The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[HTTR]

We would all prefer a roster of mature professionals with no baggage, but I’m just not sure we are in a position to be so picky at the moment with a roster full of holes. If BA is really available for the minimum, then that’s as low risk as you can get. We paid more than that to waste time with Noah Brown last year.

To me, it’s a reasonable low risk gamble. If he’s still acting like a fool, you kick him to the curb. No big deal. But if he decides to grow up and do the right thing, now that he’s gotten what he wants (which is out of San Fran apparently), then you just got yourself a starting receiver for peanuts. I’m not going to worry much about him coming in and disrupting the locker room chemistry of a five win team, especially knowing that we are free to hit the eject button at any time if necessary.

 

[skinsinparadise]

On offense, I am sticking to Jauan Jennings, he seems to fit what they want -- Z receiver, tough dude, great blocker -- for a team obsessed with the run game he adds to it.

Alec Pierce if he hits the market would be my guy, but if feels like a zillion teams compete for him so who knows if they can land him. If they release Pittman, he'd be my guy. Saheed would be fun.

RB -- Walker is one of the first I pushed here, but am guessing he's getting 15 million and this team won't go that high. Etienne seems tailot made for what they want -- outsize zone, pass catching. Rachaad White. Dowdle is underrated.

TE -- I do like Okonkwo, I think he'd become a star playing with Jayden. Likely, too. If not those two: Otton.

On defense

CB -- A. Taylor. Or one of the Cheifs CBs.

Edge: I'd swing for Hendrickson but I don't think they will. Phillips or Mafe then. And for a 2nd cheaper one: Ebiketie.

LB: Chenal -- one of my fav college LBS, can do it all.

 

[HTTR]

It’s gonna feel kind of weird if our two receiver signings are Aiyuk and Jennings. Like doesn’t AP watch other teams than the 49ers??

I do like the merits of acquiring each of them separately though, so I guess I’d be fine with it. But it would definitely feel uncomfortably like Rivera’s Panther-skins.

Let’s get out the gold card and buy ourselves Alec Pierce so we don’t have to worry about it!

 

[skinsinparadise]

It’s gonna feel kind of weird if our two receiver signings are Aiyuk and Jennings. Like doesn’t AP watch other teams than the 49ers??

I do like the merits of acquiring each of them separately though, so I guess I’d be fine with it. But it would definitely feel uncomfortably like Rivera’s Panther-skins.

Let’s get out the gold card and buy ourselves Alec Pierce so we don’t have to worry about it!

Not much from SF from Peters. Deebo. Kinlaw. A flier on Drake Jackson.

Jauan Jennings is a dog. If they sign him though I'd want another speed type signing for slot. Jennings isn't fast. He's a possession WR, very physical. He's what I gather this team dreamed Noah Brown is but is the real goods unlike Noah. Clutch player. You want to get in a street fight kind of game, he's the guy.

 

[Riggo44]

There is literally a Countdown Clock on the homepage folks for anyone who wants to know how many days, hours, minutes, and seconds until free agency starts..

 

[Riggo44]

I wonder if we got a Pittman or Jennings type, would we rely on LMC and/or Lane as deep threats? It's not thrilling, and risky, but McCaffery can definitely be a 30-35 catch, 18+ YPC guy, I think.

 

[HTTR]

Don’t forget the kicker 😁

I do like the idea of Jennings, and the downfield blocking sounds great.

And he wouldn’t be super expensive, so maybe can afford Likely?

I’d be happy with Jennings + Likely and maybe a JAG receiver for depth

 

[Conn]

I wonder if we got a Pittman or Jennings type, would we rely on LMC and/or Lane as deep threats? It's not thrilling, and risky, but McCaffery can definitely be a 30-35 catch, 18+ YPC guy, I think.

I suspect if that’s the route we go (meaning we don’t win the battle for Pierce if he’s available) we’d probably bring in someone like Nailor or Mooney as a cheaper deep threat with some upside. Lane profiles as a guy who could grow into that role, maybe, but I wouldn’t want to count on it in a crucial year. Lane is fast, but deep ball tracking is something that doesn’t come naturally to him necessarily. Most guys either have that or don’t

 

[Riggo44]

I we resign Burks, no need to a JAG for depth. A room of McLaurin, Pierce/Doubs/Pittman/Jennings, LMC, Lane, Burks is a pretty good top-5.

 

[Riggo44]

I suspect if that’s the route we go (meaning we don’t win the battle for Pierce if he’s available) we’d probably bring in someone like Nailor or Mooney as a cheaper deep threat with some upside. Lane profiles as a guy who could grow into that role, maybe, but I wouldn’t want to count on it in a crucial year. Lane is fast, but deep ball tracking is something that doesn’t come naturally to him necessarily. Most guys either have that or don’t

It also makes me wonder how much money Peters wants to devote to WR, having already paid McLaurin. I am absolutely convinced we will have a legitimate option across from Terry, just depends if that's the deep threat, or the big, possession, red zone, Anthony Mix type. I like McCaffery is a better overall receiver than Lane and started to flash some last year, before getting hurt.

 

[HTTR]

I we resign Burks, no need to a JAG for depth. A room of McLaurin, Pierce/Doubs/Pittman/Jennings, LMC, Lane, Burks is a pretty good top-5.

Agree with this, but only if we acquire a TE who is a receiving threat

 

[skinsinparadise]

Don’t forget the kicker 😁

I do like the idea of Jennings, and the downfield blocking sounds great.

And he wouldn’t be super expensive, so maybe can afford Likely?

I’d be happy with Jennings + Likely and maybe a JAG receiver for depth

true but lol, yeah but he's gone now, Deebo too

 

[Riggo44]

It seems Peters knows how badly he failed last year.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I wonder if we got a Pittman or Jennings type, would we rely on LMC and/or Lane as deep threats? It's not thrilling, and risky, but McCaffery can definitely be a 30-35 catch, 18+ YPC guy, I think.

I can see Jennings to add to that run game and physicality they supposedly want out of this team.

But deep threats seems to be Pierce or Shaheed. Both whom I'd love to have. Thorton a poor man's version of.

Doubs is somewhere in between. Nailor, too.

 

[skinsinparadise]

It seems Peters knows how badly he failed last year.

I was listening to Keim's latest podcast he goes they probably are going to be aggressive then corrects himself and goes its not probably -- implying the absolutely will be aggressive.

 

[Discobob]

I we resign Burks, no need to a JAG for depth. A room of McLaurin, Pierce/Doubs/Pittman/Jennings, LMC, Lane, Burks is a pretty good top-5.

Meh.... LMC, Lane, and Burks are JAGs until proven otherwise. If McLaurin or the new guy get hurt, we're back on the struggle bus. I'd love to see us in the position where we are asking.... "Are there enough targets to go around for all these weapons?"

Obviously we can't FORCE FAs to come here, but I'd like to see more than one proven WR asset coming in the door!

 

[Conn]

It also makes me wonder how much money Peters wants to devote to WR, having already paid McLaurin. I am absolutely convinced we will have a legitimate option across from Terry, just depends if that's the deep threat, or the big, possession, red zone, Anthony Mix type. I like McCaffery is a better overall receiver than Lane and started to flash some last year, before getting hurt.

I wonder that as well. Of course, the way McLaurin’s deal is structured means this may be his last year here (at least at larger cap numbers) so one year with two highly paid WR’s might be in the cards.

 

[heisenberg]

I was listening to Keim's latest podcast he goes they probably are going to be aggressive then corrects himself and goes its not probably -- implying the absolutely will be aggressive.

I honestly dont see how they have any choice.

Even if they decided not to spend huge they still need to be aggressive or they won't have enough warm bodies to field a team.

How much they spend will determine my opinion on how aggressive they were.

 

[Due East]

Dallas Goedert doesn't get brought up enough. A natural replacement for Ertz plus he gives you more YAC.

 

[Riggo44]

I'd take Goedert on a 2-year-ish deal, as the third or fourth option.