The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[method man]

Signing Pierce just makes sense.

• Outside WR provides a lot of roster/draft flexibility, we could even start rotating Terry to the slot on occasion.
• He's still really young.
• He's an actual + size/speed guy
• He would be the tallest starting WR we've had since 2017
• He's successfully stretched defenses enough that Jonathan Taylor is having his best season since 2021 if not better than that.
• It opens up so much for Jayden Daniels.

Reason against...he's going to be expensive. Young Age + Ascending Player + Size/Speed = Premium Money

But it's worth it for a team like us. We can go into the draft with real options instead of panic mode trying to save Jayden Daniels from putting the entire offense on his back...again.

There's certainly a lot to like about him but, in my opinion, he doesn't deserve low end WR1/top end WR2 money. Look at this list and, of the guys over a $20M AAV, tell me who you would take Pierce over in 2026. Only guys on this list I can think of are Godwin (who will get let go as he is washed), Hill (whose knee is trashed) and maybe Ridley. So two guys who will probably get let go and a guy coming of 2 1K years whose numbers were trash due to having to play with Cam Ward

 

[Die Hard]

As one example, Terry had Keenum, Haskins, Kyle Allen, one legged Alex Smith, Heinicke and Wentz throwing to him and he still put up 1K season after 1k season.

Pierce is 4th on his own team in terms of number of targets after Pittman, Warren and Downs. What that points to are weaknesses in his game that stunt him from getting more targets. Despite this season he is having, he is probably going to finish with 50 or fewer catches this year.

On the other hand, on a stacked SF team that went to the Super Bowl in 2025, Aiyuk led the team with 105 targets and beat out the 2nd most targeted guy in Kittle by 15.

If Terry were to get hurt, I have no confidence that Pierce can step up his game and become a 10+ target guy. Knee health pending, you have seen this with Aiyuk.

Pierce is the type of guy that bad teams with cap room pay up for based on hype. Sometimes, it works out (like Christian Kirk with the Jags) but it doesn't most of the time.

He’s going to New England. They have the most cash available, already a winning franchise with a franchise QB… who also wants a big-time receiver.

So many here are going to be disappointed.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

There's certainly a lot to like about him but, in my opinion, he doesn't deserve low end WR1/top end WR2 money. Look at this list and, of the guys over a $20M AAV, tell me who you would take Pierce over in 2026. Only guys on this list I can think of are Godwin (who will get let go as he is washed), Hill (whose knee is trashed) and maybe Ridley. So two guys who will probably get let go and a guy coming of 2 1K years whose numbers were trash due to having to play with Cam Ward

With the understanding that contracts always go up so the most recently signed will always have a larger number I agree with this. If we give a huge deal to Pierce we are now the Cowboys and Bengals, giving huge contracts to 2 receivers limits your ability to fill out a roster.

 

[Conn]

With the understanding that contracts always go up so the most recently signed will always have a larger number I agree with this. If we give a huge deal to Pierce we are now the Cowboys and Bengals, giving huge contracts to 2 receivers limits your ability to fill out a roster.

I get it, but realistically we could get out of the Terry contract after this coming year if we were in a bad position. And I expect them to structure any new contracts intelligently.

 

[method man]

I get it, but realistically we could get out of the Terry contract after this coming year if we were in a bad position. And I expect them to structure any new contracts intelligently.

I’d rather have Terry at his inflated number than Pierce at $20M-$25M a year. At least we know Terry can carry and lead a receiver group

 

[Conn]

I’d rather have Terry at his inflated number than Pierce at $20M-$25M a year. At least we know Terry can carry and lead a receiver group

I’ll tell you how I’m feeling about him after the 2026 season. Guys fall off fast, I’m not going to pretend I know what Terry will be heading into 2027.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

I get it, but realistically we could get out of the Terry contract after this coming year if we were in a bad position. And I expect them to structure any new contracts intelligently.

That usually means a giant cash outlay in the form of a bonus. This ownership group has already spent a ton of cash, I have to wonder what AP's budget really is for deals like the one you are proposing.

 

[Bulldog]

In early free agency I want proven talent - guys you pencil in as starters with few questions.

High mid tier guys like Biadasz are fine too at age 26.

The one thing I want to see here though is an exodus of 30 plus year old players and a focus on building this the right way.

A guy like Michael Davis should have been cut right away in 2024 but we kept the guy around but refused to play him after the first few games.

I want to keep turning over younger players who become available or are on another team’s practice squad and see coaches DEVELOP them.

When you bring in 31 or 32 year old players who are replacement level you never progress as these guys are more past than present or future.

 

[DogofWar1]

......................uhhhh.........................

 

[philibusters]

Aiyuk is pretty clearly a head case. You only sign him to the deep if its a fantastic discount. I get that he and Jayden are tight but its frustrating watching 26 year old me act like a moody 14 year teenager. I am fairly confident that he has too much talent for 32 teams to pass up and one team will give him a decent conract so I don't see it happening here, but unless he is coming here as a free agent on like a one year 8 million dollar deal, hard pass me for me.

 

[Whiskeypeet]

Aiyuk is pretty clearly a head case. You only sign him to the deep if its a fantastic discount. I get that he and Jayden are tight but its frustrating watching 26 year old me act like a moody 14 year teenager. I am fairly confident that he has too much talent for 32 teams to pass up and one team will give him a decent conract so I don't see it happening here, but unless he is coming here as a free agent on like a one year 8 million dollar deal, hard pass me for me.

I don't think this team should be in the market to drop massive $$ on a WR #2. The team needs reliable options that can stay healthy and build chemistry w/JD over the course of a season. It would be great if our first round pick was a WR for future planning purposes, but I'm not seeing the logic in signing the likes of Peirce to a $20M+ contract unless someone is convinced he can be the focal point of a passing game. Not confident he (or similar players) can hold down that role and would rather sign some WRs in the OZ, D. Brown, J. Crowder mold.

 

[DogofWar1]

I don't think this team should be in the market to drop massive $$ on a WR #2. The team needs reliable options that can stay healthy and build chemistry w/JD over the course of a season. It would be great if our first round pick was a WR for future planning purposes, but I'm not seeing the logic in signing the likes of Peirce to a $20M+ contract unless someone is convinced he can be the focal point of a passing game. Not confident he (or similar players) can hold down that role and would rather sign some WRs in the OZ, D. Brown, J. Crowder mold.

Unfortunately, 20M is basically the going rate for a good #2, #1s are getting 30M+. Pierce can't be a focal point, at least, he can't be the only/main one, but he's still gonna get 20M+ to be a team's Tee Higgins to their Ja'marr Chase.

 

[method man]

Unfortunately, 20M is basically the going rate for a good #2, #1s are getting 30M+. Pierce can't be a focal point, at least, he can't be the only/main one, but he's still gonna get 20M+ to be a team's Tee Higgins to their Ja'marr Chase.

That’s the issue. Tee Higgins can step up as a first option when Chase is out and help shoulder the burden for a passing attack. The other highly paid WR2s like Waddle and Smith can do the same thing.

Pierce has not shown a multifaceted enough game to show he can.

A big tell on Pierce is that Ballard has a reputation as a smart GM and he has done a great job keeping their homegrown talent. Given his penchant for early extensions for his guys, why did they spend a 2nd round pick on Adonai Mitchell in 2024 and why didn’t he extend Pierce last offseason?

 

[method man]

Aiyuk is pretty clearly a head case. You only sign him to the deep if its a fantastic discount. I get that he and Jayden are tight but its frustrating watching 26 year old me act like a moody 14 year teenager. I am fairly confident that he has too much talent for 32 teams to pass up and one team will give him a decent conract so I don't see it happening here, but unless he is coming here as a free agent on like a one year 8 million dollar deal, hard pass me for me.

I think I’m his biggest proponent on this board and it is a 1 year deal for me a multiyear deal where I can easily get out after 2026. I am willing to give him something like a 1 year $20M deal however

 

[Whiskeypeet]

That’s the issue. Tee Higgins can step up as a first option when Chase is out and help shoulder the burden for a passing attack. The other highly paid WR2s like Waddle and Smith can do the same thing.

Pierce has not shown a multifaceted enough game to show he can.

A big tell on Pierce is that Ballard has a reputation as a smart GM and he has done a great job keeping their homegrown talent. Given his penchant for early extensions for his guys, why did they spend a 2nd round pick on Adonai Mitchell in 2024 and why didn’t he extend Pierce last offseason?

This is where I'm at, but I could be wrong. Just doesn't feel like Pierce is a guy that can carry the load, almost a Paul Richardson type signing. Won't ever be worth the cap space. In the end, if JD is the guy he was in his rookie year, the team doesn't need a WR #2 type at those dollars for JD to be productive. Obviously, Cincinnati benefits from it and we would to, but its not a necessity if JD is what he was as a rookie and what we witnessed that actually happens again. On the other hand, if JD isn't that guy........please kill me.

 

[method man]

On another note, I think starting TE is an obvious enough need now. Sinnott just isn’t going to show me enough in 2 remaining games to tell me he is the answer. Even if he balled out, it’d be too little a sample size

I think the approach we should take is the one we took with our RB room this year where each guy is a specialist in a certain area.

In our room, Bates would be the in line blocker, Sinnott would be the move blocker and the FA acquisition would be more that move TE.

 

[DWinzit]

On another note, I think starting TE is an obvious enough need now. Sinnott just isn’t going to show me enough in 2 remaining games to tell me he is the answer. Even if he balled out, it’d be too little a sample size

I think the approach we should take is the one we took with our RB room this year where each guy is a specialist in a certain area.

In our room, Bates would be the in line blocker, Sinnott would be the move blocker and the FA acquisition would be more that move TE.

Yes, one that has some blocking ability but really needs to be a reliable receiver and a YAC guy would be great!

The other two handle major blocking and will still be under contract for a couple years. FA would be best as the learning curve would be minimal allowing immediate gratification

 

[Commander Wraith]

So how do we use Free Agency to address DE? Hendrickson’s in his own tier, but comes with obvious concerns - cost/age. Don’t love the idea of buying high on a few of the more interesting guys (some of them younger though, which is a plus), but it might still be the smart course of action. Mack is intriguing given his 2024 season (I believe he graded really well as a run defender and as a pass rusher too?), but man, that age…

I wouldn’t mind bringing Martin or Miller back, and we could probably do worse than Preston Smith as the #3/4, but I’d think ideally we’d sign at least one guy to start ahead of any of them and another to compete… I’m just having a hard time seeing solid solutions.

 

[DWinzit]

Martin feels like a one of the few soon to be FA's we should resign. Most of the others I am hoping they look to upgrade

 

[DogofWar1]

I think I’m his biggest proponent on this board and it is a 1 year deal for me a multiyear deal where I can easily get out after 2026. I am willing to give him something like a 1 year $20M deal however

The other thing with Aiyuk is he's not exactly young. He'll be 28 coming off a major knee injury. Even if we assume he gets back to 100%, there is ABSOLUTELY the soft wall at 30 to worry about. It hits just about everyone, even Terry couldn't escape it. How much harder will Aiyuk slam into it because of his major injuries.

Even in my charitable simulations, he's not someone you can trust post-2027. So if you assume Terry has 1 more "good" year, Aiyuk probably only has 2 more "good" years and we're right back where we started.

Unless you're swinging for the fences with Pickens, I kinda like the idea of Pierce or Doubs, but neither of them solve your "#1 WR" problem that arises in the post-2026 time frame. Aiyuk staves it off one extra year. Pickens solves it "long" term (ie, for the next 5 years), assuming he's not a head case.

But this math is also why I'm in the companion thread to this one banging the table for Tyson/Tate.