49ers depth chart – Syndication Server

New contract for aging veteran must be high priority for 49ers in 2025

The 49ers have to keep George Kittle in San Francisco.

While much of the offseason focus for the San Francisco 49ers will land on quarterback Brock Purdy’s contract extension and ways the team can retool for a Super Bowl via free agency and the NFL draft, there are handful of other housekeeping details to keep an eye on.

One of those details, a contract extension for tight end George Kittle, should land relatively high on the team’s priorities for the offseason.

Kittle told Kay Adams on Radio Row at Super Bowl LIX that he’d like to spend the rest of his career with San Francisco, and given his contributions as he’s entered his 30s, it would behoove them to ensure they’re keeping the four-time All-Pro around.

He was more mum on whether extension talks were in the works.

For the 49ers it’s a no-brainer to extend the TE they selected in the fifth round of the 2017 draft, particularly since they don’t have an heir-apparent and finding an adequate second tight end has proved difficult.

However, Kittle’s value has never been higher with quarterback Brock Purdy under center. It looked in 2021 like there may be a dip in production coming for Kittle as he entered his 30s. He put up a very strong 910 yards and six touchdowns that year, but followed it up in 2022 with 765 yards and 11 TDs.

Purdy’s reliance on Kittle in the red zone made it seem as though the TE would have a revised role where his yardage dipped, but his TDs might stay inflated. However, in the last two years Purdy has helped Kittle return to form as a reliable playmaker between the 20s as well.

In 36 games with Purdy since Purdy took over late in the 2022 season, Kittle has 159 catches for 2,332 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns. He has 1,000 receiving yards in each of the last two years. His 15.7 yards per reception in 2023 were a career-high, and his 14.2 yards per reception in 2024 were the third-best mark of his career.

Kittle’s value as a blocker is still one of the highest at his position in the NFL, and he’s been rejuvenated as a go-to pass catching threat in the 49ers’ offense.

He’s entering the final year of his deal in 2024, and his value is as high as ever. Replacing Kittle isn’t going to be easy. The 49ers need to do everything they can this offseason to ensure he’s with them beyond the end of his contract at the close of the 2024 campaign.

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How 49ers can get in the mix as NFC West rival parts with star WR

Cooper Kupp in red and gold?

Bringing in additional depth at wide receiver won’t be at the top of the list of offseason priorities for the San Francisco 49ers, but it’s certainly something that should be on their radar while they navigate some of their bigger-ticket issues.

While it’s not a spot they’ll be looking to make a major splash, if the Los Angeles Rams wind up letting go of wide receiver Cooper Kupp, the 49ers should be first in line to try and lure him to the Bay Area.

Kupp announced via Twitter (currently X) that the Rams intend to trade him this offseason. While that may be their goal, there’s no guarantee the 32-year-old who has played in 33 games the last three years will fetch much in the trade market. Los Angeles may wind up releasing the WR, something the Rams Wire managing editor Cam DaSilva mentioned is on the table for the Rams this offseason:

Cutting Kupp might be the simplest and likeliest option for the Rams. That doesn’t mean it’d be easy to do, but it’s often what decisions like this come down to.

Unfortunately, it’s also the worst option financially for the Rams because they would only save $7.52 million by cutting Kupp before June 1. Even as a post-June 1 cut, they’d save $15 million, but only because his total dead cap charge of $22.26 million would be split between the next two years instead of all coming in 2025.

There’s certainly some risk that comes with acquiring Kupp. San Francisco’s hopes of adding him via trade are close to nil given that they’re in the same division as the Rams.

Even if he’s released, the risk of adding him might just be enough to turn the 49ers off to the idea entirely. However, San Francisco would be aiming to utilize Kupp in a lower-volume way that may help him stay healthier.

Despite playing in only 33 games the last three years Kupp has still amassed 293 targets in that stretch, or 8.9 per game. For comparison, the 49ers target leaders the last three years have racked up 332 targets (6.9 per game) in 48 total games.

In eight seasons Kupp has posted 7,776 receiving yards and 57 touchdowns on 664 receptions. He was the 2021 Offensive Player of the Year after winning the wide receiver triple crown, leading the league in catches, yards and touchdowns.

Kupp is an outstanding route runner and blocker who is capable of playing multiple positions in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense, so the fit would be seamless while helping bolster a 49ers receiving corps that is suddenly littered with question marks.

Perhaps Kupp will be unaffordable if he hits the open market. He may even be averse to joining the Rams’ division rival. Either way, if the Rams are unable to trade Kupp and release him instead, the 49ers should be first in line to try and land him.

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How 49ers should fix major special teams weak spot this offseason

The 49ers can’t just run out Jake Moody again next season.

The San Francisco 49ers tried to make kicking an afterthought for the foreseeable future when they used the No. 99 overall pick in the 2023 draft to select kicker Jake Moody out of the University of Michigan. After two seasons it’s clear San Francisco can’t push the position off its list of offseason needs.

Moody got off to a rocky start his rookie year, but by season’s end looked like he found his footing in the NFL. His second season was a disaster where he missed 10 of his 34 attempts. Five of his misses come from 40-49 yards out, and another five were from 50-plus. His 70.6 percent FG percentage was the lowest for an NFL kicker with at least 34 attempts since the 2012 season when another 49ers kicker, David Akers, made just 69.0 percent of his 42 tries. Moody is one of only four players since the 2000 with a FG percentage of 70.6 or worse on 34-plus kicks.

How the 49ers proceed at kicker will be an interesting offseason subplot to some of the more noteworthy decisions they have to make on offense and defense.

They could just run it back with Moody, but his struggles in two seasons with San Francisco have been so high-profile that he may never be fully comfortable with the 49ers.

Moody did deal with an injury this year that may have hampered him some when he returned. He also saw his holder change when punter Mitch Wishnowsky went down with a back injury.

Still, he missed his first preseason kick and missed his first game-winning try. He had an extra point blocked in the Super Bowl, and then in his second season put up one of the worst seasons for a kicker in more than a decade. Every kick in a 49ers uniform is going to come with added pressure after his rocky first two seasons.

There’s a chance they outright move on from Moody as well. They can cut him and bring in another draft pick or a veteran and try again to find some consistency at the position.

A wiser move in any event would include some level of competition whether it includes, Moody, a veteran, a (late-round) draft pick or otherwise. San Francisco can’t go into another year where head coach Kyle Shanahan can’t confidently roll his kicker out for field goals. Using a high draft pick on the position didn’t work, and just trying to snag a veteran like Joey Slye or Nick Folk could easily backfire. Holding a real competition in camp between a couple of kickers is the way the 49ers should operate this offseason.

They may not be keen on using multiple 90-man roster spots on kickers, but if it ultimately leads to a solution where they don’t have to worry about their kicker it would be well worth it.

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How 49ers can help D-line issues without free agency or NFL draft

A Nick Bosa bounce-back year would be really great for the 49ers in 2025.

There are obvious needs for the San Francisco 49ers on the defensive line that will need to be addressed via free agency and the NFL draft this offseason.

However, that’s not the only way they can see an improvement from that group.

Star defensive end Nick Bosa, who was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 after leading the NFL with 18.5 sacks, hasn’t quite been himself the last couple of years.

Bosa tore his ACL in 2020, but bounced back in 2021 with 15.5 sacks before earning the DPOY nod the following year.

The offseason after his DPOY campaign was also the offseason he was due for a contract extension. Negotiations on his deal lingered until the week the regular season started, and there was a clear impact on the star DE as he worked his way back into football shape. Eventually he started looking more like himself, but he had a hard time turning his pressures into sacks.

According to Pro Football Focus, Bosa actually posted more total pressures in 2023 than he did in 2022, but his number of sacks and quarterback hits both dipped significantly. So did his pass rush win rate, which went from 21.0 in 2022, to 22.3 in 2023, down to 20.0 in 2024.

In all, Bosa has just 19.5 sacks over the last two seasons — a number that will have to improve if the 49ers defense is going to return to peak form.

Injuries certainly played a role in Bosa’s lack of production in 2024 as he missed three games and dealt with hip/oblique injuries through most of the second half of the season. The lack of quality talent around him might’ve also had an impact as offenses were able to focus more on ensuring Bosa’s path to their quarterback was more difficult.

Next season has to be a bounce-back year from Bosa where he starts turning his pass rush wins into sacks the way he did in 2021 and 2022. If he does that, it will be a significant lift for a pass rush that had a difficult time affecting quarterbacks last season.

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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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