San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Austen Pleasants began the year as the third-string offensive tackle behind Spencer Burford, and later took over the swing tackle role when Burford shifted into the starting left guard position. He filled in for the remainder of Week 17 at left tackle when Trent Williams got injured and started in Week 18. Pleasants allowed five pressures, three hurries, one quarterback hit, and one sack across 17 total games, including one start, and totaling 128 snaps at left tackle, per PFF.
San Francisco 49ers’ 28-year-old is a free agent
Sep 7, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch watches pregame warmups against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
Sep 7, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch watches pregame warmups against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
Since Austen Pleasants has played over six games in a single season across his six-year career and spent most of his time on a practice squad (which doesn’t count), he is credited with only one accrued season, making him an exclusive rights free agent, compared to a restricted free agent, who has three accrued seasons. As an ERFA, a team can offer a player a one-year tender at the league minimum, but they cannot negotiate with other teams or risk sitting out a year. If the 49ers don’t tender Pleasants, he will be an unrestricted free agent and is free to sign elsewhere.
San Francisco 49ers secure key backup for 2026
San Francisco 49ers, Austen Pleasants
NFL San Francisco 49ers offensive line Austen Pleasants
According to Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap on Saturday, the 49ers have placed an exclusive-rights free-agent tender on Austen Pleasants for a one-year, non-guaranteed $1.075 million deal, which he will sign or risk sitting out. As a result, he has another chance to compete for the swing tackle role this offseason, likely against stiffer competition, along with a spot on the 53-man roster. Lastly, since Pleasants is scheduled to be credited with his second accrued season in 2026, he will once again qualify as an ERFA in 2027.
“The 49ers have kicked off tender season by extending an Exclusive Rights tender to OT Austen Pleasants. Pleasants appeared in a career high 15 games last season and played a significant role for the team in the last two weeks of the regular season having to cover for an injured Trent Williams at left tackle. Pleasants’ tender is a one year contract worth $1.075 million,” Fitzgerald said.