The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Conn]

Avery is no joke, he's one of the best QB coaches in the league. KDawg from a defensive standpoint any of this make sense? Tough for me to to lol see anything off of this but I am of course no QB coach. But Avery is somewhat of a legend in the QB business so I can't just shrug it off.

Bullock commented on that, he thinks Daniels knows the progression, it’s not as confusing as the angle makes it look, and he’s looking someone off (the LB?) to get his preferred guy once the first read wasn’t there.

But who knows if that’s accurate

 

[Commander Wraith]

I have no concerns about that video for multiple reasons:

1) Blough’s a former qb and he and Jayden are collaborating on the offense. Zero chance (IMO) they agree to a stupid progression system.
2) If it’s an issue of Daniels not being sure what his progressions should be in that moment, he’s way too intelligent and way too much a student of the game to not get it sorted out.
3). If the defense caused the issue (if it is an issue), perhaps by muddying the pre/post snap look, that’s a good sign for the D and gives Daniels good experience.
4. It’s one play in June.

 

[Discobob]

SF reporter

View attachment 15019

IF the following is true "They quietly agree to release him after June 1 of this year".... I'm more sympathetic to the fact that he interpreted it as "I'm free on June 1st if I don't file a greviance about the voided $$$"

He basically stayed quiet and didn't go public with any info (in spite many fans wanting it) until after June 1st. Again, I'm not holding him up as a model citizen, but I am saying that this hypothetical would have most of us pretty pissed off at our employer.

 

[Commander Wraith]

Historically speaking. It is uncommon for a Year 3 WR to break out, but it's happened enough that it can't be ruled out. One problem for Luke though are that his only multi-catch games (3 of them) last season were with Mariota. 2 of them had Terry, but Terry also got hurt halfway through those.

We unfortunately don't have a trend to point to for say, Chemistry or something, that indicates Jayden and Luke know how to operate together. The best thing Luke has going for him statistically is his catch rate is high and his success rate was recently great too. Sample size is absolutely tiny though, so it really doesn't mean much.

Dyami and Burks in Year 6 and Year 5. Put a fork in them. They are who they are, unless someone can find a successful comparator, but nobody has yet.

I think the history is where I think Luke is an outlier… not too many guys transition from qb to wr, while also having plus pedigree, intelligence, and character/work ethic. Again, I’m not suggesting high expectations, just that he’s more of an unknown than most receivers entering their 3rd year.

You do touch on perhaps my biggest concern though - I didn’t get the sense Daniels trusted McCaffrey. Not gonna get into why, because as you said, it’s a small sample size, but there are a lot of little things that raise the question.

 

[Ashburn Dave]

There's something you dont hear everyday.

I did drink when I said it at least.

 

[Faithful Fan]

Historically speaking. It is uncommon for a Year 3 WR to break out, but it's happened enough that it can't be ruled out. One problem for Luke though are that his only multi-catch games (3 of them) last season were with Mariota. 2 of them had Terry, but Terry also got hurt halfway through those.

We unfortunately don't have a trend to point to for say, Chemistry or something, that indicates Jayden and Luke know how to operate together. The best thing Luke has going for him statistically is his catch rate is high and his success rate was recently great too. Sample size is absolutely tiny though, so it really doesn't mean much.

Dyami and Burks in Year 6 and Year 5. Put a fork in them. They are who they are, unless someone can find a successful comparator, but nobody has yet.

Mccaffery is a bit unusual in that he converted from quarterback halfway through college and got hurt halfway through his second season, but he contributed some as a rookie and was starting to come on in his sophomore campaign when he got hurt. He really hasn’t had many opportunities, but he has made the most of his chances. As I recall, he played about 30% of the snaps in 8 games last year, so he only had 15 targets, but he did manage some big plays off of those (a 30-yard catch, 50-yard catch, and 3 touchdowns). Hopefully he can pick up where he left off when he got hurt.

I think you’re right that Jayden doesn’t look LMC’s way as much for some reason, as you said he got more looks from Mariota, and announcers often noticed him getting open in our games but not getting looks. Hopefully they can work on the trust and chemistry this year.

LMC in particular should be a good fit for an offense that wants to move guys around and run gadget plays. Given that potential, his special teams acumen, and what he’s shown so far, I think he’s definitely worth developing.

The skepticism about Dyami Brown is more warranted, as he has been pretty bad over his 5 year career, but I am more optimistic because 2024 was easily his best year. I was really surprised we let him go after he posted 14 catches for 229 yards in the playoffs, it just seemed like he and Jayden were clicking, and I’m sure that’s why he’s back this year. Hopefully they can pick up where they left off in 2024. I always said we kept the wrong Brown last year.

I’m not as high on Burks, who is overestimated by some fans because he had one spectacular catch, but I do get their hope because he is a 1st round pick with the physical measurables who has been hampered by injuries, so maybe a fresh start and better luck with injuries gives him a last chance to prove he belongs.

I don’t think it’s so crazy to believe a competition between those three along with the rookie Williams and the vet Van Jefferson will result in a couple serviceable receivers in addition to Terry. Sure it would be nice to have a duo like Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce, Chase and Higgins, etc., or better, a trio like the Posse, but that kind of situation is not nearly as common as you might think.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Catching up with Keim's latest podcast.

A. I'll start with does J. Ford exist? He seems to get no mentions from the local media. Personally I don't get it, but hard to miss he's an after thought for the people covering this team.

B. This is round 2 of Keim hinting of don't sleep on the idea of Rachaad White being RB #1, citing again Croskey-Merritt not being a pass catcher and it a previous podcast mentioning that and his struggles pass blocking.

C. They are working on Chig's footwork-releases, and that was Ertz's superpower, he likes they speed Chig has shown in practice.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I don’t think it’s so crazy to believe a competition between those three along with the rookie Williams and the vet Van Jefferson will result in a couple serviceable receivers in addition to Terry. Sure it would be nice to have a duo like Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce, Chase and Higgins, etc., or better, a trio like the Posse, but that kind of situation is not nearly as common as you might think.

The ones who are pushing for a WR have a lower bar than looking for a historically great trio of WRs. We are looking for what 80% or so of the NFL has which is a legit #2, doesn't have to be a superstar, heck maybe even just a legit #3 -- considering its easy to argue that the collection of WRs are #4 types not even 3s.

 

[Faithful Fan]

The ones who are pushing for a WR have a lower bar than looking for a historically great trio of WRs. We are looking for what 80% or so of the NFL has which is a legit #2, doesn't have to be a superstar, heck maybe even just a legit #3 -- considering its easy to argue that the collection of WRs are #4 types not even 3s.

I think the difference in opinion is a combination of how good we think our receivers are (I think they are better than you do) and how good we think the league average is (I think it is worse than you do).

Last season, wide receivers ranked between 33rd and 64th in the NFL in receptions had between 36 and 58 catches, which is probably a good approximation of what league-average WR2s are producing. I believe that at least one of Antonio Williams, LMC, Van Jefferson, Dyami Brown, and Traylon Burks can manage that level of production.

Now I doubt one of them becomes a Tee Higgins or Jaylen Waddle type, but that’s the point, having that kind of WR2 is certainly not a luxury 80% of the league has.

 

[KDawg]

Avery is no joke, he's one of the best QB coaches in the league. KDawg from a defensive standpoint any of this make sense? Tough for me to to lol see anything off of this but I am of course no QB coach. But Avery is somewhat of a legend in the QB business so I can't just shrug it off.

I didn’t see the additional tweets, just the first one. And I’m not sure if there is an issue here or not. He could have been looking off coverage or he could be unsure where to look.

What i noticed is he looked more robotic. More stuff, less fluid. His neck looked super locked in.

It could be something. Could be nothing. Without context it’s really hard to tell.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I think the difference in opinion is a combination of how good we think our receivers are (I think they are better than you do) and how good we think the league average is (I think it is worse than you do).

Last season, wide receivers ranked between 33rd and 64th in the NFL in reception had between 36 and 58 catches, which is probably a good approximation of what league-average WR2s are producing. I believe that at least one of Antonio Williams, LMC, Van Jefferson, Dyami Brown, and Traylon Burks can manage that level of production.

I list the top 20 Wrs starting at 34, receptions to yards. Which one of these receivers aside from Terry do you think has a similar track record -- catches-YPC, yards.


AI Overview


The average #2 wide receiver (WR) in the NFL finishes a season with roughly 50 to 65 receptions, which translates to an average of about 3 to 4 catches per game.

This statistical profile can vary depending on the team's offensive scheme:

• High-Volume Passing Attacks: A #2 receiver in a pass-heavy or elite offense will often haul in 65 to 80 receptions (e.g., matching the production of top-tier WR2s who regularly flirt with 1,000-yard seasons).
  SumerSports
• Run-Heavy or Balanced Offenses: A #2 receiver in a run-first offense or one that spreads the ball evenly across tight ends and slot receivers may average closer to 45 to 55 receptions.
  
  
• Per-Game Average: Because of the 17-game NFL season, receivers average about 2.1 to 2.4 receptions per game played across the entire league, though starting #2 options skew slightly higher.

 

[Faithful Fan]

I list the top 20 Wrs starting at 34, receptions to yards. Which one of these receivers aside from Terry do you think has a similar track record -- catches-YPC, yards.


AI Overview


The average #2 wide receiver (WR) in the NFL finishes a season with roughly 50 to 65 receptions, which translates to an average of about 3 to 4 catches per game.

This statistical profile can vary depending on the team's offensive scheme:

• High-Volume Passing Attacks: A #2 receiver in a pass-heavy or elite offense will often haul in 65 to 80 receptions (e.g., matching the production of top-tier WR2s who regularly flirt with 1,000-yard seasons).
  SumerSports
• Run-Heavy or Balanced Offenses: A #2 receiver in a run-first offense or one that spreads the ball evenly across tight ends and slot receivers may average closer to 45 to 55 receptions.
  
  
• Per-Game Average: Because of the 17-game NFL season, receivers average about 2.1 to 2.4 receptions per game played across the entire league, though starting #2 options skew slightly higher.

View attachment 15027

It seems we are already walking the dog back but still fudging the numbers some, e.g., why did you leave off 54 through 64 here? Are we talking about the top 20 WR2’s or 80% of the league?

Also, your AI appears to be hallucinating, it says the average WR2 produces between 50 and 65 catches, when the stats you present show a range of 42 to 61 for the top 60% of the league.

Here’s what I got with more careful prompting:

“You're right, my first estimate was skewed toward fantasy-relevant players. If we're talking about the actual WR2 on each of the 32 teams (ranks roughly 33rd-64th by target share/production), the range is much wider and the median is lower.

Realistically, that group spans from "pretty good starter" to "barely distinguishable from a WR3/4." A rough season-long picture:

Across that range, you're probably looking at something like 40-50 catches, 500-650 yards, and 2-4 TDs for a season, with a lot of variance depending on offensive context. The top of that group (33-45ish) tends to look like legitimate #2 options on pass-heavy teams — 55-65 catches, 650-800 yards. The bottom (50-64) often looks more like complementary pieces — 30-40 catches, 350-450 yards — especially on run-heavy teams or in offenses where a tight end or running back soaks up a lot of passing-game work.”

 

[36ST21]

lol if we find a way to get Jeremiah Smith, then that means probably everyone was fired. He’s a top-3 pick unless a bunch of QB’s emerge, and even then.

Draft picks and players could be packaged to move up for Smith if the team chose to pursue that option, of course.

 

[RexTomb]

I saw this and almost responded. Albeit i'm nowhere NEAR the QB coach this guy is, just a fat guy sitting at home watching something in slow mo over and over, but I see nuance there.

Danny Rouillier? Is that you?!?

Sorry, the start of this totally reminded me of Danny's infamous self-flagellation before asking a question.

 

[Primus Porcus]

Danny Rouillier? Is that you?!?

Sorry, the start of this totally reminded me of Danny's infamous self-flagellation before asking a question.

lol no, not Danny, i dont always tell Grant how correct he is.

I used to listen to those guys all the time and i just flat out got bored of sport talk radio. I'll listen to 106.7 when i'm expecting news to break, but the day to day stuff drags on.

 

[RexTomb]

lol no, not Danny, i dont always tell Grant how correct he is.

I used to listen to those guys all the time and i just flat out got bored of sport talk radio. I'll listen to 106.7 when i'm expecting news to break, but the day to day stuff drags on.

Agreed - I will make it a point to turn it off when they start talking about stuff going on in their personal lives (an actual segment on their show that occurs daily).

 

[skinsinparadise]

It seems we are already walking the dog back but still fudging the numbers some, e.g., why did you leave off 54 through 64 here? Are we talking about the top 20 WR2’s or 80% of the league?

Also, your AI appears to be hallucinating, it says the average WR2 produces between 50 and 65 catches, when the stats you present show a range of 42 to 61 for the top 60% of the league.

Here’s what I got with more careful prompting:

“You're right, my first estimate was skewed toward fantasy-relevant players. If we're talking about the actual WR2 on each of the 32 teams (ranks roughly 33rd-64th by target share/production), the range is much wider and the median is lower.

Realistically, that group spans from "pretty good starter" to "barely distinguishable from a WR3/4." A rough season-long picture:

Across that range, you're probably looking at something like 40-50 catches, 500-650 yards, and 2-4 TDs for a season, with a lot of variance depending on offensive context. The top of that group (33-45ish) tends to look like legitimate #2 options on pass-heavy teams — 55-65 catches, 650-800 yards. The bottom (50-64) often looks more like complementary pieces — 30-40 catches, 350-450 yards — especially on run-heavy teams or in offenses where a tight end or running back soaks up a lot of passing-game work.”

After going beyond the top 32. I looked at the next 28 receivers after that, taking it all the way down into roughly the 13th percentile—not just the bottom 20%. Is that far enough down the list?

And on my next pass, I went even deeper. It's not like our group suddenly starts looking good when compared against that even lower tiers either.

At some point, we have to decide what standard we're using. Are we trying to build a 9-8 team, or are we trying to win a Super Bowl? Are we debating whether this is merely a weak position group, or whether it's among the weakest in the league? Because if the goal is a championship, that's where this whole discussion loses me.

Now, if you're convinced that Burks, Dyami, or whoever else you have in mind is good enough to be a legitimate No. 2 receiver—or close enough to one—cool. I genuinely hope you're right. The fan base is lol clearly split on this. The local media is split. And judging by some of these posts, including my own, people clearly feel strongly about it.

For me, I can buy the argument that they can survive with a mediocre Z receiver. Just not for some of the reasons being thrown around. My reasoning is much simpler: I'm betting on Jayden and that is Jayden running.

If we're trying to recreate what worked in 2024, the formula wasn't complicated. The receiving corps wasn't special, but when nobody got open, Jayden created offense with his legs. "Run, Jayden, run" was a major part of the offense.

As long as he stays healthy, his mobility can cover up a lot of flaws. That's the path I see to overcoming an underwhelming WR room. But if the plan is to win a Super Bowl while counting on your quarterback to constantly bail out the passing game because the WR2 spot never got adequately addressed, I don't see a SB, we will have to wait to 2027 to make a big run in all likelihood

 

[Conn]

I don’t think it’s so crazy to believe a competition between those three along with the rookie Williams and the vet Van Jefferson will result in a couple serviceable receivers in addition to Terry. Sure it would be nice to have a duo like Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce, Chase and Higgins, etc., or better, a trio like the Posse, but that kind of situation is not nearly as common as you might think.

I think there’s quite a wide gulf between those two extreme scenarios, and most of us would just prefer to be further along the scale.

 

[Faithful Fan]

I think there’s quite a wide gulf between those two extreme scenarios, and most of us would just prefer to be further along the scale.

It would be nice to have a good pair of obvious starters, e.g., Chase and Higgins, Nacua and Adams, Pickens and Lamb, Jameson Williams and St. Brown, etc., but those are also the best duos in the league and relatively rare. I think the last time we had that was probably when Gruden had Garcon and Jackson over a decade ago. I’m just saying that this fortunate situation is not as common as people seem to think.

I would prefer to have a better option opposite Terry too, but we don’t. So our realistic options are:

1. A 33-year old with off the field issues.
2. A player with character questions who hasn’t played in two years.
3. Overpaying a middling player.
4. Developing one of our own draft picks.
5. Bringing back Deebo.

Of those options, I prefer 4 and 5.

 

[Conn]

Obviously, it would be nice to have a good pair of obvious starters, e.g., Chase and Higgins, Nacua and Adams, Pickens and Lamb, Jameson Williams and St. Brown, etc., but those are also the best duos in the league and relatively rare. I think the last time we had that was probably when Gruden had Garcon and Jackson over a decade ago. I’m just saying that this fortunate situation is not as common as people seem to think.

I would prefer to have a better option opposite Terry too, but we don’t. So our realistic options are:

1. A 33-year old with off the field issues.
2. A player with character questions who hasn’t played in two years.
3. Overpaying a middling player.
4. Developing one of our own draft picks.
5. Bringing back Deebo.

Of those options, I prefer 4 and 5.

Again, there’s an enormous gap between the duos you list and where we are. The WR room wouldn’t need to be “finished” and elite for many of us to be happy.

Your list being our “realistic options” didn’t happen in a vacuum. Those are our best options because Peters has failed to do better for 3 straight offseasons. Plenty of worthy excuses for each individual choice, but when you zoom out that’s the truth we’re left with, and the outcome is what gets graded. That’s what some of us are struggling with. Maybe Antonio Williams is the guy, that would be sweet.