The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Riggo44]

I understand the idea of a succession plan that Quinn implemented with the building of the offensive staff, but I’m questioning if Quinn himself would even survive until next year if we lose out and continue to be embarrassed on a weekly basis.

I don’t think Pierce mitigates the need to continue to build the WR Corp as a whole. Much to skinsinparadise point, the building of that unit was a massive fail from Peters this season and I don’t expect he plans on repeating that failure. I also don’t think we keep Deebo AND sign Pierce. It’s one or the other in my mind.

Lemon is considerably more talented than Lane or Luke and would round out the receiving unit tremendously. Terry becomes an intermediate demon with occasional deep balls, Pierce continues to destroy defenses deep down the field, and Lemon is the man beater with elite YAC ability. Lane nor Luke will ever be what Lemon COULD be. Luke and Lane are probably elite number 4 and 5 receivers and that doesn’t include the possibility of retaining Burks.

Combine that unit with the addition of Love and Pitts and the offense is complete.

The defense is a multi year project IMO and Lloyd is the crown jewel centerpiece if we can get him. He becomes our Warner. Then build it out from there.

Also don’t sleep on some these acquisitions that seem like nothingburgers. The 49ers were loaded with late round and UDFA players playing at an extremely high level. It just takes time.

I'm not taking Lemon over Tate or Tyson in the top 10. Likewise, the biggest problem with the receiver corps is injury, forcing unready/practice squad players into more prominent roles. Yes, relying on perpetually injured Brown was a mistake; but McLaurin has been healthy his whole career. We need far more help on defense to reach for the #20th-ish/3rd-ranked receiver prospect. Luke and Lane were never supposed to be prominently featured--but were because of the absurd number of injuries. Deebo will be cheap--no one is giving him big money/multiple years, and Peters likes him. I think he comes back on a short, cheaper deal. I still think he can be that man-beater weapon you talk about. If he wants more money, fine, bye. There's the door. Problem this year is, Samuel doesn't have anyone to take the top off the defense like McLaurin or potentially Pierce. I think Lane can provide that too, eventually. I'd rather take Reese, if he's available, or trade back for a pass rusher that makes opposing OCs crap their pants (potentially) like David Bailey, and add a 2nd they can use on a Germie Bernard or Chris Bell. You could also convince me of Mansoor Delane in the 20s too, or staying in the top-10 and take Downs. Lemon seems like a role-player: a smaller, shifty, not blazingly fast, slot receiver; and not the blue-chip monsters we need--especially on defense. Admittedly, I have not watching him play like I have others. We'll see how things shake out.

But back to the topic--free agency. We have to replace Quan Martin as well. He sucks, plain and simple. There's no "maybe he can develop..." he's fucking awful. Someone like the Rams' Quinten Lake is intriguing.

 

[Riggo44]

So, while we don't know much about Harris as a football team owner, we do know that Harris has been very patient and slow to make change in the NBA. So, if change comes, I think it will be GM or coach driven.

At this point, it would frustrate me to see Whitt return. I could see the rationalization being made (It's not fair to judge him considering all the injuries) but that would be ignoring that the defense was almost equally bad in 2024.

It would piss me off to no end if Whitt is brought back--the defense has never been good.

 

[Gooseneck]

 

[SkinsLife]

lol... Whitt is NOT coming back. He was basically fired... you dont get demoted and then promoted again next year. They did him a solid by not canning him outright to protect his reputation.. but he is good as gone. At this point his players dont believe in him

 

[Conn]

Yeah tough to come back from losing play calling duties, coming down to the sideline and then being booted back up to the booth to chart looks. Whitt is a ghost

 

[Riggo44]

Yeah tough to come back from losing play calling duties, coming down to the sideline and then being booted back up to the booth to chart looks. Whitt is a ghost

Daboll took play calling duties from Kafka last year...now Kafka is the Interim HC...Ok, bad example, the Giants are a dumpster fire.

 

[method man]

I'm not taking Lemon over Tate or Tyson in the top 10. Likewise, the biggest problem with the receiver corps is injury, forcing unready/practice squad players into more prominent roles. Yes, relying on perpetually injured Brown was a mistake; but McLaurin has been healthy his whole career. We need far more help on defense to reach for the #20th-ish/3rd-ranked receiver prospect. Luke and Lane were never supposed to be prominently featured--but were because of the absurd number of injuries. Deebo will be cheap--no one is giving him big money/multiple years, and Peters likes him. I think he comes back on a short, cheaper deal. I still think he can be that man-beater weapon you talk about. If he wants more money, fine, bye. There's the door. Problem this year is, Samuel doesn't have anyone to take the top off the defense like McLaurin or potentially Pierce. I think Lane can provide that too, eventually. I'd rather take Reese, if he's available, or trade back for a pass rusher that makes opposing OCs crap their pants (potentially) like David Bailey, and add a 2nd they can use on a Germie Bernard or Chris Bell. You could also convince me of Mansoor Delane in the 20s too, or staying in the top-10 and take Downs. Lemon seems like a role-player: a smaller, shifty, not blazingly fast, slot receiver; and not the blue-chip monsters we need--especially on defense. Admittedly, I have not watching him play like I have others. We'll see how things shake out.

But back to the topic--free agency. We have to replace Quan Martin as well. He sucks, plain and simple. There's no "maybe he can develop..." he's fucking awful. Someone like the Rams' Quinten Lake is intriguing.

The sad thing with Quan is this staff has been playing him out of position during the DQ tenure. I remember KDawg who watched him a lot during the ES draft thread that year mentioning he did his best work in the box during his time at Illinois. He had a good rookie year mainly in that role. Since then, this staff has made him the deep safety, something he has sucked at the past couple years. Hopefully, Peters can go find a real deep safety in FA and allow for Quan to compete as the box safety or nickel defender next season. I chucked when Logan said Ron screwed him over playing him in many roles and now this staff is letting him "develop" in this role - complete BS.

It's funny to me when Keim is so insistent that this staff sees Sainristil as a nickel CB vs an outside CB and how he sees it the same way - again, BS given this team's secondary coaches track record with developing talent here. Suter who has no connection to the team is insistent upon watching weeks of film that Sainristil can't cover anyone in man coverage in the slot and that his handfighting stinks.

 

[Riggo44]

The sad thing with Quan is this staff has been playing him out of position during the DQ tenure. I remember KDawg who watched him a lot during the ES draft thread that year mentioning he did his best work in the box during his time at Illinois.

It's funny to me when Keim is so insistent that this staff sees Sainristil as a nickel CB vs an outside CB and how he sees it the same way - again, BS given this team's secondary coaches track record with developing talent here. Suter who has no connection to the team is insistent upon watching weeks of film that Sainristil can't cover anyone in man coverage in the slot and that his handfighting stinks.

It's funny to read that now, given how ungodly awful Martins tackling has become.

Sanristil's regression has been so disheartening. I thought he was going to be a lot better this year, given how much he improved throughout the year last year. I've lost all faith in our secondary coaches.

 

[method man]

It's funny to read that now, given how ungodly awful Martins tackling has become.

Sanristil's regression has been so disheartening. I thought he was going to be a lot better this year, given how much he improved throughout the year last year. I've lost all faith in our secondary coaches.

Sainristil’s upswing came when they moved him outside and Noah came in at the slot. Sure he’s limited outside given his size but I felt he gave at least average cover ability with turnover upside.

Playing him inside has just not worked through 1.5 seasons. He can’t cover in man inside and lacks the football IQ in zone in the slot. Going to the boundary will simplify things for him

 

[Gooseneck]

 

[Neophyte]

Things that wouldn't surprise me (not that I am predicting them, mind you):

- Whitt stays on in a role similar to what he had in Dallas - Pass Coverage Game Coordinator or something like that. He and Quinn did amazing things with take aways. However, I see no way he stays as DC next year.

- Donatell gets replaced as DB coach.

- Lattimore stays if Quinn continues to call the defense. Quinn is a more aggressive play caller and I feel like his "style" might suit Lattimore's press-man game more.

None of this is about Free Agency, obviously, however, many of the last posts were more about coaching than player acquisition so...

 

[Anselmheifer]

Things that wouldn't surprise me (not that I am predicting them, mind you):

- Whitt stays on in a role similar to what he had in Dallas - Pass Coverage Game Coordinator or something like that. He and Quinn did amazing things with take aways. However, I see no way he stays as DC next year.

- Donatell gets replaced as DB coach.

- Lattimore stays if Quinn continues to call the defense. Quinn is a more aggressive play caller and I feel like his "style" might suit Lattimore's press-man game more.

None of this is about Free Agency, obviously, however, many of the last posts were more about coaching than player acquisition so...

Lattimore is gone. He hasn’t played well. He had a mid season ACL. They can save 16 to 18 million by cutting him.

We could really use at least an average free agent CB. I don’t want to go into a draft with only 2 top 100 pics, needing a starter a CB.

 

[method man]

Things that wouldn't surprise me (not that I am predicting them, mind you):

- Whitt stays on in a role similar to what he had in Dallas - Pass Coverage Game Coordinator or something like that. He and Quinn did amazing things with take aways. However, I see no way he stays as DC next year.

- Donatell gets replaced as DB coach.

- Lattimore stays if Quinn continues to call the defense. Quinn is a more aggressive play caller and I feel like his "style" might suit Lattimore's press-man game more.

None of this is about Free Agency, obviously, however, many of the last posts were more about coaching than player acquisition so...

I don't think #1 or #3 happen and #2 doesn't happen if #1 were to somehow happen. You just don't see fired DCs stay with the org and take a lower role. Whitt will go become defensive PGC somewhere else. I think the secondary coaches become the new DC's guys. You probably aren't firing Tapp (who has done a good job) and Norton (who is highly respected as a LB coach). The secondary and replacing Whitt's guys in Simmons and Donatell are the area a new guy can bring in folks he is familiar with.

I've brought Ullbrich up a lot as the likely solve at DC given the longstanding relationship with DQ. Their secondary has been impressive and their rookies Watts and Bowman have played very well for rookies. On the surface, we should get excited if Ullbrich were to bring his secondary coaches from Atlanta here

(EDIT: Random factoid is that Norton's last year in the league as a player was with the Niners when Ullbrich came in as a rookie. Both were linebackers. There is probably a relationship there from 25 years ago)

 

[method man]

Lattimore is gone. He hasn’t played well. He had a mid season ACL. They can save 16 to 18 million by cutting him.

We could really use at least an average free agent CB. I don’t want to go into a draft with only 2 top 100 pics, needing a starter a CB.

I really hope Sainristil can show he can be a competent CB2 playing outside. The outside CB market kind of sucks and lacks the quality it had last year. If the need becomes more finding a slot CB, that is an easier solve and cheaper

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

Yes as of now the Commanders have $94 million in 2026 cap space. Does this number go up once the 2025 cap space is factored in? Regardless it sounds like a big number until you realize that only includes 32 players. By the time they fill out the roster that number will be considerably smaller, really hard to judge where they are when compared to other teams.

 

[Commander Wraith]

Yes as of now the Commanders have $94 million in 2026 cap space. Does this number go up once the 2025 cap space is factored in? Regardless it sounds like a big number until you realize that only includes 32 players. By the time they fill out the roster that number will be considerably smaller, really hard to judge where they are when compared to other teams.

Yeah, cap space can get eaten up in a hurry, especially when you have quality players to re-sign/extend, a lot of spots to fill, or just sign a couple/few bigger contracts… or in our case, all 3.

Cutting Lattimore puts us close to 113mil I believe though, and you’ve got to figure a number of spots will be filled by 1 year deals again, plus several draft picks/UDFAs.

 

[Riggo44]

Yes as of now the Commanders have $94 million in 2026 cap space. Does this number go up once the 2025 cap space is factored in? Regardless it sounds like a big number until you realize that only includes 32 players. By the time they fill out the roster that number will be considerably smaller, really hard to judge where they are when compared to other teams.

That's why Over the Cap does Effective Cap Space. We're still in really good shape there, with over $60m, 6th in the league, and more when we cut Lattimore ($18m, 0 dead cap). Also, we only save $16.8m by cutting Daron Payne, so it makes no sense to cut him. We also need to extend Tunsil, and have conversations about Luvu, Biadasz, and Armstrong. Luvu and Armstrong I am fine letting them play it out, unless they are open to a very team friendly deal.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

That's why Over the Cap does Effective Cap Space. We're still in really good shape there, with over $60m, 6th in the league, and more when we cut Lattimore ($18m, 0 dead cap). Also, we only save $16.8m by cutting Daron Payne, so it makes no sense to cut him. We also need to extend Tunsil, and have conversations about Luvu, Biadasz, and Armstrong. Luvu and Armstrong I am fine letting them play it out, unless they are open to a very team friendly deal.

What does "effective cap space" mean? I agree on keeping Payne in a contract year.

 

[Riggo44]

What does "effective cap space" mean? I agree on keeping Payne in a contract year.

Effective Cap Space: the cap space a team will have after signing at least 51 players and its projected rookie class to its roster.

 

[Conn]

Yeah, cap space can get eaten up in a hurry, especially when you have quality players to re-sign/extend, a lot of spots to fill, or just sign a couple/few bigger contracts… or in our case, all 3.

Cutting Lattimore puts us close to 113mil I believe though, and you’ve got to figure a number of spots will be filled by 1 year deals again, plus several draft picks/UDFAs.

Some of those one year deals are actually the least efficient in terms of current cap space, which can eat into what we’ve had in past years. Whatever the contract is for (for instance, $10M for a Wagner or whatever) just hits at that flat number, period. Whereas a 3-5 year contract usually has a smaller footprint. So while I want AP to care about future cap health, we could arguably add more talent by taking swings on multi-year deals for 26-28 year olds that are a bit overpaid, rather than 1-year deals for “cheaper” vets that all hit the cap immediately