The San Francisco 49ers are getting a head start on some of their offseason business.
According to Jason Fitzgerald from Over the Cap, the 49ers are expected to bring back all eight of their exclusive rights free agents.
Re-signing ERFAs is typically a matter of “when” than “if.” Getting an ERFA back only requires a qualifying offer of the league minimum salary. If that qualifying offer is extended, those players are unable to enter the free agent market.
Here are the eight ERFAs expected to re-sign:
TE Jake Tonges
TE Brayden Willis
TE Mason Pline
OL Austen Pleasants
DL Evan Anderson
DL Alex Barrett
DE Sam Okuayinonu
LB Jalen Graham
Exclusive-rights free agents are players with expiring contracts who have two or fewer NFL seasons accrued.
The trio of TEs could all conceivably earn a roster spot and playing time in training camp this year. The same goes for Anderson, an undrafted rookie last year, and Okuayinonu who flashed a handful of times as a rotational defensive end.
Graham and Pleasants will be interesting to keep an eye on. They both play positions where the 49ers need depth. That opens the door for one or both to stick around on the active roster in 2025.