The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[skinsinparadise]

I think the only reason he's going to be on the team is the only reason I thought he might be on the team since the middle of the season:

A replacement level player for him is going to be net more expensive when you consider the cost of the new contract - cap savings, you're going to end up worse off from a cap position than you are by just keeping the average player.

Said another way, if they release Payne and pay an average DT an average DT contract signed in 2026, absent cap magic to push the cost into out years, it's more expensive than just keeping the average player you already have.

The arguement would be, if you can get an average player who is younger with more up-side, then maybe you do it.

I'm not sure there are a lot of guys out there like that...

And Kinlaw didn't get over-paid. That's a false narrative. He got paid what an average DT get. The players who are better than him got way more. So do you really want to cut Payne and sing another Kinlaw to a Kinlaw contact? That would, in the end, be more expensive.

I kindof like the idea of just letting Payne ride it out, and then you are not on the hook for anything in 2027.

The post to me that Kinlaw isn't overpaid provides unintentionally the thought that you are debating that point with me. Not only did I not say Kinlaw is overpaid but I've defended that signing and the player lol maybe more than anyone here, including showing stills of him being double teamed.

Kinlaw for the money he got, was a decent signing. In fact it brings home my point, 16 million, can find you a replacement for Payne, its more or less what Kinlaw got paid.

I get the quandary on Payne. I don't think its a no brainer. And I've explained both sides of the point. It's just another dumb move from Rivera as to the overpay for Payne. So the idea that you got to pay an OK player like he's elite for his last two seasons including this coming season, I gather it is what it is.

 

[skinsinparadise]

My list:

1. Edge x2
2. Running Back
3. Receiver/Tight End
4. Safety
5. Guard/Corner/LB

How we address these doesn’t matter much. We need the highest talent at RB, Edge, Safety and Receiver. We need more capable bodies at corner, guard, linebacker

For me

1. Edge -- 2
2. Z WR
3. TE-F
4. MLB if Wagner isn't back
5. Outside CB
6. FS
7. RB

Maybe a nose if Goldman isn't back and they run a 3-4. I get your point about RB, and its a great FA for the spot, I want one too but the other spots IMO are more code red.

 

[KDawg]

For me

1. Edge -- 2
2. Z WR
3. TE-F
4. MLB if Wagner isn't back
5. Outside CB
6. FS
7. RB

Maybe a nose if Goldman isn't back and they run a 3-4. I get your point about RB, and its a great FA for the spot, I want one too but the other spots IMO are more code red.

I just don’t agree. I think RB is very code red. I think Daniels enabled our backs (and Mariota) because of their running ability. If the goal is to cut down on that, we need a guy with vision that can create on his own.

Not want.

Need.

Rodriguez is a battering ram. Bill lacks vision but is a home run hitter. I like both but neither will be able to create.

Having said that: if it’s not Walker, Hall, Love, Etienne then I agree, RB pushes back.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I just don’t agree. I think RB is very code red. I think Daniels enabled our backs (and Mariota) because of their running ability. If the goal is to cut down on that, we need a guy with vision that can create on his own.

Not want.

Need.

Rodriguez is a battering ram. Bill lacks vision but is a home run hitter. I like both but neither will be able to create.

Having said that: if it’s not Walker, Hall, Love, Etienne then I agree, RB pushes back.

I'd be surprised if they don't sign a RB, and I'd be thrilled if they did.

But to me aside from DE, code red is Quan Martin playing FS. Ben Sinnott as our top pass catching TE. Noah I being one of our starting CBs. Chris Moore as our Z. To me that is disaster level potentially.

Croskey-Merritt and Rodriguez aren't IMO code red at RB. Not disasters.

But I agree with the point from the angle that a great RB would do wonders for this offense and Jayden. But if they address the other spots I mentioned aggressively and don't hit RB, I won't cry about it.

 

[Conn]

Just something to keep in mind as we talk about guys like Wandale in FA, Lemon in the draft, McCaffrey + Lane developing on the roster, a decision on Deebo (depending on his role). Unless you can get them involved on the outside or elsewhere, most of these guys are seriously part-time players nowadays with the rise in 12 + 13 personnel. Doesn’t mean there won’t be exceptions, but just something to keep in mind in terms of valuation and skill-set.

 

[DWinzit]

I just don’t agree. I think RB is very code red. I think Daniels enabled our backs (and Mariota) because of their running ability. If the goal is to cut down on that, we need a guy with vision that can create on his own.

Not want.

Need.

Rodriguez is a battering ram. Bill lacks vision but is a home run hitter. I like both but neither will be able to create.

Having said that: if it’s not Walker, Hall, Love, Etienne then I agree, RB pushes back.

RB is a big need and see them aiming to some of the bigger FA options. I have not seen Etienne including in much of the conversations but he does deserve recognition after Walker and Hall. It's been nice to see him back to form this past season. We absolutely need the RB to be good in pass pro which negates so many of the candidates.

 

[HoggLife]

Of course he’s not worth 28 million. I don’t think anybody’s trying to convince anybody of that. The alternative is paying him 12 million to play for someone else. That money’s already gone either way. So the real question is is he worth 16 million? If you’re telling me we can get somebody better for less than that, and that all of our already available cap space will be used to fill all the other holes, then yeah you can count me in. But otherwise, I see no reason to subtract talent/depth from an already depleted roster.

Perfect way to look at it. We are kinda stuck with him for the year at that price. Maybe we can get an extension if he will take a home town discount to stay here a few more years. But at worst we have Payne playing thru a contract year so he should play super hard.

 

[Anselmheifer]

I would be looking hard at Wandale Robinson. He’s only 25 years old and had a 1,000 yard season last year. Robinson, Likely, and Breece Hall would do wonders for this offense. We’d still need another decent outside receiver though.

I really want to see a super aggressive offseason, where we sign impact players at positions of need, and not just a bunch of guys to fill out the roster, like last year.

 

[DWinzit]

I am hoping AP gets back from the Senior Bowl and starts working on extending Tunsil. Need to get that behind us

 

[Conn]

I am hoping AP gets back from the Senior Bowl and starts working on extending Tunsil. Need to get that behind us

Lotta agents at the Senior Bowl and meetings being scheduled, he might not have to wait till it’s over to work on it tbh

But agreed

 

[DWinzit]

Lotta agents at the Senior Bowl and meetings being scheduled, he might not have to wait till it’s over to work on it tbh

But agreed

I might be wrong but I think I read that Tunsil actually represents himself.

Good point however that he should be multitasking down there this week!

 

[Conn]

I might be wrong but I think I read that Tunsil actually represents himself.

Good point however that he should be multitasking down there this week!

That’s interesting, I don’t think I’d seen that about him. That may make things easier or harder depending on how much they’re willing to just add a little juice to the last monster LT contract signed vs trying to add a bunch of protections or other annoying shit that a player is going to hate. Hopefully they just drop the bag on him and move on, he clearly deserves it and has multiple elite years left at the least.

 

[KDawg]

That’s interesting, I don’t think I’d seen that about him. That may make things easier or harder depending on how much they’re willing to just add a little juice to the last monster LT contract signed vs trying to add a bunch of protections or other annoying shit that a player is going to hate. Hopefully they just drop the bag on him and move on, he clearly deserves it and has multiple elite years left at the least.

And if they aren't intending to drop the bag at his door step they need to trade him. Right now. That would be a "not good" scenario. But it's better than watching him sit out this season or part of it or play and get "hurt" or whatever the case.

If they intend to sign him, obviously keep trying. But Tunsil not playing means we need a plan at LT and that changes a WHOLE lot about what we need to accomplish this offseason including open the door to a tackle at 7.

 

[bowhunter]

That’s interesting, I don’t think I’d seen that about him. That may make things easier or harder depending on how much they’re willing to just add a little juice to the last monster LT contract signed vs trying to add a bunch of protections or other annoying shit that a player is going to hate. Hopefully they just drop the bag on him and move on, he clearly deserves it and has multiple elite years left at the least.

Slater and Wirfs earn a tad over $28M, so that's the number that I think is gonna be needed. If true that he doesn't have to pay an agent 10% of that, perhaps a 4 year $112M with 80M guaranteed might be close?

 

[RWJ]

Not that it's the all-knowing site but it does have some good info: Spotrac

 

[Bulldog]

Tunsil is his own agent, thanks I didn't know that.

So, when Tunsil speaks out on the fact the team hasn't begun discussions with him and he would like to get things done early, that's not just social media posturing behind the efforts of his agent (like McLaurin) but a POV straight from the horse's mouth so to speak.

I think Tunsil is in a similar place to where Trent Williams was at age 31 and looking for a new contract. There are so few premium players at LT in the NFL that if you have one you keep them and if you don't you find a way to add one when one becomes available.

That's why the 49ers didn't blink in trading a #3 pick and immediately signing Williams to a $123M deal.

While Washington is not quite where SF was at the time as a top contender and having come off a Super Bowl in 2020 against the Chiefs, etc.

But the need to protect Daniels for Washington is no less great for the development of our team long-term.

We see tackles like Williams, Lane Johnson, Jason Peters who play at a high level into their mid to late 30's.

On offense I would like to see the team resign Tunsil and get it done before the draft and also add a #2 WR in free agency like Alec Pierce.

I think we have so many needs on defense that getting our house in order on offense and then looking to add 2-3 players on defense who are impact performers will leave Peters the flexibility to upgrade the team and perhaps be more aggressive on that side of the ball come April.

 

[Anselmheifer]

I can’t imagine they don’t pay Tunsil If they do not, I’m out on Adam Peters. You have to think this is going to get done

 

[Bulldog]

I will completely trust the front office when I see these moves get done and early a couple of times, then I will believe there is no fooling around and we are serious about moving forward.

To be honest McLaurin was not a top 5 player and so I understand what happened last year is not the same as with Tunsil who has been a pro bowler the past 5 years and an all-pro a couple of those years as well.

But the fact remains we allowed McLaurin to hold the team up for an entire offseason and things just felt really strange as we headed into the season, it was almost as if the positive energy from 2024 was gone.

 

[method man]

They should be comfortable making Tunsil the highest paid OT in the league by AAV. The trick with him is to get him to sign a 4 or 5 year deal while making it very easy for us to get out of the deal at that point in time.

I believe the cap is going up 10% this year so lock the guy in at today's value. As we see with Trent, good tackles last a long time and Tunsil has stayed fairly healthy

 

[Higskin]

NFL salary cap projected at $301.2 million to $305.7 million per team for 2026 season

NFL salary cap projected at $301.2 million to $305.7 million per team for 2026 season​