The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Dlts20]

 

[Dlts20]

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.

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Man screw SF. I honestly willing to wait until September for Aiyuk. We should add someone but even if not, I think that Terry and Chig can lead the way with a committee of Luke, Dyami, and Burk helping out. I know that Aiyuk will be training so I'm willing to wait and continue to let SF look bad. If we waited for our own guy in Terry then we can definitely wait for another teams guy who may be damaged goods anyways.

No one is going to trade for him and he wants to be here so wait it out in the worst case. I think eventually they will get the hint and let him go sooner than that anyways. If not then he should force the issue, show up to camps and if they send him home get the PA involved. All of the media and nfl will start to rip them.

 

[Dlts20]

I love Logans insight

 

[method man]

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!

I don't think this is coming from Lynch and Shanahan. I bet this is coming from York and Marathe. Marathe is someone no one outside Niners land has heard of but he is a very powerful force in their front office

 

[method man]

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

Just so you know, this guy is seen as the JLC of the Niners by Niners fans

 

[ES1974]

Just agree to trade LMC to the 49ers in one transaction, on the basis they release Aiyuk. We then pick him up.

Couple of their 4th round comp picks would do it for me.

 

[philibusters]

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.

Aiyuk actually turned 28

 

[RexTomb]

I love Logans insight

I don't quite understand if there was an answer to the question that was posed. I do think it's interesting that he basically intimates that Biadizc may have been making calls and protections to make himself look better as opposed to what is best for the play design.

 

[Ashburn Dave]

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

Let's make a deal and I'll throw in a 5th.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Let's make a deal and I'll throw in a 5th.

View attachment 14402

I think there should be some type of penalty, ban or fine for inducing Dan Snyder PTSD.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Man screw SF. I honestly willing to wait until September for Aiyuk. We should add someone but even if not, I think that Terry and Chig can lead the way with a committee of Luke, Dyami, and Burk helping out. I know that Aiyuk will be training so I'm willing to wait and continue to let SF look bad. If we waited for our own guy in Terry then we can definitely wait for another teams guy who may be damaged goods anyways.

No one is going to trade for him and he wants to be here so wait it out in the worst case. I think eventually they will get the hint and let him go sooner than that anyways. If not then he should force the issue, show up to camps and if they send him home get the PA involved. All of the media and nfl will start to rip them.

We can’t wait until September to solve the problem.

If we solve the problem and then sign Aiyuk in September as an added bonus, ok fine.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Just agree to trade LMC to the 49ers in one transaction, on the basis they release Aiyuk. We then pick him up.

Couple of their 4th round comp picks would do it for me.

I wouldn’t do that for a couple of reasons:

1. We can’t negotiate with Aiyuk before he is released
2. If he’s released he can sign with anybody
3. If we use a handshake agreement with him to come here it’s tampering and a violation of league rules and other teams would be pissed
4. It violates the spurt of trade rules. Ie: circumvents taking the contract by having a wink wink nudge nudge agreement. The league wouldn’t like that.
5. There’s nothing stopping Aiyuk from getting released and choosing another team. And then we’re stuck having traded McCaffery and have neither.

This is simple: they release Aiyuk and we sign him.

Until that happens we sit tight and assume he doesn’t exist.

 

[ES1974]

I wouldn’t do that for a couple of reasons:

1. We can’t negotiate with Aiyuk before he is released
2. If he’s released he can sign with anybody
3. If we use a handshake agreement with him to come here it’s tampering and a violation of league rules and other teams would be pissed
4. It violates the spurt of trade rules. Ie: circumvents taking the contract by having a wink wink nudge nudge agreement. The league wouldn’t like that.
5. There’s nothing stopping Aiyuk from getting released and choosing another team. And then we’re stuck having traded McCaffery and have neither.

This is simple: they release Aiyuk and we sign him.

Until that happens we sit tight and assume he doesn’t exist.

I think AP, the 49ers, and Aiyuk’s camp will already be in discussions on this subject, so I actually see all 5 points as moot in this case.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I think AP, the 49ers, and Aiyuk’s camp will already be in discussions on this subject, so I actually see all 5 points as moot in this case.

They can’t do it. It’s essentially against the rules. If we had an agreement with Aiyuk before he hits FA the league would violate the contract.

Trust me on this. It can’t happen as much as you might want it to.

 

[DWinzit]

They can’t do it. It’s essentially against the rules. If we had an agreement with Aiyuk before he hits FA the league would violate the contract.

Trust me on this. It can’t happen as much as you might want it to.

Well then, we should keep our interest in him a secret...shhhhhhh

 

[Dah-Dee]

Well then, we should keep our interest in him a secret...shhhhhhh

 

[Discobob]

I wouldn’t do that for a couple of reasons:

1. We can’t negotiate with Aiyuk before he is released
2. If he’s released he can sign with anybody
3. If we use a handshake agreement with him to come here it’s tampering and a violation of league rules and other teams would be pissed
4. It violates the spurt of trade rules. Ie: circumvents taking the contract by having a wink wink nudge nudge agreement. The league wouldn’t like that.
5. There’s nothing stopping Aiyuk from getting released and choosing another team. And then we’re stuck having traded McCaffery and have neither.

This is simple: they release Aiyuk and we sign him.

Until that happens we sit tight and assume he doesn’t exist.

What would we trade LMC for in a vacuum? A 4th? If so...

LMC -> Aiyuk + 4th

We basically send Luke for market value and spring Aiyuk free in the process.

 

[DWinzit]

^ And I'd assume Aiyuk would need to pass a full medical eval
(some might suggest a psych eval as well)

 

[Conn]

They can’t do it. It’s essentially against the rules. If we had an agreement with Aiyuk before he hits FA the league would violate the contract.

Trust me on this. It can’t happen as much as you might want it to.

The 49ers have the right to allow him to discuss terms with another team as part of a potential trade (that doesn’t have to actually happen).

Of course, their whole role in this situation right now is that they clearly don’t want to do this dude any favors, so that’s expecting a lot. They won’t do it. But they could.

So the idea isn’t realistic for other reasons, but not impossible or illegal, necessarily. They hold his rights and can grant him/his agent permission to talk terms with another franchise. Even if it eventually leads to a release.

Edit: just want to clarify through that my take on this is that you don’t engage the 49ers at all, in any way. They’ll eventually release him and your plans have to not consider Aiyuk at all until that happens. Garnish on the meal.

 

[ES1974]

^ And I'd assume Aiyuk would need to pass a full medical eval
(some might suggest a psych eval as well)

Interestingly the 49ers just lifted a sizeable salary cap adjustment/benefit through the insurance policy process they follow that’s included in the cap. Ownership insure players to cover injury, pay it from their own pocket, recover some losses that way and gain cap relief in doing so.

Perhaps it would be in their interest to release him with an injury designation, for example. Or something along those lines. Maybe getting Aiyuk formally evaluated is a hold up. Who’s knows.