The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[skinsinparadise]

I'm with you SiP - I have been the most annoying staff member bitching about the WR situation for the past several years in particular. The thing people don't realize is, it's not just about surrounding Jayden with a high quality cast in order for him to produce. When you have a young star QB and don't surround him with high quality weapons, you are putting his health at risk - especially a very competitive, athletic QB with elite rushing skills like Jayden. If he doesn't trust the WRs he has, he will hold onto the ball. If his WRs take longer or struggle to get open, he will hold onto the ball. If targets are not open, he will give up on the pass play and take off. All of these things put him at risk. And we saw the worst case scenario unfold just last season where he missed more games than he played in with some serious injuries.

100%.

I've said this before when Kurt Warner did his video about how Jayden regressed from 2024, team sources leaked to Keim-Sheehan that its unfair and Jayden didn't regress but his issue was the WRs weren't running the right routes, and he didn't trust them so hence holding on to the ball. Ok, lol, that's a problem clearly. And that's not on Jayden, that's on the FO.

When a reporter asked a source with the team about why is Chris Moore the X Wr with Terry out despite his struggles? Their response was that he was their only backup Wr who knew the X routes. Cringe.

While the season fell apart because of injuries last season. This FO and coaches were also culprits IMO to their decline. And part of the theme to that was they didn't take Wr seriously and seemed completely unprepared for any contingeny at that spot and relied on hey we got superman at QB, he will figure it out.

That seems to be Grant's point still with Jayden. He's superman so if we want to believe that show us you are superman where you don't need help. It's ironic coming from him considering all of his posts that imply Drake Maye >> Jayden. If Maye is better than Jayden, staying on Grant's theme, Doubs and the crew he has at WR should be plenty and its a sad verdict on Maye that they have to make a trade for AJ Brown -- that action alone should prove that Maye isn't superman.

It seems like the narrative now is heck at least now the floor is higher. Van Jefferson might not be great but he's better than Chris Moore. And Quinn talked about ensuring that the backups learn multiple spots. OK, that's an improvement. But when got some who cover the draft nationally say this Wr room is flirting with being the worst in the NFL, etc -- and we got now a real debate both locally and nationally about whether this FO is properly taking care of Jayden -- the debate is finally having some real life to it. Do you hear the same thing being said about any of the other teams who took QBs in 2024? Nope. It's just a Washington discussion and for good reason.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I just don't believe that they will keep him that long. He's going to show up to all of the mandatory camps and it's going to be a distraction. I think that he will be released from anywhere between the 1st until the 15th

They can keep him until the day before September 1st.

If their ammo according to Rapoport among others is they know he wants to play in Washington and they don't want to help him succeed there -- why would they release him in time for training camp? They've already said they have no hurry to release him and suggested its not happening anytime soon.

 

[Boone]

I posted this in the 'Front Office...' thread, but I asked BGO Oracle (our AI-powered forum) what % of WRs were successful by round taken (I defined successful as producing at least a 5 year starter) and 3rd round Wide Recievers only met that success standard 15% of the time.

I like the Antonio Williams pick, but we have to recognize that he is statistically a longshot to be a long-term answer at WR. I hope he is one of the 15%.

 

[Dlts20]

They can keep him until the day before September 1st.

If their ammo according to Rapoport among others is they know he wants to play in Washington and they don't want to help him succeed there -- why would they release him in time for training camp? They've already said they have no hurry to release him and suggested its not happening anytime soon.

Because that's the biggest distraction in the world and they start to look like the bad guy. They think that they are nfc contenders. Why would you want all the questions to the players and coaches every day being about Ayuik who you said is done with the team?

If you try to send him home then the NFLPA will be all over you. All fans and media will turn on SF. All Ayuik has to do is show up and they will release him. They might even do it on June 2nd, before mini c on the 9th.

 

[Dlts20]

I posted this in the 'Front Office...' thread, but I asked BGO Oracle (our AI-powered forum) what % of WRs were successful by round taken (I defined successful as producing at least a 5 year starter) and 3rd round Wide Recievers only met that success standard 15% of the time.

I like the Antonio Williams pick, but we have to recognize that he is statistically a longshot to be a long-term answer at WR. I hope he is one of the 15%.

I will say 2 things. One is that he will be learning under one of those 15% in Terry and hopefully Ayuik also. Most of all, I will say that he's not the typical 3rd rounder by any means. Most 3rd rounders aren't labeled by a lot of the scouts as being the best route runner in the draft.

Also, this 3rd rounder literally had a first round grade from a lot of people coming into last season. The video I put on here this morning had the guy ranked as the 3rd best receiver in the draft. Others described him as separation separation separation.

They all say that he can go across the middle, can win on all 3 levels and can line up all over the field. I'm not saying that it's a guarantee by any means but he's not the typical 3rd rounder and he's damn sure not a project like Luke or raw like Lane

 

[skinsinparadise]

I posted this in the 'Front Office...' thread, but I asked BGO Oracle (our AI-powered forum) what % of WRs were successful by round taken (I defined successful as producing at least a 5 year starter) and 3rd round Wide Recievers only met that success standard 15% of the time.

I like the Antonio Williams pick, but we have to recognize that he is statistically a longshot to be a long-term answer at WR. I hope he is one of the 15%.

What am hoping for with him is IMHO I watched most of the WRs and did so a lot. And outside the first to me there were just two who were high floor: Bernard and A. Williams. Sarratt the runner up but I am more uncertain about him than the other two.

Alll the others in that 3rd round, I can totally see why boom-bust and why bust is possible.

I got no idea if Antonio will be a superstar. But I'd be surprised if he's not at a minimum a younger-faster Jamison Crowder.

But the idea that in my mind, I already see a dude picked 71 as their likely 2nd best Wr, and I could of course be completely wrong about it, as a sad state of affairs at that spot.

 

[Boone]

I'm not saying you are wrong Dlts20 But this is the trap... all Front Offices believe they are getting a steal in the 3rd round - that's why they make the choice. But 85% of the time, they are WRONG. There are always arguments why any particular receiver will succeed despite the known statistical likelihood that they will not. The data points that support success may be there, but that doesn't change the fact that in the vast majority of cases WRs chosen in round 3 will not have major NFL success.

 

[Discobob]

It does seem like Hilton was brought in because Jayden knows him. I don't want this roster built on guys that know him or guys he likes that don't contribute...see Hartman.

There would have to be larger deals happening for this to hold water IMO... what are be basing this on?

1) A 1 yr $2M contract for White? He has a skill set we legitimately need

2) A UDFA WR that won't make the team?

3) Speculation that we will sign Aiyuk (who happens to also have a relationship with Peters)

Unless more head scratching signings happen, I think this is much ado bout nothing 🤷

 

[Conn]

I just don't believe that they will keep him that long. He's going to show up to all of the mandatory camps and it's going to be a distraction. I think that he will be released from anywhere between the 1st until the 15th

Or Aiyuk doesn’t show up because he’s a weirdo freak who might not care, his career is essentially over aside from unsettling podcast appearances, and we’re still scrambling for WR help. Literally anything could happen in that situation, we aren’t dealing with rational actors in either party between Aiyuk and the 49ers. It’s weird and emotional and we’re relying on a head case (who might have lost his agent? Not sure) to do the rational thing to get what he wants. Good luck to us

 

[skinsinparadise]

Because that's the biggest distraction in the world and they start to look like the bad guy. They think that they are nfc contenders. Why would you want all the questions to the players and coaches every day being about Ayuik who you said is done with the team.

If you try to send him home then the NFLPA will be all over you. All fans and media will turn on SF. All Ayuik has to do is show up and they will release him. They might even do it in June 2nd, before mini c on the 9th.

Maybe. No way to know.

Kyle is famous for being vindictive as some who covered him when he was here have echoed.

So will SF be capable of playing out dragging it through camp? I think so.

Heck even Keim with his podcasts has done from months ago thinking the release would happen soon, to now suggesting it can drag out a long time.

 

[DWinzit]

There would have to be larger deals happening for this to hold water IMO... what are be basing this on?

1) A 1 yr $2M contract for White? He has a skill set we legitimately need

2) A UDFA WR that won't make the team?

3) Speculation that we will sign Aiyuk (who happens to also have a relationship with Peters)

Unless more head scratching signings happen, I think this is much ado bout nothing 🤷

It probably is a lot about nothing with a mix of frustration.

The Hartman thing has been weighing on me for over a year. I don't need to go over that debacle, he doesn't belong in the NFL.

Hilton feels like another Hartman and Aiyuk has been the ultimate distraction so far this year.

BTW, I loved the White signing and wish he had given him more than a one year deal

 

[skinsinparadise]

lol, hate to pick on Bang from ES, good dude, but his debates on twitter bring it home for me -- with the reverse thought that he has.

I'll start with I LOVE that this is becoming a heated discussion, talk radio, podcast, etc. It has life because its not ignored as a narrative anymore and its about time.

So, Washington loses Jayden's top 3rd down and red zone target at TE. Shrug, apparently. They replace him with a TE with basically identical stats as Ertz and had two TDs last year. And look I like the signing, I pushed for him during FA.

But as to last year to now their two biggest weapons at receiver-TE are gone. Replaced with two younger players, which is cool. But its not like some roster overhaul

Basically its bye Deebo. Bye Ertz. Hello Antonio Williams and Chig. There is a decent chance that the production is matched not exceeded by the two younger replacements. And this is matching a pathetic 2025 WR room.

We are hyped about Chig. And I am jazzed about him. But we got the Bears with Kmet, then get Loveland, then get Rousch. that's a team that isn't messing around. This is the team where we are trying to sell ourselves that a rookie WR drafted in the 3rd round will exceed Deebo. And Chig's stats which are about the same as Ertz will become a superstar here. It's possible. But its betting on best case scenarios unfolding.

If this is about giving Peters props, and people need to be hands off this topic because we are excited about some of his moves this off season. I'll make the point in a positive Peters way -- look at what he's done at edge this off season, he's left nothing to chance and is throwing multiple darts at improving the spot. To some extent ditto on the O line. That's not the game he plays at WR. He leaves plenty to chance. And IMO its really that mindset that bugs me. I can forgive misses. But tough for me to embrace that mindset of this is the spot we will hope for the best while realizing it could fall apart or be at best meh.

 

[burgold]

I think Hilton is a different situation than Hartman. I get the sense that Hilton is an uber talented knucklehead (correct me if I'm wrong) that a team thinks if they can get his act together he might have the traits to produce. Hartman is not talented physically and so, if he's going to succeed, he's got to be a tactician and the smartest guy in the room.

Aiyuk was supposed to be the cherry on the sundae. A topping treat versus the meal. Right now, Aiyuk feels like Plan A and that's super frustrating because we have no idea what kind of player he will be even if SF weren't acting like spoiled brats.

 

[DWinzit]

Also I feel it was dumb to place so much weight on Aiyuk. There are too many questions that surround him, his health, his head...we should not be holding a player with this much question on such high esteem. It is similar to be held hostage to the Terry situation last year, so much riding on one player...dumb. SIgn someone else and move on.

 

[burgold]

It doesn't matter if Chig is a homerun if we're down by seven. We need more than one homerun on offense.

Let's call re-signing Tusil (early) a homerun.
Let's call Chig a homerun.
Let's call Williams a single. Maybe he's a double, but it feels like they aimed for the safest ready to play, high floor guy they could draft.
Let's call White and Ford both singles. Maybe Fat Man, too.

So, that's not a bad offseason, but we're still down on the scorecard.

 

[burgold]

Continuing the baseball analogy, Pierce and Doubs were well struck balls that wound up being pop ups. So, you can commend the effort, but no one got on base. The unfortunate thing, with the exception of the Jags receiver who they swear they aren't trading or maybe AJ Brown, there are no homeruns left to be had. So, I guess we need to hope we have/can get enough small ball players to keep us competitive.

 

[skinsinparadise]

This is another one. So the negotiation with Terry was about:

A. He's not elite
B. 30 year plus old Wrs decline
C. 30 year plus old WRs are more injury prone.

So all three variables were in play for Terry as a 30 year old WR. But fans are haters if they don't see that year as an exception -- the best is yet to come at 31.

If people think this is a hater fan narrative and doesn't have Peters back and he deserves our back -- that's a paradox considering if you have Peters back you'd echo the idea of not to expect 31 year old Terry to play as well and have the same durability as the 20s version of him.

I am picking on this post because its a variation of the same point Bram likes to make which is we should expect Terry to be like he was in the past not last year. Maybe so, but its another wildcard not a given.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Doesn’t seem to be stopping people here from wanting Keenan Allen (though I don’t think he’s on the team’s radar at all to be fair)

Also, I don’t think he has any interest in leaving the west coast.

If we could pry him away I’d be all for it.

But everything I’ve read recently is lifestyle is important to him at this point and his strong preference is to stay put.

I did just see there is some noise out there is noise he might sign with Indy or the Eagles. If that happened and we didn’t give it a shot to get him, I’d be disappointed.

But he essentially gets to pick where he wants to go. If he doesn’t get what he wants where he wants he can just retire rather than accepting something other than his ideal situation, whatever that is.

I can’t imagine that’s Indy.

I can imagine it’s Philly after they trade Brown.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Maybe. No way to know.

Kyle is famous for being vindictive as some who covered him when he was here have echoed.

So will SF be capable of playing out dragging it through camp? I think so.

Heck even Keim with his podcasts has done from months ago thinking the release would happen soon, to now suggesting it can drag out a long time.

The question which I think was asked and answered recently is if Aiyuk doesn’t report he can be put on the Did Not Report list and not paid AND fined up to $50k per day

And as far as I can tell, that applies to the Sept 1 roster bonus as well.

If that’s true, there is literally no leverage at all and SF can hang on to him indefinitely.

The only way that changes is if Aiyuk shows up to SF’s offseason program and training camp.

So I don’t even think, unless what I’m reading is wrong or I’m misunderstanding, Sept 1 is a realistic date.

I posted this before: until something changes, we have to assume Aiyuk doesn’t exist. He’s not an option for us or anybody else.

The way this changes quickly is if Aiyuk shows up, in shape, and ready to go. At that point, SF will have to pay him and keep him or release him or trade him.

But until that happens, he is non-existent as far as I’m concerned.

 

[KDawg]

Bee watching all of Williams and I stand where I wound up on draft night on him with a caveat - he CAN clearly play Z. It’s something he’s done. But I don’t think that is his best usage. His best usage is in the slot for us. He is a natural slot receiver.

I think using him outside CAN work as a Z, but I’m not sure why. I think we’d be getting a slightly lesser version of him. Yes, his stats when he played Z for Clemson were much better than when he played slot. But keep him mind he also played some slot that season and was healthy. He played 4 less games and had 300 less yards and 20 less receptions. It’s not out of the realm of possibility he’d have surpassed his 24 output if healthy.

The big thing that keeping as the slot does is that it allows for Terry to play Z. Which… is such a no brainer for me.

Here’s the problem… we don’t have a true X that is proven. We need Burks to show he can play there. Dyami has played some X for us as well. So ideally one of those two would be able to take that duty so we can use Terry with motion packages.

In 2-receiver sets, if Williams is truly our second best guy, then I’m fine with Terry at X and Williams at Z. I trust Terry to get off of press more than Williams at his point.

The biggest problem we have is we don’t have the guys to use our current guys in roles they may excel in.

As much as I’d like Terry to be the Z, if we had a true Z opposite him - that’s fine.

If we had a true X, we could use him at Z.

Do we have a NFL receiving room? Yes.

Is it a high level NFL receiving room? No.

Is it an average level NFL receiving room? No.

I don’t get why we think the answer to our problems is not going hard after receivers.

I know… someone is now going to say, “WE TRIED! ITS NOT OUR FAULT WE DIDNT GET THEM! WE CANT MAKE THEM SIGN”

My answer is still - okay. That’s true. But we haven’t really helped for three years and to that point, why don’t receivers want to come here?

And that brings me full circle back to other convos for different threads.

Bottom line is we don’t have what we need to help Jayden at receiver and now we have to move guys out of best positions to cover for it.