The San Francisco 49ers are off to a hot start to free agency and the 2026 NFL offseason. While they still have a major need at pass rusher, and could use some more running back and wide receiver depth, the 49ers' additions so far have been stellar.
Mike Evans and Vederian Lowe in free agency were great additions, while Osa Odighizuwa was a phenomenal trade pickup. Eddy Piniero was re-signed, and Dre Greenlaw returned on a one-year deal.
Those moves, in the opinion of ESPN's Aaron Schatz, make the 49ers among the top-five most improved teams in the NFL through the opening week of the new league year.
49ers are already the top-five most improved team this offseason
"The 49ers made only one major signing, but it was a really good one," Schatz writes. "Evans is exactly the kind of receiver that the 49ers were missing in a couple of ways."
Evans, the 6-foot-5, 231-pound wide receiver, is the much-needed size acquisition for the 49ers, and he is a great outside option that will bring leadership and championship pedigree to the 49ers' locker room.
If this were all the 49ers did, it would still be a successful offseason. But they also added three other players. Odighizuwa, for a third-rounder, is a very nice pass-rusher addition for the interior of the defensive line. While he wasn't cheap, he's a great fit in San Francisco.
Schatz is also a big fan of the Vederian Lowe signing, calling it the 49ers' "most underrated signing" this offseason.
More: 49ers sign Mike Evans away from Buccaneers after 12 years
"Lowe is not the best player out there," Schatz writes, "... However, he fits well in San Francisco as a swing tackle just in case something happens with Trent Williams' contract situation or in case the 37-year-old Williams comes back but gets hurt during the 2026 season."
Odighizuwa, Lowe, and Evans are all great additions. Add on Greenlaw, a veteran linebacker returning to the 49ers after a rough year in Denver, and this offseason for John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan looks to be a great one already.
They've improved their WR room, offensive line depth, linebacker room, and their interior defensive line group. All of their additions have been good ones, and if they can keep Williams and land an edge rusher or two, this could be an even better offseason.
More 49ers news: