The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Conn]

 

[DWinzit]

That makes Commanders fans better about Aiyuk. Yet you still can't count on him signing until he does and then there's his health and the fact that he missed a year...

He can't be counted on a WR2 the way some fans seem to be thinking.

This would be so much easier if we had our 2nd rounder

 

[Dlts20]

This is before last season but easily one of my favorite guys right now and it's crazy that I trust him so much no matter what dominant edge we go against. Definitely worth the trade and contract and that's not including all of the leadership he brings off the field. Just a well balanced person.

 

[Dlts20]

I'm all in. They tried to ruin his rep but if you do something like this then your teammates hate you and will talk bad about you yet everyone in SF talks well about him, including the receiver coach. I think that he will have a chip on his shoulder and is ready to ball. I feel like he's fully healthy and ready as soon as he's released. Probably will be running routes with Jayden nonstop, instantly.

 

[Higskin]

That makes Commanders fans better about Aiyuk. Yet you still can't count on him signing until he does and then there's his health and the fact that he missed a year...

He can't be counted on a WR2 the way some fans seem to be thinking.

This would be so much easier if we had our 2nd rounder

That guy Mike Ginnetti from Spotrac on with Kevin Sheehan yesterday said he guessed some type of contract with a base of $7-8 mil and incentives up to $14 mil. He didn't think any team would go much higher due to risk.

I will say though, delaying to June 2nd does give him more time to train and heal.

 

[Discobob]

That makes Commanders fans better about Aiyuk. Yet you still can't count on him signing until he does and then there's his health and the fact that he missed a year...

He can't be counted on a WR2 the way some fans seem to be thinking.

This would be so much easier if we had our 2nd rounder

I'm totally in the tank for WR at 7 and sign Aiyuk... I'm not looking to walk away from Terry after next season, but he has to have a very good year to justify the $34M cap hit (w/ $18M savings)...

 

[KDawg]

At this point we could pay Terry another 40M / year and still be under the cap

 

[MartinC]

I believe Jennings is waiting until after the draft to see if his value increases. Teams still need receivers and if they can't draft one they like is when we will them start bidding on Jennings and Diggs.

That would be a very risky strategy on his part. Cap space gets used up and potential landing spots dry up. It can pay off if a team that needs a receiver (like us) fails to land someone - but if I was advising the player I’d say the downside risk is higher than the upside.

 

[bowhunter]

Is it too late to lose another game before draft day?

 

[heisenberg]

This would be so much easier if we had our 2nd rounder

Yup, but then we'd be talking about how we hope Williams gets released so we can have a reunion and solidify our offensive line and protect jayden.

Sometimes theres a silver lining.

Kind of like the silver lining of having to wait for aiyuk.

If the knee was junk or he was certain to be some crazy locker room cancer to his next team the niners wouldn't be doing this, they'd say good riddance and part ways, sending him off to his next victim.

The niners know there's a good chance he'll be very productive and are trying to everything they can to prevent that.

 

[Discobob]

At this point we could pay Terry another 40M / year and still be under the cap

We definitely could.... I think it would be an incredible waste of $$$...

My preference would be to see them spend closer to the cap, but if they aren't at least they are banking money for the future Daniels extension!

 

[Conn]

That would be a very risky strategy on his part. Cap space gets used up and potential landing spots dry up. It can pay off if a team that needs a receiver (like us) fails to land someone - but if I was advising the player I’d say the downside risk is higher than the upside.

Yeah that’s a fast track to a 1 yr prove-it deal for him. If he’s holding out over a few million per year on a longer term contract at this point then he’s a dummy. You don’t get MORE guarantees and security the longer you wait at this stage in FA, you get less

 

[Dah-Dee]

Probably will be running routes with Jayden nonstop, instantly.

As quiet as JD5 and Aiyuk have both been on social media, my guess is that's already happening.

 

[DWinzit]

As quiet as JD5 and Aiyuk have both been on social media, my guess is that's already happening.

In a lot of ways, it seems like a done deal and the Niners know it and are pissed.

(until he signs, it isn't really done though)

 

[Dlts20]

As quiet as JD5 and Aiyuk have both been on social media, my guess is that's already happening.

That's exactly how I felt when I read about Jayden vouching for how good he looks. Even before that, I was thinking that I could even see them sneaking him a playbook or at least going over some concepts so that he's somewhat up to speed when he gets here

 

[Chris]

That's exactly how I felt when I read about Jayden vouching for how good he looks. Even before that, I was thinking that I could even see them sneaking him a playbook or at least going over some concepts so that he's somewhat up to speed when he gets here

Is there a playbook yet?

 

[Dah-Dee]

Is there a playbook yet?

Maybe, I did find what appears to be a page from whatever our daycare-graduate offensive staff is masterminding:

 

[DCSkinz2023]

We've gotta be trying to unload Payne, we have the depth and what's the point of keeping him. Are we really going to re-sign him to another 3 yr deal at 30 yrs old? Doubt it, get him outta here and collect some draft capital, makes no sense to keep him here with a year left on his contract.

 

[Anselmheifer]

We've gotta be trying to unload Payne, we have the depth and what's the point of keeping him. Are we really going to re-sign him to another 3 yr deal at 30 yrs old? Doubt it, get him outta here and collect some draft capital, makes no sense to keep him here with a year left on his contract.

Because it’s essential we win this year, and I don’t think we’d get much for him. Would I move him for a 3rd? Sure. But I think we’d be looking at a 5th or later.

 

[DCSkinz2023]

That's sad, almost a $28MM cap hit and we can only get a 5th.? Ouch