49ers, close to Super Bowl return, need deft roster work in NFL free agency, draft

It’s still a bit miraculous how the 49ers reached the NFL playoffs despite dealing with several debilitating injuries to star players and playing eight games without quarterback Brock Purdy.

They anticipate better health outcomes in 2026, leading to organic success. This is understandable after George Kittle, Purdy, Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, Ricky Pearsall and Mykel Williams were all sidelined significantly. 

But they also need to strengthen their roster, with wide receiver and defensive line among the most pressing concerns.

They aren’t far off — as their playoff run proves —  but legitimately reinserting themselves into the Super Bowl conversation requires some deft roster work by general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan in free agency and the draft.

On the eve of free agency, here is where the 49ers stand:

Cap space: $37,530,476

Unrestricted free agents

WR Jauan Jennings, G Spencer Burford, S Jason Pinnock, DL Kevin Givens, LB Luke Gifford, WR Kendrick Bourne, WR Skyy Moore, G Ben Bartch, RB Brian Robinson Jr., LB Eric Kendricks, P Thomas Morstead, LB Curtis Robinson, WR Trent Taylor, RB Patrick Taylor, DE Clelin Ferrell, C Matt Hennessy, LB Garret Wallow

Restricted free agents

DE Tarron Jackson, TE Jake Tonges, DE Robert Beal Jr., CB Chase Lucas, DE Sam Okuayinonu, DL Kalia Davis

Needs

Wide receiver

Once a position of great strength for the 49ers, wide receiver is now a dangerously thin unit for the team.

The room includes Ricky Pearsall, Demarcus Robinson, Jacob Cowing, Jordan Watkins, Malik Turner and Junior Bergen. That doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence or elicit a ton of fear, frankly.

The 49ers are in complete agreement, which is why they will be active at this spot in free agency and the draft.

One option could be bringing back Jennings, but that would only be a small step toward making the necessary difference, and there is no guarantee he returns.

It’s why it’s important to keep an eye on the top wide receivers in free agency: The Packers’ Romeo Doubs, the Colts’ Alec Pierce and the Vikings’ Jalen Nailor are all players of interest.

Doubs makes plenty of sense, having played in Matt LaFleur’s offense, which falls under the same Shanahan umbrella in San Francisco.

However, there are some yellow flags. Despite being among the Packers’ team leaders in targets — including 85 last year, 72 in 2024 and 96 in 2023 —  he’s never exceeded 59 catches or 724 yards. The target-to-catch ratio leaves a lot to be desired and includes some spells in which drops have been an issue.

Pierce is an explosive playmaker and has averaged 21.8 yards per catch the last two years. Is he a No. 1 wide receiver? Probably not. But he is an elite long-ball threat and will benefit from playing in a system with a superior quarterback in Purdy.

It’s going to cost a lot of money, though, with Pierce determined to cash in on what could be his best chance to land a significant contract. Don’t be surprised if the price tag reaches $28 million per season or higher.

Defensive line

You almost have to do a double take when you look at the number of sacks the 49ers came up with last year, only to realize they really did take opposing quarterbacks to the ground just 20 times in 2025.

It didn’t help, of course, that Bosa played just three games and Williams, the rookie from Georgia, played only 11.

If both successfully return from the season-ending knee injuries they suffered, it will clearly help.  

But the club definitely can use help off the edge.

They have some intriguing youngsters on the interior but could stand to add a proven veteran to the mix.

On the edge, the 49ers could go big by adding a premier rusher like the Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson. Yes, he’ll be 32 years old by season’s end, but with the 49ers’ window wide open, he makes sense on a short-term deal with a high-end annual salary.

The Eagles’ Jaelan Phillips is another name to keep in mind.

Inside, the Broncos’ John Franklin-Myers would fill a huge need.

Offensive line

Lynch expressed optimism that the club will figure out a way to keep left tackle Trent Williams in the fold on a new contract extension. But there is a need for improvement elsewhere on the line, with left guard alongside Williams a point of emphasis.

It was a revolving door at that position last year, with Bartch, Burford and others getting time at that spot.

No one provided a consistently acceptable level of play, and as the 49ers approach free agency and the draft, upgrading that position is a huge priority.

The good news is that both markets offer real help, with the Bills’ David Edwards an ideal fit.

Other interior offensive linemen that make sense for the 49ers are the Jets’ Alijah Vera-Tucker, the Steelers’ Isaac Seumalo and the Chargers’ Zion Johnson.

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