3 sneaky good NFL free agents 49ers need to sign

3 sneaky good NFL free agents 49ers need to sign
ClutchPoints ClutchPoints

After turning in their worst season since 2020, recording just six wins in a largely joyless campaign, the San Francisco 49ers are heading into 2025 with roughly $50 million in cap space, seven draft picks, and a deep desire to make changes at multiple key positions across the roster.

On offense, the 49ers have to decide how much money they are going to commit to Brock Purdy moving forward, as the soon-to-be fourth-year quarterback will be eligible for a substantial raise on his next contract, considering his Mr. Irrelevant status. Will that number’s per-year average begin with a three? A four? A five?

And what about players like Deebo Samuel, who has been given permission to seek a trade, or the dynamic running back duo of Jordan Mason and Elijah Mitchell, who will both be free agents at the end of the season?

On defense, the 49ers will have some similar decisions to make, with Javon Hargrave already gone and starters like Charvarius Ward, Dre Greenlaw, and Talanoa Hufanga all expected to at least test the open market for potentially greener pastures elsewhere.

Mind you, the team did secure arguably the top assistant coach hire of the 2025 cycle, with former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh returning to the job he formerly held from 2017-20, but what does that mean? Will he look to bring over a few former Jets? Or will they look for new players who fit his scheme, even if he is widely only expected to be with the team for one single season?

Needless to say, the 49ers have a lot of questions to answer moving forward, but one they won’t have to think about particularly hard is which free agents they should target, as there are plenty of interesting options who fit their scheme and could play a role for the team both now and into the future.

1. Mekhi Becton, Guard/Tackle

When the Philadelphia Eagles signed Becton, it was to serve as a backup swing tackle who could play meaningful snaps if either Jordan Mailata or Lane Johnson suffered any sort of major injury.

Unfortunately for Philadelphia, the Eagles did miss out on snaps from both of their Pro Bowl tackles, but it ended up being Fred Johnson, not Becton, who filled the position, as Becton ended up moving to guard during the preseason and ended up dominating on the right side between Cam Jurgens and Johnson for much of the 2024 NFL season.

Now freed up to cash in on his strong player on the open market, be that at left tackle, right tackle, or even guard, the 49ers have a chance to have their cake and eat it too by signing away the Eagles’ right guard and play him on the left side in place of pending free agent Aaron Banks, who has been solid but never quite lived up to expectations many had when he joined the team as a second-rounder.

Is Becton a major upgrade over Banks?...