The San Francisco 49ers' 2024 free agency splash looks poised to come from an obvious place
The San Francisco 49ers have rarely been ones to take a conservative approach to the offseason and, as they move on from their agonizing Super Bowl 58 defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs, the expectation is they will once again be aggressive in stacking the deck to try to get over the hump. Cap space […]
The San Francisco 49ers have rarely been ones to take a conservative approach to the offseason and, as they move on from their agonizing Super Bowl 58 defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs, the expectation is they will once again be aggressive in stacking the deck to try to get over the hump.
Cap space is at a premium for San Francisco — though the news of Arik Armstead’s imminent release will help them in that regard — but that does not appear to be a barrier to their ambitions in free agency.
The 49ers have a history of making big-time splashes at this time of year. From the trade for Dee Ford in 2019 to the signings of Charvarius Ward in 2022 and Javon Hargrave last year, the Niners organization is not afraid to spend significant resources to make the roster better.
So where is the splash move coming from this year?
The 49ers' needs
Recent reporting has given a huge clue to the answer to that question but, before jumping to that, let's assess the 49ers' primary needs and whether the Niners are likely to spend big in that area.
Their main needs are:
- Offensie tackle
- Interior offensive line
- Edge
- Cornerback
Offensive tackle
Offensive tackle stands out as the clear biggest need on the 49ers' roster, with San Francisco requiring a long-term solution at right tackle despite extending Colton McKivitz for another year.
However, the 49ers have already done a lot of work on a very strong tackle class in the draft, and it is far more likely they use their first-round pick on the position rather than invest in it in free agency.
Even if they wanted to take the latter route, the pickings on the open market are slim.
Interior offensive line
Guard is arguably an even more immediate need after Jon Feliciano's injury on the right side of the line helped sink the 49ers in the Super Bowl.
There are more options than at tackle, with Jonah Jackson among those set for a strong payday. His reputation as a strong run blocker would appeal to the 49ers, though Kevin Zeitler would offer much-needed solidity in pass protection.
Under Shanahan and Lynch, though, the Niners have rarely put huge resources into the interior of the O-Line, much to the frustration of many fans. A short-term deal for Zeitler would be ideal, but a more realistic outcome is that the 49ers bring back Feliciano and add another guard via the draft.
Cornerback
There is a legitimate 'splash' move to be had in the trade market, with L'Jarius Sneed available having been franchise tagged by the Kansas City Chiefs fresh off frustrating the 49ers' passing game in the Super Bowl.
But, given the need for cheap rookie contracts on the roster, the 49ers are unlikely to be minded to trade draft capital for the opportunity to tie a player to another expensive long-term contract, even if landed them a corner of Sneed's caliber.
San Francisco's cornerback need is in the slot, where the potential signing of veteran Kenny Moore would be a splash in terms of his reputation and what he could do for the 49er secondary. In terms of his deal, a contract projected by A to Z Sports of two years, $16 million with $9.5 million guaranteed hardly fits the bill as a blockbuster.
And, with the level of time the 49ers spent meeting with the corners in a strong nickel draft class at the Combine, the signs point to them being much more interested in the incoming rookie corner class than this year's free agent crop.
That leaves one area of the team as the only realistic place where the 49ers will look to make a splash move.
The 49ers' splash move is coming at edge
Not in a position to land one of the top edge rushers in the draft class with pick 31 and, with Chase Young, Clelin Ferrell and Randy Gregory all bound for the open market, edge always looked the most likely area on which the 49ers would spend.
San Francisco has consistently thrown both money and draft capital at the defensive line. The second half of last season was the first time in a long time when it looked like a problem, especially against the run.
Armstead's pending departure creates a hole at defensive tackle, but the 49ers' biggest issue up front is not having a reliable pass rusher across from Nick Bosa at the other defensive end spot.
And that is a deficiency the 49ers are seemingly determined to fix.
The San Francisco Chronicle's Mike Silver reported he expects the 49ers to approach free agency "with a sense of urgency" at the edge rusher position. He added that the 49ers want value, but indicated the Niners will likely have an interest in some of the top edge rushers on the market, including Danielle Hunter and Jonathan Greenard. Additionally, Silver noted the 49ers are monitoring the possibility of Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack being traded or released by the Los Angeles Chargers.
Meanwhile, Tim Kawakami of The Athletic stated his belief that the Niners will go after multiple defensive linemen at defensive end and defensive tackle, but he labeled Minnesota Vikings star Hunter as the priority.
Coming off a season that saw him post a career-high 16.5 sacks, A to Z Sports set Hunter's projected free agent contract as a three-year, $67.5 million deal with $40 million guaranteed.
That would be the dictionary definition of a splash move, as would a trade for Carolina Panthers franchise player Brian Burns, Joey Bosa. or Mack. Another possible target is Bryce Huff of the New York Jets, projected to receive a four-year $64 million deal after recording 10 sacks in a season in which he did not start a single game. Still only 25, signing Huff to a big-money deal might be more palatable than handing a lucrative contract to 29-year-old Hunter.
What's clear though is that the 49ers appear destined to target their aggression at the D-Line. As the Niners try to figure out how to finally get over the hump after two Super Bowl defeats to Patrick Mahomes, they look to have settled on a very familiar team-building approach.
San Francisco 49ers could find free agency bargain in Minnesota Vikings edge rusher D.J. Wonnum
He’d be great value for money.
