Nick Wagoner
Multiple Authors
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — After a season through which they received 12 regular-season video games and a street playoff contest, the San Francisco 49ers entered this offseason with added motivation.
Following their 41-6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks within the NFC divisional spherical, Seattle celebrated its Super Bowl LX victory within the 49ers’ locker room.
The 49ers have began retooling a roster that, regardless of final season’s relative success, has loads of questions. San Francisco should additionally take into account that regardless that it might have arguably been the NFC’s third-best group in 2025, it may need additionally been the third-best group in its personal division.
So this offseason will probably be devoted, at the very least partly, to maintaining with the Seahawks.
“It’s always closer to home when it’s in your division, and their last two games versus us, the way it went,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan stated. “That’s always who you’re trying to stack yourself against to catch.”
Those efforts start in earnest Monday, when the NFL’s early free agent negotiating window opens (midday ET), with groups signing gamers and consummating trades when the league yr begins Wednesday (4 p.m. ET).
Here’s a have a look at the 49ers’ to-do listing getting into free agency as they put together for the 2026 season.
Salary cap maneuvering
The 49ers are projected to have greater than $38.7 million in wage cap area — the eleventh most within the NFL — getting into the brand new league yr, in accordance to OverTheCap. That means the Niners do not have to do vital cap gymnastics to be aggressive.
But that does not imply the 49ers will not free up further area to be used this offseason or in 2027. One of these potential contract changes might be for sort out Trent Williams, who’s a candidate for a short-term extension.
The Niners’ purpose could be to decrease Williams’ 2026 cap variety of $38.84 million whereas pushing further cash into future years. Williams’ goal could be to add assured cash to a deal devoid of it and set himself up to retire as a 49er within the subsequent two to three years. The downside, because it was in 2024, is that the 49ers have struggled to agree on a quantity that is sensible for them, given Williams’ age (38 in July). With no apparent substitute ready to step in, Williams holds loads of leverage.
San Francisco does not have to modify Williams’ deal, however that would arrange one other lengthy holdout comparable to 2024.
Those components make it arduous to think about the Niners and Williams parting methods. Trading or releasing him would end in a lifeless cap cost of $34.15 million with solely $4.69 million in cap financial savings for 2026.
“I’ve got a great deal of confidence that we’ll figure that out,” Niners normal supervisor John Lynch stated. “And it’s just strictly because the motivation is there from both sides, and I think we can get that done.”
The 49ers might additionally do a typical restructure of defensive finish Nick Bosa‘s contract. Bosa has three years left on his deal, with cap numbers of $41.62 million in 2026 and $52.03 million in 2027. A conversion of Bosa’s $22.68 million base wage right into a signing bonus might generate up to one other $17 million in wage cap area for 2026.
There’s no query that the 49ers will half methods with the large receiver. Lynch stated the Niners would wait till the brand new league yr begins earlier than making the transaction official.
“Maybe somebody comes up and has some interest, so I think we’ll keep that thing open for the time being,” Lynch stated.
A commerce stays unlikely, contemplating Aiyuk is coming off a severe knee harm and the awkward way his time in San Francisco ended.
The 49ers are extra likely to lower Aiyuk in the beginning of the league yr, designate him a post-June 1 launch and save about $6.3 million extra in 2026 wage cap area. Aiyuk might then signal with a group — maybe the Washington Commanders and his former Arizona State teammate QB Jayden Daniels — on a one-year prove-it kind of deal.
Taking care of (in-house) enterprise
The 49ers do not have many key starters set to hit free agency — a degree bolstered on Saturday after they re-signed kicker Eddy Pineiro to a four-year deal that can take him off the free agent listing earlier than free agency even begins.
Pineiro was, maybe, San Francisco’s greatest addition in 2025, regardless that it did not occur till Week 2. He stabilized a shaky kicking state of affairs by making 28 of 29 discipline aim makes an attempt, together with six from 50-plus yards.
“Eddy was obviously fantastic,” Lynch stated. “I don’t know if a guy could have come in and done any better.”
Wide receiver Jauan Jennings is one other starter they’d like to hold. Jennings and the Niners attempted to work out a contract final summer time, however Jennings sought a deal effectively past what San Francisco hoped to pay.
Despite accidents, Jennings completed with a career-high 9 landing receptions. He added 55 receptions for 643 yards in 15 video games. While the Niners would really like to re-sign Jennings, in addition they know the worth of his deal would possibly exceed their consolation degree.
Elsewhere, the Niners have at the very least some curiosity in bringing again punter Thomas Morstead, and depth gamers similar to heart Matt Hennessy, defensive sort out Jordan Elliott, returner Skyy Moore and linebacker Luke Gifford, relying on value.
The commerce avenue
The 49ers have persistently stated they don’t intend to trade backup quarterback Mac Jones this offseason after he performed a key position in protecting them afloat whereas starter Brock Purdy missed eight video games due to a toe harm final season.
That doesn’t suggest that Jones is untouchable, however the commerce value is comparatively excessive.
“Somebody would have to come with something fairly strong for us to consider [it],” Lynch stated. “And then, I don’t know what we do. Obviously, there’s always something that would make you [trade him], but I think we’re a better team with him on it, and we just like having him around.”
There are loads of groups in want of a beginning quarterback, however they may wait to see how free agency performs out earlier than making an aggressive push for Jones. The 49ers is also open to buying and selling cornerback Renardo Green, who struggled with accidents and had some psychological lapses final season.
The 49ers have additionally been intently monitoring the commerce marketplace for confirmed gamers. They would have nice curiosity in touchdown a difference-making receiver if one turns into accessible. But the 49ers do not intend to commerce a number of draft picks as they appear to proceed including youth to the roster.
“Our lifeblood always will be the draft,” Lynch stated.
Potential free agent additions
Nearly each place group on the 49ers’ roster wants reinforcements, however defensive position, receiver and defensive again want probably the most assist.
San Francisco is coming off a season through which it posted a league-low 20 sacks and 24.9% strain price. Bolstering the move rush in free agency and the draft is the highest precedence.
Among the highest edge choices accessible: the Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson, Bills’ Joey Bosa, Seahawks’ Boye Mafe and Eagles’ Jaelan Phillips. Atlanta’s Arnold Ebiketie is one other participant to watch given his ties to new Niners coordinator Raheem Morris. On the inside, Denver’s John Franklin-Myers is the highest participant accessible and anticipated to land a giant deal in an in any other case pedestrian group of free brokers.
“We’ve always prided ourselves on our defensive front and getting after people,” Lynch stated. “You’ve got to put the quarterback down, and so that’s something that we want to address and we will address.”
The 49ers determine to consider all the highest receiver choices accessible, together with Indianapolis’ Alec Pierce, Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans, Green Bay’s Romeo Doubs, Seattle’s Rashid Shaheed and the Giants’ Wan’Dale Robinson.
From that listing, Doubs figures to draw San Francisco’s curiosity, although the dearth of choices on the place and variety of groups in want of receiver assist might drive up the value of his deal. Minnesota’s Jalen Nailor is one other intriguing risk as is Indianapolis’ Michael Pittman Jr. if the Colts transfer on from him. Neither is predicted to command a profitable deal.
The 49ers might additionally use assist at cornerback and security. Kansas City’s Jaylen Watson and Seattle’s Riq Woolen would possibly match a necessity on the surface if the Niners spend cash there and transfer on from Green. At security, Chicago’s Jaquan Brisker, Seattle’s Coby Bryant and Indianapolis’ Nick Cross are among the many attainable starter choices, although the draft seems to have loads of potentialities at that spot.
Cleveland’s Joel Bitonio, Buffalo’s David Edwards or Pittsburgh’s Isaac Seumalo is also an choice at left guard, although the Niners want not to spend large on the place.
