Previewing 49ers' offseason, breaking down San Francisco's 2026 free agent list
The "49ers Postgame Live" crew recaps San Francisco's 2025 NFL season and previews the team's offseason following it's 41-6 loss to Seattle Seahawks.
Previewing 49ers' offseason, breaking down San Francisco's 2026 free agent list originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Video Transcript
Let's go driving to the Red Zone.
Our fan poll, brought to you by Toyota.
We asked on Pregame Live, "What was your favorite 49ers vs. Seahawks moment?"
49% of you, and I agree with you, by the way, is that 2019 Dre Greenlaw goal-line stop Up the number one seed and the bye week, all the way towards the Super Bowl.
Here came Purdy with the four-touchdown performance in second place.
Do you agree?
Yeah, absolutely.
Rod?
I agree.
Okay.
We've got to look ahead to the offseason now.
The season is over.
2025 is no more.
We look ahead to 2026, the 49ers' season.
So, what happened this season?
12 and 5 regular season.
1-1 in the postseason.
Aiyuk is out.
This season, he did not play a game.
Bosa only played a couple.
Then he got the ACL injury.
You see the list right there.
So, um, again, Rod, how do you... With all this given, How do you recap this season?
That's wild.
That's impressive.
In previous years, that would'vethey been 5 and 12.
Losing Bosa, Warner, Williams, Kittle and Purdy, for the games they did, that would've absolutely crippled them.
Um, to have the record they had and to win the playoff game last week against A testament to the players and a testament to the coaches.
These are the free agents the 49ers have to make decisions on.
With Jauan Jennings, Kendrick Bourne, you see Skyy Moore there.
Out of these players, which would you say are absolutely indispensable for them to lock up and bring back?
And why Eddie Pinero?
Oh, yeah.
That was going to be my answer.
And why Eddie Pinero?
I don't know.
Eddie lost some points with the kicking.
What?
Oh!
Come on, man.
No, he's not the one who missed the tackle.
Listen, just lock up Eddie, and then, you know...
Here's the issue.
Give me Give me your top three, Matt.
Uh, quite clearly, Is Jauan Jennings number one?
I agree.
But is it going to cost?
I agree, he's number one.
The problem is they couldn't arrive at a contract extension before the start season, and now he's going to hit free agency.
So, you know, I still think Jauan Jennings is more valuable to the 49ers than to any other.
Team, so I would think that he'd be back.
But he might also feel like, Hey, you had your opportunity to re-sign me before the season started.
If he hits agency.
Maybe another team comes up there.
But, you know, The list isn't as great as it was a year ago, when they lost all those guys.
So, the value, the players that are going to be hitting the The unrestricted free agent market, not quite as, uh, as, I don't know, uh, you know, big as the guys in Marky?
Yeah, Marky.
Uh, I think the top... Of that list, my top three, in no particular order, would be Jennings.
Tunges and Pinero.
Tunges, because you don't have Kittle.
So, and he's also restricted free.
Right, which is a different.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Uh, Pinero, uh, you need a kicker.
Uh, you can't go...
I mean, the job he made, What he did this season was so good, he stabilized that unit.
And the situation with the wideouts, we don't know what the team will look like.
We're assuming it's Pearsall.
It will be Pearsall, and then someone else.
But, yeah.
Right?
What, what do you think?
I, I, I look at that list.
And what rings in my head is that it doesn't make them faster.
Bringing any of those guys back, it doesn't make them faster.
And it doesn't fix what was the main problem across the board for the Niners.
Year, is that they weren't good enough at times on the offensive line.
And they weren't good enough, especially when it comes to generating a pass rush.
Defensive line.
And to get that fixed, More than likely, it's going to have to come through the draft.
And I'm not exactly sure how active the Niners are going to be.
You mean DL?
Defensive line and offensive line.
So you don't, You don't think a Bosa, Collins-led line with someone else?
Whether it's T.J. Watt or anyone, it could be a A pretty formidablewell... Front four?
Yes, front four, but you need eight guys.
That's right.
You need eight guys.
Right, right, right.
And so, you can't have a huge drop-off.
But, you know, I think the defensive line is definitely going to be a spot they address with one.
If not two picks.
Mm-hmm.
In the first six picks.
Is that the main urgency, you think?
I, I mean, they, they- I think it's wide receiver.
I think they have...
I think so, too.
Yeah.
I, I think that, you know, they need... What they need for next season is a guy like Jordan Watkins.
Who basically had a redshirt year, learning the system behind the scenes.
It is not easy for a rookie wide receiver to step in and contribute.
They need him to step up.
They need... Actually, they need Jacob Cowing next year as well, in addition to Pearsall.
And then you try to get Jennings back, and then you draft a guy or two.
And you have to put pieces around to take advantage of your best players.
And that's to give Brock Purdy time, and to give Christian McCaffrey space.
Football.
And McCaffrey didn't have space.
Yeah.
To run the football all year long.
And today, And Brock Purdy didn't have time.
There were 13 pressures on the Niner offense.
Line.
The vast majority came from the center.
Left guard and right guard.
Puny is a staple.
I'm perfectly fine with that.
But I think the Niners need to get a bit.
Better in terms of their interior offensive line if they're to take advantage of what they have with their two best skill position players in Purdy & McCaffrey.
Uh, by the way, the Niners have 7 draft picks for the upcoming 2026 NFL.
Draft.
