Things aren't going well for the San Francisco 49ers this offseason.
The team lost several key players on their once elite defensive like Javon Hargrave and Leonard Floyd, and their offense had to say goodbye to a fan favorite in Deebo Samuel due to his large cap hit.
Samuel may not be the only star on offense that could get moved soon, either.
In an article detailing San Fran's tight cap number, Grant Cohn of 49ers on SI explained that a similar fate could be waiting for former Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey.
"Even if McCaffrey plays well next season, the 49ers could struggle," Cohn wrote. "Their defense currently is decimated and could start four or five rookies depending on how their draft shakes out. Plus quarterback Brock Purdy is coming off a down season and could miss some or all of training camp if he holds out while he waits for a contract extension. The 49ers are notorious for taking a long time to finalize those big deals."
Related: 49ers Find Brock Purdy Protection in Latest NFL Mock Draft
By waiting to extend Purdy, the 49ers are putting themselves in a no-win situation that their offense doesn't have the firepower to replace.
McCaffrey is also coming off a calf and Achilles injury that kept him out for most of the season. At 28 years old, it's not hard to question whether or not the former ALl-Pro's best days are behind him.
And in the case of the 49ers, moving on from their star running back may look bad, but it's something that is the first sign of a team on firesale watch throughout the upcoming season.
Related: Niners Get Receiver Clarity After Stefon Diggs Signing
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This story was originally published March 26, 2025 at 4:00 PM.