Offseason In Review: San Francisco 49ers

As the 49ers began reshaping their receiver array, they bolstered their defensive line with a trade. The Cowboys’ 2025 trades for Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams crowded their defensive tackle group, and as new DC Christian Parker ushered in a move back to a 3-4 alignment, Odighizuwa’s $20MM-per-year contract — authorized in March 2025 — was deemed expendable. Despite being younger than both 2025 Dallas trade imports, Odighizuwa (28) will debut for a new team tonight.

Odighizuwa probably would have ended up in another trade had the 49ers been able to lure John Franklin-Myers to the Bay Area. San Francisco made an offer to this year’s top interior D-line free agent and finished second in that derby, but state income taxes played a part in sending him to Tennessee (where a Robert Saleh reunion took place). Odighizuwa is two years younger than Franklin-Myers and signed through 2028 — at a lower rate than what the more experienced inside rusher received from the Titans (three years, $63MM).

The 49ers have Odighizuwa on his Dallas-designed four-year, $80MM pact. No guarantees are in place beyond 2026, and the Cowboys absorbed $16MM in dead money to move on. That is a curious move considering Odighizuwa’s age, durability and productivity. The former third-round pick has not missed a game since 2022 and has only two missed contests on his resume. The Cowboys also received solid pressure work from the 4-3 DT, as he produced 23 quarterback hits in 2024 and ’25.

The UCLA alum has never registered more than 4.5 sacks in a season, but he is coming off a strong 2025. He ranked ninth in pass rush win rate and eighth in run stop win rate last season, doing so after checking in at 14th in pass rush win rate in 2024. That season, Odighizuwa’s QB pressure count (33) ranked third among interior D-linemen; his 31 last year — despite Cowboy opponents no longer having to contend with Micah Parsons — ranked fourth at the position.

Odighizuwa’s 2024 created a big market, and the Cowboys would have franchise-tagged him had a deal not been reached before last year’s deadline. This marks the second $20MM-AAV contract the 49ers have added up front in four years. Their Javon Hargrave deal did not pan out, as an injury-marred 2024 made the nomadic DT a 2025 cap casualty. San Francisco has a younger option in Odighizuwa, and the new import being on a $20MM-per-year pact in 2026 is much more valuable than Hargrave at $21MM per annum in 2023.

Dallas and San Francisco linked up again in a trade weeks later, with Winters being sent to Texas. A Cowboys team that has been unable to rely on its linebacker play for many years will have the 49ers’ most recent Fred Warner sidekick at their disposal. Winters (19 starts last season) became expendable because the 49ers reacquired Warner’s longtime LB running mate, Dre Greenlaw, in free agency. One year remains on Winters’ sixth-round rookie contract.

Free agency additions:

• Mike Evans, WR. Three years, $42MM ($14.3MM guaranteed)
• Dre Greenlaw, LB. One year, $6MM ($6MM guaranteed)
• Vederian Lowe, T. Two years, $9.25MM ($5.75MM guaranteed)
• Deebo Samuel, WR. One year, $4.1MM ($3.76MM guaranteed)
• Nate Hobbs, CB. One year, $3.5MM ($3.11MM guaranteed)
• Christian Kirk, WR. One year, $3MM ($2.78MM guaranteed)
• Brett Toth, OL. One year, $2.5MM ($2.2MM guaranteed)
• Ashtyn Davis, S. One year, $1.47MM
• Jack Jones, CB. One year, $1.22MM
• Corliss Waitman, P. One year, $1.2MM
• KhaDarel Hodge, WR. Practice squad
• Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, DE. Practice squad

The 49ers did not get younger at wide receiver this offseason, but they are assuredly better. Evans brings a Hall of Fame resume to San Francisco, having matched Jerry Rice with an 11-year run of 1,000-yard seasons. Yes, Evans is a couple tiers below the 49er receiving legend, but he also started his career with 11 straight 1,000-yard years (Rice’s stratospheric run began in his second season). This is obviously a much easier era to compile receiving yardage than when Rice played, but it is telling no other receiver has matched that 11-year streak.

Evans, 33, has never been a first-team All-Pro but he has built a Frank Gore-like Canton resume due to consistency. A second-team All-Pro in 2016 and 2023, the 6-foot-5 outside target played a key role in the Buccaneers wooing Tom Brady in 2020 and kept his form to help Baker Mayfield revitalize his career. Drafted when Mike Glennon was working as Tampa Bay’s starter, Evans cleared 1,200 yards three times during Jameis Winston’s tenure. He could now provide stability for one of the NFL’s most unreliable position groups in recent years.

Seeing Samuel decline, Ricky Pearsall battle a few injuries and Brandon Aiyuk move toward unexplored NFL territory with his post-injury behavior, Purdy has not played with a reliable pass catcher cadre since 2023. With Jauan Jennings also gone, the 49ers needed more veteran help. They upgraded significantly with Evans.

Bucs GM Jason Licht said his offer was “significantly higher” the 49ers’, but Evans still chose to move on. The 13th-year weapon accepted a pay-as-you-go contract, opting to work in Kyle Shanahan’s offense — as opposed to the assembly line of play-callers coming through Tampa — while also considering linking up with Josh Allen in Buffalo.

This is a different type of wideout than Purdy has worked with previously. Evans (24 touchdowns between his past two healthy seasons) has settled in as a quality possession receiver and remains adept at 50-50 balls, giving the 49ers interesting red zone opportunities.

They were able to land Evans on the deal they did partially because of an injury-plagued 2025 season. Evans’ run of 1,000-yard slates ended because of the broken collarbone he suffered in Week 7. He had missed the previous three games because of a hamstring issue. This is a bit of a dice roll by the 49ers, but Evans’ body of work is unassailable. Stepping into a Shanahan offense should help Evans craft a quality late-career chapter, as he put up big numbers with a slew of OCs in Tampa.

This space has also called the 49ers’ age issue into question a few times this summer. San Francisco has three 30-something wide receivers, with Samuel turning 30 this offseason and Demarcus Robinson set to turn 32 this month. They accompany a soon-to-be 33-year-old tight end (George Kittle) and a 30-year-old running back (Christian McCaffrey). Kirk will also turn 30 later this year. For a team that annually deals with high injury volume, stockpiling older players is a curious strategy. Kirk is already on IR with a calf injury sustained in camp.

Various Samuel health issues affected the versatile second-round pick during his initial San Francisco stint, and he certainly has some extra mileage compared to most 30-year-old wideouts. Samuel has 271 career carries. Only 17 of those came last season, as the Commanders deployed the 2025 trade pickup as a more traditional receiver compared to the 49ers, who gave him at least 37 carries each season from 2021-24.

Samuel’s 2021 first-team All-Pro season can safely be labeled an outlier at this point; he posted 1,405 receiving yards that year — as an offseason filled with extension drama (which did produce a lucrative deal) awaited — but has never eclipsed 900 since. Samuel also accumulated a career-high 365 rushing yards in his third season. Last year, the inside playmaker finished with 727 receiving yards — granted, in a Washington offense featuring extensive Marcus Mariota work and a late-season Josh Johnson cameo — and five TDs.

The 49ers were looking into Samuel before Pearsall’s summer PCL injury, but the latest health issue for the 2024 first-rounder undoubtedly helped complete this reunion. Although Aiyuk is far out of the picture, Samuel working as an auxiliary option alongside Evans and second-rounder De’Zhaun Stribling seems in step with where he is in his career. Samuel’s presence also figures to help as Kittle attempts to regain form post-Achilles rehab.

Continuing to disregard injury concerns during an interesting free agency period, San Francisco reunited with Greenlaw to work with Warner. Both linebackers missed much of last season due to injury. Greenlaw only played eight regular-season games with the Broncos, beginning his season on IR due to a quad injury and needing late-season time off because of hamstring trouble. In between, he was suspended for a game for an interaction with an official.

The Broncos ditched Greenlaw’s three-year, $31.5MM contract via a post-June 1 release. This opened a door for the former upper-crust ‘backer, whom the 49ers aggressively tried to re-sign in 2025. Since Greenlaw’s historically ill-timed Achilles tear in Super Bowl LVIII, the 49ers have not been able to give Warner a quality wingman. The De’Vondre Campbell experiment combusted, and Winters was serviceable. Third-round pick Nick Martin is on IR to start this season, after playing only 15 defensive snaps as a rookie.

Bringing Greenlaw back obviously injects health risks into the 49ers’ defensive equation, as he missed almost all of the 2024 season due to Achilles rehab. Nevertheless, Greenlaw begins an age-29 season back as a 49ers starter.

Hindsight being 20/20, the 49ers would have been better off prioritizing Azeez Al-Shaair over Greenlaw alongside Warner earlier this decade. But Greenlaw was one of the league’s best coverage ‘backers before his Achilles injury. How relevant is that 2023 form now, though? The team is thin behind its starters at linebacker.

Re-signings:

• Eddy Pineiro, K. Four years, $17MM ($8MM guaranteed)
• Jake Tonges, TE. Two years, $8MM ($5.5MM guaranteed)
• Luke Gifford, LB. Two years, $5MM ($2MM guaranteed)
• Sam Okuayinonu, DE. One year, $2.3MM ($1.8MM guaranteed)
• Garret Wallow, LB. One year, $1.24MM ($330K guaranteed)
• Jon Weeks, LS. One year, $1.3MM

Brought in to replace Jake Moody last September, Pineiro went on to lead the NFL in field goal accuracy (96.6%). The veteran missed just one kick, giving a tremendous boost to a Niners team that could not rely on Moody. The Panthers did not opt to re-sign Pineiro last year, and he now has a high-end kicker deal for the first time in his career.

Needed to start in place of Kittle on several occasions last season, Tonges parlayed that contract-year work into a solid TE2 guarantee. A 49ers team playing without key starters on offense turned to Tonges as a receiving option, and after zero receptions through three seasons, he caught 34 passes for 293 yards and five touchdowns.

Tonges received plenty of first-team reps during camp, with Kittle not coming off the active/PUP list until August 23. With the Hall of Fame-caliber TE a risky bet given his three-injury 2025 and age (33 in October), Tonges will probably see steady work once again after being an early-career afterthought.

Notable losses:

• Robert Beal, DE
• Kendrick Bourne, WR
• Spencer Burford, G
• Kalia Davis, DT
• Jordan Elliott, DT
• Clelin Ferrell, DE
• Yetur Gross-Matos, DE
• Matt Hennessy, OL
• Bryce Huff, DE (retired)
• Jauan Jennings, WR
• Eric Kendricks, LB
• Chase Lucas, CB
• Darrell Luter Jr., CB (waived)
• Skyy Moore, WR
• Thomas Morstead, P
• Jason Pinnock, S
• Brian Robinson, RB
• Curtis Robinson, LB
• Trent Taylor, WR (retired)

Developing a reputation as an instigator, Jennings still provided considerable aid to the 49ers when they needed it. When Aiyuk went down with an ACL tear in October 2024, Jennings stepped up for a career-high 975 receiving yards (a 175-yard day against the Rams, with Samuel out of action, kickstarted that breakout season). With Pearsall missing eight games and Kittle six last year, Jennings led all non-McCaffrey 49ers with 643 receiving yards.

A plus run blocker/gadget quarterback, Jennings angled for a raise before 2025 but only received a small incentive package. He also looks to have held out for too high a price in free agency this year. The 49ers spoke to Jennings’ camp at the Combine, but after they signed Evans and Kirk, the sides were expected to part ways. That happened, but Jennings did not land anywhere until June.

A Minnesota visit ended Jennings’ free agency stay, with the Vikings giving him a one-year deal worth $8MM. At 29, Jennings faced a crucial offseason as a first-time UFA. He had signed a two-year, $11.89MM 49ers extension in 2024; that delayed his path to the market by a year. The former seventh-round find, set to operate as the Vikes’ WR3 alongside Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, will attempt to boost his market this year. But his value may not climb much higher as his 20s wind down.

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The 49ers also turned to Bourne for steady contributions last season, reuniting with him after a Patriots release. Bourne bounced back with his best season since 2021, racking up 551 receiving yards on 14.9 per catch, and starting eight games. The Cardinals gave the 31-year-old receiver a two-year, $10MM pact.

Burford became a somewhat polarizing figure in San Francisco. Chris Jones beating the then-backup guard, as injured starter Jon Feliciano pointed out on Twitter, stalled the 49ers’ overtime drive in Super Bowl LVIII. Burford returned to a bench role in 2024, being cross-trained as a tackle, before reentering San Francisco’s lineup last season. After a zero-start 2024, Burford ran his career count to 38 with nine first-string appearances last year. The former fourth-round pick joined the Raiders in free agency — for barely $3MM — and is set be their starting left guard.

Elliott started 29 games during his two-year Bay Area stay; Pro Football Focus, as it regularly does, viewed his work poorly. PFF ranked Elliott 110th among 127 qualified interior D-linemen last season. The six-year vet accompanied Franklin-Myers in following Saleh to Nashville, where he will work as a backup behind Franklin-Myers and All-Pro Jeffery Simmons.

Extensions and restructures:

• Agreed to two-year, $50MM extension ($37MM guaranteed) with LT Trent Williams
• QB Mac Jones agreed to reworked contract
• Created $17.7MM in cap space by restructuring DE Nick Bosa’s deal

Ely Allen’s 49ers Offseason Outlook outlined a pivotal Williams bonus date; the future Hall of Famer was due a $10MM option bonus March 20. The 49ers opted not to exercise that but circled back on a new agreement with the 17th-year left tackle. By not paying Williams’ option bonus, the 49ers temporarily saw his 2026 cap hit increase from $38.84MM to $47MM. Although the 49ers’ new Williams arrangement may bring some long-term damage, they avoided another standoff with the All-Pro.

The sides were not believed to be close on an extension in March, and the process dragged on for a few weeks. An early-March rumor pointed to the 49ersr being open to trading Williams, but not much traction emerged in the weeks that followed. The 49ers will still deploy a Williams-dependent O-line in their LT’s age-38 season, and while a long-term need is glaring here, the 12-time Pro Bowler is locked in for two more years.

This is Williams’ third contract agreement with the 49ers. Acquired via trade in 2020 after a 2019 Washington dispute keyed a departure, Williams re-signed with San Francisco on a then-record tackle deal (six years, $138.1MM) in 2021. That accord came during an offseason that featured the second-ever salary cap decrease — thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic significantly affecting attendance in 2020 — and the deal became outdated before long.

Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen excepted, players no longer sign six-year contracts. Only a handful of five-year deals have been agreed to during the mid-2020s, as significant cap growth now occurs annually. Williams came back to the table via a 2024 hold out — one that followed three straight first-team All-Pro seasons — and secured a rework that came out to a three-year, $82.6MM deal. After an injury-shortened 2024 season, Williams finished as a second-team All-Pro in 2025. His presence certainly helped the 49ers’ offense function during Purdy’s lengthy injury hiatus.

Williams has done well to remain one of the game’s best blockers, being in position to renegotiate ahead of an age-38 season. His $25MM-per-year extension is set up to be shed as a post-June 1 cut in 2028. The 49ers tacked four void years onto the deal and would be hit with a $33.33MM dead money bill if/when Williams is released by mid-March 2028. By preparing this to be a post-June 1 designation, the 49ers will be able to divide that cap penalty over two years. Williams, chosen fourth overall back in 2010, said this summer this will probably be his final NFL contract.

Jones signed a two-year, $7MM deal after trending downward on his rookie contract split between New England and Jacksonville. The 49ers now look to have one of the best contracts in NFL, as Jones — a Shanahan target in the 2021 draft — went 5-3 as a starter in place of Purdy last season. He completed 69.6% of his passes — during a stretch that featured four missed games from Kittle — and compiled a 13:6 TD-INT ratio. The former Patriots first-rounder, at least with Shanahan at the controls, may now be the NFL’s best current QB2.

Last season’s surprising Jones form naturally introduced trade rumors, but the 49ers set a high price on their backup. Around draft time, a report indicated Jones’ market was rather tepid, keeping him behind Purdy entering the 2026 season. As a modest reward for Jones’ 2025 contributions, the 49ers gave him a $300K roster bonus and added $2.25MM in incentives to his deal. Jones’ contract still expires at season’s end.

Although the 49ers could look to move Jones for perhaps a Day 2 draft asset by the deadline — as the team remains intrigued by 2025 seventh-round pick Kurtis Rourke, currently the third-stringer — Purdy’s injury issue last year may well prompt the club to keep its capable backup and potentially obtain a mid-round 2028 compensatory pick if/when he departs as a 2027 UFA.

Draft:

• Round 2, No. 33 (from Jets): De’Zhaun Stribling (WR, Ole Miss) (signed)
• Round 3, No. 70 (from Browns): Romello Height (EDGE, Texas Tech) (signed)
• Round 3, No. 90 (from Texans via Dolphins): Kaelon Black (RB, Indiana) (signed)
• Round 4, No. 107 (from Browns): Gracen Halton (DT, Oklahoma) (signed)
• Round 4, No. 127: Carver Willis (OL, Washington) (signed)
• Round 4, No. 139: Ephesians Prysock (CB, Washington) (signed)
• Round 5, No. 154 (from Ravens): Jaden Dugger (LB, Louisiana) (signed)
• Round 5, No. 179 (from Jets): Enrique Cruz Jr. (T, Kansas) (signed)

As Pearsall has become another 49er stricken by significant injury trouble and the team’s Aiyuk extension decision combusted on a Raiders-Antonio Brown level, connections to a prominent wide receiver investment emerged during the pre-draft process. The team met with KC Concepcion and Omar Cooper Jr., but when the latter was available after a trade-down move, the NFC West franchise moved down again and let the Jets take Fernando Mendoza’s top Indiana weapon.

San Francisco also met with Denzel Boston and fielded trade calls on No. 33, but Stribling’s surge late in the draft runup led to one of the draft’s most surprising sequences. Ranked 62nd on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board and 67th on Dane Brugler’s The Athletic board, Stribling gained steam as the draft neared. He becomes the fourth first- or second-round receiver Shanahan’s team has selected since 2019.

Even as of early April, the 49ers are believed to have viewed Stribling as a player who would go late in the second round or early in the third. That would have aligned with the aforementioned big boards, but Shanahan and John Lynch’s evaluations led to the well-traveled WR’s rise. Transferring from Washington State to Oklahoma State to Ole Miss, Stribling zoomed to a 4.36-second 40 time at the Combine (at 207 pounds). That came after back-to-back 800-yard years to close his college career.

Stribling impressed at 49ers camp and is set for a prominent early-season role. The popular fantasy investment appears vital for this 49ers edition, a squad that — without Pearsall on the 53-man roster — needs a young talent to emerge. A 49ers team that hit on Samuel and (talent-wise) Aiyuk needs to be right on Stribling to balance out an old skill-position crew.

Height had Stribling beat by attending four Division I schools (Auburn, USC, Georgia Tech, Texas Tech) and is already 25 after a six-year college career. He registered 10 sacks and 11.5 TFLs during his Red Raiders season, and with Mykel Williams out at least four games, a rotational role will be open. Keion White, who was wounded in a shooting early this offseason, sits as Nick Bosa’s top DE counterpart before Williams’ return. The 49ers, who have been linked to pursuing EDGE help via trade, appear vulnerable here — especially with Bosa missing most of preseason work with knee tendinitis.

The Shanahan/Lynch-era 49ers have a woeful track record at middle-round running back selections. Joe Williams (Round 4, 2017) never played a down, while Trey Sermon (Round 3, 2021) was off the roster after one season. Tyrion Davis-Price (Round 3, 2022) logged 40 49ers carries in two seasons, while Isaac Guerendo (Round 3, 2024) was phased out last season; he is currently on the reserve/PUP list. The odds are against Black, who was not invited to the Combine.

Black appears ahead of Jordan James (Round 5, 2025), but the 49ers, as their Sermon-Elijah Mitchell situation reminds, are known for fluidity at this position. Black was hardly used as a pass catcher at Indiana, but he totaled 1,040 rushing yards (5.6 per carry) last season. Black played ahead of James in the 49ers’ final preseason game.

Perhaps the counterintuitive strategy of drafting a player not invited to the Combine will break the team’s mid-round RB skid, though the Seahawks’ Jadarian Price pick at No. 32 was partially motivated by fears the 49ers would grab the Notre Dame back at 33.

A notable Day 3 pick emerged from this class, as Willis beat out Connor Colby and Robert Jones for the left guard job. Colby held an early lead, while Jones looked to be ahead midway through camp. Willis primarily played tackle at Washington and Kansas State but has taken to guard. He will follow RG Dominick Puni (2024) as a Week 1 rookie guard starter. The 49ers released Jones on cutdown day.

Coaching/front office:

• HC Kyle Shanahan suffered injuries in car accident
• CEO Jed York arrested in police prostitution sting
• VP of football operations Paraag Marathe left team
• Assistant GM RJ Gillen interviewed for Vikings’ GM job
• Minority owner Vinod Khosla bought Seahawks
• Promoted K.J. Wright to LBs coach, Joe Graves to offensive run-game coordinator
• Assistant OL coach Cameron Clemmons moved to TEs coach; Roman Sapolu named replacement

Shanahan, 46, suffered a concussion, broken ribs, a broken nose and a broken hand in a summer car accident. The 10th-year HC was at fault in the wreck — no drugs or alcohol were involved — and it led to restrictions during camp. But the two-time Super Bowl leader was back on the sideline for the team’s preseason opener.

Court records indicate York was originally arrested on suspicion of engaging in prostitution in East Palestine, Ohio, but entered a plea of no contest with that charge being amended to disorderly conduct. York’s other charge upon arrested last month was possessing criminal tools. He entered a no contest plea.

The 46-year-old CEO received a sentence of two days in jail. The NFL is reviewing the situation under its personal conduct policy, which could lead to a suspension for the 49ers mainstay.

Marathe is gone after 25 years with the franchise. An integral part of 49ers negotiations, Marathe left to focus on work with soccer clubs Leeds United and Rangers FC. Assistant GM Brian Hampton has become the 49ers’ chief negotiator, replacing the Bay Area native.

Other:

• WR Christian Kirk received IR-return designation; DE Mykel Williams on reserve/PUP list
• Placed CB Nate Hobbs, LB Nick Martin on short-term IR
• WR Ricky Pearsall underwent season-ending PCL surgery
• DT Alfred Collins suffered patellar tendon tear
• Explored trade for DT Vita Vea
• Discussed Brandon Aiyuk in trades; WR remains on reserve/left squad list
• DE Nick Bosa, TE George Kittle to play in Week 1
• Signed eight UDFAs

Williams sustained his ACL tear in early November of last year, with the injury coming a month after Bosa’s. The latter avoided the active/PUP list at training camp, though he missed extensive time after that point with lingering knee soreness, and is out for at least four games. Williams, chosen 11th overall last year, started all nine games he played but only tallied one sack and three QB hits.

The highest 49ers draft choice since Bosa in 2019, Williams remains a central figure in the team’s D-line plans. Though, his ACL tear has taken longer to rehab than Bosa’s, and the Georgia product has missed important developmental time. White recovered from being shot in the ankle in February. With Collins going down during a practice in Australia, the 49ers are limping into the season on their defensive front.

Pearsall will exit his third season having missed 31 career games. He was wounded in a shooting just before his rookie season but flashed as a promising Purdy option upon recovery. Last summer, a hamstring injury slowed the Florida and Arizona State product before he encountered a PCL issue. The 49ers did not place Pearsall on IR last season but were without the key performer for eight games. More PCL trouble will almost definitely lead to the team declining Pearsall’s fifth-year option by next May.

While Pearsall averaged an impressive 14.7 yards per catch last season and is expected to make a full recovery, he is facing a nine-month rehab timetable. By the time Pearsall returns, only one season — barring a surprising turn of events where his option is exercised — will remain on his rookie deal. Pearsall is teetering on what-if status, and he will be 27 by the time he is ready to play again.

Terrell Owens returned from his midseason 2005 Eagles banishing the following year; ditto Keyshawn Johnson following his de facto Buccaneers dismissal in 2003 (the Cowboys traded for Johnson in 2004 and signed Owens in ’06). Antonio Brown resurfaced with the Patriots following his bizarre Raiders chapter and then with the Bucs in 2020, though weird headlines continued to follow the former Steelers All-Pro (and still do). Diontae Johnson might be the closest Aiyuk parallel for wide receiver weirdness, as he went from 1,000-yard Steeler to a player jettisoned (two trades, two cuts) four times in a 10-month period. At least Johnson was attempting to play football that year, however. The Aiyuk saga has strangely cooled, with no movement from the 49ers’ reserve/left squad list.

The 49ers gave up on trading the enigmatic pass catcher this offseason, and Aiyuk-Commanders connections ceased after a string of strange behavior on social media. Washington ended up signing Stefon Diggs. This came after Aiyuk, who had lobbied to join the Commanders, purchased a home near the team’s practice facility.

The 49ers voided Aiyuk’s guarantees last July, and they are not on the hook for his salary presently because of his presence on the reserve/left squad list. In one of the stranger standoffs in NFL history, Aiyuk said in July he is not doing business with the 49ers; thus, he remains in NFL limbo.

Johnson did not play in the NFL last season, after his 2024 tour torpedoed his value while attached to a two-year, $36.7MM extension. Aiyuk’s missteps have brought higher-stakes setbacks, as he drifted off track less than a year into a $30MM-AAV extension.

Aiyuk was among a handful of wideouts tied to $30MM-per-year deals entering the 2024 season, but he disappointed before suffering ACL and MCL tears that year. He has been persona non grata with the 49ers since, but he technically remains tethered to the team entering Week 1. There is zero chance the 28-year-old plays for the 49ers again, however.

Top 10 cap charges for 2026:

1. Brock Purdy, QB: $23.71MM
2. Nick Bosa, DE: $22.99MM
3. Trent Williams, LT: $20MM
4. Fred Warner, LB: $17.87MM
5. George Kittle, TE: $14.15MM
6. Christian McCaffrey, RB: $10.86MM
7. Deommodore Lenoir, CB: $8.87MM
8. Colton McKivitz, RT: $5.82MM
9. Mykel Williams, DE: $5.42MM
10. Osa Odighizuwa, DT: $5.12MM

San Francisco rosters a host of accomplished players. Williams and Evans are almost certainly Hall of Fame-bound; Kittle, McCaffrey and Warner are on the Canton radar. However, it is fair to wonder what this 49ers nucleus has left. Warner will join this cast as a 30-something in November. While the door may not be closed for a resilient San Francisco core, it is closing. Rostering several older cogs brings injury risks, and the 49ers have already seen a handful of younger talents ruled out for either the full season or at least the first fourth of it.

Lynch and Shanahan completed an impressive rebuild, one that may well have been a Greenlaw Achilles tear from a championship, but another transition phase appears near. Can the 49ers’ stars stay healthy enough to contend with Seahawks and Rams teams widely considered to be the NFL’s top two 2026 squads?