The San Francisco 49ers underwent a significant roster overhaul this offseason, parting ways with several veteran contributors who left in free agency. Instead of making a splash in the open market, the team prioritized the 2025 NFL Draft to replenish its roster.
While the 49ers did trade for edge rusher Bryce Huff, the move wasn't exactly considered a massive difference-maker. Still, it bolsters the defensive line—a unit that received a full-scale makeover this offseason.
Rookies Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins, and CJ West are all expected to contribute early and often alongside All-Pro defensive end Nick Bosa. Huff adds valuable depth to a unit that struggled to maintain physicality and consistency last season.
The 49ers also secured contract extensions for three core players—quarterback Brock Purdy, tight end George Kittle, and linebacker Fred Warner. But those are familiar names, not new additions.
With limited marquee signings, CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin had to think outside the box when naming San Francisco's best offseason move, and his pick was the re-hiring of defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
"Like the Eagles, the 49ers spent most of the offseason swallowing tough pills related to veteran exits, letting former headliners like Deebo Samuel, Dre Greenlaw, and Charvarius Ward head elsewhere," Benjamin wrote. "Besides locking up Brock Purdy, who might still be underrated as Kyle Shanahan's point guard, their reunion with their old defensive coordinator could be most pivotal. Their 'D' badly needed an identity again."
Once among the NFL's most feared defenses, the 49ers have lost their edge in recent seasons. Missed tackles, poor gap control, and inconsistent play plagued a once-dominant unit. The return of Saleh, who previously served as the team's defensive coordinator from 2017 to 2020, could restore the physicality and swagger that defined one of San Francisco's best defensive stretches.
Will Saleh's return be enough to overcome the significant roster turnover and help the 49ers rebound from a disappointing 6-11 finish in 2024? That remains to be seen, but it might be the team's most impactful move heading into the 2025 NFL season.