49ers legend shares real concern about the team in 2025 and points to how the front office built the current roster

Jerry Rice is concerned with 49ers' youth movement

49ers legend Jerry Rice, though, doesn't agree with how the 49ers approached the offseason. Rice thinks that the Niners could have given the competitive veteran roster another chance. For Rice, there are too many young players with important roles.

"I just feel like we added on too many pieces. The reason why I say that is these guys are young guys," Rice told the San Jose Mercury News. "Super Bowl 60 is going to be here in San Francisco. I would have preferred to sort of leave everything like last year, add on to that, and have a chance for this coming year."

The former wide receiver mentioned that the number of young pieces adds pressure to head coach Kyle Shanahan and his staff. Player development becomes even more impactful.

"A lot of young guys. Now, can Kyle Shanahan pull it together and can these guys jell? We have to wait and see," Rice said. "But there's this big question mark if it's going to work. I'm always going to go Niners no matter what. But we're bringing in so many young players. It's going to take a while for that team to jell. If it doesn't happen this year, then maybe the next couple of years."

The 49ers opted to sign lower-level free agents, like cornerback Tre Brown and wide receiver Demarcus Robinson, and the big additions came via the draft. The team made big defensive investments with rookies, taking edge Mykel Williams, defensive tackles Alfred Collins and CJ West, linebacker Nick Martin, and cornerback Upton Stout in the top four rounds.

Jerry Rice played on the 49ers from 1985 to 2000. It was certainly a different era—part of it without a salary cap and free agency, and all of it without the rookie-scale contracts that make it much more important to add cheap talent.