Everyone knows the story of the plucky, 12-5 San Francisco 49ers, who overcame an avalanche of injuries, survived being in the same division with the two best teams in the NFL and won a playoff game last season. Many of the team’s 21 unrestricted free agents played a big part of that and the bill comes due next month. Who will the 49ers bring back, and for how much money?
The two-day tampering window of NFL free agency starts on March 9, and before that there is next week’s NFL Scouting Combine. The 49ers also have to replace their tight end coach now that Brian Fleury is the offensive coordinator of the Seahawks. (No pressure on Fleury, right?)
But this is a first look at free agency …
The 49ers have already given an exclusive rights free agent tender to backup offensive tackle Austen Pleasants. He filled in aptly for left tackle Trent Williams last season, and $1.075 million is a nice price for a reliable swing tackle who is often the first man in the building every day.
The 49ers have six restricted free agents, of which the most likely to receive a tendered one-year deal are defensive tackle Kalia Davis and backup tight end Jake Tonges. Davis was a reliable 17-game starter who would be a nice handcuff to all the young players inside, while Tonges, 26, had 34 catches and five touchdowns filing in for injured George Kittle. (The other four are cornerback Chase Lucas and defensive ends Sam Okuayinonu, Robert Beal Jr. and Tarron Jackson. Lucas and Okuayinonu could be non-tendered and re-signed later.)
Which brings us to the big list, the 20 unrestricted free agents. Here’s a ranking of the top 10 that the 49ers have to put a price on when determining how badly they want them back:
1. WR Jauan Jennings
Jennings is one of only two options the 49ers have for placing the franchise tag on a player before the March 3 deadline, but the $28 million price tag seems too high. Jennings earned $13.1 million last season when you add in his bonuses and incentives, and likely thinks he is worth $20 million, so the 49ers might let him test the market to see what his price really is.
Jennings, 28, had 55 receptions for 643 yards and nine touchdowns in 15 games, and the 49ers brass might love his run-blocking more. And with Brandon Aiyuk disappearing, there is a huge need at receiver for the 49ers. The question is what kind of value do other teams put on Jennings, and is it prudent for the 49ers to wait to find out.
2. K Eddy Piñeiro
Piñeiro was lights out last year — including hitting six of seven field goals from 50 yards or farther — but that doesn’t mean the 49ers are falling over themselves to give him the estimated $6.8 million franchise-tag number. Would three times his $1.17 million salary from last season work?
If not, the 49ers could bring back Matt Gay, the seventh-year veteran who hit all four field-goal attempts in the two games he filled in for the injured Piñeiro, and use some of the $42 million in salary-cap space elsewhere.
3. G Spencer Burford
Did Burford, the team’s fourth-round pick in 2022, finally find a home at left guard? He started the season as the backup left tackle but slid into the guard spot when injuries piled up. He handled himself pretty well. A year ago, 49ers guard Aaron Banks signed a four-year deal worth $77 million with the Packers and teams are always willing to pounce on young offensive linemen. It’s why Burford is higher on this list than you probably thought he would be.
4. RB Brian Robinson Jr.
Robinson had some nice moments in his 17 games with the 49ers after they traded for him, finishing with 92 carries for 400 yards when Christian McCaffrey took a rare breather. He only turns 27 next month and was popular teammate, but it seems the 49ers have big plans for second-year player Jordan James. Isaac Guerendo seems like an easy cut though, so maybe the 49ers bring back Robinson (he made $1.9 million last year) if the price is right.
5. WR Kendrick Bourne
If we’re assuming that the 49ers trade Mac Jones to the Vikings or another team for a second- or third-round pick (and we are assuming that), maybe Bourne should just follow him. Because their chemistry on and off the field is undeniable. Bourne, 30, came out of nowhere last season and had back-to-back 142-yard games when the 49ers just needed bodies. He’ll forget a play or formation every now and then, but clearly showed enough on tape to get a healthy offer somewhere.
Bourne said during Super Bowl week that he wants to come back to the 49ers, and they would like to have him back as insurance if the numbers don’t approach the three-year, $19.5 million contract he got from the Patriots in 2024.
Matt Jones and Kendrick Bourne had great chemistry last season. (AJ Mast / Associated Press)
6. KR/WR Skyy Moore
Moore proved to be a valuable kick returner, but Kyle Shanahan would have to think he can catch more than five passes to make him a priority re-signing. Moore is only 25 and fit in well after being discarded by the Chiefs.
7. S Jason Pinnock
Pinnock is a solid player who wound up starting seven games and playing in all 17 in his first season with the 49ers. He was former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh’s guy, so it’s unclear what new DC Raheem Morris thinks, but the price is fine ($1.17 million last season).
8. LB Luke Gifford
That’s Pro Bowl special teams player Luke Gifford … a little respect, please. Will he command a lot more than the $1.8 million he got last season? The pass coverage skills on defense are still an adventure, but the 49ers made special teams a priority last year and it worked out pretty well so …
9. G Ben Bartch
The 6-foot-6, 315-pound Bartch cannot stay healthy, and has played in only 14 games in his three years with the 49ers. That should scare other teams off, plus he is strong as an ox, still only 27 and long-time offensive line coach Chris Foerster absolutely loves him.
10. (Tie) P Thomas Morstead and LS Jon Weeks
Morstead turns 40 next month, while Weeks turns 40 on Wednesday. Age is just a number as both had great seasons last year, with Weeks making the Pro Bowl. Both loved the winning culture on the 49ers and there is no reason they shouldn’t be back.
Others
LB Garret Wallow, LB Eric Kendricks, DE Yetur Gross-Matos, DT Jordan Elliott, DE Clelin Ferrell, DT Kevin Givens, C Matt Hennessy, LB Curtis Robinson, RB Patrick Taylor Jr.. WR Trent Taylor
Wallow and Kendricks were the talk of the town after the playoff win over the Eagles, but the fill-in LBs had a rough game the following week against the Seahawks. The 49ers paid Gross-Matos $18 million the last two seasons, a little more than a million per game played (he also had 17 solo tackles total), as he was always dealing with knee, hip or hamstring injuries.