The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[burgold]

If I were to nitpick, I think there are too many one-year solutions. I’d have liked to see a few more multi-year contracts.

 

[DWinzit]

If I were to nitpick, I think there are too many one-year solutions. I’d have liked to see a few more multi-year contracts.

Yup, been saying that while watching so many of them signed to only one year stints. I was hoping for a couple more of the FA contracts to have been for 2 years or at least have have an optional second year

We need more continuity and going hand in hand with really good drafts

 

[RexTomb]

I didn't read it as worry, and read it more as "I wonder if fan pressure moved the needle at all"

I think it probably moved it a little, but not much. What I wonder about is whether the 49ers injury bug caught their attention and fears someone else would move for Diggs first.

View attachment 15279

Holy cow, the 9ers season is imploding before it even began. I wonder why they are so banged up the last few years?

 

[Boone]

I didn't read it as worry, and read it more as "I wonder if fan pressure moved the needle at all"

I think it probably moved it a little, but not much. What I wonder about is whether the 49ers injury bug caught their attention and fears someone else would move for Diggs first.

Thank you Nicky - that's exactly what I said.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I did not say AP made the move just to satisfy fans, I’m wondering if the noise influenced him. If he had gone with the status quo and the offense struggled or we had major WR injuries and the season crashed, he would be open to massive criticism from the fanbase. I think it played a role (and it wasn’t just fans screaming about it, they got asked about the WR group constantly by the media).

And I hope fans, media, nothing should have influenced him other than doing the right thing for the team. If he really felt that the right thing was to stand pat, he should have done that. If he was influenced in any way from outside forces, that's a really bad sign in my opinion.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

And he has really done it while preserving the salary cap. I have not really liked his drafts so far. But he stepped up this offseason. He rebuilt the defense, added weapons on offense and maintained future cap space. About the only negative I can think of with this offseason is what he decided to do at Center.

And corner until they signed Douglas. That CB room was super scary until they signed Douglas, and that was before we knew Amos was going to miss time in camp.

I was always more concerned about CB than Center. CB is a premier position for a reason, and we were one step away from having Witherspoon play, and then he retired. Gads. That room is still kindof scary, though will be less so when Amos practices.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

If I were to nitpick, I think there are too many one-year solutions. I’d have liked to see a few more multi-year contracts.

Is there anybody we signed on a one year deal you would like to have seen a 2-3 year deal on?

 

[RedWolf]

Is there anybody we signed on a one year deal you would like to have seen a 2-3 year deal on?

Diggs 2 years

 

[burgold]

Is there anybody we signed on a one year deal you would like to have seen a 2-3 year deal on?

Chaison? I think? You're making me have to remember who got one year deals, darn you! Seriously though, I thought at the time there were a couple of names on D I was excited about and would have liked a multiyear deal even though there's always that "fit" gamble. Now, in fairness, you never know if the player preferred the one year hoping to strike the lottery next year, but I think there were a few I think we could have gotten on medium term deals that I wouldn't mind being longer term fits.

 

[DWinzit]

Diggs 2 years

Omenihu, White and Chaisson

 

[NickyJ]

I was over the moon for Fabian and his name, I am over Mars for Diggs. I wouldn't want Diggs on a 2 year deal. For all the praise I give him, I don't want to be tied to him long term if his age does catch up and make things go down hill. The team needs to get a long term solution, and ideally, McLauren will be the old dude who ages with grace like Santana Moss did.

 

[DieselPwr44]

I've also wondered whether making fans happy impacts decision-making? I'm not going to argue that someone like Adam Peters looks to fan opinion to guide him 99% of the time. But the concern over WR2 and their inability to fill that void this offseason was loud with AP getting the blame for the teams failure to improve there. I am sure that even someone like AP hears the noise and feels the criticism. It may well have given him the 'nudge' to get this deal done.

If he let fan opinion push him to make a move.....that's not a good road to go down.
What's the old saying?

If you start doing what the fans want, you'll soon be sitting with them.

 

[Riggotoni]

Most players are cleared to play their first year after an ACL, but aren't 100% until the next year. Diggs went >1k his first year back - I actually expect him to be even better this year. My prediction 1.2k yards, 7 TDs.

 

[SkinsFTW]

Most players are cleared to play their first year after an ACL, but aren't 100% until the next year. Diggs went >1k his first year back - I actually expect him to be even better this year. My prediction 1.2k yards, 7 TDs.

Very possible and that would put him over 1000 receptions and almost 13000 yards for his career.

Basically double what McLaurin has done even counting his next year stats being his average.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

Are we ignoring Diggs advancing age, declining usage, more specific role in scheme, etc?

Father Time comes for everybody.

Diggs is an improvement, but I'm not going to pretend the other issues aren't present. If we get 700 yards, high success rate, and 4 touchdowns, that would still be pretty good and well worth the money spent.

 

[Boone]

As I said on our pod last night, not every NFL player ages the same way. Look at Adrian Peterson. Instead of looking at Diggs age, let's look at his production. He matched Terry McLaurin's stats in first season with Jayden at QB last season, coming off an ACL tear. He has had 100+ catches 5 of the last 7 seasons and over 1000 yds receiving 7 of the last 8 seasons (including last season). That's better than anyone we've had on our roster in a long long time. Is he getting long in the tooth? Yes. Do I care? Not really - not until his production falls way off. So far, it hasn't. Not every player is the same. Adrian Peterson was different and so far that's what Stefon Diggs is doing.

 

[DieselPwr44]

The other question that should be asked is why is he on his fifth team?
#5 is a young QB that needs help. Preferably, veteran help.

Josh Allen,CJ Stroud and Drake Maye (young Qbs all) not need help?

Good WRs don't get passed around like the loose girl at the Prom. What's his deal?

 

[skinsinparadise]

As I said on our pod last night, not every NFL player ages the same way. Look at Adrian Peterson. Instead of looking at Diggs age, let's look at his production. He matched Terry McLaurin's stats in first season with Jayden at QB last season, coming off an ACL tear. He has had 100+ catches 5 of the last 7 seasons and over 1000 yds receiving 7 of the last 8 seasons (including last season). That's better than anyone we've had on our roster in a long long time. Is he getting long in the tooth? Yes. Do I care? Not really - not until his production falls way off. So far, it hasn't. Not every player is the same. Adrian Peterson was different and so far that's what Stefon Diggs is doing.

Absolutely.

And as for why just 1 year deals of late. his age. You typically don't get long deals late 20s and 30s. Even Terry basically got a defacto 1 year extension. And while he's been according to most who covered him, a good locker room guy -- he's had his share of off field issues.

I am perfectly fine renting him for a season. NE moved on but did so with major acquistions -- big trade and big FA signing and also their Wr room is deep so apples to oranges to this team.

 

[Conn]

The other question that should be asked is why is he on his fifth team?
#5 is a young QB that needs help. Preferably, veteran help.

Josh Allen,CJ Stroud and Drake Maye (young Qbs all) not need help?

Good WRs don't get passed around like the loose girl at the Prom. What's his deal?

This doesn’t matter, he’s a mercenary at a time when we sorely need it. He was a leader on the Pats last year, maybe a bit of a late development in his career but just in time for us.

He’s not a long term signing

 

[Discobob]

If I were to nitpick, I think there are too many one-year solutions. I’d have liked to see a few more multi-year contracts.

I would tend to agree with you, but I'm open to the thought that Peters thinks he can keep re-rolling 1-yr deals at a high hit rate. I'd say 2 years ago it worked... last year it didn't. If he's back to his winning ways this year... 🤞