The time between the end of every football season and the first day of the NFL Draft is hardly as exciting as the seasons themselves. But it's a time of important work and after a dismal eighteen weeks and falling well short of a playoff berth, the 49ers have plenty of that work to do.
With some clear changes that need to happen and a few other tweaks that may be less obvious, the team has started the process of opening up the hood and getting down to business fixing the engine that drives this franchise. 49ers Special Teams Coordinator Brian Schneider and Defensive Coordinator Nick Sorensen are both out—moves that most 49er fans were hoping would happen. Robert Saleh, fired from his head coaching spot with the New York Jets mid-season, is back as the 49ers' DC, to the elation of the fans and likely the 49ers' defensive players as well. Brant Boyer, who worked under Saleh in New York, was brought in this week as the new Special Teams Coordinator.
The season isn't technically over, but it is in San Francisco, and 49ers General Manager John Lynch and Head Coach Kyle Shanahan wasted little time in getting the cracks in the coaching foundation fixed before any player decisions were made. The more intriguing process of adding quality draft picks will come in three short months, and the start of NFL free agency comes sooner, with the beginning of the new season on March 12.
While it's likely that at least some of the 49ers' roster needs will be filled in the draft, where the 49ers have a full basket of selections at their disposal, it's just as likely that some of those thin spots in the roster get thicker with a few key free agency acquisitions. What the 49ers are planning has yet to be revealed, but whatever that may be, there will be some quality talent out there for Lynch and Shanahan to consider.
It's true that some of the names already being floated as targeted veterans are probably on the 49ers' notepad. Indianapolis Colts' Quarterback Joe Flacco is one of those, with the anticipated departure of at least one and potentially two of the 49ers' backup QBs. A few other key free agents are making it into social media discussion as well—including cornerback D.J. Reed and edge rusher Haasan Reddick of the Jets, L. A. Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack, and Minnesota Vikings tackle Cam Robinson. There's a strong chance the 49ers will take a genuine look at every one of these players, but there may be a few additional free agents available that could pay off big as well, some with an even greater dollar-for-dollar value, once the new season is fully underway. Here's a brief look at some of those:
Mike Gesicki (TE), Cincinnati Bengals
Having mostly failed for the past few years in their attempts to find a suitable complement to tight end George Kittle in the team's offensive scheme, the 49ers would love to get a true TE2 in the building this off-season. The addition of veteran Eric Saubert last year did nothing to help the 49ers elevate the tight end room, and their recent drafting for the position has been anemic. Brayden Willis and Jake Tonges will likely be around the edges of the roster again this year; Saubert likely will not. But bringing in a player of Mike Gesicki's level could be a huge boost for the 49ers' offense and a major step toward reinvigorating that position behind Kittle.
At 29, the seven-year veteran Gesicki saw plenty of action as a starting tight end during his time in Miami, New England, and Cincinnati, and is coming off a decent 665-yard season. The Bengals are reportedly in the early stages of a campaign to secure tight end Kyle Pitts from the Atlanta Falcons—a move that would make Gesicki immediately expendable. Gesicki and Kittle also have an existing relationship formed at Kittle's off-season "Tight End University." And while that familiarity alone may not be enough to prompt the 49ers to make a play for Gesicki, his ability as a pass catcher might. Gesicki has plenty of size (6'6", 250 lbs.) and though he's not an upper-tier blocker like Kittle, he has exceptional hands and would present a formidable red-zone target for Brock Purdy. Thus far, Kyle Shanahan has opted for a heavy lean toward blocking tight ends in backup roles, but if even a modest shift back toward receiving proficiency happens, and it just might this year, Gesicki would be a tempting addition.
Drew Dalman (C), Atlanta Falcons
A potential legacy player for San Francisco (Dalman's father, Chris Dalman, played the entirety of his six-year career with the 49ers), Drew Dalman could be the immediate answer for the 49ers' questionable circumstances at center. Atlanta has stated openly that they want to retain Dalman, who has proven himself as one of the better centers in the league, but with the Falcons salary cap woes they are facing this year, that seems like a thin prospect. Other teams will undoubtedly be making a run at Dalman as well, but with the 49ers' current salary cap situation, even after a potential payout for a new Brock Purdy contract, they may be in a position to entice Dalman to sign on.
At a projected contract cost of about $11M plus per year, he won't come cheap, but if the 49ers are serious about upgrading their offensive line for Brock Purdy, they may need to find other places to save money and go all in on a proven player like Dalman.
Osa Odighizuwa (DT), Dallas Cowboys
26-year-old Osa Odighizuwa, a third-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2021, is an interesting possibility for the 49ers, who will be going through a bit of retooling, if not rebuilding, on the defensive line this off-season.
There seems to be little chance that the 49ers are planning to continue to carry an expensive player like Javon Hargrave on their defensive line in 2025, especially when that signing was functionally one that never really paid off. Hargrave missed nearly all of the 2024 season due to injury, and his initial season in San Francisco (2023), though productive, was likely not what the 49ers expected given the hefty cost of Hargrave's contract.
Odighizuwa has shown some promise in his first four years of pro ball, most especially as an interior pass rusher. His numbers aren't exceptionally impressive, and he has notably been less effective in his career versus the run—something that could be a problem for the 49ers. But he's reliable and has consistently presented a problem for opposing offensive lines, and he's the very type of player upon whom 49ers defensive line coach Kris Kocurek can apply his magic. The 49ers will likely draft to shore up the interior line as well, but if they make pass rushing from inside a priority, it wouldn't be surprising to see them take a chance on the relatively inexpensive Odighizuwa.
Rasul Douglas (CB), Buffalo Bills
The 49ers would probably love to have former 49er cornerback D.J. Reed back in the building. And while the idea of a reunion with Reed in San Francisco has gotten significant attention over the past few weeks, there's quietly a stronger possibility the 49ers will opt for the greater value signing in the Buffalo Bill's Rasul Douglas. At 6'2"/210 lbs., Douglas is much bigger than Reed—a physical presence on the field—and could greatly complement the faster, smartly aggressive play of the 49ers' declared #1 corner in Deommodore Lenoir.
At 29 (just one year older than Reed), Douglas likely still has a couple of good years in him before "Father Time" starts to erode his performance. He scores high in football I.Q., has shown well-honed instincts, and has a natural ability to adjust to what offenses are doing on the field—all things the 49ers value greatly. Add to that the fact that Douglas could be had at a much more team-friendly price than Reed, and the likelihood that the 49ers take a swing for Douglas rather than Reed seems to grow.
Matt Prater (K), Arizona Cardinals
The 49ers had a cart full of problems on Special Teams in 2024, and the dramatic inconsistency of kicker Jake Moody was one of the major components in that situation. Whether his repeated missed field goal tries were due to his ailing ankle or something of a psychological nature is unclear. But it's not unclear that the 49ers are nearing the end of their rope with their 2023 third-rounder. Moody fell into a funk early on and never snapped out of it as the season progressed, and it's opened up the distinct possibility he will be out before the preseason concludes.
Among the league's oldest players, 40-year-old Matt Prater has certainly "been there and done that." Well-acquainted with game pressure, Prater had hit every one of his kicks in 2024, before tearing the meniscus in his plant leg in October of last year. The Cardinals were then forced to move forward with kicker Chad Ryland from that point on, sending Prater to injured reserve. Ryland performed very well in substitution, and given his youth (just 25), it seems far more likely that Arizona will continue with him rather than keep the older and more expensive Prater.
It's impossible to sustain a 20-year NFL career without excelling at a position, and Prater is proof of that. He has a historically big leg, and even if he has lost a bit of that distance coming off the injury, he could still be a greatly reliable kicker, which is all the 49ers truly need. The lack of reliably and getting the yips under pressure is what destroyed Moody this past season, and the battle-tested Prater would be an antidote to the toxic state of the 49ers' kicking game. Even bringing Prater on as a transitional player would prove to be a solid upgrade this year. Prater may or may not be on the 49ers' look list, but his meniscus injury seems to now be resolved, and if they give him a tryout before the preseason, he could be a valid option.
The 49ers have roster weaknesses to address this year, but the good news is that there will be several effective ways to handle those weaknesses before the start of the new season. Adding some select free agents will happen, and if done carefully, the 49ers may have the leg up they will need to get back in the playoff mix next winter. There's plenty of value out there; the 49ers simply need to make every dollar count.