Best way to keep options open post offer?

Best way to keep options open post offer?

I am a non-tech contractor at a tech company that announced a hiring freeze (might be obvious which one). I have been here for over a year and my contract has been extended several times but I recently started applying to FT roles outside. I have stayed because I enjoyed the previous team I worked with and was interested in the company for its benefits and particularly health/fertility benefits since I will want to have a procedure soon in the next couple of months.

I got a verbal offer from another company last week. It’s much lower in compensation than I’m used to and a bit below market. To get to market would be about 20-30K to the base min and since they don’t do bonuses. I think any way I look at it it will be more of a pay cut. But upside is it also does cover fertility at 70% which isn’t full coverage but is still decent. I am planning to meet with more members of their dept post offer this week around the same band and will try to get a sense of what they were offered and if they are willing to share.

My first ultimate choice is another big tech FAANG company that I know some people that have left my current company to join. I’m not sure if it will come through though. I had started interviewing for one role but will hopefully be connecting this week with the recruiter and a friend about another role and team so the process might now restart.

I also am waiting to hear back from one other company after completing last interview loop last week.

Because of the announcement and my risk tolerance I’m inclined to accept the offer on table maybe at the end of next week. I have also gone ahead and applied to internal roles that I know of the team or of the HM. I also realized since I’m a contractor I don’t have to give any notice really and could potentially even stay in my role even after accepting and seeing how things work out. I’ve never accepted an offer and rescinded but I would be comfortable doing that in this environment now.

How to best accept the offer on table and keep my options open? It has been open a week and they haven’t given me a deadline when I asked. I am remote and would want to push a start date out though and also had travel plans in June and July. I also realized I could probably even technically start the their role in the next couple of weeks and not let any one know. But if this current offer could be my best current option I wouldn’t want to start on a bad foot or burn bridges. The team seems nice but my risk tolerance has me thinking also that being the new hire is also a vulnerable position to be in if the economy goes south and even at a solid but non FAANG company. Thoughts?