The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Discobob]

Has it been brought up yet what happens if Aiyuk shows up for 49ers mini camp on June 9th? Does that trigger the reporting for team activities roster bonus?

I believe his next payday is Sept 1st... showing up earlier wouldn't force them to pay him. It might cause enough of a distraction to motivate them to cut him...

He could show up and then do national media spots.... that'd get the ball rolling I suspect 🤷

 

[burgold]

With the season starting off with so many heavy hitters it becomes more important to get a vet receiver. We need to come out of the gates ready.

 

[heisenberg]

I certainly hope we won’t be so impatient as to put DQ on the hot seat if he doesn’t get off to a fast start against that gauntlet of opponents. We will be favored once, maybe twice, in the first eight games?

I mean, this is obviously rhetorical but theres no actual hot seat, its not like a decision will be made by peters and Harris to put quinn on notice.

The hot seat is just fan and media speculation based on results and if we get off to a 2 and 5 start after a 5 win season its inevitable.

You certainly wont stop the fans or the media from getting whipped up in a frenzy about quinn if it looks like a second season in a row is heading for the toilet especially if jayden is hurt again trying to play superman or worse, the defense sucks for a 3rd year in a row.

 

[bowhunter]

I believe his next payday is Sept 1st... showing up earlier wouldn't force them to pay him. It might cause enough of a distraction to motivate them to cut him...

He could show up and then do national media spots.... that'd get the ball rolling I suspect 🤷

But if he doesn't show, it would enable SF to shelf him as a "Did Not Report"

 

[Primus Porcus]

But if he doesn't show, it would enable SF to shelf him as a "Did Not Report"

It's a roster bonus, if he's on the roster, he gets the money. In what capacity doesn't matter.

 

[Discobob]

But if he doesn't show, it would enable SF to shelf him as a "Did Not Report"

True, but that just means he doesn't count toward the 90 man roster and it opens up the ability to fine him the amount allowed for mandatory OTAs (~100k for 3 days). Ultimately, however, once he shows up, they have to remove him from that list and count him toward the roster limit (unless they PUP or IR him for a legit reason).

It all depends on how petty SF wants to be.... they could try to suspend him when he returns for "conduct detrimental to the team".... but that likely ends up as an NFLPA grievance. Assuming he doesn't do something blatantly distracting like a John Lynch is a Clown t-shirt....

I suspect showing up, and hiring an agent to do media with simple answers like those below would turn into a giant media circus.... and would likely cause SF to just cut him and be done with it.

Q: Can you tell us what lead to this situation?
A: I don't want to get into the specifics, but Brandon felt like the team was disrespectful of of him and did not want him on the team.

Q: Where do you expect him to play this year?
A: The team has publicly said he's played his last snap, so I'm expecting them to release him soon.

Q: Why are haven't they done so already?
A: I can't answer that, if they don't want him on the roster, it appears as though they are trying to prevent him from signing with another team.

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If his agent does media hits like this, its going to come up at EVERY SINGLE training camp press conference.

 

[Dah-Dee]

Aiyuk has to show up for the first mandatory camp event, otherwise SF will just put him right back on the DNR/LeftTeam list - in which case he will not be counted against the roster, either the 90-man or the 53-man roster come September 1, which would mean SF can void the roster bonus just like they did with his guarantees last year.

As wacky as Aiyuk has apparently been, I just cannot see him putting himself in that situation AGAIN, especially with the possibility looming that he could get to play with JD5. He'll do what he needs to do to make that happen. That means showing up when required to, do what he's asked to do, so SF can't do anything but release him, at latest, by September 1. A September 1 release is the worst-case scenario for Washington, and would probably result, if he is signed then, in Aiyuk just not being very productive this year. If that happens. I'd expect a 2-3 year deal, basically writing off 2026 to get him acclimated and back in football shape.

His agent, however, SHOULD be telling Aiyuk the thing to do is, show up for the OTA workouts starting May 27, and notify the team at the same time that he intends to report on June 9 for the mandatory minicamp. That combination of things could, might, persuade SF to release him with a post-June 1 designation to trigger modest 2026 cap savings. That's the best-case scenario, I think, and really the only way Aiyuk has a decent shot of playing and making any kind of positive impact for the Commanders in 2026-27.

 

[Discobob]

Aiyuk has to show up for the first mandatory camp event, otherwise SF will just put him right back on the DNR/LeftTeam list - in which case he will not be counted against the roster, either the 90-man or the 53-man roster come September 1, which would mean SF can void the roster bonus just like they did with his guarantees last year.

I agree with much of your post, but I think this statement is incorrect. I don't believe that missing a mandatory OTA would allow them to void a contract bonus. Their last action didn't actually change the value of his contract, only the guaranteed portions. I suspect there was some contract language that allowed them to do it (or was used a pretext). I strongly suspect that this type of contract clause is essentially illegal according to the collective bargaining agreement.

 

[Primus Porcus]

Aiyuk has to show up for the first mandatory camp event, otherwise SF will just put him right back on the DNR/LeftTeam list - in which case he will not be counted against the roster, either the 90-man or the 53-man roster come September 1, which would mean SF can void the roster bonus just like they did with his guarantees last year.

As wacky as Aiyuk has apparently been, I just cannot see him putting himself in that situation AGAIN, especially with the possibility looming that he could get to play with JD5. He'll do what he needs to do to make that happen. That means showing up when required to, do what he's asked to do, so SF can't do anything but release him, at latest, by September 1. A September 1 release is the worst-case scenario for Washington, and would probably result, if he is signed then, in Aiyuk just not being very productive this year. If that happens. I'd expect a 2-3 year deal, basically writing off 2026 to get him acclimated and back in football shape.

His agent, however, SHOULD be telling Aiyuk the thing to do is, show up for the OTA workouts starting May 27, and notify the team at the same time that he intends to report on June 9 for the mandatory minicamp. That combination of things could, might, persuade SF to release him with a post-June 1 designation to trigger modest 2026 cap savings. That's the best-case scenario, I think, and really the only way Aiyuk has a decent shot of playing and making any kind of positive impact for the Commanders in 2026-27.

I agree with much of your post, but I think this statement is incorrect. I don't believe that missing a mandatory OTA would allow them to void a contract bonus. Their last action didn't actually change the value of his contract, only the guaranteed portions. I suspect there was some contract language that allowed them to do it (or was used a pretext). I strongly suspect that this type of contract clause is essentially illegal according to the collective bargaining agreement.

My original terminology was incorrect...


According to this, article, the bonus is not a 'roster' bonus, it's an 'option' bonus of $23.45M. It triggers as long as he's under contract, meaning they HAVE to release him in order to get out of it. Even if he's on the DNT/Left Team list, he's still technically under contract.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/48414734/brandon-aiyuk-contract-trade-san-francisco-49ers-commanders

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

I agree with much of your post, but I think this statement is incorrect. I don't believe that missing a mandatory OTA would allow them to void a contract bonus. Their last action didn't actually change the value of his contract, only the guaranteed portions. I suspect there was some contract language that allowed them to do it (or was used a pretext). I strongly suspect that this type of contract clause is essentially illegal according to the collective bargaining agreement.

This is all vague. But I believe they voided the bonus last year. If Aiyuk does the same thing for the 3rd time then they can void the bonus again this year.

As wacky as Aiyuk has apparently been, I just cannot see him putting himself in that situation AGAIN

He's done it twice already. Brief timeline from last season.

• Went AWOL in the off-season, skipped rehab so the team put him on the DNR list and removed his bonuses for last season
• His agent got him to come back to the facility after the season started in order to do the minimum rehab to collect his game checks.
• He then went AWOL again sometime in November (I think), team put him back on the DNR list, Aiyuk had like a week to respond/contest that, he didn't. He gave up the rest of his game checks.

Why wouldn't he do it a 3rd time?

His agent, however, SHOULD be telling Aiyuk the thing to do is

Wasn't there a report that his agent dropped him recently and he now has no representation?

It's a roster bonus, if he's on the roster, he gets the money. In what capacity doesn't matter.

DNR list means he doesn't count against a roster spot, or the salary cap, and no cash needs to be paid out.

 

[heisenberg]

My original terminology was incorrect...


According to this, article, the bonus is not a 'roster' bonus, it's an 'option' bonus of $23.45M. It triggers as long as he's under contract, meaning they HAVE to release him in order to get out of it. Even if he's on the DNT/Left Team list, he's still technically under contract.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/48414734/brandon-aiyuk-contract-trade-san-francisco-49ers-commanders

View attachment 14933

Interesting.

If this is true it certainly changes what aiyuk needs to do.

No need at all to show up and be a distraction just wait.
Although showing up and being a pain in the ass might expedite the process.

 

[Primus Porcus]

This is all vague. But I believe they voided the roster bonus last year. If Aiyuk does the same thing for the 3rd time then they can void the roster bonus again this year.


He's done it twice already. Brief timeline from last season.

• Went AWOL in the off-season, skipped rehab so the team put him on the DNR list and removed his bonuses for last season
• His agent got him to come back to the facility after the season started in order to do the minimum rehab to collect his game checks.
• He then went AWOL again sometime in November (I think), team put him back on the DNR list, Aiyuk had like a week to respond/contest that, he didn't. He gave up the rest of his game checks.

Why wouldn't he do it a 3rd time?



Wasn't there a report that his agent dropped him recently and he now has no representation?



DNR list means he doesn't count against a roster spot, or the salary cap, and no cash needs to be paid out.

It's not a roster bonus, even if he doesn't count against the roster spot, or the cap, the contract is still binding. Even if a player sits out a whole season, the contract is still in place, it just doesn't 'toll'.

According to AI, 'declining' the bonus would result in 'parting ways.'

So, yeah they dont have to pay it, but if they don't, he becomes a Free Agent by default, so they can't keep the contract in place without paying him.

That is technically a bit different, but they have to either pay him, or cut him.

 

[NickyJ]

I cannot wait for an offseason where the fans don't have to be experts in contract terms. And then when we don't have to care deeply about who the GM is and why he's doing something. And then who the coach might be next season. And then... I just want to be locked in a mindless flaming web forum war on whether the newest draft pick is going to win rookie of the year or have to settle for only 5 player of the week awards.

 

[Chris 44]

I truly hope we do not sign Aiyuk, it has train wreck levels of distraction written all over it. That's not counting 2 years not playing coming off injury.

 

[Conn]

Not encouraging that we haven’t brought Diggs in for a visit? for those of us who are anti-all-eggs-in-the-Aiyuk-basket

Clearly after the post-draft reset, he’s plan A. Worrisome for this regime. They’re staking a lot on this offense being not just functional but productive.

 

[Discobob]

This is all vague. But I believe they voided the bonus last year. If Aiyuk does the same thing for the 3rd time then they can void the bonus again this year.

This may seem pedantic (sorry!), but they didn't void any bonuses. They voided the guarantees of future bonuses. Which just means that they are no longer guaranteed, not that they were removed from his contract. So the bonuses are still there, and need to be paid on the date in the contract.... but now the team can cut him prior to that date without any penalty.

When talking about things like roster / option bonuses... there isn't really a way for a team to just remove them from the contract unilaterally. I'm confident that the PA would never negotiate this option into a CBA.

 

[Primus Porcus]

I cannot wait for an offseason where the fans don't have to be experts in contract terms. And then when we don't have to care deeply about who the GM is and why he's doing something. And then who the coach might be next season. And then... I just want to be locked in a mindless flaming web forum war on whether the newest draft pick is going to win rookie of the year or have to settle for only 5 player of the week awards.

We dont have to... we choose to.

The topics we obsess about may change, but the obsessing wont.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

It's not a roster bonus, even if he doesn't count against the roster spot, or the cap, the contract is still binding. Even if a player sits out a whole season, the contract is still in place, it just doesn't 'toll'.

View attachment 14934

According to AI, 'declining' the bonus would result in 'parting ways.'

So, yeah they dont have to pay it, but if they don't, he becomes a Free Agent by default, so they can't keep the contract in place without paying him.

That is technically a bit different, but they have to either pay him, or cut him.

This is an example of when AI isn't specific enough in there answer to cover this scenario.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

This may seem pedantic (sorry!), but they didn't void any bonuses. They voided the guarantees of future bonuses. Which just means that they are no longer guaranteed, not that they were removed from his contract. So the bonuses are still there, and need to be paid on the date in the contract.... but now the team can cut him prior to that date without any penalty.

When talking about things like roster / option bonuses... there isn't really a way for a team to just remove them from the contract unilaterally. I'm confident that the PA would never negotiate this option into a CBA.

So this is one of the weird vague parts. He had a bonus due on September 1st of 2025. The guarantee of that bonus was voided. And the team did not have to pay and chose not to. He was at the facilities by then (there's footage of him warming up in the last preseason game I think), but the bonus still did not have to be paid.

If he is not off the DNR list in time, the team does not need to pay out the September 1st 2026 bonus.

 

[Primus Porcus]

So this is one of the weird vague parts. He had a bonus due on September 1st of 2025. The guarantee of that bonus was voided. And the team did not have to pay and chose not to. He was at the facilities by then (there's footage of him warming up in the last preseason game I think), but the bonus still did not have to be paid.

If he is not off the DNR list in time, the team does not need to pay out the September 1st 2026 bonus.

Again I dont think this is true.
This article says they voided his future guaranteed money in November of 2025

Niners voided 2026 guaranteed money in WR Brandon Aiyuk's contract

The San Francisco 49ers voided the 2026 guaranteed money in Brandon Aiyuk's contract, head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed Saturday, paving the way for a potential separation less than a year and a half after agreeing to a four-year extension.

www.nfl.com

and this says he wasn't added to the DNR / Left Squad list til December of 2025

Niners place Brandon Aiyuk on reserve/left squad list, ending WR's season

The San Francisco 49ers placed Brandon Aiyuk on the reserve/left squad list on Saturday, which officially ends his season, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported.

www.nfl.com

I can't find anything that says they voided a bonus due on Sept 1 of that same year...


If i'm reading this, an option bonus is just like a signing bonus, where a check is written at the time of the trigger. It's a creative way to promise a check later in the contract. It's not a voidable part of the contract, just like you can't void a signing bonus because the money has already gotten paid out.