Niners Nation
The San Francisco 49ers had a ton of starters hit the open market in free agency last offseason and found lucrative deals elsewhere.
Aaron Banks got a four-year, $77 million deal with the Green Bay Packers. Charvarius Ward got three years and $54 million with the Indianapolis Colts. Javon Hargrave became a crucial piece for the Minnesota Vikings up front with a two-year, $30 million deal. Talanoa Hufanga became a starter for the Super Bowl-participating Denver Broncos on a three-year, $39 million deal. So did Dre Greenlaw, who signed a three-year, $31.5 million deal there.
Then there was Leonard Floyd, who went to the Atlanta Falcons on a one-year, $10 million deal. And Maliek Collins was one of the biggest steals of the offseason for the Cleveland Browns at two years and $20 million. Even backup swing tackle Jaylon Moore got two years and $30 million with the Kansas City Chiefs.
That’s quite the load of contributors heading elsewhere, while San Francisco’s top free agent addition was tight end Luke Farrell, who signed a three-year, $15.75 million deal.
Now, looking ahead to this offseason, the free agent departure pool doesn’t look nearly as bad as last offseason, although releases could add to that last. Who are the team’s top free agents?
Jauan Jennings
Jennings signed a two-year, $11.9 million deal in 2024 that could be worth up to $15.4 million and produced the best two years of his career. After catching 78 passes for 963 yards and seven touchdowns over the first three years of his career, Jennings broke out in 2024 with 77 catches for 975 yards and six touchdowns.
Then, in 2025, he followed that with 55 catches for 643 yards and nine touchdowns while also dealing with a few injuries earlier in the year.
He’s set for a big payday on the open market, which is well-deserved after earning $23.75 million through the first six years of his career.
Spencer Burford
Burford has been a polarizing player for the 49ers. He started his career at right guard, making 29 starts in 30 career games there over his first two seasons. Then he was a backup for the entirety of 2024 before seeing starts at left guard this year due to injury.
He could get some money on the open market (offensive line is always a premium), and the 49ers could also be looking for a replacement.
Yetur Gross-Matos
Gross-Matos signed a two-year, $18 million deal with the 49ers in free agency, which ended up being a very disappointing addition. He struggled to be healthy, playing in 19 games over two years, and didn’t have much of an impact this year when the team needed him.
He’s still only going into his age-28 season, so he’ll probably get interest on a short-term deal on the open market, but he wasn’t a major impact player for the 49ers this year.
Eddy Piniero
Outside of Jennings, Piniero’s probably the most important player to retain for the 49ers after the year...
