Niners Nation
We’re back with another mailbag, and WOW! We had a lot of questions this week. Apologies, I can’t answer them all. I do appreciate everyone participating. Seems like we have a lot of questions about the 2025 San Francisco 49ers.
As always, head to the feed when I drop the mailbag post and get your questions in there. I’ll answer a few on the next Golden Fool (which is right here).
Ok, onto your questions:
Now that the trade deadline is passed, will JL sign a FA? Will JL poach a player from a PS ?
—Seb
The trade deadline has passed and our D-line needs are still significant. Do you see the Niners pursuing other teams’ practice squad players? Will we sign a free agent or two?
—Flydyl
Well, the 49ers are looking at cornerback Asante Samuel Jr., with a meeting planned for the following Monday. And I doubt they stop there. While the trade deadline is over, the team still has a half-season of football left, and injuries are not anyone’s friend. There will be some poaches or free agent signings at some point.
Getting other practice squad players COULD happen. Since the 49ers have to open roster spots (something they might have a lot of if these injuries continue), they may want to develop some players in Santa Clara. And the bonus is that those practice squad players can get gameday experience.
The 49ers will likely limit transactions the rest of the way to preserve cap space.
Why isn’t Tatum Bethune getting the credit he deserves? He’s been playing way beyond what almost everyone expected.
—49ers1981
Darn it, 49ers1981. The plan was NOT to give him credit, so he doesn’t get poached. But now, since you had to talk about his awesomeness, that plan is out the window.
I’m kidding. Bethune is the 49ers’ new version of Azeez Al-Shaair. That’s the problem, Bethune is having a career similar to Azeez Al-Shaair. One where he’s fighting with Dee Winters and…uh…Fred Warner for playing time. The latter is injured, which allows Bethune to shine, but when Warner gets back into the thick of things, where does Bethune go? Do they put him into Winters’ spot (AKA: The Dre Greenlaw role) or does he sit?
Bethune is under contract until 2027, so the 49ers have a couple more years with him. It’s safe to say he’s no Fred Warner —, and that’s not a knock on Bethune, it’s just how good Fred Warner is. The defense has been severely weakened by all the injuries —not just Fred Warner —but Bethune has been awful in no way. He’s played exceptionally well despite a few mistakes.
I see a lot of people freaking out over the lack of trades by SF. As much as it pains some people to admit, the injury gods have dealt this team a fatal blow this season. Do you think it was a year to burn...
