SANTA CLARA, Calif. — With a few notable exceptions, the San Francisco 49ers have accomplished their most vital offseason roster maneuvering. It included veteran additions in free company in addition to an NFL draft by which the Niners chosen eight gamers, all taken between Rounds 2 and 5.
Regardless of these strikes, the Niners nonetheless have lingering questions on receiver Brandon Aiyuk’s future, the beginning left guard job, potential security assist and whether or not a Bosa brothers team-up may very well be within the offing.
This is a more in-depth have a look at what the 49ers nonetheless must do between now and the beginning of coaching camp in July.
Whereas the 49ers have not wavered from their want to half methods with Aiyuk, they have not but launched him.
The Niners have held out hope that they’ll commerce Aiyuk and recoup one thing, even a late spherical decide, for a participant as soon as considered as a future franchise cornerstone.
The thought, based on Niners common supervisor John Lynch, was that offseason benchmarks, such because the league conferences in March and draft in April, may spur some sort of motion.
However San Francisco has discovered no takers for Aiyuk or actually even gained traction towards a deal. Requested on the finish of the draft whether or not Aiyuk’s seemingly inevitable launch can be forthcoming, Lynch once more kicked the can down the highway.
“No new replace proper now,” Lynch stated. “We’re obtainable. Give us a name. I believe it is the prudent factor to do. He is an especially gifted participant. He is been an especially efficient participant in our league. The scenario did not work itself out right here. That is to not say it will possibly’t be rekindled some place else. And we would be glad to do one thing with anybody if the chance introduced itself.”
There aren’t many apparent inflection factors within the coming weeks. June 1 may very well be a logical goal to launch Aiyuk to supply some wage cap aid (his lifeless cash can be cut up over two years after that date), however the Niners have had the flexibility to designate him a post-June 1 launch for nearly two months and have not performed it.
Across the league, the expectation is that Aiyuk prefers to play with the Washington Commanders and quarterback Jayden Daniels, his shut pal. That concept is not misplaced on the Niners, who consider a commerce would profit either side in that they’d get worth for Aiyuk whereas additionally permitting him time to acclimate again to soccer in Washington’s system.
What’s extra, Aiyuk’s standing on the Niners’ reserve/left workforce checklist might flip right into a spot on the reserve/didn’t report checklist and topic him to fines of as much as $50,000 per day with out counting in opposition to the 90-man roster if Aiyuk doesn’t report for coaching camp. Which implies, except Aiyuk exhibits up sooner or later, the Niners can proceed controlling his rights with out owing him any cash.
For the Niners, such a scenario looks as if an pointless distraction, however till Aiyuk exhibits up, they’ll cling on to him so long as they’d like.
Who’s in at left guard?
Except injury-related uncertainty, 10 of 11 beginning spots in San Francisco’s offense are settled. The open job? Left guard.
In 2025, the Niners rotated among the many trio of Ben Bartch, Spencer Burford and Connor Colby; from that group, solely Colby stays on the roster. Though Colby had some good moments, he additionally struggled at instances, which opened the job as much as turning into an offseason query.
Since, the Niners sought cost-effective depth and competitors in free company in veterans Robert Jones and Brett Toth and spent a fourth-round decide on offensive lineman Carver Willis, who performed deal with in faculty however initiatives to protect within the NFL. Based mostly on league expertise, Jones may very well be first in line for the job if he proves wholesome. He began 17 video games for the Miami Dolphins in 2024 earlier than a neck damage value him all of final yr.
“He’ll be within the competitors,” Shanahan stated. “We’ll have quite a few guys in that. … After we get to OTAs, hopefully we now have quite a few guys preventing for that spot.”
Toth initiatives extra as an inside swingman who may be the backup middle, however he additionally figures into the competitors, based on Lynch and Shanahan. He has began six video games in his profession, together with two at left guard final yr for the Philadelphia Eagles. As a rookie, Willis could have the steepest studying curve, however he performed in a scheme just like the Niners’ at Washington which ought to assist his transition.
What about security?
The 49ers used their eight draft picks to handle the vast majority of their most urgent roster wants. However in a draft with expertise on the place, San Francisco ignored security, a spot that has loads of short- and long-term questions.
In 2025, the Niners had 4 safeties — Ji’Ayir Brown, Malik Mustapha, Jason Pinnock and Marques Sigle — make not less than seven begins every. Of that quartet, solely Pinnock, who performed as extra of a 3rd security in “huge nickel” packages, departed within the offseason as he signed with the New York Giants.
Whereas San Francisco did not straight deal with security, it did signal defensive again Nate Hobbs in free company. Shanahan has stated he hasn’t considered Hobbs as a security, but it surely’s cheap to suppose he might step into the hybrid function Pinnock occupied final season.
The Niners have younger, unproven security choices in Derrick Canteen, Darrick Forrest, Jalen Stroman and Patrick McMorris, although in addition they handed on some well-regarded draft prospects a number of instances with their eight picks.
“There have been some guys that got here off [the board],” Lynch stated. “We have got a bunch that we actually do like. However sort of the way in which the board fell, it simply did not work out. And love what we have been ready so as to add. The work’s not over.”
On paper, Brown and Mustapha, the duo that performed collectively probably the most in 2025, ought to get one other shot at successful the beginning jobs with Sigle additionally pushing for snaps. However Brown is coming into the ultimate yr of his rookie deal and Mustapha might be extension-eligible for the primary time after the 2026 season. Which implies the Niners will proceed maintaining a tally of potentialities which may come up between now and the beginning of the season and security might develop into an excellent greater want subsequent offseason if no one nails down these spots in 2026.
Will the 49ers unite the Bosa brothers?
In every of the previous two years, veteran defensive finish Joey Bosa has lingered on the free agent market as followers have clamored for Joey and Nick Bosa to affix forces on the 49ers.
On the league conferences in March, Lynch stated it could “make Mama Bosa glad” if San Francisco signed Joey however famous that he did not know if the Niners can afford him.
Since then, San Francisco has signed offensive deal with Trent Williams to a deal that decreased his 2026 wage cap quantity, restructured defensive deal with Osa Odighizuwa’s contract to create extra cap area and can acquire extra when it will definitely strikes on from Aiyuk.
On paper, there’s sufficient cash and cap area so as to add Joey, however the 49ers choose to roll over vital cap area annually. In addition they have a glut of choices at edge rusher, although solely Nick comes with a résumé something like Joey’s. Different choices embrace Mykel Williams, Keion White, third-round decide Romello Top, Sam Okuayinonu and intriguing undrafted rookie Mikail Kamara.
“I will by no means say by no means,” Lynch stated. “We’ll by no means shut the door to issues like that. … He is a heck of a participant, however I believe we’re at a spot the place we’re comfy with what we have performed.”
If Joey stays obtainable by way of the spring, it could not less than give the Niners a while to judge what they’ve (albeit with out pads on) and doubtlessly revisit the Bosa brothers pairing once more this summer season.
