49ers free-agent targets: Romeo Doubs, Jaelan Phillips and others who make sense
The San Francisco 49ers head into free company with roughly $38 million in salary-cap house — eleventh most within the NFL — and holes throughout their roster.
That does not imply they’re going to be reeling in massive fish left and proper. But they’re going to probably be extra aggressive with outdoors free brokers than they had been final season, particularly alongside the defensive position and at extensive receiver.
The following seems to be at what the 49ers at present have at every place and lists the free brokers who make sense. That projection is predicated on reporting, the extent of want and historical past with 49ers coaches. The staff not solely has a brand new defensive coordinator, ex-Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, but additionally agreed Thursday to make ex-Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus its new assistant head coach. Eberflus served because the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator final season.
Quarterback
On the roster: Brock Purdy, Mac Jones, Adrian Martinez, Kurtis Rourke
It’s potential, maybe probably, that the 49ers have already got their 4 passers for the offseason, with Martinez and Rourke competing to be the No. 3 quarterback.
The wild card is Jones. The 49ers have clearly acknowledged they’d must be blown away by a commerce provide to maneuver him, and to this point, that supply has not are available. If that modifications, they might in all probability signal a veteran passer.
Possibilities: Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, Zach Wilson
Make sense: Pickett. No, he did not dazzle at his first two NFL stops (or his third). But neither did Jones nor Sam Darnold. Pickett should regain his confidence, one thing Kyle Shanahan and his teaching employees have a observe report of serving to quarterbacks do.
Running again
On the roster: Christian McCaffrey, Jordan James, Isaac Guerendo, Kyle Juszczyk (fullback)
The 49ers are gentle at this spot, particularly contemplating groups need six or extra runners on their offseason rosters. Two different tailbacks, Brian Robinson Jr. and Patrick Taylor Jr., are scheduled to change into unrestricted free brokers.
Possibilities: Salvon Ahmed, Ameer Abdullah, Robinson, Taylor
Make sense: Robinson. McCaffrey has surpassed 1,000 snaps 3 times in his profession. Two of these had been adopted by injury-shortened seasons. The third was final season, when he logged 1,083 snaps (together with playoffs). The 49ers like James, however they could need to have a confirmed veteran available anyway.
extensive receiver
On the roster: Ricky Pearsall, Demarcus Robinson, Jacob Cowing, Jordan Watkins, Malik Turner, Junior Bergen
The staff will probably reinforce this place in each free company and the draft. Pending free brokers Jauan Jennings, Skyy Moore and Kendrick Bourne could possibly be again. The 49ers are additionally monitoring outdoors free brokers.
Possibilities: Romeo Doubs, Mike Evans, Alec Pierce, Jalen Nailor, Jennings, Moore, Bourne
Make sense: Doubs. Evans would fill the necessity for a big-play X receiver. But he’ll be 33 earlier than Week 1 and is coming off an injury-shortened season. Doubs is seven years youthful, must be just a little cheaper and is already well-versed within the Shanahan offense, particularly catching passes over the crowded center.
Tight finish
On the roster: George Kittle, Luke Farrell, Brayden Willis, Hayden Rucci
Jake Tonges, who crammed in properly for Kittle final season, is a restricted free agent the 49ers have but to tender. They may re-sign him and then stand pat in free company. After all, the draft is deep at tight finish. Or it is potential the 49ers signal the kind of pass-catching tight finish Shanahan has used on the “F” or slot place previously.
Possibilities: Isaiah Likely, Kyle Pitts (franchise-tagged, would require a commerce), Darren Waller, Tonges
Make sense: Likely. He’s simply 24 and is the kind of participant who can line up in a number of spots, together with the slot. The 49ers have used Jennings there to nice impact previously. Jennings would possibly command a contract price $15-$20 million per 12 months. Likely’s deal could possibly be round $10 million per 12 months.
Offensive sort out
On the roster: Trent Williams, Colton McKivitz, Brandon Parker, Zachary Thomas, Isaac Alarcon
It’s laborious to see the 49ers spending some huge cash right here after extending McKivitz’s contract in 2025 and presumably doing so with Williams’ deal this offseason. The solely approach they get aggressive is that if the staff strikes on from Williams. Otherwise, it is likely to be one other low-impact transfer.
Possibilities: Austen Pleasants. He’s an unique rights free agent whom the 49ers have tendered, which suggests he’ll be again on a one-year deal. Pleasants is finest on the proper facet, leaving the 49ers to draft a left sort out subsequent month.
Make sense: Pleasants. They would possibly signal him and maybe one other low-cost sort out in free company and then use an early (ish) choose on the place within the draft.
guard
On the roster: Dominick Puni, Connor Colby, Nick Zakelj
The 49ers expect left guard Spencer Burford to get away in free company, however there’s mutual curiosity in bringing again the oft-injured Ben Bartch. The staff does not historically spend massive cash on guard, though they’ve drafted a pair — Aaron Banks and Puni — on Day 2.
Possibilities: Dylan Parham, Sean Rhyan, Cole Strange, Burford, Bartch
Make sense: Strange. The 49ers confirmed curiosity within the first three names above earlier than their respective drafts, and they introduced in Parham and Rhyan for formal visits. Those two could possibly be too costly, however Strange, who began 14 video games for the Miami Dolphins final season, would possibly match the funds.
Center
On the roster: Jake Brendel, Drake Nugent
Free agent Matt Hennessy performed properly in reduction of Brendel for 3 video games this previous season and could possibly be again on a modest deal. Although Brendel will flip 34 early within the season, Hennessy is 28.
Possibilities: Daniel Brunskill, Hennessy, Parham, Rhyan, Strange.
Make sense: Hennessy. The 49ers have been eyeing him for some time, he is aware of their system and had some good outings in 2025. Another tactic: The 49ers pony up for a guard reminiscent of Rhyan or Parham and transfer him to heart — the place each have expertise, together with seven video games in 2025 for Rhyan — in coming seasons.
Defensive finish
On the roster: Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams, Bryce Huff, Keion White, William Bradley-King, Andrew Farmer
The 49ers have a number of free brokers at this spot — Clelin Ferrell, Yetur Gross-Matos, Sam Okuayinonu and Robert Beal Jr. — and it is also unclear if the staff will transfer ahead with Huff. Cutting him would save $5.3 million of salary-cap house.
Possibilities: Joey Bosa, Arnold Ebiketie, Trey Hendrickson, Arden Key, Jaelan Philips, Okuayinonu, Beal
Make sense: Phillips. The 49ers confirmed curiosity in Phillips earlier than the commerce deadline and had been in all probability kicking themselves after he posted 44 quarterback pressures in 9 video games after being traded to Philadelphia. (Huff had 46 in 17 video games.) Phillips posted a pass-rush win charge of 24.8 p.c on the season. To put that in perspective, Nick Bosa’s was 26.7. If the 49ers cannot land one of many massive names alongside the sting, Ebiketie, who performed for Morris in Atlanta, is a funds possibility that makes sense.
Defensive sort out
On the roster: Alfred Collins, CJ West, Sebastian Valdez, Evan Anderson
The 49ers have some promising youth within the place, provided that all the gamers above are 24 or youthful. But their veterans — Jordan Elliott, Kalia Davis, Kevin Givens — are scheduled to be free brokers. That makes touchdown a seasoned defensive sort out a near-must subsequent week.
Possibilities: John Franklin-Myers, David Onyemata, Tim Settle, Sheldon Rankins, Elliott, Davis
Make sense: Onyemata. The Broncos’ Franklin-Myers is the massive free-agent fish, however there will probably be quite a lot of groups making an attempt to land him. Onyemata is a less expensive different. He additionally spent the final two seasons underneath Morris in Atlanta and thus must be a priceless information for the younglings on the place.
Linebacker
On the roster: Fred Warner, Dee Winters, Nick Martin, Jalen Graham, Tatum Bethune
This is one other place that is not very deep. It’s additionally a bit murky after third-round rookie Martin struggled with a concussion during the last two months of the season. The staff has a number of linebackers hitting free company, together with Eric Kendricks, Luke Gifford, Curtis Robinson and Garret Wallow.
Possibilities: Kaden Elliss, Leo Chenal, Jack Sanborn, Ronnie Harrison, Gifford, Wallow
Make sense: Wallow. Elliss and Chenal is likely to be too costly. But each are multi-function linebackers who could possibly be priceless in Morris’ protection. Elliss and Harrison performed underneath Morris final 12 months, whereas Sanborn adopted Eberflus from Chicago to Dallas. Wallow and Gifford could possibly be again on account of their particular groups prowess.
Cornerback
On the roster: Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green, Upton Stout, Darrell Luter Jr., Eli Apple, Jakob Robinson
The solely free agent at this spot is Chase Lucas, a restricted free agent the 49ers are unlikely to have a tendency. He could possibly be again if he does not get any tempting presents on the open market.
Possibilities: Dee Alford, Corey Ballentine
Make sense: Ballentine. He performed underneath Eberflus final 12 months in Dallas and has been a stable particular teamer over his profession, together with underneath then-Jets particular groups coordinator Brant Boyer in 2020.
Safety
On the roster: Ji’Ayir Brown, Malik Mustapha, Marques Sigle, Siran Neal, Darrick Forrest, Derrick Canteen
The 49ers have quite a lot of safeties underneath contract, though none stood out in a season by which the defensive position struggled and the safeties had been pressured to make — or a minimum of attempt to make — quite a lot of tackles. The solely free agent is Jason Pinnock.
Possibilities: Jaquan Brisker. The 49ers confirmed curiosity in Brisker earlier than the 2022 draft, earlier than Eberflus’ Bears ended up taking him within the second spherical. He was additionally Brown’s teammate at Penn State. If the 49ers need to spend cash to shore up the place, Brisker could be a superb addition.
Make sense: Stand pat. The present regime has by no means spent massive bucks on a security, which is odd contemplating basic supervisor John Lynch is a former security. They’ll probably hope two of their current draft picks — Brown, Mustapha and Sigle — make leaps in 2026.
particular groups
On the roster: Jon Weeks (lengthy snapper)
The staff is pursuing offers with kicker Eddy Piñeiro and punter Thomas Morstead, who represents himself on contract issues. An educated guess: Piñeiro is on the lookout for $6 million per 12 months, which is near the franchise-tag determine for his place. The 49ers would slightly pay $4 million. Perhaps the quantity they’ll agree on … let’s crunch some numbers right here and transfer across the ol’ abacus … is $5 million.
Possibilities: Joey Slye, Matt Gay, Zane Gonzalez, Piñeiro. All of those kickers have hung out in San Francisco in recent times.
Make sense: Pineiro. Lynch appeared optimistic finally month’s scouting mix about re-signing “Eddy Dinero.” “He was fantastic for us — picked our team up in a big way,” he stated. “So obviously, there’s great interest in trying to figure that out.”
