Niners Nation
The Niners could look to the draft and free agency to fill out some of their starting spots in 2025.
The San Francisco 49ers are heading into a crucial offseason for the franchise, where they have a number of questions to answer, with quarterback Brock Purdy’s impending contract extension being the biggest one.
However, there could also be a few moving parts on both sides, as the 49ers look to add players, both in the draft and via free agency, hoping to return to contention after a disappointing 6-11 campaign in 2024.
Still, there are a number of key core pieces that the 49ers will carry over to next year. So, where could the 49ers have some new starters on offense in 2025? Let’s look at the offense first.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the 49ers should have Brock Purdy penciled in as their starter for the 2025 season.
The two sides should begin communication on an extension if they haven’t already, and a deal should be worked out hopefully sooner rather than later so that the team can put the upcoming season as the main area of focus in the offseason.
Now, the 49ers may need a new No. 2 quarterback, as Brandon Allen and Joshua Dobbs are both free agents, but their starter seems pretty firmly set going into the offseason.
Like at quarterback, the 49ers are pretty set with their starting running back as Christian McCaffrey just signed a two-year, $38 million extension last offseason.
McCaffrey did deal with a plethora of injuries in 2024, which could provide an emphasis on adding depth at position, but he should be penciled in as the starter as well, barring any new injuries.
Now, the 49ers could also have a question with their backup running back. Jordan Mason is a restricted free agent and could command a solid salary in a weak free agent class at the position. While San Francisco could match any offer, they may be out of the team’s price range, given they just extended McCaffrey at a top-of-the-market deal and drafted Isaac Guerendo last year.
The first possible shakeup could come at wide receiver.
San Francisco has two receivers entering the final year of their contract in 2025: Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings. The 49ers dangled Samuel in trade talks last offseason before keeping him and general manager John Lynch indicated that the team would keep Samuel this offseason, rather than moving on.
But, 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall emerged as a key contributor during the final weeks of the season, and could very well push for a starting spot in 2025, providing San Francisco with two man-beaters on the outside.
Now, the wildcard in the situation is Brandon Aiyuk, who is still recovering from a torn ACL injury sustained early in the season. The 49ers could keep their entire core as insurance in case Aiyuk’s recovery takes longer than expected, but there still may be a shakeup in...
