The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[BayouBrave86]

I’m stoked for Conerly to continue to learn from Tunsil. Conerly was literally thrown into the frying pan last season and think he will end up being a great pro.

 

[clskinsfan]

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?

Here's a thought. Dont sign a contract if you dont intend to honor it.

 

[Dlts20]

Seeing some stuff online about us possibly trading for Achane. Only 24 years old. DO IT.

Saw that too but I can't see it happening

 

[Dlts20]

Here's a thought. Dont sign a contract if you dont intend to honor it.

Man that's owner speak. How about make all contracts fully guaranteed. Then it wouldn't be a problem. Were you OK with us releasing Lattimore? I can't believe how you are so one sided in your view of this when hardly anyone makes it to the end of their contract. We are already talking about letting Terry walk after this season but I'm sure you will be OK with them releasing him while under contract

 

[Discobob]

I smile at these interviews. I mean ‘He’s always looking to score …” As opposed to what? Looking to fall over at the first opportunity?

I don’t blame the players - too much air time and infinite column inches to fill. Too many banal questions and platitudes for answers.

Frank Zappa once said that rock journalism was interviews with people who can’t speak, by people who can’t write for people who can’t read.

I think most sports interviews fall into the same category. Especially true of in-game sideline interviews (not that I mind looking at Erin Andrew’s …)

I don't remember the guy's name, but there was this standup comedian on comedy central in the late 1980s who did a whole bit about how ridiculous it is to have commentators in bowling.

"What would you be looking to do here Jim?"

"Well geez... I don't know.... if it were me, I'd go for the pins, but that's just me..."

 

[MartinC]

A friend of mine has been getting me into hockey. The highlights of the game aren't the scores or even anything on the ice. It's the post-game interviews when I wait for someone to not say "we need to play more physically and get pucks in the net". I have to believe that someday there will be an interview that doesn't include physicality and pucks in the net, but it hasn't happened yet in the half season I've watched,

Not sure if you aware of the Canadian comedy show Letterkenny? (It’s on Hulu). One of the recurring jokes on there is hockey interviews (doing the small things, all four lines banging, playing for our brothers …)

 

[ES1974]

Seeing some stuff online about us possibly trading for Achane. Only 24 years old. DO IT.

What would you be willing to offer?

 

[aledb11]

What would you be willing to offer?

Ill give them a 7th in 2028

 

[heisenberg]

What would you be willing to offer?

Not sure we have what they want but if we could pull that off for reasonable compensation id rather do that and use the 7th pick on something else even if love was there.
And I really want love.

 

[KDawg]

Here’s the problem with trading for Achane. It’s two fold.

1) we have to get out of the trading picks for player business until we have built a strong foundation. Until that happens, we need draft picks as those are the building blocks of a franchise.

2) he’s on the final year of his rookie deal. Many are nervous about using a high draft pick on a running back due to positional value, trading for a guy in the final year of his rookie contract as a RB should be damn near terrifying from that perspective.

I really like the player, though. And he’s young.

 

[Discobob]

More from that guy who's been talking about Aiyuk after the Kittle interview

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I don’t know if this is better in the FA thread or draft thread. We don’t have a trade thread this year so I’m putting it here because most of the Aiyuk conversation has been about him as a FA.

I say no. Because absolutely not taking on Aiyuk’d contract.

 

[Dah-Dee]

I don’t know if this is better in the FA thread or draft thread. We don’t have a trade thread this year so I’m putting it here because most of the Aiyuk conversation has been about him as a FA.

I say no. Because absolutely not taking on Aiyuk’d contract.

View attachment 14401

McCaffrey is my pick to pop this year for the Commanders. Why the hell would we trade the 49ers anything when we can wait until they inevitably release Aiyuk to save massive cap $ and we can just put him on a 1-year prove-it deal?

And they want us to give them something to get them out of the Aiyuk contract?

 

[KDawg]

They likely want McCaffrey specifically because of his brother. I’m not sure he’s going to pop this year or not, but I don’t want that Aiyuk contract

 

[Boone]

Agree. What they got is not having to pay him 30 million dollars. I wouldn't give them anything. Period. If we get Aiyuk, fine. If not, it's not like he's a sure thing by any stretch.

 

[Discobob]

I don’t know if this is better in the FA thread or draft thread. We don’t have a trade thread this year so I’m putting it here because most of the Aiyuk conversation has been about him as a FA.

I say no. Because absolutely not taking on Aiyuk’d contract.

View attachment 14401

I wouldn't do it, but if his contract has no guarantees... couldn't we trade for him, cut him, then sign him?

If that was allowed, I might do a tiny, and I mean TINY pick swap. Like a 6 for a 7. I wouldn't send LMC just to get him a few months earlier.

 

[MartinC]

I don’t know if this is better in the FA thread or draft thread. We don’t have a trade thread this year so I’m putting it here because most of the Aiyuk conversation has been about him as a FA.

I say no. Because absolutely not taking on Aiyuk’d contract.

View attachment 14401

Absolutely not. Fine if Aiyuk is a free agent and is on a cheap ‘prove it’ deal. But no one is taking on the contract he has let alone trading any asset for the right to do so …

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I wouldn't do it, but if his contract has no guarantees... couldn't we trade for him, cut him, then sign him?

If that was allowed, I might do a tiny, and I mean TINY pick swap. Like a 6 for a 7. I wouldn't send LMC just to get him a few months earlier.

If we trade for him an cut him he becomes a free agent and can sign with anybody.

And why would he agree to a restructured contract once he’s been traded for? He has a $21m bonus due in September if I read that correctly.

If we trade for him it would have to come with a new contract whit would essentially wipe out the current contract entirely but I’m not sure that’s even possible under the CBA. Maybe, but I’m not sure.

 

[skinsfan4128]

Got to say, SF is really shitt8ng the bed on this one from a logistical and optics standpoint. Lynch has to know there's no way any team is going to trade for Aiyuk, or more importantly, his contract as it is currently structured. Every GM in the league knows that at some point SF is going to have to cut him loose, so why take on that headache AND give up a pick?

With that said, I have to think that most of the NFL and its fans see SF acting like the scorned ex in this situation (regardless of Aiyuks complicity). SF will/is seen as being extremely petty even using the trade reasoning that seems like a very weak excuse. Id think this is a bad look on the organization and could give the team a self inflicted black eye as players may not want to deal with an organization that treats players in this manner (right or wrong regardless).

Im certainly not saying that Aiyuk is an angel in this, but cooler heads have to prevail. Everyone knows that SF has to cut him inevitably, and everyone knows he's going to Washington. So why create this conundrum for yourself if you're Lynch?

Also, as an aside, I do wonder if Shanny is having a hissy fit behind the scenes about Aiyuk going to Washington. Is he still carrying that grudge even though the perpetrators aren't in the building anymore? Id say its hard to believe, but its possible Kyle is still upset over what occurred with his Dad and Lil Napoleon.

It'd be prudent to just send Aiyuk packing and move on. But something tells me the headlines are going to have to be the driving force for SF to relent.

HTTR!

 

[Skinfanjon]

Here’s the problem with trading for Achane. It’s two fold.

1) we have to get out of the trading picks for player business until we have built a strong foundation. Until that happens, we need draft picks as those are the building blocks of a franchise.

2) he’s on the final year of his rookie deal. Many are nervous about using a high draft pick on a running back due to positional value, trading for a guy in the final year of his rookie contract as a RB should be damn near terrifying from that perspective.

I really like the player, though. And he’s young.

I think the second point mischaracterizes the argument being made by advocates for factoring positional value into drafting an RB at 7. It’s more about salary slotting versus the top of the market for the position.

At RB for example, Achane would probably need a 3 year, $60M extension or something close to it. Highest paid RB given his age and production. Or, if you draft Love, his salary is slotted in at 4 years for $35.5M. Either way, the bust factor is almost zero with both of these guys. They’re both going to be top shelf RBs for the next few years.

At DE, you could sign Jaelan Phillips for 4 years $120M. He’s the best available pass rusher apparently and it’s a real roll of the dice to be honest. What’s he like, 50% to bust? 30%? Or you could draft Bain at 4 years $35.5M. What’s he like, 50% to bust? 30%? Same bust level as Phillips. If he hits, he’s probably delivering as much production as Phillips.

In general, I have no problem at all paying up cash and/or a later pick for an elite RB. It’s the opportunity cost lost in the salary slotting.

Phillips + Love = $155M over 4 years. In exchange, you get a medium level pass rusher today with a high bust rate, an injury history, and who isn’t getting any younger. You’re never signing him to an 2nd contract. And elite RB production.

Bain + Achane = $95.5M over 4 years. In exchange, you get a medium level pass rusher today with a high bust rate, who is young and could be a building block that earns a 2nd contract. And elite RB production.

There’s an extra $60M to spend on the team with the 2nd approach. I get the free agents wouldn’t just play out the full contract, but then there is dead cap and/or expensive replacements if ending up a cut in a couple years.

Doesn’t mean I want to be cheap at RB. Or Safety or LB or TE. No I want to buy those pieces in free agency or trade, on the top shelf of the market, and draft premium positions early. So at 7, I’d say any of the top premium position players available is a wise choice: Tate, Tyson, Lemon, Delane, Bain

And I don’t like Bain and don’t think Peters does either. So that leaves a WR or Delane. If Love actually fell to 7 and we took him, it would be fun to watch and at least we’re investing in Jayden, but WR is the smarter build and move imo.

Obviously this is all really hypothetical but that’s how I think about the concept.