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It’s catch-up-to-the-Seahawks season for the 49ers.
Heading into this week’s NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and next month’s free-agent (and trade) period, the gap certainly seems fairly wide and deep this offseason. We just saw the Seahawks bust apart the 49ers in two games at the crescendo of last season. Then Seattle won the Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium earlier this month.
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And we can add the Rams to that limited group a level above the 49ers, since they dominated the 49ers at Levi’s in November then played the Seahawks quite closely in the NFC Championship Game.
(Wild note: The 49ers were 0-3 and had a -61 point-differential against the Seahawks and Rams from November on. They were 8-0 and +90 against everybody else in that timeframe.)
But the distance between the 49ers and their NFC West rivals might not actually be that vast for Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch as they hurtle into this offseason — beginning, at least publicly, with Lynch’s annual combine media sessions on Tuesday.
For one, the 49ers started the 2025 divisional regular-season round-robin by going on the road to beat both Seattle and the Rams. Secondly, the 49ers were without Nick Bosa and Fred Warner (and many others) for all of the late-season losses and still eliminated the Eagles in the wild-card round along the way.
Lastly, you never know when your fiercest rivals might go through storm-cloud seasons themselves. For instance, Buffalo and Baltimore, especially, have rightly obsessed about doing whatever possible to take down the Chiefs in the AFC, and yet last year due to injuries and other factors, the Chiefs essentially took down themselves — and opened the door for the Patriots’ dash to the Super Bowl while the Bills and Ravens stumbled.
If the 49ers use all their resources trying to out-match, out-wit, and maybe even out-spend the Seahawks and Rams this offseason, they’ll still have to worry about the Lions, Bears, Eagles, or anybody else revamping for better times in 2026.
So while I expect that Shanahan and Lynch will keep an eye on specific Seahawks and Rams matchups while plotting out their moves this offseason, I don’t think it’ll only be about that. The 49ers need to add playmakers and quality younger players on both sides of the ball so they can beat everybody — not just the two teams that have beaten them mostly recently.
The 49ers were good enough to go 12-5 and get to the divisional round of the playoffs last season, despite the injuries. They’ve got some financial flexibility after last offseason’s major reset and the dispatching of Brandon Aiyuk. They’ve got Brock Purdy locked up to a long-term contract.
They don’t have to go crazy this offseason — they can be targeted, they can spend a lot of money on some big individual moves, and they absolutely don’t have to lose anybody they don’t want to lose.
With all that in mind, let’s get to my annual list of 49ers offseason predictions. I didn’t do so well with last year’s predictions, but I did hit a few things and maybe generally was OK about the overall tone of the 49ers’ thinking last spring.
This year, I’ve doubled the amount of predictions — to 10 — which gives me many more chances to be right. And wrong.
Here we go …
Prediction 1: The 49ers will trade for Maxx Crosby
I think they’re set up for at least one big move. I’ve written that the ideal option would be to acquire Justin Jefferson in a mega trade from Minnesota; but even while proposing it more than a month ago I acknowledged it might be very tough to pull off this cycle.
Crosby is a much more realistic option — and still a pretty dynamic guy to imagine lining up opposite of Bosa and turning one of the worst pass rushes in the league last year into one of the best in 2026.
The Raiders want a ton for him, but I don’t think this is going to be a wild-hot auction for a 28-year-old coming off an injury. And I think the 49ers will be high in the running if they offer their first-round pick (No. 27) plus a few other picks down the road. I don’t think the 49ers would want to empty this year’s stash by giving up their second- or third-round picks. But if they can offer their No. 2 in 2027 or something similar, there might be some common ground here.
Other difference-making edge possibilities would be Trey Hendrickson, who is older than Crosby and could be franchise tagged by the Bengals, or making a free-agent run for Jaelan Phillips, a guy the 49ers wanted at last year’s trade deadline before he was dealt to the Eagles.
Prediction 2: The 49ers will trade Mac Jones for a 2027 third-round pick that could move up to a second-rounder
This situation might be linked to the Crosby talks — the 49ers could theoretically give the Raiders the pick they acquire for Jones instead of having to put in this year’s second-rounder, for instance.
I think the Jones market will be solid; Malik Willis will be the most popular starting quarterback option for needy teams, then Jones probably will be next in line among veterans. And it’s not like the draft is loaded with automatic future QB1s, either.
Of course, Shanahan and Lynch are publicly and privately saying they love Jones as Purdy’s backup and don’t want to trade him; that’s what they always say about tradeable players. If they realistically can get a 2027 third-round pick (that can turn into a second-rounder if Jones starts, say, eight or more games for his next team), I’m pretty sure the 49ers will do it.
Trading Jones is the right thing for him, since he deserves another starting shot. And it’s the right thing for the 49ers, if they can get more ammunition to add at other positions this offseason.
The 49ers went 5-3 in Mac Jones’ eight starts last season. |Source: Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Prediction 3: If there’s a surprising big name targeted, it’ll be center Tyler Linderbaum
Shanahan and Lynch love center Jake Brendel. They defend him at all times. And I don’t think center is anything close to the 49ers’ largest need — certainly not ahead of WR1, WR3, DE, and DT.
And yet … this is the regime that started things off in 2017 by signing Weston Richburg to very large deal and plopping him in at center (not successfully). Then in 2021, the 49ers signed multiple-time Pro Bowler Alex Mack to play that key spot.
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Shanahan and Lynch don’t invest much in guards or at right tackle, but they will spend for left tackle (especially if it’s Trent Williams) and center, if the right center is sitting there.
If there isn’t a top-line receiver available at the right price — and unless Shanahan and Lynch want to go all-in on Alec Pierce, it’s looking there might not be — maybe the 49ers will splurge again at center. Then they can either move Brendel to left guard or have him as a super backup all along the interior line.
I’m not saying that the 49ers for sure will land Linderbaum. I’m saying if they’ve got some extra cash lying around, they might be tempted to see if they can get him. Again, they won’t go nuts. Just will check.
Other possibilities in the just-gotta-check category: Hendrickson, Pierce, Mike Evans.
Could the 49ers check in on recently released Tyreek Hill? No, I don’t think so.
How about Kirk Cousins? I think the time for a Cousins-Shanahan reunification passed a while ago. I also think Cousins will want to land where he has a chance to be QB1.
I’ll put Falcons RB Tyler Allgeier down here — mostly due to his Raheem Morris ties — as an outside candidate to help Christian McCaffrey carry the load.
Prediction 4: They’ll lose Jauan Jennings but keep Eddy Piñeiro
Even though we all saw Pineiro’s nearly perfect performance last season, I don’t think there’s going to be any kind of bidding war for him in free agency. So I don’t think the 49ers will have to put the $6.8 million franchise tag on him.
I think they can get Pineiro for a much lower price — something like three years, $12 million, with about half of that guaranteed. And if somebody offers him more, as my podcast cohost Matt Barrows keeps saying, they can bring back Matt Gay, who was perfect while subbing for an injured Pineiro in two games last season.
There might not be a bidding war for Jennings, either, and maybe his price tag falls below $15 million a year. Which is probably the only way the 49ers would bring him back.
But with so many former 49ers assistants out there with other teams, I think the Jennings market will be fine. Maybe not at the $20-million-or-more he was asking for last summer, but something close enough that the 49ers will bow out quickly.
Notable point: I can’t find a top-line receiver for the 49ers in free agency or via a trade, unless it’s Jefferson; and even if they keep the 27th pick, I don’t see a future WR1 there, either.
So even though I think it’s their biggest need, I’m not sure how they fill it. They can make related additions, though, such as …
A football player wearing a red San Francisco 49ers jersey with number 15 celebrates on the field with his arms spread wide.
Jauan Jennings led the 49ers with nine receiving touchdowns in 2025. |Source: Amber Pietz/The Standard
Prediction 5: They’ll sign tight end Isaiah Likely
I had Kyle Pitts in this spot until Monday morning’s reports that the Falcons have decided to franchise-tag him. Atlanta could still trade him, but I think this effectively takes Pitts off the table for the 49ers.
Either way, if the 49ers can’t get a playmaking WR this cycle, landing a playmaking TE would be the next-best thing. With George Kittle potentially out for the first month or so of next season, this is more than a luxury item for the 49ers right now.
Likely isn’t a perfect player, which is why he’s available. But he won’t be 26 until this April and he’s a pure athlete that I’m sure Shanahan can picture racing through secondaries.
Prediction 6: They’ll bring back a former stalwart at a discount price
Kittle got a lot of people thinking during Super Bowl week during an interview with Sports Illustrated when he said that the 49ers might reunite with some “past friends” this offseason.
Could that be Deebo Samuel? Though that’s the first name Kittle was asked about and he didn’t say no, I tthink the Deebo/49ers relationship has run its course.
My wild guess: Maybe Dre Greenlaw, a potential Denver cap casualty this spring. I’m not sure he’d jump right back into the 49ers’ starting lineup ahead of Dee Winters (or Tatum Bethune, if he moves over from the “mike” spot with Warner back), but a Greenlaw return sure would amp things up a bit.
Prediction 7: If the 49ers don’t add many (or any) offensive playmakers, we’ll hear a lot about the two Jordans — Jordan James and Jordan Watkins — possibly moving into bigger 2026 roles
Yes, the 49ers got almost zero production out of either of the two rookies last season. But James still was solidly ahead of Isaac Guerendo on the RB depth chart all last season and probably will be given every chance at RB2 this summer — if he can stay healthy.
And I believe the 49ers still have hopes for Watkins after his two-catch season. He’s got some size and speed. He’s not going to be WR1 or maybe even WR2, but somebody’s got to mix in as a depth WR, especially if the 49ers lose Jennings and Kendrick Bourne.
A football player wearing a red San Francisco 49ers jersey and gold helmet reaches out with both hands to catch a football in midair.
Jordan Watkins was a fourth-round draft pick out of Ole Miss in the 2025 NFL Draft. |Source: Amber Pietz/The Standard
Prediction 8: Once again, there will be no heavy investments at either guard spot or right tackle
I doubt the 49ers will even monitor Spencer Burford’s free-agent market — if anybody else makes an offer, he’ll be an ex-49er. There won’t be huge free-agent spends for Alijah Vera-Tucker or Rasheed Walker. And the 49ers won’t be using a pick in the first two rounds on a guard or right tackle.
It’ll be business as usual for Shanahan and Lynch, who don’t believe in burning resources on the offensive line for anything except a top left tackle or, occasionally, a center.
If you’re a 49ers fan dreaming of a high pick on a right tackle to replace Colton McKivitz … nope, and they just gave him a contract extension, anyway. Or hoping that they’ll spend top-market dollars on a guard to replace the Burford/Ben Bartch rotation at right guard … no, not happening. That might go to Connor Colby.
One necessary offseason re-investment: Williams’ deal needs one more restructure — guaranteeing next year’s $22.2 million base salary and a little more into 2027, which will knock down next year’s cap hit (currently at $38.8 million). These sorts of adjustments get trickier as the player ages and his future beyond the upcoming season becomes blurrier, but Williams earned all of this by gutting out a hamstring injury in the last few games of last season.
(Bosa also might get a similar kind of adjustment to decrease his current $41.6 million cap hit for next season.)
Prediction 9: Their top draft pick this year will be a wide receiver
If the 49ers keep the 27th pick, they’ll either draft the best edge rusher available or the most explosive receiver available.
But I’m predicting that they’ll trade their top pick for Crosby (or another veteran edge), so they won’t have another pick until No. 58 overall. And in that case, the pick almost has to be a WR.
The only two times the 49ers drafted a WR in the second round: 2018, when they took Dante Pettis 44th overall, and 2019, when they took Deebo 36th.
Prediction 10: The offloading of Brandon Aiyuk is inevitable but will not be without complications
This is likely to happen as a release next month, with a post-June 1 designation to keep the dead-cap hit as low as possible. In that scenario, Aiyuk will be free to sign with another team immediately — maybe Washington — but he will never earn back the $27 million he forfeited with the 49ers.
Oh well. Aiyuk walked away from the money so he could walk away from the 49ers. His choice.
You know there will be cryptic social-media comments from Aiyuk along the way out, and even after he’s out. If he tosses out a sub-station reference, I’ll applaud him for the good timing.