The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Conn]

 

[skinsinparadise]

3. DREW STEVENS, Iowa (6-1, 214, 7-FA): Assumed the job early in his freshman year and held it throughout four seasons. Finished with 76 of 95 (80%) and 124 of 126 extra points. Was 32 of 48 (66.7%) from 40-plus, including 12 of 19 (63.2%) from 50-plus. Long was 58 against Oregon in 2025. “He might have the most powerful leg of all but I’m just not sold on him,” one coach said. “In terms of career accuracy he’s the least of the top four. He’s not been great in the clutch. He’s really powerful and a big guy, but I don’t like his technique as much as the other three.” Made four game-winning field goals in a 53-game career. Hit from 51 on a windy day at the Senior Bowl. Kicked off 261 times for 62.1, 149 touchbacks and five out of bounds. “He came out and everybody said he was the best kicker,” another coach said. “Didn’t do very well at the NFL combine. That’s a bad place to have a bad day.” Played soccer in high school. From North Augusta, S.C.

Part 12, ST: The kicking revolution is here

What's a 60-yard kick anymore? Bob McGinn's series concludes with a look a third of the game that's changing before our eyes. (And, yes, he ranks the best long snappers in this year's draft class.)

www.golongtd.com

 

[Faithful Fan]

If Dyami didn't get it going well enough to earn a second contract here and the Jags were eager to let him go and then we re-sign him for basically vet min plus a ham sandwich, I just don't think he's going to get it going.

I do love that he went down to LA to work out with Terry and Jayden so maybe I'm wrong (that would be great) but I just don't have much faith in him. Not that I really have that much faith in McCaffrey or Burks to be fair.

Dyami Brown has been in the league 5 years and shown nothing. Burks can be blamed partially on injuries, at least, and LMC has kick return capabilities. Of our lottery tickets, Brown is the longest shot.

We will see about Dyami. I get where you’re coming from, I just have a feeling about that one.

Another prospect I like more than most fans is Luke McCaffery. Not only does he have the all-pro family pedigree and proven special teams chops, but he has made the most of his limited opportunities.

Luke only took about 30% of the snaps in the 9 games he played last year, but he scored three touchdowns and had a 50-yard catch, a 33-yard catch, and this beautiful sideline grab:



Also 74% catch percentage, zero drops, and zero fumbles.

Like a lot of our WR room, there is unrealized potential there. With the addition of Antonio and a hopefully healthy Terry, I feel a lot better about this position group than most.

 

[RWJ]

I don't see how that would affect us. We signed so many FAs and spent so much money this year in FA, compensation was thrown out the window a long time ago.

 

[Conn]

I don't see how that would affect us. We signed so many FAs and spent so much money this year in FA, compensation was thrown out the window a long time ago.

For sure. Just an informational post, given it impacts other franchises we may be in competition with for remaining FA’s

 

[Dlts20]

Jesus. If we actually want him, give up a 7th next year and get him the fuck to minimize-camps. I feel like everyone is taking a moral stand here, not on the board here, but in the respective front offices. Just be practical. If he is your projected outside receiver, have him accept a renegotiated contract and give up a 2027 7th.

And if Aiyuk isn’t your projected 2nd outside receiver, sign Jennings or Diggs and wait it out.

Also, we still need more pieces in the secondary.

The problem is if you trade for him then you accept his contract. That's why literally no team is trading for him. If they release him then we can draft up a new contract for much cheaper

 

[method man]

On the Aiyuk thing, if AP folds, he is a mark

 

[CapsCommies]

On the Aiyuk thing, if AP folds, he is a mark

Just imagine he's hurt and won't be ready till Week 9. That's worst case scenario if SF holds onto him until 9/1 and then he has to work his way into football shape and learn the playbook. It's not that bad a situation; we ought to be winning games without him..

 

[prodigy]

We will see about Dyami. I get where you’re coming from, I just have a feeling about that one.

Another prospect I like more than most fans is Luke McCaffery. Not only does he have the all-pro family pedigree and proven special teams chops, but he has made the most of his limited opportunities.

Luke only took about 30% of the snaps in the 9 games he played last year, but he scored three touchdowns and had a 50-yard catch, a 33-yard catch, and this beautiful sideline grab:



Also 74% catch percentage, zero drops, and zero fumbles.

Like a lot of our WR room, there is unrealized potential there. With the addition of Antonio and a hopefully healthy Terry, I feel a lot better about this position group than most.

between luke, lane, and sinnott, I think at least one of them emerges this year. my money would be on luke since he showed something last year.

 

[Dah-Dee]

between luke, lane, and sinnott, I think at least one of them emerges this year. my money would be on luke since he showed something last year.

Agree, more hopeful about McCaffrey than any of the other pre-draft receiving options. Sinnott in particular has been very disappointing.

Would still feel a lot better about the floor for this group if we at least brought Deebo back.

 

[Anselmheifer]

The problem is if you trade for him then you accept his contract. That's why literally no team is trading for him. If they release him then we can draft up a new contract for much cheaper

On the Aiyuk thing, if AP folds, he is a mark

I don’t think either of these is true.

If you trade for him, you can pre-negotiate his new contract.

And if you plan for a guy to be your #2 Wr, in your franchise QB’s contract year, and a make or break year for the coaching staff, and you give up a 7th to get him in May instead of September, you’re not proving you’re a mark. You’re proving you’re practical.

On the other hand, if AP doesn’t view him as that important, if he thinks he’s just taking out a flyer on a guy, I wouldn’t give up anything.

I think it would be asinine to bring in a key cog to your offense in a critical year, with no training camp, instead of giving up a 7th.

But maybe they don’t view it that way. Maybe they plan on Jennings, or a trade, or just think of Jennings as a lotto ticket and not someone they expect to step I. As WR2.

 

[Dlts20]

I don’t think either of these is true.

If you trade for him, you can pre-negotiate his new contract.

And if you plan for a guy to be your #2 Wr, in your franchise QB’s contract year, and a make or break year for the coaching staff, and you give up a 7th to get him in May instead of September, you’re not proving you’re a mark. You’re proving you’re practical.

On the other hand, if AP doesn’t view him as that important, if he thinks he’s just taking out a flyer on a guy, I wouldn’t give up anything.

I think it would be asinine to bring in a key cog to your offense in a critical year, with no training camp, instead of giving up a 7th.

But maybe they don’t view it that way. Maybe they plan on Jennings, or a trade, or just think of Jennings as a lotto ticket and not someone they expect to step I. As WR2.

But where are you getting this ptrnegotiation from because I haven't seen it anywhere but fans on here. No team has attempted to sign him is telling me that isn't true

 

[method man]

I don’t think either of these is true.

If you trade for him, you can pre-negotiate his new contract.

And if you plan for a guy to be your #2 Wr, in your franchise QB’s contract year, and a make or break year for the coaching staff, and you give up a 7th to get him in May instead of September, you’re not proving you’re a mark. You’re proving you’re practical.

On the other hand, if AP doesn’t view him as that important, if he thinks he’s just taking out a flyer on a guy, I wouldn’t give up anything.

I think it would be asinine to bring in a key cog to your offense in a critical year, with no training camp, instead of giving up a 7th.

But maybe they don’t view it that way. Maybe they plan on Jennings, or a trade, or just think of Jennings as a lotto ticket and not someone they expect to step I. As WR2.

I wish I could play against you in Hold em

 

[burgold]

I don’t think either of these is true.

If you trade for him, you can pre-negotiate his new contract.

And if you plan for a guy to be your #2 Wr, in your franchise QB’s contract year, and a make or break year for the coaching staff, and you give up a 7th to get him in May instead of September, you’re not proving you’re a mark. You’re proving you’re practical.

On the other hand, if AP doesn’t view him as that important, if he thinks he’s just taking out a flyer on a guy, I wouldn’t give up anything.

I think it would be asinine to bring in a key cog to your offense in a critical year, with no training camp, instead of giving up a 7th.

But maybe they don’t view it that way. Maybe they plan on Jennings, or a trade, or just think of Jennings as a lotto ticket and not someone they expect to step I. As WR2.

There's a major danger in trading for a guy and buying their contract and then demanding they accept a major pay cut. If I were Aiyuk or if I were Aiyuk's agent, I'd be open to renegotiating, but it'd be about shuffling money around without losing anything. In other words, cap shenanigans that equal the client either not losing anything or making a little bit more when all is said or done. After all, what is the team trading for him going to do? Cut him? And lose the draft pick for nothing?

The other thing to keep in mind is everything fell apart with Aiyuk and the 49ers because both Aiyuk's side and hte 49ers played hardball during the last contract which led to a relationship that completely broke down. If we immediately demand Aiyuk take a pay cut I think there's a high chance Aiyuk becomes an unhappy puppy.

 

[36ST21]

I wish I could play against you in Hold em

I'd like to play as well, but I am not good. To make it even, you could smoke some of the same stuff that makes folks think that Dyami will break out or that Burks will go for 500 yards and 4+ TDs.

Don't get me wrong, I want those guys to do well. I just don't think their collective track record makes it at all likely that they will. WR won't be fixed until WAS trades 2027 and 2028 FRPs to move up for J. Smith.

 

[heisenberg]

OK let's look at what we know.

The niners have said that aiyuk has played his last down for them, he has no guaranteed money left and they will never pay him another nickel but they dont have to pay him anything until September 1st so theres no rush or motivation to release him.

We all agree no team is going to trade for him under his current deal, I dont think a single person has even suggested otherwise.

So why is it so crazy to think aiyuk would be wise to assume hes negotiating from zero regardless of whether he waits until thats a fact or just inevitable like it is right now?

Somebody please explain to me how he benefits instead of just saying he'd be stupid to do it.

 

[method man]

On Aiyuk, I am fine waiting until 9/1. Once he gets cut, if he misses camp, I have doubt anyone gives him a 53 man contract off the bat. What tends to happen in a situation like this if a guy is not in football shape is he signs to the practice squad for a few weeks to get ramped. The risk to him, of course, is he is on a practice squad contract until he gets handed his 53 man contract. We did this with Burks midseason for example

Given they are probably already practicing together, I doubt there will be major chemistry issues between Jayden and Aiyuk.

I would sign Jennings as an additional outside receiver.

Odds with this strategy is one of Terry, Jennings and Williams goes down with something in the first few weeks and you then activate Aiyuk in late September or October. Aiyuk can play both inside and outside and, if he has lost something, he may benefit from playing more slot where his route running can shine

 

[method man]

Separately, I wonder when post draft cuts start to happen. I believe we cut Moses after rookie minicamp when Cosmi looked like he could play RT

 

[Dlts20]

I don’t think either of these is true.

If you trade for him, you can pre-negotiate his new contract.

And if you plan for a guy to be your #2 Wr, in your franchise QB’s contract year, and a make or break year for the coaching staff, and you give up a 7th to get him in May instead of September, you’re not proving you’re a mark. You’re proving you’re practical.

On the other hand, if AP doesn’t view him as that important, if he thinks he’s just taking out a flyer on a guy, I wouldn’t give up anything.

I think it would be asinine to bring in a key cog to your offense in a critical year, with no training camp, instead of giving up a 7th.

But maybe they don’t view it that way. Maybe they plan on Jennings, or a trade, or just think of Jennings as a lotto ticket and not someone they expect to step I. As WR2.

I still don't see this dragging out to September. It's far too big of a distraction. You can get away with it now but when everyone is mandatorily there and are being asked about it daily, everyone would be on their heels to cut him. He's here by July at the latest but probably June. Hopefully sooner.

The crazy part is that when it's done, SF is going to passive aggressively tell AP that he owes them one for not dragging it out until September when they have already been exhausted and still didn't released him for us but because it was becoming a distraction to them.

 

[CapsCommies]

I still don't see this dragging out to September. It's far too big of a distraction. You can get away with it now but when everyone is mandatorily there and are being asked about it daily, everyone would be on their heels to cut him. He's here by July at the latest but probably June. Hopefully sooner.

The crazy part is that when it's done, SF is going to passive aggressively tell AP that he owes them one for not dragging it out until September when they have already been exhausted and still didn't released him for us but because it was becoming a distraction to them.

They might run it down to the wire in case a receiver somewhere gets hurt in camp and the team panics and offers a pick/pick swap