The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[bifflog]

Exactly.

Notice that everyone here, those that want him and those that don't, have spent more time discussing Aiyuk than Oweh, Chaisson, Cross, Tunsil and Paul returning on new deals, Okonkwo, etc.

Aiyuk is not the key to the 2026 season regardless.

This team could ignore him completely and sign Diggs and Allen to one year deals and draft a WR at #7 or #71 or as part of a trade down and do quite well for itself in any event.

Daniels having McLaurin, Okonkwo, White and then these other veterans to throw to in addition to a younger draft pick is PLENTY to be productive this season.

The Patriots made it to the Super Bowl with ONLY Diggs. They didn't have a receiver on Terry's level.

Denver didn't have a franchise receiver or anyone close to it.

Even the Seahawks with JSN went out and put 33 year old Cooper Kupp next to him to go along with the speedy but limited Shaheed and went to the Super Bowl.

In the end that team focused on ball control and the running game as much as anything in the postseason.

If 7 (or later first round pick in a trade down) is a WR, alright then. Can't count on player at 71 to help us this year, and I don't know that you can count on jumps from the guys we've drafted at this point. As it stands, we're worse off right now than we were on week 1 of last season, there isn't anyone after Terry who's gonna account for Deebo's yardage last season. Aiyuk or no Aiyuk, it needs one more serious, no-joking piece.

 

[Dlts20]

Bulldog Aiyuk is actually getting a little older himself. He turns 29 tomorrow.

I think people are talking about him more than the other guys because we know we have them and this is the time of the year where you add guys, yet we have a significant hole in the same exact spot we had a significant hole last year, which may also be the most important position to our Franchise QB. Not to mention he's looked great before, is close to our Franchise QB, and already has some chemistry with him.

The negatives about him in the locker room seem to be well overstated now when you start to hear the full story from the people who were there. He actually seems well liked by teammates and coaches. Plus I think that he has something to prove and will be on a revenge tour. I think that this should be a big topic right now and we need him.

Diggs has been accused of real stuff off the field so you could argue that is far worse and he may be suspended. I just think that the more the true story gets exposed, the narrative is starting to shift to SF looking like the bad guy which should force them to release him sooner rather than later. I still like him as a receiving threat far more than Jennings.

 

[Bulldog]

If 7 (or later first round pick in a trade down) is a WR, alright then. Can't count on player at 71 to help us this year, and I don't know that you can count on jumps from the guys we've drafted at this point. As it stands, we're worse off right now than we were on week 1 of last season, there isn't anyone after Terry who's gonna account for Deebo's yardage last season. Aiyuk or no Aiyuk, it needs one more serious, no-joking piece.

Don't agree overall. The top to bottom roster is better and as I said the team can sign Diggs and Allen and more than get by in 2026.

If the team feels that Terry's last season with the club is 2026 then perhaps we go all in on veterans at WR for the season and then address WR NEXT offseason the way we addressed the DL this year with Oweh, Chaisson, Omenihu and Settle.

You can't do everything with the number of picks we have in 2026.

We are going to end up with ONE impact player at #7, perhaps TWO if we are able to trade down to say #11 or #12 and pick up extra pick early in the draft.

Aiyuk at 28 or 29 isn't Justin Jefferson or CeeDee Lamb, in fact he's going into his 6th NFL season and has two 1,000 yard campaigns.

At the same point of his career Terry McLaurin had four or five 1,000 yard seasons playing with a lot less complementary talent at RB, WR, TE and indeed at quarterback.

 

[Dlts20]

 

[bifflog]

Don't agree overall. The top to bottom roster is better and as I said the team can sign Diggs and Allen and more than get by in 2026.

If the team feels that Terry's last season with the club is 2026 then perhaps we go all in on veterans at WR for the season and then address WR NEXT offseason the way we addressed the DL this year with Oweh, Chaisson, Omenihu and Settle.

You can't do everything with the number of picks we have in 2026.

We are going to end up with ONE impact player at #7, perhaps TWO if we are able to trade down to say #11 or #12 and pick up extra pick early in the draft.

Aiyuk at 28 or 29 isn't Justin Jefferson or CeeDee Lamb, in fact he's going into his 6th NFL season and has two 1,000 yard campaigns.

At the same point of his career Terry McLaurin had four or five 1,000 yard seasons playing with a lot less complementary talent at RB, WR, TE and indeed at quarterback.

I don't really care about Aiyuk specifically, I care about a ~600 yard chunk of production that can be shaped like whatever human being fits the bill. His situation feels like a market inefficiency we should exploit, but if we don't, whatever.

The offense doing what it did in 2024 seems lucky in hindsight; Terry is Terry + 2 more years of wear, Chig is a longer term equivalent to Ertz and White is a professional catching RB in the mold of Eckeler, therefore we have only managed to maybe kinda replicate that 2024 setup.

 

[Dlts20]

We have to do something. Trying is not enough. It sucks to see Maye, Nix, and Williams always adding weapons and we aren't getting any receivers for Jayden. The only one we do have, we played with him last year until he got hurt. We need to get 2 top guys, whether that's Aiyuk and someone else

 

[Canuck]

NSIAP, DEN sent a 1st, 3rd and 4th to MIA for Waddle & a 4th .... seems rich

 

[Riggo44]

Here’s a thought… we don’t all have to agree on any particular player. It’s not a personal insult or some transgression because another fan views a player differently. It shouldn’t wound you personally

 

[clskinsfan]

The only one we do have, we played with him last year

We played with him? He was under contract already. Who played with who exactly?

 

[Dah-Dee]

Source: Eagles, WR Hollywood Brown agree to one-year deal

The Eagles and receiver Hollywood Brown agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth up to $6.5 million, a league source confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday.

www.espn.com

Meanwhile....

 

[Dlts20]

We played with him? He was under contract already. Who played with who exactly?

Stop it. You can say that about a million different players. Do you say the same when teams cut guys with a ton of money left to pay on their contract?

 

[BayouBrave86]

Holy overpay for Waddle by the Broncos. Yikes. Afraid of what that does to the Brian Thomas market. Would take Brian Thomas ever day of the week over Waddle but he ain’t worth a first and third

 

[Canuck]

Holy overpay for Waddle by the Broncos. Yikes. Afraid of what that does to the Brian Thomas market. Would take Brian Thomas ever day of the week over Waddle but he ain’t worth a first and third

Yeah, I don't get it at all.

Waddle can't stay healthy and hasn't justified his draft posotion, save for maybe 1 season

 

[RexTomb]

Source: Eagles, WR Hollywood Brown agree to one-year deal

The Eagles and receiver Hollywood Brown agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth up to $6.5 million, a league source confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday.

www.espn.com

Hollywood Brown is a classic underachiever/draft bust who has squandered every opportunity he has had. And he can't stay healthy. I wouldn't say this is a much better signing than dumpster bin selections. This is akin to shopping at Goodwill.

 

[Dah-Dee]

Hollywood Brown is a classic underachiever/draft bust who has squandered every opportunity he has had. And he can't stay healthy. I wouldn't say this is a much better signing than dumpster bin selections. This is akin to shopping at Goodwill.

View attachment 14398

Maybe like:

 

[RexTomb]

Maybe like:

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[MartinC]

Burks, Aiyuk, and a rookie behind Terry is a risky strategy.

It’s not a strategy it’s a prayer.

They know they can’t go into the season without adding at least two more starter level WRs. It’s a deep draft at WR and there will be other options as we go post draft and into training camp with releases and maybe trade options.

A lot of time yet.

 

[Dlts20]

Holy overpay for Waddle by the Broncos. Yikes. Afraid of what that does to the Brian Thomas market. Would take Brian Thomas ever day of the week over Waddle but he ain’t worth a first and third

Yeah, I don't get it at all.

Waddle can't stay healthy and hasn't justified his draft posotion, save for maybe 1 season

I don't see the over pay. Waddle hasn't hardly missed any games in his career so I'm not understanding the healthy part. Denver was one game away from the SB last year so you could argue that their 1st and 3rd is basically a 2nd and 4th.

Plus they swapped 4th round picks allowing the Broncos to move up probably over 20 spots. Then I think Miami is paying his contract this year so it looks like a great deal to me. He's a good receiver when Tua is healthy.

 

[Canuck]

I don't see the over pay. Waddle hasn't hardly missed any games in his career so I'm not understanding the healthy part. Denver was one game away from the SB last year so you could argue that their 1st and 3rd is basically a 2nd and 4th.

Plus they swapped 4th round picks allowing the Broncos to move up probably over 20 spots. Then I think Miami is paying his contract this year so it looks like a great deal to me. He's a good receiver when Tua is healthy.

You are right about his health, not sure why I thought he played very little (maybe had to do with less production the past 2 years compared to his first 3).

Still think its a bit rich with a 1st and 3rd, but I guess the market it is whatever someone is willing to pay.

 

[Skinfanjon]

Yeah, I don't get it at all.

Waddle can't stay healthy and hasn't justified his draft posotion, save for maybe 1 season

It’s because Sean Payton is an arrogant prick who doesn’t understand trade value or market value contracts and constantly oversteps his coaching expertise to lock down players he gets infatuated with.Unfortunately he’s a good enough coach that he frequently finds *most* of his way out of the mess he creates.