How can the 49ers best position themselves for the 2025 season?
The San Francisco 49ers undoubtedly have a major offseason ahead of them as they look to retool ahead of the 2025 season. Several questions loom around the team, namely the impending contract extension for quarterback Brock Purdy that should make him one of the highest-paid players in the NFL.
But, there are also other needs and desires for the team this offseason after a disappointing 6-11 season in 2024. So, what exactly is a dream offseason for the 49ers?
Let’s break down what a dream offseason could entail, while trying to be as realistic as possible.
1. Sign Brock Purdy to an extension early
The first part of this ‘dream’ is a fairly obvious one: signing Brock Purdy to an extension, hopefully prior to the beginning of the offseason program.
Now, there is a ton of discussion as to what that extension may be, as well as whether Purdy actually deserves a contract of that stature. However, being realistic, the 49ers need to extend Purdy.
As they try and compete with their current core in 2025, there isn’t a better option on the market that is obtainable for San Francisco, and it isn’t a strong draft class at the position if you want to facilitate a trade.
San Francisco is in a similar situation as a number of teams over the past two years. Even if Purdy has a smaller resume, there is no choice but to pay him to ensure competitiveness in the short term.
So, with the presumption that the 49ers will sign Purdy, the dream is that the extension comes prior to the offseason program so that the team can go through a full offseason without drama and external headlines when preparing for the 2025 NFL season.
2. Extend George Kittle and Fred Warner
The 49ers always find a way to create more cap space, with restructures and extensions being the most logical path to doing so. This offseason, two sensible extensions to make are for star tight end George Kittle and linebacker Fred Warner.
Kittle, 31, is still playing at a high level and could end up playing out his career with the 49ers. He has a $22 million cap hit for the upcoming season and a $13 million void charge in 2026 when he’s scheduled to be a free agent.
An extension makes sense, as it would lower his cap hit for the upcoming season, while providing Kittle with more up-front money and keeping him in the Bay Area for the remainder of his career.
Warner, 29, has two years remaining on his five-year, $95 million extension, and has a cap hit of over $29 million in 2025. As he enters his prime, it’s logical to rework his contract with another extension, lowering that cap hit this season and keeping him in San Francisco for the next few years.
That would create ample cap space for San Francisco, while keeping a few homegrown stars around for the next few years.
3. Re-sign Dre Greenlaw
As free agency nears, this move seems like less of a reality, as Greenlaw could get a bigger multi-year deal to sign elsewhere in free agency.
But, this is a dream scenario, so let’s hope that Greenlaw re-signs on a one-year prove-it deal, assuming that free agency market doesn’t unravel as expected.
If Greenlaw returns, the 49ers have their core of him and Warner set for the 2025 season, allowing third-year-pro Dee Winters to step into that No. 3 linebacker role and be the sub-package linebacker next year.
4. Sign a cornerback and a receiver in free agency
The 49ers have a good core of younger cornerbacks with Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green for the 2025 season. But, Charvarius Ward isn’t expected back, which means the team has a hole for their No. 2 outside cornerback role.
Now, Lenoir could slide outside, creating the need for a nickel cornerback, but the 49ers need a starter regardless. While they may be out of the price range for the top options, such as Ward, Byron Murphy, Carlton Davis, and D.J. Reed, there should be cost-effective veteran options for the team to go after.
Potential options include Rasul Douglas, Asante Samuel Jr., Paulson Adebo, and others.
As for receiver, the 49ers need some insurance with Brandon Aiyuk dealing with his recovery from a torn ACL and MCL sustained back in Week 5. Signing a low-cost veteran would make sense to spell those snaps while he gets back to 100%. Drafting a wideout shouldn’t be out of the cards as well, given the team’s draft capital this year.
5. Draft multiple defensive tackles
The 49ers need defensive tackles, especially after cutting Javon Hargrave with a post-June 1st designation.
Luckily, this draft has one of the more loaded defensive tackle groups in recent memory, with several pundits pointing the position out as the deepest in the entire class.
San Francisco is well-equipped to land a premier player at the position in the first two rounds, starting at No. 11 where options like Michigan’s Mason Graham and Ole Miss’s Walter Nolen could be available.
But, the team doesn’t only need starting-level players at the position, they need depth. So, with a deep class, it’d be wise to double-down at defensive tackle, potentially even within the first four rounds, where San Francisco has seven picks.
6. Draft a TE2
The 49ers have long searched for a backup tight end to complement George Kittle, but they’ve struck out on a number of occasions.
However, similar to defensive tackle, this is a strong tight end draft class according to a number of draft pundits, providing an opportunity for San Francisco to get a good building block within the first four rounds.
While the star could get an extension to keep him in San Francisco over the next few years, the 49ers should still covet a good backup tight end for mismatch and blocking purposes, allowing Kittle to be used more as a receiver as he gets older.
7. Get an offensive tackle of the future
Now, with all of the other needs addressed above, it’s unclear whether the 49ers will be in a position to draft an offensive tackle they covet.
But, once again, this is a dream scenario and the 49ers have had a big need at offensive tackle for a few seasons when it comes to their future. Trent Williams is nearing retirement and Colton McKivitz has one year left on his contract.
San Francisco hasn’t coveted the position much in recent years in the draft, but you need a strong offensive line, particularly with players on rookie contracts, to compete in today’s NFL. That starts with drafting a tackle for the future, likely one with versatility that could slide into guard until he’s needed at tackle.