The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Riggo44]

Was he not part of last year’s RB room heading into the season? Of course nobody could predict a season ending injury. You can’t make an equivalency between this season and last season by conveniently leaving Ekeler out.

He's not part of the RB room this season. Likewise, he played in 2 games last year. Therefore totally irrelevant.

 

[actorguy1]

 

[Dlts20]

That's what tf I'm talking about. Everyone always talk about CRod was treated unfairly and never got enough true opportunities but McNichols always made something happen every time he touched the rock. Unfortunately he will be on the outside looking in again but a great depth signing. I like him and Jakob Martin. Unfortunately we lost Martin

 

[KDawg]

Only guy that isn’t well rounded is Bill…

 

[Riggo44]

One could assume that they really had Bill working on route running this offseason.

 

[Dah-Dee]

What are the rumors? More than 25 mil per?

Sounds like he might be asking for 20-22 AAV now. Who knows, he might get it in a 2-3 year deal, with the way this FA has gone for WRs and the general lack of depth league-wide at that position. I still think Tennessee is the most likely landing spot for him.

Feels like maybe Commanders wills sign a vet, maybe Deebo, maybe somebody like Allen/Hopkins/Diggs, to go with Aiyuk (big-if he's healthy).

 

[KDawg]

One could assume that they really had Bill working on route running this offseason.

I would think so. And if he doesn’t improve in pass pro and route running he may be a surprise cut candidate if we add Love.

I don’t want to see that, personally, because he’s a young guy with potential.

Here’s to hoping he has and is improving

 

[RWJ]

Thanks for posting, AG but this JM is a blah signing for me.

 

[KDawg]

Thanks for posting, AG but this JM is a blah signing for me.

Was our best all around back last year, the only issue is his age. Which, if he is RB3/4 for depth that’s not a big deal.

 

[ES1974]

Good re-sign that, adding fairly solid depth. Again, much like WR, both positions lacking 1 high end player.

 

[Dah-Dee]

Really good to see McNichols back, he can do a little bit of everything (run/receive/block). Sure he's a JAG, but he's consistent, and, a big one, consistently available - played in all 17 games each of last 2 years.

 

[heisenberg]

The most confusing thing to me about this whole aiyuk saga is how long the niners really have to play hardball.

The reports are all over the place.

Ive heard roster bonus due April 1st, I've heard roster bonus due September 1st, I've heard people say hes on the left team list so he's not even on their roster, schefter said they owe him no more money and mentioned possibly after the draft but didn't elaborate.

So how long can they hold him?

I find it hard to believe they could just keep him on the left team/retired list for the duration of his contract without owing him anything or holding a roster spot.

There has to be a deadline or at some point aiyuk either gets paid again or can file some sort of grievance but nobody seems to know for sure when that is.

 

[RWJ]

Was our best all around back last year, the only issue is his age. Which, if he is RB3/4 for depth that’s not a big deal.

I rate them BIll, CRod then JM. By the stats that what I see. He's never moved the needle for me. Had he truly impressed AP and staff he'd been signed to more that 1 year deals the past couple of seasons.

 

[Boone]

I guess I'm surprised at how seemingly pissed off the 49ers are - I mean, they got out of having to pay the guy 30 million dollars on a technicality. You think they'd be ecstatic

 

[Riggo44]

I'm more surprised no one has signed Jennings yet. He's been solid the last two years.

 

[Boone]

He's gotta be asking for some ridiculous payday. There is no other explanation.

 

[prodigy]

He's not part of the RB room this season. Likewise, he played in 2 games last year. Therefore totally irrelevant.

not irrelevant if you are talking about receiving skills/experience of the RBs with respect to roster construction. by leaving out Eckler it makes it seem like AP purposely built the roster to exclude pass catching backs. we didn't have depth, but that's not what AP did...so it is relevant.

 

[Dah-Dee]

The most confusing thing to me about this whole aiyuk saga is how long the niners really have to play hardball.

The reports are all over the place.

Ive heard roster bonus due April 1st, I've heard roster bonus due September 1st, I've heard people say hes on the left team list so he's not even on their roster, schefter said they owe him no more money and mentioned possibly after the draft but didn't elaborate.

So how long can they hold him?

I find it hard to believe they could just keep him on the left team/retired list for the duration of his contract without owing him anything or holding a roster spot.

There has to be a deadline or at some point aiyuk either gets paid again or can file some sort of grievance but nobody seems to know for sure when that is.

It really is kind of fuzzy even after digging into it recently. It really seems to boil down to money. The first related 'deadline' is June 1, the date by which they have to release him if they want to realize 2026 cap savings. Thing is, it's only @6M in savings this year, so I guess if Lynch really really hates the guy, he could eat that and hold onto him past June. The next deadline is September 1, when an option bonus @10M is due to Aiyuk. Thing is, if you're going to release him by September 1, just go ahead and do it by June 1 to recoup both pots of money. After that, it really looks like a gray area, NFL has just not been there before.

His current status means he doesn't take up a roster spot, so it seems that technically they could hold him, yeah, for the length of the contract. But they won't. His cap hit next year is crazy - $41M - and and based on reports they'll apparently save something like $33M in cap space by releasing him, so that's around a $75M 'swing' in cap space. The cap math is similar the next year in 2028. No way they're taking those hits, so he will get released at some point, and at the latest June 1, 2027 lol.

I can't see it stretching out like that, though, even past June 1 this year, Lynch can't be that petty/unprofessional/stupid, right? Just think of how FAs will look at SF if something like that happens - who would ever want to sign there again? Not to mention the absolute war that would erupt with the NFLPA. I do think they'll release him by June 1, possibly right after the draft when the 'trade' sham becomes laughable.

 

[clskinsfan]

We are going WR in the draft imo. Probably after a slight trade back would be my guess. That RB room is perfectly suitable for success.

 

[heisenberg]

It really is kind of fuzzy even after digging into it recently. It really seems to boil down to money. The first related 'deadline' is June 1, the date by which they have to release him if they want to realize 2026 cap savings. Thing is, it's only @6M in savings this year, so I guess if Lynch really really hates the guy, he could eat that and hold onto him past June. After that, it really looks like a gray area, NFL has just not been there before.

His current status means he doesn't take up a roster spot, so it seems that technically they could hold him, yeah, for the length of the contract. But they won't. His cap hit next year is crazy - $41M - and and based on reports they'll apparently save something like $33M in cap space by releasing him, so that's around a $75M 'swing' in cap space. The cap math is similar the next year in 2028. No way they're taking those hits, so he will get released at some point, and at the latest June 1, 2027 lol.

I can't see it stretching out like that, though, even past June 1 this year, Lynch can't be that petty/unprofessional/stupid, right? Just think of how FAs will look at SF if something like that happens - who would ever want to sign there again? Not to mention the absolute war that would erupt with the NFLPA. I do think they'll release him by June 1, possibly right after the draft when the 'trade' sham becomes laughable.

Thank you, that was very thorough and clears up a lot.