The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[clskinsfan]

 

[RWJ]

It is costly, but it’s an investment in the future. They are developing worldwide fan bases for these teams. We’ve already seen it happen in Europe. Long-term the globalization of the game will keep the revenue flowing in, even if Americans eventually get tired of being squeezed.

True, but again cash flow from other countries may be in question and not flow like it currently does in the USA.

 

[RWJ]

LOL, maybe to retire as a Giant. I just can't see him being a force anymore as a WR. JMO.

 

[clskinsfan]

LOL, maybe to retire as a Giant. I just can't see him being a force anymore as a WR. JMO.

I agree with you. But it is not to retire. They are signing him apparently.

 

[Commander Wraith]

I agree with you. But it is not to retire. They are signing him apparently.

He got a taste at the flag football game, lol

 

[RWJ]

I agree with you. But it is not to retire. They are signing him apparently.

I get you but I don't see it working out and he being cut in the end. Oh well, it's Beckham and the Giants. LOL

 

[Bulldog]

One thing I don’t want to do is go cheap at WR in terms of no investments of younger talent and do what Reid did to Mahomes the past couple of years where he was out there with a declining Travis Kelce and free agent pickups like Hollywood Brown and DeAndre Hopkins, who at 37 is close to done.

If you have a franchise quarterback help him out first and worry about an inside linebacker in Round 3 or later free agency.

The team isn’t in all likelihood going to be able to get Love and he’s the only non- receiver that’s a sure bet to impact the offense in 2026.

 

[Dah-Dee]

I would be shocked if this happens. Cant really see anyone taking on that contract.

Totally agree it'd be foolish to take on the existing contract, but I can see something happening.

It's known that Shanahan and Peters are close friends, and that the two spent a good amount of time together at the GM meetings. My guess is Peters told Kyle, look, I get it, you can't just cave and let him go right away after the way things went down, it'd set a bad precedent. So let's wait until after the draft, then we'll swap 2027 7's with you and I'll handle the contract situation.

Then Peters goes to Aiyuk, with SF blessing, and says look, we've heard you want to play with JD, right? Well I know for a fact he wants to play with you, he won't stop telling me. Here's what we can do to make sure that happens. We'll trade a ham sandwich to SF for you, BUT only if we renegotiate your contract. We need to do that because you haven't played in almost 2 years and we'd look like idiots for taking on those current cap hits in that situation. So let's do a new deal, one year for something like $15M, with bonuses based on participation/production that can get you to $20M. Then, if we're all happy with the way things are going after that year, we can do a new deal with no 'get to play with JD' discount. You'll be able to test the market after what we all hope is a great season, and we'll pay fair value.

That's my guess on how things might work out.

 

[Discobob]

Totally agree it'd be foolish to take on the existing contract, but I can see something happening.

It's known that Shanahan and Peters are close friends, and that the two spent a good amount of time together at the GM meetings. My guess is Peters told Kyle, look, I get it, you can't just cave and let him go right away after the way things went down, it'd set a bad precedent. So let's wait until after the draft, then we'll swap 2027 7's with you and I'll handle the contract situation.

Then Peters goes to Aiyuk, with SF blessing, and says look, we've heard you want to play with JD, right? Well I know for a fact he wants to play with you, he won't stop telling me. Here's what we can do to make sure that happens. We'll trade a ham sandwich to SF for you, BUT only if we renegotiate your contract. We need to do that because you haven't played in almost 2 years and we'd look like idiots for taking on those current cap hits. So let's do a new deal, one year for something like $15M, with bonuses based on participation/production that can get you to $20M. Then, if we're all happy with the way things are going after that year, we can do a new deal with no 'get to play with JD' discount.

That's my guess on how things might work out.

Make it a Roast Beef Sandwich and I'm in.

 

[Conn]

Schefter earning his schillings here, pushing this for the 49ers

 

[Conn]

You cannot in any situation negotiate with Aiyuk/his agent with his current contract as the starting point. No way you get them to accept the pay cut it would take to make sense. Just optics-wise, it’s bad. I don’t see them doing it.

He needs to be cut and starting negotiations from “jobless” for this to work.

Also at this point, I’m just not giving the 49ers jack shit. No. They only have leverage over the player, who they very publicly don’t want to move forward with. They have no leverage over us and I’m not giving it to them just to make them feel better.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

EIDT: I didn't notice it was Schefter.

I just got the conversation between John Lynch and Adam Schefter. Don't ask how I got it...
John Lynch: Hey, Adam! Guess what?
Adam Schefter: Hey guy, what's up?
Lynch: We're going to trade Aiyuk somewhere during the draft!
Schefter: Great, to who?
Lynch: NO IDEA! But can you please let everybody know! It's going to be huge! You'll be the first on the story!
Schefter: Um, that's pretty thin information there...
Lynch: When have we ever led you astray?
Schefter: well..
Lynch: (cuts him off) Just trust us and make sure you report it FAR AND WIDE!
Schefter: I dunno
Lynch: Do this for us. We'll tell you about all the things!
Schefter: You already do.
Lynch: Ok, then steak dinner?
Schefter: Done.

 

[Bulldog]

I agree.

Aiyuk is a couple of cards short of a full deck.

 

[Dlts20]

LOL, maybe to retire as a Giant. I just can't see him being a force anymore as a WR. JMO.

Remember that he did play for Harbaugh in Baltimore

 

[Bulldog]

Beckham hasn't been a starting WR with consistent production in a number of years.

 

[heisenberg]

He needs to be cut and starting negotiations from “jobless” for this to work.

I dont doubt this because its does seem to be the standard in the nfl but do you know why that is?
why cant the niners give aiyuk permission to negotiate a new contract with us as though hes already been released and then work out some level of fair compensation?

Also at this point, I’m just not giving the 49ers jack shit. No. They only have leverage over the player, who they very publicly don’t want to move forward with. They have no leverage over us and I’m not giving it to them just to make them feel better.

It does feel like the niners are having their cake and eating it too a little here.
They came out strong and publicly that he was done as a niner so they could justify canceling his guarantees and now they're acting like that didn't happen and the contract is the same one aiyuk signed two years ago.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[Conn]

I dont doubt this because its does seem to be the standard in the nfl but do you know why that is?
why cant the niners give aiyuk permission to negotiate a new contract with us as though hes already been released and then work out some level of fair compensation?

It’s not that they can’t allow it, they can. It’s that from our perspective, starting from his current contract and working backwards does not end in a win for us. We’ll need the contract ripped up and Aiyuk a true FA before we can negotiate the 1/12 or whatever he’ll demand. I prefer 2/20+ with half guaranteed, so that if it’s a worthwhile investment we’re not negotiating with a nutcase immediately a year from now.

But either way you aren’t getting his agent to cut his current contract down to those levels if it’s a negotiation that starts with a current WR1 contract. Imo of course

 

[RWJ]

As others have said, IF AP were to even trade our 7th for Aiyuk, credibility would be hanging by a thread.

 

[HTTR]

It’s not that they can’t allow it, they can. It’s that from our perspective, starting from his current contract and working backwards does not end in a win for us. We’ll need the contract ripped up and Aiyuk a true FA before we can negotiate the 1/12 or whatever he’ll demand. I prefer 2/20+ with half guaranteed, so that if it’s a worthwhile investment we’re not negotiating with a nutcase immediately a year from now.

But either way you aren’t getting his agent to cut his current contract down to those levels if it’s a negotiation that starts with a current WR1 contract. Imo of course

I agree with you in theory, but Aiyuk is going to want to try to save face a little bit as well. And we have somewhat backed ourselves into a corner where we really need him. A little bit of an overpay is fine. We have the cap space burning a hole in our pocket anyway, and it’s only going to be for a year, maybe two. I would be OK with throwing San Fran a ham sandwich to get this done sooner than later and get him into our organization with plenty of time to get up to speed. If we don’t wind up taking Tate at 7, I can see this happening.