ClutchPoints
By adding 11 players in the 2025 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers tied with four other teams for making the most picks in the league. Despite being just two years removed from a Super Bowl appearance, few teams in the league are enduring more offseason changes than San Francisco. But with the high volume of players picked up in the draft, general manager John Lynch is still obligated to fill out the 49ers’ roster in free agency.
After going just 6-11 in 2024, changes were inevitable for the 49ers. Without wasting much time, Lynch kickstarted the offseason by trading Deebo Samuel on the heels of arguably his worst season as a professional. Lynch shipped Samuel to the Washington Commanders despite previously denouncing the idea.
Samuel’s trade put all the team’s high-profile veterans — including George Kittle, Kyle Juszczyk, Christian McCaffrey and Trent Williams — on notice. Lynch moved no more offensive players but released defensive veterans Leonard Floyd, Javon Hargrave, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and Maliek Collins. San Francisco further lost Charvarius Ward, Dre Greenlaw, Isaac Yiadom and Rock Ya-Sin in free agency.
Given the losses, the 49ers appropriately targeted defense in the 2025 NFL Draft, spending their first five picks on additions to Robert Saleh’s new group. However, even with Brock Purdy’s potential extension still looming, San Francisco still has roster holes to fill in free agency. Whether they come before organized team activities, OTAs, or during training camps, Lynch still has ample ground to cover to return his team to title contention.
For years, the 49ers have boasted one of the best linebacking corps in the league. Nothing about that should change with Saleh back in charge and Fred Warner still commanding the room. But even with Warner flanked by rising star Dee Winters, the positional group thinned out over the offseason.
In addition to losing Greenlaw and Flannigan-Fowles, the 49ers opted not to re-sign De’Vondre Campbell. The reasoning behind that decision was transparent, but still left a void in the roster. After being one of the deepest groups in 2024, San Francisco’s linebackers now lack depth behind Warner and Winters.
Hoping to re-create the third-round magic he found with Warner, Lynch took Nick Martin on Day Three of the 2025 NFL Draft. Martin is a solid prospect, but he appeared in just five games as a senior before suffering a season-ending MCL injury. The injury turned him into one of the biggest buy-low targets of the class, but even with his inclusion, the 49ers still need to add veteran help to the roster. Assuming Martin starts, career journeyman Luke Gifford is the only experienced reserve on the team.
Five-time All-Pro C.J. Mosley, who played for Saleh with the New York Jets, would be a stellar addition to the group. But with the 49ers tight in cap space, Mosley might be out of their price range. One of Khaleke Hudson, Eric Kendricks, Zach Cunningham or Kwon Alexander would be a suitable option...
