SANTA CLARA — No financial deal is more pressing to the 49ers than extending quarterback Brock Purdy’s contract. Will there be money left in their piggy bank beyond Purdy?
Free agency arrives next week, with negotiations starting Monday and contracts getting ratified as early as Wednesday, which is also when they officially can complete wide receiver Deebo Samuel’s exodus to Washington for a fifth-round pick.
Here is a position-by-position look at how coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense is mapped out entering his ninth season:
QUARTERBACK
UNDER CONTRACT
Brock Purdy, Tanner Mordecai
49ERS FREE AGENTS
Brandon Allen, Josh Dobbs
OUTSIDE OPTIONS
Sam Darnold, Jimmy Garoppolo, Trey Lance, Mac Jones, Justin Fields, Jacoby Brissett, Russell Wilson, Joe Flacco, Jameis Winston, Zach Wilson, Marcus Mariota, Drew Lock, Jarrett Stidham, Carson Wentz, Nick Mullens, C.J. Beathard
ANALYSIS: Purdy’s payday has yet to come, two months after he became eligible for an extension that he and the 49ers’ brass expressed a strong desire to craft. Purdy has a year left on his rookie contract ($5.2 million salary) and wants a deal done so he can lead the 49ers through the offseason program in mid-April to mid-June.
The quarterback market could be revalued in free agency (see: Sam Darnold, Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins) and Purdy still is expected to climb a high-tier pay grade, commanding over $50 million annually.
With Klay Kubiak promoted to offensive coordinator and Brian Griese replaced by Mick Lombardi as quarterbacks coach, the 49ers’ QB room is undergoing a makeover and that will trickle down to Purdy’s to-be-determined backups.
Five former 49ers starters under Shanahan are available: Darnold, Garoppolo, Lance, Beathard and Mullens. Having traded away Lance in 2023, a reunion is unlikely but perhaps the 49ers make a play for other 2021 first-round picks: Jones, Fields or Wilson.
RUNNING BACK
UNDER CONTRACT
Christian McCaffrey, Kyle Juszczyk (FB), Isaac Guerendo, Israel Abanikanda
49ERS FREE AGENTS
Jordan Mason (restricted), Elijah Mitchell, Patrick Taylor Jr.
OUTSIDE OPTIONS
Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr., Najee Harris, Aaron Jones, Nick Chubb, Javonte Williams, J.K. Dobbins, Samaje Perine, JaMycal Hasty, Alexander Mattison, Cam Akers, Jeremy McNichols, Trey Sermon
ANALYSIS: Intrigue abounds, over McCaffrey’s health after a short-circuited 2024 season, over Juszczyk’s uncertain return for a ninth season as the longest-tenured 49er, and over Mason’s options as a restricted free agent.
The 49ers deployed five different starters last season – Mason, McCaffrey, Guerendo, Taylor and Deebo Samuel – and would rather have McCaffrey revert to his full-time role that produced the 2023 NFL rushing title. Mason broke out last season as McCaffrey’s replacement, but is it enough to command a second-round tender of $5.34 million rather than a $3.3 million for the right of first refusal if another team offers him?
Guerendo, a fourth-round pick last year, ran for 420 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie, and his receiving ability (15 catches, 16 targets, 152 yards) could help the passing game adjust without Samuel.
Mostert scored an NFL-high 18 rushing touchdowns in 2023 to highlight his three years abroad in Miami, where Wilson joined him in a 2022 trade from the 49ers. Other 49ers outcasts available are Hasty, Sermon and McNichols.
Harris, an Antioch High product, has not missed a start since the Pittsburgh Steelers selected him No. 24 overall in 2021 and has four 1,000-yard seasons.
WIDE RECEIVER
UNDER CONTRACT
Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing, Trent Taylor, Russell Gage, Terique Owens, Isaiah Hodgins
49ERS FREE AGENT
Chris Conley
OUTSIDE OPTIONS
Davante Adams, Amari Cooper, Keenan Allen, Chris Godwin, Robert Woods, Marquise Brown, Demarcus Robinson, Trent Sherfield, D.J. Chark, Elijah Moore
ANALYSIS: Trading Deebo Samuel to Washington creates a job opening, and Brandon Aiyuk’s knee recovery is further cause for concern over this unit’s depth. Rumors persist of the 49ers being open to dealing Aiyuk, but that market is considerably different than a year ago when at full health.
An Adams homecoming to the Bay Area could be heroic to the passing attack, if the 49ers make another financial exception and splurge for a top-tier player, who got cut from the Jets in the face of a $36 million salary. Adams, by the way, is bringing his annual youth football camp back to California on April 19 at his alma mater, Palo Alto High.
Allen, Cooper and Woods have each played over 10 seasons and could affordably bridge things before Aiyuk reclaims a full-time role.
The 49ers seem too cost-conscious to pony up for a top-tier salary when they’re entering Year 2 of Aiyuk’s four-year, $120 million extension. Aiyuk may be on the right track for his right knee’s recovery but the 49ers must add depth and starting-caliber options in case he’s not ready for Week 1.
Jennings came 25 yards shy of 1,000 last season, so his career remains on the ascent, as is the case with Pearsall, who overcame a preseason gunshot wound and finished strong (14 catches, 210 yards, two touchdowns over the last two games). Cowing, a fourth-round speedster, had only four catches (80 yards) on six targets while being used primarily as a punt returner (8.8 yards per return).
TIGHT END
UNDER CONTRACT
George Kittle, Mason Pline
49ERS FREE AGENTS
Eric Saubert, Jake Tonges (exclusive rights; tendered), Brayden Willis (exclusive rights; tendered)
OUTSIDE OPTIONS
Zach Ertz, Ross Dwelley, Tyler Conklin, Mike Gesicki, Austin Hooper, Juwan Johnson, Tommy Tremble, Gerald Everett, Mo Alie-Cox, Durham Smythe
ANALYSIS: Kittle should parlay one of his best seasons ever into another extension as his contract is set to expire after a $14.4 million salary in 2025. There won’t be urgency for a deal until training camp, unless Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch are compelled to pay up early and encourage Kittle to help lead the offseason workouts with Brock Purdy & Co.
The 49ers have perennially struggled to surround Kittle with other starting-caliber tight ends, though Saubert impressed last season upon joining the 49ers and could be a priority to re-sign. Tonges and Willis remain under the 49ers’ control but likely will be pushed harder in competition for roster spots.
A pair of veterans and Stanford products who still might be appealing are Ertz (Monte Vista High-Danville) and Hooper (De La Salle High-Concord). Conklin started 43 games the past three seasons for the New York Jets, and the 49ers have become an outpost this offseason — for ex-Jets coaches, at least.
OFFENSIVE LINE
UNDER CONTRACT
Trent Williams, Jake Brendel, Dominick Puni, Colton McKivitz, Ben Bartch, Nick Zakelj, Matt Hennessy, Spencer Burford, Sebastian Gutierrez, Zack Johnson, Drake Nugent, Jalen McKenzie, Isaac Alarcon
49ERS FREE AGENTS
Aaron Banks, Charlie Heck, Jaylon Moore, Austen Pleasants (exclusive rights; tendered), Jon Feliciano (retired)
OUTSIDE OPTIONS
Drew Dalman (C), Ryan Kelly (C), Coleman Shelton (C), Wes Schweitzer (C), Josh Myers (C), Evan Brown (C), Brandon Scherff (G), Laken Tomlinson (G), Dalton Risner (G), Cody Whitehair (G), Alex Cappa (G), Ben Bredeson (G), Patrick Mekari (G/T), Will Hernandez (G), Will Fries (G), Tevin Jenkins (G), Kevin Zietler (G) James Daniels (G), Liam Eichenberg (C), Cam Robinson (T), Ronnie Stanley (T), Joseph Noteboom (T), Alaric Jackson (T), Jedrick Wills (T), Dan Skipper (T), Justin Skule (T)
ANALYSIS: The 49ers will have a starting role to fill if they lose Banks, listed as the ninth-best guard in free agency by Pro Football Focus, prior to the Bengals’ release of Dublin High product Alex Cappa. Another key vacancy will be at swing tackle if Jaylon Moore cashes in elsewhere for his solid work in place of the injured Trent Williams.
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Dalman could be a dream acquisition if the 49ers want to unseat center Jake Brendel. After four years at Stanford, Dalman spent the past four with the Atlanta Falcons; his father Chris was with the 49ers from 1993-2000.
General manager John Lynch said at the combine that Williams is “really motivated to come back” after missing the final seven games last season with an ankle injury. At right tackle, Colton McKivitz is also motivated as he’s entering a contract year, and he’s hired the same agent as Brock Purdy, Kyle Strongin.
The 49ers recently re-signed Ben Bartch to a one-year deal, so they have veteran insurance if Banks leaves and as a potential backup to right guard Dominick Puni. If the 49ers splurge on an offensive lineman, look for it to either by for Dalman or for a rookie in next month’s draft, possibly at the No. 11 overall spot for a tackle.
