Would 49ers finally spend big to fill starting OL spot in free agency?

A change in team-building philosophy may be necessary for the 49ers.

The San Francisco 49ers may need to change one of their team-building trends this offseason if they’re going to get back to Super Bowl form in 2025.

Under head coach Kyle Shanahan the 49ers have never invested big money at either offensive guard spot. They used a second-round pick on left guard Aaron Banks in the 2021 draft and a third-round pick on right guard Dominick Puni in the 2024 draft, but beyond that they’ve not invested major assets into those two positions.

It might be time to change that.

Pro Football Focus circled the 49ers as the best landing spot for Chicago Bears free agent OL Teven Jenkins, who may be the top interior offensive lineman available this offseason.

Via PFF:

A series of nagging injuries plagued Jenkins’ 2024 campaign, but even still, he managed to produce well on the interior of this Bears’ offensive line. His 75.8 PFF pass-blocking grade stands as a career high for the 26-year-old guard after he allowed just a 3.8% pressure rate (also a career high).

The Bears took Jenkins in the second round of the 2021 draft just nine spots ahead of where the 49ers took Banks, who is also a free agent this offseason.

Jenkins struggled at his natural left tackle position as a rookie before moving inside to right guard where he had more success at both guard spots. In 2024 he started all 14 games he played at left guard.

It would be a substantial upgrade for San Francisco and an unprecedented spend for them at left guard, but that may be a change they have to make to get over the Super Bowl hump. They’ve struggled with interior pass rushers in their previous Super Bowl losses, and this year some of their issues on offense came from a lack of production on the offensive line. It may be time to start spending more on that unit.

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New DC won’t singlehandedly save 49ers defense

Robert Saleh is a good hire, but the 49ers can’t be done improving their defense.

The San Francisco 49ers on Friday night made a significant upgrade to their coaching staff when they officially hired defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, but that can’t be their only big defensive move this offseason.

Heading into the offseason the 49ers have a handful of starting spots on defense that either need replacements or upgrades, particularly in the front seven where they’ve been dominant when their defenses are at their best.

Last year’s defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen had some schematic problems and struggled with both in-game and game-to-game adjustments. He also was working with a defensive roster that didn’t meet the standard previously set in San Francisco.

The 49ers’ defense is predicated heavily on its pass rush. Last season’s pass rush wasn’t good enough. According to Pro Football Focus, the 49ers had only one player in the top 65 in pass rush win rate last year, and only two in the top 80 (defensive end Nick Bosa and defensive tackle Maliek Collins). Saleh is a good coordinator, but it’s unlikely he’ll be able to manufacture a quality defense in the modern NFL with a pass rush as frequently ineffective as the unit the 49ers rolled out last season.

Adding talent on the defensive front at both the end and tackle positions is going to be essential if Saleh is going to have the type of impact that helps the 49ers return to Super Bowl contention.

They’ll also need to figure out what they’re doing alongside Fred Warner. Prior to last season when Dre Greenlaw was in the second level next to the All-Pro, the 49ers controlled the middle of the field in the passing game and had two effective, sideline-to-sideline run stoppers behind their defensive line.

Without Greenlaw last season they couldn’t find an adequate replacement and their defense struggled. There were easy throws available in the middle of the field for opposing quarterbacks, and they missed Greenlaw’s athleticism and instincts in the run game. If they’re unable to replace Greenlaw, who is set for unrestricted free agency this offseason, finding a viable replacement is going to be essential.

San Francisco will also likely have a starting cornerback job open with Charvarius Ward leaving in free agency. They could also have a starting safety spot open with Talanoa Hufanga hitting free agency and Ji’Ayir Brown struggling in 2024.

An advantage to having an experienced, successful DC like Saleh is that they’ll have a coach who can maximize the roster they do put together. Saleh alone won’t make them title contenders, however. They have to revamp their defense at at least one position in all three levels if they’re going to give Saleh the tools to help their defense reach a championship level.

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49ers search for safety help continues with former Rams, Bears safety

A new safety for the 49ers.

The San Francisco 49ers need to find some additional help at safety this offseason. They announced one small step toward finding that help Tuesday.

San Francisco added former Los Angeles Rams undrafted safety Quindell Johnson on a reserve/future contract.

Johnson was a UDFA signing for the Rams in 2023, but he didn’t make their final roster and was claimed by the Chicago Bears. He spent his rookie season in Chicago and played in nine games, registering a pair of tackles, one interception and one pass breakup.

The Bears let Johnson go at the end of the 2024 preseason. He made his way to the Rams practice squad early in the year and spent the entire season there.

It’ll be interesting to see how the 49ers navigate the safety position this offseason. Talanoa Hufanga is slated for unrestricted free agency and will likely have a market beyond what San Francisco can or will pay for a starting safety.

2023 third-round pick Ji’Ayir Brown struggled some in his second season, bringing questions to the 49ers’ depth chart in the secondary.

Veteran special teams ace George Odum is still on the roster, and Johnson joined 2024 undrafted rookie Jaylen Mahoney as reserve/future contract signees in January. They’ll both be on the 90-man roster with a real chance to carve out a spot on the active roster in OTAs and training camp.

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49ers may not need to look far to find 1 new starting OL

The 49ers’ 2024 depth chart could give us as clue to how they’ll approach fixing their left guard spot.

An overhaul of the offensive line looks to be one key priority of the San Francisco 49ers offseason.

Left tackle Trent Williams is expected to return and right guard Dominick Puni acquitted himself well in his rookie season. Center Jake Brendel and right tackle Colton McKivitz are also under contract for next year, but it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if the 49ers looked to upgrade both of those spots.

The only spot wide open entering the offseason is left guard, where starter Aaron Banks is slated to hit unrestricted free agency. If the 49ers plan on letting Banks walk, they may not need to look far to find his replacement.

While the team would ideally throw a bunch of money or draft capital into the offensive line, they have other areas of their roster that need improvement which means finding cheaper, non-draft related ways to fill OL spots is imperative.

Two names on the 2024 roster jump out when considering what the 49ers could do to improve at left guard: Ben Bartch and Spencer Burford. They were the two backups for Banks this season and they both acquitted themselves well at the position in limited playing time.

Bartch, an unrestricted free agent, has been a work in progress since the 49ers signed him off the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad in the middle of the 2023 season. His move up the depth chart this offseason is a sign that the progress has been good. He was very good in his start against the Buffalo Bills in Week 13, and in 34 total pass blocking snaps this season he gave up just one pressure and no sacks. Bartch might have finished the year as the starter had he not suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 14.

The 49ers wouldn’t likely have to break the bank to bring Bartch back, and there’s a real chance he’d prove to be their best option at left guard.

Whoever gets the starting job to open training camp figures to have some competition, and Burford would provide that for Bartch (and whoever else the club deems as a starting candidate).

Burford struggled on the right side, but he largely played on the left side in college and it appears the swap helped him as a pro. Off the bench this season he had some ups and downs while moving around the line, but overall looked like he could be an effective player if given the chance for regular reps at left guard. He gave up one pressure in 38 pass blocking snaps at that position per Pro Football Focus.

The 49ers could prioritize left guard more heavily this year and bring in a starting-caliber free agent or a high draft pick. Given their other needs, finding cheap solutions nearby may be the better route. Bartch and Burford both flashed enough to at least be in the mix, and the 49ers may be wise to give both a long look as they aim to revamp their offensive front.

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Brock Purdy contract isn’t 49ers only QB question in 2025

Who’s backing up Brock Purdy?

Brock Purdy’s impending contract extension will rightfully dominate the quarterback conversation around the San Francisco 49ers this offseason, but it’s not the lone question mark at the QB position for them.

While Purdy is do to get a new deal that figures to make him one of the NFL’s highest-paid signal callers, San Francisco also has to figure out what they’re going to do behind Purdy.

QBs Joshua Dobbs and Brandon Allen are both slated to hit free agency in the offseason. That leaves 2024 undrafted rookie Tanner Mordecai as the only other QB on the roster.

At a minimum the 49ers need to add another QB, and they’ll probably look to add two so they have four on their offseason roster. It’s hard to believe they’ll roll into next year with Mordecai as Purdy’s backup, even if they’re happy with Mordecai’s development in his rookie season.

It stands to reason Dobbs may not want to return to a situation where he won’t have a chance to start. He spent most of 2024 as the third-string QB behind Purdy and Allen.

Allen acquitted himself well in his lone start of the year in Green Bay, but he fell behind Dobbs on the depth chart for the final game of the season when Purdy was out with a right elbow injury. It’s not a slam dunk that the 49ers are fine with Allen as their QB2 again next year.

What San Francisco can’t afford to do is ignore the position given what happened at the end of the 2024 season when Purdy took a helmet to the elbow in Week 17 and had to miss the season finale. After nearly two full seasons of healthy QB play it became easy to forget the injury-driven tumult that under center that preceded Purdy.

He hasn’t been hurt as often as a player like Jimmy Garoppolo, but the need to insulate themselves from a QB injury is still there. Finding a player they believe can step in and win some games if Purdy has to miss time is imperative to the 49ers’ offseason to-do list.

Perhaps it’s Allen. He lost his start in Green Bay, but head coach Kyle Shanahan was complimentary of the veteran’s performance in his first start since 2021. Perhaps it’s Dobbs after his 326-yard outing against the Arizona Cardinals. Perhaps it’s Mordecai or a 2025 draft pick.

Whoever it winds up being, it has to be a player the 49ers are confident in. Simply throwing any inexpensive player behind Purdy on the depth chart puts the team in a precarious position where an injury to the QB ostensibly ends their season. Purdy’s injury late in 2024 highlighted that reality and the 49ers need to make sure they address it properly in 2025.

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49ers most improved player in 2024 may be too expensive to keep in SF

The 49ers’ most improved player in 2024 may be too expensive for San Francisco to keep long-term.

With injuries and lack of production elsewhere, San Francisco wide receiver Jauan Jennings morphed into one of the top targets for 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy in 2024.

In the Tennessee alum’s fourth NFL season, Jennings topped all 49ers receivers in targets, catches, yardage and touchdowns.

As a result, Jennings was recognized by Pro Football Focus as the 49ers’ most improved player.

The former seventh-round pick had a career year in the wake of injuries to Brandon Aiyuk and Christian McCaffrey, catching 77 passes for 975 yards and six touchdowns, setting career highs across the board.

Jennings was known more for his blocking abilities up until this season, but he was Brock Purdy’s most favorable target, earning 113 targets in 15 games, while his 83.1 grade was 13th among all receivers in the NFL. He also became one of the best receivers at winning contested catches, as only Terry McLaurin and Drake London had more contested catches than Jennings 20 in the regular season.  – Thomas Valentine, Pro Football Focus.

Jennings inked a two-year, $15.4 million contract ahead of last season that ensures he will be back with the franchise in 2025.

Jennings’ breakout is encouraging in the immediate as the 49ers turn the page toward next season. It gives the franchise confidence that it will have a wealth of offensive weapons on hand at receiver once Brandon Aiyuk is back fully healthy from his torn ACL.

But, Jennings’ emergence this past season may also create some questions for the franchise as well. Does San Francisco want to pay Jennings as its No. 2 receiver? Can it afford to pay Jennings?

The 49ers signed Aiyuk to a four-year, $120 million extension last August that ties him to the franchise through the 2028 season.

Star tight end George Kittle is entering the final year of his current contract after tallying another 1,000-yard receiving season. That type of production has to motivate the 49ers to work toward an extension with Kittle.

And, of course, there’s the potential Purdy extension that looms over everything with San Francisco. Assuming that deals for both get done, that’s a lot of money that might get tied up just in those three players.

Elsewhere at receiver, Deebo Samuel has been a star for San Francisco over the course of his time in the bay, but he’s coming off a disappointing 2024 season and entering the final year of his current contract with the 49ers.

49ers general manager John Lynch indicated that the franchise intends to keep Samuel heading into the 2025 season, but is that indeed the plan? And, if it is, what happens if and when Samuel returns to form?

Would San Francisco think about re-signing Samuel and letting Jennings walk?

The 49ers also just selected Ricky Pearsall out of Florida with its first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft. The former Gator started to come on late last season, tallying 210 receiving yards, 14 grabs and a pair of touchdowns in the 49ers’ final two games of 2024.

Pearsall finished with 31 receptions, 400 receiving yards and three scores during his rookie campaign. If Pearsall continues to ascend, the franchise could opt to spend less at receiver outside of Aiyuk with Pearsall still on his rookie contract entering 2026.

After the season that Jennings just enjoyed, other franchises’ eyes have to have certainly lit up. In the meantime, it’s a positive problem for San Francisco to have.

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49ers’ biggest non-QB priority in 2025 offseason

The 49ers have to get Brock Purdy’s contract done … but then what?

It’s not difficult to look at the San Francisco 49ers’ offseason to-do list and find their top priority.

Quarterback Brock Purdy is entering the final year of his four-year rookie contract, which means he’s eligible for an extension this offseason. Ironing out that contract to ensure the satisfaction of their franchise quarterback and giving themselves a firm understanding of where they stand with the salary cap has to be paramount for San Francisco.

Pro Football Focus correctly identified Purdy’s contract as the top priority for the 49ers.

Via PFF:

San Francisco had an all-star team of players who found themselves on the injured/reserve list this season. A healthy version of this team is still a likely playoff contender. The question is how many of those players can continue to fit on this team if Brock Purdy signs a massive extension.

If Purdy were to sign an extension in the same stratosphere as Jordan Love‘s or Trevor Lawrence‘s, it’s possible they won’t be able to re-sign pending free agents such as Charvarius Ward or Dre Greenlaw. Deebo Samuel could also be an expendable piece on the trade market. Incoming negotiations with Brock Purdy will heavily influence the future structure of this roster.

While decisions about Greenlaw, Samuel and Ward are all important – they pale in comparison to the gravity of Purdy’s deal.

That got us thinking about what the next biggest priority would be for the 49ers this offseason. There are a few clear frontrunners, but one stands out above the rest when trying to grasp how San Francisco has constructed its recent run of Super Bowl contenders.

The 49ers badly need to overhaul their defensive line. In almost all of their deep playoff runs under head coach Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco had a deep defensive front that was effective at stopping the run and persistently got after the quarterback. That started to wane some in 2023, then they didn’t do enough to fix it in the offseason. In 2024 it became an Achilles heel for their defense all year, especially once defensive tackle Javon Hargrave went down with a season-ending triceps tear in Week 3.

While the offensive line also stands out as an area they need to improve in the offseason, they’ve been able to make do with some patchwork units over the years. That’s not to say they can let the OL go by the wayside. But when lining up what group the team should devote more resources to first, the defensive line comes in first in the group of non-Purdy offseason priorities.

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John Lynch update on Trent Williams is great news for 49ers

The 49ers are very confident Trent Williams will be back next season.

The San Francisco 49ers have some work to do on their roster this offseason to return to Super Bowl contention.

That work would get significantly more difficult if 36-year-old All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams opted to hang up his pads and retire after an injury-plagued 14th NFL season. Alas, Williams is committed to returning to San Francisco according to general manager John Lynch.

Lynch on Wednesday in a press conference told reporters Williams is recovering well from the ankle injury that limited him to only 10 games this season, and that the team fully expects their superstar left tackle to be back for the 2025 campaign.

“Trent’s doing well,” said Lynch. “He had a bruise in the ankle joint and it probably took a little longer than anyone anticipated, but sometimes that happens. And the good news is, it’s taken a positive turn. Trent’s mindset is where it always is and he’s still very interested in being a great player that he is. And I think he’s still got a lot left in the tank. So, Trent’s committed as ever and we love having Trent Williams a part of us.”

Williams returning for at least 2025 changes the way the 49ers can attack their offseason. If he wasn’t going to return, they may turn all their resources toward finding his long-term replacement to protect quarterback Brock Purdy’s blind side.

By getting an All-Pro back, not only do the 49ers retain one of the NFL’s best offensive linemen, they can also focus their offseason energy on supplementing their offensive line and bolstering other areas of their roster instead of trying to replace a future Hall of Famer.

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4 veterans, including 2 WRs, added to 49ers offseason roster

More reserve/future signings including a couple Bay Area guys.

The San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday announced the addition of four players to their offseason roster via reserve/future contracts.

Offensive lineman Isaac Alarcon and wide receiver Russell Gage re-signed with the club after finishing the season on their practice squad. Wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins and offensive lineman Jalen McKenzie also inked deals with San Francisco.

Alarcon spent the entire 2024 campaign on the 49ers’ practice squad after signing a reserve/future contract in late January. He joined the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys in 2020 as part of the international pathway program. He could factor into the team’s plans on the offensive line depending on how their roster shakes out after the draft and free agency.

Gage is a five-year NFL veteran who hasn’t played a regular season game since suffering a neck injury during the 2022 playoffs. In 74 games (25 starts) he has 244 catches for 2,491 yards and 14 touchdowns. He spent four years with the Atlanta Falcons after they selected him in the sixth round of the 2018 draft. Gage joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022 where he posted a career-high five touchdowns in 13 games. A torn patellar tendon in training camp the following year ended his 2023 season. The 49ers added him to their practice squad in early November.

Hodgins, the other WR the 49ers signed, was a sixth-round pick of the Buffalo Bills in 2020. He missed his rookie season due to injury and wound up playing just one game for Buffalo in his second season. The following year he saw action for the Bills in two games before they waived him. Hodgins landed with the New York Giants and he played 28 games there where he posted 56 catches for 593 yards and seven touchdowns. This season he played only three games and spent most of the year on New York’s practice squad.

The final of the four players, McKenzie, has yet to make his NFL debut after joining the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted rookie in 2022. He bounced from Tennessee, to the Seattle Seahawks, to the Las Vegas Raiders, to the New England Patriots and then to the  Giants. He was a practice squad player at all of those stops.

These four additions make 14 players signed to reserve/future contracts. The 49ers made 10 of those signings official Monday.

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49ers to re-sign undrafted safety to reserve/future contract

Don’t sleep on safety as a need for the 49ers this offseason.

The San Francisco 49ers may wind up needing to add some safety help in the offseason.

They’re set to take one small step in that process by retaining undrafted rookie safety Jaylen Mahoney on a reserve/future contract according to the Draft Network’s Justin Melo. A reserve/future deal means Mahoney will have a spot on the 90-man roster going into the offseason.

San Francisco signed Mahoney out of Vanderbilt following the 2024 draft and he spent virtually the entire season on their practice squad. The 24-year-old appeared in three games and posted three special teams tackles. He didn’t log a defensive snap.

Mahoney played five years at Vanderbilt and logged 247 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, four interceptions and 18 pass breakups in 54 games.

He’s on the outside looking in at a roster spot going into the offseason, but he should have a real shot to carve out a role in a thin safety room. Talanoa Hufanga is a free agent this offseason and may get priced out of what San Francisco is willing to pay at safety. Ji’Ayir Brown had an up-and-down second year and it doesn’t appear he has a stranglehold on a starting job. Even if Brown and 2024 rookie Malik Mustapha are the team’s starters next season, their depth at the position isn’t great.

If Mahoney has a good offseason and training camp, he could quickly turn his reserve/future deal into a long-term role with the 49ers.

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