a great fit and a good starting point for upgrading our WR room. I sure hope there are a lot of cap casualty decent WR's this year. Last year was almost void of this

You mention Seattle as a team we should keep our eye on. I agree but honestly, most of the teams of a younger more talented roster than ours so they need to keep the pulse on all of them. If AP has better sett up his scouting team, they should already be working hard on FA and draft prospects like you have begun! One advantage we have is we already know our season is kind of done and can plan out needs which are all over the roster.

Two year deals with low guarantees are ideal to your point. We kind of did that with Will Harris last offseason where, if he proved he was a starting caliber safety, we’d have him cheap for another year.

Pierce is an interesting receiver. He’s kind of Shaheed without the top gear and kick return skills but with good run blocking skills. He is also not a contested catch guy and is somewhat one dimensional as a deep threat. Despite that, he’d be useful here as a young field stretching receiver next to Terry and would help open things up for a guy like Njoku who can win underneath and has YAC ability.

I just pointed out Seattle because of the sheer # of good young FAs to be that they have. We have to assume most of these guys won’t hit the market across the various teams around the league. Apart from injuries and character concerns, they only do in special situations like when a team just has too many out there to retain

 

[skinsinparadise]

The issues this team has versus man

Shanahan explains why Jennings is so reliable on third down

What is it about 49ers wideout Jauan Jennings that makes him so reliable when the pressure is high?

www.nbcsportsbayarea.com

It's a nickname the 49ers Faithful have become quite familiar with as wide receiver Jauan Jennings continues to be quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo's go-to target on third down this season.

So, what is it about Jennings that makes him so reliable when the pressure is high?

"Jauan, he's our most consistent separator versus man coverage," 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan told Greg Papa on the latest episode of "49ers Game Plan" this week. "He has been in training camp, he has been for the last couple of years.

"So, no, he's not No. 1 in everything. We mix it up -- a lot of our guys can beat man, but he is the most consistent. So when he is No. 1 and it's man coverage, he usually wins. So we don't want to get off of him."

Shanahan pointed out a statistic provided to him by the 49ers' analytics department that lists Jennings at No. 2 out of the NFL's top 100 qualifying receivers when it comes to third-down success.

 

[method man]

Jennings feels very them. Tone setter. Monster run blocker. The issue with him is like Deebo because of his style of play he can get banged up. And don't love his Terry style whining about his current contract.

He was so fun to watch in college, one of my most fun watched in all the years of looking at draft prospects. You add him, and lets say another good run blocker in the draft like Tyson, it would be a fun combo.

He would’ve had a 1k year last year but got himself thrown out in the finale against AZ. You are right. JJ is so them and is a higher end Noah Brown (injury issues too).

I think Jay called him the best run blocking receiver in the NFL.

I have mixed feelings about getting him. He can certainly help and fills a big need but he will also be 29 with mileage on the tires.

 

[skinsinparadise]

He would’ve had a 1k year last year but got himself thrown out in the finale against AZ. You are right. JJ is so them and is a higher end Noah Brown (injury issues too).

I think Jay called him the best run blocking receiver in the NFL.

I have mixed feelings about getting him. He can certainly help and fills a big need but he will also be 29 with mileage on the tires.

I got mix feelings but would endorse it. I am a sucker for any WR I liked before the draft. Quinn at least in theory loves ballers. And that dude is one.

Alec Pierce who you all are talking about is also a guy I liked (not loved before the draft). I thought he was fast (pre combine) and a regular on ES thought I was wrong. lol, I remember being vindicated on that one. He's sort of a variation of D. Slayton. We can use obviously dudes that can take the top off a defense.

 

[Discobob]

Why not both?

I've not read every post in here, but I think you were arguing that there aren't many great options available in FA. My point was simply that we can still improve massively without signing a stud FA WR.

 

[Phantvm]

I've not read every post in here, but I think you were arguing that there aren't many great options available in FA. My point was simply that we can still improve massively without signing a stud FA WR.

There is only 1 stud and the odds of signing him are slim. Clearly work will be done to improve the group but it’s just slim Pickens 😜

 

[method man]

I got mix feelings but would endorse it. I am a sucker for any WR I liked before the draft. Quinn at least in theory loves ballers. And that dude is one.

Alec Pierce who you all are talking about is also a guy I liked (not loved before the draft). I thought he was fast (pre combine) and a regular on ES thought I was wrong. lol, I remember being vindicated on that one. He's sort of a variation of D. Slayton. We can use obviously dudes that can take the top off a defense.

I'm really curious the contract that Pierce gets. He was very much a WR3 his first three years behind Pittman and Downs in the pecking order but he may pull off a 1k year. The zero TDs kind of points to his lack of physicality. He's probably not the guy you are going to count on in the red zone but if you have Terry, a TE who can get open and an option out of the backfield with Jayden a threat to run the ball, you'll be fine

 

[skinsinparadise]

I'm really curious the contract that Pierce gets. He was very much a WR3 his first three years behind Pittman and Downs in the pecking order but he may pull off a 1k year. The zero TDs kind of points to his lack of physicality. He's probably not the guy you are going to count on in the red zone but if you have Terry, a TE who can get open and an option out of the backfield with Jayden a threat to run the ball, you'll be fine

He reminds me in some ways of Slayton. Not the most well rounded WR but can make big plays down the field. I am not in love with him. But take this offense's current predicament, he'd be perfect. No one threatens defenses down the field.

If they did nothing in the draft and just signed Jennings and Pierce, I think WR would be fine.

To some of the growing critics within our fanbase of Jayden, one thing some of them get wrong is that Jayden is getting just average WR play or he needs to be loaded with weapons and he isn't loaded now. Using 2024 as an example, Jayden doesn't needed to be loaded. that was an average uninspiring group of WRs in 2024, but they didn't suck. It was average. His current configuration is the worst lineup in the NFL. 32 out of 32. It sucks. Just elevating it back to average would make a world of difference. Don't get me wrong I'd prefer to load him up with an above average group. But worse case, we can survive average.

 

[DWinzit]

If we had Pittman and Jennings in addition to Terry, Luke and Lane that would be a much deeper feel of a group. I would like for them to also grab a bigger WR in the draft good with contested catches. It will be interesting to see how Lane finishes the year. I feel this staff needs to show they can develop him.

 

[method man]

He reminds me in some ways of Slayton. Not the most well rounded WR but can make big plays down the field. I am not in love with him. But take this offense's current predicament, he'd be perfect. No one threatens defenses down the field.

If they did nothing in the draft and just signed Jennings and Pierce, I think WR would be fine.

To some of the growing critics within our fanbase of Jayden, one thing some of them get wrong is that Jayden is getting just average WR play or he needs to be loaded with weapons and he isn't loaded now. Using 2024 as an example, Jayden doesn't needed to be loaded. that was an average uninspiring group of WRs in 2024, but they didn't suck. It was average. His current configuration is the worst lineup in the NFL. 32 out of 32. It sucks. Just elevating it back to average would make a world of difference. Don't get me wrong I'd prefer to load him up with an above average group. But worse case, we can survive average.

Your Slayton comp is a good one. Pierce is bigger but both guys have similar games. I actually think Dyami is another good comp.

If they go with Jauan, Dyami would be a good guy to bring in to be WR4. He apparently was impressive in camp but has suffered like the rest of the Jags receiving corps catching passes from Trevor. With Jauan, given the toll he has taken on his body, you need a guy who can step in on occasion as WR2 and Dyami is the guy.

Another issue I have with Deebo is his inability to consistently win against man coverage and zone out of the slot. The slot receiver archetype in the league is slower 40, elite quickness and crisp route running. Crowder, for example, fit this. I’d want to go find someone who can fit this mold for us. You can find guys who can do this decently who don’t break the bank

It really sucks not having that high 2nd. This draft feels like last year’s at WR where it is somewhat light at the top but deeper. We could have potentially found a Day 1 starter in Day 2. I don’t think we’d be able to bank on a rookie 3rd rounder being productive.

As of now, LMC and Lane are WR5 & WR6 for me next year

 

[skinsinparadise]

Your Slayton comp is a good one. Pierce is bigger but both guys have similar games. I actually think Dyami is another good comp.

If they go with Jauan, Dyami would be a good guy to bring in to be WR4. He apparently was impressive in camp but has suffered like the rest of the Jags receiving corps catching passes from Trevor. With Jauan, given the toll he has taken on his body, you need a guy who can step in on occasion as WR2 and Dyami is the guy.

Another issue I have with Deebo is his inability to consistently win against man coverage and zone out of the slot. The slot receiver archetype in the league is slower 40, elite quickness and crisp route running. Crowder, for example, fit this. I’d want to go find someone who can fit this mold for us. You can find guys who can do this decently who don’t break the bank

It really sucks not having that high 2nd. This draft feels like last year’s at WR where it is somewhat light at the top but deeper. We could have potentially found a Day 1 starter in Day 2. I don’t think we’d be able to bank on a rookie 3rd rounder being productive.

As of now, LMC and Lane are WR5 & WR6 for me next year

Pierce had a nice play in the game this morning.

I've had Adam Peters back mostly. And i still like him. But he's a work in progress. And he IMO did an atrocious job at WR this off season. If I had to pick the #1 reason why this team in its current form might be the worst team in the NFL, or top 3 worst is because of what he did at WR.

You make the case that Terry is 30 plus years old now -- so injuries are more common and production declines yet decide he will be 100% fine. You have Noah who can't stay healthy and was banged up all off season and even when healthy is more of a 3-4 than a 2 -- but screw it lets pretend the past isn't prologue and count on a full healthy season.

Lets have Chris Moore as the backup-starter at Z and X. and lets have ourselves a season!

There are many reasons why this season has fallen apart but the #1 reason why the team isn't just bad right now but are atrocious is Peters work at WR IMO. And that's before delving into Steve Suter's point that the poor WR play might have a lasting impact on Jayden as for poor habits.

Having said that I don't think Peters is stupid. So I think he's going to go to town at WR in FA and the draft.

 

[SkinsFTW]

You say WR, I say it's the defense. Nobody is winning anything with that defense that Whitt is running. If you had a decent defense you could at least play some Martyball and try to win some games with playaction calls that Kingsbury has no clue of running. They aren't going to win anything the rest of the year with that defense. Scrap the whole thing and start over with a new DC.

 

[CuredFromBatteredFanSyndrome]

Folks are really buying Pickens?

Don’t get me wrong, he looks great sonning the likes of Lattimore. He has all the physical tools. But there is no way on earth, I’d write a big check to a guy with his mental makeup.

 

[DWinzit]

Folks are really buying Pickens?

Don’t get me wrong, he looks great sonning the likes of Lattimore. He has all the physical tools. But there is no way on earth, I’d write a big check to a guy with his mental makeup.

Desperate times...

 

[method man]

Playstyle wise, I don’t think Pickens is the best fit. Like Terry, he is another guy who is a contested catch guy who doesn’t separate super well.

Of the gettable archetypes, I think Jayden would benefit the most from a quick slot who is a route running maestro. These guys are undervalued. He would also benefit from a TE with more juice like an Njoku.

We should think hard about getting both and then grabbing a Dyami Brown, Tyquan Thornton or Pierce in FA to be the third level threat who can work with Terry to open up the first and second level for the new TE1 and slot to feast