Do The San Francisco 49ers’ Offseason Moves Really Add Up?

The San Francisco 49ers had a very disappointing 7-10 season after entering the year as one of the top Super Bowl contenders. This was especially tough since they had come close to winning the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs the previous February.

It felt like everything went wrong for Kyle Shanahan’s team. Christian McCaffrey, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, only played four games because of injuries. Brandon Aiyuk, an All-Pro wide receiver, tore his ACL after seven games.

Several key players like Brock Purdy, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Trent Williams, Nick Bosa, and Charvarius Ward also missed games due to injuries.

While these injuries can’t be used as an excuse, they played a big role in making this one of the most disappointing seasons for Shanahan and John Lynch.

Now, San Francisco has to focus on an offseason that could have major effects on keeping their chances of winning the Super Bowl alive.

49ers Extend Brock Purdy

The San Francisco 49ers are set to offer Brock Purdy a record-breaking contract. This will be a priority for the team once March begins, as Purdy is eligible for a contract extension for the first time in his career. Though Purdy had a slight drop in performance after being an MVP finalist in 2023, he is still seen as the franchise’s future.

Purdy’s career stats include a 67.5% completion rate, 9,518 yards, 64 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions. He’s also 4-2 in the postseason, leading the 49ers to two NFC Championship Game appearances and a Super Bowl.

The current market for quarterbacks in the NFL will impact the contract talks. It’s expected that Purdy will become the second highest-paid player in the league, right behind Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys. This would mean a five-year deal worth $287.5 million.

General manager John Lynch and his team need to finalize this deal before Purdy enters his contract year in 2025. It’s crucial.

49ers Must Increase NFL Salary Cap

The San Francisco 49ers need to create more salary cap space this offseason. According to Over the Cap, the team is projected to have $46.51 million in cap space. While that’s a decent amount, this figure could decrease depending on how Brock Purdy’s contract is structured.

Having financial flexibility before the 2025 NFL season will be crucial for the 49ers to keep their Super Bowl hopes alive. It’s expected that several players will restructure their contracts to make this happen, similar to what the team did last offseason in Santa Clara.

The 49ers have already informed defensive tackle Javon Hargrave that he will be released with a post-June 1 designation. This move will save the team just $2.23 million against the cap.

Other players who may be released include edge rusher Leonard Floyd and defensive lineman Maliek Collins. These two moves could save around $12 million.

Contract restructures would free up much more cap space for free agency. Simply restructuring the contracts of tight end George Kittle and linebacker Fred Warner could save the team a combined $22 million.

If these changes happen, the 49ers could have over $83 million in cap space to work with. That’s a solid amount.

49ers Must Utilize 2025 NFL Draft

The San Francisco 49ers need to focus on specific positions in the 2025 NFL Draft to improve their chances of being strong contenders. While I usually don’t suggest drafting mainly for need, the 49ers have clear gaps that must be filled.

The biggest areas to address are offensive tackle and edge rusher. Colton McKivitz struggled in pass protection this past season and isn’t the solution at right tackle, especially next to the aging 36-year-old Trent Williams. That need is very clear.

San Francisco also needs to improve its pass rush opposite star edge rusher Nick Bosa. Leonard Floyd had 8.5 sacks in his first season with the 49ers, but they should look for a younger player to fill this role.

The 49ers have the 11th pick in April’s NFL Draft, and there are several players to consider for these positions.

For edge rusher, Mykel Williams from Georgia and James Pearce Jr. from Tennessee could be options. Offensive tackles Kelvin Banks Jr. from Texas and Josh Simmons from Ohio State are names to keep in mind.

If San Francisco frees up more cap space with the moves mentioned earlier, they will likely be active in free agency.

Star cornerback Charvarius Ward will become a free agent and is unlikely to return. His family faced a personal tragedy this season, which may make him less inclined to play in California, where the tragedy occurred.

The 49ers extended young cornerback Deommodore Lenoir during the season and have promising 2024 second-round pick Renardo Green.

However, they may still look for help in the secondary. A reunion with former 49ers cornerback DJ Reed could be a good fit, as well as Rasul Douglas from the Buffalo Bills.

If the 49ers don’t address offensive tackle or pass rush in the draft, there are several good free agent options. Baltimore Ravens tackle Ronnie Stanley is a possible target, and for pass rush, Haason Reddick from the Jets or Josh Sweat from the Eagles could be good fits.

49ers Have To Ace Hiring Of Next Defensive Coordinator

The San Francisco 49ers need to make the right choice when hiring their next defensive coordinator. The job has been changing hands frequently, with Nick Sorensen failing in his only season and Steve Wilks also lasting just one season in 2023.

Since head coach Kyle Shanahan focuses on offense, it’s important for the team to find someone strong to lead the defense.

The 49ers have interviewed their former defensive coordinator, Robert Saleh. However, they will face competition from other teams who are also interested in bringing him in. San Francisco is expected to offer him the job, and a reunion with him makes a lot of sense.

Other candidates include Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich and former Raiders and Saints head coach Dennis Allen. Both would bring a lot of experience to the team in Santa Clara.

In the coming time we will see that the changes San Francisco 49ers have made will be fruitful or not.